"Jingshan, what's the progress on the search and rescue?"
At the Xinxiu Community disaster relief point, it was already seven in the evening. Li Chengde was calling Huang Jingshan to inquire about the progress of the army's search and rescue for Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang.
At the entrance of the cave on the back mountain, various excavation equipment was working at full capacity. After an afternoon of effort, only a section of the entrance, buried by the earthquake, had been cleared.
However, there were countless collapses inside. Nie Xiaoyu and the army could only clear it section by section, which consumed a lot of manpower and resources.
"What? Old Gu, you really shouldn't come."
Jiang Yichun, sitting on an iron bed, said to Gu Yuanbai on the phone, "Don't worry, the army is fully searching for Xiao Wan and Luotang. They will definitely still be alive."
Meanwhile, in Huadu City, Gu Yuanbai, at home, was informed by a classmate that Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang were in trouble. Gu Yuanbai only then learned of his granddaughter and Wan Yunting's accident. Unable to accept the blow of his granddaughter's misfortune, his health deteriorated.
"Don't worry, Old Gu. As soon as there's any news, I'll tell you immediately. But you must take care of yourself, you can't collapse!" Jiang Yichun shouted.
Li Chengde and Ding Huixiang stood by, watching Jiang Yichun and Gu Yuanbai end their call with sighs, understanding how heartbroken Gu Yuanbai was.
At this moment, Fang Yanxi and Lin Xiaoqi, with Xu Lingwei and Li Zihang behind them, were in a Mercedes-Benz SUV driven by Wan Dongming, the second brother.
Upon hearing the news of Wan Yunting's accident, the second brother immediately booked a flight to come over. Coincidentally, he met Fang Yanxi and the others, so they came together.
They were rushing from Baishi towards the disaster area in Lingshan County. Along the way, they saw disaster victims being transported out, the landslides that had destroyed residential houses, and the grief-stricken faces of those who had lost loved ones. This made Fang Yanxi and the others feel deeply unsettled.
Earlier, she had been very confused as to why Wan Yunting had suddenly rushed to the disaster area, but now, seeing this scene, Fang Yanxi suddenly understood.
Besides Fang Yanxi, Jiang Peipei, Huang Yuqing, and Ling Wei, even Niu Qiuling, through the temporary rescue team organized by the police, was also heading towards the disaster area in Lingshan County...
However, Wan Yunting and Gu Luotang, trapped in the Lingshan cave, continued their journey, stopping and going along the downstream direction of the underground river.
"Yunting, what do we do, it's blocked!"
Ahead, the cave had completely collapsed, blocking the downstream of the underground river. This made Wan Yunting's heart sink. His previously optimistic outlook was no longer so cheerful.
"Don't worry, let me see."
Wan Yunting took off his headlamp and shone it carefully ahead, hoping to find a crack to pass through.
But to his disappointment, the path ahead was tightly sealed. Even the underground river was completely filled, preventing any water flow, and it had formed a pool.
Seeing Wan Yunting standing motionlessly, Gu Luotang sighed softly, knowing the man was also disappointed at this moment.
"It's okay..."
Wan Yunting turned around, forced a smile, and shouted, "At worst, we'll find another way. I don't believe we'll be trapped and die here."
"Okay."
Gu Luotang also smiled and nodded.
"Let's rest here."
Wan Yunting walked down with his headlamp, pointing to the side of the underground river, which had formed a pool due to the blockage. It was already past nine in the evening, and they had walked all day, only to end up in this situation. It was hard not to feel disappointed.
"Brother Yunting, have some water."
Gu Luotang, sitting on a flat stone, opened her backpack and took out a bottle of mineral water. After drinking it, they would directly refill it with water from the underground river.
At this point, they didn't care if the underground river water was clean or not.
"If you're tired, lie down and rest."
Wan Yunting said to Gu Luotang, who was sitting beside him, as he drank the mineral water.
"It's okay, I'm not tired yet."
Gu Luotang turned her head and smiled gently at him.
Wan Yunting finished drinking and screwed the cap back on, placing the water aside. Gu Luotang said, "Brother Yunting, if we really can't get out, will you have any regrets?"
"Regrets?"
Wan Yunting turned to look at her and smiled, shaking his head. "If we really can't get out, I will have regrets!"
"Why?"
Gu Luotang looked at him in confusion. Wan Yunting smiled, "With such a beautiful woman accompanying me, how could I have regrets?"
His words made Gu Luotang's pretty face flush instantly. Although it was hard to see clearly in the dim light, and she knew he was joking, Gu Luotang was still happy. "Brother Yunting, I'm serious."
"Oh, you're serious."
Wan Yunting sighed and smiled, "Of course, I'd have regrets. I still want to lead our Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association to defeat Sima Wentang's Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, and then promote our Chinese medicine, making the whole world know about it."
"But my biggest regret is not being able to fulfill my master's last wish!"
"Last wish?"
Gu Luotang knew he had learned his traditional Chinese medicine skills while in prison, but she didn't know who Wan Yunting's master was.
"Yes, thinking about it now, if I really were to be trapped and die here, I would be quite ashamed of my master." Wan Yunting said with a wry smile.
Gu Luotang also nodded, sighing, "Actually, I have many things left undone. But if I were to be trapped and die here, I wouldn't have any regrets!"
"Oh."
This statement made Wan Yunting turn to look at her and smile, "Why?"
"Because..."
Asked this, Gu Luotang's pretty face turned slightly red, her heart filled with both excitement and nervousness. She fiddled with the corner of her clothes, but she still mustered the courage to say in a mosquito-like voice, shyly, "Because I can die together with Brother Yunting..."
Although her voice was soft, in such a quiet space, Wan Yunting could hear her perfectly. His expression immediately became unnatural.
Was this Gu Luotang's confession?
For a moment, the two fell silent, the atmosphere becoming slightly awkward. Wan Yunting turned to look at Gu Luotang, who was sitting beside him with her head bowed shyly, and quickly changed the subject, saying with a smile, "Looking at this pool, I suddenly feel like taking a bath."
"Mm..."
Gu Luotang also nodded slightly, rubbing her neck. It was all mud formed from sweat and dust. She really wanted to wash.
"Are you cold? How about we go down and take a bath together? We'll sleep better then."
Wan Yunting turned and smiled, "Even if we're trapped and die, at least we'll die comfortably."
"T-together?"
Gu Luotang was shy, but her heart was inexplicably excited.
Wan Yunting's expression faltered, and he smiled, "How about this, I'll wash first, then you can wash."
"Okay."
Gu Luotang nodded, but then said, "But we're relying on this water to drink. Isn't it unhygienic to bathe?"
"It's fine."
Wan Yunting pointed below the blocked underground river, "There are still a few cracks down there where the water can flow. We'll wash in that spot, and it won't affect anything."
"Mm-hmm, then you go first." Gu Luotang naturally had no objections to this.
"Then you sit here, and I'll go over."
Wan Yunting said with a smile and stood up to walk towards the pool. He didn't bring a light.
Now, only the flashlight function of Gu Luotang's phone provided light. However, this light could not compare to the brightness of the headlamp. It was dim, but still visible.
Seeing Wan Yunting start to take off his clothes, Gu Luotang quickly turned her head away, not daring to peek. But thinking that the man was bathing with his back to her, her heart inexplicably felt excited and thrilled, her cheeks turning rosy...
Wan Yunting didn't care if Gu Luotang was peeking or not. He directly entered the pooled water. Although the water was cold, it felt incredibly refreshing to take a comfortable bath.
Since they were trapped here anyway, it was better to die clean.
"Luotang, I'm done."
Ten minutes later, Wan Yunting emerged and put on his pants and shirt.
"Oh, okay, I'll turn around now."
Gu Luotang spoke first. Wan Yunting smiled, "You can come over."
So, Gu Luotang picked up her phone, which was placed aside, and walked over with a nervous heart. Seeing that the man had finished washing and put on his clothes, she still felt a bit embarrassed.
"Give me your phone, and you go wash." Wan Yunting said with a smile.
But Gu Luotang was shy and said, "Maybe not. I don't want to wash anymore."
Wan Yunting smiled, "You should wash, it'll be more comfortable. Don't worry, I'll be right here, I promise not to peek."
"No, I just..."
Gu Luotang certainly wasn't afraid of Wan Yunting peeking; in fact, she rather wished he would look. It was just that her heart was filled with nervousness and excitement, making her hesitant and shy.