Steel torrents pioneering a different world

Chapter 191 Horrifying Imagination! Outrageous Reinstatement of Qingdan! The Warrior's Glory and the Will of the Torch! (Bonus Chapter)

A few hours later.

The setting sun painted the horizon orange-red, and the wind in the wilderness carried a hint of coolness, brushing against the cheeks of both races.

Bellegas stood on a high slope, squinting as he strained to look in the direction he had come from. The human camp had long since disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving only a vast expanse of desolation.

He scratched his messy beard in frustration, turned to Natalia who was resting with her eyes closed, and shouted, "Long-eared, are those buzzing iron birds still up there?"

Natalia did not open her eyes, but her brows were slightly furrowed.

A falcon circling high in the sky is connected to her consciousness, looking down at the earth from the perspective of an eagle.

Falcons have excellent eyesight, are agile, and are extremely fast.

The forests, mountains, and rivers are all visible in the field of vision, with the air being a key focus.

In the vast and silent primeval landscape, there is no trace of any man-made objects.

A moment later, she slowly opened her eyes, her gaze revealing an undeniable weariness, and her face was even paler than before. Clearly, she had expended a great deal of magical energy and vitality.

"It's gone, it's very clean."

Upon receiving confirmation, Bellergas became even more uneasy.

He looked down at the heavy, crudely made iron hammer in his hand, then weighed the axe at his waist, and muttered, "Are they really just letting us come back like this? Why didn't they even send anyone to keep watch? What are these people up to?"

“I don’t know,” Natalia said softly, as she pondered the same question.

This strange kindness made her more uneasy than any form of torture.

She stroked the human-made dagger at her waist; the hilt was smooth and felt excellent in her hand.

"Do you think there might be something wrong with these things?" an elf whispered, speculating. "Perhaps they've been subjected to some kind of location magic that we can't detect?"

"Magic?" Bellegas scoffed, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

He carefully examined the hammer in his hand, tapped it a few times, and then gestured for Natalia's dagger to be brought over so he could examine it closely again.

Instead of sensing magic like an elf, he scraped the blade hard with his rough fingernails once more, producing a piercing sound, but without leaving a single scratch.

He brought the dagger to his ear again, tapping it lightly with his knuckles, listening to the clear, long echo.

"Damn, it's good steel too!" He couldn't help but curse under his breath, his eyes filled with a mixture of disgust and amazement. "Pure steel lump, without a trace of magic or encasing magic runes. Humans are just humans, all they know how to do is play with these practical things. Their skills are passable."

He considered himself to have seen many masterpieces by dwarven masters, but the forging craftsmanship of this ordinary dagger was not much different.

Seeing the complicated expression on Bellergas's face, Natalia sheathed her dagger and asked, "What are you going to do next?"

"Send the message back, and then wait for Lord Lepanto's arrangements." Bellegas sighed, a rare look of bewilderment appearing on his rugged face.

He always considered himself the cunning one in his tribe, far more intelligent than his kin who only knew how to use brute force.

But ever since he started dealing with these northerners, all the experience and shrewdness he was so proud of became as useless as scrap metal.

The people in the north are very trustworthy; they released him as soon as they said they would and even gave him weapons for self-defense. Although he protested strongly and was refused his weapons, they were much better than those despicable bastards in the south.

People in the South not only commit heinous acts, but are also truly vicious.

Legend has it that the captured half-humans and elves were treated terribly, imprisoned in cells where they couldn't even stand upright, and could forget about food. Unlike the northern humans, who were incredibly generous with their supplies.

Even those dishes made with ordinary ingredients, but cooked to be incredibly delicious...

and many more!

He suddenly remembered those strange radiation sicknesses that humans had repeatedly emphasized to them!
A thought flashed through Bellergas's mind, and he whirled around, staring intently at Natalia: "Long Ears, have you been feeling unwell lately?"

Natalia instinctively rubbed her forehead and nodded: "It's just that my mental energy is being used up quite a bit."

"No!" Bellegas's voice suddenly lowered, and he leaned closer, his eyes so dark they could drip water. "You also had a nosebleed yesterday. Just controlling birds for reconnaissance shouldn't have made you this weak, should it?"

"How much mixed-race food have you eaten?"

"I only drank a little water."

Bellegas looked at the others.

That's what most people say.

He then looked at his half-human companions. These half-humans with good appetites had eaten enough food for at least ten people during the two days they were imprisoned by humans.

Hearing these words, Bellergas gritted his teeth; the exquisite taste now seemed like a deadly poison.

“I ate a lot of their food, roast chicken! All kinds of meat, wine… Long Ears, do you remember? Uh, if you don’t remember, you’re a fool! An old man in our kingdom once said that the humans in the north are best at using underhanded tricks! They’ll deliberately infect enemy envoys with an undetectable plague, then politely send them back, and then…”

He didn't say anything more, but everyone present understood.

A chill ran from everyone's tailbone to the top of their head.

"Plague?" Natalia murmured to herself, her face draining of all color from her.

She glanced instinctively at her hands, as if they were covered in deadly sores.

"But I was already feeling unwell before I came here!"

Bellegas gritted his teeth and said, "What if... I mean, what if humans are interfering with our leads? What if those explosions actually released not only intense heat but also a deadly plague?"

The other elves and cave-dwelling half-humans around them also stirred, exchanging terrified glances.

“We can’t stay together any longer!” Bellegas made a quick decision, regaining some of his wise decisiveness. “If it really is a plague, we’re just a mobile source of infection! Once it breaks out, no one can escape!”

The joy of regaining freedom vanished, replaced by a colder, more piercing fear.

"We can't just wait to die like this, can we?"

"Lord Bellegas, why don't we go back? Those humans are providing food and lodging. Aren't they trying to spread a plague under the guise of goodwill? Let's just pass it back to them and make them lose more than they gain!"

"Yes, Lord Bellagath, I think this is excellent! Let them eat their food, drink their water, and die from infection! Let them perish along with the plague!!!"

"Shut up, all of you! This isn't over!" Bellegas looked at Natalia with long ears: "We need to self-isolate and get others to spread this terrible news back."

“You make a good point! I need to get to the Sacred Tree to make sure I haven’t been excluded from its magical communication network!”

"Row!"
-
Another world, a biopharmaceutical research lab.

Zhong Zhenguo's brows furrowed as he traced the latest data report with his fingertips.

At this moment, although he had a tense face, the corners of his mouth were turned up, making his expression extremely strange.

Every word in the report was like a hammer blow to his already fragile heart.

"...hypothermia for gland separation...extraction of saliva from red venom worker ants...collagen peptides...transcribed into potent antioxidant enzymes...crystallized and purified..."

"Preclinical trials: 50mg of powder dissolved in mead daily can take effect within 3 hours; 10mg of crystals mixed with X oil applied topically can effectively stimulate the secretion of sex pheromones in the target organism... A female-specific attack...!"

"After application to the face, it significantly promotes collagen regeneration in the skin..."

"Precautions: This product is contraindicated in pregnant women. This biological pheromone has a strong stimulating effect on smooth muscle and can easily induce uterine contractions..."

"...Contraindicated in patients with a history of breast cancer, as there is a risk of excessive activation of estrogen receptors. Response in non-human organisms...data is missing; preliminary observations suggest it may cause an acute systemic inflammatory response, elevated body temperature, and respiratory stress..."

"Ye Zhen!"

Zhong Zhenguo took off his glasses, pinched his brow, and felt a headache coming on.

"I put you in charge of research on biological genetics and neural repair, and now you've come up with... a hybrid drug that restores appearance and enhances XX desire?"

The young man next to him, Ye Zhen, scratched his messy hair, grinned foolishly, and revealed a set of big white teeth.

At this moment, he was wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. He was a doctoral student whom Zhong Zhenguo valued and appreciated. However, despite his kind face and somewhat dazed expression, he had actually come up with something so frivolous...

"Teacher, this is an unexpected surprise in scientific research! It's all fate! You see, Professor Li Donglai's research on earthworms led to the discovery of groundbreaking food. We were researching ant neurotoxins, and who would have thought that after some extraction, their salivary glands would yield so many treasures?"

"Teacher, you know that women and children are the easiest to earn money from. Look at the results! It greatly stimulates collagen regeneration, restoring aging skin to a supple and radiant state. This is real, not just boasting! If this were taken out, let alone the women in our base, even if it were taken back to Earth, it would be a national award!"

"Hehe, when the time comes, forget about cosmetic procedures and Thermage; they'll all be nothing compared to our 'Rejuvenating Elixir'!"

"Qingdan? You've already come up with a name?" Zhong Zhenguo laughed in exasperation, pointing to another item on the report, "I think this stimulation of desire is some kind of specially targeted research, isn't it? You're a biopharmaceutical engineer, why do you always go down these crooked paths?"

"Teacher, this isn't my fault! Science is just that simple and straightforward," Ye Zhen said innocently. "Existence is its own justification! We originally wanted to research some nerve anesthetics. Who knew we'd end up with this thing by accident! Teacher, this should generate a lot of revenue, right?"

Zhong Zhenguo waved his hand helplessly: "Alright, alright, generating revenue is definitely achievable. You can organize the paper, and include all the team members' names; I'll back you up with my authorship. But the toxicology testing must be as detailed as possible! Especially the rejection and toxicological reactions in mammals—make sure to test them thoroughly!"

"Okay! Thank you, teacher!" Ye Zhen gave a clumsy salute and ran off happily.

Looking at his lively student, Zhong Zhenguo felt both a headache and a bit of a wry smile.

Human scientific research is always like this.

Aiming at target A but ending up with a CDE (Critical, Difficult, Defective) shot is commonplace. The infamous Viagra is a prime example!

He picked up the report and read it again, his gaze falling on the line "non-human organisms," especially the words "elevated body temperature, X-ray stress..."

"What a bizarre and unorthodox result!"
-
A few kilometers away from the biopharmaceutical research lab, the atmosphere is quite different in the energy and high-density circuit research area.

Cai Junyu paced back and forth at the entrance of the laboratory, occasionally craning his neck to look in the direction of the time portal in the distance.

"Hey Cai, stop wandering around, you're making my eyes dizzy." A researcher with prematurely aged features, lots of white hair and a receding hairline, said slowly while holding a teacup. "What's meant to happen will happen, there's no use rushing it."

"How could I not be anxious?" Cai Junyu stopped and rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining with excitement. "That's a circuit board made by imitating the shell of a dragon egg! It's the first time we've artificially replicated a special magic-gathering structure! Just imagine, if this succeeds, our future weapon energy systems in this other world will probably be rapidly upgraded!"

"Hehe, maybe in the future tanks and planes won't need to burn fuel anymore, they can just absorb blue energy directly from the air!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he could already see the grand scenes of future science fiction wars.

"Alright, alright, stop dreaming." Wang Yubin took a sip of tea and pouted. "Let's focus on getting a light bulb working first. By the way, can you tell me something? Did those people in the biology group next door come up with some kind of miracle drug? What's it called... or Qingdan?"

"I think so. I heard it was Ye Zhen, one of Professor Zhong's subordinates, who did it. What happened?" Cai Junyu replied casually, his mind still wandering far away.

"Once I confirm everything's okay, I want to get one for my wife. I'm already prematurely aging, but I want my wife to look twenty again," Wang Yubin said with a look of utter despair.

For some reason, the whole family looks prematurely aged.

Despite his full head of white hair and the fact that he's only thirty-five, he looks like he's in his forties.

His wife's face also looked very old due to a lack of collagen and endocrine issues.

Cai Junyu chuckled: "That's a team led by Professor Zhong Zhenguo. How could their product be bad? But I must warn you, that thing hasn't passed toxicology testing yet. It's best to wait until it's stable before using it."

"I know, I know."

Just as the two were chatting, the outline of a military transport vehicle finally appeared on the horizon and turned on its turn signal.

Cai Junyu's eyes lit up instantly, and he rushed over in one stride.

The vehicle came to a smooth stop, and a soldier jumped off. After verifying his identity and undergoing facial recognition, several metal boxes marked "Top Secret" were carefully unloaded.

"Mr. Cai, here are your things."

"Thanks, comrade!"

Cai Junyu practically pounced on the boxes, and together with his colleagues, they hurriedly carried them into the laboratory.

The box was opened, and neatly stacked circuit boards, each about the size of a palm, were placed in anti-static foam.

They have a strange silver-gray color, and under the light, the textures on the surface that are countless times finer than a hair seem to have a faint light flowing within them.

“Beautiful…” a young researcher couldn’t help but exclaim, “The texture is simply a work of art.”

"That's the allure of Industrial Cthulhu!"

The University of Tokyo has an incredibly mature industrial system, and its circuit manufacturing offers a complete end-to-end service.

Military-grade circuit boards are designed and manufactured at a faster speed by using specific custom channels.

In just 20 hours, the special circuit board made from a mixture of materials from another world was obtained.

In reality, it should only take a little over ten hours, because most of the time is wasted on transportation!
"Stop talking nonsense and get on the test platform!" Cai Junyu couldn't wait any longer.

He picked up a piece himself and examined it as if it were a rare treasure.

After more than ten minutes, everything was ready.

Cai Junyu took a deep breath and ordered from the control panel: "Initiate the power injection test, starting the power from 0.1%!"

"Roger that!"

As the operator pressed the button, a low hum filled the laboratory. On the energy monitor connected to the circuit board, the readings began to rise steadily.

"The power supply efficiency is stable!"

"Structure intact, no abnormalities detected!"

"The current loss is minimal, and there is a slight increase in electrical energy. The energy patterns on the dragon egg can indeed be converted into electrical energy in this other world. Haha... I didn't expect to succeed on the first try!"

Cai Junyu stared intently at the screen, his fists clenching unconsciously.

Success! Initial test is perfect!
Seeing the abnormally strong increase in both input and output current, Cai Junyu pursed his chapped lips.

Based on the characteristic of dragon eggshells absorbing natural travel energy, humans imitated this concept and carried out targeted production, unexpectedly achieving success on the first attempt.

"Start amplifying the power!"

"it is good!"

As transmission power increases, energy feedback beyond what is normal gradually emerges.

Joy filled everyone's faces!

"Increase the power by five percent!"

"it is good!"

Suddenly, an anxious buzzing sound rang out.

"Wait! Something's wrong!" the colleague in charge of monitoring suddenly shouted. "The energy readings are hopping frequencies... Damn, it's out of control... The power is exceeding the threshold!"

Before the words were finished, a soft "poof" was heard, and a wisp of smoke suddenly rose from the silver-gray circuit board on the test bench.

Immediately afterwards, the top corner quickly turned black, and the readings on all the monitoring instruments instantly dropped to zero.

The entire laboratory was deathly silent.

"Holy crap! This is absorbing way too much energy!" someone exclaimed first.

"Why is the solder resist layer burned off? Isn't it supposed to be insulating?"

"Put that aside for now, the energy conversion rate and power density of the dragon egg pattern are ridiculously high! We need to find suitable materials to make a new board!"
-
In another world, a professionally cultivated field on the front lines.

As the last excavator finished leveling the land, Ming Yufei began driving the excavator away from the site!
This place will become the "new home for the elven captives to work and reap rewards" for some time to come. They will have to earn their food in the prison house by their own hands and feet.

Mingyu drove the excavator back to its designated position, jumped out of the cab, and watched his comrades busily setting up a protective network made of various types of steel wire mesh. He pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket.

He lit it, took a deep breath, and a look of satisfaction, like that of an old farmer after a bountiful harvest, appeared on his face.

"Squad leader, give me one!"

Jiang Ruixuan jumped off another excavator and shamelessly approached. "Damn it, are you a reincarnation of a range hood?!" Ming Yufei cursed, but his hand honestly pulled out another cigarette and tossed it over. "Next time it's your turn to buy cigarettes!"

"Hehe, I guarantee we'll bring back a few packs with our squad!" Jiang Ruixuan lit a cigarette with a smug look on his face, leaning against the excavator tracks still covered in mud, watching his comrades working in the distance. "Squad leader, how about we apply to stay a little longer? It's so much fun here."

"Exciting my ass!" Ming Yu flicked his cigarette ash. "I can't stay any longer. This is an order from the higher-ups. I have to go back and rest, and adjust my mindset. Otherwise, you'll break that mental string sooner or later."

He pointed to his temple, his eyes filled with an undeniable seriousness.

Jiang Ruixuan pouted, somewhat unwilling: "I heard that there will be a commendation ceremony. Last time the elves and dwarves attacked, our engineering class was at the forefront of the fight."

"Yes, we'll reward those who have made contributions." Ming Yufei exhaled a smoke ring. "At the meeting a while ago, the company reported us for a collective third-class merit. However, once the official document is issued, we'll have to go through the procedures. I guess we'll give them an honorary commendation first to appease the troops."

In fact, the collective third-class merit is undeniable.

The praise was just Ming Yufei deliberately suppressing the kid's excitement.

"Huh? Just an award?" Jiang Ruixuan's face fell instantly.

"What? You think it's not enough?" Ming Yufei glared at him. "Alright, Jiang Ruixuan, you're definitely getting all the credit. With your eagerness to make a name for yourself, we can have the instructor give you a good talking-to when we get back."

Upon hearing the words "instructor," Jiang Ruixuan shuddered as if a cat had its tail stepped on.

"No, no, no, class monitor, can we not mention him?"

His biggest fear was his instructor.

He felt terrible just thinking about what the other person said!

"Comrade Jiang Ruixuan, you must deeply understand that the significance of merit lies in serving the motherland and the people, and personal honor can never supersede collective honor..."

Seeing that the other party had backed down, Ming Yufei stopped saying anything.

The two men, smoking, simultaneously gazed at the farmland that was being transformed into a fortress.

The more than six-meter-high wall is wrapped with rings of barbed wire that gleams coldly. The barbed wire is electrified, and there is a rudimentary watchtower every fifty meters. This is a special prison.

"Class monitor, do you think we'll really see those elves farming here in the future?" Jiang Ruixuan asked with curiosity. "I wonder if we could... make friends with them or something."

Ming Yufei glanced at him sideways, his eyes revealing a knowing, playful look that only men would understand.

"You, you can't expect the organization to send you one just because you can't find one yourself. Elves are a different race."

"Cough cough! Class monitor, don't talk nonsense!" Jiang Ruixuan's face instantly turned bright red, and he hurriedly defended himself, "I didn't! I couldn't possibly! I have...I have a crush on someone back in my hometown!"

"Oh? You have a crush on someone?" Ming Yufei's smile widened, and he nudged Jiang Ruixuan with his elbow. "That's perfect."

"Just right what?"

Ming Yufei slowly finished his cigarette, stubbed it out on the sole of his shoe, and then said unhurriedly:

"I heard that during their leave of absence, outstanding veterans can apply to visit their families!"

He patted Jiang Ruixuan on the shoulder and grinned.

"When the time comes, send your medals home and see if your crush will be willing to have a chat with this great hero."

Jiang Ruixuan froze completely!

"Jiang Ruixuan, stop being so hot-tempered, it's time to clean the equipment!"

"Hey, you're here!"
-
A small town in central Henan.

Downstairs at the office building, several black sedans and a hearse were parked quietly, with a police car leading the way.

Xiao Zhou was sitting in one of the cars when an official from the Veterans Affairs Office handed him a bottle of water, but he shook his head.

"It's almost time, let's go," the official said to the driver, glancing at his watch.

"it is good."

Without a siren, only the silent rotating lights of the police lights, the convoy slowly started moving, like a silent black river carrying the devastating news of a family, heading towards its destination.

Xiao Zhou subconsciously straightened his back; the collar of his military uniform felt a little tight.

He swallowed, his Adam's apple rolling up and down.

"Don't be nervous, keep your expression under control, just say the lines we rehearsed before." The officer from the management office patted his arm, his tone as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "If the family members ask about the details of your comrade's sacrifice, just say what we said before, don't say anything more, understand?"

"Yes."

“Liang’s parents and relatives are already at the cemetery. If they lose control of their emotions during the handover, don’t say anything, just salute. Our people will go up and comfort them. In case… I mean in case, if a family member hits you, endure it, don’t fight back, and don’t dodge.”

"Yes!"

"Also, keep a straight face the whole time, don't cry, and don't show any sympathy." The cadre emphasized, "If you cry, they will feel even more uncomfortable and think that you are pitying them. Sometimes good intentions can backfire."

"Yes!"

Xiao Zhou responded again, his fingers unconsciously stroking the crisp seams of his military trousers above his knee.

His gaze fell on the photo frame wrapped in black cloth on the seat next to him.

That's Liang Feng's portrait.

Comrades who died in the last "Undead Scourge" attack.

Due to the secrecy of the operation, news of the deaths was kept under wraps for a long time until the families were notified a few days ago, and the individuals were publicly honored.

He and Liang Feng came from the same company and were so close they'd risk their lives for each other. Liang Feng always said that after he retired, he would go back to his hometown and open a spicy soup breakfast restaurant, saying it was a secret recipe passed down from his grandmother and would be on the market in less than three years.

Now, he can only take Liang Feng's ashes back with him.

Sending fallen heroes home is an unparalleled honor, but no one in the old military units is willing to take on this task.

The heart-wrenching scene was unforgettable; once witnessed, it was unforgettable for a lifetime.

The motorcade stopped a few kilometers away from Liang Feng's village, where the honor guard was already waiting.

The soldiers, with steady steps, solemnly carried the urn draped with a flag off the vehicle.

At the village entrance, a large group of Liang Feng's relatives stood in the dark.

As the car door opened and Xiao Zhou stepped out carrying Liang Feng's portrait, a hunched-over woman in the crowd trembled violently. Her gaze was fixed on the black-and-white photograph, on the face she had seen for over twenty years.

She didn't cry out immediately; she just stared blankly, her lips trembling, like a fish out of water.

A few seconds later, two streams of turbid tears flowed silently down her cheeks.

"My son—!"

A piercing wail shattered the tranquility of the cemetery. Liang's mother's legs gave way, and she collapsed backward, only to be caught by her relatives behind her.

Xiao Zhou dared not look into those eyes, fearing that the dam he had just built would collapse instantly.

He could only keep his eyes straight ahead and walk forward mechanically, step by step.

A solemn and somber ceremony was held in the cemetery.

The honor guard fired guns in farewell, accompanied by mournful music.

As the soldiers gently lowered the urn into the grave, Liang's mother, who was being supported, rolled her eyes again and fell straight backward.

"Quick! The family member is very agitated and has fainted again!"

"Doctor! Doctor?"

The accompanying doctor rushed over immediately, pinched her philtrum, and checked her pulse. After a flurry of activity, he finally managed to wake Liang's mother up.

She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the gray sky, no longer crying or making a fuss, just looking at it.

After the burial, the relatives' cries gradually subsided, leaving only sporadic sobs.

Xiao Zhou finished his final salute and turned to return to his unit.

"Young comrade, wait a moment."

A hoarse voice called out to him.

He was Liang Feng's father, a middle-aged man with dark skin, a wrinkled face, and difficulty walking.

He didn't shed a single tear from beginning to end, but his bloodshot eyes were unsettling to behold.

He walked up to Xiao Zhou, handed him a cigarette, lit one for himself, and took a deep drag.

"The report said that he was killed during a mission while carrying out live-fire training."

He looked at Xiao Zhou and noticed that Xiao Zhou's throat was moving, but he couldn't make a sound.

Mr. Liang sighed, “I once heard from my comrades in the army that when we were saying goodbye to some of our comrades who had sacrificed their lives on special missions, the reasons for their sacrifices could not be said openly.”

“I know you are disciplined.”

Liang's father exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, which blurred his grief-stricken face.

"I'll just ask you one question, and you have to tell me the truth." He stared intently into Xiao Zhou's eyes, "My son... when he passed away, did he cry out in pain?"

Xiao Zhou felt like his throat was blocked with sand, and he couldn't squeeze out a single word.

Does it hurt?
How did he answer?

You say it doesn't hurt?
That was an insult to his comrades, and even more so, another deception of this father.

In the other world, Liang Feng was attacked by a combination of undead and beasts and torn to pieces until he died!

In the last few seconds of his life, it was unknown whether he was still conscious, but the excruciating pain of having his body torn apart was enough to break even the toughest man.

Saying it hurts?

How dare he?
How can we allow a comrade's father to have the image of his son begging for mercy flash through his mind at the moment his son is buried?

The management officer's order echoed in his ears: "Don't speak, salute."

But the man before him was none other than Liang Feng's father. A veteran who had once worn a military uniform and knew how much blood and tears were hidden behind discipline and secrecy.

Looking at Xiao Zhou's sullen face, Liang's father's cloudy eyes flickered, as if he could see through the turbulent waves in Xiao Zhou's heart.

He didn't ask any more questions, but simply finished smoking the cigarette, threw the butt on the ground, and crushed it out again with the worn sole of his shoe.

"Xiao Zhou!" Liang's father spoke hoarsely, pulling another cigarette pack from his pocket—this time, Double Happiness cigarettes. "Ah Feng mentioned you in his video suicide note and letter. I've watched it so many times, so many times!!!"

"You belong to an elite force, a special forces unit! A force that makes me proud and honored! When I served in the Navy, I really wanted to join the Marine Corps."

Xiao Zhou straightened his back and stood at attention: "Uncle, please accept my condolences!"

Mr. Liang offered him another cigarette, but Xiao Zhou instinctively waved his hand away.

"Take it." Mr. Liang's tone left no room for argument, and he even personally stuffed the cigarette into Xiao Zhou's military uniform pocket. "I don't want to ask any more questions about things in the military. I know the confidentiality rules are important!"

Xiao Zhou felt a sudden pang of sadness in his nose.

"I've read the report of the sacrifice over and over again!" Father Liang lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke made him cough. "Live-fire training... to ensure the unit's concealment, they sacrificed themselves in the flames. Ha..."

Every word he uttered sounded like he was chewing on shards of glass.

"He must have cried out in pain when he died, right? He probably didn't die in the fire, did he?"

It was clearly a question, but the tone was incredibly certain.

Xiao Zhou's lips were pressed into a stiff line, and her fingers, hanging at her sides, were clenched so tightly they ached.

“My son has always been afraid of pain. That brat is really afraid of pain!” Father Liang’s voice lowered, with a hint of self-deprecating laughter. “He’ll cry for half a day over a little scrape. Unlike me, I’m thick-skinned.”

Xiao Zhou could no longer hold back; his eyes instantly reddened. He abruptly raised his hand, gave a military salute, and shouted with all his might, "Reporting, Uncle! Liang Feng is a hero!"

“He’s a hero…” Liang’s father murmured, repeating the words as if trying to etch them into his bones. He nodded, then shook his head, and finally let out a long sigh, as if exhaling the last bit of strength from his lungs.

"Yes! A hero! It's a pity he died!"

"Sigh!" Mr. Liang sighed deeply, then said, "I have a second son who is a senior in high school this year."

Mr. Liang changed the subject so quickly that Xiao Zhou didn't react for a moment.

Father Liang raised his calloused hand and pointed to the distance.

There, a young boy who looked seven or eight parts like Liang Feng stood blankly in front of his brother's newly sealed grave, standing there dumbfounded.

“After we were told that his brother had passed away, he was stunned for a long time. The next day, he knelt down and kowtowed to me, begging me to let him join the army too.” Liang’s father’s voice was filled with an overwhelming weariness and panic. “Passing on the torch… I understand the principle, but I just can’t bear it! I don’t want to lose my youngest son!”

"Xiao Zhou, you're a good soldier and A-Feng's best brother."

Suddenly, Liang's father turned around, grabbed Xiao Zhou's arm, and stared at him with his bloodshot eyes.

"Uncle, I have a favor to ask of you!"

"You tell me!"

"Please help me persuade him!" Father Liang's grip was frighteningly strong, his nails almost digging into Xiao Zhou's flesh. "It's not that I don't want him to join the army to protect the country! But... please persuade him, once he's of legal age and married, let him give the Liang family an heir first, then he can enlist! Will you do it? His mother is heartbroken!"

"Please, don't let our Liang family line die out!"

The last sentence, spoken by the man who hadn't shed a single tear from beginning to end, was trembling.

"I...I'll try!"

A few hours later!
"So you made a promise to Liang Feng's younger brother, Liang Shan, without really understanding what was going on, that you would have the army write a letter applying for enlistment?"

"I...I didn't want to either, but I'm stuck!"

"You..." The person in charge of communicating with Xiao Zhou suppressed his anger, "Don't you know this is a strategic retreat in negotiations?"

"I...I was feeling down at the time, I forgot!"

"Hey!"

"He's only eighteen, not married yet, and doesn't even have any children!"

"what is it now?"

Let's take it one step at a time.

After the call ended, Xiao Zhou scratched his head, then looked at his comrades.

"Since things have come to this, the letter of introduction still needs to be written."

"Yeah, old ginger is spicier, and old people are more slippery. Sigh, we've been fooled by our older comrades!"

Liang Feng's parents, who had sacrificed their lives, might have genuinely wanted to prevent their second son from going to the battlefield, but Liang Shan remained resolute. His words, a combination of feigned retreat and emotional appeal, persuaded Xiao Zhou to make some verbal promises. Then, unexpectedly, Liang Shan's father seized the opportunity to demand more.

When that time came, Xiao Zhou realized that he seemed to have been tricked and forced into it, and he didn't know how to refuse!
Thinking of what the Liang family father and son had said, a bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Is it really necessary? Why do you have to use so much brainpower? We know about the spirit of passing on the torch and the legacy! It's not like we're stopping you from enlisting!!!"

(End of this chapter)