Chapter 716 The road ahead is right under your feet

In a brief period of peace after the hailstorm, Bai Ye and the soldiers finally stopped by a relatively open space with sparse trees and began their long-awaited rest. The air around was still damp and cold, but compared to the previous storm, this place was a safe haven. The soldiers sat or lay down, and their tired bodies were quickly invaded by fatigue after their tense nerves relaxed. Many people even fell asleep directly, and their dreams might contain the warmth of home, the embrace of their mothers, and confusion and anxiety about the future.

Bai Ye stood among them, his eyes swept across the faces of each soldier, and his heart was full of mixed feelings. He knew that after this short rest, they would face more severe challenges - the shortage of food and water was like a sword hanging over their heads, which could shatter their hopes at any time. As a leader, he must take on this responsibility and find a solution.

So Bai Ye made a decision. He gently patted the nearest soldier on the shoulder, signaling him to look after the other soldiers, and then turned and walked into the depths of the forest where it was still drizzling and hail occasionally appeared. His steps were firm and resolute, and each step was on the soft soil, making a dull sound, which was particularly clear in this silent forest.

The hail did not seem to stop completely, and occasionally a few fell on his shoulders, bringing a biting chill, but he seemed not to feel it. There was only one thought in his mind: to find food. His eyes were sharp, like a cheetah looking for prey, shuttling between dense trees, constantly observing the surrounding environment.

Time seemed to slow down at this moment, Bai Ye could almost hear the sound of his heartbeat, intertwined with the hustle and bustle of the surrounding nature. Just when he was about to give up hope, an unusual green attracted his attention. It was a tall tree with a thick trunk and lush branches and leaves. The most eye-catching thing was that it was full of bread-like fruits. These fruits were plump and round, exuding a faint fragrance, and were obviously edible.

Bai Ye was delighted, but then he became alert again. In this unknown forest, anything that looks good may hide danger. He approached the tree carefully, carefully observing every detail on the fruit to make sure they were not toxic or dangerous. After a careful inspection, he finally determined that the fruits were safe.

He quickly picked a few fruits and put them in his backpack, ready to return to the camp. However, just as he was about to leave, a sudden strong wind mixed with hail hit again, and he had to find a more secluded place to hide temporarily. In the wind and rain, he hugged the fruits in his backpack tightly, his heart full of worry and responsibility for the soldiers.

When the wind and rain stopped, Bai Ye set out on his way home again. He knew in his heart that although these fruits could not solve the long-term food shortage problem, they could at least bring a little comfort and hope to the soldiers. He quickened his pace and silently said in his heart: "I must go back safely."

Finally, when Bai Ye's figure appeared in the soldiers' sight again, they all cast expectant eyes. Bai Ye didn't say much, but silently distributed the fruits in the backpack to everyone. The soldiers took the fruits, their eyes flashing with gratitude and surprise. Although these fruits could not completely satisfy their hunger, at this moment, they became the most precious treasures.

However, this short-lived joy was soon broken by the cruelty of reality. The soldiers soon realized that although these fruits could temporarily relieve hunger, in the long run, they still faced the dilemma of food shortage. Bai Ye looked at the worry and fatigue on the faces of the soldiers, and his heart was filled with helplessness and heaviness. He knew that the road ahead would be more difficult and long, but they had no way out.

As night fell, several bonfires were lit in the camp. The soldiers sat around the fire, sharing their stories and experiences, and discussing their future plans. Bai Ye sat aside, listening to their conversation quietly, but thinking about how to lead them out of this dangerous forest. He knew that only by uniting and facing difficulties together could they find hope and a way out for survival.

In this forest shrouded in darkness and cold, the story of Bai Ye and the soldiers continued. Every step they take is full of unknowns and dangers, but it is this unknown and danger that makes them cherish the friendship and trust between each other even more. In the days to come, no matter how great the difficulties and challenges they encounter, they will go hand in hand and overcome the difficulties together.

As the night fell, the firelight swayed in the moist air after the rain, reflecting the tired but resolute faces of Bai Ye and the soldiers. They sat around the campfire, holding the precious bread fruit tightly in their hands, chewing it gently, and every bite seemed extremely precious. The sweetness of the food temporarily relieved the torment brought by hunger, but deeper worries spread quietly in their hearts like the night.

"Bai Ye, what do you think of this hail? I have never heard of such a big hail in my first half of my life. Even in our current place, it is a bit too outrageous, right?" A soldier broke the silence, his voice low and full of doubts. This question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples.

Bai Ye looked up at the dark sky with a frown. "I've never seen such weather. Even in the worst rainy season, there is rarely such hail. This is not just a natural phenomenon. I'm worried..." His words stopped abruptly, as if even he himself was unwilling to imagine the possibilities behind it.

"What are you worried about? Bai Ye, just say it, we can all bear it." Another soldier interjected, with a determination in his eyes, as if he was ready no matter what difficulties he faced.

Bai Ye took a deep breath, glanced at every childish or weathered face, and finally said slowly: "I'm worried that this hailstorm may be related to the purpose of our trip. We go deep into this unknown forest. In order to find legendary treasures or solve a certain mystery, abnormalities in nature often herald the awakening of some kind of power or the breaking of balance."

The soldiers looked at each other with fear and curiosity in their eyes. Some of them came for wealth, while others came to prove their courage and wisdom. But at this moment, they were all troubled by the same question - what does this sudden hail mean?

"Bai Ye, what do you think we should do? Do we really have any way out now? Can our future just stop here and not make further progress?" A young voice asked , there was a tremor in his voice, obviously touched by Bai Ye's words.

Bai Ye was silent for a moment, then slowly stood up, walked to the bonfire, and threw the remains of the bread fruit in his hand into the fire. The firelight instantly illuminated his face. "We have no other choice but to move on. No matter what secrets are hidden behind this hailstorm, we must find the answer. Because this is our only way out. It is also the destination we must reach. Do you understand?"

The soldiers heard this and nodded in agreement. They knew that although Bai Ye's words were brief, they were full of power and determination. In this forest full of unknowns and dangers, they can only rely on each other to face all challenges together.

In the following time, the soldiers began to take turns telling their stories and experiences, trying to find courage and strength from each other's past. Some people told how they fought heroically on the battlefield, while others shared the warm moments between themselves and their families. These stories are like a stream of warmth, warming everyone's heart on a cold night.

However, behind the laughter, everyone clearly realized that they were standing at a crossroads. Ahead is the unknown journey and potential dangers, while behind you are the hardships and hardships that have been experienced. But they have no way out and can only move forward until they find their own answers and destination.

As the night progressed, the bonfire gradually became fainter. The soldiers fell asleep one after another, but their hearts were full of expectations and uneasiness about the future. Bai Ye sat alone by the fire, staring at the beating flames, silently praying in his heart that tomorrow would bring a turnaround and hope.

Bai Ye sat by the campfire for a long time, and the anxiety about the unknown and the desire for answers in his heart became stronger and stronger. He stood up and pulled out a yellowed book from his backpack, which he had specially prepared before his trip. It contained ancient legends about the forest and interpretations of some natural phenomena. He believes that in this book, there may be clues about this unusual hailstorm.

The moonlight shines through the sparse clouds and onto the pages of the book, adding a bit of mystery to this quiet night. Bai Ye flipped through page after page, his eyes jumping between the lines, trying to capture any information related to the current situation. However, as time passed, the expression on his face gradually changed from expectation to disappointment. Most of the content in the book is about ancient legends and myths about the forest, but there is little mention of abnormal weather phenomena that occur in the real world.

Finally, Bai Ye closed the book and sighed softly. He looked up at the stars, his heart filled with a sense of powerlessness. He knew that it would be extremely difficult to solve the mystery of this hailstorm by himself. But even so, he couldn't give up, because he was the leader of this group of soldiers and their hope.

Just as Bai Ye was immersed in his own thoughts, a burst of noise suddenly broke the tranquility of the night. He turned around suddenly and saw that soldiers not far away had formed a group at some point, with the sounds of quarreling and pushing happening one after another. Bai Ye's heart tightened, and he quickly walked over to find out what happened.

When he took a closer look, he realized that it was a dispute caused by a misunderstanding. It turned out that when the soldiers were distributing the remaining salt soda, they had a dispute due to uneven distribution. Under the long-term hunger and exhaustion, this small dispute quickly escalated and almost turned into a fight.

Seeing this, Bai Ye quickly stepped forward to stop the pushing soldiers, and used his steady and powerful voice to stop the conflict that was about to break out. "Stop! Stop it all!" His voice echoed in the night air, carrying unquestionable majesty.

The soldiers were startled by Bai Ye's sudden roar. They all stopped what they were doing and turned to look at him. Bai Ye took a deep breath, tried to calm down his emotions, and then slowly said: "We are partners in the same boat now, not enemies. Is it worth it to fight over such a trivial matter?"

The soldiers looked at each other and lowered their heads, obviously realizing their mistake. Seeing this, Bai Ye softened his tone slightly: "I know everyone is tired, hungry, and in a bad mood. But the more times like this, the more we must unite and support each other. Otherwise, how can we get out of this world? Forest, find your way home?"

The soldiers heard this and nodded in agreement. They apologized to each other and redistributed the sodas. Although the quantity was limited, everyone got a share and no one complained anymore.

As Bai Ye's words fell, the air around him seemed to freeze for a moment, then gradually warmed up, with a hint of relief that was not easily detected. The tense atmosphere between the soldiers quietly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented warmth and understanding.

The first to speak was a young soldier, his eyes red, his voice trembling slightly: "I'm sorry, everyone... I was too impulsive. We should have supported each other, not quarreled over trivial matters." As he spoke, his tears finally couldn't help but slide down, dripping on the soil, and instantly swallowed by the night.

This move seemed to open the floodgates of emotion, and the other soldiers also lowered their heads and began to apologize with sobs. They either regretted the previous push, or blamed themselves for not being able to stay calm in difficult situations, or realized that in a journey where life and death are uncertain, trust and solidarity between each other are more important than anything else.

"I was wrong too. I shouldn't be so stingy. What's wrong with giving you a little more salt soda?" A burly soldier patted the shoulder of his companion who had argued with him before, with a bit of sobs in his voice.

"Me too, I shouldn't have been so impulsive, I almost hurt you." Another soldier tightly held the hand of his comrade who had been pushed by him before, his eyes full of apology.

For a while, the campfire was filled with the sound of crying and apologies, but these tears were not because of despair, but because of awakening and growth. The barriers between the soldiers were completely broken at this moment. They understood each other's difficulties and tenacity more deeply, and cherished the friendship built in adversity more.

Bai Ye stood quietly aside, watching this scene, with indescribable emotions in his heart. He knew that although these soldiers came from different places, had different backgrounds and experiences, at this moment, they experienced a spiritual baptism together and became true comrades.

"Okay, okay, don't cry." Bai Ye finally spoke, his voice gentle and powerful, "We are all wrong, but more importantly, we have recognized our mistakes and are willing to correct them. The road ahead is still long, what we need is unity and courage, not quarrels and infighting."

Hearing this, the soldiers nodded, wiped their tears, and cheered up again. They sat around the campfire, seemingly closer to each other than before.