A group of people boarded the vehicle, heading towards the secret base mentioned by Captain Guan. After about three hours, they arrived in a remote mountainous area and stopped.

As night faded and day broke, Rulu surveyed the mountainous area in the dim morning light. She noticed that the mountains were tall and steep, mostly consisting of bare stone peaks. The area appeared desolate, with no signs of human activity, and even trees and wildlife were scarce.

Seeing this, Rulu couldn't help but question, "Isn't this place too desolate? Is this really the secret base you mentioned, Captain Guan?"

Captain Guan explained, "It's precisely because of the harsh environment that those guys from the Sanctuary won't come looking for us here. Don't be fooled by the emptiness; there are many man-made caves in these mountains. These caves store water and food, allowing us to stay here for a long time."

Rulu nodded, "I see, then let's head up the mountain."

Captain Guan agreed and led Rulu and the others along the steep mountain path. Along the way, he explained that under normal circumstances, their rebel forces wouldn't live here but would operate in nearby villages and towns. However, in times of crisis, such as being besieged by the Sanctuary's army, they would hide in this secret base for extended periods.

After a considerable effort, they finally reached a steep peak. Captain Guan brought Rulu and Nana to a concealed stone wall halfway up the mountain. He grabbed a stone protrusion on the wall and pushed it hard.

With a grinding sound, a crack suddenly appeared in the stone wall, widening into a dark opening. Captain Guan instructed the others to stay outside while he took Nana and Rulu into the cave.

"Oh, this mountain has a mechanism; it really is quite hidden," Rulu remarked, walking around inside the cave and looking around.

Inside, the cave was spacious, and despite being underground, it was well-lit. The cave connected to several smaller chambers, some of which contained water and food, while others had simple beds and furniture, resembling a rock house.

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Captain Guan said, "This cave is the best one here. Rulu, you and Nana can stay here. If you get hungry, you can take food from the storeroom, and if you're tired, just rest on the bed. I’ll step outside. If you need anything, you can use the communication device here to contact me."

Rulu replied, "Okay, thank you, Captain Guan."

With that, Captain Guan left the cave, leaving Nana and Rulu alone inside.

"Nana, are you satisfied with the environment here?" Rulu gently asked, sitting on the bed in the cave with Nana.

Nana looked a bit forlorn and softly said, "What’s there to be dissatisfied with? My parents are gone; I’m lucky to be alive. What more can I ask for?"

Seeing Nana's gloomy mood, Rulu comforted her, "Don't dwell on sad thoughts, Nana. How about this? Once this is over, I’ll take you away from here to live in a better city, okay?"

Nana responded with a quiet "Hmm," saying, "Although I know it’s selfish, I can only rely on you now, Rulu."

Rulu quickly replied, "It’s okay. I'm happy to be someone you can rely on."

Nana lifted her face, hesitantly looking at Rulu, "But won’t you find me useless and annoying?"

"Of course not! Why would you think that?"

"You don’t now, but what about later? To you, I’m just a burden. If I continue to stay by your side, one day, you’ll tire of me and find me annoying." Nana became agitated for some reason, her voice rising.

"I will never abandon you, Nana," Rulu said firmly.

"But..." Nana wanted to say more, but Rulu opened her arms and hugged Nana tightly.

"I swear, I will bring you happiness," Rulu said with deep sincerity, holding onto Nana tightly.

Nana stopped speaking, returning the embrace, her eyes shining with joy and happiness.

After that, Rulu and Nana settled in the cave in the mountains. They spent their days in the cave, rarely going outside. Although the living conditions were a bit harsh, life was relatively peaceful, with no sign of the Sanctuary's army coming to chase them down.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye. One day, for some reason, Nana developed a high fever. She lay on the worn grass bed in the cave, appearing dazed, occasionally mumbling in her sleep. Rulu sat on a stool beside the bed, listening to the radio broadcast while watching Nana with worried eyes.

Suddenly, the stone door of the cave opened, and Captain Guan, along with Ah Bing and Kallen, entered the cave. Seeing the three, Rulu quickly stood up and anxiously asked, "Captain Guan, did you bring the medicine for Nana?"

Captain Guan scratched his face, feeling a bit awkward, "Well... Rulu, why don't you give this to Nana? It might help."

As he spoke, Captain Guan handed Rulu a medicine bottle.

Rulu took the bottle and looked at it closely, suddenly furrowing her brow, and angrily said, "This... isn't this medicine for animals? How can Nana take this? Captain Guan, how could you treat us like this?!"