The group boarded the vehicles and set off toward the secret stronghold Captain Guan had mentioned. No further incidents occurred, and after roughly three hours they arrived in a remote mountainous area, coming to a stop.

  By then the night had retreated and dawn had arrived. In the pale morning light, Rulu looked out over the terrain. The mountains here were tall and steep, mostly bare rocky peaks with no sign of human habitation — not even many trees or birds or animals.

  Taking in the scene, Rulu couldn't help but say doubtfully: "This pce seems awfully desote. Is this really the secret stronghold you mentioned, Captain Guan?"

  Captain Guan expined: "It's precisely because the environment here is so harsh that the Sanctuary's people won't come looking for us. Don't let the emptiness fool you — the mountains in this area are riddled with man-made caves stocked with water and food, enough to sustain us here for a very long time."

  Rulu nodded. "I see. Then let's head up the mountain."

  Captain Guan agreed and led Rulu and the others up the steep mountain path. Along the way, he expined that under normal circumstances the Rebels didn't live here — they operated in the nearby vilges and towns — but in times of crisis, such as when Sanctuary forces were hunting them down, they would take shelter in this stronghold and stay for extended periods.

  After quite a bit of effort, they finally scaled a steep peak. Captain Guan brought Rulu and Nana to a concealed stone wall partway up the mountain, grabbed a protruding knob of rock, and pushed hard.

  A grinding sound rang out as a crack split open in the stone wall, growing wider until it formed a dark opening. Captain Guan told the others to wait outside, then led Nana and Rulu into the cave.

  "Wow, there are hidden mechanisms built into the mountain — this pce really is well concealed." Rulu murmured, wandering around the interior and looking things over.

  The cave was remarkably spacious inside. Despite being underground, it was well-ventited and surprisingly bright.

  It connected to several smaller chambers: some held water and food stores, others contained simple beds, tables, and chairs, giving the whole pce the feel of a dwelling carved from rock.

  Captain Guan said: "This cave is the best quarters we have here. You and Nana stay in this one, Rulu. Help yourselves to food from the storeroom when you're hungry, and rest on the beds when you're tired. I'll head out now — if you need anything, use the communication device here to reach me."

  "Understood. Thank you, Captain Guan." Rulu said.

  Captain Guan then left the cave, leaving Nana and Rulu alone inside.

  "Nana, are you satisfied with the conditions here?" Rulu said gently, sitting down beside her on one of the beds.

  Nana's expression was somewhat downcast. She said quietly: "What is there to be dissatisfied about? My mother and father are already gone. Just being alive is fortunate enough. What more could I ask for?"

  Seeing that Nana was in low spirits, Rulu tried to comfort her: "Don't dwell on those sad things, Nana. How about this — once all of this is over, I'll take you away from here and we'll go live in a big city with better conditions. How does that sound?"

  Nana gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and said: "I know it's selfish of me to say so, but right now you're the only one I can rely on, Rulu."

  Rulu quickly replied: "That's perfectly fine. Having you rely on me — I couldn't be happier about it."

  Nana lifted her face and looked at Rulu hesitantly. "But won't you think of me as useless? Won't I become a burden to you?"

  "Of course not. How could you even think that?"

  "You might not now, but what about ter? To you I'm nothing but dead weight. If I stay by your side, sooner or ter you'll grow to resent me." Nana grew unexpectedly agitated, her voice rising.

  "I won't. I will never abandon you, Nana." Rulu said with absolute certainty.

  "But—" Nana tried to continue, but Rulu opened his arms and pulled her into a firm embrace.

  "I swear it. I will bring you happiness, Nana." Rulu said in a deep, steady voice, holding her tightly and not letting go.

  Nana fell silent. She wrapped her arms around him in return, and in her eyes there shone a light of joy and contentment.

  After that, Rulu and Nana settled into life in the mountain cave. They mostly stayed inside and rarely ventured out. Though the living conditions were somewhat rough, life was calm — no Sanctuary forces appeared in the area to pursue them.

  In the blink of an eye, five days passed. Then one day, for reasons unclear, Nana came down with a high fever. She y on the worn straw bed in the cave, her expression dazed, occasionally murmuring in her sleep. Rulu sat on a stool beside the bed, listening to the broadcast coming from a radio while watching Nana with anxious eyes.

  Suddenly the stone door of the cave swung open and Captain Guan, A-Bing, and Kallen entered. Rulu jumped to his feet the moment he saw them and said urgently: "Captain Guan, were you able to get the medicine for Nana?"

  Captain Guan scratched his face with a somewhat awkward expression. "Well… Rulu, try giving Nana this — it might help."

  As he spoke, he held out a medicine bottle to Rulu.

  Rulu took the bottle and held it up to look at it. His brow furrowed and his voice took on an edge of anger: "This… isn't this medicine for animals? How could Nana take something like this? Captain Guan, how can you treat us this way?!"