Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Injured

  After staying at home for eight whole months, Chen Jing finally thought of leaving my house and going back to Beijing to take a look. She missed her grandfather, Chen Lao, very much. So I and Chen Jing packed up, brought along my cousin, and prepared to sneak back to Beijing to take a look.

  The train was at 2 o'clock in the night. When we arrived in Beijing, it was just after 11 o'clock in the morning, when we were having lunch.

  The three of us found a restaurant and sat down, ordered some dishes, and listened to the people at the next tables discussing the recent situation while eating.

  In the eight months at my hometown, we didn't pay much attention to current events. So now I want to ask more about it. I heard someone say: "The Japanese pirates are really rampant, almost occupying our entire three northeastern provinces..."

  Another person said: "The old guys in the military department are useless, the people they sent out are of no use at all, can't even beat a small group of Japanese pirates, what a shame."

  "It's not a problem with the people sent out, I heard that the problem lies within the military department. You don't know, do you? The several high-ranking officials in the military department are now fighting for power and have no mind to deal with the Japanese pirates."

  "I've heard that the military has secretly executed several high-ranking officials who collaborated with the enemy, and things have basically stabilized now..."

  "You guys are so out of the loop. Let me tell you... " A person who had just walked in said loudly, "I just received news that the military department has decided to re-deploy those troops that were previously withdrawn, specifically to deal with the Japanese pirates. The most famous one is the Hu Long Regiment, which is our country's pride..."

  Another person cut in and said: "Bullshit, wasn't the Dragon Guard also eliminated by the enemy? What's most famous, I think is the most useless."

  I slightly furrowed my brow, still without thoroughly changing my cold personality, and just glanced at that person once.

  Chen Jing suddenly stood up and said loudly: "What did you say?!"

  That man glanced at Chen Jing and sneered, "Who are you? Was I wrong? It's common knowledge that the Hu Long Squad now only has one Jin Cang left, and he's a deserter. The Hu Long Squad is useless, it's a shame to our country's military."

  Chen Jing's eyes turned red with anger, "Do you know what? The entire Dragon Guard Corps was killed in the battle against the Japanese pirates and the Wanlong Society, protecting the Three Gorges Dam and the Wuhan research base. After that, they were framed and sent to the Mongolian battlefield as cannon fodder..." Her voice choked, her eyes filled with tears: "They went to the Mongolian battlefield, almost all of them died in battle, until now... their bodies are still on the battlefield, no one has gone to bury them... What do you people know, just talking nonsense here!"

  That person looked at Chen Jing who was excited and said with a guilty conscience: "You... how did you know these things? You... aren't just making it up, are you?"

  Tears flowed out of Chen Jing's eyes, and then she roared: "I am the chief of staff of the Dragon Guard Regiment! We...the Dragon Guard Regiment has no deserters. I absolutely do not allow anyone to slander the Dragon Guard Regiment. No one is allowed!"

  That person was stunned, looking at Chen Jing with an expression of disbelief.

  Chen Jing took out her military ID, and the man seemed to be startled, then smiled and said: "I was just kidding, don't mind... actually, what's being spread outside now is all about your escape, so... that's why I said that."

  Chen Jing angrily said: "Is there still someone who says this? Who is it?"

  "That man smiled bitterly and said: 'Officer, all the newspapers and magazines outside are reporting this kind of news everywhere, almost everyone believes it to be true...'"

  Chen Jing was taken aback for a moment, looking at the person in front of her, unsure of what to do.

  I sighed inwardly, walked forward and pulled Chen Jing down to sit, then calmly said: "The enemy not only wants to kill us but also wants to make us lose our reputation. These are their usual tactics, nothing big deal. People are deceived into thinking we are deserters, it's not their fault either. When the truth comes out, someone will naturally clear our names."

  Chen Jing cried out: "But are we just going to stand by and watch them spout nonsense? I can ignore what others say about me, but those soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country, I absolutely will not allow anyone to tarnish their reputation. They are true heroes, the pride of this nation, how can we let others slander them?"

  I nodded: "At this point, we are powerless..."

  Chen Jing shook her head and said loudly, "No, we can do something at least... We can tell the people around us that the warriors of the Dragon Guard are heroes, not deserters."

  I nodded slightly: "Yes, who has ever seen a deserter sacrifice his life to protect the country? I believe people will understand later, don't be too excited."

  Chen Jing's eyes stared at me, and it took a while for her to calm down slowly: "Alright, I'll listen to you. But if I ever hear anyone else insult Long Lian again, I absolutely won't let him off easy. I mean what I say, even if it means risking my own life, I will definitely do it."

  I nodded and reached out to grasp Chen Jing's hand, whispering: "Let's eat quickly, someone will come to catch us soon."

  Chen Jing was taken aback for a moment, then said: "Sorry, I didn't think that much..."

  My sister whispered beside me, "It's okay, we'll meet them sooner or later. Now it's just a little earlier than expected. Don't blame yourself, with our current skills, the enemy can't catch us."

  Chen Jing glanced at her cousin, but said to me: "Are we going to see Grandpa right away?"

  I furrowed my brow and thought for a moment before saying: "Let's eat first, the things that follow probably aren't up to us anymore."

  Chen Jing smiled wryly: "Sorry, I was impulsive for a moment and messed up..."

  "I stopped her words: 'Nothing, don't blame yourself. If it were the old me, I would also stand up for someone who bullied Long Lian.'"

  Chen Jing smiled: "Thank you for understanding me. Jin Cang, I'll be more careful in the future, something like this won't happen again."

  I looked at Chen Jing with a smile as beautiful as a flower, and my heart skipped a beat, just like the first time I faced Chen Jing a few years ago. Of course, it wasn't fear, but rather being stunned. I stared blankly, forgetting to speak.

  Chen Jing looked at my expression and suddenly turned serious: "What are you looking at? You don't have any feelings for me, do you?"

  "What?"

  Chen Jing continued with a straight face, "Last time I showed you and you didn't even look, but today you're staring at her nonstop... Your cousin is right next to you, can't you be more mindful of the influence?"

  I suddenly remembered that my cousin was still watching us from the side, and my face immediately turned bright red.

  My older cousin just smiled and said: "Nothing's wrong, I didn't see anything. You guys continue, don't mind me."

  Chen Jing stood up and pulled her cousin, saying: "Cousin, how can you be like this? I'm angry now, the consequences are very serious..."

  Chen Jing was about to scratch her cousin's itch when her cousin hastily retreated, laughing: "No, no, no, I didn't say anything, you..."

  Chen Jing's current skills are much better than her cousin's, so her cousin can't dodge at all and is tickled by Chen Jing until she bursts out laughing. Chen Jing also laughs, looking very happy, as if the unpleasantness before has been forgotten.

  The people eating nearby stared in amazement, unsure whether they were stunned by Chen Jing and her cousin's antics or drawn in by their beautiful smiles. I also felt that Chen Jing and her cousin were being a bit too boisterous, so I couldn't help but say softly: "Stop fooling around, let's eat, we still have important things to attend to."

  Chen Jing then spared her older cousin and sat back down in her seat, picking up her chopsticks to prepare for dinner.

  My older cousin was teased by Chen Jing and seeing the same gaze from people around her, she suddenly became red-faced and dared not lift her head.

  Actually, since the incident with Hu Long, I haven't seen Chen Jing smile so happily like she did just now. So I said softly: "If you can all be as happy as you were just now in the future, that would be great..."

  Chen Jing's face turned red as she said, "Everything will get better... Jin Cang, if there's anything unpleasant in your heart, just tell me. Even if I can't help you, I'll try my best not to affect you."

  I smiled wryly and said, "How could you affect me? I didn't have any unhappy things. Before, I took everything lightly, and was also very cold to you. It's me who wronged you, don't blame me."

  Chen Jing was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Great, you've finally returned to your old self... Eldest sister, look quickly, Jin Cang has recovered, he's smiling, still with that bitter smile, just like before..."

  "My sister smiled and said: 'I saw it a long time ago, I just didn't say anything.'"

  Chen Jing immediately stood up: "Ah?! Why didn't you say that earlier? I just realized now, if I had known that Jin Cang was restored, I would..."

  "What's it to you?"

  Chen Jing's face suddenly turned red for a moment, but immediately returned to normal: "I'm even happier, isn't that right?"

  My sister smiled and didn't say a word. I watched them talk, feeling happy in my heart too, and said with a smile: "Hurry up and eat, we still have things to do later."

  Chen Jing and her cousin immediately started eating, gobbling down their food like wolves. They didn't look like two pretty girls at all. But this also showed that they had already forgotten about the unpleasant things from before.

  We hastily finished our meal and directly came to Old Chen's office. Chen Jing's identity was still there, those guards didn't dare block us, letting us successfully arrive at Old Chen's office.

  Mr. Chen is not in his office at this moment, we are waiting for him in the office, ignoring the unfriendly eyes of those guards.

  Mr. Chen seemed to have received the report and soon arrived at the office. He saw the three of us, seemingly startled, and hastily said: "How did you come? Weren't you told to stay in your old home in Jin Cang and not to come out for the time being?"

  I stepped forward and saluted: "Boss, we have something to discuss with you, that's why we came here."

  Mr. Chen looked at me and frowned, saying: "The current situation is very unfavorable to you, it's really too dangerous for you to come here..."

  I furrowed my brow slightly: "Danger is everywhere, I've long since stopped caring."

  Chen Lao was taken aback for a moment, then patted my shoulder and smiled: "I was overthinking, the instructor of the Hu Long Lian wouldn't be afraid of danger. Speak up, what brings you to me?"

  "I said loudly: 'I want to know why people outside are saying that the warriors of the Hu Long Lian are all deserters.'"

  "Alas, this is the enemy's cunning plan. We are now being attacked by many enemies, and their methods of attack are endless. The attack on your Dragon Guard Regiment is just a small part of it. I had someone investigate earlier, but unfortunately, there was no result."

  I sighed secretly in my heart: "So, can we go back to the troops now? Our country is surrounded by strong enemies on three sides, and it's time for us to serve our motherland. Is the military department really going to abandon our Dragon Protection Regiment completely because of those rumors and individual slanders?"

  "Frankly, this time I failed to fulfill my duty and let all the soldiers of the Dragon Protection Regiment suffer. Until now, most people in the military department still believe that you, the Dragon Protection Regiment, are deserters. Although I have presented many factual evidence to prove your innocence, ultimately, I was unable to completely change their views."

  I couldn't help but say in a surge of anger, "The military is so muddled, no wonder we've spent over a year and still can't defeat three small countries."

  Chen Lao sighed and said, "The ones attacking us are not just three small countries. Behind these three countries, there are several big powers supporting them. Otherwise, it's not just three small countries, even if there were three more of the same kind, we wouldn't be so passive and would have eliminated them countless times."

  I know what Old Chen said is true, but I still feel uncomfortable in my heart: "So that's it? Can't our country find a few big powers to unite with and jointly deal with our enemies?"

  Chen Lao shook his head: "It's not that there aren't big countries willing to help us, but once we ask for help, we have to pay a huge price. This includes the manufacturing method of our latest laser guns and all the technology of new energy sources. Do you think those countries that cooperate with us will help us for free? We are both partners and competitors. Now that we have mastered new energy and laser gun technology, they have been eyeing us for a long time. If we want them to help us, unless we meet their requirements and hand over the new energy and laser gun technology we developed with great difficulty, our top leaders will not agree."

  I sighed and said, "If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't agree either. We haven't reached the point of being destitute yet, there's no need to trade our most precious things for someone else's sympathy." After a pause, I spoke seriously: "I request to be sent to the front lines immediately, to make a contribution to the country, please grant my request."

  Chen Lao sighed and said, "Don't make trouble for me. Jin Cang, you are now a wanted criminal directly pursued by the military department. Don't even mention going to the front line, even if you're here with me, I don't dare guarantee your safety... Maybe someone will come to arrest you in a moment, it's better if you don't think too much and hurry up and leave the capital!"

  Chen Jing had been silent all along, and now she said indignantly: "Who dares to catch Jin Cang, I'll make him pay!"

  Just as Old Man Chen was about to speak, they heard the guards outside shouting loudly: "Halt! Who are you? How dare you bring weapons here?"

  Chen Lao heard this voice and immediately whispered: "It seems they really came to catch Jin Cang, this is not good..."

  I was a bit nervous too, but suddenly I laughed: "It's nothing, you don't have to worry about me."

  Chen Jing also said: "With just a few soldiers, don't even think about catching us."

  "My sister said nervously: 'They have guns, we are unarmed, we can't beat them...'"

  I smiled and said: "You and Chen Jing don't have to be afraid, the people who came are not here to catch you. Their target is me, I'll go out and meet them now. You two just stay here in Changsha and wait for my good news."

  Chen Jing hastily said: "No way. You can't beat them alone, let's the three of us go out together and see if they can stop us!"

  After hearing Chen Jing's words, I felt a surge of pride in my heart and said loudly: "Alright, the three of us will go out together! I just want to see if today's soldiers are more formidable than this old soldier!"

  Chen Jing and her cousin Qi said in unison: "Alright, let's go experience for ourselves how fierce it is to be a soldier!"

  Mr. Chen looked at us, hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "None of you go out, I'll go take a look, you all stay here."

  Old Chen had just finished speaking when a gunshot was heard, accompanied by a loud voice: "Get out of the way! If you dare to block me from carrying out my military duties again, I'll kill you without hesitation!"

  The guard exclaimed in shock: "You dare to force your way..."

  The guard hadn't finished speaking when a miserable cry was heard, as if he had been knocked down heavily.

  I was furious and grabbed Chen Lao who was about to go out, saying to Chen Jing: "Take good care of Grandpa and your cousin."

  No sooner had I finished speaking than the man rushed out. At a glance, I saw two guards lying on the ground, knocked unconscious and motionless.

  Next to the guard, a dozen or so soldiers stood at attention with live ammunition, and surprisingly, their leader was Wang Zhan, the son of Wang Yingzu. Wang Zhan had a fierce look on his face, his eyes filled with intense murderous intent, looking like he came with ill intentions.

  As the saying goes, "enemies meet, eyes widen", Wang Zhan saw me and without saying a word, he raised his gun and fired. I was so scared that I quickly dodged, but because of the suddenness of the situation, one bullet still hit my abdomen, and fresh blood flowed out instantly.

  I didn't expect to get hurt as soon as I showed up, with one hand covering the wound on my abdomen. When I wanted to retreat a bit more, I saw that those dozen or so soldiers actually raised their guns together, looking like they were going to settle me on the spot without saying a word.

  The anger in my heart surged up, and I suddenly had a murderous intention. Although I was injured, my combat strength was still there, and it did not affect me from killing people.

  I was really infuriated by Wang Zhan, with a strong murderous intent in my heart, and all I could think of was to kill Wang Zhan and then be done with it. At that moment, I forgot what the law was, and I also forgot what human life was.

  I used all my strength to strike, the degree of emptiness was unprecedented. In the blink of an eye, I had already approached Wang Zhan and others. My fist swung out, a soldier who rushed forward let out a miserable cry and flew out. He heavily crashed into the wall, I heard that his bones were broken in many places. When this man slowly slid down and lay on the ground, he was already dead.

  Ever since I found out that Wang Yingzu was a traitor, I have had no good feelings towards his family. Now Wang Zhan has suddenly injured me without saying a word, and the murderous intent in my heart has instantly clouded my mind.

  I launched a frenzied attack on the enemies in front of me, inviting any weapon to come at me without hesitation, my only thought was to kill them.

  Blood mixed with saliva, amidst the roar, one after another enemy was killed by me. The corridor was piled up with corpses, affecting both my and the enemy's movements.

  I don't know when I was hit by the enemy again, two more bullets on my body, the wound continuously bleeding out fresh blood, splashing out with my attack, it's really shocking.

  Wang Zhan hid behind the soldiers he brought, his face full of terror. I sneered and roared: "Come to your death, you're done for!"

  Wang Zhan was startled by my roar and let out a loud cry, turning around to try and escape. I sneered coldly, moved my body, unfolded the Wudang Kung Fu stance, dodged several soldiers in an instant, and caught up with Wang Zhan. Those few soldiers who rushed towards me, trying to buy time for Wang Zhan's escape, were all knocked down by my iron fist in that moment, and never moved again.

  Only those who kill are either mad or stupid. Now, I'm no different from a madman. My body is bleeding, but my hands are tightly gripping Wang Zhan's neck, enduring his fists pounding against the wound on my abdomen, refusing to let go. Behind me, there are soldiers lying all over the ground. They're either dead or severely injured, their lives hanging by a thread. Not one of them can move. Even the two guards who were knocked unconscious by Wang Zhan and the others earlier have been caught in our crossfire and are now injured. Fortunately, they don't seem to be in danger of losing their lives... yet.

  One minute later, Wang Zhan stopped moving, staring with his eyes and no longer breathing.

  I raised my hand and threw Wang Zhan's body down. Below was the concrete floor, Wang Zhan's body heavily smashed onto it, only a very dull sound came up, just like the sound of a watermelon falling from a high place.

  I stared at the blood-soaked Wang Zhan and suddenly burst out laughing: "Wang Yingzu, everything you've done is a sin against your ancestors. Now that I've killed your son, I'm truly making you childless..."