The White Olive Tree

Chapter 53

Song Ran hurried back to the comprehensive university, where people bustled in and out, and stretchers were carried in and out.

The teaching buildings had been converted into temporary operating rooms and wards. The students acted as nurses, caring for the wounded.

Song Ran could not afford to pay attention to this; she returned to her dormitory to grab a towel, a few bottles of water, several bags of bread and biscuits, and an apple she had bought the day before, stuffing them all into a clean plastic bag before quickly descending the stairs.

She drove swiftly toward the northwestern suburbs of the urban area, unsure if Li Zan had awakened.

The sun had risen, casting a thin layer of warm, golden red, mercifully spreading over the ancient city that had suffered greatly. Along the streets lay soldiers resting on the ground, people who had become separated during the chaos of war and were desperately searching, the wounded dragging trails of blood.

But the faces of those sleeping were peaceful, and in the eyes of those searching, there remained hope. The battle for Ale City had ended, but the war for this country was far from over. 

In the rearview mirror, the sky to the east was filled with the rosy glow of dawn, resplendent and magnificent. During her studies, her history teacher had said that some cities are alive. Even after disasters, they would eventually heal their wounds and be rebuilt.

She shifted her gaze from the mirror, looking steadfastly forward.

***

On the outskirts of Ale City, northwest of Ale Fortress, about one and a half kilometers away, the captured terrorists had been handed over to the government forces for disposal. Armed Forces military division was still tallying up their troops and equipment. This battle had brought together more than a dozen squads, making the follow-up work relatively complicated.

Pei Xiaonan and an Italian doctor from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) were notified to come and treat the wounded. Two severely injured soldiers had already been sent to the hospital, while the rest, with lighter injuries, could be treated on the spot.

Even Pei Xiaonan, who had seen many battlefields, had to marvel at the strength of Armed Forces soldiers. If it had been a regular army, the casualties would have been devastating by now.

After she had finished treating the wounded soldiers, daylight had unknowingly broken. The sun had risen.

She looked around but did not see Li Zan. She made a point to ask for an Asian person.

Most of Armed Forces were white and black, with very few Asian faces. Someone immediately knew she was asking about Li Zan and pointed her in the right direction.

Pei Xiaonan walked to the back of the headquarters, only to see a field of ruins, with Li Zan lying on the ground, asleep.

The thin morning light fell on his face, yet he did not wake. His sleeping face was peaceful and soft, inexplicably softening the heart, not at all like the silent and distant demeanor he had when awake.

Pei Xiaonan pulled out a piece of gauze, unscrewed half a bottle of water to wet the gauze, and tiptoed over to him, crouching down with the intention of wiping the bloodstains and dirt from his face.

Just as she reached out but had not yet touched him, Li Zan suddenly opened his eyes, startled awake, sat up, and drew his gun. In an instant, the gun was loaded and aimed at her forehead.

Pei Xiaonan raised her hands, her face pale with fright, her voice softened in fear, "Li Zan, it's me..."

Li Zan also paused for a moment, his deadly gaze fading instantly.