Chapter 31 - Get the Helicopter Ready, Only I Can Enter!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor:

Atlas Studios

“The natural gas production area behind Warehouse 8 is responsible for the gas supply to half of the Lin An area.”

“If there’s an explosion there, it can raze the entire industrial district to the ground in seconds!”

“Not to mention all of us standing here, even the whole Hanghe River bank will suffer the consequences!”

The engineer in white coat adjusted his glasses and described the worst possible scenario in the calmest voice possible!

Chen Yeliang’s live streaming was still live and Xilin TV Station’s camera was also on the side recording. The engineer’s words were broadcast to the entire Xilin City’s audience without missing a single word!

Everyone knew now how terrifying this disaster would be! Having heard the engineer’s honest explanation, the entire Xilin would be unable to sleep!

The city’s political leaders were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Their immaculate white shirts were soaked in perspiration and stuck to their bodies, making them look very pathetic.

The chief commander of the fire department made his way to the engineer’s side and said, “There should be a valve in the natural gas production area. Otherwise, with the size of the blaze in the chemical plant, even if the entire fire department in the city were deployed here, we still can’t guarantee the

fire could be put out!”

Moreover, even if it could be extinguished, the production area might have already exploded during the process of deploying the personnel.

The chief commander looked at the few fire engines behind him with misgivings. Had he known how dire the situation was he would have brought more reinforcement here!

The engineer was feeling the effects of the extreme heat. He grabbed a corner of his white coat and wiped the perspiration pouring down his face.

As he wiped, he said, “There is a valve, but it is located in the deepest part of the facility. I’m afraid no one can reach there!”

“Can we circumvent the fire?” Wu Zhuo suggested, “I think Warehouse 8 is at the edge of the production area!”

Normally, he wouldn’t have dared to raise an opinion when the Big Boss was speaking.

But now, as one of only two persons who had been to Warehouse 8, he felt obliged to report the situation inside that building!

“Tm afraid… this won’t be possible…” The chief commander dismissed the suggestion.

Not taking into account the immense size of the chemical plant, in order to go around the outer edge of the facility, passing through the burning zone was unavoidable.

How long would it take to circumvent it?

How long would it take if going by foot? Would the motorcycle be able to pass through?

More importantly, the black smoke had already blanketed the natural gas production area. Would anyone who entered that zone be able to determine the direction?

These unanswered questions made the firefighters balk at the idea of re-entering the fire site!

“Put out the fire first!” said the commander somberly.

Apart from controlling the spread of the fire, he didn’t know what else to do.

Although the city mayor was present, he was a layman when it came to extinguishing fires. He could only stand at the side and stomp his feet anxiously.

Having run out of options, the mayor helplessly took out his phone and made a call with a heavy heart.

“Hello, it’s me. Immediately evacuate the residents on both sides of the Hanghe River! Relocate them to the center of the city!”

“In particular the residents near the facility. That’s right! I want to see a bus full of evacuees cross the bridge within twenty minutes!”

“No buts. What is more important now, lives or money? For those who refused, implement forced relocation! Otherwise, what’s the point of employing you guys?”

Immediately after saying that, the mayor hung up in a huff. Holding the phone with the blank screen in his hand, he sighed heavily.

Both the mayor and the fire department’s chief commander were mentally prepared for the worst.

Regardless of whether the facility could be salvaged or not, first and foremost they had to evacuate the population and reduce the potential loss of lives.

At the moment, this was the best and the only way!

Chen Yeliang was also standing beside them. He listened to their conversation impassively for a long time and watched them settle for the least viable solution.

He understood the onerous burden of the lives of half the city, comprising millions of people, weighing on their shoulders, and the helplessness the various leaders felt.

It was precisely because of this that he had to step forward!

Chen Yeliang covered his mouth with his fist and coughed lightly. “Well… Chief Commander, get me a helicopter. I can infiltrate the production area.”

Upon hearing this, the chief commander’s face crumpled up. He dug his ears with his fingers for a while and looked around, pretending that he was hearing things.

He continued giving instructions on follow-up procedures to Lu Ruijin, with his hand on his hips.

However, Lu Ruijin was totally dumbfounded. His hands holding the map were suspended in midair as he stared blankly at Chen Yeliang.

Chen Yeliang understood his shock and repeated patiently, “I need a helicopter to take me to the production area to turn off the valve.”

This time, the chief commander finally realized that he wasn’t hearing things. Not surprisingly, his first reaction was, “Are you crazy?

Chen Yeliang said calmly, “Right now, the chemical plant is completely surrounded by either flames or thick smoke. Only a descent from the air can penetrate deep into the facility. I know that my actions might seem crazy in your eyes, but I’m not joking.”

“Just like what happened earlier on… two of us went in and out of the blaze to rescue the trapped workers.”

He turned around and looked at the ambulance personnel busy at work. The wounded workers had already been carried up onto the ambulance. Those who were conscious noticed Chen Yeliang’s gaze and waved at him with tears in their eyes.

“What did you say? Two of you went in and out?” The chief commander could feel his head spinning.

He glared sternly at Lu Ruijin and thought to himself, “What the heck were you thinking! How can you allow a student to run amok like that!”

Lu Ruijin knew that there was no way for him to defend himself. He lowered his head and kept mum.

Chen Yeliang smiled and continued saying, “Don’t blame Chief Lu, I was the one who forced my way in, they couldn’t stop me.”

“But if you think about it, if I hadn’t been so insistent, perhaps no one would have been able to confirm the number of people trapped up till now, let alone watch them get into the ambulance one by one. Don’t you think so?”

“Maybe you still think that I’m crazy, but the reality is that only Wu Zhuo and I entered Warehouse 8, and only I alone have the ability to enter the fire site.”

After Chen Yeliang said so much, the chief commander was left speechless. He could only stare at Lu Ruijun, who was repeatedly nodding his head like a chick pecking at grains.

It seemed like he agreed with every word that Chen Yeliang said.

“Where the f*ck were you!” The chief commander roared out.

Despite getting yelled at through no fault of his own, Lu Ruijin immediately stood at attention, with his hands flat by the side of his pants.

However, he had watched Chen Yeliang dashed in and out of the scene of the fire with his own eyes. Although these actions could be construed as sheer insanity, reckless to the point of complete disregard for his own life, they did bring about a miraculous outcome!

He really wanted to muster up the courage to say to the chief commander, “Chen Yeliang is really awesome! He didn’t even get any light burns when he went in! Let him go for i

Chen Yeliang noticed Lu Ruijin’s expression and knew that he was already on his side.

He continued to do the thinking for the chief commander.

“You are the chief commander and possess the best professional qualification here. You should know the consequences of a gas explosion better than anyone else.”

“The longer we delay, the greater the danger this fire will pose to those people around us, or even the residents on the other side of the river! Do you think I’m right?”

The chief commander had no counter argument. Although his clenched fists indicated that he agreed in-principle with Chen Yeliang, he still did not want this student standing before him to undertake such risks.

Chen Yeliang smiled and said, “Actually, if the smoke had been a little less dense, I could have simply driven the truck in, just like before.”

“Unfortunately, the current situation has already progressed beyond that point leaving me with no choice but this measure. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Chief Commander, what are you hesitating for!?”