FGCT CH25.1 What the hell are you all standing there for?! Fight!

Although erha^[1] earnestly expressed his grievances and confusion, the speechless creature was still heartlessly blamed by the beauty fugui.

Fortunately, erha didn’t really care much about such trivial things. Right now, erha is wet and exhausted—if not for the sake of his dog life, he would’ve just collapsed right then and there.

Even a husky, known for its boundless energy and love for chaos, was feeling drained. So it was no surprise that the people trudging along the muddy mountain path, weighed down by backpacks, were in even worse shape.

Complaints had been brewing since the beginning and hadn’t stopped. The only difference was how people expressed them: some kept nagging endlessly, others were cursing under their breath, and a few were quietly crying.

The most exhausted ones were families traveling with children and elderly people.

Children naturally had weaker constitutions than adults, and they also hadn’t yet learned how to control their emotions. Once tired or in pain, they made it very clear—crying and whining was the baseline. Most would even throw tantrums, lying on the ground, refusing to take another step.

Elderly folks, on the other hand, were more patient and quiet, trying not to burden their families. But when one elderly man suddenly clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground, all that endurance and consideration shattered in an instant.

“Dad! Dad!! Help! Someone help! My dad just fainted!”

The panicked shouting came from team 4, behind Gou Fugui’s group, and the crowd stirred in alarm. Two train medical staff who received the call from the front rushed over quickly, and at the same time, the gentle-looking man with glasses—Sister Hua’s husband—suddenly sharpened his gaze and turned to head toward the commotion.

Gou Fugui and the others turned to sister Hua . She smiled with pride and said, “My husband, Liu Jin—he’s a battlefield doctor!”

Everyone looked a bit surprised and full of admiration. No matter the world, healers who save lives are always respected—but those who choose to do so in the midst of danger and war, carry a far greater love in their hearts.

At that moment, Jin Mantang suddenly recalled how this couple had boarded the train—quickly cutting through the crowd and leaving them behind with unnerving speed. Come to think of it, if they hadn’t gotten on so fast, that darn husky wouldn’t have been exposed in front of them.

And considering this older sister’s rather fiery personality, Jin Mantang couldn’t help but ask, “So, sister Hua, what about you?”

Hua Yingchun squinted with a smile. “Oh, I’m just a journalist.”

Everyone understood instantly. This wasn’t just your average entertainment or local news reporter—this was a war correspondent, one who ventures to the very frontlines of conflict.

“No wonder you two were so fast back there!” Jin Mantang exclaimed, then added with sincere admiration, “Impressive.” Impressive in more ways than one.

While Liu Jin and the train’s medical staff were busy performing emergency treatment on the elderly man, the train conductor, Lu Chengfeng, stood still for a moment. Feeling the relentless wind and rain around them, and looking at the exhausted faces of the people trailing behind, he let out a sigh—and finally came to a stop.

At this point, the group has already climbed over the collapsed mountain section of the tunnel and followed the tracks for more than two hours. They had set off at 4:45 in the afternoon—now, it was already 7:20 in the evening.

According to Lu Chengfeng’s original plan, they were supposed to walk for about five hours and reach the second mountain tunnel around 10:00 PM. That tunnel was the final one they needed to pass through to get out of the mountains. Reaching it would mean they were nearly out of the wilderness, and perhaps from there, they’d start seeing villages and signs of civilization. That would offer much-needed safety and reassurance for the passengers under his care.

Moreover, if the tunnel wasn’t heavily flooded, it would serve as a natural shelter from the relentless wind and rain—a kind of mountain cave camp, where at the very least, they wouldn’t be exposed to the elements.

But the current situation clearly made the original plan impossible—

The group’s morale had hit a breaking point. The elderly and children were visibly worn out. While staying in the mountains longer increased the risk of illness or accidents, pushing on with exhausted bodies could also be just as dangerous.

In the end, Lu Chengfeng and the four train police officers discussed the matter and decided they had to switch to Plan B.

He had the team stop for a brief rest and used a loudspeaker and walkie-talkie to inform everyone of the new arrangement.

“Everyone, listen up! I know you’re all exhausted and miserable. You want to rest, eat, maybe even sleep. But now is not the time!”

“This is not a place where we can set up camp. We just used binoculars to scout the area—it’s all steep rocks and dense forest around us. There’s no cave or shelter nearby to keep us dry. If we stop here, what then? Sleep in the rain? Even though it’s still August, with weather like this, and this deep in the mountains—even wearing raincoats, getting drenched all night will definitely make us sick. So we can’t stop here. We must keep going!”

“But don’t worry, we’re not going to walk for much longer. Just hold on for one more hour. One more hour, and we’ll reach the next tunnel. It’s a short tunnel, less than 500 meters long, and it’s not wedged between two cliffs. The terrain there is higher and more solid—it’s a proper railway tunnel!”

“If we can make it there, we’ll have a natural shelter for the night, safe from the wind and rain. We can build a fire inside to dry our clothes, cook some warm and tasty food, and get some real rest. And with that, we’ll be ready to power through most of the journey tomorrow.”

“So everyone, we can’t stop here! Let’s keep moving. Just one more hour, and then we’ll rest!”

Lu Chengfeng’s words were clearly persuasive.

Though his initial command not to stop was met with groans and complaints, once everyone heard his reasoning—especially the part about drying clothes by a warm fire and eating hot noodles in the tunnel—even the most reluctant fell silent.

Just as the conductor had said, this wasn’t a place fit for camping. There wasn’t a single man-made structure in sight, and the only shelter from the wind and rain came from the surrounding trees, dense with leaves at best.

But no matter how thick the foliage, it couldn’t fully block the invasive, bone-chilling rain whipped around by the malicious wind. And without tents or any real rain protection, spending the night out here would almost certainly leave many sick by morning.

In contrast, the tunnel ahead promised warmth and relative comfort.

So, one by one, those who had slumped to the ground began to stand again. Crying children were coaxed or sternly pulled to their feet by their parents. The elderly, whose strength had truly run out, were helped along by the younger and stronger members of their groups—quiet heroes with determined eyes.

As for the elderly man who had just received emergency aid and was in no condition to walk, he was carried without hesitation by Xie Tianlang.

The man’s son had initially gritted his teeth, trying to lift his father onto his back despite already being burdened with most of the family’s luggage. But as he tried to stand, he stumbled, nearly collapsing under the strain.

That’s when a strong, steady hand caught him and held him up.

He looked up and saw a strikingly handsome face—stern and intimidating, not easy to meet eye-to-eye. As he stammered a thank-you, the tall, broad-shouldered man said nothing, simply hoisted the elderly man onto his back.

And he did it with such ease—it didn’t look like he was carrying over a hundred pounds of unconscious weight. It was as if he were just carrying a small sack.

It wasn’t until Xie Tianlang had already walked several steps ahead that the elderly man’s son, nudged by his wife, finally snapped out of his daze. Eyes red, he called out loudly, “Thank you! Thank you, brother!”

Xie Tianlang didn’t turn back. He simply raised one hand in a casual wave, his stride steady and effortless—a gesture full of confidence.

Watching the man pass by with such ease, Gou Fugui’s fox-like eyes softened into a smile. Then, without a word, he stepped forward to help another frail elderly person to their feet.

Xie Tianlang’s silent act of strength became a signal—unspoken, but powerful. Though he had said nothing, his actions stirred something in the hearts of the others. All throughout the group, the younger passengers began moving quietly, instinctively. No orders were given, but help was offered.

The fight for survival amidst disaster was exhausting—so painful it made people want to cry, to scream, to curse the heavens. And sometimes, it brought out the worst, the most unspeakable darkness in people. But until the moment of true despair arrives, no one wants to give in to that darkness.

The light of human nature, after all, always finds a way to shine.

In that brief moment, conductor Lu Chengfeng noticed a subtle yet powerful shift in the group’s atmosphere—still silent, but now united. Turning his head, he saw Xie Tianlang, step by steady step, moving forward with unwavering calm.

Not only was he carrying the unconscious elderly man on his back, but now in his arms were two small children who had completely run out of strength.

It was nighttime, but his tall, upright figure seemed to radiate presence—impossible to ignore.

Behind him followed more and more figures—quiet, determined, helping each other, lighting the path, moving forward as one.

Lu Chengfeng’s gaze then fell upon the black police dog trotting beside Xie Tianlang. It was loaded down with several heavy backpacks, its sharp eyes alert, its back straight. In its mouth, it held a glowing smartphone for illumination—somehow managing to look cool in its own unique, heroic way.

The conductor’s eyes grew misty. He took a deep breath and turned back to lead the way—never in his life had he felt so certain that they will make it out of these mountains together.

When hearts are united, when everyone shares the same will—no hardship is insurmountable.

And so, the next hour on the mountain path flew by—faster, smoother, and more miraculous than even Lu Chengfeng’s most optimistic expectations.

They arrived at the second tunnel entrance by 8:30 PM. And the moment they laid eyes on the structure—still solid, untouched by landslides or flooding—an overwhelming cheer erupted from the group.

It felt like they had accomplished something monumental together.

“Alright, everyone! We made it!! Get inside the tunnel! Teams, go in by your group! Those who still have energy, please go gather some branches nearby. If you’re too tired, help clean up the tunnel floor instead!”

“Keep your backpacks on! Watch over the elderly and the kids—don’t let them run around!”

Lu Chengfeng and his scouting team were the first to enter. After a quick inspection confirmed the interior was dry and relatively safe, they finally exhaled in relief.

There was some pooling at the entrance, with rainwater still seeping in, but a little further inside, the tunnel was dry and secure—exactly what they needed.

Everyone was completely exhausted by this point, yet they still followed the conductor’s instructions—entering the tunnel team by team, dropping their gear, and settling down to rest.

The tunnel wasn’t particularly wide, but it was large enough for each group to sit in tight circles.

Gou Fugui’s team was third in line, so they were positioned relatively close to the tunnel’s entrance.

In their small team, those who were more worn out took on the task of sorting and organizing backpacks and supplies, while the stronger ones—Xie Tianlang, Qin Feng, Lu Hu, and a few others—volunteered to go out and collect dry branches and leaves for a fire.

Surprisingly, Gou Fugui joined them as well.

This made Qin Feng and Lu Hu exchange curious glances. Honestly, they’d assumed this guy was delicate—someone who couldn’t take much hardship, maybe even a bit temperamental. Yet throughout the entire trek, not only had he kept pace without ever falling behind, he’d also been supporting others along the way. That kind of stamina wasn’t normal.

It was… oddly out of place. Especially for someone like him.

As Qin Feng and Lu Hu continued to sneak peeks at him, the so-called “Delicate Beauty” tugged his black rain hood down further, voice sharp with annoyance: “What are you staring at? Go get the damn firewood already. I’m soaked to the damn bone.”

With that, he strode out into the rain ahead of them, leaving the others behind looking even more conflicted—and a little stunned.

“…Tsk. Why do I feel like Fugui bro’s temper just took a turn for the worse?” Lu Hu scratched his head, puzzled.

Qin Feng thought he had it figured out: “Wouldn’t you be grumpy after hiking all day in this crap weather? Don’t talk nonsense—go grab some wood. I want instant noodles.”

Only Xie Tianlang stood there smiling faintly at Fugui’s retreating figure. That little flare of temper—wasn’t it just like that day? When he fought three guys at once… and came out of the fight with dyed white hair.

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