Power and Wealth

One day….

Five days….

Ten days….

More than a dozen days had passed.

This afternoon, Dong Xuebing used his keys to cut the flesh of a spotted fish into pieces and place it on the rock for drying. He will flip the fish slices after a while, and it is semi-cooked after about two hours before eating. After eating, he continued to stare afar listlessly.

It's been more than ten days, but the search party still has not come for him.

The past few days were torture. Dong Xuebing almost died several times. He was almost swept into the seas by large waves several times and almost died of thirst because there was no rain for two days and two nights. Luckily, he managed to survive. When is this going to end? The last time it rained was two days ago, and he had not drunk anything since. His throat is dry, and he can only get some moisture from the fish slices. But it is not enough. He could not hold on any longer. He is physically and mentally exhausted.

Where is the search party? What the f**k are you all doing?! Can you all come faster?!

If I am not rescued soon, I will become a dried corpse!

Dong Xuebing reached towards the sky and clenched his fist weakly. At least give me some rain if there are no helicopters.

It's been more than ten days, and Dong Xuebing can survive because of his STOP powers. No one could last so long if it were someone else. But STOP is not invincible and could not solve the drinking water issue. He could not get enough food, water, and the temperature difference during the day and night is too big. His life is being drained every second and is at his limits. Maybe, he might not wake up after he falls asleep.

Sigh… sigh… sigh…

Suddenly, Dong Xuebing saw something from the corner of his eyes.

"Huh?" He sat up and looked into the distance.

There is a black shadow on the horizon, and it's getting nearer and bigger. But Dong Xuebing could not see clearly because it was too far away.

What is that?

Shark? Whale? Or…

It's nearer… Dong Xuebing can finally see it! It's a ship!

Dong Xuebing is overjoyed and stood up excitedly. He looked around and grabbed the orange lifejacket. Lifejackets are made in this color because it's easier to spot from a distance. He raised his lifejacket above his head and started waving and shouting with his hoarse voice.

"Hey! There's someone here! Help!"

It's too far, and the people on the ship should not hear him.

Dong Xuebing shouted louder. "Hello! Over here! Here!"

Dong Xuebing had finally seen a glimpse of hope, and he used all his strength to shout for help.

"HELP! HELP!"

"Hey! This way! Over here!"

But that ship, a few hundred meters away, did not react after he shouted for a while.

The ship is not traveling towards Dong Xuebing's position. It is moving diagonally in front of him and is getting further away. Suddenly, Dong Xuebing noticed a person appearing on the deck, and he seems to be looking in his direction. He shouted louder and raised his lifejacket, hoping to be spotted. The person should have seen him, and two more people appeared on the deck after a while. One of them is using binoculars and pointing towards him.

They have spotted me!

Dong Xuebing is a relief. He is feeling giddy from the shouting and waving.

"Hello! Please help!"

"Come closer! I can swim over if you are closer!"

Dong Xuebing shouted again.

There are no flags on the ship, and Dong Xuebing doesn't know where this ship is from. He can only make out the figure of the crew and could not tell their nationality. But most ships will rescue people from the sea when they come across them. That's why he never thought that ship would ignore him. But the ship did not stop and continued to move forward.

The crew had also left the deck.

The cargo ship maintained its speed and is getting further from Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing is furious. Damn! How can you leave without rescuing me?!

Dong Xuebing had waited for more than ten days for a ship to pass by. This is his only hope to get home, and that ship is continuing with its way? How long more does he need to wait for another ship? He is not someone who gives up easily. This is an opportunity to survive, and he will not sit there like a fool. This is not his style!

Fine! You all are not coming over, right?!

Then I shall go over to your side!

Dong Xuebing wore his clothes and looked at that cargo ship a distance away before saying STOP in his heart!

No humans, including good swimmers, can swim faster than a ship and catch up with it.

But Dong Xuebing can!

Dong Xuebing is the only person who can do that!

After giving the command STOP, time stopped.

The grey-colored ship stopped, and the waves solidified like ice. Dong Xuebing jumped off the reef rock onto the sea and started running towards the cargo ship!

Ten meters….

One hundred meters….

Two hundred meters….

Three hundred meters….

The waves made the sea surface uneven, and Dong Xuebing had to make sure not to trip as he ran towards the ship.

Tiring…

Dong Xuebing almost collapsed due to his fatigue!

But he is not giving up. Even when he had not drunk a single drop of water for two days, he will not stop. This is his only hope of getting home, and he is determined to get on board the ship!

Fifty meters more!

Twenty meters more!

Ten meters more!

Reached!

This is not a big cargo ship, but it is not small either. The deck is several meters high, and it's impossible to get on board by swimming. But Dong Xuebing has a solution. He used his momentum to jump onto a large wave against the ship and leap upwards to the deck. He managed to hold on to the side of the deck and flipped himself over.

Success!