After tending to Huo Jingrui’s wound, Yunyi had no time to think of anything else, as someone nearby called out, "Chu Zhiqing, there’s someone seriously injured over here, come quickly and help."
She had just picked up her backpack when she saw Wei Zijia limping over, crying, "Chu Zhiqing, thank goodness you’re alright." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noveⅼfire.net
Yunyi patted her on the shoulder. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."
Just then, Qiao Wenyu caught up. "Watch your foot."
After speaking, he looked Yunyi up and down. Seeing that she was unharmed despite her disheveled appearance, he finally relaxed. "Chu Zhiqing, many people over there are injured. Do you still have any medical supplies?"
Yunyi turned to the soldier guarding Huo Jingrui and said, "Keep an eye on him. Don’t let him make any big movements, to prevent his wound from reopening."
Having said that, she strode toward the noisy area nearby.
The moment she left, Huo Jingrui climbed up from the rock and said to Qiao Wenyu, "Don’t run around. Take good care of your friend."
With that, he headed straight after Yunyi.
Despite feeling apologetic towards Yunyi, seeing his own wounded comrades made him grateful that she had come along. He had indeed underestimated the enemy’s backup plan, not having anticipated it. If Yunyi hadn’t been here today, who knows how many would have perished in these deep mountains. Thinking of Yunyi’s skills, his curiosity about this young woman grew ever stronger.
Ignoring his own back wound, he stayed by Yunyi’s side, acting as an assistant.
Tragically, one comrade, due to severe injuries, couldn’t be saved.
For a while, everyone’s spirits were very low.
As the eastern sky began to show the pale light of dawn, they set out again down the mountain.
Yunyi glanced at the people being pushed forward. Hatred welled up in her heart; protecting these people had cost three of our own their vibrant lives. But the orders from above were to take them alive, to interrogate them for more valuable information. A soldier’s duty is to obey orders. They had fulfilled their military oath, yet their lives ended here.
Around noon, as they emerged from the deep mountains, they heard people approaching in the distance.
Yunyi had keen hearing. She discerned that villagers from the foothills, having heard disturbances in the mountains the previous night, had reported it early that morning. The village had then organized a party to accompany the police into the mountains to investigate the situation.
Yunyi quickened her pace to catch up with Huo Jingrui. "Someone’s coming. I’ll go ahead."
Huo Jingrui didn’t react immediately. Only when she had already dashed off did he remember that they had previously told the village they were on a temporary assignment to the city.
He then understood her intentions—it wasn’t that she was afraid, but rather that she wanted to avoid trouble.
Watching her disappear from view, he then turned his attention forward.
When he got a clear look at the approaching group, it was quite the assembly: villagers from the foothills, comrades from the commune’s police station, and people from the Hua’an Agricultural Reclamation Group.
When the people from the Agricultural Reclamation Group saw the three educated youths who had been missing for several days, they were so furious they looked ready to curse them to death.
Yunyi had previously instructed Huo Jingrui to protect these few. Otherwise, while Qiao Wenyu and Zheng Xuewen, being men, might manage, Wei Zijia would likely have no peace.
Even with Qiao Wenyu and Zheng Xuewen’s protection, some people would likely still stir up trouble with their malicious gossip.
Huo Jingrui gave Qiao Wenyu a stern look before stepping forward to negotiate with the people from the Agricultural Reclamation Group, claiming they had discovered enemy saboteurs in the mountains and had not returned on time because they were cooperating with the military.
Upon hearing this reason, the representative’s attitude changed immediately, and he began to fuss over the three with solicitous inquiries about their well-being.
Now with enough manpower, there were people to help transport the wounded down the mountain, so they descended the mountain quickly.