Chapter 198 - 197: None of You Can Survive Without Them

Chapter 198: Chapter 197: None of You Can Survive Without Them

Rian Sinclair packed a few things into her bag and followed the main group as they prepared to head up the mountain. With so many elderly people struggling to move, the muddy ground, and the steep slope, the ascent was growing increasingly difficult.

Rian could somewhat guess what was coming. She watched the sky grow darker as the night wind blew through the trees, making a loud RUSTLE. It was going to rain. Judging by the weather, it would be a downpour.

Observing her surroundings, Rian noted that the swarms of relocating ants had been a warning sign. Glancing at the loose rocks nearby, she realized the situation was far from good.

Suddenly, raindrops began falling on everyone’s heads. The rain gradually grew heavier, and the crowd trudging up the mountain fell into a heavy silence. Finally, the rescue team directed the able-bodied young people to go first, followed by the medical staff leading the children. The rescue workers themselves took up the rear to assist the injured and the elderly.

As Rian continued her ascent, the young people moved much faster than the large group had earlier, though still nowhere near as quickly as they would on dry ground. Barely a few minutes later, the sound of tumbling gravel echoed from nearby, and a rescue worker’s voice rang out again.

"Move faster! A mudslide is coming!"

Rian pressed her lips together in silence. Based on her calculations, their previous location was highly likely to be swept by the mudslide, which was why they were moving to higher ground instead of heading down the mountain. To avoid being washed away before they could retreat, choosing a higher, geologically solid area was the safest bet.

But ultimately, human legs couldn’t outrun a natural disaster.

Many panicked at the mere sight of the mudslide, scattering toward places they mistakenly believed were safe. The rescue team shouted themselves hoarse, but the crowd acted as if they were deaf. In this critical moment, the ignorance of those who had lived in this remote countryside all their lives was laid bare. Rian helped the rescue workers evacuate the crowd, as some people were simply too terrified to move, standing frozen in place or clinging tightly to nearby trees. They thought the disaster would just pass them by—that this would keep them safe.

Only when they watched person after person get swept away, buried by the mud with their cries for help fading into nothing, did they finally grasp the ruthlessness of Mother Nature.

Witnessing others get swallowed up, they felt the proximity of death for the very first time. Utterly terrified, they began to follow the rescue team’s instructions, but only out of self-preservation. The young children, the elderly, and the injured were completely abandoned by the able-bodied adults. Many only cared about their own survival; what did strangers’ lives have to do with them?

As soldiers, the rescue team couldn’t forcefully compel the masses, which meant the burden of saving everyone fell squarely on their shoulders. The pressure on them skyrocketed. Watching the rescue workers up ahead stretch themselves thin trying to care for the vulnerable, Rian fell silent as she looked at the selfish crowd.

"Without the rescue team, not a single one of you would survive."

Rian’s voice rang out through the crowd. She was stating a simple fact. Without the rescue team, these people wouldn’t know how to evacuate, nor could they predict the danger in time. Without the rescue team, how would they contact the outside world for help once they reached safety? Without them, could they truly survive to the very end?

These soldiers were always carrying the heaviest burdens for the public, but it wasn’t something they inherently owed anyone. They were also sons to their parents, fathers to their children, and husbands to their wives. They were no different from anyone else, save for the uniform they wore.

They were now resting in a relatively safe area, but their numbers had dwindled. Several people had already been swallowed by the mudslide. The rescue workers had wanted to save them, but they couldn’t let go of the elderly and children they were already carrying. They could only watch with red-rimmed eyes as reaching hands disappeared beneath the mud.

Rian stood up and looked at the people around her. The medical staff were quickly checking on the injured, while the rescue workers comforted the distressed crowd.

Everyone fell dead silent upon hearing Rian’s words.

The medical staff didn’t speak. Their once-snow-white uniforms were filthy and caked with mud, yet they continued to perform their duties during the evacuation, tirelessly tending to the wounded. The rescue workers pressed their lips together in silence. They were the most exhausted of all, having to carry the elderly and children while also moving the injured.

The vulnerable ones just looked silently at the able-bodied young and middle-aged adults, knowing they couldn’t demand these strangers carry them. Rian simply couldn’t bear to watch the rescue team work themselves to death. Several rescue workers had already disappeared into the mudslide, and everyone knew they had died trying to save them.

Rian didn’t say anything more. She got up to help, and though the people around her remained quiet, they too stood up to lend a hand.

Several young female medics burst into tears at the sight, profusely thanking them. They were terrified too, but from the moment they put on those uniforms, they understood their duty. They had to grit their teeth and push through. However, the moment they saw others extending a helping hand, they could no longer hold back their emotions.

During the next phase of the evacuation, the young people all stepped forward to help, greatly relieving the pressure on the rescue and medical teams. Rian didn’t say much as she focused on guiding the elderly and children up the mountain.

"Thank you."

A familiar male voice sounded by her ear. Rian smiled and shook her head. "I was just telling the truth."

"I’m Sean Sutton."

Rian glanced at him but didn’t say anything more. Sean then left her side and returned to his post. Despite the extra help, the evacuation was still too slow. Watching the dwindling crowd, Rian pressed her lips together and remained silent.

"Everyone, tie the ropes around your waists and pull yourselves up the mountain!"

Sean’s voice rang out. He had likely sent men ahead to set up the ropes at their destination to make the climb easier. There weren’t many ropes—only ten. Each rope could hold a maximum of ten people, but there were well over a hundred people present. Even with the rescue team opting out, it still wasn’t enough; they were short by a dozen spots.

"I don’t need one."

Rian stepped forward. Under these circumstances, if she were climbing alone, she was perfectly capable of making it to the top. She decided to leave the spot for someone who truly needed it. Because a young woman had been the first to volunteer, a few young men felt embarrassed and stepped out as well, though they remained in the minority.

The crowd began to move upward via the ropes. No one stopped moving, but eventually, there was one person left behind. After a long pause, the little girl who had previously given Rian a biscuit stepped out.

"I want to walk with you!"

With that, the little girl ran over, her small hands tightly gripping the hem of Rian’s shirt.

Rian smiled and rubbed the top of the little girl’s head. Using the ropes was much safer, especially since rescue workers were stationed along each one. Rian and the others without ropes continued hiking up the muddy trail. The little girl was the only child in their unroped group. Sean tried to take her, but she resisted.

Looking at Sean with fear in her eyes, the little girl shrank back. Rian pulled the child closer and shook her head at him. "I’ll watch over her. You and your team just focus on taking care of the others."

Sean nodded but still left one rescue worker by Rian’s side. She didn’t argue and continued following the team up the mountain.

"AHHH! Help me!"

A shrill, bloodcurdling scream pierced the air. Ahead of them, a young man had slipped. Thanks to the soft, unstable earth, his body instantly began sinking downward at a terrifying speed.