PDLP Chapter 67 Xuexue is alright
Chapter 67 Xuexue is alright
Wu Weimin's shovel stopped in mid-air. He glanced at Zhao Qian, then at Lin Ran.
Lin Ran acted as if he hadn't heard, continuing to dig.
"Lin Ran," Zhao Qian's voice was a little louder than before. "We should retreat."
Wu Weimin also put down his shovel. He looked at the mud slope he had been digging for three hours. The excavated soil had piled up into a small hill in the rain, but the entrance to the culvert was still nowhere to be seen.
For three hours, the two of them were trapped in the cave with limited air. He didn't want to say it aloud.
"You guys should leave first."
The sound of rain masked the emotions in Lin Ran's words.
Zhao Qian looked at him: "Is it worth it? You might risk your life!"
Lin Ran tossed the shovelful of mud aside, rainwater streaming down his forehead, blurring his otherwise stern features.
"If I were trapped, she would have done the same."
Wu Weimin was taken aback. He was Su Peixue's instructor and had a deep impression of her. In the past ten days or so, when boys asked for her WeChat, she would simply shake her head without saying a word. He assumed this was just her personality—not close to anyone.
Now he understands, it's not that they're not close, it's that the people they're close to aren't here.
Zhao Qian didn't say anything. He put his phone back in his pocket, bent down, picked up the shovel, and was about to dig...
"Thump."
All three stopped at the same time. The rain was loud, the mud was flowing loud, but that sound pierced through it all. It wasn't the sound of stones rolling down, nor the sound of branches breaking.
"Thump. Thump. Thump."
The sound of metal clashing came from beneath the mud.
Lin Ran was the first to react, pressing her ear against the mud.
Wu Weimin shone the searchlight in the direction from which the sound came.
"here!"
Zhao Qian called out.
Three shovels were simultaneously plunged into the same layer of mud. No one spoke; the only sounds were the shovels sinking into the mud, the footsteps on the shovels, and the mud being turned over and thrown aside.
The rain was still falling, and the searchlight beams shimmered into three white puffs in the rain. The mud layer grew thinner and thinner as they dug, and the clanging of metal became increasingly clear.
Lin Ran's shovel struck a hard object first, not a stone, but cement!
This is the top of the culvert!
Immediately, Lin Ran aimed at the spot under the concrete roof, mustered all his strength, and kicked it hard!
Su Peixue's consciousness became blurred, and in the darkness she heard Song Yin's faint sobs.
It's very far away, like there's a layer of water between us.
Then she heard another sound.
A loud crashing sound accompanied the collapse of the earth.
A few beams of strong flashlight light pierced through the cracks in the soil, and fresh air rushed in, carrying the smell of rain and earth.
The entrance to the cave was dug open, and the white light of a searchlight flooded in. Three figures stood outside the cave entrance, covered in mud, their faces glistening with rainwater from the searchlight.
The man at the front threw his shovel aside and strode in.
Su Peixue was pulled into an embrace that smelled of mud and rain.
The embrace was trembling.
Even his breathing was trembling.
Surrounded by a familiar sense of security, Su Peixue slowly opened her almond-shaped eyes and saw that reassuring silhouette. She raised her hand, her fingers touching Lin Ran's face. His face was covered in water, it was hard to tell if it was rain or something else.
"Don't cry, zookeeper, Xuexue is alright."
Her own voice sounded distant, and her body was too weak to obey her commands. She curled up in a ball, nestled in Lin Ran's arms.
Lin Ran held the petite girl tightly, as if she were a lost treasure that had been found again.
Zhao Qian and Wu Weimin carried Song Yin out of the cave. Song Yin was supported by the two men. Her high ponytail was loose, her hair was covered in mud, and her face was pale, but she was still breathing.
Seeing that both girls still had vital signs and were out of danger, Zhao Qian and Wu Weimin, two tough guys, almost cried. The rescue had lasted three hours!
It wasn't a wasted effort!
They looked at Lin Ran. If he hadn't been so determined and refused to give up, these two vibrant lives might have truly vanished!
Wu Weimin shouted, "Get out of here! We can't stay here!"
The culvert's structure has been damaged and it could collapse along with the mountain at any time.
Lin Ran picked up Su Peixue. She was very light and curled up in his arms, her face pressed against his chest.
When I came out of the cave, it was still raining.
Zhao Qian led the way, while Wu Weimin supported Song Yin as they walked in the middle.
The road down the mountain was completely muddied and unrecognizable. The searchlight beam shone ahead, and Lin Ran looked down at the person in his arms.
Su Peixue had her eyes closed, her breathing shallow, her chest rising and falling slightly. The collar of her military training uniform was stained with mud, and her fair face was covered in mud, but no matter how you looked at her, she was beautiful.
On the high ground south of the base, school leader Zhou Bing'an stood in the rain, water dripping from the brim of his raincoat.
Standing next to him was Fan Junchi, the chief person in charge of military training. Neither of them spoke, and they stared at the dark area to the north.
The instructors were scattered around; some were on the phone, while others shone searchlights down the mountain, the beams of light swaying in the rain and illuminating nothing.
Not to mention the two missing students, Lin Ran, Zhao Qian, and Wu Weimin have not returned either.
It's been three hours.
Fan Junchi held his phone to his ear and called Zhao Qian again to urge him to hurry up, but this time the phone was turned off.
"I can't get through to Wu Weimin either..."
"Lin Ran's too."
Everyone's heart is growing heavier and heavier!
The rain intensified, and nothing could be seen on the northern mountainside in the darkness, but everyone knew what was happening there. The mud was still flowing, the rocks were still rolling, and every minute could make things worse.
Zhou Bing'an was silent for a few seconds: "Where's the rescue team?!"
"I've called three times already. They said they're on their way, but the rain is too heavy and there have been landslides on the mountain road, so they're taking a detour."
"How much longer?"
Fan Junchi did not answer. He had already asked, and the other party said they couldn't be sure.
Zhao Yining stood at the edge of the crowd, her training uniform soaked and clinging to her body. She stared at the dark expanse to the north, her eyes red-rimmed. Tan Shuang stood beside her, her face still expressionless.
Yao Ziwen squatted on the ground, his legs feeling weak. Li Yifan stood beside him, hands in his pockets, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Wei Min's already pale skin was now completely bloodless.
Just then!
A rumbling tremor suddenly came from the valley to the north!
A deafening roar swept through the dark rain curtain, rolling in from the north and assaulting everyone's ears.
Mudslide!
Everyone was stunned!
The rain was heavy, and the distant rumbling continued, growing louder and louder, like an entire mountain descending.
Zhou Bing'an's breath hitched for a few seconds, and Fan Junchi's phone slipped from his hand and fell to the ground.
Zhao Yining couldn't hold back her tears and they welled up. Tan Shuang lowered her head and sniffed.
Yao Ziwen stood up from the ground. He swayed as he stood up, and Li Yifan helped him up. Yao Ziwen opened his mouth to speak.
"Old Lin—"
"What are you wailing about? I'm not dead yet."