Noticing the tugging, the man turned to the girl and asked in a weak, hoarse voice, "What's wrong?"
The girl anxiously pointed at the armored cars, opening and closing her mouth as if trying to speak. Seeing her excitement, the man followed her gaze.
When his eyes landed on the bright lights in the distance, his expression changed. Grabbing the girl's wrist, he said, "Stay here. I will go check it out."
The girl grew anxious and shook her head, but the man placed his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eye.
"Be good. Listen to me. I will go check first. If they are good people, I will come back for you. Stay here and don't move, alright?" He waited for her to acknowledge his words.
Realizing he wasn't lying, the girl nodded reluctantly and stayed put. After ensuring no one noticed them, the man removed his tattered jacket and draped it over the girl's shoulders.
Before leaving, he whispered, "If something happens to me, run. Don't look back-just run as fast as you can."
The girl's eyes reddened at his words, but she nodded silently. Patting her thin, dusty hair, the man turned and cautiously approached the armored cars.
Seeing the man approach, Wu Yehao walked to the armored cars. Leaning against one of them, he waited for the man.
Soon, the man stopped a few meters away, nervously clenching his tattered clothes as Wu Yehao stared at him in silence.
After a moment of silence, the man asked hesitantly, "Brother, are you heading to Luocheng City?"
"Yes," Wu Yehao replied curtly.
Hearing this, the man's eyes flickered with hope. He carefully added, "Brother, can... can we come with you? My younger sister is sick and too weak to walk to Luocheng City."
Noticing Wu Yehao's impassive expression, the man quickly said, "If it's too much trouble, can you at least spare us some water?"
Instead of answering, Wu Yehao turned his gaze to the girl, who was watching them from a distance. After a few seconds, he turned back to the man and asked, "Is that your younger sister?"
The man followed his line of sight and nodded. "Yes."
Looking at the frail girl, whose clothes hung loosely on her thin body, Wu Yehao suddenly recalled his younger brother from their days in the orphanage.
Feeling a rare sense of pity, he said, "Wait here."
Without waiting for a response, Wu Yehao walked to the last armored car and opened the trunk. From a box, he took out a backpack and stuffed it with a first-aid kit, several bottles of water, packs of compressed biscuits, two winter coats, and a pair of military daggers.
After filling the backpack, he closed the trunk, walked back to the man, and tossed it to him. "Take this."
The man caught the backpack clumsily, surprised by its weight.
"Leave," Wu Yehao said as he returned to help his subordinates clear the fallen meteorites.
The man stood in a daze for a moment before hurrying back to his younger sister with the backpack.
One of Wu Yehao's subordinates, curious, asked, "Captain, why did you give them so many supplies?"
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