A Journey of American Comics Starting from the Zombie Universe

Chapter 716 The road ahead is right under your feet
In the brief silence after the hailstorm, Bai Ye and the soldiers finally stopped at a relatively open space with sparse trees and began their long-awaited rest. The air around them 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. In their dreams, there might be the warmth of home, the embrace of their mothers, but also confusion and anxiety about the future.

Bai Ye stood among them, his eyes swept over the faces of every soldier, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that after this short rest, they would face even 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 drizzle and hail still fell. His steps were firm and resolute, and each step he took on the soft soil made a dull sound, which was particularly clear in the silent forest.

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

Time seemed to slow down at this moment. Bai Ye could almost hear the sound of his own heartbeat, intertwined with the hustle and bustle of the surrounding nature. Just when he was about to give up hope, an unusual green color caught 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 looked good could be dangerous. He approached the tree carefully, carefully observing every detail on the fruit to make sure they were not poisonous 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, preparing 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 take shelter temporarily. In the wind and rain, he hugged the fruits in his backpack tightly, his heart filled with worry and responsibility for the soldiers.

When the storm subsided, Bai Ye set out on his way home again. He knew 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, silently saying in his heart: "I must return safely."

Finally, when Bai Ye appeared in the soldiers' sight again, they all looked at him expectantly. Bai Ye didn't say much, but silently distributed the fruits in his 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 cruel reality. The soldiers soon realized that although these fruits could temporarily alleviate hunger, in the long run, they still faced the dilemma of food shortage. Bai Ye looked at the worry and fatigue on the soldiers' faces, and his heart was filled with helplessness and heaviness. He knew that the road ahead would be more difficult and longer, but they had no way out.

As night fell, several bonfires were lit in the camp. 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 in his heart he was 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 continues. 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 night fell, the firelight flickered in the moist air after the rain, illuminating the white night and the tired but resolute faces of the soldiers. They sat around the campfire, holding the precious bread and fruit tightly in their hands, chewing gently, and every bite seemed extremely precious. The sweetness of the food temporarily relieved the torment brought by hunger, but deeper worries, like the night, quietly spread in their hearts.

"Bai Ye, what's going on with the hail? I've never heard of such a big hail in my life. Even for where we are now, it's a bit too outrageous, right?" A soldier broke the silence, his voice low and full of doubt. This question was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.

Bai Ye looked up at the dark sky with a frown on his face. "I've never seen weather like this. Even in the worst rainy season, hail rarely occurs like this. This is not just a natural phenomenon. I'm worried..." He stopped talking abruptly, as if he himself was unwilling to imagine the possibility behind it.

"What are you worried about? Bai Ye, just tell us directly. We can all bear it." Another soldier interrupted, his eyes revealing a determination, as if he was ready to face any difficulties.

Bai Ye took a deep breath, and his eyes swept over every face, young or old, before he spoke slowly, "I'm worried that this hailstorm may be related to the purpose of our trip. We went deep into this unknown forest to find legendary treasures or solve a mystery, and anomalies in nature often indicate the awakening of a certain power or the disruption 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 did this sudden hail mean?
"Bai Ye, what do you think we should do? Do we really have any way out now? Is our future going to stop here, and we can't go any further?" asked a young voice, with a slight 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 campfire, and threw the bread and fruit residue in his hand into the fire. The firelight instantly illuminated his face. "We have no other choice but to move forward. 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 nodded in agreement after hearing this. They knew that although Bai Ye's words were brief, they were full of strength and determination. In this forest full of unknowns and dangers, they could only rely on each other and 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 told how they bravely killed the enemy on the battlefield, while others shared the warm moments between themselves and their families. These stories were like a stream of warm currents, warming everyone's heart in the cold night.

However, behind the laughter and joy, everyone clearly realized that they were standing at a crossroads. Ahead was an unknown journey and potential dangers, and behind was the hardships and difficulties they had already gone through. But they had no way to retreat, so they could only move forward bravely until they found their own answers and destinations. As the night deepened, the bonfire gradually became weaker. 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 dancing 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 his anxiety about the unknown and his desire for answers became stronger. He stood up and took out a yellowed book from his backpack. He had prepared it before this trip, which recorded the ancient legends about this forest and some interpretations of natural phenomena. He believed that in this book, he might be able to find clues about this unusual hailstorm.

The moonlight shone through the sparse clouds and onto the pages, adding a bit of mystery to the quiet night. Bai Ye flipped through the pages, his eyes jumping between the lines, trying to capture any information related to the current situation. However, as time went by, the expression on his face gradually changed from expectation to disappointment. The contents of the book were mostly about ancient legends and myths of the forest, but there was little mention of abnormal weather phenomena that occurred in the real world.

Finally, Bai Ye closed the book and sighed softly. He looked up at the starry sky, feeling powerless. He knew that it would be extremely difficult to solve the mystery of the hailstone 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 thoughts, a loud noise suddenly broke the tranquility of the night. He turned his head suddenly and saw that the soldiers not far away had gathered together without knowing when, and there were quarrels and shoving sounds one after another. Bai Ye's heart tightened, and he hurried over to find out what was going on.

When he got closer, he found that it was a dispute caused by a misunderstanding. It turned out that the soldiers had a dispute over the uneven distribution of the remaining salt water. Under the long-term hunger and fatigue, this small dispute quickly escalated and almost turned into a fight.

Seeing this, Bai Ye quickly stepped forward to stop the soldiers who were pushing and shoving each other, and stopped the conflict that was about to break out with his steady and powerful voice. "Stop! Stop it!" His voice echoed in the night sky, carrying unquestionable majesty.

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

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

The soldiers nodded in agreement after hearing this. They began to apologize to each other and redistributed the salty soda. Although the quantity was limited, everyone got one, and no one complained.

As Bai Ye finished speaking, the air around them seemed to freeze for a moment, then gradually warmed up with a hint of relief that was barely noticeable. The tense atmosphere between the soldiers quietly dissipated, replaced by an unprecedented warmth and understanding.

The first person to speak was a young soldier, his eyes red and his voice trembling slightly: "I'm sorry, everyone... I was too impulsive. We should have supported each other instead of having conflicts over trivial matters." As he spoke, he couldn't help but let his tears fall, dripping onto the ground and instantly swallowed by the night.

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

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

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

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

Bai Ye stood quietly by the side, watching this scene, with an indescribable feeling of emotion 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-in-arms.

"Alright, alright, stop crying," Bai Ye finally spoke, his voice gentle but powerful, "We all made mistakes, but more importantly, we have recognized our mistakes and are willing to correct them. There is still a long way to go, and what we need is unity and courage, not quarrels and infighting."

The soldiers nodded, wiped their tears, and cheered up. They sat around the campfire, and the distance between them seemed closer than before.

(End of this chapter)