Chapter 103: Hostage Situation

She was rescued from the bottom of the mine. By now, she had been unconscious for quite some time. Night had fallen over the rescue site; the tents were soaked with rain, shrouded in darkness. The rainy night was eerie.

Shen Chaoxi’s gaze grew cold.

At the moment the curtain was drawn, the young nurse pushed her cart toward another patient’s bed. Shen Chaoxi pulled out the needle from the back of her hand. The medicine that spilled out dripped onto the floor. She lifted the curtain and stepped away from the bed.

This storm had swept across the entire Jingnan region, showing no sign of abating. Nearly all armed forces in Jingnan had been mobilized for the flood relief effort. But the disaster struck suddenly. Their numbers were simply insufficient, and the hardest-hit areas faced even worse conditions. The rain fell relentlessly.

By seven o’clock that evening, the rescuers arrived, accompanied by soldiers from the first and second military districts specially dispatched from the capital for emergency relief. They came equipped with life rafts, ready to carry out the rescue operations. Over a hundred medical personnel also arrived.

In the pitch-black night, dozens of military trucks unloaded troops who quickly assembled. “Remember, you are soldiers!” the commanding officer called out. “The safety of the people always comes first!” “Yes, sir!” they responded in unison. “For this emergency relief, you will work in shifts; the logistics team will inventory supplies—move quickly!”

The young officer leading them wore a soaked brown uniform. After issuing orders and delegating tasks, he glanced this way. Wu Xing’s eyes shifted, his brow furrowing. His gaze locked with that of a young girl in the distance.

After the floodwaters had receded, everything was a chaotic mess. Temporary rain shelters had been hastily erected here by the affected residents as makeshift refuges. Those from surrounding disaster zones, after being rescued, were brought here. People moved back and forth with urgency.

The man in uniform instinctively looked up and spotted Shen Chaoxi. Catching sight of her, Wu Xing immediately stepped forward, his face serious and solemn. Standing at attention, he saluted her.

“Report, Commander. One thousand five hundred soldiers have assembled. Awaiting orders—”

“At ease!”

“Attention!”

In the sinister darkness, as far as the eye could see were men in uniform, clad in raincoats, holding tools and supplies, gathered densely by dozens of military trucks. Their movements were coordinated, their boots striking the ground with a thunderous rhythm that echoed through the rainy night, utterly awe-inspiring.

All eyes were fixed on the lone figure emerging through the downpour. Each soldier’s expression was grave, letting the rain soak their faces and black raincoats without complaint.

The young woman’s features were clear and cold, as if she had transformed completely from the person she was in the mine’s depths. She stopped abruptly in the eerie rain, her gaze chillingly indifferent as she faced thousands before her.

“You all know why you’re here!” Shen Chaoxi’s expression was calm, rain splashing over her as if unnoticed. Her eyes were clear, deep, and icy—an unspoken authority emanated from her presence that naturally commanded respect.

“A sudden torrential downpour has struck Jingnan. Nearby towns have suffered severely. You are the people’s soldiers, forged through countless trials, dedicated to serving the people and safeguarding their lives. Remember this: wherever help is needed, you must fill that gap. Understood?”

Though her tone was measured and cold, the commanding aura she exuded, honed by years of high office, made the soldiers stand rigid, their faces tense.

“Understood!” The thousand-strong force responded in unison.

Shen Chaoxi’s eyes darkened sharply. Her cold gaze swept over them. “Louder!”

“UNDERSTOOD!” came a sudden shout, firm and resonant, clearly raised in volume.

She pressed her lips together and immediately gave the command. “Move out!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Without wasting time, Shen Chaoxi surveyed the ongoing storm. The disaster in Jingnan was worsening. Their people were delivering supplies and conducting rescue work without delay.

Upon receiving orders, the soldiers organized into groups to transport supplies to various locations, while teams were dispatched to the worst-flooded areas to assist.

The sound of running footsteps and the movement of supplies echoed through the night. Wu Xing stood before her, his expression grave, reporting the situation.

“Commander, over twenty towns north of Jingnan have been severely affected by the flooding, suffering heavy losses.”

In other words, joint orders from the military districts had temporarily assembled troops from the first and second districts specifically to aid the Jingnan disaster area.

“This rainstorm shows no sign of stopping anytime soon,” Wu Xing added.

Shen Chaoxi’s voice was cold and clear amid the rain. Her eyes, beneath heavy lids, resembled icy snow—profound and mysterious, as if harboring endless cold.

Suddenly, a soldier in crisp uniform stepped down from a nearby military vehicle. Gasping for breath, he hurriedly reported to Shen Chaoxi.

“Commander! There’s a situation in Tongshan!”

He was clearly out of breath, having just arrived by vehicle. The situation was urgent.

It was the group of unknown terrorists they had been tracking, who had infiltrated the Jingnan area.

“They’ve taken many villagers hostage in Tongshan Town. Captain Xiao sent me here.”

This was bad.

“It seems they’re desperate after being suppressed by the military,” Shen Chaoxi said in a low, cold tone, frowning. She turned to a nearby soldier with a command.

“Notify headquarters. Coordinate with surrounding armed forces to carry out rescue operations. Ensure the safety of the hostages!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Remember, the safety of the people always comes first,” Shen Chaoxi reminded them firmly.

This was ingrained deep within them.

Those terrorists were criminals—cornered and lashing out recklessly. Taking villagers hostage was a sign they had been driven to desperation.

Now, they were about to confront the military directly.

“Wu Xing.”

Shen Chaoxi gave her orders. “Stay here and continue organizing the rescue efforts.”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Without hesitation, Shen Chaoxi stepped past him and climbed into a waiting military vehicle, her voice cold and resolute.

“Head to Tongshan Town!”

Tongshan was also within Jingnan’s borders, not far away.

She had planned to go there after the military relief forces arrived, but the terrorists had acted quickly—taking hostages.

Such things were unavoidable.

Good people were often in difficult positions.

But evil men were capable of anything.

This sudden storm in Jingnan had wreaked havoc, and the situation in Tongshan had clearly spiraled out of control.

They were being bitten back by the vicious dogs.

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