Chapter 320: 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Incoming!

Sun Zhidong stared at the red markers on the screen, frozen in place.

“Seven… seven-point-three!”

“Quick, give me the producer’s phone! Now!” Sun Zhidong roared.

A staff member hurriedly handed him the phone, which was still connected to the executive producer.

The producer, having heard the message on the other end, immediately asked, “Are you sure?”

“Confirmed! Confirmed! Notify Wang Yun to evacuate immediately! Don’t you have helicopters? Get one over there now and get him out!” 

Sun Zhidong stomped his foot in frustration. Losing such an exceptional individual was unthinkable.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The producer didn’t waste time continuing the call. He hung up and grabbed his radio, shouting urgently.

“Wang Yun! Evacuate now! The earthquake level is too high. Wang Yun!”

Gripping the radio tightly, his voice carried desperation. The staff around him realized the gravity of the situation.

But there was a problem. There was no signal.

“Producer, the radio has no signal!”

Bang!

The executive producer, upon hearing this, threw the radio across the room. His whole body started trembling.

“Contact Zhao Youcheng! Tell him to get a helicopter immediately. I’ll send him the coordinates!”

“Got it!”

The staff began making calls, their urgency mirrored by the tension in the air.

***

At the harbor, Zhao Youcheng, who had been strategizing about recruiting Wang Yun, shot up from his seat when he heard the message through his earpiece.

“What? A 7.3 magnitude earthquake? Understood! I’ll arrange a helicopter and go myself!”

Without caring about the pouring rain, Zhao Youcheng flipped the tent open and rushed out.

The captains in the tent with him immediately followed without hesitation.

“Producer, what’s the plan?” Wu Yaoming called out.

After hearing the staff’s explanation, he wasted no time and sprinted ahead of Zhao Youcheng.

“Take Old Zhao back to the tent. I’ll go. I’ll accompany the helicopter,” Werner said as he ran out from another tent 

“I’m coming too! I can help!” Hardy followed.

The captains, sharing the same radio channel, had overheard the conversation.

Wu Yaoming, Werner, and Hardy, all in their thirties and physically robust, took charge and raced toward the helicopter.

Seeing the three run ahead, Zhao Youcheng slowed down slightly. Behind him, Wu Mingyu rushed forward, holding an umbrella to shield Zhao Youcheng from the rain.

“Old Zhao, let the younger ones handle this. If we go, we won’t be much help. If the strong quake comes and causes cracks or air pressure surges, the helicopter could lose balance. In that case, they’ll have to descend using ropes. At our age, we wouldn’t even make it down safely,” Wu Mingyu shouted, his voice straining against the heavy rain pelting his face.

“Ah!”

Zhao Youcheng stomped his foot in frustration, watching the three figures disappear into the distance. Their silhouettes blurred by the rain, he felt utterly helpless.

“If I were ten years younger… ten years younger, I could do it!”

For the first time, Zhao Youcheng admitted his age with a deep sigh.

Wu Mingyu said nothing, his own frustration evident.

Meanwhile, others in the tents watched the scene unfold. Anxiety and an unspoken dread filled the air as the helicopter prepared to take off.

No one dared to say anything. They feared their words might come true.

***

Back on the island, although Wang Yun’s radio signal had failed, the video feed was still transmitting.

Fortunately, their location wasn’t far from a signal tower.

“Latitude 35 degrees. Yes, right there!”

“They’re in the most open area nearby. If you lower the helicopter, you should be able to spot them!”

The executive producer monitored two screens. One showing the helicopter’s progress and the other streaming Wang Yun’s feed.

Wang Yun and his team seemed unaware of the incoming 7.3 quake. The three were still sitting in their makeshift shelter, eyes closed, their bodies trembling slightly with the ground.

The video feed was blurry, their expressions hard to discern.

The helicopter sped through the rainstorm. Pushing against the torrential downpour, it was operating at the limits of its capability.

“Huh?”

As the helicopter neared the island, Wang Yun’s ears caught the sound.

Opening his eyes, he looked puzzled.

“What’s wrong, Boss?” Old Hu and Xiao Gang also opened their eyes, looking at him.

Wang Yun listened intently again before shaking his head in disbelief.

“That’s strange. In this weather, at this time, why would there be a helicopter here?” he murmured.

“Come on, are they seriously trying to catch us even now? Can’t they give us a break?” Old Hu shouted angrily, assuming it was the program inspectors coming for them.

But Wang Yun frowned.

“No, that’s not it. It’s not worth risking their lives in this kind of weather to catch us. Unless…”

They were here to save them.