Chapter 126: Making Zhu Yan Laugh
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“Zhu Yan is missing?!”
Lin You had assumed that the “trouble” Jiang Weiguo mentioned was most likely caused by the heavy snowfall—that the new recruits had been stranded on the mountain. He had never expected it to be Zhu Yan who had gone missing.
Lin You fell silent for a moment. “Have you told Division Commander Zhu? And when exactly did she disappear?”
Jiang Weiguo shook his head. “Not yet. The telegram arrived in the afternoon, so she must already have been missing for some time by then.”
“We can’t keep this hidden. Old Jiang, call Division Commander Zhu right now. It’s already dark. If Zhu Yan still hasn’t been found, then if something happens...”
Lin You did not dare imagine what might come next. “I’m heading up the mountain now!”
***
After shooting the snow leopard, Wang Baoguo rushed to Zhu Yan’s side and examined her. He found that only the military coat around her arm had been torn apart by the bite, but when he carefully felt beneath it, he realized that the bones inside had been shattered.
Wang Baoguo understood a few basic first-aid measures. He pulled off his belt, found two pieces of wood, and secured them against Zhu Yan’s arm, binding them tightly with the belt.
Only after finishing did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In the darkness, Wang Baoguo did not dare move Zhu Yan carelessly. If he injured her again, recovery would become far more difficult.
The best option would have been a stretcher to carry her down the mountain for treatment. But it was pitch-black, danger lurked everywhere, and he could not leave Zhu Yan alone. Yet if they stayed here, how were they supposed to get through the night? He could endure it—but what about Zhu Yan?
Just then, his gaze fell upon the snow leopard’s carcass on the ground, and an idea came to him.
Wang Baoguo rose, drew his knife, and began to work. In less than twenty minutes, he had stripped the snow leopard of its hide. He cleared away the snow, spread the hide flat, and carefully lifted Zhu Yan onto it. The thick fur would be invaluable in weather this bitterly cold.
Once that was done, Wang Baoguo went around the area gathering firewood. Unfortunately, much of it was damp, so he spent considerable effort stripping dry bark from the trees before finally managing to start a fire.
By the time everything was finished, he collapsed onto the ground, utterly exhausted.
Looking at the snow leopard’s carcass, he realized he had never eaten leopard meat and had no idea what it tasted like. But he had no choice now. He needed to replenish his strength, or he might not survive the night.
He cut off several pieces of meat and placed them directly over the flames. Surprisingly, the meat smelled wonderful. It was simply rather bland without any seasoning.
With food in his stomach, Wang Baoguo felt strength return to his body. That night, he did not dare—and could not afford—to sleep.
At first light, Lin You arrived at the cave with his men. When he learned that Wang Baoguo and Zhu Yan had not returned during the night, he could only reassure himself. He knew better than anyone how dangerous the mountains were after dark. If Wang Baoguo had found Zhu Yan, then all was well. But if he had not, and Zhu Yan was alone...
Lin You quickly issued his orders. “All of you stay here. Li Guoxiang, take the veterans from the company. Search in groups of three, and spread out.”
Lin You himself took two men toward the stream.
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Meanwhile, Lu Haiyang had set out early with his men to search. He had also gone to the stream, but after combing its banks several times, they still found no trace of anyone.
“Commander, Battalion Commander Lin is here.”
“Lin You, you finally made it.” Lu Haiyang saw the men beside him pointing toward the three figures approaching in the distance and hurried over.
“Old Lu, still no sign of them?”
Lu Haiyang sighed. “No...”
***
When Zhu Yan opened her eyes, she saw the sky above her. The morning after a snowfall was bitterly cold. Even the slightest parting of her lips released a pale cloud of vapor. She tried to move, but the sharp pain in her arm forced a hiss from her.
“You’re finally awake.” Wang Baoguo approached, his face alight with joy.
“Yesterday...” When Zhu Yan remembered the snow leopard pouncing on her, a wave of fear washed over her.
“Yesterday, you were ambushed by a snow leopard. Luckily, I arrived in time. I grabbed that beast and gave it a beating with fists the size of sandbags, then followed up with...” Wang Baoguo gestured animatedly as he recounted the battle.
Watching him, Zhu Yan could not help smiling. “Wang Baoguo, thank you for saving me.”
Her smile left Wang Baoguo stunned. It was the first time Zhu Yan had ever smiled at him, and the sight was breathtaking.
“Ahem, ahem... There’s no need to thank me. Just don’t keep shutting me out from now on...” Wang Baoguo tossed a few more branches onto the fire. “You must be hungry. Have some meat.”
“All right.”
Zhu Yan really was hungry. And this was the very snow leopard that had nearly killed her. It had wanted to eat her flesh, so now she would eat its.
As the flames grew stronger and the warmth increased, Zhu Yan struggled to sit up. Wang Baoguo immediately hurried over to support her.
“If you want to sit up, tell me. The bones in your arm were bitten through. If you injure it again, you could be left with lasting problems.”
Zhu Yan had intended to pull away from him, but when she saw how serious he was, she did not push him away.
“We haven’t returned for an entire night. They must be frantic.”
“They certainly are. I’m guessing Lin You and the others have already come up the mountain. We just need to wait here. With Lin You’s abilities, I’m sure he’ll find us soon.”
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Wang Baoguo returned to the fire and began roasting more leopard meat.
Just as he had expected, before half an hour had passed, several figures appeared nearby.
“Commander, look! There’s smoke over there.”
Li Guoxiang pointed behind a large boulder not far away.
Lin You could not see anyone, and his anxiety refused to ease. He hurried over.
Wang Baoguo’s hearing was sharp. When he heard hurried footsteps approaching across the snow, he knew Lin You had arrived.
“Big Brother, you finally came!”
Wang Baoguo ran over excitedly, and the two men embraced.
“You’re still alive, you rascal!”
“What kind of thing is that to say? Who do you think I am? I’m Wang Baoguo!”
Grinning, Wang Baoguo punched Lin You lightly in the chest.
“Where’s Zhu Yan?”
“She’s over there eating meat. Last night, she nearly...” Remembering what had happened, Wang Baoguo still felt a lingering fear. “But Doctor Zhu’s arm was bitten through by the snow leopard.”
When Lin You heard that Zhu Yan was safe, the worry weighing on his heart finally lifted. “Company Commander Li, go and make a stretcher.”
Lu Haiyang, Lin You, and the others had not even had a sip of water all night. They sat around the fire and finished every last piece of the snow leopard meat.
With Zhu Yan injured, she was no longer fit to continue up the mountain. Lin You sent a squad to escort her down while he and Wang Baoguo continued with the mission.
***
“Sister-in-law, why are you up so early?”
In the Lin family courtyard, Lin Ling saw Xia Yan sitting there as soon as she rose from bed. What she did not know was that Xia Yan had not slept at all that night.
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