Chapter 1767 Qinglong Bridge 2

But now, the riverbed is dry, exposing cracked soil, with only a few clumps of tenacious wild grass swaying in the wind.

“When I was a child, I often came here with my grandfather to fly kites.” Lu Jingcheng’s gaze fell on the stone bridge, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white. “Back then, the water under the bridge was still very clear. In the spring, the bridge was full of people flying kites, it was very lively.”

His tone was calm, yet it carried an indescribable sense of longing.

Li Luo turned to look at him and saw that his eyes were gazing into the distance. His usually firm and sharp eyes were now covered with a soft halo, as if he was looking back at those beautiful times that had long since passed through the ruins in front of him.

Inside the armored vehicle behind, Shao Guang, in the driver's seat, gripped the steering wheel firmly, his eyes focused intently on the road ahead.

Zhou Mei, in the passenger seat, held a simple route map and occasionally checked the scenery outside the window to confirm the direction of travel.

In the back row, Lin Hai leaned against the cabin wall and closed his eyes to rest, his fingertips occasionally twitching slightly, as if he was secretly adjusting his supernatural abilities.

Sun Qi clasped his hands together on his knees, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the lines on his palms;

Chai Yutong bent down and sorted out the medical supplies in her backpack, arranging the bandages and medicines neatly.

Qin Ziming stared blankly at the ruins flashing past the window.

They are all native residents of City B. Now, a year and a half after leaving their hometown and staying in Nanjing, this is the first time they have been ordered to return to their hometown since the outbreak of the apocalypse.

"We're finally back in City B!" Sun Qi broke the silence first, leaning forward, his voice filled with genuine excitement. "It's been a year and a half, so long! Youzhou Base is a sanctuary for the capital. If our families are still alive, they're definitely here! This time, it's not just about delivering supplies and carrying out a mission; maybe we can really reunite with our families!"

"That's right. I had time to send a message home to let them know I was safe before I left, but then the communication was cut off." Lin Hai opened his eyes, his eyes full of concern. "I wonder if my family is doing well now."

Chai Yutong stopped what she was doing and softly echoed, "I hope they can all get to the base smoothly."

Qin Ziming nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with the same anticipation and trepidation.

The joy of returning home and the anxiety of searching for relatives were intertwined, making the atmosphere in the carriage both warm and heavy with longing.

Zhou Mei, in the passenger seat, looked up and added:

"The Youzhou base has the most survivors from City B. If our relatives and friends successfully evacuated at that time, they are most likely inside. Let's focus on completing the mission first, and we'll have plenty of time to find them later."

At that moment, Lu Jingcheng's calm voice came through the car communicator, carrying a clear, penetrating quality even through the electrical current:

"Remember, everyone, soldiers prioritize their mission. First, deliver the supplies safely and complete the tasks assigned by your superiors. Only then should you apply to check on your relatives' information according to regulations. I believe that as long as they are alive, they must be in this base. We can hold the southern defense line, and we will eventually find our loved ones back home."

The voice from the communicator wasn't loud, but it was like a reassuring pill, gradually calming the emotions in the carriage.

Shao Guang, in the driver's seat, nodded slightly, kept his foot steady on the accelerator, and the armored vehicle moved steadily forward along the road.

They all understood that, as members of the military, their mission always came first.

But the expectation deep in their eyes did not diminish. This was the dual expectation they all knew when they received this escort mission: to complete the confidential task assigned by their superiors, and to return to the homeland they had fought so hard to protect, to find their relatives who had been separated for a year and a half, and then to shoulder the responsibility of soldiers to protect their country.