Chapter 128: The Person Has Been Found

It was evident that the landslide had primarily engulfed the front half of Xishan Village and the road leading into it, while the rear of the village remained unaffected, with its houses and paths still intact.

Because of the complex terrain and the scattered nature of the dwellings, it was impossible to determine the extent of casualties just by observing from the heights.

Wei Ruo and Wei Jinyi led their men into the village. They saw soldiers in armor digging through the debris, alongside the villagers of Xishan, who were working tirelessly with their own hoes, shovels, and any other tools they could muster.

Wei Ruo grabbed a young soldier to ask for an update: "What is the situation now? How many people are buried, and who are they?"

"Well... apart from the Battalion Commander and Deputy Squad Leader Xu, the rest of us are here. When the second landslide occurred, the Commander sensed something was wrong and ordered us to retreat to the rear village first. So, most of us are safe," the soldier replied.

Wei Mingting and Wei Jinyi had reached the same conclusion: the rear of the village was relatively safe because the mountain there was planted with bamboo, which was less prone to landslides.

Wei Ruo pressed further: "Then where are the Battalion Commander and Deputy Squad Leader Xu now?"

"Before the second landslide, the local villagers told us there were two households in that valley. Even knowing the danger, the Commander chose to go and save them. Deputy Squad Leader Xu, concerned for his safety, followed him. Then the landslide hit. Now... we still haven't found them..."

Wei Mingting and Xu Zhengyong were both missing.

"Where exactly in the valley were they?" Wei Ruo asked.

"Roughly in that area. We already have a few brothers searching there, but since we don't know their exact location at the time, we can only search the entire mountain," the soldier explained.

Of the hundred-man rescue team Wei Mingting had brought yesterday, half remained to help the villagers clear the roads, while the other half had entered the valley to conduct the search.

Wei Ruo turned to Wei Jinyi. "Second Brother."

"Let's go." Wei Jinyi said nothing more, turning to lead his own laborers toward the valley.

***

Meanwhile, news of the incident involving Wei Mingting reached the Commandant’s residence.

Upon hearing the news, Lady Yun nearly fainted.

Wei Yichen and Wei Wanwan rushed to Cangyun Courtyard. Wei Wanwan tended to Lady Yun, while Wei Yichen took charge of the household.

The first thing Lady Yun asked upon regaining consciousness was: "Yichen, where is your father?"

Wei Yichen’s expression was grim. "Mother, please try not to worry. The residence has already sent men to Xishan Village to search for him. The magistrate’s office has also dispatched people; there should be news soon."

"So, he hasn't been found yet?" They didn't even know if he was dead or alive! Lady Yun’s face went pale. "A landslide is incredibly dangerous. If someone is buried underneath, the chances of survival are slim!"

Wei Yichen did not know how to respond, nor did he know how to comfort his mother; his own heart was heavy with dread.

Wei Wanwan comforted her: "Mother, please don't worry. Father is a man of great fortune. Even those vicious pirates couldn't harm him, so he won't be easily taken by this!"

Lady Yun shook her head; Wei Wanwan’s words brought her no comfort. She knew all too well that the brutality of pirates and the horror of a natural disaster were entirely different matters.

"Yichen, have every man in the residence go out to search—everyone! Not a single one is to stay behind," Lady Yun ordered.

She could think of nothing else; she only wanted her husband to return safely.

"Mother, I understand, but I have already sent out everyone who can go. Only the elderly and the women remain in the residence," Wei Yichen explained.

"Then what are we to do? Yichen, tell me, what should we do now?" Lady Yun asked, her eyes rimmed with red from anxiety.

"Mother, I will go to the county magistrate's office shortly to discuss with Magistrate Qian if there is any way to mobilize more men to Xishan Village. With Father gone, mobilizing the garrison requires the authorization of the Vice Battalion Commander. I am not familiar with the new appointee, so I need Magistrate Qian to intervene."

Despite his worry and anxiety, Wei Yichen remained rational.

"Yes, yes, do as you say. Go quickly!" Lady Yun urged.

Having lost all sense of direction, she could only rely on her son's arrangements.

As Wei Yichen prepared to leave, he instructed Wei Wanwan to take care of her mother: "Wanwan, Mother is distraught. Stay with her and comfort her."

"I will," Wei Wanwan nodded, then couldn't help but ask: "Big Brother, will Father come back safely?"

Wei Wanwan knew that her father was the pillar of the family; if he fell, the Commandant’s residence would fall with him. She could not imagine what would become of them, or her own life, if he were gone.

Wei Yichen could not answer that question. "I don't know. All I can do is exert every effort to rescue him. Until then, I cannot bring myself to dwell on that."

After giving a few more instructions to Wei Wanwan, Wei Yichen headed to the magistrate's office.

***

In the valley of Xishan Village, seven or eight dozen people were fanned out, conducting a carpet search for any sign of Wei Mingting and Xu Zhengyong.

Wei Jinyi followed behind Wei Ruo, maintaining a certain distance.

The terrain of the valley was complex, and having suffered a landslide, it was fraught with hidden dangers, with the risk of further collapse at every turn.

After walking for some distance, Wei Ruo stopped.

Knowing her father's habits, if he had realized a second landslide was possible and identified the bamboo-covered rear of the village as relatively safe, he would certainly have taken a safer route when entering and exiting the valley.

Wei Ruo scanned her surroundings, projecting herself into Wei Mingting’s perspective. If she were him, how would she have entered and exited the valley? How would she have approached the two households in need of rescue, and how would she have retreated?

Wei Jinyi stood behind her, not interrupting her thoughts.

After a while, Wei Ruo suddenly moved, dashing in one direction, with Wei Jinyi following closely behind.

She walked along the side near the western mountain for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before coming to a sudden halt.

Seeing something amidst a pile of mud and rocks, she rushed forward to investigate.

"This is Brother Xiaoyong’s dagger!" At first, she had only seen the hilt, but after digging it out, she held the complete blade.

"Are you certain?" Wei Jinyi asked.

"Certain. I had this custom-made for him!" Wei Ruo replied with absolute conviction.

"I’ll call for help." Wei Jinyi summoned a few laborers.

The men were highly respectful toward Wei Jinyi; at his command, they moved with prompt and efficient action.

Wei Ruo stood to the side, her heart pounding with trepidation. They had been buried for quite some time now; it was highly likely that even if they were unearthed, they would be nothing more than two cold corpses...