"Where are the troops?"
Lu Jiuyuan quickly scanned the surroundings, seeing only Chu Kuanglan, and immediately asked.
"They came, and then left."
Chu Kuanglan gestured towards the entrance of the Ice Valley, "The commander said they won't search the camp for now, waiting for us to finish. They told us to call them if we need anything."
Upon hearing this, Lu Jiuyuan's eyes flashed with understanding and gravity, and he nodded, "Understood."
He then looked at Chu Kuanglan, his tone serious, "Captain's orders, you're coming with us later to escort people back."
"Escort people? Esc..."
Chu Kuanglan didn't finish his sentence, his eyes widened in an instant.
From the crevice, figures began emerging one by one, supporting each other, stumbling as they walked out.
Each one of them looked emaciated, with tattered clothes, bearing obvious scars and frostbite. Their faces showed a mix of bewilderment from surviving a catastrophe, lingering fear, and a faint stirring of life rekindled.
