Entertainment: I really don’t want to be a thief!

Chapter 573 Searching the Mountain

"Huaiyuan, let's go search the mountain together today." Lin Ke walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and spoke with encouragement in his tone.

Wang Huaiyuan raised his head and looked at Lin Ke, his eyes full of gratitude: "Brother Lin Ke, thank you."

"We are brothers, there is no need to thank each other." Lin Ke smiled and said, "Let's go, we are going to gather together."

The rescue team leader Chu Yang stood in front of the team, holding a map in his hand and frowning.

"Captain Chu, what's wrong?" Lin Ke walked forward and asked.

"According to the forecast of the meteorological department, there will be another rainstorm this afternoon. We must find the missing people before it rains." Chu Yang pointed to a mountainous area on the map. "This is where the missing people were last seen. We will focus on searching this area today."

"Captain Chu, I suggest we split up into two teams. One team will continue to search at the foot of the mountain, and the other team will go to the top of the mountain to have a look." Lin Ke pointed to a peak on the map. "This peak is high and has a wide field of vision. If the missing person is on the mountain, we should be able to see him from there."

Chu Yang looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and nodded: "What you said makes sense, then let's arrange it this way, I will lead a team to the mountain, and you lead a team to continue searching at the foot of the mountain."

"Captain Chu, I'll go to the mountain." Lin Ke said, "I'm more familiar with this mountain area, and I have better physical strength."

Chu Yang hesitated for a moment. He knew Lin Ke’s concerns, but he was more worried about Lin Ke’s safety.

"Lin Ke, I know you are worried about Huaiyuan, but you should also pay attention to your own safety." Chu Yang patted Lin Ke's shoulder, "The terrain on the mountain is steep, it's too dangerous for you to go up alone."

"Captain Chu, I'm fine. I'll be careful." Lin Ke insisted, "Besides, I believe Huaiyuan's parents must be waiting for us to rescue them."

Looking at Lin Ke's determined eyes, Chu Yang finally nodded: "Okay, then you should be careful and contact me in time if you encounter any situation."

"Don't worry, Captain Chu." Lin Ke said, turned and walked towards Wang Huaiyuan.

"Huaiyuan, follow me." Lin Ke called out and took the lead to walk towards the foot of the mountain.

Wang Huaiyuan didn't say anything, but followed Lin Ke silently, his eyes full of hope.

The mountain road was rugged, and Lin Ke and Wang Huaiyuan climbed up with difficulty, one in front and one behind.

"Brother Lin Ke, do you think my parents will..." Wang Huaiyuan's voice trembled a little, and he didn't dare to say the worst possible answer.

Lin Ke stopped and looked back at Wang Huaiyuan with a firm look in his eyes: "Yes, they must be waiting for us."

"But, so much time has passed..." Wang Huaiyuan's voice became lower and lower, and his tone was full of despair.

"Huaiyuan, you have to believe in miracles, and even more so, believe in yourself." Lin Ke patted Wang Huaiyuan on the shoulder, "We will definitely find them."

After saying that, Lin Ke continued to climb up. Wang Huaiyuan took a deep breath and followed him.

The trees on the mountain are dense, blocking out the sun. Only mottled spots of light shine through the leaves and fall on the ground covered with fallen leaves.

"Ah——" Lin Ke suddenly heard a scream, the sound coming from the bottom of the hillside.

"Oh no, someone fell down!" Lin Ke's face changed and he immediately ran towards the direction where the sound came from.

Wang Huaiyuan followed closely behind. The two of them pushed aside the dense branches and ran quickly down the hillside.

I saw a team member lying on the ground, holding his ankle with a painful expression.

"Xiao Li, what's wrong with you?" Lin Ke hurried forward to check.

"Captain Lin, I...I accidentally stepped on empty air and I think my ankle was sprained." Xiao Li was sweating profusely in pain.

Lin Ke checked Xiao Li's injury and fortunately, it was just a common sprain.

"Don't move, I'll help you fix it." Lin Ke took out a first aid kit from his backpack and skillfully helped Xiao Li treat his injuries.

"Captain Lin, am I holding everyone back?" Xiao Li looked guilty. "What nonsense! You are injured now, so you need to rest well so that you can get better as soon as possible and continue to participate in the rescue." Lin Ke comforted him.

"Yes, Xiao Li, just focus on recovering from your injuries. We will definitely find the missing persons." Wang Huaiyuan also said.

Lin Ke looked up at the sky. It was almost noon and they had to find the missing persons as soon as possible.

"Huaiyuan, you stay and take care of Xiao Li. I'll go take a look ahead." Lin Ke said.

"No, Brother Lin Ke, I want to go with you." Wang Huaiyuan insisted.

"Be obedient and stay here. It will be more convenient for me to act alone." Lin Ke's tone left no room for doubt.

Wang Huaiyuan wanted to say something, but when he saw Lin Ke's determined eyes, he finally nodded.

Lin Ke continued to climb up alone. The mountain road became steeper and steeper, and he could only use his hands and feet to move forward with difficulty.

"Uncle Wang! Auntie--" Lin Ke shouted the names of Wang Huaiyuan's parents as he walked.

His voice echoed in the valley, but there was no response.

Lin Ke did not give up. He continued to climb up, and whenever he reached an open area, he stopped and shouted loudly.

Time passed minute by minute, and in the blink of an eye, the sun had set.

Lin Ke reunited with his team members, but they still found nothing.

"Captain Lin, do we still need to keep looking?" a team member asked, his tone filled with fatigue.

"Look for it, of course I have to. If he's alive, I have to find him. If he's dead, I have to find his body!" Lin Ke said in a firm tone, his eyes full of hope.

"But this mountainous area is so large. We have been searching for a whole day and still found nothing..." The team member's voice became lower and lower.

"Yes, Captain Lin, we are all exhausted after a whole day. Why don't we go back and have a rest and come back tomorrow?" another team member also said.

Lin Ke looked around and saw that all the team members looked tired. He knew that everyone had reached their limit.

"Okay, let's all rest here for a while and eat something to replenish our energy." Lin Ke finally compromised.

The team members sat on the ground, took out the dry food and water they brought with them, and ate in silence.

Wang Huaiyuan sat on a stone, head down, silent, with empty eyes, as if he had lost his soul.

Lin Ke walked up to him and patted his shoulder: "Huaiyuan, don't lose heart, we will continue looking tomorrow."

Wang Huaiyuan raised his head and looked at Lin Ke, his eyes full of pain and despair: "Brother Lin Ke, what do you think about my parents...will they..."

"No, they must still be alive." Lin Ke interrupted Wang Huaiyuan, "We must believe in miracles."

"Miracle..." Wang Huaiyuan murmured to himself, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"Come, eat something." Lin Ke handed a piece of compressed biscuit to Wang Huaiyuan.

Wang Huaiyuan shook his head and didn't answer.

"Eat a little. You haven't eaten for a day." Lin Ke advised.

Wang Huaiyuan still shook his head. He had no appetite at all.

Seeing this, Lin Ke stopped forcing it. He knew that it was useless to say anything now. Only by finding Wang Huaiyuan's parents could he feel truly at ease.

(End of this chapter)