An Ruoxing led a team once more into the more distant mountain forests to search for survivors. Heavy snow pounded against their faces and bodies.
It made him feel as though he had returned to the days when he had searched for survivors alongside Shen Zhixuan and the others.
The vast snow covered everything. Every direction seemed the same, and every gathering point of civilians seemed no different from the others. Even the people rescued all seemed to have the same faces! Yet beside him, five brothers would forever be missing.
Watching batch after batch of civilians being rescued, seeing the gratitude and surprise of suddenly gaining new life after sinking into despair—
Watching batch after batch of disaster victims being escorted by the Guardians, dragging their families onto enormous sleds before being hauled away at full speed—
More experts returning from escorting people joined the search-and-rescue teams.
He remembered Shen Zhixuan, Zhao Yi, and the others, and the heartfelt smiles they wore whenever a rescue succeeded.
"Deputy Chief Officer, there were more than three thousand people this time. The nearby villages have all been brought back together. We found quite a lot of people this time."
A cheerful voice spoke beside him.
That voice was exactly like Shen Zhixuan's after every rescue, even the words and the happiness in his voice were the same.
An Ruoxing smiled dazedly. "Old Shen, this is only the beginning. There are still many people waiting for us to rescue them."
As he spoke, he turned around. "Continue—"
Then he suddenly saw the face of the person who had come over. A pang of pain struck An Ruoxing's heart, and tears burst out without warning.
"Good, good. Continue searching..."
An Ruoxing wiped his eyes awkwardly.
The newcomer lowered his head and said miserably, "Deputy