Chapter 137: A Fated Rival

“Boss!”

At this moment, Lu Kai stepped forward again. “Where do you think we should look for allies next? Didn’t you say there are still people alive?”

Chen Yi looked somewhat troubled.

“We saw what happened in Sicily before—virtually the entire force was wiped out, so we can rule that out. As for other places, we don’t yet know which would be suitable. At the very least, we need to find a stronghold where we can survive.”

At this time, Great Kunpeng used his senses to locate the first area with a dense population.

“Chen Yi, about three thousand kilometers away, there’s an island with around ten survivors. I’m not sure if they’re infected by the virus, but since they’ve managed to stay alive, we should check it out. Who knows, maybe we’ll find an opportunity there!”

Chen Yi pondered these words.

It was wise to recruit people to Freshborn Island, but the distance of three thousand kilometers would take a heavy toll on the warship. So Chen Yi made a different plan.

“Brother Kunpeng, can you see if there’s anywhere else nearby suitable for us to land?”

Kunpeng’s eyes widened, his pale purple irises flashing countless white streaks as he consolidated the surrounding images.

“Boss, there’s an island about three hundred meters away with over a hundred people. It looks like the island has plenty of supplies. Should we go check it out?”

“That’s fine.”

Chen Yi nodded.

“No matter what, it’s better to take a look than to regret missing such a place. By the way, to help you conceal your strength, how about I give you a name?”

“Sure!”

Great Kunpeng nodded happily.

“Having you name me really makes me happy. Go ahead, I’m all ears!”

“Let’s just call you Brother Peng—simple and easy to remember!”

Chen Yi said this and immediately received Great Kunpeng’s approval.

“That’s good. Then it’s settled. By the way, my son can just go by Little Peng, so everyone gets along better!”

Chen Yi nodded. “As long as you think it’s appropriate, it doesn’t matter to us.”

“Hey, don’t say it doesn’t matter!”

Great Kunpeng quickly waved his hand. “Though we joke around most of the time, when it counts, we have to keep things straight!”

Chen Yi chuckled.

Great Kunpeng was truly simple-minded. If he were human, he’d be too busy scheming to be so easy to talk to.

“Bang!”

The warship suddenly stopped, and everyone immediately turned around, alert.

Looking closely, a mutated sea snake coiled on the spot, flicking its tongue, its eyes gleaming with greed.

Brother Peng stepped forward. “Let me handle this! This reckless thing dares to invade my side—let’s see if I can’t beat it to death!”

“Wait!”

Chen Yi blocked Brother Peng and took two steps forward himself. After steadying his gaze, he smiled.

“This sea snake may not be here to cause trouble.”

The huge mutated sea snake hissed, but as Chen Yi said, it wasn’t attacking. Instead, it maintained that posture as if complaining rather than fighting.

Chen Yi slowly approached, eyes fixed on the creature.

“Hey, if you have something to say, say it. Don’t just glare at me like that—I have no idea what you’re thinking.”

“Young man,”

the sea snake suddenly spoke, flicking its tongue.

Hu Sanhan and Lu Kai were stunned.

“Ah, the snake can talk!”

“Is that so strange?”

Brother Peng looked annoyed.

“My son and I can talk too. Why aren’t you guys this excited?”

“That’s because we understand what he’s saying.”

Chen Yi helped explain to Hu Sanhan and the others, and Lu Kai nodded repeatedly.

“That’s why you’re the boss—you really know how to handle things!”

“Enough.”

Chen Yi was tired of these side talks and looked back at the sea snake.

“If you have demands, speak. We’re not strangers here.”

The sea snake was taken aback.

This young man clearly didn’t see himself as an outsider.

Its brow furrowed. “Do you really want me to see you as an acquaintance?”

Chen Yi nodded.

“Of course. If you refuse, then you become an enemy.”

As he spoke, Chen Yi drew his double-edged blade and brandished it twice, making the message clear: you’re either friend or foe.

The sea snake understood why the ocean overlord Kunpeng allied with this young man. If it didn’t side with the smart one now, surviving would be difficult.

“Are you really going to give up your stance as a mighty ocean force?”

Chen Yi’s gaze deepened as he looked at the snake.

“With your power in these waters, can’t you survive?”

“Survive?”

The sea snake sneered coldly, its eyes icy.

“Do you think I can still live after your relentless bombardment? Of course, beyond that, I face many enemies, but they’re not important enough to mention, so I ignore them.”

The implication was clear: the snake feared being outmaneuvered.

Though Chen Yi had no such intention, since the snake held him in such regard, he wouldn’t simply let things be. He spoke calmly.

“I don’t want to waste words. Since you’re seeking peace, let’s talk openly. If you want to cooperate, no problem. But you must protect the weak people around me, including Little Kunpeng.”

“Is he really weak?”

The snake protested, flicking its tongue.

Little Kunpeng immediately made a face in retort. “I’m just a small child. What, you want to fight me? Bring it on.”

“Little Peng must be protected.”

Great Kunpeng warned him. “After all, we’re all ocean creatures here. Who’s nobler than whom?”

The snake’s anger softened upon hearing this.

“Fine. Since you’ve said that, Kunpeng, I won’t make things difficult.”

The massive snake shifted its body forward again.

“I can escort you, but you need to share some crystal core energy with me at crucial moments. My power’s almost depleted—I doubt I can last until the next battle.”

“You can have it now.”

Chen Yi tossed a handful of crystal cores toward the snake, which left the giant serpent stunned.

“Crystal core energy is so worthless now you just throw it around?”

“Enough nonsense!”