Starting from 1950

Inside the train carriage, the joy of victory had been overshadowed by the devastated scene before them.

Su Yang closed his eyes, seemingly resting, but his consciousness sank into an interface that only he could see.

The glaring warning message, "[Warning: Player has reached the free trial level cap! You can continue to level up after recharging!]", was like a thorn stuck in his heart.

Recharge? With what? In the past few days, he tried calling out to the virtual interface in his mind, tapping it, and even imagining what mobile payment looked like in his previous life, but there was no response.

Xiaoyu sensed his irritation and gently pecked at his finger with her beak, making a low "cooing" sound.

Upon entering the main urban area, Luo Pojun went to see the current leader in Liujing, and insisted on bringing Su Yang along.

"Hello, Chief Blue!"

As soon as Su Yang entered the door, he discovered that it was Chief Lan.

Chief Lan glanced at Luo Pojun beside Su Yang, and waved him out with a smile.

After Luo Pojun left, he put away his smile and said sternly, "Su Yang! How dare you! You actually dared to falsely convey military orders!"

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly explained, "Commander, I didn't say that you sent me to the 352nd Regiment. I only said that I had seen you in Andong..."

"You've already confessed!" Chief Lan laughed heartily. "I haven't even said what it is, and you're already in such a hurry to explain. Your composure needs some work."

Su Yang smiled wryly, speechless. Facing a big shot like Chief Lan, it was too difficult to pretend to be calm.

"I'm not here to cause you trouble. On the contrary, I want to thank you for your contributions to the country these past few days. Not only did you help the 352nd Regiment and the 114th Division win the victory, but you also saved many soldiers from dying far from home. Also, Xiao Yue has already told me about how you shot down an airplane with a heavy machine gun on the riverbank, forcing it to turn back. Tsk tsk, you've got some luck!"

Chief Lan did not mention Su Yang's use of his name to go to the 352nd Regiment again, but instead praised Su Yang highly.

As for Su Yang hitting the plane, he attributed it to luck, since Su Yang didn't actually shoot the plane down.

As a soldier, he knew all too well how difficult it was to shoot down a plane.

Regardless of whether it was luck or not, he would report this achievement to Su Yang, and once the war ended, he would certainly be rewarded accordingly.

Su Yang thought to himself that it wasn't just that Xiao Yu forced one plane away; she also shot one down.

However, this matter was too surreal, and he dared not publicize it.

After all, no one could be sure whether someone would send Xiaoyu to trade one enemy plane for another.

If you could trade an eagle for an enemy plane, most people would probably choose to do so without hesitation.

Hearing the praise, Su Yang didn't feel relieved at all; instead, his heart pounded even higher.

Sure enough, Chief Lan then asked, "What's the story behind your little gyrfalcon?"

Su Yang's heart jumped into his throat, and he quickly racked his brains for the right words.

Chief Lan watched him with a smile, neither speaking nor urging him.

Su Yang thought of several excuses, but when he got to the point of saying them, he felt they were inappropriate.

After a long while, he sighed and said, "Commander, I confess."

"I have a telepathic connection with Xiaoyu; it can transmit what it sees to me through telepathy!"

"Telepathy!"

Commander Lan's face revealed an expression of "I knew it," and he said, "Xiao Luo and Xiao Zhai have already submitted a written report on your performance on the battlefield. Although our team adheres to materialism, as the saying goes, the world is full of wonders, and your abilities are excellent!"

Just as Su Yang breathed a sigh of relief, Chief Lan changed the subject again, "Could your ability to communicate with birds be implemented in our unit?"

"No way! I don't even know why I have this ability." Su Yang shook his head directly. "Besides, after Xiaoyu and I became telepathically connected, I tried it with other animals, but it just didn't work! A few days ago, I even had Xiaoyu bring back a gyrfalcon, but it still didn't work!"

He was only half telling the truth. After taking Xiaoyu as a pet, he did try other animals, and a few days ago he even let Xiaoyu catch a gyrfalcon, but none of them could be tamed like Xiaoyu.

It seems that his ability to tame Xiaoyu comes from the cheat system, which is the deepest secret buried in his heart and cannot be revealed under any circumstances.

According to the game's mechanics for hunters to tame multiple pets, they must first dismiss or abandon the current pet.

But he couldn't find the option to dismiss Xiaoyu on the panel.

As for giving up Xiaoyu?

Su Yang wouldn't even consider that.

"That's a real shame."

Chief Lan stared into Su Yang's eyes for a while. Although Su Yang's eyes darted away slightly, his gaze was clear.

It's clear that they basically told the truth.

He chuckled and said, "By the way! You ran off to this battlefield without a word and stayed there for a month. Your Limin Noodle Factory even called Andong. Your foster sister even came to Andong once with the truck that was delivering fried noodles. Now that there's not much fighting on the front lines for the time being, you should go back to Shenzhou, lest your sister accuse us of conscripting men and not even sparing 12-year-olds."

"My sister? Wu Xinxue?"

Su Yang's voice trembled slightly, followed by a surge of guilt and longing.

The image of Wu Xinxue standing with her hands on her hips, bickering with him, yet showing him great care and concern, instantly flashed into his mind.

Yes! He crossed the river secretly without even leaving a word for Wu Xinxue. How could she not be frantic with worry?

Su Yang wished he could slap himself!

For the past month, he's been so focused on gaining experience and leveling up that he's completely forgotten about Wu Xinxue!

"Yes, Comrade Wu Xinxue."

Chief Lan's expression softened, revealing the concern of an elder. "She was extremely worried when she received the news of your disappearance. This young woman insisted on following the convoy transporting fried noodles to the front-line command post in Andong to find you. Later, when she heard that you might be on the battlefield, she cried, but she remained strong. I heard from your factory cadres that she did a good job in propaganda work in Shenzhou."

Su Yang lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the ammunition pouch at his waist.

"Go back, Comrade Su Yang." Commander Lan's tone was gentle but firm. "The organization remembers your merits and contributions. But the battlefield is not a place for a kid your age to stay for long. Your improved fried noodles have been verified by the 352nd Regiment and can indeed improve night blindness and chapped lips. Logistics work also needs all kinds of talents, and you can realize your value in the rear just as well."

He patted Su Yang on the shoulder again, "Besides, the war isn't over yet. Who knows, we might need you and Xiaoyu again someday. When the army calls on you, you're not allowed to back down!"

"Yes, sir! I obey orders!" Su Yang straightened his back and gave a standard military salute.

Chief Lan nodded in satisfaction: "Good, a convoy carrying supplies will be returning to Andong soon. You can go with the convoy, and I will notify Luo Pojun to arrange for someone to take you."

Leaving Chief Lan's temporary office, the chill outside invigorated Su Yang.

When they found Luo Pojun, he was counting the spoils of war that he had just received with several battalion commanders—mainly warm military blankets and canned food and other military rations.

Upon seeing Su Yang, Luo Pojun grinned, strode over, and patted Su Yang's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand.

"Kid! What did Commander Lan say to you? Did he praise our 352nd Regiment again? Haha!" Luo Pojun was in a great mood.

Su Yang said irritably, "Old Luo! Did you tattle on me?"

"I snitched?" Luo Pojun's smile froze on his face, and his voice rose several octaves, attracting the attention of the surrounding officers and soldiers.

"How dare you say that! A few days ago, Chief Lan gave me a severe dressing-down on the phone, saying that I brought you to the battlefield without verifying your identity. If we hadn't won a few battles, he would have punished me long ago!"

Su Yang rolled his eyes. "Don't give me that. If the commander wants to punish you, how can you issue a commendation? How can you give our 352nd Regiment so many spoils of war? You're probably secretly delighted."

Luo Pojun, who had been feigning anger, finally couldn't hold back and burst into laughter, saying, "That's right! Our 352nd Regiment deserves great credit for this great victory, and you deserve great credit too!"

Su Yang smiled and nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Old Luo, I'm going back to Shenzhou!"