Chapter 84 Ascending to Rescue

What did it mean to close off the mountain?

It meant those below could not ascend, those above could not come down, and even the hope of seeking their own escape was lost.

Yuan Xi and Le Quan exchanged a glance, reading unease in each other's eyes.

Le Quan clung anxiously to the person in charge of the scenic area. “Is there really no other way to rescue them? We just came here for fun—if something truly happens to anyone, the responsibility is entirely yours!”

“There is! There is! We've already contacted an air rescue team!” The manager was sweating profusely in his panic. “They’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow morning?! By then—” Le Quan bit back the words that everyone would be doomed.

This was how things went with these private air rescue teams: high fees, slow dispatch, and for a mountainous area like Qingchi Mountain, the risks were enormous. Finding any rescue company at all was already a stroke of luck.

“No, we can’t just sit here and wait. We have to do something…” Yuan Xi seemed to reach a decision. “Let’s go talk to Mr. Shang.”

“Why go to Shang Yucheng? Liang Jinshang is with Lehai, not Nantian…” Le Quan’s mind flashed to the tangled personal connections among the three, and she paused momentarily.

She genuinely admired Yuan Xi’s magnanimity. “If the Shang family is willing to help, that’s certainly a blessing. Director Yuan, thank you for lending a hand.”

Yuan Xi smiled wryly and went with Le Quan to Shang Yucheng’s room.

He opened the door just in time.

“Mr. Shang, thank goodness you're still awake!” Le Quan exclaimed with relief.

Yuan Xi exchanged a subtle glance with Shang Yucheng. Shang pulled the door wider—Yan He was also sitting in the living room.

Two wine glasses sat on the coffee table. Le Quan and Yan He barely knew each other, just enough for a nod in passing, which should have made for polite restraint.

But she couldn’t help but remark, “We’re out there worrying ourselves sick, and here you are, enjoying a leisurely evening. How enviable.”

Yan He explained, “What makes you think I'm relaxed? Miss Liang is my friend too. The moment I heard, I couldn’t sleep—I rushed right over to discuss a plan with Cheng.”

Le Quan was clearly skeptical. “Oh? And what did you come up with?”

“I was just saying to Cheng—if the Shang family’s two helicopters fly over from Jin City, we could save at least three or four hours, instead of waiting for daylight for the rescue to start.”

Le Quan’s eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea! When can your helicopters get here?”

Yan He hesitated and glanced at Shang Yucheng.

Le Quan immediately caught his implication. “Mr. Shang, you disagree? Do you have a better idea?”

Only Le Quan would speak so sharply to Shang Yucheng.

His expression unchanged, Shang Yucheng leaned back on the sofa. “Flying them here from Jin City would be costly and troublesome. My pilots aren’t professional search-and-rescue personnel. In these conditions, sending them up the mountain blindly—if something happens, are those casualties on your head or mine?”

Le Quan was left speechless, as if she’d swallowed a dry crust of bread.

Only someone truly detached could remain so calm—cold, even—at a time like this.

“All expenses incurred, the Le family will cover,” Le Quan forced her tone to remain composed, her nails digging into her palm. “It’s dangerous, yes, but we must at least try. Mr. Shang, we can’t give up hope of saving someone just because danger is predicted! Can’t you reconsider? Liang Jinshang is just a girl, and every extra hour she spends in danger increases the risk!”

In Yuan Xi’s presence, Le Quan refrained from saying, “Besides, you and she were once involved—if you’ve given her up, you can’t possibly give up on her life too, can you?”

But her eyes were already red.

A woman’s tears did nothing to move Shang Yucheng; in fact, he only grew colder toward her. “She’s an adult. If she chooses to act so irresponsibly, why should others clean up her mess? Why did she stay alone on the mountain for no reason? Wasting manpower and resources searching the whole expanse of Yunxi Fort—for what? Even if the helicopter arrives, it’ll be for nothing.”

“She absolutely didn’t stay for no reason!” Le Quan’s first retort was driven by anger, but the words seemed to jolt some realization in her. She turned to Yuan Xi. “Director Yuan, have you considered why Liang Jinshang split from the main group?”

Yuan Xi had been staring at Shang Yucheng throughout. Only now did he reply, “I don’t know her well. What do you think?”

Le Quan had already thought of someone. “Shang Yiming! And his girlfriend!”

The other colleagues knew Liang Jinshang only superficially; it made sense to start with those who had the strongest motives.

“I’ll go talk to them!” Le Quan suddenly found her direction. “At least before the helicopter arrives, we can try to pinpoint her location. That should save the rescue team a lot of time!”

She turned to leave, but Shang Yucheng’s voice was cold behind her. “Even if you find her location, the Shang family’s helicopters won’t be coming.”

Le Quan whirled around, furious. “Shang Yucheng, you—”

“I told you, my pilots aren’t professional search-and-rescue, and I have no obligation to risk their lives. Civilian rescue agencies, military, medical—there are plenty of aerial rescue channels. If you can’t find another way, don’t just shout at me and expect me to play the hero.”

With a loud crash, Le Quan kicked over a trash bin, only to be restrained by Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi gave Shang Yucheng a long, searching look. “Le Quan, I have an idea. We can’t get the military, but we could try the ‘Air 120’ service. Do you know anyone at the hospital?”

Le Quan’s chest rose and fell as she caught her breath. “I do! Let’s go!”

Yan He watched the two women leave, then turned back to Shang Yucheng. “Cheng, do you really dislike Miss Le so much? Honestly, having the family helicopter make a trip isn’t that big of a deal. Why not give it a shot—if it doesn’t work, then so be it.”

“Why should I like her?” Shang Yucheng replied, his face impassive.

Yan He laughed awkwardly.

Lately, the Le family had been cozying up to him—rumor had it they wanted to match him and Le Quan.

But he said nothing more, sensing Shang Yucheng’s foul mood, likely provoked by Le Quan’s rudeness just now.

“Come on, have a drink, cool off.”

Shang Yucheng unclenched his fist, drained a full glass in one go, then refilled it.

“Good man! I’ll drink with you—”

“I’m going to bed. Go back to your own room!” Shang Yucheng said coldly.

“Fine, fine! I doubt I’ll sleep at all until Miss Liang is found.” Yan He stretched and stood. “You really are made for great things—such composure.”

...

The sky was just beginning to lighten. Liang Jinshang’s flashlight, which had burned all night, finally gave out.

The wound on her forehead throbbed, hot and dull; she knew she was running a fever.

She slowly lowered herself to the ground, grateful that she’d brought paper and pen to the summit to sketch—now she had a place to write a “farewell letter.”

In her haze, she heard the roar of fierce winds outside, as if trying to tear the sky apart.

Beyond the ruined temple, several figures descended from a helicopter’s rope ladder.

At their head strode a tall figure, long black coat whipping in the wind from the rotors—he looked every bit the hero arriving at the climax of a great film.