Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-687

As she spoke, Ding Ling took out a colored photo from the inner pocket of her black uniform.

The person in the photo was a man in his twenties. He was thin, slightly dark, and wore a pair of black-framed glasses. His hair was neatly combed to the back.

“This is a picture from almost ten years ago. He l-looks more mature now. His hair isn’t as neat,” Ding Ling added seriously.

She handed the photo to Shang Jianyao, who had stretched out his hands. After a pause, she said, “If you meet him somewhere in Icefield, remember to tell him that someone is still waiting for him.”

Toward the end, Ding Ling’s tone subconsciously became quite gentle.

“No problem!” Shang Jianyao replied firmly. He looked at the photo carefully, as if he wanted to imprint the person on it in his mind.

“Okay.” Jiang Baimian agreed. At the same time, she secretly sighed.

Based on what she had heard and experienced, she knew very well that there was a high chance that those that went silent would never return. However, Jiang Baimian didn’t burst Ding Ling’s bubble. It wasn’t a bad thing to have some hope for the future when living in the Ashlands. Perhaps not accepting reality was for the best.

Jiang Baimian could understand why Shang Jianyao was so agitated. She was certain that it reminded him of his long-lost father.

Shang Jianyao’s father had also gone out on a mission to investigate the cause of the Old World’s destruction and never returned. There was no news of him.

Ever since he joined the Old Task Force, Shang Jianyao had been searching for traces of his father. He now had some clues; he knew that there were some clues in a city that had been destroyed by a Heartless outbreak in the New Calendar.

Therefore, Shang Jianyao probably empathized with Ding Ling when she asked if someone could pass her husband a message.

He should be the one that values relationships now… Jiang Baimian took Ji Qiang’s photo from Shang Jianyao and looked at it seriously. “We’ll keep an eye out.”

Ding Ling didn’t leave the photo with the Old Task Force. Instead, she took it back and carefully placed it back in the inner pocket of her black uniform.

Bai Chen believed that she might only have one photo left because of various reasons.

“Where’s your marriage photo?” The honest Shang Jianyao clearly thought of a similar question.

Jiang Baimian couldn’t stop him in time.

Ding Ling—who had maintained a polite smile when mentioning Ji Qiang—had a dazed expression. “When we retreated into the mountains last year and were pursued by First City, it fell into a mountain stream during an intense battle.”

At this moment, her grief seemed a little uncontrollable.

She has always carried it with her… Jiang Baimian deliberately changed the topic. “Does your settlement have a photocopier?”

“Not this year.” Ding Ling shook her head. “It was taken away by First City when we gave up on the settlement last year. I’ve been applying for it this year, but it hasn’t been approved. It seems like the supplies are a little tight. Otherwise, I would’ve directly photocopied a photo for you.”

“It’s fine. She’s smart and has a good memory.” Shang Jianyao didn’t help Jiang Baimian with her humility.

After exchanging a few more words, Ding Ling led Zeng Ping’an to the settlement’s entrance.

On the way, Zeng Ping’an looked back at the Old Task Force with a slightly complicated expression.

After they passed through the door and entered the settlement, Bai Chen retracted her gaze and whispered, “That Zeng guy likes Captain Ding.”

“No way?” Long Yuehong blurted out. The age difference is a little too great. The gap is bigger than between Yang Zhenyuan and Zhou Qi—it’s at least ten years!

Furthermore, Yang Zhenyuan and Zhou Qi were married through the company’s central assignment. Under normal circumstances, it was unlikely that they would become a couple.

Jiang Baimian smiled. “Isn’t it normal for 17-year-olds to like big sisters? Besides, there are very few people Zeng Ping’an can come into contact with every day in a border settlement like this. The ratio of men to women here isn’t too balanced, and he often has to be on edge. The hormones catalyzed by danger made him unconsciously fall in love with the mature and reliable woman beside him. What’s so surprising about that? Ding Ling looks alright, doesn’t she?”

“You know quite a lot!” Shang Jianyao was just short of clapping.

“Expanding on this topic will result in a professional psychological paper.” Genava echoed Shang Jianyao’s words.

That’s right, that’s right… Long Yuehong agreed inwardly.

Jiang Baimian smiled humbly. “Actually, I didn’t realize it until it was brought up. If Little White hadn’t said anything, I wouldn’t have noticed it. I thought it was a comradeship from having gone through thick and thin together.”

Do you think we will believe you? Long Yuehong muttered silently.

Bai Chen nodded. “I’m relatively sensitive to such matters.”

Uh… Long Yuehong became nervous and uneasy.

The honest Genava said, “I didn’t detect that, but I found something through analysis.”

“What is it?” Long Yuehong took the initiative to ask.

Genava moved his metal neck. “Ding Ling and her husband have been married for almost ten years, but she didn’t mention a child just now. Most factions in the Ashlands encourage childbirth as one of the most basic policies. The Salvation Army is no exception.”

Jiang Baimian looked around and sighed. “It’s possible that they didn’t manage to raise the child after giving birth, or it’s also possible that she didn’t discover her pregnancy immediately. She might’ve encountered an intruder or an attack from First City and accidentally suffered a miscarriage.

“There are many reasons. The outside world isn’t like the company; the environment for childbirth isn’t that good.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian clapped her hands. “Let’s prepare dinner.”

Just as the Old Task Force was cooking the new variety of pickled vegetables and pork canned food they had recently traded, a derelict jeep peppered with holes drove from east of the stream and stopped at the settlement’s entrance.

“Captain Ding, we’re here to update the data!” A head popped out from the jeep’s passenger seat.

He had shifty eyes under a thin felt hat, and he looked travel-soiled.

Ding Ling knew him, but she still sent her subordinates to body-search the two people as usual. They also checked the car before letting them in.

Ding Ling came down from the wall by a flight of wooden stairs and asked the shifty-eyed man, “Why are you so late? Didn’t you say that you would arrive in the morning?”

Unlike the gentle restraint she had when communicating with the Old Task Force, she was now feisty and strong.

“Gosh, don’t blame me! Captain Ding, our car broke down on the way. We spent a lot of time repairing it,” the shifty-looking man quickly explained.

His name was Zhang Chenguang, a staff member of the Ubei Hunter’s Guild. Together with his companions, he was in charge of regularly updating Hunter information for all the settlements and border outposts in a large area to ensure that the data was in sync.

Ding Ling didn’t say anything else. She led Zhang Chenguang and his companions into the two-story building covered in burn marks. She then pointed at a laptop and said, “Check why it lags all the time. It took me a while to find information on a few Hunters, and it was incomplete.”

“Alright!” Zhang Chenguang was a technical personnel who had undergone professional training.

Of course, he was also a part-time Ruin Hunter. As he usually traveled, he naturally completed some missions. For example, helping some outpost soldiers send messages home.

After a round of cleaning, Ding Ling’s computer was restored to normal. Zhang Chenguang then inserted a flash drive and uploaded the latest Hunter information from all over the Ashlands, replacing the original.

Ding Ling nodded slightly. “Help me pull up October Xue, Zhang Qubing, Qian Bai, and Gu Zhiyong. I didn’t see why they were wanted in First City.

“Hunter IDs are…” Ding Ling picked up a piece of paper beside her and read the numbers on it.

“Alright.” Zhang Chenguang typed hard on the keyboard, and he quickly pulled up Jiang Baimian and the others’ information.

“Reward of 20,000 Oray?” Zhang Chenguang suddenly stood up as if there were nails under his butt. How many pounds—no, how many tons of pork can I buy with that? How dangerous is a Hunter team with such a high bounty!?

“I know that,” Ding Ling said with a look of disdain. “Help me see why they’re wanted.”

If not for the Old Task Force’s high bounty and the fact that they were on the way to Icefield, she wouldn’t have asked for their help.

Zhang Chenguang sat down in fear as if a few monsters were lurking outside the room.

“Plotted, uh…” Zhang Chenguang was stunned. “Plotted a major plot against First City.”

“A major plot against First City?” Ding Ling suspected her ears. There are only four people and a robot outside?

Zhang Chenguang nodded mechanically. “That’s what it says here.”

“Yes, the reason given by First City might not be true. Sometimes, they will find an excuse to cover up the real reason.” Ding Ling quickly calmed down. “However, the people outside definitely did something impressive for them to be treated with such grave importance. I have to report it and see if we should make further contact.”

She cast her gaze at the radio transceiver in a corner of the room.