Chapter 133: Predicting Disaster

Zhang Can sighed, feeling that this was the greatest fortune amidst misfortune. If it had been Wang Qian or Zhu Senlin in that buried vehicle, what would he have done?

He felt utterly powerless. Although it was only a perception through his mental imagery, he had essentially watched three living people be buried alive, unable to take any action to save them.

The two soldiers and Su Xue did not yet know if others had been buried further ahead. They were anxious, worrying whether the other vehicles had managed to evade this disaster, though it seemed unlikely. They stood there in a daze.

The two soldiers possessed no communication equipment, as it had all been left in the vehicle. Zhang Can’s mobile phone had long since been ruined by the torrential rain. Only Su Xue still had a functioning phone.

Su Xue was also stunned. Zhang Can nudged her hand and said, "Su Xue, take out your phone and call for help. See if you can get a signal!"

Su Xue snapped out of it, hurriedly fished out her phone, carefully pulled it from beneath her raincoat, and dialed 110. She pressed it to her ear, but alas, no matter how many times she tried, there was no signal in this area.

"Gentlemen, how far is the nearest place for rescue?" Zhang Can asked urgently. By "rescue," he simply meant any place with civilian dwellings.

"This... the closest place behind us is Shizhuzi Township, over thirty kilometers away. Because this stretch of road is the most prone to landslides and mudslides, there are basically no residents in this area. In weather like this, very few vehicles pass through," one of the soldiers explained.

Listening to the soldier, Zhang Can nodded. By now, as the sky grew brighter, the rain had eased slightly. Though visibility remained poor, it was much better than before.

One didn't need the soldier to explain that few vehicles passed through; they had been there for a long time without seeing a single car. Since the railway had opened, road traffic had diminished significantly.

After a moment of thought, Zhang Can made a swift decision. Pointing in the direction they had come from, he said, "In this weather, there's no way we can walk back over thirty kilometers. The only option is to head back to the train. It’s still parked on the tracks about three hundred meters away. That stretch is safe, and we can find shelter from the wind and rain, and get some food."

The two soldiers agreed that this was feasible; they couldn't think of any other way. Once on the train, they could use the onboard satellite communications to contact their unit, report the situation, and get in touch with Major Zhu Shiyuan’s vehicles. Of course, they didn't know yet if Major Zhu’s group had survived the catastrophe.

Zhang Can naturally kept his premonition to himself, as he had no way to explain it. He could attribute his quick reaction to experience and signs he saw in the rain, but explaining how he knew Major Zhu’s three vehicles were safe would be impossible. It was better to say nothing.

Su Xue, however, was worried about her uncle, Wang Qian. Having regained her composure, she stared toward the site of the landslide, her face deathly pale. Though she was physically strong and skilled in martial arts, she felt incredibly small in the face of such a massive natural disaster. She felt so fragile.

"Zhang Can... my uncle... my uncle... I can't leave, I have to find my uncle..." Su Xue muttered, clutching Zhang Can’s hand. Her heart was weak; she knew deep down there was nothing she could do. Even if they all went back, they couldn't approach the landslide site. Mud and rocks were still sliding down periodically. Even if they called for heavy excavators, rescue operations couldn't begin until the rain stopped and the mountain stabilized.

Zhang Can paused, then pulled Su Xue close to comfort her. "Su Xue, don't worry. When I was reversing the car, I vaguely saw that the vehicles ahead had already passed the landslide area. Your uncle and the others should be safe. Worrying won't help right now. Let's get to the train and try to contact them. They must have communicators; as soon as we make contact, we'll know."

Hearing this, the two soldiers nodded in agreement. "Major Zhu’s vehicles are all equipped with communicators. Once we make contact, we’ll know immediately."

Su Xue realized this was true. Worrying was useless. Perhaps her uncle was worried about them on the other side, too. If they couldn't reach her, he would be even more anxious. Since their vehicle and communication gear were buried under the rocks, if they couldn't establish contact, he would likely refuse to leave. Staying in such a dangerous place would be even worse.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Su Xue urged Zhang Can, "Let's go, let's hurry back to the train."

Ignoring the cold and her shivering, she urged Zhang Can forward. By now, the sky was bright, and the rain had lightened from a downpour to a drizzle. Visibility was much better than at night—at least ten meters—making it safe to walk. After confirming the direction, the four of them headed back along the path toward the train.

Zhang Can continued to lead the way with Su Xue. Seeing him soaked through, with rainwater streaming down his hair and face, she asked with concern, "Zhang Can, are you... are you alright?"

Zhang Can shook his head. "I'm fine. I grew up in the countryside and often encountered this. I'm used to it; sometimes I feel like something's missing if I don't get soaked in the rain!" He smiled and added, "Actually, I'm lucky to have this experience. I can see and hear better in heavy rain than most people."

By saying this, Zhang Can steered the conversation toward the disaster. He knew someone would eventually question him about his foresight, so it was better to plant the seeds early.

The rain continued to taper off. The two soldiers were still puzzled and preoccupied with the disaster and their comrades, but after hearing Zhang Can’s explanation, they began to wonder.

One of them asked, "Sir, how did you know the landslide was coming? The rain was so heavy, and it wasn't light out yet. Even from inside the car, we could only see what was in front, not what was above us."

Zhang Can nodded. "As I was saying, I often went up the mountain to cut firewood as a child and encountered many storms. I got used to it. In a storm, I can distinguish different sounds. When the mountain started to liquefy, I heard a sound mixed into the rain that didn't sound right. Later, when I opened the car window to let the rain hit me, I could smell the mountain soil in the rain, which is why I concluded a landslide was imminent. I judged that the danger was within those dozen meters or so. If we had kept going, we wouldn't have made it. We had to reverse. I knew you couldn't judge the road conditions, but my eyesight is better than yours. With the headlights and the reflection, I could see several meters behind the car. That’s why I took the wheel. It was urgent—if we had been just a second slower, we might not have escaped. I was a bit harsh with you then, please forgive me!"

"It's alright, sir! If it weren't for your quick thinking, we wouldn't have made it! We should be thanking you for saving our lives." The soldier replied respectfully, showing no resentment for Zhang Can’s earlier roughness.

Zhang Can smiled. "I’m about the same age as you. I’m no 'sir,' just an ordinary person. Don't call me that; it feels awkward. Just call me Xiao Zhang."

Seeing that Zhang Can was easygoing, the two soldiers relaxed, though their conversation remained focused on their Major and their comrades.

Zhang Can understood their feelings, but he could offer nothing but comfort. He couldn't explicitly state who had survived and who hadn't. Regardless, two of their comrades were lost, and one of Wang Qian’s bodyguards was gone, too. Even if they weren't close, they had traveled together, and the loss was painful.

They reached the train in forty minutes, half the time it took to come.

Since Wang Qian and his high-ranking bodyguards were not present, Zhang Can couldn't demand special treatment from the train conductor. However, the two soldiers were less reserved. Upon boarding, they went straight to the dispatch office, showed their credentials, and explained the situation.

The conductor, not daring to be negligent, immediately provided them with a communication device. In the face of such a disaster, it was his duty to help.

Su Xue stayed by their side, worried about her uncle. The soldiers made the calls, but they couldn't reach Major Zhu directly. They had to contact their unit's headquarters first, which then coordinated with local authorities to finally reach Zhu Shiyuan.

Zhang Can sat nearby, waiting with a calm expression, having already foreseen the outcome. Su Xue, however, was anxious, her face pale and her body still trembling. Even though the train carriage was air-conditioned, the fear in her heart kept her cold.

The conductor was also coordinating with the central dispatch office to ensure the safety of everyone on board. Thankfully, there were no casualties among the passengers, but rescue and repair teams were still delayed.

Within minutes, the two soldiers made contact. After reporting the situation, the information was relayed to superiors, who then reached Zhu Shiyuan. By coordinating the data from both sides, they confirmed that one vehicle had been lost. After verifying the personnel, they confirmed the identities of the three who had been in the buried car.

When Su Xue heard that her uncle was safe, her heart settled, and the shivering stopped. The two soldiers, however, were deeply saddened; they knew the chances of survival for their two comrades in such conditions were slim.