Chapter 139: Doubts About Lu Tianming

Huafu stared blankly at Lu Tianming, who had once seemed so weak. Yet, as soon as he stepped onto the warship, he displayed an uncanny familiarity with its layout, causing her to pause in surprise. She looked at Chen Cao and remarked, “This guy really knows his stuff!”

Chen Cao replied, “Everyone has their story, and he’s no exception. Let’s follow him.” With that, he gripped his pistol and moved forward.

The bridge was a room of around a dozen square meters at the end of the corridor. It was evidently empty—electronic displays were dark—but all the ship’s controls, the steering wheel and joysticks, gleamed as if brand new. Lu Tianming quickly inspected the equipment, noting, “Someone maintains this place regularly. The machinery oil is still fresh.” Then, scanning his surroundings calmly, he added, “There doesn’t seem to be much else here. Let’s check downstairs.”

“Hey, kid, how dare you talk to us like that? Do you take us for your subordinates?” Huafu frowned, clearly displeased at Lu Tianming’s tone. Rolling up her sleeves, she revealed her well-toned muscles.

“No, no, no…” Lu Tianming hurriedly explained, “That’s not what I meant. I just want to see if the ship has any supplies we need. Aren’t supplies what we lack most right now?”

“Enough, Huafu!” Chen Cao interrupted, putting a stop to the brewing tension.

“Chen, I can’t stand this guy acting like some expert. I hate intellectual attitudes like his,” Huafu muttered, frowning deeply, clearly growing impatient. Sensing Huafu’s dangerous temper, Lu Tianming instinctively shrank himself down as much as possible.

Seeing Huafu so furious, Chen Cao said gently, “Forget it, we’re all just trying to survive.” Then, turning to Lu Tianming, he added, “Honestly, we don’t know if there are any small boats or speedboats below. I said that just to calm everyone down.”

Lu Tianming remained composed. “I know. I was despairing, only wanting to escape. But now that we’re here, and after the dream I had last night, I want to face something head-on.”

Chen Cao and Huafu were captivated by the seriousness in Lu Tianming’s eyes. “What is it?” they asked.

His once-dull gaze sharpened. “A mechanical structure. A mad weapons expert. Which do you think we should listen to first?”

“What do you mean?” Both exchanged confused looks.

Lu Tianming said, “It seems that guy really succeeded. If you trust me, let’s check the ship’s hull.”

Huafu and Chen Cao shared a glance, then nodded. Meanwhile, Chen Cao’s mind raced. Putting aside Lu Tianming’s desperate will to survive, why had he returned to the jungle? Was it risk-taking, exploration, treasure hunting? All plausible. Lu Tianming’s behavior deepened his suspicions. But once they reached the hull, everything would become clear.

As Lu Tianming turned, he signaled subtly to Huafu—one to the left, one to the right—walking behind him. Huafu’s pistol muzzle was barely noticeable, yet always aimed at Lu Tianming.

Descending the warship’s stairs, they soon reached its lowest level, the third floor. This level was far larger than the upper two, filled with cables and equipment. Following Huafu’s lead, they quickly arrived at a warehouse where she had once found treasure—but now, instead of treasure, there were countless irregular holes in the walls, above which three unevenly sized fans slowly spun. Apart from two swollen corpses clad in camouflage, the room was empty.

Huafu clasped her hands together, knelt by the bodies, and silently prayed aloud, reciting scriptures.

Chen Cao remained on guard, pistol raised and senses alert. Though Huafu had lent him a black diamond to prevent friendly fire, he remained vigilant to avoid falling under hypnosis again. Could this be the hypnotic device Huafu mentioned? So simple a thing, yet capable of rendering people unconscious, plunging them into deep, controlled dreams that manipulated their minds? It was almost unbelievable.

Lu Tianming approached the holes, trailing his withered fingers over them for a long moment before exclaiming, “I never imagined it—Kolby really was researching this... mind control. Such wickedness!”

While Lu Tianming spoke, Huafu began removing the weapons and gear from her companions. Watching Lu Tianming howl his lament to the sky, she whispered to Chen Cao, “Is this guy crazy?”

Chen Cao shook his head lightly. Lu Tianming scrutinized the holes and the fan-like vents again, then turned excitedly to Chen Cao and Huafu. “I finally understand. Five years of my life were ruined by Kolby. That man truly is mad!”

Chen Cao looked at the irregular holes and fans. “Old Lu, can you explain clearly?”

“Let’s go up. I’ve checked—there are no escape boats here. This is just an experimental base!” Lu Tianming declared.

“What?” Chen Cao gripped his pistol tightly, doubt clouding his gaze as he stared at the seemingly deranged Lu Tianming.

Lu Tianming met Chen Cao’s steady stare and quickly changed his tone. “Chen, trust me. Staying here too long causes natural hypnosis. Let’s go upstairs—I’ll explain everything.”

Hearing the word “hypnosis,” Huafu bristled. “Fine, let’s go. This damned place doesn’t feel right.”

Chen Cao nodded. The three exited the compartment, and as they passed a room, Huafu suddenly stopped. “Wait.” Without warning, she smashed open the door with the butt of her gun before Chen Cao could intervene. He followed closely, pistol ready.

Inside, Huafu found several sets of clothes and smiled. “I asked just now if there’d be a smell of camphor here. Looks like there really are some clothes!”

Chen Cao looked at the neatly folded camouflage uniforms in her hands, recalling how the two women they encountered wore only simple clothes, with the rest of the space empty. These uniforms would be useful. Then, his thoughts drifted to Karissa’s tender, enchanting gaze—if only... he might not be able to resist.

Huafu caught Chen Cao’s look and understood immediately. With a mysterious smile, she said, “You don’t have to hold back. There are plenty of empty rooms here.”

Chen Cao frowned. “Is this really the time for jokes?”

Huafu laughed heartily but, when her eyes met Lu Tianming’s, her brows furrowed just like Chen Cao’s.