Chapter 137: Count on Me (2/2)

”Thirsty...” Rumi muttered. ”Just... one sip?”

”Shut up! No means no! Sea water will only make you even more thirsty,” Wang Tong bawl out at Rumi.

”Wang Tong is right! We can do it guys. We are the best of Ayrlarng!” Carl announced excitingly, although his voice had become husky and dry.

”Let her take just one sip, Rumi is not as strong as you. I am afraid she won't be able to make it.” Ma Xiaoru pleaded as she regarded Rumi sympathetically.

Wang Tong finally nodded.

Tita and the others were afraid that they would lose their self-control and follow Rumi to drink the salty water, so they looked the other way while Rumi took a gulp of the water. Ma Xiaoru swallowed hard, closed the bottle cap and put it back to the space crystal.

Wang Tong gestured everyone to move on; the break was over. Ten black dots then filed toward the dark spec, Paradise Island, on the other side of the horizon.

It was noon eight hours later, the hottest part of the day. Water would evaporate at an increased rate even without much exertion, let alone the group of struggling students in the middle of an endless sea. The dark spec didn't get any larger, but thanks to this dot in the far distance, the students haven't yet given up the mission.

Ma Xiaoru opened her crystal and took out their last bottle of water, it was Wang Tong's, and it was still full.

Even Wang Tong had felt a slight fatigue, and his endurance was slowly slipping away.

It was worse to get stuck without water in the sea than in the desert, since, there was nothing more tempting than the dangerous seawater around.

A few times, some of Wang Tong's team members attempted to steal the water from Ma Xiaoru, and both Hu Yangxuan and Wang Ben had become so tired that they didn't even notice, but luckily, Wang Tong had remained vigilant and stopped them right away.

The sun had reached the zenith, hanging in the sky like an enormous eye that looked down on this groups of helpless students.

Under everyone's anticipating gaze, Ma Xiaoru finally cracked open the last bottle and moved next to the mouth of Rumi.

”Here you go, Rumi.”

Rumi's kept his mouth closed and shook her head.

”It's fine Rumi, the rest of us are still fine. You need it.”

”You guys go ahead, I don't move much so I don't need that much water.”

Ma Xiaoru looked around and said, ”I am still fine anyone?”

Zhou Sisi also shook her head.

”It's not the time to be a hero. You two, if you want to live, drink! Now!” Wang Tong announced. He knew that no one would drink that bottle of water if Rumi and Zhou Sisi had refused to drink it, and without drinking, they couldn't move any further.

”Wang Tong, you need to lead us, you should have some,” Wang Ben said to him.

”I'm all right, you guys can go ahead,” Wang Tong replied. Truth be told, Wang Tong felt that his throat was on fire, but he also knew that his classmates would need the water much more than he did.

”Captain, just drink it! We know that you didn't really have much water earlier,” Kyaero said. He had noticed that every time it was Wang Tong's turn to take the water, he only wet his lips by slightly touching the bottle.

”Wang Tong, it's you who are trying to be a hero. These bottles of water are yours anyway,” Hu Yangxuan said it with an ugly grin on his face.

”Wang Tong, go ahead... drink it... And just leave me here... I don't want to slow everyone down anymore...” Rumi struggled to let out a few words. She knew that she had been a burden to the team so far.

”Don't even think about it! We came here together, and I am not going to leave with anyone left behind. Now just drink, the more you talk, the more thirsty you will get.”

”Wang Tong, you are the man! If we ever make it back alive, I will follow your orders,” Carl said with a husky voice. He didn't realize how big of an ”if” it was.

”We can never make it at this speed. I propose that Wang Tong takes this bottle of water and move ahead of us to find the island. Once he succeeds, he can then return with help,” Zhou Sisi said.

Some students looked at each other not sure what to make of this proposal. ”I agree, that seems like the only option we got.” Wang Ben nodded in agreement.

”Let's vote!” Ma Xiaoru announced.

Zhou Sisi's motion was passed as everyone agreed to her proposal. Hu Yangxuan patted on the shoulder of Wang Tong and said, ”I will be counting on you now. If you get me out of here, I can hook you up with any girl you want.”

Wang Tong had finally conceded that this was the only option for his group. He accepted the bottle, gulp down a mouthful of water and then he returned the still mostly-full bottle to Ma Xiaoru.

”Wang Ben, Xiaoru, Hu Yangxuan, look after everyone! I will be back!”

Without saying any more words, Wang Tong cranked up his GN force and darted toward the dark spec in the distance.