Rebirth in 1972: Redemption in Changbai Mountain

"No, it's only been three days. I was fine when I parted ways with Director Xiang three days ago," Lin Guoqiang emphasized.

"Even if it lasts three days, the situation is not optimistic; they're all greenhorns..."

"It can't be that serious, they're all carrying guns. And they're all Type 56 rifles." Lin Guoqiang said dismissively.

"The dangers in these mountains aren't just limited to wild beasts. The frigid climate, the scarcity of food, and the ubiquitous canyons and crevasses are the most deadly."

After listening, Lin Guoqiang looked at Gu Dayong, who gave him an affirmative look.

Lin Guoqiang gritted his teeth: "We still have to go find them, alive or dead. Wang Pao, you can make any request you have, and I'll grant you whatever I can."

"It's not that serious, he might not die," Wang Shouye said calmly.

"I only have one thing to say: if anything really happens to these young people we're looking for, they can't blame us."

Zhou Rui and Gu Dayong glanced at Wang Shouye at the same time; this was the demeanor of a seasoned veteran.

Sometimes the benefits don't need to be mentioned, but the worst-case scenario should be discussed first. Important figures have unpredictable temperaments; if the mission isn't completed and they're unjustly blamed, ordinary people have no way to retaliate.

"Don't worry, this client is very good and won't blame you for not getting things done."

"No, I only need your word. Then I'll acknowledge you." Wang Shouye stared straight at Lin Guoqiang, extremely stubborn.

Lin Guoqiang fell silent, unsure why Wang Shouye was so persistent. He looked up, turned his neck, and glanced around, including at Gu Jiacheng.

"Alright, I vouch for it with my party loyalty." Lin Guoqiang nodded slowly, but his tone was heavy with weight.

"Okay, let's go then."

Without saying a word, Wang Shouye stood up, picked up the backpack in the corner, tossed it to Zhou Rui, and then went to get the double-barreled shotgun hanging on the wall.

Lin Guodong was stunned by what he saw. What was going on? They hadn't mentioned any conditions, just asked for a promise, and that was it?

In contrast, Zhou Rui, Gu Dayong, and the others didn't find it strange at all; they thought it was perfectly normal. People in the martial arts world have their own habits; they don't care about status, only about keeping their promises.

"Wang Pao, you don't need to take the gun. We'll provide the rescue equipment for this mission," Lin Guoqiang said.

Wang Shouye paused for a moment: "I don't need it. I'm used to my gun. Besides, it can be loaded with shotgun rounds, which complements my rifle."

Wang Shouye moved quickly; he had packed most of his things beforehand. He grabbed his gun, took his spotted coat, said goodbye to Li Mei, and set off.

The back of the jeep was filled with packages of various sizes belonging to Zhou Rui and his companions. Inside the jeep sat five burly men and a hunting dog, making it quite crowded.

The jeep first went to the county's armed forces department, where Lin Guoqiang, along with Zhou Rui and two others, picked out three Type 56 semi-automatic rifles and then loaded a batch of military rations such as compressed biscuits and canned goods.

This was Zhou Rui's first time visiting the county town since his rebirth. Unfortunately, everything was focused on the mission, and he had no time to go out and explore.

The jeep came and went in a hurry, and sped out again less than ten minutes after entering the armed forces compound.

Lin Guoqiang had originally planned to assign them a squad of soldiers, but Wang Shouye and Gu Dayong both refused.

This isn't a war; having more people isn't very useful, and it might even waste time due to a lack of coordination.

Unless you call upon thousands or tens of thousands of people, it's just a drop in the ocean in these mountains of Northeast China.

In Taiping Town Commune, a light green sedan was already parked outside. Lin Guoqiang stepped on the brake, and the jeep slowly rolled over and stopped behind the sedan.

The group got out of the car, picked up their rifles, and followed Lin Guodong into the commune, with Huaban wagging its tail behind them.

Gu Jiacheng stared intently at the car. It was the first time he had ever seen such a beautiful car, and he couldn't take his eyes off it.

Zhou Rui glanced at it sideways; it was a sedan. The sedan's exterior was passable, with a raised center section at the front and an engine cooling grille.

There was a line of English letters on the side that Zhou Rui didn't recognize. There was a circle in front of the car with a strange logo inside, one he'd never seen before. However, anyone who could afford a car in this era was clearly no ordinary person.

As Gu Jiacheng walked through the commune gate, he kept turning his head to look outside.

A large conference room was filled with eight or nine people, each with a cigarette in their hand. The smoke was so thick that even the overhead light bulbs couldn't penetrate it, and only a few dogs could be seen lying under the table.

Lin Guoqiang pushed open the door, and everyone inside turned to look at him.

"Minister Lin, you've finally arrived."

A man with thinning hair stood up. He was wearing a blue cotton coat over a cotton-padded jacket, which made him look somewhat bulky.

The clothes had four pockets, with a pen clipped to each of the top two pockets.

"Director Xie, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Lin Guoqiang stepped forward and shook hands with the man surnamed Xie.

"Guoqiang." A tall, burly man walked over and greeted Lin Guoqiang warmly, his voice a little hoarse from smoking too many cigarettes.

Lin Guoqiang put his right arm around the big man's shoulder: "Qin Zhan, don't worry. I've brought the best artilleryman in Hongqi Town, along with some of my old soldiers. We'll definitely be able to bring him back safely."

Zhou Rui followed behind, carefully observing. The one at the beginning must be a leader of Taiping Commune; Lin Guoqiang called him Director Xie, so that could only be the director of the Revolutionary Committee.

The one behind him who called Lin Guoqiang by his full name was obviously his childhood friend, the one who had asked them to go up the mountain to find him. He just looked somewhat familiar.

Zhou Rui watched silently, feeling like he had seen this person somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

"Come on, let me introduce you all so you can get to know each other better and prepare for the search for the person up the mountain."

Time was of the essence, and Lin Guoqiang was not prepared to waste much time.

"Hu Dongmu, the guide who led the group into the mountains last time, is a mountain guide from Taiping Town. He will take you to the place where those people disappeared."

Lin Guoqiang pointed to a short man with a stubble beard and bloodshot eyes. The man didn't look very old, and because of his anxiety and lack of hygiene, it was difficult to tell his age.

He stood there alone, letting Lin Guoqiang introduce him without saying a word, because he felt somewhat apprehensive.

If the person can't be found, he doesn't know what he'll face. The families of those young men arrived; they were clearly officials.

"Xie Zhihua and Xie Zhijie are well-known gunners in Taiping Town, and are among the best hunters in Taiping Town."

The two old men opposite remained silent, but the three young men behind them straightened their backs and held their heads high.

"Xie Yongjiang, Luo Hao, and Wang Xiaolong are Xie Pao's apprentices."

"Gu Dayong, the gunner in Hongqi Town, was a soldier in my unit back then. His son is Gu Jiacheng." Lin Guoqiang's introduction became increasingly simplified, clearly trying to save time.

"Wang Shouye, the most skilled gunner in Hongqi Town, has hunted tigers. His apprentice is Zhou Rui."