Chapter 125: Chapter 124: Ascending in the Rainy Night, Into the Minefield

The vehicle was loaded, covered directly with a rain tarp, and the personnel used the time while loading to eat and rest; then they drove off overnight.

This time, the vehicle drove straight south, initially over hilly plains, but after a few days, it turned into mountainous roads.

Even for Ling Chengyan, it was the first time driving such steep and winding mountain roads. After half a day’s drive, the vehicle was still looping on the mountain road, looking down, the mountain road appeared like a meandering line, with no end in sight.

The urgency of this mission was tight on time. Two people took shifts: one drove while the other rested, and aside from refueling, watering, and meals, the vehicle hardly stopped.

They drove for over ten days straight; the mountains grew steeper, and the weather became increasingly humid.

Ling Chengyan held the national highway map silently and looked ahead. They had arrived at Southwest Province and were very close to the border conflict area.

Driving continuously for over ten days, everyone was exhausted yet subtly excited; none expected that, as automotive soldiers in the logistics department, they would also have the opportunity to go to the frontline.

But, to their disappointment, their delivery destination was not the frontline. The supplies were unloaded at a base in the border town.

Many vehicles transported supplies over a short distance, and Ling Chengyan saw license plates from at least six provinces.

Due to the number of vehicles, there was some waiting time for unloading.

Ling Chengyan had just driven for several hours and was sleeping in the truck wrapped in a coat.

Suddenly, the car window was knocked on, and Ling Chengyan opened her eyes to see a soldier organizing the line order: “You can go in.”

Ling Chengyan responded and quickly started the vehicle, driving in to unload.

The vehicle stopped, and Ling Chengyan jumped off and waited in some shade, just as Ma Dajun limped back: “Sergeant, I suddenly have diarrhea…”

Ling Chengyan waved her hand, and Ma Dajun immediately stopped talking and obediently followed alongside the group.

After running continuously for over ten days, the majority were very tired, and given the environment, even those usually chatty and cheerful remained silent, quietly waiting.

One vehicle after another unloaded and drove out; eventually, it was Ling Chengyan’s team’s turn, and night had fallen.

Ling Chengyan’s vehicle was the first; after unloading, Ma Dajun drove out, waiting for other vehicles.

Suddenly, a team arrived, gathering all empty unloaded vehicles to another parking lot, then checking the vehicle conditions, refueling, replenishing water…

While the automotive soldiers were busy, several teams ran up, and Ling Chengyan took one glance and estimated there were three companies; additionally, someone urgently transported another batch of supplies.

Personnel boarded the vehicles, supplies were loaded, and the vehicles’ rapid maintenance was completed.

There was a lead vehicle in front, with about twenty vehicles following behind, and they set off.

Ling Chengyan was at the head of the convoy; this time she was in the second position.

After leaving the base, it suddenly started pouring rain. The roads were already hard to navigate, but with the rain washing them, the road became even more puddled and muddy.

Despite such difficult conditions, the lead vehicle drove swiftly, the vehicles behind were also well-skilled, with none falling behind or encountering breakdowns.

After more than two hours of driving, the lead vehicle suddenly stopped.

Someone wearing a raincoat jumped out from the lead vehicle, came over to explain the situation to the vehicles behind: “This is the battlefield; artillery and stray bullets can strike at any moment. Everyone stay vigilant… the soldiers ahead haven’t been resupplied for a day and night; if we don’t deliver these soon, the soldiers will starve. Can we let them go into battle hungry, or face the enemy bare-handed?”

Of course not!

Everyone’s fatigue disappeared, each feeling excited, albeit inevitably nervous, and the vehicles restarted, continuing onward.

Not far ahead, Ling Chengyan saw the burnt wreckage of a vehicle occupying half the road.

The heavy rain still engulfed everything, Ling Chengyan’s gaze tightened—she saw a steel helmet on one of the wrecked vehicles with several bullet holes, starkly noticeable.

Although it was her first time on a battlefield in this era, Ling Chengyan knew the cruelty of war; one could never truly imagine it without experiencing it firsthand.

The lead vehicle personnel mentioned artillery cover and stray bullets, but from what Ling Chengyan understood, many things were far scarier than artillery attacks: like landmines, or the infiltration and harassment operations of small enemy squads.

Landmines are indefensible; once entering a minefield, it could result in total vehicle destruction and human fatalities.

Small enemy squads infiltrating and attacking typically carry powerful weapons; if encountered unexpectedly, it can cause unpreparedness, resulting in personnel casualties.

Among these, the most significant threat of landmines is to the leading vehicle.

Finally, the lead vehicle stopped again.

As the vehicle parked, the headlights were turned off.

Everyone disembarked to gather, carrying the supplies unloaded from the vehicle, trekking through dense forests to deliver to the front line.

Without hesitation, Ling Chengyan carried two wooden boxes and followed the people from the lead vehicle. Though the heavy rain made the road muddy and difficult, it effectively concealed their actions.

Someone with a square face turned and instructed: “Watch your step underneath; if you feel like you’re stepping on something hard, stop and don’t move. We have the best deminers, and as long as you make a precise judgment and don’t move recklessly, there’s a good chance to defuse a landmine and save a life…”

These words were passed along to each person, everyone heightened their alertness and watched their step…

Suddenly, Ling Chengyan raised her hand, hitting a silver-ringed snake at its vital spot, causing it to limpily fall from a branch and drop to the roadside.

This action was so swift most didn’t see it clearly or at all.

However, the square-faced individual noticed, turning back to give Ling Chenyan a thankful gesture.

The battlefield changes rapidly; missing an opportunity can mean total defeat.

Just as this reminder reached the back of the group, suddenly, there was an explosion ahead.

Ling Chengyan and others immediately lay down as they were trained to dodge potential stray bullet attacks.

The others, scared and nervous, had no idea what was happening. But Ling Chengyan sensitively judged it was not an attack but—landmines.

After a brief pause without new explosions, she hunched forward to inspect, finding the lead four people, with three already fallen, and one struggling up clutching his arm.

Ling Chengyan reached out to check the situation of the three, one was beyond saving, while the other two had clearly salvageable chances.

She quickly untied her emergency kit, swiftly bandaging the wounds of the two…

“…Arrange for someone to send them back, the remaining continue advancing.” Ling Chengyan looked up, her voice cold and clear, authoritative, not a consultation nor a request but a declaration.

The individual holding his arm looked at his comrades on the ground; his lips moved slightly, but he nodded in the end.

Amongst the transported supplies were stretchers; they immediately came up to carry the three, including the already fallen comrade with the square face.

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