Chapter 108: The Mystery of Disappearance

  At last, I found Chen Jing and others in a large crater. I was overjoyed and shouted loudly: "Chen Jing, are you all okay?"

  Chen Jing, who was shooting at the enemy, heard a sound and turned around. When she saw me, she froze instantly. Several bullets hit the mud beside her, splashing up a lot of dust, almost injuring her.

  I was startled and rushed over to her, embracing her in my arms, and then fell to the ground with her.

  Chen Jing was pounced on and hugged by me, "Ah" sounded, instantly woke up, loudly said: "How did you come?"

  Her voice was very loud, as if she were shouting. I knew her ears had been shocked and couldn't hear the weak sound, so she spoke in such a loud voice. So I also shouted loudly: "I'm here to pick you up, you can leave here and go back to the capital!"

  Chen Jing was stunned for a moment, then pushed me and said: "We are still in battle, how can we leave the battlefield? You go first, we will find you after finishing this fight."

  I was also stunned and immediately said: "Everyone listen to me!"

  The Hu Long Lian warriors who were with Chen Jing at this time finally appeared in front of me, each with a smile on their faces.

  "I shouted loudly: 'You were deceived by Wang Yingzu's fake military order, your battlefield is not here, you can leave now and go back to the capital.'"

  Everyone was stunned, and then one by one they furiously shouted: "Wang Yingzu, we're going to kill you..."

  It was only then that I realized there were fewer than ten soldiers from the Dragon Guard Regiment around Chen Jing. So I asked, "Where are the rest of our comrades? Are they somewhere else? I'll go call them over and we can all retreat together."

  Chen Jing's eyes suddenly turned red, and she cried out loudly: "It's all gone, it's all gone, the Hu Long Lian is left with only us few people..."

  I felt my brain go blank for a moment, then a surge of fury flooded my mind. I shouted loudly: "Wang Yingzu, I will tear you to pieces!"

  The last few warriors of the Hu Long Lian shouted in unison: "Kill Wang Yingzu, avenge our brothers!"

  Their roar was filled with anger and hatred, as if their closest people had been killed by the enemy. Everyone's eyes were red, tightly grasping the weapons in their hands, with a fierce killing intent.

  At this moment, we don't care if the enemy's bullets will hit our bodies or if their shells will land beside us. We only have one thought, that is to find Wang Yingzu and avenge our brothers!

  Chen Jing's crying voice was especially heart-wrenching for me. I stretched out my hand and hugged her again, without speaking or thinking of comforting her.

  I took a look at the last of the Hu Long Lian brothers, there were only seven people left. Including me and Chen Jing, the Hu Long Lian had only seven people left.

  My eyes have also turned red, bloodshot.

  A shell from the enemy landed less than thirty meters away, and the massive explosion made us instinctively crouch down to avoid getting hurt. This explosion also finally brought us back to our senses from our immense grief.

  The shrapnel wounded several survivors of the Hu Long Regiment, but they were all superficial wounds and nothing serious. No one paid attention to these minor injuries, instead gathering together, staring at me in unison, waiting for my orders.

  I took a deep breath and said, "We will withdraw from here now and return to the capital city to meet with Old Chen and other heads of the military department. We will report this matter to them in detail. Old Chen already knows some of it, and he will take charge of the rest."

  Chen Jing slightly shook her head: "Our comrades all died here, even if we want to leave, we must first find their bodies and bring them back for a proper burial. We also need to give their families an explanation, otherwise, I won't be at peace."

  I nodded: "This is just leave it to me to handle, Master Yu Cheng and the others have also come to find you, only we were separated before. Now we will go find them, then go find our brothers, and bring them back together."

  Chen Jing nodded in agreement, just as she was about to get up, but then said: "Also, those Japanese pirates we captured must be taken back with us. They can't stay in this prisoner-of-war camp. There should be many among them who know useful information for us."

  I nodded again and said: "These are all necessary things to do, I will handle them well, you all don't think too much about it, leave here first."

  Chen Jing and the others didn't say anything else, and followed me to leave the battlefield. The battlefield was still filled with flying bullets, we carefully avoided the enemy's attack, slowly retreated from the battlefield, and came to the side of that signal soldier.

  Here, safety refers to the fact that the safety of commanders must be guaranteed, otherwise the battle will be lost without a fight. An army that has lost its commander is like a headless snake, which is not worth fighting at all.

  The soldiers saw us and were very angry, shouting loudly: "How can you ignore the battlefield discipline and run to the battlefield casually?"

  I took out my officer's certificate and loudly said: "We were mistakenly sent here by the military department, now we have to return to the military department, can't help but enter the battlefield, please don't mind."

  The soldier glanced at my officer's badge and said, "In that case, you can leave here."

  I shook my head: "We can't leave for the time being. The warriors of our Dragon Guard who sacrificed themselves here, and those prisoners we brought with us, we must take them all away."

  The soldier nodded slightly: "Alright, you take them away."

  I took a glance at Chen Jing and asked in a low voice, "You guys go find the bodies of our comrades first, I'll go get some cars over here, we'll leave this place soon."

  Chen Jing nodded slightly, her face filled with sorrow. Just then, the soldier came over and said to me, "You're Jin Cang, right? A while ago, a Mr. Chen called and asked you to temporarily stay here for repairs."

  I was taken aback and immediately asked: "Old Chen? Did he say what the reason was?"

  The fighter shook his head: "No comment. You can ask yourself."

  I took a look at Chen Jing who had an equally strange expression on her face and immediately called Old Man Chen.

  Mr. Chen answered quickly: "Don't go back to Beijing for now, just find a place locally to rest and recover."

  I couldn't help but ask: "What's going on? Has Wang Yingzu come up with another harmful trick?"

  "Old Chen hesitated for a moment, then said: 'Just do as I say, don't ask too many questions. By the way, you can take this opportunity to go home and see your parents... Take Chen Jing with you... You soldiers of the Hu Long Lian, handle it yourselves. The dead and wounded personnel should also be properly arranged.'"

  I heard Chen Lao's tone was not quite right, and I couldn't help but say: "Is Wang Yingzu up to some trick again? I'll go to the capital immediately and reason with him face-to-face. I don't believe everyone will be so unreasonable!"

  "Whatever you do, don't come to Beijing. The current situation is unfavorable for you, so it's better for you to stay outside for the time being."

  I frowned and said: "What crime have I been charged with this time? Is it treason or not killing the Japanese pirates' ninja?"

  "Stop asking so many questions, take Chen Jing back to your hometown and play for a while, consider it as my gift of a holiday for you both. By the way, Chen Jing still doesn't know about these things, so don't talk too much with her."

  "All I can say is: 'Alright, let's go back home for a visit. It's also good timing to see my parents again.' You... take care."

  "Hang up the phone," I said directly to Chen Jing and others, "Chen Lao's order, we'll set out now, head to my hometown, and carry out a special mission."

  "What special task? Still in your hometown?"

  I nodded: "Don't ask too much, let's go now." After a pause: "Arrange for the troops stationed here to take over all the Japanese pirates and ninjas we've captured. Tell them about their identities and backgrounds, and have them escort these people to the capital to hand them over to Old Chen. Also, have them help us deliver our fallen soldiers' bodies to Old Chen."

  Among the last seven people of the Dragon Squad, there was a tall row. He heard him say loudly: "Yes, instructor."

  "I let out a quiet sigh and said loudly: 'Everyone get ready, we're leaving in an hour. A new mission is waiting for us.'"

  There were only seven of us in total, so one car was enough. After everyone got on the bus, I was about to let the driver start the engine when my phone rang again. I quickly answered it and found it was Old Chen calling me. I hastily said: "Is there anything else you'd like to instruct?"

  Chen sighed and said: "Let the soldiers of the Hu Long Lian immediately return to the capital, and bring those prisoners back. You and Chen Jing... go home for a few days."

  I heard Chen Lao's tone was even more unnatural, so I asked: "What exactly happened? Can you just tell me directly?"

  "Anyway, just do it according to my idea, and I'll take care of the rest."

  I knew this time it must be something big again, so I didn't dare ask any more questions: "Alright, we'll execute your orders immediately!"

  "Hang up the phone, I said to a row of long: 'Chen Lao ordered you to personally lead the remaining warriors of the Hu Long Regiment to escort the Japanese ninja back to the capital. Now, go and do this immediately.'"

  A row of superior people looked at me and jumped off the bus without saying a word.

  Obedience has always been a necessary quality for warriors, and squad leaders won't have too many of them, they will only execute my orders!

  Chen Jing, however, wouldn't be like that, looking at me and asking: "Is there something you're hiding from me?"

  I got into the driver's seat in the front row, started the car and said: "How could I deceive you! We will go to carry out our task now."

  Chen Jing nodded slowly: "Then let's go, this place has too many unbearable things, I also want to leave here as soon as possible!"

  I knew she must have been worried, so I stopped talking and drove out to the airport. All the way, Chen Jing was thinking about her worries, occasionally sighing slightly, I knew she had guessed some things, but it wasn't good to say more, could only silently watch her anxiety.

  After arriving at the airport, I suddenly realized that I didn't have a single penny on me. Feeling embarrassed, I could only say to Chen Jing: "I didn't bring any money, what can we do now?"

  Chen Jing was taken aback for a moment, then said: "Then let's drive to your house, it's not like we have anything better to do, and it'll take some time anyway. We can just consider it a trip."

  I knew she had figured out what was going on these days, so I smiled and said: "Okay, but we still need some money, we have to eat on the road and refuel, right?"

  Chen Jing smiled slightly, seeming to be a bit happier: "I still have this amount of money, don't worry about it, let's go now and try to arrive in Wuhan before nightfall."

  I took a glance at the time and it was already 12 o'clock, it would take six or seven hours to get to Wuhan, which is basically impossible. But I still said: "We'll arrive in Wuhan, maybe a bit late."

  Chen Jing smiled and said: "That's okay, at worst we can just sleep on the highway for a night and wait for the traffic police to send us to Wuhan."

  I smiled slightly: "It's not that serious, if we hurry up a bit, there's still hope to arrive in Wuhan before 9 pm tonight."

  Chen Jing nodded slightly and suddenly said: "Are your injuries all healed? Is everything okay now?"

  I smiled and said, "It's nothing. You also saw that I can fight the Japanese pirates again right away..." As I spoke, I suddenly sighed and couldn't continue speaking.

  Chen Jing smiled and said: "Then when we get back, let's apply to go to the battlefield where we are fighting against the Japanese pirates, and have a good fight with them."

  I nodded: "Next time we go to the battlefield, we must give the Japanese pirates a good show. They actually dared to send troops to our country, it's simply looking for death."

  Chen Jing smiled and said: "Then let's talk about it later when we have the chance..." Her smile was actually quite forced, I felt a bit anxious just looking at her.

  We chatted about our fantasies of the future all along the way, and before we knew it, we had already entered Wuhan. By this time, the sky had completely darkened, and the lights in various parts of Wuhan had lit up, a bustling scene that seemed as if no war had ever occurred.

  Chen Jing and I both know that behind this prosperity, there are still many unknown dangers lurking.

  When we arrived at the research base, the guards were somewhat surprised and looked at us for a while before saying: "Director, Chief of Staff, why have you come back again?"

  I smiled wryly and said, "I'm on a mission and just passing by, so I thought I'd drop in to see you. By the way, would you mind finding someone for me? We have some business with her."

  The guard hesitated and said, "The battalion commander has just given an order that no one is allowed to enter or leave the base at will for the next few days until our research task is completed."

  I frowned and said: "Is it the order of your battalion commander? Then trouble you to go and inform your battalion commander, just say that I and Staff Officer Chen have something to request an audience."

  The guard nodded and said "You two wait a moment" before turning around and entering the base.

  I exchanged a glance with Chen Jing, and we both had puzzled expressions. Chen Jing then said: "Haven't they developed new weapons to deal with the Japanese pirates' Thunder God Cannons yet? What can be done about this, our front-line soldiers are still waiting for the new weapons."

  I shook my head: "It seems that's the case, and there's nothing we can do about it. I just hope our scientists can develop new weapons as soon as possible, so those Japanese pirates won't be able to show off their Thunder God Cannons all the time."

  Chen Jing nodded slightly and looked at me, suddenly smiling: "We're going to your house soon, who else do you want to see? Is it Li Huanhuan?"

  I was taken aback and then honestly said, "You guessed it. I really just wanted to see Li Huanhuan, but I didn't know if the commander of the 362nd regiment would give me this face and let me see her."

  Chen Jing pouted and said: "Aren't you afraid that I'll get angry and not go home with you? You don't know how to hide it at all."

  I smiled and said: "This thing really can't be hidden. If we don't find Li Huanhuan to get some money, going to my home would be a very troublesome thing."

  Chen Jing smiled and said: "That's right. By the way, let's call Li Huanhuan and them later, we'll go to your house together?"

  I shook my head: "Didn't you hear what the guard said? They're all under house arrest now, how can they go back with us?"

  "What a pity. I was thinking of going to your place with them and having them as my tour guides. Now it seems that this wish will be unfulfilled again..."

  I looked at Chen Jing who was smiling and suddenly said impulsively: "It's okay, I can be your tour guide, wherever you want to go play, I'll take you there."

  Chen Jing looked at me and smiled slightly, saying: "This is what you said, don't say later that you have no time or other things to do."

  I smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll be very free recently. By the way, you haven't been to my hometown yet, this time I'll take you to my hometown to climb mountains, enjoy the scenery, fish... there are many fun things to do!"

  Chen Jing said with some expectation: "Is the mountain in your hometown fun? Is the scenery good? Actually, I'm really looking forward to going to your hometown for a visit. Even if it's just once, it will be a wish fulfilled. I'll definitely cherish this opportunity."

  I looked at her and it seemed like she had forgotten her unhappiness, so I smiled and said: "My hometown is beautiful with clear mountains and water, I guarantee you will like it once you go there."

  Chen Jing was overjoyed: "That's great. I was worried that your hometown would be another battlefield, and there wouldn't be anything fun about it... I've seen too much war in these days, and I'm already very tired of this life. If we could leave the war behind forever, that would be wonderful!"

  I sighed secretly, but still smiled and said: "That's right, if we can live in a place without war, you are absolutely an enviable happiness for everyone."

  Chen Jing smiled slightly, and her mood calmed down a lot: "Your hometown should be such a place. It can also be said to be a paradise on earth... Let's go now."

  I was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said: "Let's wait until Huanhuan comes out, we'll take the money and leave afterwards. I don't want to go home hungry all the way..."

  Chen Jing smiled and said: "That's for sure."

  As we spoke, the sentry from the 362nd Regiment came out again and said apologetically: "Sorry, the order that no one is allowed to enter or leave the base was given by the Military Department, and he doesn't dare to disobey it. So... please leave here as soon as possible."

  I exchanged a glance with Chen Jing, both of us feeling depressed. I was just about to comfort Chen Jing when someone said, "Jin Cang, what are you guys doing here?"

  I and Chen Jing looked in the direction of the sound, only to see a person walking out of the base's gate. This person was dressed in a fitting professional attire, with eyes that seemed somewhat familiar, yet it wasn't Zhong Ping or anyone else!

  I hastily stepped forward a few steps and said, "We came to look for someone, but they said that the military department has ordered that no one is allowed to enter or leave here. So we were just about to leave. Auntie, why are you still here so late?"

  Zhong Ping smiled slightly and said to Chen Jing, "You don't know that the military department urgently needs us to develop a new weapon to counter the Japanese pirates' Raytheon cannon. They require us to work day and night, so I haven't left here either. Who are you looking for? Won't it be those girlfriends of yours?"

  I glanced at Chen Jing and said somewhat awkwardly, "You guessed it right, we were in a hurry when we went out and forgot to bring money. So I was thinking of asking Li Huanhuan or someone else for a loan to tide us over..."

  Zhong Ping didn't wait for me to finish speaking, and had already put a wallet in my hand: "Isn't it just money? Take it, there's cash inside. Oh, and there's also an anonymous bank card, you can withdraw up to 500,000."