Chapter 495: Return
News of the earthquake in BS Province spread rapidly across the nation—and the world.
BS Province Struck by Catastrophic 8.0 Magnitude Earthquake!
The shocking headline dominated every news outlet within moments.
Broadcasts played endless footage from the disaster zone: landslides, shattered highways, towns reduced to rubble. The hellish scenes gripped viewers with anguish.
Survivors stood dazed atop the wreckage, faces caked in dust, bewildered by the devastation. Rescue workers shouted frantically through collapsed structures. Among the ruined school buildings, fragments of desks littered the ground.
The images broke hearts thousands of miles away. Countless citizens wept.
Yet amid the tragedy, stories of miraculous hope began to emerge.
Miracle! Tens of Thousands of Students and Teachers Survive Thanks to Outdoor Drills!
‘Egg Marathon’ Proves Lifesaving! Citizens Picking Up Supplies Avoid Disaster—Survival Rates Astonishing!
Entrepreneur’s Duty: An ‘Ill-Timed’ Charity Sports Event Coincidentally Saves Thousands!
Hope!
…
Major media outlets competed to report how a company’s charity marathon and sports event had coincidentally helped vast numbers of students and civilians escape the catastrophe.
Newspaper front pages showed children safe in open fields, a stark contrast to the collapsed school buildings in the distance.
In television interviews, tearful survivors recounted their luck—how they’d left for eggs or joined wilderness drills and missed the disaster.
Oddly, all reports referred only to “a certain company,” never naming names.
This was Liu Yutong’s specific request; she had no desire to capitalize on the tragedy for publicity.
While many corporations and individuals might exploit disaster donations for attention, she neither wanted nor needed to.
Wanlong Society was developing steadily as it was. Sudden, intense scrutiny from too many eyes would only become a burden.
Despite their low profile, many locals and rescue workers remembered the distinctive volunteers—clad in black, with dragon emblems on their chests.
After settling the students and teachers, Liu Yutong and Yun Cheng immediately returned to Bei C to join rescue efforts.
Five days passed.
The intense initial rescue phase was over. Primary life-saving operations had concluded, and the focus shifted to refugee care and disease prevention.
Every Wanlong Society member, including Liu Yutong and Yun Cheng, had reached their physical limits.
For five days, they’d scarcely slept, laboring day and night atop the rubble.
Every face showed deep exhaustion, clothes caked in mud and dust. Many bore injuries, but thankfully, none were serious.
Though their bodies were weary, their morale remained high—the fulfillment that came from saving lives.
When Liu Yutong gathered the members for staged withdrawal, Zhu Silin hurried over with a solemn expression. “Sister Yutong, my father called. A very important leader wishes to meet you at the temporary command center.”
Liu Yutong was taken aback.
Uncle Zhu was already a high-level leader. For him to personally relay this message, using “very important” to describe the visitor—its rank was self-evident.
“Now?” Liu Yutong glanced at her unkempt appearance after days of rescue work.
Zhu Silin nodded and lowered his voice. “Father specifically emphasized that they know you’ve been working tirelessly. They simply wish to express thanks in person. The car is waiting outside.”
Liu Yutong’s mind raced.
At this moment, a meeting with such a figure couldn’t be merely about gratitude.
This meant her actions—and Wanlong Society’s demonstrated capability and responsibility—had entered the leadership’s field of vision.
The thought made her strangely nervous and thrilled.
After all, whether in her past life or this one, she’d never met a leader of this caliber.
“I’ll go at once. Silin, help me tidy up a bit. I can’t be disrespectful.”
“Of course.”
…
The next day, Liu Yutong flew back to Great South City.
Pearl City had no airport, so the nearest options were the provincial capital or Great South City. She chose the latter because important matters awaited her there.
The others would return to Pearl City by car to rest.
During the flight, she kept turning over the leader’s words in her mind.
“You’re still young, with a long road ahead. Remember this: great merchants serve the nation.”
“True entrepreneurs must look beyond immediate gains, aligning their development with national needs and people’s welfare to achieve lasting success…”
“Great merchants serve the nation. Well said…” Liu Yutong murmured to herself.
The plane landed smoothly at Great South City Airport.
When Liu Yutong, Zhu Silin, and Yun Cheng emerged from the gate, they were simultaneously amused and exasperated by the sight before them.
All members of Yunshan Society had assembled, led by Gu Yebai and Zhou Muchen. Each was sharply dressed in suits, brimming with energy.
Most absurdly, they’d hung two bright red banners.
One read: Welcome Home, Heroes!
The other made Liu Yutong sigh with dismay: Sister Yutong, you’re the lightning, you’re the light, you’re the one and only legend!
Zhou Muchen rushed forward first, presenting an enormous bouquet of flowers so large it nearly hid him completely.
“Sister Yutong, you’re finally back! When we saw the news, we were terrified! An 8.0 earthquake! And there you were, orchestrating a real-life escape with thousands of students! Incredible!”
“Sister Yutong, I want to become your disciple! I want to learn the secret arts of foresight! Have you been secretly cultivating prophetic arts? Can you see the future?”
Before Liu Yutong could respond, Zhu Silin smacked him upside the head.
“Disciple my ass! Sister Yutong just had good luck. Who can predict the future these days? That’d make you a god!”
“Sister Yutong is a god…”
“Absolutely. Sister Yutong is divine among mortals. What Sister Yutong does, we couldn’t conceive of in eight lifetimes, let alone accomplish.”
Honestly, when the earthquake struck Bei C, they had been just as devastated as everyone else. Some wept watching the news.
They’d even considered going to help, but reason told them they’d likely cause more trouble. So they held back.
Especially after learning what Liu Yutong and the others had done, they were genuinely awestruck. Their acceptance of her as their leader became absolute.
She had loyalty, integrity, and true responsibility.
Compared to Liu Yutong, they were nothing.