Northwest, Wild Base Camp.
The supply truck took nearly two hours to arrive. The surrounding yellow sand gradually disappeared, replaced by lush, dense green forests.
Wen Ci was pleasantly surprised.
She hadn’t expected to find a primeval forest in the Northwest.
The quiet environment was accompanied by the soft chirping of birds. The supply truck driver, Xiao Yu, walked to the back of the truck and said, “Doctor Yu, the path ahead isn’t accessible by vehicle. We’ll need to walk the remaining three kilometers.”
Yu Qing nodded. “Understood.”
The primeval forest had no roads, so the supplies had to be carried to the campsite by hand. It was nearly seven o’clock, and the sky was gradually darkening.
Even on a sunny day, the primeval forest felt cold and damp.
The temperature dropped sharply. Wen Ci took a military overcoat from her luggage and put it on. Yu Qing did the same.
Wen Ci’s overcoat belonged to Huo Jingyuan.
Yu Qing’s overcoat was issued by the military.
As a long-term military doctor for the Northwestern Army, she enjoyed better treatment than most soldiers. In addition to the white coat issued by the hospital, she also had women’s training uniforms, regular uniforms, and a military overcoat.
At this moment, the soldiers on foot had not yet arrived. Only a few logistics soldiers were moving supplies. Three kilometers wasn’t far, but in a primeval forest, it wasn’t exactly close either.
Wen Ci and Yu Qing took forty minutes to reach the campsite. This primeval forest was used as a training ground by the Northwestern Military Region, and soldiers were usually stationed here.
After setting up the tent, Wen Ci heard the thunderous footsteps of the soldiers. Over a thousand soldiers were participating in the “Hell Week” training, and their presence stirred up half the forest.
Wen Ci was starving.
The humidity in the primeval forest was heavy.
As the sky darkened, Yu Qing fetched two blankets from the logistics team. Shivering, she said, “There’s no food on the first night in the primeval forest. Let’s rest in the tent for now.”
Wen Ci nodded. “Alright.”
The small tent accommodated both of them. The blankets were tightly wrapped around them, providing instant warmth. Through the tent, they could see the faint glow of the kerosene lamp outside.
“Wen Ci, have you ever seen an acupuncture chart?” Yu Qing asked.
Wen Ci replied, “Yes, I have.”
“The humidity here is heavy. I brought a set of needles to help us dispel the dampness.”
When the hospital wasn’t busy, Wen Ci often studied medical books and acupuncture charts. Her memory was exceptional, and she could remember everything after just one glance.
The next day.
The two of them had barely slept all night.
The sound of the morning assembly whistle and the soldiers’ shouts echoed through the forest.
Wen Ci yawned as she stepped out of the tent. She saw the entire primeval forest shrouded in thick fog. A ray of sunlight pierced through the mist and fell on her back, making the scene look like something out of a fairy tale.
Yu Qing followed her out of the tent, smacking her lips. “Nothing much to do on the first day. Let’s get some steamed buns from the logistics team and then go back to the tent to catch up on sleep.”
On the first night, they slept in a temporary tent.
In the following days, they would sleep in thicker, more durable tents.
Having gone without food all night, Wen Ci found the plain steamed buns exceptionally delicious. Outside the tent, a sign was erected with three elegantly written characters: 【Medical Station】.
Wen Ci raised an eyebrow. “The calligraphy is really good.”
Yu Qing, munching on a steamed bun, looked at the sign. She walked closer to examine the handwriting and said, “This looks like the handwriting of the Northwestern Regimental Commissar.”
A table was set up at the entrance of the tent, with a medical kit placed on top. The sun slowly rose, and the thick fog gradually dispersed. The two of them sat down on chairs.
The campsite was some distance away from the “Hell Week” training grounds. They could only faintly hear the soldiers’ chants in the distance.
Meanwhile, in the military family quarters.
Watching military vehicles come and go, several aunties gathered together and chatted. “Can we watch the military art performance?”
“Of course! The family quarters in the Northwestern Military Region were just renovated this year. I reckon next year’s military art performance will include someone from our compound.”
“But wouldn’t it be a joke if us rural women went on stage?!”
Xiang Qin sat in a corner knitting a sweater. Hearing everyone’s concerns about next year’s military art performance, she thought of Wen Ci, who was about to perform, and slowly said, “It’s alright. Next year, we can have Regimental Commander Huo’s wife represent our compound on stage. This year, she’s performing a water sleeve dance.”
“Regimental Commander Huo’s wife is an actress?”
“No, she just knows the basics.”
“I once watched a water sleeve dance performance in the provincial capital. Their costumes were especially beautiful, especially the long, flowing sleeves.”
Listening to the chatter, Zhao Dongmei dug her nails into her palm. She lowered her head, a flash of gloom in her eyes. She couldn’t let that young girl steal the spotlight.
A dark thought began to form in Zhao Dongmei’s mind.
A week later.
Wen Ci sat outside the tent, her eyes lifeless. The past few days had been pure torture. She could barely sleep, as the bugle would sound at two or three in the morning.
The intensity and frequency of the training were astonishing.
The soldiers who had been eliminated had already returned to the military region. Only a few logistics personnel remained at the campsite, packing up. When Yu Qing saw the logistics soldiers, her eyes lit up.
“Is it over?”
“Yeah, you’ll be heading back tonight.”
Hearing this, Wen Ci and Yu Qing seemed to come back to life. Their eyes sparkled with visible relief, and they were on the verge of tears.
Due to unexpected circumstances this month, they couldn’t leave the Northwestern Military Region at will. The food during “Hell Week” was exceptionally poor, with some freshly caught small animals from the forest.
Fortunately, Wen Ci had brought instant noodles…
Yu Qing asked curiously, “Who won first place in the ‘Hell Week’?”
“I’m not sure. Only five are still holding out in the water cell.”
The final special training of “Hell Week” was endurance against betrayal. The soldiers had to endure in a cold, dark water cell wearing thin clothing. Whoever lasted the longest would be the winner.
The logistics soldier added, “Personally, I’m rooting for Captain Qin Jin.”
“Qin Jin?” Wen Ci frowned slightly. She felt like she had heard the name before but couldn’t quite recall. “Do we need to wait by the water cell?”
“No, others will carry them out on stretchers.”
The soldiers who had lasted this long in the water cell were already on the verge of losing consciousness. Now, they needed to push beyond their limits and surpass themselves.
The bright sun gradually set in the west. The surrounding tents were mostly dismantled. Wen Ci and Yu Qing packed their medical kits and prepared to walk out of the primeval forest.
Wen Ci breathed in the fresh air, a smile on her lips and her eyebrows slightly raised. It was clear she was in a good mood. “Once we’re back, I can finally get a good night’s sleep!”
She hadn’t seen Huo Jingyuan since entering the forest.
After a week apart, she found herself missing him.
Yu Qing sighed lightly and wondered, “I remember coming here a few months ago and often seeing your ‘Living King of Hell.’ Why haven’t we seen him at all this month?”
She had volunteered before Su Wanqing could, not wanting to give Su Wanqing a chance to be alone with Huo Jingyuan.
But now, she hadn’t even seen the “Living King of Hell” this time. She might as well have let Su Wanqing take on this suffering instead.
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