Chapter Thirty-Three: Isle of the Diamond Guardians
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The Prodigal Son Without Pop-Up Windows
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Island of the Titan
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From the sky, the island appeared perilous, with rapid currents and treacherous reefs. Its dense, towering trees blocked most of the view; even from above, one could only make out the rough shape of its surroundings.
Xiao Tianci first flew to Mexico, where armed helicopters were already prepared. Three of them circled the air above the island. Xiao Tianci remarked, “Just as you said, it would be very difficult to approach by boat. There’s not even a place to dock, and the waters are full of hidden reefs and swift currents.”
Chief Steward Lin Jian explained, “Many wealthy people buy islands to create their own private worlds, places to escape the press and enjoy life. They usually choose beautiful, comfortable islands for leisure. But this type of island isn’t considered by most tycoons; it’s uninhabited, with the local authorities only occasionally sending researchers. When the old master assigned Fang Meng to train the guard unit, Fang chose this place, and seeing how much he liked it, the old master bought it for him.”
Xiao Tianci nodded, having been too busy lately to properly rest. He’d taken the opportunity to sleep on the plane, and upon waking, they had arrived, ready to transfer to the helicopter bound for the “Titan” Island. He gestured downward, and Lin Jian understood, directing the pilot to descend.
From above, the island didn’t seem remarkable, but once they landed and approached, the immense trees and lush undergrowth became apparent. The island was actually a mountain with a large tail stretching behind it, clearly visible from the air. Only now did Xiao Tianci realize how tall the mountain truly was.
Lin Jian pointed upward, though nothing could be seen. “Boss, this is an extinct volcano. Fang Meng is somewhere in the middle. I once came here with the old master and my father years ago, but my memories are vague. All I know is from bits of information.” He turned to a member of the guard. “Lu Man and the others trained here under Titan. Lu Man, come over.”
The twelve guards had already taken up optimal positions, firmly encircling Xiao Tianci. He turned to look at Lu Man, whose image was clear in his mind. Lu Man was vice-captain of the guard and the most physically imposing among them. Even in a suit, the explosive muscles beneath were obvious. He had thick brows, large eyes, and a prominent nose—tall and formidable.
“Clap…” Though he didn’t salute, Lu Man’s legs snapped to attention, his gaze fixed forward from habit.
Xiao Tianci pointed to the dense jungle. “We need to find Fang Meng. Which path leads up?”
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Hearing the question, Lu Man straightened his chest but shook his head. “Reporting, boss: there’s no path. Most of the time, only Instructor Titan is here, and he doesn’t need roads. As long as you don’t get lost, any way is the right way. Report complete.”
Xiao Tianci hadn’t interacted much with them yet, perhaps not even spoken to Lu Man. Hearing his answer, he smiled and nodded. “Alright, then you lead the way. Let’s go up.”
“Yes, sir.” Lu Man began to organize the group. Four guards moved ahead, drawing their knives to clear a path. Lu Man and three others stayed close to Xiao Tianci and Lin Jian, their guns loaded and alert. The remaining four guarded the rear, moving cautiously forward with their weapons ready.
“Are there wild animals here?” Humans are like animals, each with their own territory, especially the powerful ones. This was Titan’s domain, so Xiao Tianci didn’t expect any enemies, but judging by the guards’ vigilance, he turned to ask Lin Jian.
Lin Jian shook his head and asked Lu Man, “Lu Man, are there wild animals here?”
“Reporting, Chief Steward: yes, and quite a few. But as long as we’re careful, most animals won’t attack humans. Report complete.”
Xiao Tianci laughed. “That’s interesting—wild animals that don’t attack humans? Surely they aren’t all gentle canaries.”
Lu Man kept his eyes scanning the surroundings, fully alert. “Reporting, boss: the animals here know to hide when they see ‘humans.’ Report complete.”
Hide from people—that must be Titan’s doing. Xiao Tianci suddenly pictured Tarzan in his mind and couldn’t help but chuckle softly. It seemed Fang Meng truly was the overlord of this mountain.
Though Lu Man knew the way, the journey ahead was slow. They had to clear a path carefully, unable to move freely, which slowed their pace. Xiao Tianci and Lin Jian, protected by the guard formation, found the trek quite comfortable.
Suddenly, Lu Man raised his hand and called out, “Stop.”
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Now, he commanded everyone’s steps to halt. Xiao Tianci and Lin Jian looked at him, while the others maintained their positions, vigilant.
Lu Man slowly closed his eyes, tilting his head to listen. Suddenly, he declared, “Not good! Move forward quickly—there’s a troop of monkeys approaching.”
The guards immediately obeyed, accelerating their pace. Xiao Tianci and Lin Jian followed. Now, a chorus of shrill cries echoed across the mountain, growing louder and more intense.
“Screech… screech… screech… screech…”
The sound grew ever sharper. Even as he ran, Xiao Tianci could sense the anger and agitation in the cries—it was as if monkey tails had been set on fire, except now it was a whole troop.
Along with the sound, shadows darted overhead, flashing among the dense jungle. Here, the monkeys were the true masters of survival.
They leapt from tree to tree, grabbing vines and moving with incredible agility. “Screech… screech…” Furious cries echoed through the forest as several shadows launched themselves from above toward the group.
There was no time to run. Lu Man shouted, “Form a circle and protect the boss!” As he gave the order, he and the other guards opened fire.
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