Chapter 237: The Disappearing Villagers

"Dig!" the Rescue Team Captain gave the order.

In an instant, all the soldiers went into action, moving forward at a steady pace, and every five minutes, a round of roll calls rang out immediately.

"1."

"2."

"3."

"28."

"29."

"30!"

Everyone moved in unison toward number 15, adjusting their positions.

Number 15 was the beacon for them all, and in this vast snowy expanse, their only firm belief.

One number after another, called out again and again.

Everyone felt anxious in their hearts, yet there was still nothing they could do.

Time ticked by in circles, and the searchers also conducted their rescue in circles.

The first thing they waited for was not news from Team One, but the return of Team Two.

"Captain, we just searched the village. We dug for a long time, but we didn't see anyone in the village," the Rescue Team Two also said with some surprise.

One had to know that they had suffered countless casualties along the way.

Now, they had actually discovered that the entire village of people seemed to have evaporated into thin air.

The Rescue Team Captain spoke up, "The other two villages, have they been searched?"

"That's the strange part. The other villages are just like the previous one; there is simply no one there, not even a single corpse," the Team Leader of Team Two marveled.

This was the first time they had encountered such a strange matter.

Upon hearing this, An Yinan's downcast eyes suddenly lit up.

If the people in those three villages were fine, did that mean Chen Xun and his team were with the villagers? Did it mean everyone was safe?

"Did you search the whole village?" He hoped they hadn't all gathered together only to suffer a total village-wide death.

If An Yinan knew what he was thinking, she would definitely tell him that the term for that was total annihilation!!!

The Team Leader of Team Two answered immediately, "Yes, we searched the entire village; there wasn't a single place we missed."

They had even turned the village ancestral hall upside down.

The spirit tablets really hadn't run away...

Otherwise, they would have all thought some supernatural event had occurred.

"Since that's the case, search with full force; the brothers and the villagers might all still be alive," the Rescue Team Captain said.

Although his voice was not loud, for fear of triggering another avalanche.

And while his emotions were not high-pitched, everyone saw the excitement on his face. Hope surged in the heart of every soldier.

Their comrades were still alive!

The villagers were still alive!

As long as there is life, there is hope!

In this special environment, they suppressed their voices, for their own sake and for the sake of their comrades.

They crawled on the snow, listening for movement beneath it, and after confirming it was safe, they inserted steel rods before continuing forward; when they determined there was movement underground, they would switch to shovels to shovel away the snow on the ground bit by bit.

With the addition of Team Two, their rescue team moved even faster.

"Captain, there's a new discovery," just as everyone was working hard, a voice said.

Then a second person said, "Captain, Team One number 7 has a new discovery."

Then a third person said, "Captain, Team One number 7 has a new discovery."

All the way to the central area, An Yinan quickly followed the Rescue Team Captain over and saw the second porcelain bottle tied with red cloth.

An Yinan looked around, "Strange."

"What is it?" the Rescue Team Captain asked.

An Yinan frowned, "There are no pine trees around. Logically speaking, the further in you go, the fewer people there are, and the Ancient Pine trees should be even older."

Deep mountains and old forests are not just empty words!

There were Ancient Pine trees on the outskirts, but upon entering this low-lying area, not a single Ancient Pine could be seen.

No, no, no, perhaps that is not correct.

It wasn't that they couldn't see a single Ancient Pine; they couldn't even see a single pine tree.

The Rescue Team Captain marveled at An Yinan's powers of observation; in fact, he had also noticed this problem, even earlier.

It was indeed strange!

"Everyone, pay attention to the surroundings at all times, especially where there are pine trees," the Rescue Team Captain made a prompt decision and quickly issued the order.

Everyone continued to move forward, and by now, it had been eight hours since the main rescue team went missing.

The sky gradually darkened, and everyone closed the perimeter, gathering An Yinan in the middle.

"The rescue situation at night is too dangerous; for now, we can only move forward slowly," the Rescue Team Captain explained.

The hope that everyone had gathered earlier was now gradually slipping away.

Fortunately, these people were all soldiers; even if they had a thousand thoughts in their hearts, they would keep them buried deep, for their only principle was to execute orders.

"Comrade An, I have a piece of steamed corn bread here," a member of Team Two said.

But a Comrade from Team One said, "I have two candies here, Comrade An, have them to tide yourself over."

Their conditions were arduous, and it had become a physical instinct.

But I am afraid this female Comrade cannot endure it.

The soldiers all took out their own little snacks and placed them in front of An Yinan.

Some people didn't even say a word; they just put their things down and left.

Their mission was even more arduous.

"These lads, hiding snacks again," the Rescue Team Captain said with a helpless smile.

However, he still turned his head and said to An Yinan, "You should accept them; this is the sentiment of these lads."

An Yinan looked at the Rescue Team Captain and then nodded, but she still took several large strips of beef jerky out of her large bag; to tell the truth, she could not care about being exposed or not, nor could she care about the origin of these items.

As for how to make up excuses if someone asked, that was a matter for when they were alive.

These soldiers had not brought supplies, and their pockets contained only those things to eat; they were reluctant to eat them themselves, yet they gave them to her.

She could not stand by and watch coldly.

"Distribute them to everyone; I still have more in my large bag," An Yinan said, patting her large bag.

Most of it was traditional Chinese medicine wrapped in white paper, but now she had secretly added chocolate and beef jerky from her space; the beef jerky was from the auntie who made cold dishes back then, a specialty from the auntie's hometown that was very popular.

The Rescue Team Captain was stunned; what exactly did this Doctor An have in her bag?

"This..." the Rescue Team Captain hesitated.

An Yinan, however, placed them directly into his arms, "Distribute them to the soldiers; in such cold weather, if everyone doesn't eat something, they simply won't be able to hold out."

By nightfall, the cold wind was mixed with snow, blowing so hard that people could not even open their eyes, and the Rescue Team had finally reached this point and did not want to return to the Camp at all, otherwise the path they had walked today would have to be trekked over again tomorrow.

"On behalf of the soldiers, I thank you." The Rescue Team Captain no longer hesitated, because every word An Yinan said was true.

The weather at night was even colder, and the snowflakes were like mischievous children, always burrowing into people's collars, making them shiver with cold.

An Yinan raised her hand to let the Rescue Team Captain see the things in her arms; there were corn buns, half a black-flour Steamed Bun, a few candies, a few chestnuts, and even half a potato...

"An exchange; it is very fair," An Yinan shook her head.