Sitting in the jeep on the way to their destination, Hua Yan noticed that the two soldiers in front, one driving and the other in the passenger seat, were doing the same thing: glancing at her occasionally with expressions that mixed anger, dissatisfaction, contempt, suspicion, and confusion. Puzzled, she asked Lao Yang, "Why are those two looking at me like that?"
"It's nothing, don't pay them any mind," he replied before addressing the ones in front, "Focus on driving and don't get distracted."
With the leader's command, the two soldiers settled down. Hua Yan asked if they would arrive at their destination in less than 48 hours, then put on a jacket and closed her eyes to sleep.
The next morning, they passed through a modest but bustling military area nestled among the mountains. Along the way, they encountered several groups of soldiers on training exercises, covered in yellow dirt, their black faces glistening with sweat and innocent smiles. Such smiles, like sunshine, made one's blood boil with vitality.
"Do you envy them, Miss?" Lao Yang asked.
"Yeah, being able to wear that military uniform is the dream of many. I once..." Hua Yan's gaze followed the distant green figures, lost in thought. This dream was her greatest wish when she was an orphan in her past life. However, it didn't come true due to failing the physical examination.
"Then indirectly, I've done a good deed," Lao Yang chuckled. Hua Yan rolled her eyes, ignoring the peacock-like Lao Yang. Though if she observed carefully, she would notice that Lao Yang was treating her even better than usual, with a hint of atonement in his kindness.
The two soldiers in front were quite surprised. When they first met Lao Yang, he left a deep impression on them. He was rebellious, taciturn, and usually kept to himself. His face always seemed expressionless. Although now, over a year later, he had softened considerably, and they were seeing him smile and talk for the first time.
The last stretch of the mountain road was rugged and narrow, impossible for the car to navigate. One soldier stayed behind to watch the stuff in the car while the others began climbing. It was nine in the morning, and the sun in the clear blue sky was not yet at its scorching peak. Hua Yan was used to exercising, but she struggled on the increasingly steep mountain path, mindful of the abyss on one side. With Lao Yang leading the way and the soldiers trailing behind, Hua Yan managed to climb for an hour before urgently calling for a rest.
For Hua Yan to endure an hour on this mountain was quite impressive. Many male soldiers in the past could only last thirty-five to thirty-six minutes before their throats dried up, and their lungs and liver felt like they were about to explode, unable to continue. Some even needed the personnel from the base to come out and carry them in.
It wasn't that their bodies weren't strong enough or their wills not firm enough; it was the air outside the base and the clouds above had their own movement patterns. Unless the personnel inside the base intentionally sent out a signal, no advanced equipment from any major country could detect this place.
Moreover, there wouldn't be any accidental intrusion into the base because reaching the base via this seemingly natural road would take ten hours. There were cliffs and broken arms along the way. Who could complete a path that others could only endure for half an hour, especially with a cliff that couldn't be passed by human strength alone?
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There was a story circulating among the military top brass about this base: it was once unknown to anyone, not even the farmers living nearby had ever entered it decades ago. Eventually, the country learned about this natural military stronghold thanks to a senior official helping an old beggar who still wore tattered summer clothes in winter. In return for his help, the beggar revealed the secret. Afterwards, the country recognized the importance of this place, but when they tried to find the old beggar again, he was never found.
It is said that to this day, the country is still searching for him, speculating that the old beggar may be one of the mysterious martial arts masters in the world.
After resting for fifteen minutes, Lao Yang urged Hua Yan to continue on the road as if he were a relentless alarm clock. The young soldier, watching Hua Yan's pale complexion, felt a twinge of compassion. Throughout the journey, Hua Yan's arms were scratched by rocks, yet she didn't even flinch when Lao Yang only provided each person with two hundred milliliters of water to quench their thirst. When he wanted to plead for her, Lao Yang shot him a sharp glance, silencing him.
As they pressed forward, Hua Yan couldn't help but notice that Lao Yang had become a different person since they started walking up the mountain path. He had turned ruthless and peculiar. Once an amiable old man, he now seemed as cold-hearted and strange as a bloodthirsty killer, his brutality hidden behind his expressionless face. Though she wanted to ask why, she ultimately didn't speak up. Hua Yan continued to follow Lao Yang step by step. When he refused to let her drink water, she clenched her cracked lips and swallowed her saliva to ease her discomfort. She wanted to rest, and initially, Lao Yang agreed multiple times, but as they progressed, his approvals became fewer and fewer.
"You should let me carry your backpack," the young soldier gasped for breath. Seeing Hua Yan's clothes soaked with sweat, dried by the wind, soaked again, and now unable to dry due to the wetness, he worried that under Lao Yang's almost cruel treatment, Hua Yan might collapse on this desolate mountain cliff.
Both Hua Yan and Lao Yang paused for a moment when they heard the soldier's offer. Seeing Lao Yang's lack of response, Hua Yan continued walking, her voice hoarse as she said, "Thanks, but I can manage it myself." She adjusted her travel hat and continued on.
For a moment, tears welled in Lao Yang's eyes, but then he smiled proudly. A second later, he wiped away the smile, and the tears evaporated into the air. These changes occurred so quickly that even if someone were facing him, they wouldn't notice what had just happened.
Lao Yang looked up at the scorching sun that would soon be directly overhead, then suddenly quickened his pace and coldly commanded, "Hurry up. Don't crawl like a tortoise."
Hua Yan's anger was nearing its breaking point. However, with the path barely wide enough for one and a half people, she couldn't unleash her fists and feet. Otherwise, she would have immediately pounced on Lao Yang, beating him until he was black and blue, like a panda, like an ancestor of pigs. After taking a deep breath, another one... and another, Hua Yan managed to calm herself down, forcing her leaden legs to move faster.
Under Lao Yang's devilish torment, they finally reached the end of the road. Beyond lay an abyss. Leaning against the cliff, Hua Yan felt a large drop of warm sweat rolling down her forehead, stinging her dry eyes. Tears immediately welled up, and in her desperation, she wiped them away with her sleeve, only causing more tears to flow. With her eyes burning uncomfortably, she cursed under her breath, "Damn it..." even tears were bullying her.
Seeing Hua Yan crying, Lao Yang took a step forward, then hesitated and retreated, closing his eyes to rest. In reality, he was tormented by his own heart. The young soldier quickly approached, offering a clean tissue from his backpack to Hua Yan and whispered softly in her ear, "Hang in there. A helicopter will come to pick us up and take us to the base soon. You can rest well on the plane, and we won't reach the base until tomorrow morning."
Feeling her eyes no longer stinging, Hua Yan gave the soldier a dusty smile and nodded silently, closing her eyes to rest for a while. Seeing Hua Yan smile for the first time in what seemed like ages, the soldier noticed a small cut on her lip, the bright red blood contrasting starkly against the sunlight.