Chapter 163: Global Extreme Cold 6
The heavy snow had already piled up above Chu Yian’s knees.
She looked out, and it seemed like everything on the roadside had shrunk, especially the bodies of some vehicles, which were half-buried. The greenery was completely covered by the snow cleared to the sides of the road.
There wasn’t much snow on the main road; it looked like it had been cleared.
But the ground was entirely covered in ice, making it terribly slippery to walk on.
Yesterday, many people were still playing outside because of the heavy snow, but today, there were very few people out.
Quite a few shops on the roadside were still open, but because it was so cold, they only had their doors slightly ajar. Occasionally, pedestrians would pass by on the road, mostly heading in the direction of the Hospital.
Just yesterday and today, the heavy snow weather caused a surge in the number of people at the Hospital. Besides those with colds, there were also car accidents and people who slipped and fell, breaking bones. In particular, traffic on many road sections was still blocked, so to get around, one had to walk. Many people fell on the road, and the Hospital’s orthopedic department was now overflowing.
The ground was too slippery; people would just slide out while walking.
Chu Yian was one such person; she suddenly couldn’t stop, sliding directly forward, unable to halt until she hit a raised chunk of ice on the ground and fell hard.
She slid so fast that Lu Qingyuan, who was behind her, only caught up after she fell. “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, thankfully I’m wearing a lot.”
Chu Yian leaned on Lu Qingyuan to stand up, a bit disgusted by the snowmelt on her clothes from the friction. “Let’s go.”
She really… wasn’t delicate at all.
Without delay, the two smoothly arrived downstairs at the company. Lu Qingyuan, familiar with the place, led her into the office and found a separate computer inside.
He turned it on.
It didn’t power up.
“Is it out of power?”
Seeing this, Chu Yian looked at the computer a bit nervously, wondering if a power bank could charge a computer.
“It’s just too cold to boot up.”
Lu Qingyuan put the computer inside his down jacket to warm it for a while, and then it booted up successfully. He took out a black USB drive from a drawer, plugged it into the computer, and started copying.
The file was very large.
It took a full hour for the content to be completely copied.
Lu Qingyuan pocketed the USB drive, ready to delete the contents and leave. However, at this moment, Chu Yian grabbed him. “Teacher Lu, why don’t you copy a few more USB drives? Our ability to enter the Oasis depends on this. What if we lose the data?”
After she spoke, the air seemed to quiet for a moment.
A moment later, Lu Qingyuan found two more USB drives from the drawer.
The two stayed in the company for three hours. Chu Yian, having nothing to do, also rummaged through her colleagues’ workstations, taking three lighters, two power banks, and a few packs of sanitary pads.
By the time they left, it was already almost dark outside.
The temperature had dropped even lower, and without streetlights, it was dim all around.
There was no one else on the road besides the two of them.
The icy road was still very slippery. Chu Yian would slide a long way if she wasn’t careful, then fall flat. It was a bit like having an underdeveloped cerebellum, sensory integration dysfunction.
After the third time, Lu Qingyuan finally couldn’t take it anymore; he reached out and grabbed her arm.
But the person whose arm was grabbed was uncomfortable.
Chu Yian saw that he was willing to be her crutch and, in turn, grabbed his arm and palm. The two finally returned to the villa when it was completely dark.
After returning, Lu Qingyuan immediately contacted his friend. Knowing that the situation would only worsen, he suggested it would be best to leave tonight.
“Tonight might not work; all helicopters have been dispatched for rescue. I can only arrange a flight for you tomorrow morning at 9 AM.”
Another night had to pass.
Lu Qingyuan frowned slightly. “At the West Hill Villa, can they come directly there?”
“Yes.”
The other side gave him a definite answer. “Tomorrow, the weather will drop even further; don’t go out.”
A plane was coming to pick them up. Chu Yian, having overheard the conversation, felt a bit worried and also somewhat expectant. If the plane took them to the Oasis tomorrow, then she would definitely be among the top 1000 players to clear this round of the game.
But if a plane was coming to pick them up, what did she need to prepare?
Chu Yian thought for a long time, then returned to her room. She planned to use the “wish” function of her treasure box.
This was the first time using the “wish” function, and Chu Yian wasn’t quite sure how. She just followed the treasure box’s own description and recited the words “wish” to it: “Please give me something useful for waiting for helicopter rescue.”
As soon as she finished speaking, golden light emanated from the treasure box.
Chu Yian fumbled inside the box, touching some stick-shaped items.
[Ten Torch Signal Flares]
[Note: To be retrieved after this round of the game ends.]
[Good Item’s Inner Voice: Bah!]
Chu Yian used the “wish” function, and it seemed Grandpa Treasure Box was quite angry.
She ignored the description above and took out the ten signal flares. She carefully studied the instructions; the method of use was very simple, like a grenade, pulling the fuse would activate it, and the lower part could be held in hand.
It could be used to pinpoint the location for the helicopter.
Good stuff.
On the fifth day of the game, Chu Yian woke up very early.
Although a helicopter was coming to pick them up to the Oasis, she still packed some food and hand warmers, just in case of an accident along the way.
However, at 8:45, Lu Qingyuan received a call.
The plane couldn’t come.
The temperature was too low, causing the plane’s instruments to malfunction.
The helicopter that was supposed to pick them up had already met with an accident before even reaching S City, crashing onto the snow-covered ground.
“So what do we do now?”
Lu Qingyuan’s already furrowed brows tightened even further. “Are there other ways to rescue us?”
“Planes are grounded now, and the only vehicles that can operate currently have other missions.”
There was no one new who could come to rescue them.
“So what do we need to do? Find a basement to hide in?”
“I advise you not to do that. According to the most authoritative experts, an extreme cold temperature of -270 degrees will appear within the next fifteen days.”
The voice on the other end deliberately lowered its volume when mentioning this. “Do you know what this means? The lowest known temperature in the universe is -273.15 degrees Celsius! At -270 degrees, whether you hide in an air-raid shelter or a basement, you will instantly freeze to death. The Oasis is the only place where humans can escape this disaster.”
“Now that the plane can’t come, you only have yourselves.”
The voice paused for a moment, then continued. “Our country has established a total of two Oasis, the closest to you is in X Province. I will send you the specific location information later.”
“In M Province, thirty kilometers from you, there is a lost modified extreme cold vehicle. The weather will get colder and colder, and to reach the Oasis, you must find this vehicle!”
“Also, I can only use my position to apply for two entry quotas to the Oasis for you. Bring the original data; that is your pass.”
