As night fell and all was quiet, Xu Anran and her group moved stealthily. Taking advantage of everyone's deep sleep, they quietly slipped away from the place. In the pitch-black night, the faint beam of their flashlights guided their way.
After a difficult trek, they reached the woods near the air-raid shelter. It was already four o'clock in the morning, and their exhaustion forced them to stop and rest for a while, waiting for the dawn to break before continuing deeper into the woods.
Overnight, a flurry of snowflakes fell like goose feathers, silently covering their footprints. Those who had been closely following them didn't wake up until seven or eight in the morning, but by then they had already vanished without a trace.
Once inside the woods, they followed closely behind the experienced Uncle Li. The snow beneath their feet made each step feel incredibly heavy, as if they were sinking into an abyss, but they pressed on, one step at a time. Finally, deep within a dense thicket, they found the long-hidden air-raid shelter.
This air-raid shelter, like a secret base hidden from the world, was tightly concealed on all sides. The marks of time were clearly visible; it had obviously not been used for a long time. According to Uncle Li, when he first arrived, it was during a time of war and smoke. This air-raid shelter served as a temporary refuge during that turbulent period.
Uncle Li cautiously reached out and slowly moved his hand along the cold, rough wall, as if searching for some hidden secret. His fingers gently touched the wall, feeling every subtle bump and texture. Finally, after careful exploration, his fingertips touched a slightly raised object—the switch he was looking for!
Uncle Li was overjoyed and pressed the switch without hesitation. With a soft "click," the previously closed door slowly opened, emitting a low, grinding sound. The world behind the door gradually unfolded before his eyes, and a sense of antiquity wafted out.
Stepping through the iron gate, an exceptionally spacious cave comes into view. The cave ceiling hangs high, vast as the heavens; the surrounding rock walls are jagged, exuding a faint chill. A thin layer of dust covers the ground, seemingly telling tales of time's vicissitudes.
Uncle Li strode confidently deeper into the cave. As he ventured further, the light gradually brightened. Ahead lay an open valley, like a dazzling pearl set in the darkness. However, the valley was already blanketed in snow, a breathtakingly beautiful sight. Snowflakes drifted down, like fairies dancing in the air, adding a dreamlike quality to the entire valley.
They decided to settle here, tightly closing the heavy door to the outside world, as if isolating themselves from the world, never wanting to step out of this peaceful place again. Afterwards, the group slowly returned to the cave.
Stepping into the cave, a refreshing scent filled the air. The cave was exceptionally spacious, resembling a natural palace. Xu Anran expertly retrieved two new tents from her spatial ring and skillfully set them up. The original tent was assigned to Xu Liang and Zhao Chang'an; Xu Anran herself chose to share one with Mingzhu, while Uncle Li and Xiao Feng moved into the other tent. Thus, the three tents were arranged in a unique triangular layout, appearing remarkably harmonious and orderly.
Next, they worked together to build a roaring fire in the center using hard stones to ward off the cold and gain warmth. Furthermore, each tent contained a small coal stove, which continuously emitted bursts of heat, filling the entire cave with a cozy atmosphere.
After a short rest, the group didn't stop but immediately headed deeper into the valley to find suitable trees. After careful selection, they finally found a batch of thick, sturdy trees. Wielding incredibly sharp axes, they didn't hesitate to chop down the trees and transport them back to the cave. Using the warmth of the fire in the cave, the wood was quickly dried to the perfect temperature.
Finally, with Xu Anran's saw, everyone cleverly processed the wood into sturdy and durable simple wooden doors, successfully blocking the biting cold winds howling between the cave and the valley.
With everything arranged perfectly, Xiao Feng followed closely behind Uncle Li and Zhao Chang'an, heading towards the valley to explore. Meanwhile, Mingzhu and Xu Liang stayed behind in the cave, meticulously preparing delicious food to provide everyone with ample energy. At the same time, Xu Anran returned to her tent to check the latest updates in the group chat.
As Xu Anran stepped into the tent, her gaze was immediately drawn to the active group in the mission chat. They were also beginning their evacuation. Recalling the continuous, heavy snowfall of the past few days, Xu Anran felt a surge of urgency. Based on the scenes in her dream, she sensed that in just two or three days, those fearsome fish-men would likely come ashore. Therefore, she quickly relayed this crucial information to the Passengers' Mutual Aid Association's large group chat.
Instantly, the entire group erupted into chaos and noise. Some discovered that those involved in the operation had learned of this crucial information earlier than they had and had already shared it. Faced with this situation, some could not contain their dissatisfaction and expressed strong resentment, inevitably uttering complaints. However, those who had personally participated in the operation could not tolerate such unfounded accusations, and a heated argument ensued.
Seeing this, Xu Anran calmly recorded the names of those who were full of complaints and ruthlessly removed them from the group chat, completely severing ties with them.
These people are so spoiled! Why should they get the same treatment as those who put in the effort without doing anything? Just because they're unwilling to do anything doesn't mean they deserve the same treatment as those who work hard.
Witnessing this, the crowd dared not utter a sound, and a deathly silence fell over the group. However, this silence was soon broken, and everything gradually returned to normal. At this moment, everyone began a heated discussion: which direction should they go? Meanwhile, some started looking for companions to travel with and form teams.
Meanwhile, Xu Anran remained quietly inside the tent, silently observing everything. Suddenly, a shout reached her ears from outside—it was Xiao Feng's excited voice. It turned out they had successfully returned from the valley. Xiao Feng, his face beaming with joy, excitedly recounted: they had unexpectedly discovered a small lake on the back side of the valley! Although the surface of the lake was frozen solid, they could still vaguely glimpse fish lurking at the bottom through the thick ice!
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