Chapter 25: Signal

Li Yaqin carefully adjusted their positions, allowing them to sit comfortably against the thick tree trunk.

The tree trunk was very thick, with lush branches and leaves, enough to shelter them from the wind and rain, providing them with temporary shelter.

Li Yaqin then carefully observed the surrounding environment and began clearing away weeds and pebbles.

She removed anything that might disturb the two soldiers' rest, ensuring they wouldn't wake up prematurely due to the uncomfortable environment.

With everything ready, Li Yaqin took out a tinderbox and some pre-prepared dry branches from her cloth bag.

She skillfully stacked the branches together and lit them with the tinderbox.

The flames leaped lightly, gradually growing larger, dispelling the mountain chill and illuminating half of Li Yaqin's body.

It was still early; the sky hadn't completely darkened, but the light in the mountains was already beginning to dim.

Li Yaqin had no intention of leaving immediately; she sat quietly by the fire.

Seemingly calm, her eyes kept glancing at the two soldiers leaning against the tree trunk. A restless, expectant tension simmered within her, like a cat scratching at its heart.

She was waiting, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

A perfectly timed opportunity, one that would maximize her advantage.

An opportunity where, in the brief moment of their waking consciousness, these two soldiers would clearly see her face.

After all, this was a life-saving debt; it couldn't be so easily ignored. She had to make the most of it.

Li Yaqin was a master of the art of "feigned indifference," understanding that this was the tactic of a high-level hunter.

This was the way to maximize her gains.

What she needed to do was not just save them, but also leave a lasting impression on these two soldiers, making them willingly repay her kindness.

As for whether they would actually repay her life-saving debt after they woke up?

Was there even a question?

A life-saving grace should be repaid with boundless gratitude; this is human nature. Even if the recipient is temporarily strapped for cash, they will do their utmost to express their thanks.

Li Yaqin had no worries about this.

Although she didn't know the specific identities of the two officers, their demeanor and equipment suggested they were no ordinary people.

Moreover, in this era, soldiers held a high status, and the repayment for a life-saving grace was usually substantial.

Furthermore, she had a backup plan…

She clearly remembered that in the original timeline, the person who saved these two officers was a middle-aged man who had gone into the mountains to gather herbs.

Later, that man and his family were brought to the city, where they not only lived a good life but were also given respectable jobs.

This showed that these two officers were grateful people.

Li Yaqin knew that from the moment she fed them the water containing the infertility-inducing pill, her plan had already succeeded halfway.

At least, she had secured employment in this era.

The villagers' mockery and disdain, along with Li Panpan's misunderstanding and scolding, would all vanish with the change in her fate.

With her own cheat code, what was there to fear?

Li Yaqin silently calculated the time, estimating when the medicine would take effect.

Li Yaqin estimated that the effects of the infertility pill would take some time to materialize, but no more than half an hour.

Sure enough, it happened just as she predicted.

The two soldiers, who had been motionless like statues, began to stir slightly.

First, one soldier's fingers curled slightly; then, the other's eyelids began to twitch.

Li Yaqin had been watching their movements closely; the time was right.

"Hmm..." A low, hoarse groan escaped from deep within their throats, like someone trapped at the bottom of a dried-up well, struggling to find a way out.

Their eyelids felt as if they were weighed down by a thousand pounds; each twitch was a desperate effort, yet they could not fully open their eyes.

"Awake?" Li Yaqin's voice was soft and soothing, like clear mountain spring water, injecting a sense of peace into the slightly tense atmosphere.

She didn't use "you," but rather the more ambiguous "Awake?"

Because she didn't know the exact relationship between these two men.

She brought the water bottle close to one of the soldiers' lips, tilting it slightly.

This seemingly casual action actually carried a hint of probing.

She was testing whether they still possessed the instinct to swallow and react to external stimuli.

Li Yaqin didn't wait for any response.

Their minds were still foggy, incapable of making clear judgments or reactions.

Water slowly flowed into the soldier's mouth. He swallowed instinctively, his chapped lips slightly parting as the water moistened them.

But because he wasn't fully conscious, some water slid down his chin, soaking the collar of his coarse military uniform and leaving dark stains.

Li Yaqin's gaze was focused and calm as she carefully observed the two soldiers' reactions.

She made sure they had both drunk enough water and that they could see their own faces clearly.

She could even catch a fleeting glimpse of bewilderment and confusion in their hazy eyes.

In the firelight, Li Yaqin's face was half-lit and half-shadowed.

She deliberately turned her face slightly to make her features clearer in their blurred vision.

This angle allowed them to see her clearly without appearing overtly obvious.

"It's getting dark, I... I should go back too. Now that you're awake, please... take care of yourselves."

Li Yaqin removed the canteen from the soldiers' lips, speaking softly, her tone carrying just the right amount of concern and reluctance.

She stood up, tightened the canteen lid, and put it back in her pocket.

Then, she took two steps back, creating some distance between herself and the two soldiers.

This distance was neither oppressive nor intimidating, yet still ensured they could see her clearly.

Li Yaqin nodded slightly to them, a small gesture, but enough to express her goodwill and blessings.

Then, without hesitation, she turned and began walking downhill.

Her silhouette, illuminated by the firelight, appeared somewhat slender, yet exuded an inexplicable determination.

Her steps were neither hurried nor slow, each one steady.

The setting sun cast its last rays upon her, elongating her shadow like that of a solitary traveler about to disappear into the vast night.

As night fell, the damp scent of earth mingled with the fresh fragrance of grass and trees filled the mountain forest.

Li Yaqin's figure blended into the night, her footsteps gradually swallowed by the wind.

The two soldiers moved their lips, uttering indistinct syllables, like trapped wild beasts struggling in vain.

The distant mountains, dark as ink, layered upon each other, disappeared into the darkness, leaving only blurry outlines.

The wind whistled through the treetops, making a mournful sound; the leaves rustled like silent sighs.

The campfire crackled, its flames licking the dry firewood.

The flickering light cast long, distorted shadows on Zhao Chengyu and He Chengyang's pale faces, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The firelight cast their shadows long and twisted, creating strange patterns on the ground.

Zhao Chengyu remembered his mission with his comrades, pursuing enemy agents.

They traversed the dense jungle, their footsteps rustling through fallen leaves, traveling day and night, never daring to slacken their pace.

He could even recall the terrified expressions on the enemy agents' faces as they fled in panic.

The last memory was of a dizzying sensation on the edge of a cliff, a loose rock, followed by endless darkness.

He Chengyang tried to sit up, but his body felt like a broken puppet, completely unresponsive.

He gritted his teeth, attempting to sit up, but a sharp pain instantly shot through his entire body.

It felt like countless red-hot steel needles piercing his bone marrow, or like a million ants gnawing at his flesh, the pain causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

"Cough..." He Chengyang coughed softly, aggravating his injuries, causing him to wince in pain.

Zhao Chengyu closed his eyes, feeling the heaviness and weakness in his body.

He slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the forest swallowed by the night.

"She's gone." Zhao Chengyu's voice was low, exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"Mm," He Chengyang responded, his voice hoarse as if sanded.

He pressed his temples, trying to ease the throbbing pain in his head.

"What...do you...think?" Zhao Chengyu asked with difficulty, each word seemingly squeezed from the depths of his throat, accompanied by heavy breathing.

He tried desperately to stay conscious and analyze the situation, but the intense pain and clouded consciousness rendered him powerless.

"Find out her identity and background first, then make a decision," He Chengyang said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

He exhaled slowly, his voice revealing undisguised exhaustion and helplessness.

The most important thing now was to stay calm, but the excruciating pain and unknown danger made it difficult for him to concentrate.

Zhao Chengyu nodded slightly in agreement.

He tried to concentrate, attempting to move his legs, but found them as heavy as lead, completely unresponsive.

He tried to feel them, but only felt a coldness and numbness, as if they were no longer his legs, but two lifeless pieces of wood.

“Signal… flare.” Zhao Chengyu said these words with difficulty.