Chapter 342: It

"The storm codenamed 'Wind King' has now left the area where contestant Xiao Yi is located. Thank you to our viewers for your concern for the program and the contestants. We can confidently confirm that Xiao Yi is currently unharmed; as soon as rescue conditions permit, we will initiate rescue operations."

Immediately after Li Yong communicated with Xiao Yi, the program team promptly posted the news that the 'Wind King' was leaving Xiao Yi’s area on their official website.

Of course, netizens in the main live stream were also informed of this good news.

Since Xiao Yi’s live stream had been shut down, the main live stream’s viewership was now extremely high.

Even though viewership in the main live stream had slightly declined over time, it still maintained over thirty million concurrent viewers.

When the audience in the live stream learned that the 'Wind King' had passed and Xiao Yi was unharmed, they couldn’t help but begin discussing it.

"Haha, I knew Xiao Shen would be fine—how could a mere blizzard bury Xiao Shen?"

"Aren’t you just talking after the fact? But even if you are, it doesn’t matter—as long as Xiao Shen is safe."

"Where are all those who were predicting Xiao Shen’s doom? Come out and show yourselves! Why are you all hiding like turtles?"

Here’s a photo for you all—did you see it? This is what the super blizzard looked like after it passed—like a frozen ice kingdom. I never imagined Xiao Shen could survive such a disaster, especially out here in the wilderness—it’s nothing short of a miracle.

"Haha, Xiao Shen himself is the embodiment of miracles—what’s this compared to that?"

"Could there be a possibility? Is the program team deliberately feeding us this information to cover up some truth? Maybe Xiao Shen has already…"

"Are you stupid, or do you think the program team is stupid? Under the watch of tens of millions, would they dare lie about this? Unless every single person on the team has rusted brains."

"Exactly. If the program team isn’t insane, they’d never joke about something like this. And since they’re saying this now, it proves they’ve already made contact with Xiao Shen."

"Honestly, I’m not worried about Xiao Shen anymore—I’m worried about the other rescue team members. They don’t have Xiao Shen’s abilities."

"Right! The wilderness ravaged by the super blizzard isn’t just home to Xiao Shen—it’s also where the other rescue team members are."

"I hope Team Leader Shen and the others are safe too!"

"Yes! I truly hope no one gets hurt. I hope everyone makes it through this super blizzard safely."

"I think you’re all too idealistic. In a blizzard like this, how could there be no casualties? We can only hope the death toll stays low."

"Request the program team to broadcast the rescue live—we want to see what environment Xiao Yi and the others are currently in!"

"Yes! Yes! Support live rescue broadcasting—we need to see the actual situation!"

"Support live rescue broadcasting!"

"Support live rescue broadcasting!"

…

…

After the program team released the news, many netizens on the main live stream and the official website became excited upon learning Xiao Yi was safe.

Many had been closely following the situation in the wilderness; upon learning Xiao Yi was unharmed, some of his fans breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, some netizens questioned whether the program team was spreading false information.

But this skepticism was quickly drowned out, replaced by awe at Xiao Yi’s survival under such extreme conditions.

In the end, most people still worried about the safety of the other rescue team members—after all, not everyone is as lucky as Xiao Yi.

Afterward, the screen was flooded with netizens requesting the program team to activate live rescue broadcasting.

They wanted to see whether Xiao Yi was truly alive, as the program team claimed, and to check on the condition of the other rescue team members.

Of course, many also wanted to know just how terrifying nature could be.

Honestly, people living in cities rarely experience disasters of this scale.

Many probably think such disasters are nothing more than legends.

…

…

While netizens debated online, inside the Maple Nation base control room, all rescue team members had completed their full gear preparations.

"What’s the current wind speed?"

At that moment, Li Yong asked the program team’s meteorology unit, which had been waiting for further wind reduction.

"Wind speed near the base has dropped to level five—normally, helicopters could take off for rescue. But I don’t recommend taking off now. Estimated wind speed at Xiao Shen’s location is still level seven. Flying a helicopter in level seven winds carries a high risk of crash."

Upon hearing Li Yong’s words, a meteorology unit staff member spoke up.

Seeing the meteorology staff say this, Li Yong couldn’t help but frown.

Level five winds already carried some danger for helicopter takeoff—if Xiao Yi’s location truly still had level seven winds, Li Yong knew the meteorology team wasn’t exaggerating.

"What about water route? Let Rescue Team One go by water, then switch to snowmobiles on land."

At that moment, the captain of Rescue Team One suggested aloud.

Rescue Team One was one of the few remaining teams still at the base—and the main force for this rescue.

Hearing this, Li Yong turned to the captain of Rescue Team One and asked.

"If you set out now, how long would it take to reach Xiao Yi’s location?"

After thinking for a moment, the captain of Rescue Team One replied.

"Under normal conditions, we’d reach there in an hour and a half. But now the lake is frozen and the winds are too strong—we’d need at least two and a half hours. No, we’d definitely reach Xiao Shen’s location within two and a half hours."

When speaking of arrival time at Xiao Yi’s location, the captain of Rescue Team One sounded somewhat uncertain.

But in the end, he gritted his teeth and gave a concrete time—only one hour longer than normal rescue time.

"Not enough—not nearly enough!"

Before Li Yong could decide, the meteorology staff member quickly interrupted again.

Hearing this, everyone’s attention instantly turned to him.

He paid no mind to their stares and turned to the captain of Rescue Team One.

"Have you considered the snowdrifts left behind after the blizzard? Based on the Wind King’s intensity, snow depth is estimated at eighty centimeters to one meter. Snowmobiles can’t move through snow that deep."

"Two and a half hours won’t get you there. Even four hours might not be enough. The best rescue option now is to wait—for the wind to drop enough for a helicopter."

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

They knew this was the most reasonable, most rational rescue approach.

But waiting here felt worse than spending extra time now and setting out immediately.

At this moment, waiting was the most painful option.

After struggling, Li Yong spoke again.

"According to the meteorology team’s estimate, how long until helicopter rescue becomes safest?"

Hearing this, the meteorology team member thought for a moment before replying.

"Although the Wind King is moving away and wind speed is gradually decreasing, for a helicopter to fly safely to Xiao Shen’s location, we must wait until dawn—three more hours."

"Then the helicopter would only need half an hour to reach Xiao Shen’s location—actually shorter than the water route’s estimated time."

Hearing the meteorology staff say this, everyone fell silent again.

At last, Li Yong decisively declared, "Everyone, return to rest now. Regain your strength. Helicopter rescue will launch in three hours."

Li Yong ultimately chose to wait—for the helicopter rescue. He had to consider not only Xiao Yi’s safety, but also the lives of the rescue personnel.

The Wind King’s wind speed was steadily decreasing. He believed those still alive could endure three more hours.

As for those who didn’t survive… they wouldn’t care about three more hours. Though harsh, it was the truth.

Hearing Li Yong’s words, no one spoke further—they all followed his order.

But as everyone began to leave, Li Yong’s assistant stepped forward slowly and asked.

"Mr. Li, netizens on the main live stream are demanding the program team broadcast the entire rescue operation. What should we do?"

Hearing this, Li Yong was momentarily stunned, then began weighing the pros and cons.

Broadcasting the entire rescue would expose everything caused by this disaster—nothing could be hidden anymore; all would be visible to netizens.

But if they didn’t broadcast it, an even bigger scandal might erupt.

After all, rumors spread by misinformation were far more terrifying—and harder to handle—than the truth.

Eventually, topics like "Everyone buried in the wilderness" might flood the internet.

Right now, Li Yong only knew Xiao Yi was safe—he had no idea about the condition of the other rescue team members.

If only one or two rescue members were injured, the program team could still handle it.

But if all rescue team members perished… it would be an irreversible catastrophe for the program team.

So, hearing this, Li Yong was extremely headachy.

He was even agitated—these netizens only added trouble, yet this was exactly what he had to face now.

The assistant said nothing—he understood the pressure Li Yong was under.

If he were in Li Yong’s position, he wouldn’t know how to choose either.

"Broadcast it. Restart Rescue Drone One. I believe the rescue team won’t be wiped out."

At that moment, Li Yong suddenly spoke.

In the end, Li Yong chose to use live broadcasting to prevent future rumors.

After all, he knew Shen Meng and the other two had entered the bear den—he had high hopes they’d survive.

As for the other rescue team members, if they reached the coniferous forest, Li Yong believed they still had a good chance of survival.

…

…

"The rescue has finally begun!"

"The wind is still so strong—the helicopter looks unstable!"

"I really want to know how Xiao Shen is doing now! Has the rescue team located his position?"

"Don’t worry—when the live stream opened, the rescue team already confirmed: Xiao Shen’s location has been pinpointed. They’re flying straight there."

"Everything outside is white—how can this be the aftermath of a super blizzard?"

"What can we possibly see above the lake surface?"

"Look quickly at the coniferous forest ahead—aren’t the front-row trees all blown over?"

"Too high to see clearly; it probably isn’t possible! Can trees really be uprooted by the wind?"

……

……

Soon, three hours passed amid the crowd’s impatience, after which the rescue team directly boarded three helicopters heading toward Xiao Yi’s location.

After the helicopters took off, the drone from the original Channel One livestream was reactivated.

Moreover, Li Yong had informed the rescue team beforehand that when they reached Xiao Yi, he should temporarily take over Channel One.

The production team then announced on the main livestream that Channel One was being reactivated and would temporarily serve as Xiao Yi’s livestream, broadcasting the entire rescue operation in real time.

As soon as this news spread on the main livestream, countless netizens flooded into Channel One.

Within just five seconds, Channel One’s concurrent viewership surpassed one million.

Three minutes later, it broke ten million; within five minutes, it hit twenty million, and the numbers kept rising.

By the ten-minute mark, viewership exceeded thirty million, with no sign of slowing down.

Most of the netizens flooding into Channel One were likely Xiao Yi’s original fans.

But the current viewer count had long surpassed Xiao Yi’s usual average.

Keep in mind that Xiao Yi’s livestream had averaged just over twenty million daily views in its later stages.

Clearly, more netizens had come specifically to watch the spectacle of the rescue operation.

Since Channel One was reopened, the comment section had completely covered the screen, with every kind of remark flooding in.

"It’s daylight!"

Yet at this moment, Xiao Yi was unaware that the production team had begun rescuing him.

Xiao Yi had just woken up—he didn’t know how long he’d slept.

But waking up made him feel much more refreshed all over.

He then looked out through his tent and saw that daylight had fully arrived, lifting his mood considerably.

"These two little things are sleeping soundly, aren’t they!"

Xiao Yi then glanced at the lynx and the rough-legged hawk curled up beside him.

Both little creatures were nestled around his sleeping bag, fast asleep with no sign of waking.