It turns out that only those with strong willpower can be successfully rescued; those who are usually indecisive or have certain mental problems are already dead before the rescuers arrive.
Meanwhile, the rescue operation was extremely difficult. After successfully treating some people and bringing them back to consciousness, they still had to defend against the mysterious attacks that could come at any time from the ocean. The proportion of people who could survive the second, third, or even Nth attack and return safely to their home country or dock at a nearby port in another country was also very small.
The mortality rate is actually very high, even for Chinese ships with "expert" personnel.
Therefore, the inescapable predicament of having to store oil in distant places of origin, unable to be brought back, has plunged the entire world into a severe energy crisis.
All countries, including China, have had to resort to coercive measures to protect this scarce energy resource and restrict and control the consumption and use of petroleum products, which has risen to the level of national security.
The conclusions reached by the international situation analysis group are not optimistic for the Chinese government.
Although the entire world has suffered tremendous blows, and although the ocean has become a death trap, the international situation is dire, and the potential for a future world war is more severe than ever before. Oil resources have thus become a true strategic reserve.
The thousand-kilometer-long surface oil pipeline built in cooperation with the former Soviet Union has also been abandoned. At this time, Russia, Ukraine and other countries will no longer allow such resources to flow abroad as commodities unless China replaces them with some of the resources they need most. Otherwise, the pipeline switch, which is in the hands of foreign military forces, will never be turned on.
The Chinese government has issued a new emergency temporary decree for extraordinary times, prohibiting private cars from being on the road and requiring gas stations to only refuel vehicles with green license plates or buses; otherwise, it will be considered a violation of the law.
Yi Zuojun was well aware of these circumstances, and he also participated in organizing and arranging the rescue work for some Chinese ships, because the "Heaven-Mending Pill," which had always been used to improve the spirit and morale of the Yi family members, had a miraculous effect on this kind of mysterious attack!
Yi Zuojun objected to using "Mending the Heaven Pill," made from ginseng from Changbai Mountain, to rescue ordinary ship crew members.
Not to mention that the cost of the medicinal materials alone to refine this kind of pill is as high as 12,000 yuan per pill, the key issue is that with limited raw material resources and the absence of the master, it is completely inappropriate and meaningless to use this kind of pill to save ordinary people.
This time, Yi Zuojun deeply felt the Chinese people's obsession with saving face. Just to stand out on the world stage and appear extraordinary, they repeatedly used all sorts of connections to lobby and make demands. They even ordered the Yi family to use their reserves for this purpose.
Heaven knows what Elder Yi Potian was thinking, that he actually agreed to this decision. Perhaps in his view, with the Master around, this kind of elixir was no longer precious.
But Yi Zuojun had never told anyone the secret that his master had told him before he left, and only to him, that this trip was risky and that there was a possibility that he might not come back!
This deepest fear was carefully hidden in Yi Zuojun's heart, and he didn't tell anyone, not even Xia Yuwen who was by his side.
"Zuo Jun, I want to go back to Chengdu. Will you take me there this time?"
Xia Yuwen stood under the dark green pine and cypress trees, without being wrapped in thick cotton clothes, looking very thin. With her increasingly graceful and refined demeanor as her skill deepened, she stood there quietly, like a fairy about to float away. Even the Zhongnanhai guards, who had undergone strict training, could not help but steal a glance from time to time while on duty.
"Madam, this will not do; I am afraid I cannot comply."
Yi Zuojun was humble in attitude but firm in tone.
Are you kidding me? If Xia Yuwen goes back to Chengdu alone, will Yi Zuojun still be able to maintain his position in the Yi family?
After the lessons learned from Xiao Guli and Nannan, Lin Yao's immediate family members were personally protected by all the top-level experts in the country. Even Lin Hongmei and Luo Jimin couldn't get rid of them. This time, Elder Yi Potian personally stayed in Chengdu as their bodyguard, precisely to avoid embarrassing others, including Sun Woxing. Lin Yao's parents had no choice but to give Yi Potian face and accept the security measures arranged by them.
Even though Xia Yuwen's skill had reached the peak of the Earth level, Yi Zuojun was still worried. At least with him there, he could ensure Xia Yuwen landed safely if the flight encountered any problems; that was his duty.
"Madam, please get in the car."
Yi Yang's Hongqi sedan approached silently. Now that Xia Yuwen had become Lin Yao's spokesperson, she was coming to Zhongnanhai to discuss important matters with the national leaders. As the head of the Yi family, his personal role as her driver would greatly enhance Xia Yuwen's status, so he came without hesitation.
"Thanks a lot."
Xia Yuwen was well aware of Yi Yang's identity, and gave him an apologetic smile before opening the car door and getting in.
Yi Zuojun darted forward and opened the car door first, "Madam... oh!"
Xia Yuwen sensed Yi Zuojun's surprise. Although this was Zhongnanhai, the most heavily guarded and safest place in the country, she did not stop to look around out of curiosity. Instead, she continued her actions unhurriedly, lightly sat in the back seat of the Hongqi car, and then followed Yi Zuojun's gaze to check the situation.
This was a code of conduct she had been trained in beforehand, and Xia Yuwen remembered it very clearly. Although her personal abilities were limited, she did not want to become a burden to anyone, so she strictly adhered to the code of conduct in all situations.
This is especially true when Lin Yao is not in the country!
Sias Danpu stepped out of a green-plated Hongqi sedan, his expression somewhat solemn.
The person who opened the door for him was a member of the American team, named with the abbreviation "SUPERMAN," a title that also represents the elite of the top achievements in American life sciences.
Sias, who was adept at assessing the situation before getting out of the car, was petrified the moment he looked around.
He saw Yi Zuojun, the young man who always served Lin Yao, and beside him was none other than Lin Yao's fiancée, Xia Yuwen, from a prominent family in the Chinese military!
If we see each other in this environment, should we go over and say hello?
Sias Danp looked rather embarrassed, his expression appearing quite unnatural.
The American team member next to him misunderstood Sias's intentions. His muscles suddenly contracted, and a dense, almost tangible killing intent surged fiercely toward Yi Zuojun, who was not far away.
"snort!"
Yi Zuojun snorted coldly, and the sudden burst of Heaven-level pressure was aimed directly at the team members in front of him, but he precisely controlled the range of the pressure, so that it did not affect Sias Danpu.
"Well!"
The team member cried out in pain, feeling as if he had been struck by a hammer. Suddenly, his feet touched the ground, as if an invisible hammer had struck his body. He flew through the air over Sias Danp and landed about ten meters away.
The scene before him left Sias Danp speechless with shock, his mouth agape, unable to conceal his astonishment and fear.
The young man serving tea and water to Lin Yao is surprisingly capable!
The team members around me come from the United States' top life sciences technology sector. The U.S. Department of Defense specifically asked me to bring them along on this trip to China to deter the Chinese government, implying that only countries with a long history possess the most advanced capabilities, and that the emerging United States can also mass-produce such beings that surpass the highest peaks of humankind.
"It's a pleasure to meet you again, Mr. Yi. I'm delighted to see you here again. If it's convenient, I would like to have lunch with you later."
Sias? But Pu, as expected of a politician who moves in the world political arena and a shrewd arms dealer, seemed not to see his own team members being defeated and coughing up blood by a mysterious force. He walked over enthusiastically and, regardless of Yi Zuojun's agreement, grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously, as if he had met a brother he hadn't seen for many years.
"Hello Mr. But Pu! It's been a long time."
Yi Zuojun offered only a perfunctory greeting, remaining unmoved by the other party's overtures. As a top-tier expert and his master's henchman, he didn't need to give the foreigner much face.
Sias Danp felt as if he were not being given a perfunctory courtesy, but rather a warm welcome that was just as intimate as his own; the enthusiasm had not diminished but had become even more intense.