Chapter 20
Last night, Beijing was hit by a heavy, refreshing rainstorm that quenched the lingering heat of late summer and early autumn in a single night. It felt as though the whole world was breathing more freely.LKAtSDaPAJQSeXFWtyyaARhLymCqmm
vhAGiXByvElJwncThe weather after the rain was cool and pleasant. The entire squad was in the training field for a special drill, preparing for the annual combat competition.IMfwdgsAGIonQrTQuwjlrZptoRzyPh
tXFJNNUPCZAeIepIn the past, Ren Yi would always sign up for a few team and individual events at the competition. But since becoming the squad leader, he hadn’t had much time to train, and competing against a bunch of teenagers and early-twenties recruits didn’t feel appropriate. However, both he and Qu Yangbo would still participate in some team events to maintain collective honor.ZwIrfieAVizGmywExuevsrXlppegDW
rIxInSbuWHRNmzvJust then, the alarm suddenly rang.bCjkSgRUnANpNcFmxuKPgwWglWJYbq
XaCFEAjGWclInckRen Yi looked at the group of soldiers, dressed in their firefighting suits and doing weighted runs with breathing apparatuses on their backs, and grinned, “Let’s go. At least we don’t need to change.”ADOTxqnqzFEvZzLehMrSbtydvLWBta
kLrFLtszrLLNhmSThe group quickly rushed into the garage. The on-duty communications officer ran up to Ren Yi and reported, “Captain Ren, workers have been poisoned during sewer maintenance.”IdNfcPfnHZOyfaDbYHTrWrAxSZmwIA
RuhdEveeEiYFmTTRen Yi shouted, “Switch to rescue gear!”uYhMsMWPAVcRLTLRmoPrSJDZsBWYEX
yAZZXpeZFgYNbTmThe soldiers let out a collective yell and swiftly started changing clothes.FGYmOWZnAbpARnFHbLLxKYGTugLosF
inAdncufAtPRKRSThey had two standard uniforms for responding to incidents. One was the dark blue fireproof suit with reflective strips they were currently wearing—heat-resistant, flame-retardant, and both bulky and heavy. The other was the orange rescue suit, more lightweight and suited for non-fire emergencies.uRThJMQJOLGGRKvXwusHaZCLWEJxNs
bpaCiDQiXEvTSwq“Got it.”AtgppFNBUDXmOlutwyAWdDkNedaXqP
FwiTimINnvcWaWTAfter switching outfits, Ren Yi drove the rescue truck and ladder truck towards the residential community indicated on the dispatch sheet. At the same time, he called the person who had reported the incident: “Hello, who are you? Are you the person in charge of the community?”DowKutOUCcBGfXQUEJZPxfYfzEPnKu
iaVEuiUOelnAStF“I-I’m not, I’m just a security guard.”RecJCgXFoUOZqaJyzVYXRNGhJGnqft
jWrSaKWoyekhEVH“Tell us what happened.”YUohDYVTEIJElGXlMXGKJZQgvXxWLN
SZZXTDDzCNQPQtj“Our community floods every time it rains heavily, so we sent people down to fix it. Three people went down and didn’t come back up, and then…” The guard stuttered nervously, “We sent another three to rescue them, and they didn’t come back either.”LgZNwGYgmZWvSuAZipoORxRvKMfQyJ
PhcgguGGwBTNiAC“Don’t send anyone else down!” Ren Yi barked. “Before sending people for repairs, did you pump the water? Did you ventilate the area? Did the people going down have safety gear?”nsJEWuoPcvqYagHEMosEyVPLIiGREX
QeXcjZMTBQaFlWA“I-I don’t know, I’m not in charge of that.”ypYyfsrFMKqMpPjYRSNBXsoqefSqhV
bvrGVQaMeXFcYZi“Then where’s the person in charge? Where’s the property manager?”TjnIJTMTNUEeeRNvOroMRrHrKmZPUQ
INcZyxyooNLZusx“They’re nearby…”ntpnXHKkrkMmVpDelWBhPNNqCrOxzB
HDbaZmjNoxyLlRr“Wait there and don’t make any more moves!” Ren Yi hung up, cursing, “Every damn year this happens, and every damn year we warn them.”BZhpvFFkRPttsvCGcsTivUakCudtLu
zLtnSGKKChtkoldGao Ge sighed, “Every year we warn them, and every year it happens.”oMvimQidrFAzdMiWyFFTwuJXesHdPp
xwkMEHPdWWWIGNpThe rescue truck pulled into the community. A crowd had already gathered around the sewage well, and the property management and security guards were futilely lowering ropes into the well.eJYilXEOpKZhVYQCsbGCQTquGCnFFg
jodJwJkBcFoYMrlRen Yi ran over with his team. The stench rising from the sewage well was so foul it could knock someone out. He looked down into the well—it was narrow, with murky water sloshing around at the bottom, its depth hard to gauge. He shouted, “Where’s the person in charge?!”GzFfHYCkGxrpwOpVIOukIleCxvTsDi
ABfsDRXBOpDxqvYA middle-aged man walked over, his face pale with fear. “I-I’m the manager.”JSzbzkhwNgRcuOeYWpvDFgcFIzdTBY
tziGFlnZPFLGUDK“Did you send people down there?” Ren Yi glared at the manager, his tone fierce. “Did you not pump the water before sending them down?”jBDOrOZAoREbKavIFMYQaLhQgRttcQ
hGJNFwSOJteDZwmThe manager trembled as he replied, “The water… the water wasn’t deep. The workers said it wasn’t deep when they went down.”cXbLVbWiFwCEBJMOANnBMhZzPTpLKM
HwEERkEwrJoJlJl“And did you ventilate the air? Were they wearing masks?”PXIVXHnIEtiBhWLDIGAPRNsWbGWdxo
iFZcHhfDZfdhtisThe manager shook his head. “They had masks… and they had a torch! The fire didn’t go out, so there was oxygen!”lJLcWSNvyXydNVzzopiJNNlOucKFlM
UyJAYAKFrIuadUXRen Yi took a deep breath. In a long-sealed sewage well, the air is usually thin, but having oxygen doesn’t mean it’s safe. There could still be poisonous gases—methane, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide—all of them deadly.MgIwNRYglVWIlHtAMvnEksuCceuiIH
asBHzJaFQgjkBlaMost of the workers sent down to these wells are laborers, with no knowledge, no experience, and no equipment. If the management is also clueless, then they’re just sending people to their deaths. Every year, there are many accidents caused by illegal well operations.OeOEOxCoBzglTCzOFtnnpHzxQjtuUP
nPzadnAtYSdfrKFRen Yi crouched down and measured the opening of the well—about seventy to eighty centimeters in diameter. With the breathing apparatus, it would be hard for someone of his build to fit. He commanded, “Sun Dingyi, Liu Hui, Awen, Xiaotao, Xiaoqian, you five are slim. Get the ropes ready.”KsXaHerAIDbHaVZLhVRiIDIOvUxWTC
NfBKNlXlEPPOmWc“Yes, sir!”clgDjMtjKBeyksYeopIBXzyAAYMJPA
dhFzgjKfTPjUXveLi Sa started filming with the camera. Recording the scene was part of the special unit’s duty.YAMmlarKxqtYGWsCFAbqBaRgWcGyBi
OdmMgECDiNXVMXhThe soldiers helped tie ropes to the five men. Sun Dingyi led the way, ready to descend.ryeXvTyNbVotcBCPaeBWnsLhwXtyvO
RDcUIgvkXqNyvlfSuddenly, Ren Yi stopped Sun Dingyi. He turned his sharp gaze to the manager. “Did you shut off the upstream water flow?”ufzuHtYUezyNsRpRUQtimLMcwBNrRm
qGhGOqbGNyWZFerThe manager stammered, “I… I…”VvhhShDyrrnYxTgqqoozuaMlmryQwb
WBwFmlzWpEfJiEO“You son of a…” Ren Yi held back the urge to hit him. “Hurry up and shut off the damn valve!”diAHdHdaQnCrOeEqlpCPyUEFQKQYnX
IqKigxaeGNJnQwSThe manager stumbled away to do as he was told.eBzHNkcowcoSTSzFBfLigBxCwlsCEo
qPtUgDxuBSJTeVHRen Yi shouted to Li Sa, “Have the police been notified? Call the Hongwu District Police and get them to arrest someone.”oFwbudNYeQRLDkEQHQChpCvRofDDgP
EiQAyyiUmkmRBMk“Got it.”odlafWYptIiHqMoeWWanfShiOeVtKb
ysVXbwcCDqMONpfRen Yi gripped Sun Dingyi’s shoulder, giving him a firm look. “Be careful.”mFDhLKPzVKnjTdCjQSBCIyemSEkiti
rimxsxQukKaoSQHSun Dingyi winked at Ren Yi and grinned. “Who else but me would handle such a filthy and stinking job? See? Winning at cards comes with a price when you’re playing with the boss.”yOlFpbacNkxKELHVUsBAntDiZVQPkj
ynRgsZfGUzlwPJoRen Yi laughed and cursed, “Bastard, get in there and get back quickly.”EDDbZSdUJqlCxTGckTjKQIYvLJNyue
sjEaJENIsSMJeJDThe team put on their masks and climbed down the ladder.rumlyCtxeGFGUMSvfPTlSZWevkkdSN
cipRejQNwElhGmrSun Dingyi was the first to reach the bottom. The sewage immediately reached up to his thighs. He shouted, “Captain Ren, the water’s at least sixty centimeters deep. Just in case, we should call for a water pump truck.”BQqmIzGEVyqdbmPIDaSTIXDBuvLOXb
nzfzeGqfWGUPURA“Alright, keep me updated.”sDYQjNQtTEqWObRbetrQvEOaRSHgeZ
VNxQcbPaVcsojraRen Yi pressed his radio. “Command, we need a pump truck.”gezWkRaOqQTUShfRtUtSGkCwbrfbAH
QwmbTpqQUNXWMHy“Roger that.”WgyJOFVwGfaRiSOXaXReSZmIJZyaNs
fpJaaaGRDiUqZiPThe security guard who had called in the emergency spoke up, “We have a pump in the underground garage.”aLLGNzOpXKKcXtJgnXcINKDANbnGMO
HgmuXlRETKwItLs“Go get it quickly.”aADHoUtqBqksHMklUNkYvETNRSScuE
TFQBSEDQBYagJpQSun Dingyi cautiously moved forward. The inside of the sewage pipe was pitch black, and the ground was uneven. The light from his helmet barely pierced the darkness, as if it were shining into a black hole.nqOmPjPzrFISGsvdfpKodZcHNtIvnr
ODiDpsobWikqVBwSoon, they found a man in a security uniform. It looked like he was one of the rescue attempts. He was sitting unconscious in the well.mqPwmAexAxZxLRSeWJxSSKUIXnjFnK
bWOZMdlISKaAdLcSun Dingyi and Liu Hui lifted him up and passed him to Awen, who was at the rear. Awen hoisted the man onto his back, made his way back to the well’s opening, and tied a rescue rope around him. The soldiers above pulled the man out.CbBBjIHIhCUyAmcZadQmJJrzskRmIc
YcxuaTNfisyXgzvThey pressed further and found two more. One was still breathing, but the other had collapsed into the water and had no pulse. Xiaoqian and Awen, who had returned, carried them back up.LUOFLbcHzQTLmwNRjvCOnOaaBIgUTd
spKhclXDuxPWjegLooking at the body being brought up, Ren Yi asked, “Sun Dingyi, what’s the situation?”qlDqbNUhpYyQrdbDIfmmWnfFHNbUHp
IWvEbfdkKcGTDyZ“We found the fourth person, still breathing,” Sun Dingyi reported. “Liu Hui, Xiaotao, this is too far. You two need to carry him back together.”BGzkurueYWrOfoiMBHDJcfrtxadarP
SXBgVutVUcbpCWI“No way, it’s not safe for you to be down there alone.”NEbCKYxxZyXohTPZFvXQmwqLPUthTc
ssMWPKaNcjPwDRA“Don’t worry, Captain Ren. I’ve got a safety rope attached to me. We’ve come quite a distance, and it’s hard to move down here. Carrying the injured by myself will be too slow.”WtlkDyWGOcpfNVFFiyRIXarihRqsCR
DsQAcNBrXjNciyZRen Yi hesitated for a moment. “Alright, but keep me updated.”IMFENUevTrwEeFvNzqJGpvBdiLmpdG
dvMmaQeTXJZXyBsSuddenly, a sharp cry came through the radio, sending a chill through everyone’s hearts. It was Xiaotao’s voice.RiYmLsGXLJNmQuObNeyxHWRmmUyloA
FmBrbRBlfSrdiGc“What happened to Xiaotao?!”meMLLZjdEwYtuxavkSpGuBcCquKglT
tUJTisqnPTvYjnJ“Something… something’s stuck on my leg!”aNGANEsHqLGkntvDUkZcSiYZLpUYmP
WWdwEkdJScFxAYPLiu Hui knelt down, trying to feel for whatever was caught, but he couldn’t lay down the unconscious person he was carrying. “The water’s too deep, I can’t see a thing,” he said anxiously.VdwhqWJZmzXHAAdMzDaQZJaduxcGWH
OBUMHvHPHyEHNXaSun Dingyi asked, “Should I come back?”QIBWHtszJSVSDXZbZYtoIePwuRbzrp
tbDxqMVgmCkNtXFRen Yi quickly replied, “No, Xiaoqian, Awen, head back and check on Xiaotao.”FFiPAmboKfhdmxYLeqTnXiESnFRxWE
AbBnUriDqUDWoIyXiaotao’s voice came through the radio again, strained but urgent. “Don’t worry about me right now, get the person out first. He’s barely hanging on.”gnrhDlashQsEMXUZiXpykmepCzzsNV
NdlMlltfjRtaTMeThey swiftly pulled Xiaoqian and Awen back up with the rescued individual, and the two returned down to help Xiaotao.KaOFAEGkSKaXUQcMfsokHvthlUWqaz
mjzZsDyflFLElTLLiu Hui called out, “Get this person out first. Xiaotao, stay calm, I’ll feel around and try to free you.”trqFhzobREdkDguSIApqRkSzbwtZGW
xpIfkTHrOzTdpzGXiaoqian and Awen took the injured person off their hands and began carrying him out of the well. The two had already gone back and forth carrying people multiple times, and their stamina was running low. Ren Yi told them to come up, and prepared to go down himself.bWgjzHcvkCEqVtELsvDtXqeZGrLMYZ
XyamfpUmjzVJzWa“Captain Ren, how are you going to fit? The opening is too narrow,” Gao Ge frowned, eyeing the well.fYZOFhaVTAYmPLpnoiNcJTqDtwFLVL
YWMyJGEfNbOwBqk“You’re in charge now, Gao Ge,” Ren Yi ordered. “I’ll go down, hold my breath, and you can lower the breathing apparatus to me afterward.”XxdHpZNvnTTtGejvxOHdomXNeQfryq
LUDTbyAoDgxrtvM“Are you serious?” Gao Ge shouted. “That’s too dangerous, no way!”BAWUdUnVXycfeuPUBUgEXvgvntyQGI
elloQoMbsjNEAOS“I said I’m going, and that’s final. Hurry up, there’s no one else who can fit.”KmjaGdMxvCeepFQBQbHuxKMYnZsvIU
YzdUDCgEChNkyyiAt that moment, Li Sa ran over. “Captain, let me go down. I’m the slimmest.”nERdErDcGwqMqzWkMNTyXNDZaRteeD
bfvJxubkZgaTclVThe soldiers around them froze, all staring at Li Sa in shock.ZBJxBZkdlSxrkFsvscHnibIOoYDSOW
tAeNvqDkXyeCxZMGao Ge frowned, “Don’t be ridiculous, you’re not fit to go down there.”cVifFUlunhMVuvprzbpUDLCiQZofaH
boRRVCFdgOCGCupLi Sa shot back, “Have I ever skipped training or slacked off? I’m fit enough, let me go down.”RKWSufJQVvLxGWLYWgSGSEJqgONOGb
YYcylGONlAQzwsIRen Yi was still wrestling with the decision when Sun Dingyi’s voice crackled through the radio again. “Captain Ren, I’ve found the last two people. One of them is still alive.”genrwLgzqdHscSfhJYNKtKTtrWoEas
fshyCqLoNqUeJeNRen Yi locked eyes with Li Sa and, after a tense pause, said, “Gear up.”gyDtekUFLiONHWiUFycbSPndsbxCSF
vOwrLqNDUPnsqBuLi Sa turned and ran back to the rescue truck, grabbed a breathing apparatus, strapped it on, and hurried back.GwHCSxgxzWluwWjrYgUAffWVpBUnsO
rKCzOtjPjCyxoPJLiu Hui’s voice came through next, “Captain, Xiaotao’s leg seems to be caught on the old, decaying pipe of the water pump. We’ll need a saw.”DCxjXXTzIVWvrRmiNbdxYoimHlKybk
TZBLoaeiStCXfsH“I’ll take it down,” Ren Yi said, “I still need to go down, Li Sa alone won’t be enough.”IvTOpxIvPiLPKVIdvQApEGpbFOVmcT
PWPWAWvLKbFIeFcGao Ge, realizing he couldn’t stop him, reluctantly agreed. “Alright, you go first. I’ll send down the breathing apparatus and the chainsaw.”ZWiPuHhDErASbFKOFsGfPPvYHpWaNf
jYFTNkKnGdDDcksLi Sa went down the well first, followed by Ren Yi, who held his breath and quickly climbed down. Even though he held his breath, the unbearable stench seeped through, making his stomach churn and almost causing him to vomit. Gao Ge lowered the mask and the air tank with a rope. Ren Yi quickly equipped himself and took a deep breath, finally able to breathe more easily.yTbHdUSWHJRJqeCFEHVzsYrBUhooBN
cigyKlsMsvwpvPXWith the chainsaw in hand, the two of them ventured deeper into the sewage well.PmkodwYFKgCYYLBOryLVAGzJMOLoIK
yGhuCTinXzwsihGThe pipes, neglected for years, were filled with debris, sludge, and algae. Each step was a struggle, with the ground uneven and muddy, making it hard to walk. The walls of the pipes were coated with indescribable filth.mhgCmfCtKSNXBHQIyfoSKQIpdloJvH
dPnYJYMXwBQhnBSAs they walked, Ren Yi asked, “Everyone, report your remaining air supply.”iXRQdUsdigiJbBGBxKfwunLYUKgTFi
wBINFMRtubXkJgE“32%,” Sun Dingyi replied. “It should be enough for me to get this person out alive.”SkPwzMEAgNmZkcCjbPwJibfjmcEyVp
opDvNKnUIdVNEtp“Liu Hui and I are both at 39%,” said Liu Hui.iqemNFLTwHGLsPOzlufGbGUwRyxJrM
LjIiuGEbViBzwBjRen Yi ordered, “Sun Dingyi, I’m sending Li Sa to support you. Stay put where you are and don’t waste any more oxygen until she gets there.”dpJaortAIgWEAzgqmjzANknjIllPPF
sDcDeEiDXWvxcdh“But—”voVdXoCykFRkwySOeRIoojOUsllHaG
UvJYmncGeIqolKM“No buts. Stay where you are.”yeCyKCfMyVtvNERaUPSpbcPTcgEGdF
TgsysHXCvCqRAxkThe breathing apparatus they carried theoretically allowed for 45 minutes of air, but that estimate could be affected by factors like weight, temperature, stress, and physical activity. Oxygen consumption increased significantly during strenuous activity. For safety, they were trained to exit the scene when their air supply could last only 15 minutes. This left time for handling emergencies or escaping from complex, disorienting environments.SLvTJaPpcrlDKFLRgLGFsGShhXhIah
DYxkzzZJbnmbDKXRen Yi and Liu Hui soon found Xiaotao, whose leg was trapped, and Li Sa continued forward to assist Sun Dingyi. Ren Yi, holding the chainsaw, discussed with Liu Hui how to make the cut.xtvXAfSlfLWCBDFcdvTmkgDjIsIkEU
iNkmSHkfLUnDUbeXiaotao’s leg was trapped underwater, and they couldn’t see a thing. After feeling around for a while without confidence, Ren Yi asked, “Has the water pump arrived?”JgNLHhdLSqAdhvZaEJzHxcxcMyaqkv
CJbIvPjnyNpyeuN“It’s here, along with the pump truck,” Gao Ge responded.IEFtUvkldPXBIpwzjDeyRKrnigVzca
kdZvEPTQYWUqfTE“Hurry up and pump it,” Ren Yi ordered. “Xiaotao, can you hold on? I didn’t feel any damage to your bones.”oeregWrdiKoWjTmEVxWiIdrSadIFBM
ajKwAprFIyZXXWxXiaotao grimaced but replied, “It hurts a bit, but I can manage.”GumfnbOhNmmTWRwEVdvlLisuvqNCFc
IfHYTUcupLJtVtrRen Yi nodded. “I don’t dare cut yet, I’m afraid I’ll hurt your leg. Let’s pump out the water first. Liu Hui, go back and switch out your air tank, and bring one for Xiaotao too.”eJVAqHWqrbDrcbkGuzewBfSKmzEMSe
KfqrZETMEnFRbAL“Yes, sir.”YAzzinVuWvGNJntZroxwsVJhMnClWm
CWxNUjxGEizIwuQJust as Liu Hui left, a strange noise echoed from deeper in the sewage well, like something being sucked dry, followed by a loud rush of water.eVspBbGUrvLMTqxzrrRUoifnuiHPbI
IQPkLZWxyfsNMQVRen Yi cursed under his breath, “They’ve released the wastewater from above!”qwZvDPOAcZQCxVHajvzyWPSaQfuXzc
wDZeCVmeWSDgHCUA torrent of sewage began flooding out from deep within the well.OTihidkHfZerGpyCBGpPDOQpepvzdY
JSAyWQIONQIOfDxLi Sa had just reached Sun Dingyi, but there was still some distance between them. Sun Dingyi hadn’t stayed in place as ordered—he knew that every second delayed meant a decreased chance of survival for the person he was carrying.kCBtGBtgBEKEhbspmPtaDsvCFWyHDP
uRgZcAoNPtcveHtSun Dingyi braced himself against the wall, trying to withstand the force of the rushing water. As the water slammed into them, the unconscious maintenance worker suddenly regained consciousness, letting out a terrified scream. He lunged at Sun Dingyi, gripping him tightly like a drowning man clinging to driftwood, using every ounce of strength in his body to hold onto him.DboKMQzNhSvYosuEKvBqcuPMdQfZov
BxzpvEDmsbthnhvSun Dingyi was caught off guard, pulled down and dragged into the water. His face smashed hard into something, breaking his mask. He watched cracks appear right in front of his eyes, and then a rush of foul air came flooding in.ZvYcgNNPcemfQGdPKuAtwYmWBvmSpH
VpshgIbGBSuWLHKHe and the mechanic flailed and struggled in the filthy, stinking water. Sun inhaled the toxic fumes and swallowed water, making his vision blur as dizziness set in.bcFQodinJUIbjyNHFyEGbQOeLzLgev
cmmXsKGqRqbzvFxLi Sa shouted, “Lieutenant Sun!” She ran toward him with all her might, but the water had already risen to her hips, making every step a struggle.mcWPqVkNfNVCmiwDSWJOwqTRrRRfPo
DBjzEaKVKiGOhLb“What’s happening?” Ren Yi asked anxiously.whDBOdYrOIUGRHlwkwwyDnrSSmzJmF
fMlBXnjhAIMsoJC“Lieutenant Sun has fallen.”BRjMPsoVfUJonOQFbEeoSXfKbYLQhc
vgHpusQdDUWCGQd“Sun Dingyi, Sun Dingyi! Say something!” Ren Yi yelled.VfXlawAeBSdykuhGbMQoaszbKtLFna
sxCUrDhfemoIKIlThere was no response from Sun.owCOoxwoFOZvITTQVfgTZQXNXzhrYC
ehMTvZxqkZYNrRx“Liuhui, are you back yet?” Ren Yi called out.acfRuERRuIEVbymUrRqjGqnFKipzjH
FReueJKQYGvtAzN“I’m almost there, I’ve got Xiaotao! Go check on Sun Dingyi!” Liuhui replied.otXQUYMlkbjIVEJbhkCEDDUKEMqvgg
SvWzdIDBlfXCWcbRen Yi started running desperately toward the depths of the sewage pit.AsSmcoPxcqvUQgVtQzuiIFbvRjrngq
ajNPLsHXmoSWYQYLi Sa finally reached Sun’s side. The mechanic had passed out again, lying face down in the water, motionless. She first helped Sun up, seeing his shattered mask, his eyes glazed over, and barely conscious. “Lieutenant Sun!”rqUzsdDRwyfvDsZOURUkKNZDqnomGg
RxLelxWRpsTaHILLi Sa held her breath, took off her own mask, and placed it over Sun’s head. Sun coughed out water and gasped for air, breathing with difficulty.sUWfCEMZqrOPdAxtAGzbnmxyIgQUlM
UerErEnBFEEsRxuShe struggled to pull the unconscious mechanic out of the water, but he was completely limp, unable to stand. She propped him up in the water, lifting his chin to keep his nose and mouth above the surface.DxEPIlmbkpgOLjBdRtVzirpRVFRvoV
HwNVGEhOQhTZGFcAfter Sun had caught his breath for a while, Li Sa took the mask back and put it on herself. She kept glancing anxiously down the path, hoping that the man who could put everyone at ease would show up soon.BSwAZISozVuKsPGPCtsmyXSEEZsjdV
lUEWNqTMgXEnzrnFinally, a small light flickered in the distance and began to grow brighter, as a figure ran toward them with all their might.njvYfruJApiIavhTAQaWGbKNAcuULg
TihylxBTIBamGoZLi Sa shouted, “Captain Ren!”fBahbGYmazgvAfrKUkCvmFwtjXSlOO
uuTdUzuqQrqBorbRen Yi rushed over, his face turning pale when he saw Sun’s condition. “What the hell happened?”FogqPabsLHsIBfNFHxHEdAdLyvTSGA
upzwVaqCYpSrMUW“Lieutenant Sun’s mask broke,” Li Sa said. “The mechanic still has a pulse.”HHEdMlJiCFVlzNNxhagyFajfINinaZ
PozjcHtIanZIOApRen Yi held his breath, removed the mask, and placed it over Sun’s head, giving him a firm shake. “Hang in there, brother…”hVOdqSKIVXtGPFHgZreXMPZQtprtPn
edLebvEggonputnBut Sun couldn’t hold on any longer—he passed out completely.wKgnLWnrXTodlyypsQTNkubIPwdMtz
eHUQIEQsGELonhhmfTSZuOzQNQxXpkbbrkoxOcQwpEHLX