Chapter 882

·

·

·

Main Character:

Shen Yao

On the seventh day after Wei Ran and the others left, there was no movement outside.

The atmosphere inside the building began to turn oppressive and tense again; it wasn't that they did it on purpose, but when people are in such a high-pressure environment, it's really hard not to let themselves think wildly.

Liu Mingfeng was helpless; he did want to suppress these messy thoughts and make everyone focus on the present, rather than worry about Wei Ran and the others who hadn't returned yet, muttering bad news under his breath.

But he didn't have that ability; even he himself couldn't control it, after all, once the situation was laid bare, everyone panicked. That wasn't simply a matter of not being able to return, but having no way to survive.

"Don't panic, it's not that severe yet," Shen Chengyi signaled Liu Mingfeng to calm down; their current danger was mainly the ever-decreasing food.

However, when the day truly came that they ran out of ammunition and food, Shen Chengyi wasn't unable to rely on the grain in her space, passing it off as wild game she had found outside, so that everyone could live a few more days.

Liu Mingfeng: ……

"Deputy Captain Shen, the key is everyone's emotions," Liu Mingfeng spread his hands, thinking to himself that certain people simply weren't the type with wills like bedrock; under high pressure, others would lose their footing after saying a few more words. "I've already heard several rounds of news about Captain Wei and them not returning; most are worry, but a small portion also..."

Also what? Liu Mingfeng didn't dare continue, because the content was inauspicious.

Shen Chengyi didn't have Shen Yao's cheat, so naturally she didn't know that Wei Ran and the others were currently running back, and that it was a narrow escape, looking utterly miserable.

"Let them talk. As long as there's no internal chaos, no need to restrict too harshly," Shen Chengyi explained that people at this time were like springs; the more you suppress, the more they rebound. The most direct method was to give them a channel to breathe, and let them move freely within this range.

Liu Mingfeng: ……Huh?

"It's fine, you don't need to mind it. I'll handle this matter," Shen Chengyi waved her hand, signaling Liu Mingfeng to keep his gaze on the safety outside the building. As for when Wei Ran and the others would return, "It should be these few days," if things go smoothly; after all, they were still carrying a mission.

Liu Mingfeng hummed twice, indicating that since Shen Chengyi said so, he would also feel at ease; compared to himself, Shen Chengyi's words definitely carried more weight.

Even Liu Mingfeng himself didn't notice that he was also flustered when speaking, not much different from those restless team members.

After sending Liu Mingfeng away, Shen Chengyi exhaled. She secretly pinched her wrist, planning to pay more attention to these team members when resting at night; once she detected any signs, she would directly manually interrupt.

"Deputy Captain Shen, you..."

The team members, with faces pale as paper, looked at Shen Chengyi, who was comparable to a killing god reincarnated; their lips trembled uncontrollably.

"Sleep. Once you're asleep, it'll be fine."

Click.

The team member's eyes rolled back and he fainted directly. Shen Chengyi raised her hand to slowly support the falling body, gently laying the person flat on the ground.

The spirit already showed obvious signs of collapse; knocking them out only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. They still needed Wei Ran and the others to return to alleviate it.

Tsk.

It had been nine days since Wei Ran and the others left; even if the road wasn't smooth, there should be some news. Could it be that they really didn't find a way out but instead ran into trouble, and the whole army was wiped out?

It shouldn't be!

Shen Chengyi frowned, pondering in her heart as she walked, while observing the surrounding team members still asleep. Finding anything amiss, she would raise her hand and deliver a hand blade.

Mhm, really very physical principles; it's just that the person knocked out feels uncomfortable, and upon waking will still feel some neck pain.

Finished with these matters, Shen Chengyi returned to her sleeping bag and lay down flat.

It wasn't cold, because the building was airtight, and there were ability users around responsible for adding firewood and stoking the fire. Especially the ability users' powers were very useful; daily eating and drinking were no worry.

For some reason, Shen Chengyi thought of Wei Ran again. These past two days Liu Mingfeng had also started panicking along with everyone; even with Shen Chengyi's admonitions, his problem couldn't be changed. Fortunately, he knew he was the deputy captain, so he only secretly ran to the doorway to observe rather than leading the team members into chaos together. Shen Chengyi turned a blind eye and let him go.

Huff puff.

Wei Ran gritted her teeth and ran forward; during this time there were many instances of falling, but Wei Ran didn't retreat in the slightest. After all, her being able to survive was thanks to those team members who sacrificed themselves. If the message couldn't be sent back, she wouldn't be resigned.

"Captain, how much farther?" Walk, can't walk anymore, really no strength.

"Persist a little longer. This place is very close to where we live. As long as we return smoothly, we can safely return to the shelter," Wei Ran encouraged the few people beside her, saying that in the shelter there was no worry about food, drink, or cold. Think of the family and colleagues in the shelter, then think of the comrades and teammates who sacrificed for them. We've already walked ninety-nine steps; how can we fall at the very last step!

Team Members: ……

Like withered bodies re-injected with energy, everyone became filled with confidence again. These days of fleeing had made them wish they were dead. Every time they couldn't hold on, they would encourage each other.

Perhaps these words were empty and false, but right now, besides believing, there was no other way.

Continue walking forward. Wei Ran could no longer sense the iron rust taste in her mouth. Her only thought now was to go back, bring the message back, to do right by the sacrificed Cheng Nan.

…………

"Deputy Captain Shen, Deputy Captain Shen."

Liu Mingfeng hated that he couldn't raise his hand and pat Shen Chengyi awake. This was already the twelfth day since Wei Ran and the others left, and there was still no movement outside.

Can't suppress it, really can't suppress it!

"Calm down!"

Shen Chengyi knitted her brows, staring at the already chaotic team members, indicating that she would go out today to check the situation. Whatever matters there were, wait until she returned to speak.

Gasp!

Deputy Captain Shen is going out? Then, she should be able to bring Captain Wei and them back, right?

The team members' hearts gave rise to some little calculations, while Liu Mingfeng wanted to go out with Shen Chengyi, giving the reason that he could help.

Shen Chengyi: ……

Help what? Not causing her trouble would be good enough. Shen Chengyi really didn't believe Liu Mingfeng could steady his mindset. This person was already a bit biased because of the previous messy matters. If he went out with her and didn't run into Wei Ran and the others, who knows, he might go crazy on the spot.

"If we both leave, it will be dangerous here," Shen Chengyi could only use the team members remaining inside the building as an excuse. "There must be someone to soothe them here. I'm not here, you can't leave."

Liu Mingfeng: ……

"Rest assured, I will bring Wei Ran and them back," Shen Chengyi spoke and acted accordingly.

Liu Mingfeng could only believe Shen Chengyi, silently watching her leave. No one knew what he was truly thinking in his heart.

………

The markers on the map were somewhat malfunctioning, because the content had no correspondence.

Shen Chengyi could only desperately recall the route Wei Ran and the others had taken when they left; if they wanted to come back, they would most likely choose to return by the same way.

She picked a road and went forward, while also staying alert to the surroundings and dangers.

The air she exhaled turned into white mist — this was because it was too cold outside; the protective suit and clothes Shen Chengyi wore still could not block the cold wind.

Ahead, even further ahead?!

Suddenly, Shen Chengyi halted her steps; the reason was she saw several figures slowly writhing.

It was truly writhing — the kind where they take a step then pause for several steps; one could clearly see these people were moving forward purely on instinct, their minds long gone, and they were somewhat delirious.

Shen Chengyi quickened her pace, ran over, and then saw the situation there clearly — it was Wei Ran and the others!

"Wei Ran?"

Who? Calling her?

Wei Ran blearily lifted her eyes, dazed for a good while before she realized the person covering her whole body was Shen Chengyi.

"Chengyi"

Wei Ran's throat was hoarse beyond measure; if not for Shen Chengyi paying constant attention, she simply would not have heard Wei Ran's words.

"Cheng Nan is dead, the others are gone too, only a few of us remain, I"

The words were unfinished when Wei Ran suddenly fainted, like someone whose strength was utterly spent; if only she herself could still hold on, seeing hope made her lose consciousness.

Shen Chengyi hurriedly caught Wei Ran as she was about to fall, and at the same time she did not forget to scan all the unconscious team members scattered around Wei Ran; these people collapsed one after another after seeing her appear, the reason naturally being that the breath they had been holding in their hearts leaked out.

No choice, Shen Chengyi could only scrounge up some usable tools from the surroundings, settle the people, then slowly drag them back.

"Th-this, this is Captain Wei and them?" Liu Mingfeng's fingers trembled; the tragic scene before his eyes clearly exceeded his expectations.

Shen Chengyi nodded, had the others come over to carry them back, and conveniently asked auxiliary-type ability users to come treat them; originally Wei Ran's group had brought one when they left, but that person had long since fainted.

"Deputy Captain Shen"

Liu Mingfeng walked up to Shen Chengyi, "Where did Captain Wei and them collapse?"

Shen Chengyi had only been out a few hours, yet brought Wei Ran's group back; although the number brought back could not compare to the number who originally left, people had returned, so there were definitely clues for the way back, and they could return to the shelter next, the internal atmosphere no longer as oppressive as before.

"Right at the fork up ahead," nothing that couldn't be said.

Shen Chengyi didn't hide it from Liu Mingfeng, but also had him prepare himself; the tragic state of Wei Ran's group marked that their way out would not be so easily found, moreover ability users suffered heavy losses, and there were still ordinary people here, so there would probably be attrition on the road too.

Liu Mingfeng:...

"Deputy Captain Shen, I'm prepared for these," Liu Mingfeng's tone was low, thinking the difficulty of returning could not compare to the day-after-day waiting.

The two spoke for a while, then gathered by Wei Ran's side waiting for her to wake.

The auxiliary-type ability user's methods were indeed very effective; Wei Ran, who only felt dazed for a moment, regained consciousness and found herself back inside a warm building.

Oh

She had run into Shen Chengyi on the road, and now they had already returned.

She blinked repeatedly, then abruptly sat up, grabbed Shen Chengyi's arm and clutched it tight, "We found tools to go back, as long as we repair those trucks."

Hearing this, Shen Chengyi expressionlessly steadied Wei Ran's swaying body, understanding the other's overly agitated state of mind.

"Don't rush, speak slowly," right now they had all returned, no more danger would appear, whatever words there were could be spoken.

Wei Ran naturally knew this logic, but the previous events were too stimulating, and scenes of Cheng Nan's final moments still lingered in Wei Ran's mind.

Perhaps Cheng Nan's death stimulated Wei Ran, causing Wei Ran to speak disjointedly, some content repeated over and over; Shen Chengyi felt no dissatisfaction, just listened quietly, her hand occasionally making soothing gestures, afraid Wei Ran might have another episode.

"... that's how it is, also don't know what happened with the temporary camp and the Commander-in-Chief, after we went back we only saw a blank expanse... Cheng Nan chose to self-destruct at the end, I, I couldn't save her."

Wei Ran hated her own inability; if it were Shen Chengyi she would certainly have saved Cheng Nan, and they wouldn't have died so miserably.

"Even if it were me, it doesn't mean I could bring them back safely, no one wants this to happen," but once it happens one can only accept and adjust.

Besides, their sacrifice wasn't useless; they accidentally completed the official mission, and even found a way to return to the shelter.

Wei Ran sighed, expression much calmer, "Yeah."

This was also a rare consolation; at least their efforts weren't in vain.

Shen Chengyi pressed down Wei Ran's arm, signaling her to rest and recuperate more; the following matters needn't be worried about, with her and Liu Mingfeng there, everything would be arranged properly.

"Must leave as soon as possible, there will be another temperature drop later," if it happens again, they might not survive; don't look at how warm the building interior is now, it won't hold out for long.

Shen Chengyi smiled and agreed, had the auxiliary-type ability user continue caring for and treating Wei Ran, while she herself called Liu Mingfeng and a few other team members who could make decisions, quietly discussing the next plans and arrangements.

Leaving was a must, because staying meant only a dead end.

Besides that, they also had to consider attrition and accidents on the road, just as Wei Ran said, no one knows what problems they'll encounter on the road, once they run into them if they can't run they'll have to fight it out.

"Give everyone a heads-up in advance, then give them a choice whether to leave," most likely all will go, fight for a chance and they might live to return to the shelter, stay and just wait to finish the food and be slowly tortured.

Speaking her thoughts aloud and then arranging them, Shen Chengyi asked the others again if they had anything to add.

Don't say it, there really was.

All trivial details Shen Chengyi hadn't noticed, but others had considered; after everything was said the departure plan seemed very perfect, at least no obvious bugs.

"Each go prepare, if there's a problem speak up anytime," Shen Chengyi raised a hand and rubbed her brow; she was a bit tired, today going out to find people and bringing them back took great effort, Shen Chengyi hadn't really rested yet.

Seeing the others walk away one by one, Shen Chengyi herself let out a breath of relief.

Sky high earth wide, body biggest; whatever matters, wait until after resting to speak.

Returned to beside the sleeping bag and lay down, Shen Chengyi slept and woke to find it was already the next morning; Wei Ran and the others had passed the initial panic, currently all calm and composed.

Especially Wei Ran, simply an Iron Lady; emotions stabilized quickly, and she could even direct team members to pack things, prepare items needed for departure.