It was supposed to be a casual game, but the Long March dungeon brought tears to everyone's eye

Just as Kuang Ge and his friends were getting teary-eyed from receiving this "medal" and were about to say something more,

"Drip-drip-drip-!!"

A sudden, sharp bugle call shattered the idyllic tranquility of the place.

The old squad leader's gentle aura vanished instantly, and he stood at attention almost reflexively.

Then he quickly bent down, picked up the military cap next to his knee, held the brim with both hands, and put it on his head properly.

He lowered his head again, patted his trouser legs with utmost seriousness, and tightened his belt.

His movements were swift and decisive, revealing a resolute determination to face death at any moment.

Crazy Brother and Hawkeye felt a jolt in their hearts. They had only been chatting for a short while, and the old squad leader was already leaving?

"Class monitor!"

Ruan Ruan panicked and took a few steps forward, reaching out to grab the old squad leader's sleeve.

"Could you...stay a little longer? Take one last look at the future of the Dragon Kingdom!"

"Now we don't need to eat grass roots or chew on leather belts; everyone is dressed warmly and comfortably..."

"That's the blessing you've longed for your whole life, even just a glimpse would be enough!"

In the live stream, people echoed this sentiment.

"Yes! Sergeant, take another look!"

"If I leave like this, I'll break another arm!"

The soft fingers were about to touch the old sergeant's sleeve, but at the last moment they grasped at nothing.

Faint golden particles began to appear around the edges of the old squad leader's body, like an old photograph being blown away by the wind, gradually blurring.

Hearing the soft cries, the old squad leader paused in adjusting his leg wraps.

He turned around.

In those deep-set eyes, a longing for a better future flashed through them.

That was a beautiful dream he never dared to have, even when he froze to death on the snowy mountain.

But he only glanced at it.

Then, the longing in his eyes was replaced by an unwavering determination.

The old squad leader looked at Crazy Brother, Eagle Eye, and Softie, and slowly shook his head.

A relieved smile on his weathered face.

"I'm not watching anymore."

The old squad leader turned around, raised his hand, and pointed to the vast, misty void behind him.

"We haven't even fought the Lazikou Pass yet, and we haven't even crossed the Liupanshan Mountain. There's still such a long road ahead that we need to measure with our own feet."

The old squad leader paused, his gaze becoming incredibly profound.

"If I were to see those days of blissful indulgence now, feeling relaxed, restless, and weak-willed, who would walk the road ahead?"

"If I don't leave, what future do you have?"

This rhetorical question left Ruan Ruan speechless for a moment.

Yes.

If our ancestors all chose comfort and chose to stay in that dream and enjoy the fruits of victory, then who will push the wheels of history?

Who will clear that thorny, blood-soaked path?

For the players, this is a game.

For the old squad leader's spirit projection, it was history that could be relived.

No matter how many times we start over!

Although once he entered the fog of war, he temporarily forgot about the future of those golden wheat fields and minced meat noodles.

The old squad leader's spirit projection took one last, deep look at the three of them, including Kuang Ge.

There was relief, reluctance, and entrustment in his eyes.

He left behind his last words.

"Let's go... I'll be waiting for you up ahead!"

After saying this, the old sergeant did not hesitate at all, turned around abruptly, and ran towards the vague fog of war.

"Class monitor!!" Crazy Brother roared, trying to catch up.

But the next second, the three of them suddenly burst into tears.

As the old sergeant's figure was about to dissipate while running, his right arm, which had been intact in the Heroic Spirit Space and had just handed water to Brother Kuang, disappeared first.

"puff."

It sounded like the soft sound of bubbles bursting.

That healthy, upright figure in the sunlight instantly transformed back into that one-armed veteran with an empty right sleeve, a hunched back, yet stubborn.

He wanted to return to his battlefield, to continue being his "gravekeeper," and to be the "old squad leader" who would leave the last bite of food for the children.

Resolutely.

Resolutely.

……

The dream fades, the Heroic Spirit Space disappears, and a pure white game settlement hall appears.

Crazy Brother, Eagle Eye, and Softie stood there dumbfounded, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream.

But the rough texture in their hands told them that it was not a dream.

The three of them opened their palms.

The straw-woven five-pointed star lay quietly in my palm.

The grass roots were not woven very finely, and were even a bit crooked, but the red cloth strip in the middle was glaringly red.

It seemed to still carry the scent of the grass and the warmth of the old squad leader's body.

They looked at the system note for "Old Squad Leader's Soldier"—"You'll always have a place in this team"—and felt a pang of loss.

I feel truly lost and disappointed.

Yet, because of this special reward, they were overjoyed.

In the live stream, the viewers who were originally immersed in grief also came back to their senses and looked at the system interface that Kuang Ge and the others had opened.

The barrage of comments shifted dramatically, becoming overwhelmed by expressions of awe and envy.

"A permanent willpower buff of +30%?! This is practically an official cheat code!!"

"The previous points were too superficial! Even without attribute bonuses, just this identity alone... 'The old sergeant's soldier,' that was acknowledged by our predecessors themselves!"

"Exactly! Those three unique honorary titles are way more awesome than any divine artifact!"

"And looking at the second effect, as long as you have this identity, you won't have to worry about being assigned to another squad in later dungeons, right?"

"Waaaah, I want that identity too! I want to be one of the old sergeant's soldiers..."

Just then, another golden server-wide announcement popped up, interrupting all the players' discussions.

[Server-wide Announcement: Due to the successful completion of "Red Expedition: Grassland Chapter" (True History Difficulty) by players Kuangge, Yingyan, and Ruanruan, the "Grassland Chapter: Story Experience Mode" has been unlocked for all players on the server as a token of gratitude for their pioneering efforts.]

The comments section was momentarily stunned, then erupted in celebration.

"Thanks to the three big shots who paved the way!"

"Waaaaah, I finally dared to go in! To be honest, after watching the live stream, I really didn't dare to play the real history mode. Someone as fragile as me would just be a burden to the old squad leader."

"Me too, me too! I can't play the real history mode at all, so from now on, the three of you are in charge of clearing the game!"

"I second that! We'll be responsible for cheering you on from behind, giving you our spiritual support to the very core of our being!"

Kuang Ge and the others looked at these comments and were both amused and exasperated.

Ordinary players simply cannot bear this kind of despair.

In terms of historical difficulty, there are actually quite a few player teams that have completed the Snow Mountain chapter.

But in the grassland arc, they were truly the only ones left.

But before the barrage of comments could even finish celebrating, Luo An Studio pulled another stunt.

On the system interface, an icon called "Spark Mall" lit up.

[New mechanism launched: Frontline Support System.]

[Rules: All players can exchange points earned from defeating enemies and completing tactical objectives in the "Crossing the Dadu River" dungeon for "Supply Packs" (containing medicine, dry rations, winter clothing, etc.) in the shop.]

[Note: These supply packs can only be delivered to the Red Army in "Story Mode" and cannot be carried over to "True History Difficulty".]

The moment this rule was announced, the players were in an uproar.

"That old fox Luo's move is brilliant! Is he making us fight in later dungeons to earn points to support the old squad leaders in earlier dungeons?"

"Holy crap! Who could resist this? To let our old sergeant have a bite of meat, I'd risk my life at the Dadu River right now!"

Even in the "story experience mode," many players want to complete the game in an easier way.

Even if they don't have the perseverance of the three brothers, can't they still work to feed the old squad leader?

Meanwhile, Kuang Ge and his friends were also drawn to "Crossing the Dadu River".

As everyone knows, the old squad leader lost his arm after Anshunchang.

But the old squad leader is not in the "Crossing the Dadu River" instance.

Kuang Ge and his comrades recalled what their old squad leader had said: his arm was reserved for the Dadu River, and he couldn't renege on his promise.

If they completed "Crossing the Dadu River" and saved the old squad leader's arm in "Seizing the Luding Bridge", would that change something a little?

On behalf of all the players, Kuang Ge quickly tagged the official account of Luo An Studio.

"@Luoan Studio, I just have one question."

"If we fought to the death in the Dadu River, could we have saved the old squad leader's arm?"

After the question was posted, the entire comment section was waiting.

one second.

two seconds.

ten seconds.

Just when everyone thought that Old Thief Luo wouldn't answer such a question that involved the core of the plot...

The official account of Luoan Studio replied with a word that sent chills down your spine and made your blood boil.

"able."

【

Hmm, just finished writing the update and checked the backend. My brain is still processing; I wonder how many bonus chapters I still haven't written for the gifts! o(╥﹏╥)o

There's also the issue of "verified" guest roles. There are already many bosses who haven't been listed yet, and Lolo won't be a guest just for the sake of a guest role (serious face). So the later the guest role is, the longer you might have to wait. I don't recommend getting carried away and spending money on the role (serious face again). Your support with your small gifts is enough!

Thank you everyone!

】