Chapter 409: All Eliminated, Are You Crazy!

Gusts of sea wind brushed the lighthouse atop the mountain.

Inside the outpost, Bai Yuan lay backward on a chair, intently fiddling with the radio before him.

As he turned the knob, a crackling electric hum emanated from the old radio.

Lao Mao was leafing through the recent scores of the contestants, glanced at him and said, "This thing is so old, why haven't you thrown it away? Later I'll have the organization get you a brand‑new model."

Bai Yuan's gaze was fixed: "You don't get it, this is sentiment; it's kept me company through countless lonely nights. If I replace it, what's the difference from cheating?"

"Heh, I didn't see that—you're actually quite faithful."

"That's right."

"The current stage results have been tallied."

"What do you mean?"

Bai Yuan idly turned the knob, as if searching for a listenable frequency.

Lao Mao sighed, "It's far from ideal; the longer the time, the worse the soldiers' condition, and the data fluctuates wildly. Honestly, I think this island‑survival trial could end here; pushing further serves no purpose."

"I know, you intend to have them huddle together in desperation, twist into a single rope; but reality won't follow that expected direction, we're being overly idealistic."

"In the past, island survival was just island survival; this time you want too much, it will inevitably backfire."

"Too much?"

Bai Yuan halted, turned his head toward him: "I don't think I want that much, do I?"

Lao Mao: "Not abandoning, not giving up—those six characters are indeed easy, but you must understand they aren't comrades from the same unit, lacking that deep bond as a foundation."

"There will be ties, but not now; they need time, need to experience things together. Right now, we're somewhat forcing growth."

"Anyway, my stance is to stop here, end it now; don't turn back and cause any issues, physical or mental."

Bai Yuan: "Wait a bit longer, at most three days; if we don't reach the state I envision…"

Lao Mao: "Just let them pass?"

Bai Yuan: "Abandon everyone."

"What??"

Lao Mao, shocked, slammed the table and rose, as if looking at a madman.

All these days of effort, all these days of hardship, all these rounds of selection.

The team members are exhausted, the instructor too; just the endless disgusting tricks and harassment is already maddening.

But now, Bai Yuan actually wants to completely dismiss all their effort; wouldn't that deserve to be drowned in spittle?

"I disagree!"

"I'm the squad leader; I decide."

"You're losing it! And dragging everyone else into it too!"

Lao Mao, angry, paced back and forth in the room: "All these days of hardship and effort, just because they can't meet your perverse demands, all eleven abandon? Then this year, are we still recruiting?"

"Even if we prefer quality over quantity, we should keep a few good seedlings. Abandoning everyone—what are you thinking?"

"No wonder Number Ten wants to mess with you, and Number Twelve wants to beat you; I almost want to slap you twice to wake you up!"

Bai Yuan watched his leaping, irate figure, pinched his ear with his pinky and said, "I have my reasons; the Navy must develop quickly, must reform, so we must embrace change."

"Therefore, starting this year, the standards for recruiting newcomers must rise; anyone who doesn't meet my criteria is rejected outright."

"The process will have a painful period, but I believe once we endure it, overall strength will improve dramatically."

"Alright, alright, fine!" Lao Mao also gave in: "I can't argue… you're the squad leader, your rank is higher, you have a point, okay?"

"Then what's up with suddenly announcing a holiday tomorrow?"

Bai Yuan's finger turned the knob, tuning to a station.

After the crackling and static, a news broadcast began.

"According to our station, from tonight through tomorrow daytime, a typhoon will make landfall from the South Sea, accompanied by heavy rain."

"Coastal residents, stay alert, lock doors and windows tightly, and prepare flood and flood‑control measures..."

Lao Mao's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief: "Holy crap, you're a step ahead of the weather forecast, a prophet?"

Bai Yuan proudly lifted his chin: "How's that, impressive? If I leave you here for a few years, you'll be like this too."

Lao Mao shook his head: "Better not… one person guarding an island alone, I'd go mad."

Bai Yuan stepped outside, watching the sudden gusts swirl, the sky above thickening with ink‑stained clouds, closed his eyes, spread his arms, and recited the full text of "The Sea Gull" with deep feeling.

"…Only that proud sea gull, brave and free, soaring over the white‑foamed sea!"

"…This is the brave sea gull, soaring proudly amid the roaring sea and lightning!"

"This is the victorious prophet shouting: Let the storm come even fiercer!"

In the distance, a few Air Force anglers squatted on the beach, questioning their lives.

From the third group, Xu Ce, Tu Hongwei, and Jiang Dahai faced the sea, each with a melancholy expression.

Everyone turned their heads toward the distant mountaintop and saw Bai Yuan standing on a large rock, passionately reciting poetry.

"The instructor is acting crazy again."

"What is he howling at?"

"Who knows, it's that far away."

"Still fishing?"

"We lost a few hooks, no fishhooks, no bait, what are we supposed to fish with, the worms are gone?"

"Otherwise, who among you will take off their pants and try, maybe it'll work."

"Go over there, you're all like bean sprouts to you, I could kill you with a single stick for a shark, believe it or not!"

"Got it! Got it! There's a fish, a fish!" Xu Ce yanked the line hard, shouting excitedly.

But when the others gathered around, helping pull the "fish" ashore, they were all left dumbfounded.

The three crouched on the ground, and Jiang Dahai poked the "fish" with his finger, his face looking strange.

"What is this thing? Was it exposed to nuclear radiation?"

"Looking at its head, it kind of resembles that thing… an eel? Yeah, an eel. I saw it in an encyclopedia; it's called a blind eel!"

"Nonsense! This eel has two lychees hanging from its rear, and how does it even have a suction cup?"

"Could it be some deep‑sea fish, a cross between an eel and an octopus? I heard deep‑sea fish are all bizarrely shaped, unbearable to look at."

At first, everyone thought the fish had been exposed to nuclear radiation; otherwise, how could it grow so oddly shaped.

But after washing it clean with seawater, its true form was revealed, and each of them stared wide‑eyed in terror.

Xu Ce's face flushed, his ears burning, and he ranted, "Damn, whose fuckin' boyfriend drowned in the sea?!!!"