In the midst of heavy wind and snow, Zhang Yi and Uncle You couldn't push the speed of the snowmobile too fast, or they risked a dangerous crash. Their speed hovered around 40 to 50 kilometers per hour, and it took them more than two hours to reach the northwest wilderness.
Once they left the city behind, they lost almost all landmarks. The thick snow, over ten meters deep in some areas, buried almost everything visible. Before them was an endless sea of white. Uncle You pulled over to the side of the road to carefully assess their direction.
Pointing to a distant, protruding white mound, he said, "Luckily, we can still see that! We're not far now, about five kilometers away."
Zhang Yi nodded, filled with anticipation.
Soon, the two arrived at the base of the mound. Scattered, faintly visible structures were barely poking out of the snow.
Uncle You said, "It should be around here, but as for the exact location of the military base, I need to confirm that."
"Alright, let's take a closer look," Zhang Yi responded.
They parked the snowmobile and started searching on foot for the military base. Military bases rarely have tall buildings, with most dormitories being only two or three stories high, allowing for quick assembly in emergencies. The vast area of the base only added to the challenge of finding it. Without Uncle You's guidance, Zhang Yi would have been searching for days or even weeks on his own.
After some searching, Uncle You's eyes lit up when he spotted a building in the distance.
"I found it!" he exclaimed in delight.
"Found the base?" Zhang Yi quickly looked over.
Uncle You shook his head and pointed to the golden sign on the building. "No, I found the bathhouse!"
Zhang Yi was speechless, casting a sideways glance at Uncle You.
With a laugh, Uncle You said, "Don't be impatient! Once we find this place, I can figure out the location of the military base."
He began to explain to Zhang Yi.
It turned out that the bathhouse was owned by one of Uncle You's comrades, and he would visit once or twice a year to catch up and also to relax.
"The Inner Workings Bathhouse... Brilliant!" Zhang Yi exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise. The owner of the bathhouse was clearly clever.
But Zhang Yi couldn't help but ask, "A bathhouse outside a military base? Can it really attract business?"
Uncle You chuckled, "You don't get it, do you? Business is booming here!"
"Life in the military is monotonous. Most soldiers don't have girlfriends. These young men, full of energy, need a way to vent. And they have nowhere to spend money in the military. When they receive their monthly allowances, they need somewhere to spend it, right?"
"Besides, they're in great physical shape, pack a punch, and never cause trouble. So, bathhouses are especially welcoming to them."
Uncle You's eyes sparkled as he recalled his military days.
Zhang Yi smiled. "And the officers just let it slide?"
Uncle You replied, "Officially, no, it's not allowed. But the officers know the soldiers have needs, so they turn a blind eye."
Pointing to the sign, he said, "In any case, once you see this, you know we're close to the military base."
Turning toward the north, Uncle You squinted into the wind for a moment before pointing toward a distant spot.
"There! Do you see that watchtower?"
Zhang Yi squinted and, after focusing for a bit, noticed a small black speck in the snowstorm.
"I see it."
Uncle You nodded. "The military base is over there."
Zhang Yi glanced at Uncle You. "But the base is large, isn't it? Even if we know where it is, how will we find their armory?"
Uncle You responded, "Years ago, when I visited my comrade, I got a tour of the base. I still remember the general location of the armory."
Zhang Yi eagerly replied, "Then let's go take a look!"
With the general location in mind, they could return with an excavator to dig it out later.
They hopped back on the snowmobile and sped toward the base. Before long, Uncle You pointed out the exact location.
"It should be around here. Ah, what a shame! We arrived too late. Everything is buried under snow now!"
Uncle You looked guilty.
"Sorry, Zhang Yi. We may have made this trip for nothing."
When they set out, he had hoped that perhaps the snow hadn't completely buried the area. But upon arrival, he realized how naive that thought had been.
Zhang Yi studied the snow-covered ground for a moment, committing the nearby landmarks—like the still-visible watchtower and the officer's office building—to memory.
Satisfied, Zhang Yi smiled at Uncle You and said, "No worries, you meant well! Who knows? When the snow melts someday, we can come back."
Uncle You scratched his head sheepishly and nodded.
Zhang Yi patted him on the shoulder. "Alright, let's head back. We've been out here long enough."
It was getting late, and they still had a two-to-three-hour ride back. No sense in delaying further.
Uncle You quickly got the snowmobile ready and they headed home.
…
Back in the residential complex.
"Retreat! Fall back quickly!"
Li Chengbin led a group of neighbors, hastily retreating from the Wild Wolf Gang's territory at Building 21.
This assault had cost them dearly—they had lost over a dozen people.
Fighting on someone else's turf had proven a huge disadvantage. Though they had the numbers, the Wild Wolf Gang was well-prepared and had set up numerous traps. The battle wasn't going in their favor.
However, they had taken down five or six of the enemy, which was a small success.
As the fight dragged on, the cold weather sapped their energy, and they realized it would be unwise to continue the assault. They decided to pull back.
On the way back, Li Chengbin mentally tallied his losses, already daydreaming about the rewards Zhang Yi would give him when they returned. He felt quite pleased with himself.
But not everyone shared his mood. Some were clearly upset, their faces full of discontent.
"I really don't see the point of this attack. We lost over a dozen people for nothing!"
"Same thing happened last time with the Tianhe Gang. We lost more people than we killed. At this rate, we'll all be dead soon!"
"Was this just to vent Zhang Yi's anger? I was this close to having my head chopped off!"
"He sends us to attack while he and Uncle You are off who knows where. They're the best fighters, but they stay behind and don't help."
These grumbles came from a few of the middle-aged men in the group.
Older and more cunning, they had done the least fighting but were the most vocal complainers. Since some of them had been injured, or narrowly escaped death, they couldn't hold back their dissatisfaction with Zhang Yi.
Li Chengbin, walking ahead, heard their complaints and immediately frowned, shouting, "What are you saying? Watch your mouth! Don't talk nonsense!"
"If Zhang Yi hadn't brought us food, do you know how many people in our building would've starved to death? You think you can stand here complaining without him?"