Chapter Seventeen: Gratitude

After nightfall, the search and rescue team ended their operations in Black Bamboo Ravine, as the place grew even more terrifying in the dark. Even with modern equipment, electromagnetic interference greatly diminished its effectiveness. To reduce casualties, it was out of the question to risk a night-time search and rescue mission.

After the team had withdrawn, Zhou Xuan quietly carried Jiang Yun on his back, trailing several kilometers behind the returning group. After about two hours, around eight in the evening, Zhou Xuan finally arrived at the rescue team’s temporary camp.

Thanks to his own stamina, the journey was fairly easy for Zhou Xuan, even though he was carrying an adult weighing at least 150 pounds. Still, for appearances’ sake, Zhou Xuan deliberately acted exhausted.

His movements were anything but subtle; before he reached the camp, the people there had already noticed. Two or three members approached, shining their flashlights and repeatedly calling out, “Who’s there?”

But the dim beams barely illuminated a few meters ahead. They could only hear rustling sounds, unable to make out any figures. Given the dangers of Black Bamboo Ravine, they didn’t dare step outside the camp to investigate.

It wasn’t until Zhou Xuan drew within twenty meters of the camp that dozens had already gathered in the clearing. When they finally saw Zhou Xuan and the unconscious Jiang Yun on his back, a chorus of startled cries broke out, especially from the man responsible for the Jiang family’s search efforts, who rushed over at once.

“Who are you? Is that Jiang Yun on your back?”

His voice trembled, clearly dreading the possibility that Zhou Xuan might say it was someone else.

Zhou Xuan, of course, could not admit to knowing Jiang Yun. “I’m not sure if he’s the Jiang Yun you’re looking for. I found him in a valley over there, and he was unconscious when I came across him. I carried him out and, when I saw the lights here, I came over.”

“Let me see him! Is he badly hurt?” The man hurried to Zhou Xuan’s side, peered at Jiang Yun’s face, and exclaimed in delight, “We’ve found Jiang Yun! Someone get the doctor, he’s injured!”

By now, others had already gathered around. They gratefully took Jiang Yun from Zhou Xuan and rushed him into a tent for emergency treatment.

Meanwhile, Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng looked at Jiang Yun, who Zhou Xuan had brought back. When they heard from the doctor that Jiang Yun had only fainted and was not in mortal danger, they breathed sighs of relief. Their eyes were full of gratitude for Zhou Xuan, and they cordially invited him to rest inside the tent.

Inside, the three of them sat together on mats. Wang Ximing brought out some food and urged Zhou Xuan to eat.

“My friend, thank you for saving Jiang Yun today. If anything had happened to him, I’d never be able to forgive myself,” Wang Ximing said. He had been the one to suggest this trip; if something had happened to Jiang Yun, the guilt would have been unbearable.

“We were careless and let him fall behind. Otherwise the search team would have found him hours ago. If it weren’t for you, this would have ended in disaster,” Deng Cheng added, his fear plain to see. Beyond their friendship, there was the knowledge that Jiang Yun was from the Jiang family in the capital. If he had died while Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng survived, he shuddered to think how their families would face the Jiang family’s wrath.

Zhou Xuan smiled. “No need to thank me. It was just a fortunate coincidence that I found him. I believe anyone else would have done the same. He was hurt, but not in any immediate danger. But spending a night in Black Bamboo Ravine would have been extremely risky. Wild beasts roam at night—if a fierce animal had come upon him, his chances would have been slim.”

“Exactly! That’s why our rescue team never searches at night—the place is crawling with wild animals. It’s all thanks to you that Jiang Yun was saved,” Wang Ximing said, still shaken by the thought of Jiang Yun lying unconscious in a deep ravine.

Deng Cheng agreed. “Very dangerous indeed! The two of us were lucky—we were just wandering when we stumbled into the search team.”

As Zhou Xuan looked at Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng, he thought that after this ordeal, they would be thoroughly intimidated by Black Bamboo Ravine and unlikely to try outdoor adventures again, at least not without proper preparation.

Yet Zhou Xuan couldn’t help but admire the three of them. They were scions of privilege, but unlike others of their kind who squandered their fortunes in idle pleasures, these three sought challenge and growth.

Just then, Wang Ximing realized he didn’t know Zhou Xuan’s name. “Ah, we haven’t even asked your name! Since you saved Jiang Yun, you’re our benefactor. If you ever need anything, just say the word—we’ll do whatever we can.”

“Yes, brother! You don’t look much older than us, and yet you came alone to Black Bamboo Ravine. Are you here for adventure?” Deng Cheng asked.

Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Zhou Xuan smiled. “My name is Zhou Xuan. I just started winter break and wanted to travel a bit. I heard the scenery here was beautiful, so I came to take a look. I didn’t realize how dangerous it was. Luckily, I trained a bit in martial arts with a Taoist priest as a child and have always kept fit, so I managed just fine—and ended up saving Jiang Yun. I suppose I’ve been lucky.”

When Wang Ximing heard Zhou Xuan was still a student, he couldn’t hide his surprise. “You’re still in school? Which university do you attend?”

Zhou Xuan chuckled. “I’m only in my third year of middle school. I’ll start high school in the fall.”

“What!”

“Are you serious?”

Wang Ximing and Deng Cheng were both astonished.

“Unbelievable! Middle schoolers are this capable now? Compared to Zhou Xuan, it feels like my university years were wasted,” Deng Cheng thought in amazement.

Wang Ximing double-checked. “Zhou Xuan, you’re really just in middle school?”

“Absolutely! No joke!” Zhou Xuan grinned. This was exactly the reaction he wanted—they would only truly value him if he showed his abilities. With these privileged heirs, only by proving himself could he earn their respect as an equal. Although saving their friend had already endeared him to them, Zhou Xuan sought not just gratitude but a lasting bond—he wanted them as allies, a strong support for his future ambitions.

Another important reason was that these three had received proper education and carried themselves with integrity. They were nothing like those nouveau riche brats who only indulged in pleasure and relied on connections and brute force to get their way.

“Amazing! I’ve never admired anyone like this in my life—you’re the first,” Deng Cheng declared with genuine respect. Through their conversation, he’d seen that Zhou Xuan was nothing like an ordinary middle schooler: mature, steady, humble, and a prodigy to boot.

Wang Ximing, too, looked at Zhou Xuan with newfound regard. He had never met a middle school student quite like him before.