Chapter 52: When I see you again, the rescue is fast...
The rescue effort was swift and efficient. Support arrived in droves, and a medical tent was set up in just half a day. There were no rest stops. The hustle and bustle was overwhelming, and no one rested. Everyone was so busy that they only found an open space to take a nap when they felt exhausted.
The cold, wet rain pelted the debris, splashing up filthy mud. The sour, pungent smell mixed with the particles made breathing difficult. No one could sleep peacefully; after a short rest, they were awakened by the rain.
A thunderclap rolled down, and Chen Song suddenly woke. He had been exhausted after two days and two nights, and now he was lying at the doorway, his eyes closed. The rain outside was getting heavier, rolling over Chen Song, soaking him. Lightning flashed, splitting the sky in the darkness.
A man in a raincoat ran out of the rain. "Hurry! Everyone who still has strength, move your things and leave! This place is too dangerous! A second collapse could happen! Hurry!"
Everyone abruptly stood up, prioritizing the evacuation of the wounded. The rain, wet and dirty, mixed with the mountain wind, was colder than the winter snow in Beijing. Chen Song ran, holding the young man in his arms, the rain continuously rolling into his eyes, stinging so much that he couldn't open them.
The rain must have been filthy, stained with bacteria and mud. Chen Song covered the boy more tightly and continued running through the chaotic crowd. The support team was large, completing the large-scale evacuation before dawn.
The torrential rain showed no sign of stopping. Everyone was exhausted, but no one dared to stop. Many of the wounded were in a more serious condition. There were groans and howls everywhere.
The firefighters gave the order for the doctors, who had already left, to stay and care for the injured. Chen Song, panting and feeling a little dizzy, shook his head and quickly returned to the treatment.
The darkest moment before dawn is about to pass, and the anxious people's hearts are gradually calming down. The imagined collapse has not come, and the position transfer is about to be completed.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, a series of thunderclaps roared down, shaking everyone to their core. The beasts that were still ambushing suddenly launched a fierce attack, and huge rocks rolled down, shaking the earth. The rebuilt shed was shaky and everyone sounded the first-level alarm again.
The newly constructed position was three kilometers away from the old one, surrounded by potholes and dirt. Six kilometers from the center of the collapse, it was already a safe zone, but the strong tremors were still terrifying.
The frightened child screamed and cried. Chen Song hugged the little girl and comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay. You can't hit me here."
Medical staff maintained order and calmed people's hearts.
The hour-long secondary collapse finally stopped. The sky gradually brightened and the rain subsided. A man stumbled over from a distance, weakly shouting, "Is there anyone else! Is there anyone else who can help? Areas 101 and 120 are buried! Help quickly!"
Chen Song was shocked when he heard the voice. He opened the curtain and rushed out: "Where is it? Take me there!"
The medical staff were divided into two groups, a small number of them stayed at the position to provide treatment, and the rest all provided support on the front line.
When Chen Song arrived, An Xusheng had already been carried out.
An Xusheng's white coat was stained with blood, and not a single spot was left white. His hands were folded into his stomach, with his twisted intestines and internal organs leaking out. One of his legs was broken, with bones mixed in with flesh and blood, dripping with blood.
An Xusheng's face was pale, without a trace of pain, just blood. A faint, relieved smile played at the corner of his mouth.
The chills made Chen Song want to vomit. His legs gave way, and he knelt before An Xusheng. The smell of blood choked him, tears streaming down his face. Rainwater streamed down his tears, blurring his vision. His heart ached like a scissor splitting, and every breath he took was excruciating. The muddy rain, mixed with particles, rolled into his breathing tube, slicing through his flesh.
The medical staff who rushed over from nearby had all performed surgeries and had received professional overcoming training, but they still couldn't help but vomit when they saw such a scene.
The distant cries for help didn't bother Chen Song enough. An Xusheng was covered with a white sheet and carried away from Chen Song. Chen Song sobbed softly for a moment before standing up and throwing himself into the rescue...
The second collapse was even more devastating than the first, claiming the lives of a number of medical personnel and rescue teams. This dire situation undoubtedly exacerbated the situation. The atmosphere within the support team was extremely tense.
The only thing to be thankful for was that the rain stopped.
Dark clouds pressed down on the mountain tops, thick fog rose up, and the haze was gray, giving people a mysterious and weird feeling.
Chen Song's head grew increasingly heavy. He hadn't eaten much in days, swallowing only filthy rainwater, and his stomach ached constantly. He fainted once, slept for less than half an hour, and then got up again to help. He didn't dare delay even a moment, fearing that a moment could cost a life that could be saved.
The second collapse caused many huge rocks to roll down from the back of the mountain, blocking the way of the new rescue team. Due to the shortage of manpower, Chen Song also joined the firefighters' rescue team. His innocent hands were cut by the rocks and became swollen and inflamed after being soaked in water.
Time was tight, and he had no time to care. He casually wrapped the bandage a few times and continued to move the stone. Suddenly, Chen Song's ears rang with a buzzing sound. He sat on the ground, panting, to rest, thinking it was tinnitus.
The buzzing sound came from far away and became louder and louder as it appeared above his head. The sky was surrounded by haze and Chen Song could not see anything when he looked up.
The sound was like a helicopter, hovering overhead, seemingly just one, and it landed in the distant medical tent. Chen Song's tense nerves relaxed; the rescue team had finally arrived.
The wind created by the helicopter dispersed the thick smog. From a distance, one could vaguely see many black figures running down after the helicopter landed.
A moment of relaxation made Chen Song, who was sitting on the ground, close his eyes and fall asleep. In a daze, Chen Song heard someone calling his name. The voice was strange yet familiar.
“Chen Song——!”
The loud shouting in his ear startled Chen Song awake. He opened his eyes suddenly, his heart pounding. His groggy brain gradually cleared, and the mountain breeze brushed his cheeks, and everything in front of him became clear.
The dust and fog faded away, and behind the cliff, the setting sun was burning its last flames and slowly sinking down. The fresh air was inhaled into my lungs, refreshing my heart.
Chen Song was at the most remote part of the landslide, grabbing the shattered rocks nearby and slowly rising to his feet. Before he could even stand, he was pulled forward by a powerful force, crashing into a warm, surging embrace.
What caught his eye was the silver necklace that had swung like a crescent moon for so many days and nights, adorned with the ring he had crafted himself. The familiar woody fragrance enveloped him like surging waves, clear and quiet, instantly bringing back many memories.
"Chen Song..." A hoarse sob fell from his head, and a hot tear fell, burning Chen Song's cold face, "Chen Song..."
He murmured softly, as if he had lost and found a rare treasure. Chen Song's hand was pressed against his chest, and the strong beating of his heart transmitted the scorching heat through the thin shirt, like an electric current burning his palm, and the current penetrated his palm and spread throughout his body.
Chen Song couldn't help but curl his fingers, and after a moment he spread them out on his shirt out of curiosity to feel the beating heart.
He witnessed the hasty transition of life and death in a daze, and spent the past few days like a walking corpse. This warm and sincere heart seemed to be the only hope of life in the dark world.
"Gu..." Chen Song called out his name reflexively, "Mo..."
His voice was weak and silent, but Gu Xingjue still heard it.
Gu Xingjue released Chen Song and examined him from head to toe. Chen Song's white coat was stained with mud and blood, filthy and wet from head to toe. His hands, once as white as jade, were haphazardly wrapped in bandages, oozing with dried blood.
Gu Xingjue carefully held his hand, afraid of hurting him: "It hurts a lot. Let's go see a doctor. Let's go."
He pulled Chen Song up, but Chen Song stood still, his gray eyes shining with the last rays of the setting sun.
Gu Xingjue's brows were furrowed, his deep, crimson eyes blazing with worry. His face was dusty and travel-worn, and his meticulously gelled black hair had a few strands escaping, now tangled in front of his forehead.
He was dressed in a shirt, black trousers, and leather shoes. The playboyish image of his earlier years was completely gone, leaving only maturity, stability, dignity, and composure. The filth clung to him, making him look like an elite aristocrat who had drifted away from home.
Why...is he here?
"What's wrong?" Gu Xingjue leaned over to wipe the stains off his face. His fingertips with thick calluses paused when they touched his skin. After a moment, Gu Xingjue let go of his hand, and his fingertips brushed across his skin lightly, feeling warm and itchy.
Gu Xingjue turned his head away and stopped looking at him. He took a step back and his eyes fell on the ground. The hand that had just wiped Chen Song was behind his back.
"I'm sorry for appearing in front of you so suddenly. I clearly... I clearly promised you."
Chen Song's eyes caught the fleeting light. It was the ring on Gu Xingjue's hand as he escaped behind him, reflecting the light of dusk.
Is he... married?
"I..." Gu Xingjue explained haltingly, "I was on a business trip nearby. I heard there was a landslide here, so I brought people here to provide support. It wasn't... I didn't mean to appear in front of you."
Gu Xingjue's face flushed with embarrassment, and he didn't dare to look at him, looking like a child who had made a mistake and was at a loss.
Behind him were chaotic ruins, the dark clouds in the sky had dissipated, and the light blue sky looked like the ocean.
Chen Song never thought that he would see Gu Xingjue again, and he never thought that the place where they would meet again would be in the collapsed ruins.
He didn't know what to say, but the dead heart in his body suddenly beat a little, and then fell asleep again.
"Help......."
“People… have…”
In the silence between the two, a soft cry for help came from under the pile of rocks. It was a woman's voice.
"Child...save my..."
Chen Song immediately turned around, lowering his footsteps to listen for the sound, and walked towards it. Chen Song stepped over the wet wooden planks, turned over and jumped into the sewage ditch, and walked forward with difficulty. The water in the sewage ditch was above his knees, and the sound came from the pit between the two sewage ditches.
Chen Song had searched all day without success, and he hadn't expected her to be here. She spoke only now, which must have been a long time since she had gathered her strength.
Gu Xingjue hadn't dared to say anything to interrupt the woman's cry for help, and silently followed behind Chen Song. When Chen Song was about to climb the small rocky slope, he accidentally slipped and was about to fall when Gu Xingjue hugged him.
Gu Xingjue leaned over, grasped his legs, and let him sit on his shoulders. He stood up steadily and lifted him up. Chen Song struggled to climb up, and after finding his footing, he grasped the huge rubble with both hands, unable to move.
He was so exhausted that he tried several times to push the gravel, but it didn't budge at all.
"People...are people coming?" A woman's voice came from below, trying her best.
Chen Song shouted, "Yes! Hold on a little longer, I'll get you out right away. Don't talk, save your strength!"
Chen Song gathered his strength once again and lifted the gravel, which actually floated in the air. Chen Song could not feel his own strength, as it was Gu Xingjue who turned over and lifted it up.
Gu Xingjue's neck was covered with blood vessels that looked like they were about to burst. He muttered, "Let go. I'm going to throw this stone. Be careful not to hit you."
Chen Song quickly let go of his hand as he was told. Gu Xing didn't dare to throw stones rashly. He didn't know where there might be a weak life hidden under the ruins. He moved the stone to the open space on the other side.
At the bottom of the pit, a mother and daughter embraced each other. The little girl lay motionless in the woman's arms. The woman, her face covered in mud, blinked with all her might, tears falling as she sobbed.
The bottom of the pit was full of broken steel pillars. When Chen Song wanted to jump in, he was stopped by Gu Xingjue: "I'll go in and drag them up, you pull them here."
"Okay?" Gu Xingjue lowered his eyes and looked at him.
Chen Song hesitated for a moment: "Okay. Be careful."
Gu Xingjue suddenly smiled: "Okay."
The pit entrance was narrow, and when Gu Xingjue went down, he had to grab the broken steel pillars on the wall and go down carefully. He had to pay attention to the steel pillars protruding from the wall at all times, and also pay attention to his feet to avoid falling and hitting the mother and daughter.
The sun was setting, and the sky was dark. The collapsed mountain blocked the view from the bottom of the pit, making it difficult to see. Gu Xingjue didn't notice when he landed, and a cut was made on his arm by the steel column. He frowned slightly, squatted down without a word, and took the little girl away first.
The pit was about two and a half meters high. Gu Xingjue, with his height of over 1.9 meters, lifted the little girl up, and Chen Song had to stick half of his body into the pit to catch the little girl.
"Watch out for the steel pillars next to you, don't get hurt!" Gu Xingjue shouted upwards.
Chen Song exerted his strength silently, not having any extra energy to reply to Gu Xingjue.
After several twists and turns, the two finally rescued the mother and daughter. Chen Song held the little girl, Gu Xingjue held the woman, and the two went to the medical tent.
Medical staff quickly took the mother and daughter for treatment.
Chen Song breathed a sigh of relief and held onto the table beside him. He froze when he saw the ring on Gu Xingjue's hand.
It's clearly...it's clearly smashed...
Gu Xingjue's shirt was torn, revealing a wound with torn flesh. Blood dripped and soaked the mud-stained shirt. The scarlet blood flowed down his arm, soaking the shiny silver ring.
Gu Xingjue noticed Chen Song's gaze, quickly put his hands behind his back, took off the ring and held it in his hand.
"Are...are you hungry?" Gu Xingjue kept a distance from him and abruptly changed the subject.
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