Chapter Forty-Seven: There Really Is No Need to Be So Persistent

After the supplies were prepared, Li Wangcheng brought people to haul them away, and that was when He Gaolang realized they actually possessed a submarine.

At the sight of the submarine, He Gaolang’s eyes lit up with such intense longing that if the vessel hadn't been so massive, one might have suspected he would try to seize it on the spot.

Once the final supplies were loaded, He Gaolang approached them, saluting with a solemn expression.

"Thank you for your assistance."

"No need. We were all just getting what we needed," Li Wangcheng replied, effectively killing the mood.

Just as He Gaolang was left speechless, two large machines approached slowly from a distance. As they drew closer, it became clear they were vehicles similar to jeeps, though with some modifications that seemed well-suited for traversing snow and ice.

"I could only manage to get your fuel tanks filled; after this, you'll have to rely on yourselves," He Gaolang said with a heavy tone before they parted, having explained the vehicle's performance and operation.

Fang Yun was somewhat surprised; two full tanks of fuel must have been enough to make his superiors' hearts ache. Still, she and her group were not ungrateful for his goodwill.

Before He Gaolang turned to leave, Fang Yun called out to him.

"The weather is changing drastically. Dongming Mountain is too small. Once the weather begins to warm, your living space will be severely compressed. If possible, you should find a higher location to relocate as soon as possible."

Her words made He Gaolang freeze. The last sentence was practically an explicit warning; even a straightforward man like him could grasp her meaning. He looked at Fang Yun for a long moment, clearly harboring many questions. Yet, for reasons unknown, he ultimately asked nothing. He simply said "thank you" to her and led his men back toward Dongming Mountain.

Watching them until their figures disappeared, Shang Xingbing couldn't hold back anymore.

"Fang Yun, what did you mean by what you just said?" Even though he had his own suspicions, he wanted to hear it clearly from her.

Fang Yun sighed. "Yi Chuping said the weather will get colder again. Last time it got cold, the ice level rose significantly. If it rises again this time, the ice level will be level with the entrance to Dongming Mountain. If they stay there, once the weather warms and the melted snow rises, they could all be flooded."

Being flooded wasn't the main issue; the real danger was having nowhere to run when the time came to save their lives. She had given the military a heads-up; while Dongming Mountain appeared safe for now, it wasn't as secure as it seemed. Not to mention the unpredictability of the weather, dealing with people like Ma Qibo would be enough of a headache for the military. There was really no need to be so fixated on this location.

"Will it really warm up?" Shang Xingbing clearly didn't believe it.

Fang Yun gave him a meaningful look and didn't answer. Of course it would warm up; she just feared that once it did, he would find himself missing these current times.

With the military matters settled, it was nearly noon. Yi Chuping was clearly delighted to hear they had traded for two iron beasts from the military, but he still followed their plan to leave before midday.

After a quick meal inside the submarine, they loaded the remaining items into the vehicles. A dozen people squeezed into the two cars and set off at a leisurely pace.

Fang Yun sat in the car, distracted; she was still thinking about the submarine. Although Yi Chuping had hidden it, it was essentially the same as losing it—they might not be able to find it again later. The thought of losing such an incredibly scarce resource gnawed at her.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Li Wangcheng glancing at her several times. After a while, just as Fang Yun was about to call for a stop, someone else spoke up first. She turned to look and was surprised to find it was Li Wangcheng.

"I forgot to pick something up. You all go ahead; I’m going back to get it."

"Boss, I..." Shang Xingbing started to speak, but Fang Yun interrupted him.

"I'll go with you. I think I left something behind, too."

Li Wangcheng looked at her with a hint of a smile in his eyes, offering no objections.

"Boss, it’ll take a long time to go back and forth. Should we drive you back?" Yi Chuping didn't stop the car, offering a suggestion instead.

"No need. I just remembered the sleds He Gaolang promised haven't been handed over yet. I’ll go back with Fang Yun to get them and catch up with you later."

When he said this, everyone in the car was startled, and then their eyes lit up. Yi Chuping stopped the car and looked back at them. "There are really sleds?"

It seemed he hadn't believed the military would be that generous, hence his skepticism. But Li Wangcheng was not a man to be trifled with; since he intended to pin the origin of the sleds on the military, he wouldn't show the slightest sign of deception.

"I was wondering why he was so kind as to fill our tanks; turns out he wasn't planning on giving us the sleds," Shang Xingbing realized, seeing Li Wangcheng nod affirmatively.

Fang Yun couldn't bear to watch them; she turned her head away, trying to keep from breaking character.

"Alright then, stay safe." Yi Chuping watched them for a while, but seeing nothing amiss, he allowed them to leave.

The two stepped out, and the trailing vehicle stopped as well. Feng Li leaned out, looking at them in confusion. Fang Yun went over to explain and reassure her. After much convincing, she finally calmed Feng Li and little Qing down, then hurried back to Li Wangcheng’s side.

It was terrifying; facing their teary eyes, she had almost backed out. Fortunately, she remained firm. She finally understood those men—it was impossible not to feel soft-hearted.

Taking Li Wangcheng’s hand, she walked quickly back until the two vehicles were out of sight, at which point she slowed her pace. Li Wangcheng had called for the stop early, so they hadn't traveled far. However, due to the weather and poor road conditions, it still took them a while to return to the submarine.

Fang Yun stood to the side, waiting for Li Wangcheng to "get his things" before she attempted to store the submarine in her space. To her surprise, he also just stood there, unmoving. She looked at him in confusion.

"Aren't you here to get something? Why aren't you going?"

"I just said that off the cuff. You actually believed it?" Li Wangcheng paused, then laughed.

Hearing his words and seeing the expression on his face, Fang Yun understood everything. She stared at him in shock for a long moment.

"So, you made up that excuse just to help me?"

Li Wangcheng didn't speak, just smiled at her. Having realized the truth, Fang Yun turned her head away, feeling a bit embarrassed. Since that was the case, she had nothing left to wait for.

She thought for a moment, then pulled a sled out of her space, filled it with fuel, and loaded some supplies into it as a cover. Then, she glanced at Li Wangcheng, and meeting his encouraging gaze, she walked toward the nearby submarine.