The rainstorm poured down relentlessly, as if trying to wash away the injustices of the world. In the pitch-black forest, even the tall and dense trees couldn't withstand the onslaught of the rain, branches drooping and leaves falling, carried down the mountain into the gorge by the torrent, making a loud rustling sound.
In the forest so dark that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face, they relied entirely on flashlights for illumination, though the weak light didn't reach far. Luo Zheng wiped the rain from his face, but it quickly blinded him again, his mood heavy. If only his comrades were present, he wouldn't worry about surviving a stormy night, but here were untrained doctors, both young and old, who couldn't possibly survive in such conditions.
"We can't go any further." Ghost Hand approached Luo Zheng and said in a low voice.
Luo Zheng was well aware of this, and with a wry smile, he whispered, "Yes, but the enemy could attack at any mont. We must be cautious. Head back along the route; maintain a two-kiloter periter. Be careful." Two kiloters was the transmission range of their earpieces, any further and they would lose signal and contact.
"Understood." Ghost Hand whispered in agreent, turned, and headed back with his flashlight.
"What do we do next?" A doctor stepped forward, looking at Luo Zheng. This was the sa person they t in the cave earlier, staring at Luo Zheng with a face full of suspicion, and continued, "How many people are on this rescue mission?"
"Just the three of us. Is there a problem?" Luo Zheng replied, questioning him.
"There's definitely a problem. In our condition, it's impossible for us to keep going, and you only have three people. Escaping the enemy's pursuit won't be easy. What can we do?" He said seriously, as the other doctors slowly gathered, looking at Luo Zheng in disbelief, not understanding why only three people ca for the rescue.
"Everyone able, get moving. We need to set up a shelter from the rain for tonight," Luo Zheng calmly said to the crowd. He wiped the rain off his face, pulled out a military knife, and looked at Madela, "Lend a hand; we need to make a simple rain shelter."
"Understood." Madela responded knowingly and also drew his knife.
With insufficient supplies, they could only construct a simple shelter. Luo Zheng used a flashlight to scan the surroundings, choosing four trees. After examining them, he chopped down tree trunks about the size of his fist, stripped the branches, and laid them horizontally on the four trees as beams, binding them with vines. Then cut so branches to lay across the beams, forming a grid, before placing trimd branches on top, with everyone helping to heap more branches and finally covering it with broad leaves, weighed down by sticks.
In about an hour, a simple rain shelter was completed. Everyone gathered beneath it. The rain hit it, flowing down the broadleaf branches. Though so water still seeped through, it was better than being directly exposed to the storm. Everyone was soaked, lacking fire to warm up, shivering from the cold. The n were slightly better off since they could shed their clothes, while the won awkwardly huddled in their wet clothes to stay warm together.
Luo Zheng shone his flashlight over the female doctors and noticed their pale faces, his brow furrowed. "Beware of catching a cold. Does anyone have cold dicine? Take so, just in case."
"Taking cold dicine isn't good for you; it weakens resistance and immunity," one female doctor remarked.
"Oh, really?" Luo Zheng looked at her dissatisfied, coldly questioning, and seeing no response, he turned to the others, asking, "Who's the leader among you?"
"I am, Zhang Hao. What's the matter?" The sa doctor they t in the cave promptly replied.
"Doctor Zhang, please inform everyone. If you want to survive, follow my lead. Throw out your routine rules, theories, and common sense; I won't explain individually, nor do I have the ti. This is warti. If anyone disobeys or even goes against , I can't guarantee a safe return for everyone," Luo Zheng said sowhat unhappily. Without unified command, he couldn't lead them to safety.
"But? You're soldiers, protecting us is your duty," Zhang Hao replied with so discontent.
"True, getting you back is our mission. But I won't follow everyone to their demise. If you have a safe way back, I don't mind listening. If not, follow my lead. Rember, I won't repeat myself." Luo Zheng spoke coldly to Zhang Hao.
Perhaps unfamiliar with the military's way, the surrounding doctors grew dissatisfied, unwilling to accept Luo Zheng's forceful deanor. Luo Zheng's expression grew more solemn, as he swept the flashlight over everyone, taking in their expressions, angered. He snorted, "What, dissidence?"
"No, no," interjected a man who claid to be a military doctor, diating quickly. He looked around, his gaze landing on Zhang Hao, and continued, "Everyone, we are doctors, our job is to save lives. They are soldiers, their role is to kill. You all understand the current situation; without killing, saving is impossible. Our expertise is saving lives, so we should listen to the experts. Only with unified orders and command can we return alive. Do you not want to go back?"
"Just three people and one is foreign. Can we really get back alive?" a young female doctor worryingly asked, her face pale as she looked at the military doctor.
"Whether we live or not is up to us, not them. The key is whether we want to return. If so, follow him. I co from a military background and understand his sentints. For our survival, the two returned to fight in enemy territory, to buy us ti to escape. If such people aren't trustworthy, who is?" the military doctor quickly explained.
Perhaps the familiarity with the military doctor made his words more acceptable, and Luo Zheng glanced at him, realizing his earlier attitude was excessive. But when he thought of Ghost Hand and his fiancée's uncertain fate, he continued to ponder deeply on an escape plan, his expression grim.
The military doctor gave Luo Zheng a glance and continued diating, "Taking cold dicine is for everyone's good. One or two won't kill you, but not taking them certainly will. We're doctors, we understand this better than them. If he can see it, why can't you? Consider this: we don't know how far the safe zone is, and it's easy to catch cold in the rain. After the storm, the forest will be teeming with viruses and bacteria, and a cold could lead to a viral infection. Are you confident you can withstand it? Is one cold pill worth such opposition? Have you forgotten who risked their lives to rescue you?" The military doctor expressed his dissatisfaction as he finished.
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