"Could it be the rescue team arriving?"Manager Dang instinctively stood up, a look of excitement spreading across his face.Earlier, when the power went out at noon, he had called Yaoyao Ling and Nine-Nine for help.Although they replied that they had received the message and would send someone as soon as possible, no one had come yet.
Hearing Manager Dang's words, everyone else present looked relieved, as if salvation had come.
However, to their surprise, what appeared before them was not a rescue team but seven or eight sturdy-looking men.In the glow of the emergency escape lights, Zhang Mingyuan immediately recognized the newcomers as Abiao, head of security for the Mingyuan Group.
But Abiao looked utterly miserable.He and his security team were all dressed down to just shorts, their skin sunburned red and peeling.
"Abiao, what… what happened to you?"Zhang Mingyuan stepped forward, a little at a loss for words.
"Young master, I… finally found you…"Abiao gasped for breath.Seeing the bottled water by Zhang Mingyuan, he hurriedly grabbed it and gulped it down.
The other security guards also snatched several bottles of mineral water and drank greedily.
After calming down a bit, Abiao explained everything in detail.According to Zhang Mingyuan's instructions, he had led his team from Modu.Under normal circumstances, they would have reached Phoenix Mountain by this afternoon.
But none of them expected such a terrifying heatwave.About four or five kilometers away from the Green Forest Hotel, the vehicle's engine overheated and broke down.Remember, it was a scorching 50 degrees Celsius outside!
When the engine stopped running, the air conditioning shut off as well.The group was immediately engulfed by the unbearable heat.
Fortunately, Abiao reacted quickly and led his men to abandon the car and take refuge in the nearby forest.Phoenix Mountain's vegetation was dense, and there was a stream in the woods.That's how they avoided being roasted alive, narrowly saving their lives.
Even so, they looked battered and exhausted, and one of them had already lost vital signs.
As night gradually fell, Abiao and five or six others arrived at the Green Forest Hotel.Seeing their miserable condition, everyone swallowed hard.D*mn, it's really that bad outside?!
"By the way, how's the situation outside? Any rescue teams coming?"Xiao Mei suddenly asked.
Abiao shook his head and forced a bitter smile."Rescue teams? At this point, the officials are probably struggling to survive themselves."
He recounted the outside situation:Because the temperature was abnormally high today, everyone had turned on their air conditioners, resulting in excessive power demand and overloaded circuits.Almost all cities were experiencing various degrees of power failures.
No repair workers were willing to risk working outside in such heat unless they wanted to risk their lives.Without air conditioning, people suffered from heatstroke and heat exhaustion, overwhelming the medical system.
Although the government wanted to rescue and maintain order, it was powerless against the extreme weather.Currently, social order was on the brink of collapse.
Everyone present was shocked.They had thought only Modu was hit with such an intense heatwave.But similar conditions were nationwide.
What shocked them even more was the government's helplessness.
"Did the government say when this heatwave will end?"Liu Ling'er couldn't help but ask.
Abiao glanced at her coldly."According to the meteorological bureau, it'll last at least a week or more."
Hearing this, despair spread across every face.Just one day had tormented them unbearably; a whole week would likely be fatal for many here.
"I have to get out of here! Abiao, figure out a plan!"Having lived a life of luxury, Zhang Mingyuan panicked and shouted at Abiao.
As head of Mingyuan Group security, Abiao's main job was to protect Zhang Mingyuan as a sort of bodyguard and enforcer.But even as a former special forces soldier, he felt helpless in this situation.
"Leaving on foot now is dangerous. If the car breaks down halfway, it might be the end of us."Abiao suggested, "If possible, we should get a tour bus to take everyone away under cover of night."
"But at this time, where would we find a tour bus?"Manager Dang frowned.It wasn't tourist season, and most visitors to Phoenix Mountain drove their own cars or took shuttle buses.The huge parking lot had not a single tour bus.
"Isn't there a large RV near the entrance?"Abiao suddenly remembered and asked uncertainly.
Hearing this, everyone exchanged awkward looks.Zhang Mingyuan cleared his throat and roughly explained Su Chen's situation to Abiao.
Knowing his young master's temperament well, Abiao wasn't surprised.He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"If we can't get that RV, I don't see how we can leave safely…"
Everyone fell into a difficult dilemma.
At that moment, Zhang Mingyuan suddenly looked at Liu Ling'er."Ling'er, didn't you say Su Chen is your loyal follower?"
"Yeah! Why don't you go talk to him and get him to lend us the RV?"
"If that doesn't work, we can just buy it off him!"
Although Zhang Mingyuan's friends weren't as wealthy as him, most were still quite rich.
"Um…"Liu Ling'er looked troubled.It wasn't that she didn't want to help, but Su Chen's earlier cold attitude was too harsh.Even if she asked, he might not agree.
"Ling'er, no matter what, we have to try."Xiao Mei coaxed softly."We can't just wait here to die."
"Alright, I'll try."Biting her lip, Liu Ling'er finally agreed.No matter what, surviving was the most important thing.
Under everyone's hopeful gazes, Liu Ling'er stood and walked toward the Nomadison RV.
Inside the RV, Su Chen, having just finished his meal, turned on his PS5 to play some games.Sekiro? No, too difficult — not for a noob like him.Red Dead Redemption 2? That's good, a nice western scenery to enjoy.
He launched Red Dead Redemption 2, feeling a bit regretful he hadn't gotten to play Black Myth: Wukong before the apocalypse.
But before he could start playing, someone knocked on the door again.