Chapter 134: Immortals

Upon receiving word that Wang Qian and Zhu Senlin were safe, Zhang Can finally set his mind at ease. Although he had sensed they were unharmed when the disaster first struck, his ability to perceive their surroundings had vanished immediately afterward. Furthermore, his perception had its limits; it was not omniscient, nor could it function across any distance.

His range of perception in heavy rain was far inferior to that in the ocean. In the sea, there was only water, whereas in a downpour, even if the rain was torrential, it was still rain—a space far more complex and gaseous than water, which significantly hindered his senses.

Su Xue, meanwhile, was still reeling from the lingering fear. Watching her, Zhang Can caught a glimpse of a feminine vulnerability that he had rarely seen in her before; she was typically far too guarded for such displays.

Unfortunately, they could not speak directly to Wang Qian’s group, as there was no cellular signal. All communication had to be relayed through the military’s high command.

The train conductor arranged for fresh clothes and food to be delivered to them. After they changed and rested, the rain finally ceased by midday. However, the sky remained leaden and gloomy; it seemed unlikely the clouds would part for the sun anytime soon. The weather remained as unpredictable as ever.

The passengers on the train were in a state of agitation. In such circumstances, fear was inevitable. With no way to communicate, everyone was like an ant on a hot pan. Fortunately, the conductor kept the passengers calm through the broadcast system, promising that they were simply waiting for track repairs and that their safety was not in jeopardy.

Past one o'clock in the afternoon, the repair crews finally arrived. Work began on both the railway and the road simultaneously. Since the train had sustained no damage and the passengers were unharmed, the rescue efforts were orderly.

The landslide on the railway side was relatively minor compared to the severe damage on the road. Zhang Can and his companions were no longer in a hurry. It wasn't until after midnight the following day that the tracks were cleared—the blockage caused by the mud and debris had actually spanned only seven or eight meters.

As soon as the train began to move, the entire carriage erupted in excitement. The anxiety that had gripped them dissipated as the train rolled forward. Half an hour later, as they entered a county region and mobile service was restored, every passenger on the train began frantically making calls—reporting their safety, delivering news, and reaching out to loved ones.

Su Xue called her uncle, Wang Qian. Only upon hearing his voice did her heart truly settle. After a brief exchange, Wang Qian spoke to Zhang Can, asking about their situation and offering words of comfort, eventually arranging to meet at the provincial station.

Finally, Zhu Senlin took the phone. Before he could speak, he broke down in tears. He had been terrified, and his deep concern for Zhang Can had only added to the trauma of the disaster. Zhang Can consoled him gently before hanging up.

Two soldiers had been ordered to escort Zhang Can and Su Xue safely to the provincial station. They traveled in the same soft-sleeper carriage Wang Qian had previously booked, with Zhang Can and Su Xue sharing one compartment and the two soldiers the other.

They had entered the Xinjiang region, with roughly seven or eight hours of travel remaining. In the compartment, Su Xue lay beneath the warm quilt, staring blankly at the scenery flashing by outside the window. She had always been an independent, formidable woman—a match for any man—but today’s events had made her feel fragile.

She found Zhang Can increasingly unfathomable. From their previous interactions, she was certain he lacked any formal martial arts training; he was incomparable to someone like her, who had undergone rigorous special forces conditioning. Yet, this ordinary man’s performance during today’s disaster had left her utterly stunned.

While the two soldiers had accepted Zhang Can’s explanations for his actions, Su Xue remained half-skeptical. She had been there; she had experienced it firsthand. Her eyesight was of the highest caliber, and she knew for a fact that it had been impossible to see very far in that storm. Yet, looking back, she recalled Zhang Can pulling her along as they sprinted through the dangerous terrain without a moment's hesitation, arriving dozens of minutes ahead of everyone else. What shocked her even more was the moment Zhang Can took the wheel from the soldier. As he reversed the vehicle, he couldn't see a single meter behind them, yet he didn't hesitate for an instant. She had been certain they were about to plummet off the cliff, but Zhang Can had maneuvered the vehicle perfectly to safety, just as the mudslide and rocks cascaded down.

Thinking about it still terrified her. If the soldier had hesitated even slightly, the outcome would have been catastrophic. Had they been a moment slower, they would have been buried alive under the mountain’s collapse.

Su Xue realized that if she didn't believe Zhang Can possessed extraordinary vision, there was no other explanation. Furthermore, Zhang Can had mentioned that another vehicle was in danger ahead. This meant he had seen that the three leading vehicles had already cleared the danger zone, even though the soldiers had been too panicked to follow his instructions to communicate with the others.

Not that it would have mattered; Su Xue was certain that, like the soldiers in their own car, those in the others wouldn't have been able to reverse in such conditions. They couldn't see, and they wouldn't have had the time or the skill to escape. Zhang Can had possessed a precise judgment that allowed them to survive—a feat that was as much about luck as it was about his actions, yet he had saved everyone in their vehicle.

Su Xue glanced at Zhang Can. He was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought, a faint smile on his face. He was likely thinking of someone dear to him.

"What are you thinking about? Your sister, or that pretty girl?"

The way "pretty girl" rolled off her tongue made Zhang Can chuckle. It reminded him that, for a moment, Su Xue had returned to her fierce, former self.

"Both," Zhang Can replied with a smile, his hands behind his head. He sighed and said, "Actually, if we hadn't been in such a rush, those three people might not have had to die. Three lives..."

Su Xue was silent for a long time before replying, "My uncle didn't want that to happen, either."

"I know," Zhang Can said softly. "I know Brother Wang was worried about the elders at home and wanted to reach the Tianshan Mountains to find the medicine as quickly as possible."

Su Xue froze, staring at him. "What did you say? Find medicine in the Tianshan Mountains?"

Zhang Can was surprised. "You didn't know? Brother Wang told me a long time ago. The elder’s condition is terminal, and there is no cure. He is heartbroken, but he is doing everything in his power, exhausting every effort."

Su Xue shook her head, stunned. After a long silence, she said, "My uncle never told me. I know my grandfather’s illness... it’s incurable. If it could be treated, would we have waited until now?"

Zhang Can understood perfectly. In a family like theirs, if the medical technology existed, they would have used it. If the world’s most advanced medicine couldn't cure it, then there was truly no way.

"Actually..." Zhang Can hesitated, then continued, "I know a bit of medicine. I mentioned it to Brother Wang before. When we get back, I’d like to take a look at your grandfather and see if I can help him."

He brought it up not expecting her to believe him, but to plant a seed. If he could cure him, all the better; if not, he would have an explanation. He still didn't dare make any firm promises.

However, after his recent transformations and the growth of his abilities, especially after surviving this disaster, his confidence in himself had grown. He truly felt he could at least attempt to treat the patient. Truth be told, while he had initially agreed to accompany Wang Qian primarily to seek his own vengeance, he felt a genuine sense of gratitude toward him. He had come to realize that Wang Qian cared for him sincerely, and he wanted to help ease his burden.

Su Xue, unsurprisingly, remained skeptical. "Fine, we’ll talk about it when we get back. Zhang Can, thank you for today. I still can't believe it. But I have to ask—in such a torrential downpour, could you really see that far?"

Zhang Can smiled. "I told you, it’s just experience. It wasn't that I could see perfectly; I relied on my instincts. If I had made even the slightest mistake, we would have been finished. But you saw the situation—if we had hesitated, we would have died. Thinking about it now, if I were in that same situation again, I’m not sure I could do it a second time."

This made Su Xue more inclined to believe him. In her training or during high-stakes missions, she often relied on intuition. Once an individual reached a certain level of capability, their intuition became incredibly sharp in moments of extreme danger, even if it remained mundane otherwise.

Yet, she remained doubtful. People with such intuition were usually high-level masters, and she was certain Zhang Can had never trained in martial arts. How could an ordinary person possess such instincts? Even she hadn't been able to perform at that level. She thought about his claim that he had sensed the danger through the scent of the wet earth and the strange noises mixed into the storm. Perhaps it was true.

Seeing her expression—half-doubting, yet mostly convinced—Zhang Can said no more. To say too much would only invite further suspicion. By mixing truth with half-truths, the story became far more believable.

Besides, what else could she believe? Could he say he had supernatural powers? Thus far, Zhang Can remained confident in his secrets. Even in front of so many experts, he had remained flawless, letting no one see that he was anything other than an ordinary man.

Su Xue sighed, her voice soft. "Zhang Can, I used to think you were quite ordinary. I targeted you because of those three crates, but then, one thing after another happened, and you became a mystery to me. How could an ordinary person earn so much money in such a short time? The longer I spend with you, the less ordinary you seem. It appears my instincts were right after all."

Zhang Can smiled. "Not ordinary? What, do you think I'm an immortal? Heh, I wish. If I were an immortal, I'd have far fewer troubles."