The cries for help from afar came and went. The rain grew heavier, and the sound of floodwaters in the valley rolled closer like a galloping wild horse, roaring and snorting as it drowned out the desperate cries of those hanging by a thread. The flood surged fiercely through the valley, carrying sand and stones. In the blink of an eye, it swallowed the paths on both sides of the valley and continued rising rapidly.
Tong Haojing decisively gave the order, "Move!" Then he led the three-man squad upstream, hoping to find the trapped people before other rescue forces arrived.
The raging current seemed to carry the force of a thousand pounds. Before it, people were insignificant, and danger could strike Tong Haojing at any moment. He adjusted his gear and pressed forward without hesitation, climbing along the edge of the valley floor toward the cries for help. About half an hour later, halfway up the valley, they found a cave more than ten meters above the valley floor, with a narrow path leading to its entrance. Tong Haojing shouted several times, "Is anyone there? Is anyone there?"
Faint, weak cries for help came from the direction of the cave entrance. Tong Haojing was overjoyed and determined that the people were inside. The four of them climbed faster and reached the entrance, where they found two women lying on the ground, barely alive and soaked from head to toe. The outlines of their waists were clearly visible, making the Special Operations Unit soldiers blush like big boys. But at such a critical moment, Tong Haojing could not care about that. Supporting one woman's head, he called to her loudly several times. She woke up, trembling all over, and said fearfully, "There's someone else inside... a snake!" Then she fainted again. Hearing this, Tong Haojing instinctively backed away several steps, and the other three soldiers did not dare proceed rashly either.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled outside the cave. Inside, it was pitch-black, eerie, and terrifying, with the occasional flicker of light.
Tong Haojing realized that the person inside might have been bitten by a snake and could not move. He resolutely issued a bold order: "Go in and save them!"
Tong Haojing had one man watch over the two girls at the cave entrance while contacting the captain to request local support. He switched on his flashlight, drew his dagger, and moved forward step by step. Fortunately, the cave entrance was wide and the cave was not deep; they reached the end after just over ten meters. A man sat on the ground, groaning softly. Not far away, a rustling sound sent chills down everyone's spine.
"Snake! It's huge!" one of the soldiers behind him screamed sharply. Tong Haojing looked up and saw a venomous snake over two meters long coiled at the rocky entrance, swishing its tail, raising its head, and flicking its tongue at him in challenge.
Tong Haojing instinctively told everyone to fall back and shouted, "Watch out! Get him out, now!"
As if startled, the snake raised its head and lunged at Tong Haojing like lightning.
"Come on, then!" Tong Haojing waved the Type 95 assault rifle in one hand to draw the snake's attention while gripping his dagger in the other. Seizing the moment, he brought the blade down and cut off the snake's head. The bloody sight made everyone's skin crawl.
Blood splashed into one teammate's eyes. His vision blurred, and he accidentally fell against a rock and passed out. Seeing him collapse, the other soldiers rushed over frantically, pinching his tiger's mouth and philtrum while performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
"What's that smell? Get off me!" As though he had been holding his breath for a long time, the soldier suddenly came to. Feeling someone blowing into his mouth and catching a whiff of blood, he instinctively shoved away Tong Haojing, who was giving him mouth-to-mouth.
"He's alive! He's alive!" Everyone erupted in cheers.
"It's nothing. I faint at the sight of blood!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier? You made me work for nothing!" Tong Haojing complained, and at a time like this, the man was still joking around.
The soldiers carefully checked the area around the cave entrance. Only after confirming there were no further threats did they finally let out a deep breath. The man inside had panicked earlier and accidentally fallen. The snake had bitten his foot, blood was pouring from the wound, and his foot was fractured, leaving him unable to move. The man sitting on the ground was pale, and it was obvious at a glance that he had been poisoned.
After administering basic first aid, Tong Haojing quickly carried the man out of the cave and learned what had happened. The three were fourth-year journalism students from Hexi University. The tall woman was Zhao Mindan, the shorter one was Feng Ling, and the man was Ruo Fei. They had come to the gorge on Sunday for an outing, but an unexpected downpour had triggered a flash flood almost instantly. Their survival instincts told them to head for higher ground, which was how they reached the cave. They had also sent a distress signal to their university by phone, and rescue forces were presumably on their way.
But the problem now was that rescuers outside could not get in, while those trapped inside could not get out. The students were already on the verge of death and urgently needed treatment. With no time to lose, Tong Haojing checked the military map and saw that there was an unpaved road beyond the mountain. As long as they crossed it, they could have the local rescue team and a 120 ambulance wait there, buying precious time. Tong Haojing immediately reported to the captain and requested that he contact the local authorities. Meanwhile, he and the three Special Operations Unit soldiers used ropes to climb over the mountain, hauled the three trapped students to the summit, opened up a narrow path, and let the rescue team take over, successfully sending all three to the 120 ambulance.
Because treatment was administered in time, all three survived, though Ruo Fei fell into a vegetative state. Tong Haojing and the other three returned the way they had come but failed to complete their mission on schedule. Later, because he had talked back to his superior and disobeyed orders, his company intended to discipline him. When the matter was submitted to the regiment headquarters for approval, however, the headquarters not only declined to punish him but ordered that he be commended and called on the entire regiment to learn from him.
Zhao Mindan slept groggily in her hospital bed for three days before finally waking up. Her hand moved slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Where am I?"
"Dandan, you're awake! This is the hospital." Feng Ling, who had awakened earlier and lay in the next bed, heard Mindan's weak voice and burst into tears of joy.
Zhao Mindan looked around with difficulty. Her blurry vision gradually cleared, and she saw her best friend Feng Ling lying in the hospital as well. Then everything suddenly came back to her. "We survived the Yunding Mountain disaster. If the People's Liberation Army hadn't arrived in time, we would have died."
"Where are the People's Liberation Army soldiers?"
"I don't know which unit they were from. I guess it was one of the units near us..." Feng Ling had regained her spirits, though she still shuddered at the memory of the ordeal. Her words were filled with boundless admiration for the People's Liberation Army.
Mindan was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling in her eyes.
"Feng Ling, we have to find the People's Liberation Army soldiers who saved us. They gave us a second life!" Zhao Mindan propped herself up on her elbows, trying desperately to sit up.
Feng Ling was already able to walk. She hurried over to support Mindan, and the two women clasped each other's hands tightly.
"Mm! Mindan, we definitely will!"
Three days later, Zhao Mindan and Feng Ling had fully recovered their strength. They eagerly wrote a letter of thanks and prepared to express their gratitude in person, but for some reason, the entire unit had already broken camp and departed without a trace. Standing at the gates of the military camp, the two looked disappointedly at the empty barracks and shouted in unison, "People's Liberation Army uncles, no matter where you go, we will find you!"
Three months later, Zhao Mindan graduated from university and returned to Tangdu City. She passed the examination for a news position at the Radio and Television Bureau and became a journalist blessed with both beauty and talent.
In fact, Tong Haojing had entered a military academy that same year. After graduating three years later, he was appointed deputy company commander in a certain unit. Tong Haojing worked with enthusiasm and had his own distinctive way of leading troops. Unexpectedly, due to military reforms, his unit was disbanded, and all officers were reassigned to civilian posts. Tong Haojing was no exception.
Fortunately, the military leaders took special care of Tong Haojing. They recommended him to the local authorities based on his outstanding deeds, and the local authorities agreed that he could choose any position he wanted in departments such as industry and commerce, taxation, or public security. Tong Haojing left the military reluctantly. Though he had some regrets, he was getting closer and closer to his dream.
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