Chapter 360: Drink a Sip of Hot Water Before You Die!

But at this moment, Captain Liu didn’t waste time—he shouted to the remaining crew.

“Half of you follow Captain Yan and leave first; the other half stay here to extinguish the flames and fill in the pit to prevent fire hazards.”

“Understood!”

Seeing Captain Liu speak so decisively, the rescue team members all shouted in response.

“Let’s go too!”

At this moment, Angel spoke to Ryan, “This is now the rescue team’s domain—we have no reason to stay and only invite awkwardness.”

Hearing this, Officer Ryan said nothing more, bowed to Captain Liu, and led the Maple Leaf rescue team to follow behind Xiao Yi and the others as they departed.

Ryan went to say goodbye because he knew Angel’s pride would prevent him from bidding farewell to Captain Liu—and he couldn’t let the Maple Leaf team appear disrespectful.

“Captain, now see how little swagger that yellow-haired cop has left! Xiao Qin and the others were found by us first.”

“Exactly—I’m just waiting for Xiao Shen to punch that guy again.”

“Haha, right, right—I just wonder if we’ll actually get to see it.”

…

…

“Why so much chatter? Do you think the work’s too easy? Get moving and hurry over there!”

After Angel left, the rescue team members stared at his retreating back and muttered among themselves.

Captain Liu, meanwhile, glanced at them helplessly and scolded aloud.

Gossiping behind others’ backs disgusted Captain Liu—he’d rather see these guys say it to their faces.

Hearing their captain’s words, the crew fell silent and immediately got back to work.

Meanwhile, online viewers watching the livestream naturally saw the dire condition of Jin Shui and Xiao Qin, and couldn’t help but comment.

“Damn, these are all frostbites! They look like they’re in agony—no wonder they suffered so much!”

“What do you mean ‘suffered so much’? These two went through hell!”

“I can’t even look at their frostbites—they’re terrifying.”

“By the way, did anyone hear Xiao Shen say whether anyone from the rescue team is still missing, or did they recover everyone?”

“Did you just join the livestream? A captain already said earlier—except for Captain Shen and the team member with him, everyone else has been rescued.”

“Good. As long as people are injured but no one’s dead, this is the best outcome possible in a blizzard.”

“Don’t be too sure—we still don’t know what’s happened to Captain Shen and the other guy.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Captain Shen had a bear den to shelter from the storm and a bear for food—he won’t die.”

“That’s true. I’m sure Captain Shen will pull through.”

“But it’s almost nightfall, and Captain Shen and the other man have been stranded in the wilderness for three days. Even the strongest man would be at his limit by now.”

“The rescue team’s doing great—I’m sure they’ll find and rescue Captain Shen and the other guy.”

…

…

After seeing Xiao Qin’s frostbites, many livestream viewers expressed concern and sympathy.

Soon after, their thoughts turned to the still-missing Shen Meng and the other man.

Yet most viewers still firmly believed the two were still alive.

“Don’t move too fast—they’re too weak! Speed will kill them!”

As livestream viewers debated, Xiao Yi and the others marched forward at speed.

At this moment, Director Kang spoke up with a warning.

He also checked Xiao Qin’s condition.

Hearing Director Kang’s words, Xiao Yi and the others carrying the two men slowed their pace.

Even Zhao Long and the man ahead were panting heavily from exhaustion.

Seeing this, Captain Yan frowned, then told Wei Ning and the others, “You four take over from Gao Ling and Zhao Long.”

Hearing Captain Yan’s order, those nearby quickly stepped forward to relieve them.

“Watch your step—Xiao Qin’s gotten heavier. Someone might think he’s been feasting in the wilderness!”

“Don’t worry—I’ve got way more stamina than you, Old Zhao. But you should eat two more kidneys when you get back.”

“Get lost—I don’t need that stuff.”

Zhao Long, now free, gasped for breath but still had the energy to tease.

The man who took over clearly knew Zhao Long well—he teased him right back.

Watching this, Xiao Qin rolled his eyes—Zhao Long was just a mouthy bastard.

“Xiao Shen, should someone take over for you? You could rest a bit.”

Seeing the three new bearers, Captain Yan asked Xiao Yi.

But seeing Xiao Yi hadn’t even breathed hard, Captain Yan sighed inwardly.

He felt he’d asked a stupid question—but he still had to ask. After all, Xiao Yi was a show guest.

Still, he mentally grumbled, “What a monster.”

“Captain Yan, Mr. Xiao Yi—if you need help, our team members can assist.”

Before Xiao Yi could reply, Officer Ryan, at Angel’s signal, stepped forward and spoke.

Hearing this, Xiao Yi glanced at Ryan, then turned to Captain Yan.

“I don’t need help. Thank you.”

Captain Yan smiled slightly at Xiao Yi, then turned to Ryan.

“We appreciate your offer, Officer Ryan. If we need aid, we’ll ask.”

Seeing Captain Yan’s response, Ryan shrugged helplessly and retreated to the rear of the column.

Then he shook his head at Angel.

Seeing this, Angel frowned slightly but said nothing further.

“Keep moving! A few more steps and we’ll reach our temporary base outside the conifer forest.”

Captain Yan shouted again, and everyone quickened their pace—though they held back, since the injured came first.

…

…

“Cough! Cough!”

“Captain, are you okay? Why are you coughing so badly?”

In the white wilderness, two figures still struggled through the snow.

Captain Shen was coughing uncontrollably. Hearing it, Hong Liu rushed over.

Today they’d dug in the snow all day, finally carving out the twisted letters “S” and “O” of their SOS.

But unlike the past two days, something new had happened today.

Since morning, Captain Shen had been coughing nonstop—every two steps, he collapsed from weakness.

After helping Captain Shen sit down, Hong Liu touched his forehead.

“So hot! Captain, you’ve got a fever.”

He muttered under his breath.

In this uninhabited wilderness, especially in such extreme cold, a cold could be fatal.

“Captain, rest today. Let me carry you back.”

Hong Liu held Captain Shen’s arm as he spoke.

“Slap!”

Before he could lift him, Captain Shen slapped Hong Liu and scolded,

“What’s the point of going back? Lying down will only make it worse. It’s just a cold—I’m not dead. Right now, digging is all that matters.”

“Captain, a cold isn’t like normal times—you need to rest!”

Seeing his captain’s stubbornness, Hong Liu pleaded again.

“Do you think I don’t know? Now’s the time we can’t stop—if I do, I’m just waiting to die…”

“What are you doing? Listen to me—get back to work!”

But before Shen Meng could finish, Hong Liu suddenly hoisted him onto his back.

Shen Meng tried to struggle and shout, but before he could speak, dizziness overwhelmed him as he lay on Hong Liu’s back.

Hong Liu sprinted toward the bear den and laid Shen Meng down at its entrance.

Shen Meng was conscious but utterly powerless.

After placing him down, Hong Liu immediately moved—piling wood at the den’s mouth.

These logs were the dry firewood the two had collected over three days.

In those three days, after burning wood to roast meat, they’d gathered only this small pile.

“What are you doing? Are you planning to starve later? Save that wood!”

Leaning against the den, Shen Meng watched Hong Liu’s actions and spoke, helpless and anxious.

This wood might be Hong Liu’s only chance to survive—he didn’t want it wasted.

“What’s the point of surviving? With this weather, I’d rather die here—at least I’ll die in the same hole as you, Captain.”

“Get lost—I don’t want to die in the same hole as you! If I die in a hole, it’ll be with my wife.”

Hearing this, Shen Meng couldn’t help but laugh bitterly—but inside, he felt a flicker of comfort.

Upon hearing Shen Mengsan say this, Hong Liu paid no attention and ignored him.

He then picked up a flint and used the last piece of gauze to ignite it.

Wasn’t it lucky that he got injured back then, leaving some gauze—this flammable material—on both of them?

Otherwise, even with the flint, the two of them would’ve struggled to light the wood over these past two days.

Soon, the fire began to burn slowly; Hong Liu didn’t idle—he brought over all the stored wood.

Just as he had just said, he truly didn’t plan to survive anymore.

After the fire ignited, Shen Mengsan, who had been shivering from cold just moments before, now felt the warmth radiating from the nearby bonfire.

It made him sense his body was regaining some feeling, regaining a little strength.

Soon, Hong Liu brought over all the wood—even some damp pieces—which he planned to dry beside the fire.

Finally, Hong Liu brought the bear meat and sat down heavily beside the fire.

Seeing this, Shen Mengsan paid him no mind; both fell silent.

After several minutes of silence, Hong Liu was the first to break it, speaking up.

“Captain, are we really not going to make it through this?”

Hearing this, Shen Mengsan rolled his eyes, then pointed at the fire beside them, speaking with frustrated irritation.

“You brat, if you hadn’t been messing around like that just now, you’d have lasted at least three or five more days.”

“But you? Without this fire, Captain, how long could you hold out?”

Unmoved by Shen’s frustration, Hong Liu carefully turned the fire, making the flames burn brighter as he retorted.

Hearing this, Shen Mengsan froze in place.

Him? Without this flame for warmth, he might not last three hours—or two, or even one.

When he fell ill this morning, Shen had already anticipated he wouldn’t survive the day—he might die here on this white wasteland, becoming a corpse.

Still, Shen wanted to leave the hope of survival to Hong Liu; even with this fire lit, he wasn’t sure he’d last long himself.

In fact, neither of them knew how long this fire would last.

Perhaps when the flames died out, Shen Mengsan would still freeze to death here soon after.

“You brat, why bother? I’ve lived nearly fifty years—I’ve had my fill. How old are you? At least hold on—you still have a chance.”

“Pfft!”

“Captain, we’re not at the end yet. Why talk like this?”

“Besides, if it weren’t for you, Captain, I’d have died three days ago. Even if I die today, I’ve already gained three extra days.”

Hearing this, Hong Liu first chuckled softly, then spoke with calm sincerity.

To be honest, these past three days had already made Hong Liu give up—he wondered what difference a few more days would make.

This endless white wasteland offered him no hope of survival; so now, he chose to accept fate alongside Captain Shen.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mengsan froze in place.

At this moment of life and death, Hong Liu’s attitude was something Shen had never expected.

When facing death, people will do anything—no matter how vile—to cling to a sliver of hope.

“Alright then! If that’s how it is, let’s leave it to fate, you and me! Give me a piece of bear meat—at least I won’t die here as a starving ghost.”

Saying this, Shen reached out toward Hong Liu.

Since things were this way, Shen no longer wished to waste words on useless talk.

Seeing Shen reach out, Hong Liu smiled, then handed him the bear meat, nearly roasted through.

Shen took a big bite, then grabbed a handful of snow and put it in his mouth.

He had eaten snow for three days without drinking a single drop of water.

If he had one wish before dying today, it would be to drink a sip of hot water.

After all, this damn snow was too cold, too bitter to chew—and the only thing missing here was a tool to boil water.