193: Snowstorm

Shen Lian didn't argue with Sun Binghe, but he stayed very close to him to ensure he could react quickly to any accidents.

However, when the flashlight shone out from the hole, they discovered that only the area under their feet was severely collapsed. In the half-tunnel ahead, there were only fallen rocks every few meters, and the space wasn't cramped at all.

At the end, light filtered through the gaps between the stones.

"Wait," Shen Lian said, turning back to grab the medical kit. He stuffed all the remaining bottles of water into the gaps of his coat or pants pockets and quickly scanned the area; there was no food in the car, so this was all they had.

The two were very cautious as they passed through the hole. The gravel underfoot was uneven, and Shen Lian stumbled several times. In the vast space, their footsteps sounded hollow and clear. After a few steps, there was a "clatter" behind them. Sun Binghe looked back and saw that the hole had been mostly buried by falling debris.

They still had some luck on their side.

Not daring to delay, the two quickly merged into the light of the exit.

Then, they were hit in the face by wind and snow.

Shen Lian and Sun Binghe took a deep breath and then pushed and shoved each other back into the tunnel. Not daring to go too far in, they used a large fallen stone block as a windbreak.

Returning to the car was completely unrealistic; once the things above fell, they would be crushed into pulp.

Shen Lian pulled out his phone and took a look. The signal was very poor, and because the screen was shattered, the touch response wasn't very sensitive. Sun Binghe's phone was fine, but it showed no signal.

Looking at the record, the call to Feng Yueshan hadn't connected.

"It's not a big problem; the Bodyguards will find a way," Sun Binghe said. "Not to mention, Young Master Feng is actually a smart man."

Indeed, although Feng Yueshan didn't answer the call, he saw the missed call notification and dialed back. It was understandable if it didn't go through once, but if it never went through, it was abnormal.

He immediately got in touch with Chu Yilan, who had just received a report from the Bodyguards.

The moment the news reached his ears, that feeling of mountain winds howling and a strong sense of weightlessness struck again. But in the next second, it was dispersed by fierce reason and endless courage. The speed was so fast that even Chu Yilan didn't quite react. He raised his hand to press against his chest and felt carefully; there was no panic or fear. Somehow, Chu Yilan firmly believed that Shen Lian was fine.

This didn't just come from the confidence Shen Lian gave him, but also from an unexplainable mental connection after their hearts had become one.

Yang Bin's expression changed slightly but quickly returned to normal. From the time he received the news until they set off, he had been on the phone with contacts.

Feng Yueshan had a private plane, but in this kind of weather, there was no way it could take off.

Feng Yueshan was saying "it's just a light snow" while being dragged away by Zhou Yuanlin. He took a large gulp of the cold wind outside, which finally calmed him down.

"Can you think properly now?" Zhou Yuanlin asked in a deep voice.

"What way? This won't work, that won't work!" Feng Yueshan was a bit anxious. "It's a landslide, man! Shen Lian and Sun Binghe are both inside. I don't even dare to think if something happens! In the end, it's my fault." Feng Yueshan took a breath. "What would have happened if we just met up after the snow stopped?"

"There's no use saying that now." Zhou Yuanlin looked at the vast expanse of white in the distance, his voice steady. "Our Bodyguards and relevant personnel have all been dispatched. The situation isn't too bad. After all, there are several snowplows. Although the clearing speed is slow, that tunnel isn't very far from here. At the latest by nightfall, or at worst by midnight, they'll be able to reach it."

Feng Yueshan: "What about the time in between?"

Zhou Yuanlin looked over somewhat speechlessly. "Seriously, if it were someone else, I'd understand you being this worried, but who is it? One is Shen Lian, and the other is Sun Binghe."

These words were like a reassuring pill, effectively calming the anxiety in Feng Yueshan's heart.

On this side, wisps of black smoke rose from behind the large stone block. Soon, the smoke billowed up and was swept away by the gale as soon as it hit the air.

Shen Lian's proud voice came from behind: "See, it's lit, right?"

Sun Binghe was quite shocked by what he saw. After a moment: "You're really something!"

"Hehe."

Fifteen minutes ago, Shen Lian noticed that the temperature behind the stone block wasn't much different from outside, so he wrapped his down jacket tightly and took a stroll to the nearby mountain.

Sun Binghe naturally followed.

Ever since Assistant Sun started studying, he hadn't stopped learning. One cannot roast people without being knowledgeable. However, as confident as Sun Binghe was, he was stunned when he saw Shen Lian dig out a charred black object from the snow next to a large tree.

"Look, life is full of surprises everywhere." Shen Lian's voice was instantly scattered by the wind and snow.

Sun Binghe choked on the air as soon as he opened his mouth. Looking around, the hillside was silent, the trees were wordless, and the world was left with only a miserable white. In their situation, far from any village or inn, and constantly being slapped in the face by the cold wind, Assistant Sun couldn't see where the surprise was.

He just thought Shen Lian was quite optimistic.

Shen Lian then explained to Sun Binghe: "Horned Chen Wood. Usually, in autumn, it gets buried by leaves after falling. At dawn and dusk, the moisture is heavy, and it undergoes damp oxidation. After settling until winter, it becomes like this. Its ignition point is extremely low."

Sun Binghe looked at its ice-and-snow-covered appearance: "Seems like a lot of trouble."

Shen Lian chuckled: "I'll show you in a bit."

Sun Binghe had a lighter on him. After returning to the shelter, Shen Lian used the stone slabs he picked up to build a simple stove and then lit the Horned Chen Wood from bottom to top. Sun Binghe thought that even if it could burn, it would take a long time, but two minutes later, a scorched smell wafted out.

Only then did Sun Binghe remember that Teacher Shen had participated in an adventure survival variety show.

At this moment, Teacher Shen's halo in Sun Binghe's eyes strengthened once again.

The two sat together by the fire. They moved as little as possible to conserve a large part of their physical strength. It was fine to skip a meal. About an hour later, the wind and snow gradually eased.

Conveniently, only a pile of ashes remained in the small stove.

"What do you say?" Shen Lian spoke up. "Shall we go?"

Sun Binghe: "Let's go. Maybe we'll run into the rescue team halfway."

After walking for ten minutes, the wind and snow stopped completely. The air was exceptionally crisp and cold. Considering Shen Lian's physical condition, Sun Binghe forcibly stuffed the scarf onto his face.

"Teacher Shen, if anything happens to you, the Boss will hang me from the top of the Hengtai Building."

Shen Lian revealed a pair of eyes, his voice muffled: "Exaggeration. Chu Yilan treats you like a brother."

The latter sentence made Sun Binghe's lips curl. "That's why I have to protect you even better."

Shen Lian knew Sun Binghe was particularly persistent about these things and didn't argue. The two walked side by side, leaving a long trail of footprints behind them.

"By the way, do you and Assistant Yang live near each other?" Shen Lian was a bit curious.

"Not that close," Sun Binghe said. "The house I have now was a bargain I snatched up during a big price drop after I had been working for three years. My thought back then was simple: I just wanted a place of my own. Later, work got busy, and I worked with Brother Yang a lot, so I often stayed at his place."

As he spoke, Sun Binghe suddenly smiled very lightly: "It's not a bother."