Embers Ad Infinitum
chapter-716

After many people died in the severe crisis, it stopped in an unexpected manner. This made everyone in Heli 5 fall into an indescribable silence with different emotions.

After a while, the pilot straightened his back and relied on the vehicle’s communications equipment to communicate with the other helicopters. “I’ve received confirmation that the danger has been resolved. I repeat: received confirmation that the danger has been resolved. All teams will land at their original destinations and await further notice.”

After a pause, the pilot said in a slightly hoarse voice, “I suggest that everyone observe a minute of silence for the sacrifice the warriors and Commissioner Huang made. There’s no need to close your eyes.”

“I agree.”

“I agree.”

…

Voices sounded one after another before there was silence.

After nearly two minutes, Shang Jianyao opened his eyes and asked Jiang Baimian across his three companions, “Did you sense Doctor’s location just now?”

What’s the use of asking now? Even if Doctor isn’t dead, he has definitely escaped… Jiang Baimian muttered inwardly and then replied with a sigh, “No.”

If there was, she would’ve said it immediately.

“Me neither.” Shang Jianyao had a look of regret. “What a pity. I won’t be seeing a scene of ballistic missiles launching in unison.”

Be serious. You just finished your minute of silence! Are you the one that seeks novelty? Jiang Baimian shut her mouth and didn’t say anything else. She felt that silence was a form of respect for Commissioner Huang, Elder Zhang, and the other sacrificed victims.

Before long, the helicopter began to descend and stopped outside a small human settlement—there was a flat area here.

Before this, the helicopter had already received orders from the Ubei Supplies Management Committee to return with the surviving Salvation Army veterans and wait for further notice in the military base attached to Ubei.

Jiang Baimian and the others carried different crates and waved goodbye to their temporary comrades.

Upon seeing the black helicopter circle in midair before flying into the distance, Long Yuehong rubbed his ear. “It was so loud. My hearing hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

He could hear everything around him, but he kept having the feeling that there was a thick barrier between them.

“Is that so?” Jiang Baimian didn’t have such an experience. Her biological cochlear implant could adjust itself.

“Yes.” The honest Shang Jianyao stuffed two fingers into his ears and squeezed them in before pulling them out. “This will make it much better.”

Bai Chen did as he said and asked, “Where are we going next?”

“Let’s wait for the Salvation Army to send our car over and figure out the latest situation first.” Jiang Baimian looked around and was in no rush to walk to the human settlement not far away.

As a representative of being lazy whenever possible, the ruthless Shang Jianyao put down the crate on his back and sat on it.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Baimian mimicked him. Long Yuehong and Bai Chen followed closely behind.

Genava hesitated for a moment and decided to be more human.

More than ten minutes later, two cars—including the Old Task Force’s jeep—drove over from Ubei and stopped in front of Jiang Baimian and the others.

Ding Ling was in charge of driving their car.

Ding Ling pushed open the door and threw the key at Jiang Baimian.

Shang Jianyao jumped up and snatched it.

“…” Ding Ling was a little stunned.

The Salvation Army warriors’ cars behind didn’t approach. They seemed to be guarding them from afar.

Shang Jianyao held the key, took a few steps forward, and said to Ding Ling with a heavy expression, “Commissioner Huang, Elder Zhang, and the others have sacrificed themselves.”

His voice gradually softened as he didn’t hide his grief.

Ding Ling lowered her head and looked at her toes. “I learned of it midway; there’s a radio in the other car.”

She then looked up and forced a smile filled with sadness. “From the first day I joined the Salvation Army, I knew that sacrifices were inevitable. Unlike the warriors around Ubei, I’ve been in a border settlement for a long time. I often face danger and have been injured several times. I’ve always been mentally prepared for the people around me to suddenly sacrifice themselves one day.

“Although I’m definitely sad when it really happens, the most important thing is to continue walking down this path. We have to cherish the people we value and spend time with them. We have to try our best not to leave too many regrets in our normal lives.”

Jiang Baimian could understand Ding Ling’s feelings. Just as she was about to comfort her, the honest Genava suddenly said, “Then, do you know that Zeng Ping’an likes you? Did you get along well with him and not let him have too many regrets?”

Not only was Long Yuehong dumbfounded at this moment, but even Bai Chen and Jiang Baimian were as well. Only Shang Jianyao seemed to want to applaud.

What the hell is that question? Old Ge, don’t interrogate people about human nature at a time like this! That’s too rude! Besides, are you sure you aren’t trying to start an argument? After coming to her senses, Jiang Baimian awkwardly wanted to dismantle the crappy robot.

She had already recalled who Zeng Ping’an was; he was the young man at the border outpost. He had saved Ding Ling during First City’s probing attack last year and had almost died from being shot a few times.

Just as Jiang Baimian tried to smooth things over and apologize, Ding Ling replied with a complicated expression, “I slept with him.”

“…” Jiang Baimian, Long Yuehong, and Shang Jianyao temporarily lost the ability to speak. Only Bai Chen didn’t react much.

Before Genava continued asking, Ding Ling sighed softly. “Do you wish to comment about me having a husband and that I had requested you to find him in Icefield? It’s been two years. There’s no news of him from Icefield, and I’m guarding my hometown at the border. I don’t even know if he’s dead or alive, and it’s the same for him. Maybe one of us will be infected with the Heartless disease the next minute or have a bullet hit our hearts.

“I love him, but I also pity and love my comrades. When a child—who protected your back and was seriously injured for you—is about to die while giving you a look yearning for love, can you just refuse him? He’s a wilderness nomad. His parents died early, and he suffered a lot. It wasn’t easy for him to come to our Salvation Army, live through the required stipulated years, and join the army. He has never felt love. Do you want him to die like this without being able to satisfy his last wish?

“Heh heh, I’ve seen people who never meet again but uphold the love of their lives for each other. However, that’s a luxury. The Ashlands is only about today, never tomorrow.” At this point, Ding Ling lowered her eyes and said in a disappointed tone, “I once yearned for it too…”

Long Yuehong couldn’t criticize Ding Ling; he felt that people who had never experienced the corresponding matters were just armchair critics. He could only curse inwardly, This f*cked up world!

Ding Ling quickly composed herself, looked at the Old Task Force, and exhaled. “If my husband can still return, I’ll tell him everything that happened to me and let him decide our future.”

As she spoke, Ding Ling spoke faster. “I hope you can find him and tell him—tell him that I miss him very much.”

A hopeful glow remained in her eyes.

Jiang Baimian nodded. “Don’t worry. We will definitely work hard to do what we promised you.”

She didn’t continue the topic and asked, “How’s the situation in Ubei?”

“We’re investigating if there are any nuclear bombs hidden. Countless Salvation Army warriors are busy searching at the risk of being blown up.” Ding Ling smiled bitterly. “After we confirm that there’s no problem, we’ll get the evacuated citizens to return. It should be quick.”

“That fast?” Shang Jianyao asked cooperatively.

Ding Ling nodded slightly. “The threat of a New World powerhouse was pressing. In order to save every second, we evacuated a large number of citizens quickly without doing any stringent checks when they left the city. As of now, there’s a high chance that the nuclear warhead has already been moved out of Ubei. Heh heh, let it be. It’s not like our Salvation Army only has one nuclear warhead.”

From the looks of it, the group of people who stole the nuclear bomb didn’t want to blow up any important city in the Salvation Army. After all, the only city more important than Ubei in the Salvation Army was its headquarters in Pingnan City.

“You can only take time investigating then,” Jiang Baimian consoled.

Ding Ling looked back at the other car. “I have to go. Whether you return to Ubei to replenish your supplies or head straight to Icefield and replenish your supplies on the way, either works. You didn’t lose your pass, right?”

“No.” Jiang Baimian shook her head.

Ding Ling grunted tersely. “If you want to return to Ubei, it’s best to wait three days or wait until the all-clear is given.”

She then waved her hand. “I’ll wait for you to bring me good news!”

After watching Ding Ling get into another car and drive north, Jiang Baimian said to Shang Jianyao and the others, “Move all the crates back to the car.”

Long Yuehong quickly took a few steps forward and opened the jeep’s trunk. As he swept his gaze, he frowned slightly. “That many supplies? A gift from the Salvation Army?”

He realized that the tiny bit of supplies they had now filled more than one-third of the trunk.

“Are we that lucky?” Shang Jianyao excitedly rushed over and rummaged through the pile of supplies.

Amidst his rummaging, the pile of supplies collapsed, revealing a large box below.

“It’s just stacked over this…” Shang Jianyao opened the box in disappointment and curiosity.

With a smack, the Old Task Force members’ gazes suddenly froze.

In the box lay a silver-gray, rather heavy warhead.

After a few seconds of confusion, Jiang Baimian muttered to herself, “Could this be the nuclear warhead?”

I’m actually the criminal?

Upon hearing this and seeing this scene, a blurry memory suddenly became clear in Long Yuehong’s mind.

When Team Leader and Shang Jianyao went to meet Commissioner Huang, they took over Genava’s position. When they came to the window and monitored the activity near the jeep, it seemed like—probably, maybe, possibly—a person had pushed a cart over and opened the trunk of their vehicle. He had placed such a large box in with some difficulty and covered it with the remaining supplies.

That person had avoided the surveillance cameras the entire time and knew the parking lot like the back of his hand.