Super Soldier in the City-Chapter 2110 - 2173: Rescue

The rescue operation commenced, with Li Yifei leading a group, equipped with necessary devices, swiftly participating in the rescue efforts.

It was already the latter half of the night, and the dam break had brought heavy fog, further complicating the search and rescue. However, Li Yifei possessed sensing abilities, making him more effective in such an earthquake-stricken area than police dogs and advanced exploration equipment. Shortly after joining the search, Li Yifei found three survivors, though they were trapped under the ruins. One was buried so deeply that no available tools could rescue them.

"Contact the military and have them bring specialized equipment. I can help locate survivors," Li Yifei instructed his subordinates, who promptly followed orders and reached out to the rescue troops already equipped with more advanced devices.

With this collaboration, Li Yifei assisted the troops, and after five or six hours of searching, over thirty people were rescued. Most of them were trapped beneath the rubble, while others were stranded by the floodwaters, on trees, or atop houses.

No one anticipated flooding this season, so equipment like dinghies hadn’t been transported here yet. Some areas had turned into vast bodies of water, with water temperatures at zero degrees and outdoor air temperatures below minus ten degrees, especially since it was already deep into the night. Just standing outside, one’s limbs felt numb from the cold, which could be lethal!

Yet, with people spotted, they must be rescued. Those trapped in the water could fall at any moment, and once submerged in frigid waters, survival would be bleak.

Li Yifei particularly reacted upon hearing the cries of children and, after calling out, learned that two women and two infants, less than a month old, were stranded on a roof thirty meters away, like an isolated island amidst the waters.

A military officer stood beside Li Yifei, the first to arrive for rescue operations. The previously cut-off roads were cleared by these respectable comrades. Li Yifei’s presence surprised the officer, who had not expected Li Yifei would come. From previous introductions, Yang Rui knew Li Yifei as the Team Leader of Flying Hawk Squadron and was astonished that such a person would travel two to three hundred kilometers overnight.

Most importantly, his speed was remarkable, considering the city’s rescue personnel had just arrived. But Li Yifei and his team had already rescued dozens, which fueled a strong sense of respect in Yang Rui.

Confirmed about people in the water, Li Yifei began undressing. Yang Rui quickly advised, "Mr. Li, wait a moment. The weather is too cold, the water too icy, it’s dangerous to go down."

Yang Rui knew Li Yifei was a fierce individual but was unsure about his full capabilities. He felt that a person confronting such extreme conditions, amidst water hazards, might not successfully rescue anyone, and could risk his own safety, causing a significant loss to the troops if anything happened.

Despite Yang Rui’s concerns, Li Yifei was resolute. Although it was cold, dark, and fraught with danger, the people had to be saved; every minute of delay heightened the risk.

Undressing was to reduce hindrances. With preparations complete, Li Yifei saw someone had fetched an undamaged bathing tub. He signaled his men to tie ropes on it, secure the lid, fixing it in place to prevent capsizing in the waters.

Tying the tub to his waist, Li Yifei entered the water, immediately feeling the deep chill. He quickly used True Qi to withstand the cold; otherwise, even he could hardly endure it.

In the turbulent waters, Li Yifei faded in and out of sight, despite the short distance. Facing complex underwater conditions, the area was originally a village within a town comprised of low houses, rarely seen are two-story buildings. Now, the two women and infants stood on a two-story rooftop, showing how deep the floodwaters from the dam break were. Swimming through such waters, Li Yifei often encountered collapsed houses, protruding timbers, and broken concrete. His True Qi enveloping him, with durable skin, prevented severe injury. Otherwise, a random collision might injure his legs, and saving others would be out of the question.

The shore began gathering spectators, comprising both rescued residents and rescue workers, all anxiously watching Li Yifei in the water.

At that moment, with the dinghies still en route, the only rescue method was this, crucial given the house threatened to collapse, potentially sweeping the women and children downstream.

Evaluating the town’s buildings for seismic resilience likely finds none meeting standards. Aside from those already at risk of collapse but still inhabited, even the few school and government buildings here showed cracked walls and misaligned structures from the quake, and submerged by water, safety couldn’t be assured.

With Li Yifei halfway, the shore helpers shone bright lights to guide his path. Seeing the roiling floodwaters, many were anxious, especially when a large wave obscured Li Yifei. It tensed Yang Rui and others, lips tightened, longing to join the rescue.

The security personnel from the Li family reacted well, leaving only a few behind while others quickly mobilized for the rescue. Earlier, Li Yifei found two people under rubble needing urgent extraction. Thus, they didn’t delay, knowing Li Yifei’s safety wasn’t typical; they had confidence in their leader being extraordinary, leaving just two or three for his assistance while the rest committed fully to saving lives.

In the floodwaters, Li Yifei, making his initial dive, cautiously navigated without rushing. To those trapped atop the roof, he was a beacon of hope, leaving no margin for error.

After a full five minutes, Li Yifei finally emerged, grabbing a protruding timber, pulling himself out of the water, steam rising from his body as water vapor rapidly condensed and evaporated in the freezing night air. On the rooftop, the two women repeatedly voiced thanks.

Echoes of cheering rose from the shoreline, surprised by Li Yifei’s achievement.

Li Yifei climbed onto the roof, hauling the tied bath tub alongside, disregarding his soaked state to address the women, "The situation is urgent, the dinghy will arrive shortly, so don’t panic. I’ll first bring the children to safety."

"Thank you, thank you!" one woman repeated gratefully.

Li Yifei shook his head, urging, "Don’t waste time."

The two infants belonged to the two women, one boy and one girl, wrapped in layers of clothing, even their heads covered, not feeling too cold. However, Li Yifei noted that the infants’ padded clothing was from the women’s own, as they stood in the chilly night in thin velvet wear, using their warmest clothes to cover the children.

Taking a breath, Li Yifei assured them, "I promise to safely deliver the children to the shore, then return to rescue you."

"As long as the children are saved, thank you, sir!" replied the women, faces ashen, shivering but resolute.

Nodding, Li Yifei sprang back into the water, having the women lower the secured tub along the ropes. Even the women understood that Li Yifei’s return with the tub couldn’t possibly bring them to safety.

Indeed, safety at present was temporary. Continued dam breaks, even small ones, would unleash more floods, extending safe zones by dozens, even hundreds of meters. Those buried in rubble could no longer survive if water submerged them — even Li Yifei would be vulnerable.

Aware of this, Yang Rui deployed all soldiers for rescue efforts, leaving a few for Li Yifei’s return. When Li Yifei sped back, taking only two minutes, he lifted the tub containing the infants, urgently presented by Yang Rui and others. Li Yifei called out, "Watch them closely, ensure they don’t get separated from their parents."

This reminder was vital, as rescue personnel were panicked amidst darkness, and the site coordinator couldn’t manage everything. Children rescued could easily get mixed up, Yang Rui nodded thoughtfully, asking Li Yifei, "I’ll ensure that, but what about you, Mr. Li? Will you bring them over by swimming?"

Li Yifei, still in water, hadn’t planned to exit. Glancing back, his eyes narrowed, noting the rising water level, almost half a meter in moments, unnoticed by Yang Rui. Time was of the essence; he decided quickly, "Prepare warm clothes and antifreeze items immediately; without dinghies, I must swim them over!"

"Alright!" Yang Rui exclaimed, stripping his clothes, saying, "I’ll accompany you, selecting skilled swimmers for rescue."

"Nonsense, stay back!" Li Yifei admonished, turning to swim back. Spying the rising waters, he couldn’t delay, shouting from the water, "No one’s to come down; finish rescuing the buried, seize the time, who knows when the dam might collapse."