Chapter 793
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Chapter 793: Return to the Capital
“Before Commander Zuo left, he had already issued orders to give him a grand burial at his original squad’s base and posthumously award him a personal ‘Star’ medal. His family will also receive a substantial compensation…” Fang Zuo looked down at the body lying on the stretcher and smiled bitterly.
“Well, now he is the most distinguished among us first batch of volunteers stationed at the war pass…”
After staring at the body for a long time, Lin Qiye finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “Does he… have any last wishes?”
Fang Zuo was taken aback. “He does have a last wish… but it’s just that he hopes I can take care of his son. After all, we had a good relationship, and his son used to call me Uncle Fang when he was little. But he’s been rebellious lately, and he’s a bit worried.”
“His son?” Cao Yuan asked. “What’s his name?”
“Lu Baoyou.”
Lin Qiye nodded, silently noting the name.
After a few of them carried the stretcher away, Lin Qiye sat back on the city wall, staring blankly at the distant horizon.
“What are you thinking about?” Cao Yuan asked, puzzled.
Lin Qiye took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. The sunset and the sea in his vision had vanished, replaced by darkness.
He reached out toward the sky, as if trying to grasp something.
“I was thinking… perhaps one day, I will let this night cover the entire Great Xia.”
…
Somewhere in Great Xia.
In an empty, abandoned warehouse, a figure draped in a gray cloak and wearing a swirling mask opened the heavy door and stepped inside, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the dimly lit space.
He walked to the center of the warehouse and stopped.
“Captain, we received news from Commander Zuo; the crisis has been resolved, and there’s no need to traverse time again,” the swirling figure said softly.
In front of him, a figure was sitting cross-legged on the ground, a long knife lying horizontally in front of him. The low-hanging “King” mask slowly lifted, revealing a pair of calm yet weary eyes.
“No need?” the King mask said, somewhat surprised. “Wasn’t it said that time was running out?”
“Lin Qiye and the others have returned; they held the line at the Chenlong Pass,” the swirling figure couldn’t help but exclaim. “It’s truly the younger generation pushing the older generation forward… Their progress is terrifying. I heard they are about to return to the capital to officially register their information and have a ceremony for two ‘Star Sea’ medals.”
“Lin Qiye?”
The King mask murmured the name, recalling the golden-eyed youth from the training camp years ago. A smile crept onto his lips beneath the mask.
“They’ve finally returned…”
The King mask slowly stood up, sheathing the [Yiyuan] back at his waist. He slightly bowed his head and removed the “King” mask, walking toward the bright sunlight outside the warehouse.
The gentle breeze felt like an invisible hand, brushing a strand of silver hair from the King mask’s face. He lifted his face, now showing some wrinkles, and squinted at the sun hanging high in the clear sky through the gaps between his fingers.
“Our pressure can finally ease a bit…”
…
Shangjing City.
006 Squad’s base.
Shao Pingge hung up the phone, let out a long sigh, and lay back in the reclining chair behind his desk, lazily yawning.
“Why are you going to sleep again?” Yuan Gang stood in front of the desk, frowning and asking urgently, “What’s the situation? You need to tell me?! Has the beast tide been stopped?”
“Don’t worry, the crisis has been resolved,” Shao Pingge replied nonchalantly. “The Fifth Special Squad has returned and held the Chenlong Pass. They are already on the plane back to the capital and should arrive this afternoon.”
Yuan Gang was taken aback. “Lin Qiye and the others are back?”
At that moment, Yuan Gang’s mind flashed back to that rainy day, where seven figures, holding black umbrellas, stood outside the courtyard and then vanished into the clouds.
“Has it really been two years…” Shao Pingge lay there, looking up at the empty ceiling, slowly speaking, “Their return is truly timely.”
“Yeah, it’s about time they come back to reclaim what belongs to them.”
“By the way, they will arrive in the capital this afternoon. Are you going to pick them up?”
Hearing this, Yuan Gang’s face showed a bitter expression. “Me? Do I have time to pick them up? The training camp is about to start, and I haven’t finished archiving the list of trainees. The instructors’ matters are still unresolved. I haven’t slept in days; you know that…”
“That’s true, your work is indeed busy,” Shao Pingge nodded. “But I have a meeting at headquarters this afternoon, so I can’t go either… How about you let Xiao Zhang pick them up?”
“Looks like that’s the only option.”
Yuan Gang turned to leave the office but seemed to remember something and turned back to ask, “By the way, are you sure you want to put Zhenzhen in this training camp? She’s still too young.”
Shao Pingge paused for a moment and replied, “Let her in. The Night Watchers are in need of people right now. Her abilities are quite special; if used well, she might be of great help in the future… Moreover, we will be leaving soon, and she can’t always grow under our protection.
Zhenzhen may be mischievous, but she’s very smart; she can take care of herself.”
After a moment of silence, Yuan Gang nodded.
“I understand.”
…
Shangjing City.
A plane slowly descended from the azure sky, landing on a military helipad in Shangjing City.
The plane’s door opened, and Bai Li Pangpang was the first to step out. He stretched his limbs and sighed, “It’s been a long time since I flew… Great Xia is still the best.”
The other members of the [Nightfall] squad followed out of the plane. Cao Yuan looked around and asked in confusion, “Didn’t they say someone would come to pick us up in the capital? Where is everyone?”
“Is it Instructor Yuan?” Bai Li Pangpang asked.
“No, Instructor Yuan has already called. He’s busy with this year’s training camp and doesn’t have time to receive us. A newcomer from the Shangjing City squad is coming,” Lin Qiye explained while scanning the area with his mental power.
“I found it, a military jeep with official plates is waiting at the traffic light across the street.”
“Did we arrive early?”
“No, he is late.”
An Qingyu glanced at the time and replied.
The seven of them left the military helipad and walked straight to the roadside. It was only then that the military jeep finally drove up to the intersection in a hurry.
The driver’s door opened, and a tall, thin man stepped out, looking somewhat embarrassed as he spoke apologetically:
“I’m really sorry for the wait; there was a little incident with the team just now.” He walked to the roadside and shook hands with Lin Qiye and the others in turn.
“My name is Zhang Zhengtian, a member of the 006 squad stationed in Shangjing City. Two years ago, on that rainy day, we crossed paths at the courtyard gate.”
