Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1276: The Cautious Resistance

Chapter 1276: The Cautious Resistance

Not long afterward, Liang Yue reached Mu Yan, Drolma, and their companions.

A snow-laden mountain loomed here, and in the current Snowy Plateau Region, such terrains sprawled everywhere.

Once they vanished into these immense, limitless snowy ranges, the chieftains' Private Soldiers lost all traces of them.

Drolma, guiding her band of wild wolf riders, lingered in wait for Liang Yue's approach.

Gratitude shone in their eyes upon Liang Yue, yet extreme wariness gripped them still.

In truth, Liang Yue's identity remained a complete mystery to them.

Given the scenario, they couldn't dismiss the chance of a Pagyi Family scheme aimed at exposing their resistance army's hidden base.

Spotting Liang Yue, Drolma slid off her wolf and strode forward.

Liang Yue's gaze swept beyond Drolma's shoulder. She noticed seven or eight liberated women amid the resistance fighters.

Liang Yue couldn't help but frown. "You only saved this many people? There were clearly over a hundred poor women imprisoned down there. What about them?"

A resistance fighter behind Drolma let out a chilly laugh at Liang Yue's remark.

"Your Excellency, what do you think this is? A child's game of make-believe?" he said, his gaze toward Liang Yue filled with wariness.

Despite Liang Yue's rescue, full trust eluded them.

Mu Yan stood mute nearby, evidently familiar with such tensions.

Drolma sharply scolded him, "Ataqi, don't be so rude to our benefactor!"

Ataqi held his tongue, though his watchful eyes lingered on Liang Yue and Mu Yan.

Drolma turned to the pair, "Please forgive our offense, but over these past two years, the great chieftains of the West and the Monk Soldiers of Sangha Monastery have used too many tactics against us."

"Among them was sending people disguised as supporters to infiltrate our ranks and then carry out encirclement and suppression against us."

Drolma's explanation made Liang Yue grasp their profound suspicion.

Yet she empathized with their stance as well.

Liang Yue responded evenly, "I understand. But I helped you only in the hope that you could save those poor women. Can you give me an explanation?"

Drolma met Liang Yue's eyes and clarified, "Because we don't have the means to take care of so many people."

Liang Yue arched a brow. "Insufficient... food?"

Drolma nodded.

"Of course. Not long after the blizzards descended on the Snowy Plateau Region, the great chieftain families of the West and Sangha Monastery unified and confiscated all supplies. The living conditions of our resistance army are probably not much better than those of the enslaved people."

Her glance drifted to the handful of saved women.

"These women we saved are all our relatives, our sisters."

"As for the remaining hundred-plus people, if we took them all back, our material resources simply couldn't support them."

Mu Yan, silent until then beside them, interjected coolly.

"If you can't support too many people, why did you raid the camp? The number of people you rescued isn't small either!"

Liang Yue leveled a piercing stare at Drolma too.

Drolma's words clearly failed to fully persuade.

Drolma faced Liang Yue steadily.

"Your Excellency's strength is so formidable. I am no match for you, which is why I choose to stand here and speak with you. But regarding war, you don't seem to have much experience."

"To put it bluntly, over a hundred burdens, including pregnant women, versus over a hundred soldiers who can be trained and sent to the battlefield—which side do you think holds more value for us?"

Liang Yue's pupils shrank abruptly at those words.

After a heavy breath, she declared gravely, "I thought you were the liberators of the Snowy Plateau Region, different from those chieftain forces."

Drolma offered a subtle, indifferent smile. "We are certainly different from them! But we are also not naive enough to believe that kindness and sincerity alone can win victory."

"In order to liberate all the serfs of the Southwest Region, sacrifices are inevitable. If the day comes when it is needed, all of us here can sacrifice our lives!"

Her finger indicated the fighters trailing her, her tone balanced and firm.

The memory of Drolma's fierce clash with Chodak flashed in Liang Yue's mind, easing her view of Drolma briefly.

She recognized the harsh reality in Drolma's claim.

"But... what about them? They can only be sacrificed?"

The earlier resistance fighter bellowed, "Staying behind gives them a greater chance of survival than coming with us!"

"The chieftain lords are not short of food. They still need to keep these women alive for their own enjoyment!"

Though the reasoning rang true, its raw delivery stung deeply.

These Snowy Plateau Region rebels spoke with brutal honesty, laying bare facts to Liang Yue without filter.

Drolma fixed her gaze on Liang Yue and Mu Yan. "You saved our lives, but we still cannot fully trust you now. Please forgive our caution. We must be responsible for the entire resistance army."

"Therefore, please, both of you, return!"

"Or, if you are also people sent by the chieftain lords, you can kill us now!"

Drolma pressed her right hand to her chest, eyes ablaze toward Liang Yue.

Mu Yan stepped beside Liang Yue and uttered coldly, "Let's go. What you wanted to do is done. There's no need for us to have too much interaction with them."

Liang Yue let out a quiet sigh. "You're right."

Regret tugged at her, yet she harbored no remorse for her deeds. One life spared was one victory; at least these women escaped.

The rescued knew Liang Yue and Mu Yan as their deliverers. Tears welled in their eyes, brimming with profound thanks for the duo.

"Let's go."

Liang Yue readied to depart with Mu Yan, words unspoken.

Drolma watched them intently, turmoil flashing in her gaze as inner conflict waged.

But right before their exit, her voice rang out abruptly.

"Wait!"

Liang Yue and Mu Yan turned back inquisitively. "Is there something else?"

Drolma drew in a deep breath, having weighed her options thoroughly. Such mighty figures might serve the chieftain lords.

Yet suppose they didn't?

Then allying these powerhouses with the resistance would massively bolster their forces!

Drolma offered a profound bow to Liang Yue and Mu Yan.

"From your willingness to help us, it's clear that both of you are people with a sense of justice."

"Could you leave us a way to contact you? In case there comes a day when we need help, would you come to aid us?"

Sincerity burned in Drolma's earnest stare at them.

Mu Yan and Liang Yue fell silent.

Though adapting to the locals' direct speech, this plea struck as rather indelicate.

Author's Note