Those Classmates who Suddenly Disappeared
Chapter 284: Met Again

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Met Again

Lu Yi quickly said: "Although the snowstorm is severe, if my hearing serves me correctly, that sounded like gunshots." As soon as Lu Yi finished speaking, a second gunshot went off, immediately followed by a third, creating an intense atmosphere.

Out of concern, Xu Haowen said: "It seems like Ning Qi and others are in trouble, shouldn’t we go and help?"

However, Ouyang Jin shook his head: "The snowstorm is so intense, and we don’t know where the gunshots came from. The most important thing right now is to reach the next cabin before it gets dark. Otherwise, mobility will be even more challenging at night, and our danger will increase."

"Alright, it seems they can only depend on themselves for safety. However, they have several hunting guns, so they should be fine." After saying this, Gu Fan instructed the team to keep moving forward without stopping, even if they had to slow down.

Zhuo Hang was a little worried. He ran to old man Tian and asked, "Elder, the snowstorm is so severe. Are we sure we won’t lose our way?"

"Don’t worry, I have been wandering in these woods since I was young, and I am familiar with every correct route. Just stick close to me," old man Tian affirmed in a calm and confident tone, boosting the team’s morale. It felt like they had found the right guide.

After walking for a while longer, the snowstorm showed no signs of letting up. The freezing weather made it hard to breathe, and the icy wind roared and lashed out, as if ready to tear everyone apart.

Towards the end, not only Xu Haowen, who was the weakest, but also Jie and Lu Yi were struggling to stay upright in the face of the snowstorm. Xu Haowen ended up crawling, which was a worrisome sight.

Old man Tian also slowed down, with age finally taking a toll on his strength. Seeing blinding snow all around him, it seemed all ways to safety were shrouded in the white chaos.

"Damn it! How long is this awful weather going to last?" Lu Yi couldn’t help but complain.

Ouyang Jin shouted with all his might: "Everyone move slower, but do not separate, never separate."

Gu Fan nodded: "Let’s form groups of four. Sister Su, Ouyang Jin, Xu Haowen and I will make up one group, and old man Tian, Zhuo Hang, Jie, and Lu Yi the second one. Look out for one another, don’t act alone. If we notice someone missing, quickly search for them." After saying this, Gu Fan helped Xu Haowen up and they started to move forward slowly.

This method was very effective. If all eight of them moved together, it would be challenging to notice if someone was missing amidst the severe snowstorm unless someone counted. However, if one person went missing from a group of four, it would be quite noticeable, and there would be time to find the person.

Everyone agreed to Gu Fan’s arrangement without any objections. They continued on their journey, each group supporting each other and the two groups helping one another.

At that moment, Lu Yi couldn’t help but say: "That’s strange. We only heard three gunshots. I hope Ning Qi and the others are alright."

Zhuo Hang replied: "They have a total of five guns. If they were really in trouble, they would’ve fired more than just three shots. This implies that they’re safe."

Agreeing, old man Tian added: "They certainly encountered something and took shots to deter it."

"So you mean, there’s a higher chance they’re safe and unharmed." Just as Jie finished, he noticed something moving in the snowstorm and immediately pointed it out.

Everyone noticed it and halted, intently watching the movement in the blizzard. Furthermore, not just one person saw it moving, which made everyone even more nervous as it appeared to be getting closer.

Because it was hidden by the snowstorm, they couldn’t clearly see what it was. As a precaution, Sister Su held her crossbow at the ready and warned: "Everyone, stay alert on all fronts."

Seeing Sister Su’s calm and composed form with her crossbow trained on the storm, old man Tian felt reassured. It seemed like she had the confidence to resolve any crisis with one critical shot if need be.

Yet, they waited for a long time without spotting any movements in the snowstorm. Still, no one let their guard down until they reassured themselves that it was safe to proceed.

Even though the break was brief, it helped Xu Haowen to recover a little energy. He then pushed on, blurting: "Damn it, this is so hard. When is this snowstorm going to stop?"

"Looking at the storm, it doesn’t seem like it will stop anytime soon. Might even last until tomorrow," Ouyang Jin predicted, seeing Xu Haowen’s face fall.

Gu Fan trying to lighten the mood, joked, "What’s the matter? Finding it too hard? Regretting coming along?"

In a serious tone, Xu Haowen replied, "Who said that? Struggling is one thing and giving up is another. Don’t confuse the two, Gu Fan. I haven’t given up. I’m doing my best not to lag behind."

"Good, keep going." Gu Fan smiled, knowing that these words would motivate Xu Haowen.

Ahead, Zhuo Hang asked old man Tian: "Given the weather and our progress, how much longer until we reach the next cabin?"

"At least three hours." Old man Tian’s words felt like a weight on everyone’s hearts. Time wasn’t the issue, nor the difficult journey or even the harsh snowstorm. Instead, the problem was the longer they stayed outside; the greater their risk of danger.

Gu Fan gritted his teeth and then said: "Alright, let’s not think too much. Our priority is to continue on our way."

Everyone nodded and followed old man Tian, hoping to endure this ordeal. As long as they reached the cabin safely, they wouldn’t need to worry about the snowstorm or any wolf packs.

Zhuo Hang couldn’t help but exclaim, "Did you guys encounter such dangerous situations on your last outing too?"

Lu Yi thought for a while and then sighed bitterly, "To be honest, we encountered a sandstorm during our last trip, which was even more dangerous than this snowstorm. This ordeal seems more like a test compared to that."

Yes, Lu Yi wasn’t lying. The danger wasn’t simply the snowstorm; it was about what hidden dangers laid within.

At that moment, they noticed something moving in the snowstorm again, and it was coming their way.

With no choice left, under Sister Su’s guidance, they braced themselves again. Everyone was tensed, afraid that they might encounter a monster.

As the figure got closer, it was clear that it was a person, not an animal. They thought, could it be Ning Qi and the others?

When the two groups eventually met in the heart of the snowstorm, their faces showed mutual disbelief. It seemed they did not expect to cross paths again.