Chapter 3

  Shao Hui closed his eyes and listened to the radio, his longing for home intensified once again.

  "Please ask passengers Zhang Ming, Liu Junhao and Shao Hui to collect their luggage and disembark the plane. Thank you for taking this flight and we hope to serve you again in the future."

  "Please ask passengers Zhang Ming, Liu Junhao and Shao Hui to collect their luggage and disembark the plane. Thank you for taking this flight and we hope to serve you again."

  Shao Hui opened his eyes immediately after hearing the first broadcast, thinking he had misheard. After the second broadcast confirmed it, he subconsciously looked out of the window. The scene outside made him extremely shocked and he furrowed his brow in thought. Zuo Ming and Liu Junhao exchanged a look, having no idea what was happening.

  Who is Zuo Ming? Hurry up and get off the plane! We still have a schedule to keep! The passengers in the back shouted loudly.

  Shao Hui, what's wrong? Liu Junhao asked, lifting up his towel.

  I'm not sure, we'll know when we get out. Shaohui stood up to take his luggage, the beautiful flight attendant had already walked to the side of the three men and elegantly stretched out her right hand in a gesture of invitation: Gentlemen, this way please, do you need any help? Shaohui shook his head and pulled down his backpack, saying to Zuoming: Let's go take a look. Zuoming and Liu Junhao quickly stood up, took their luggage, and followed Shaohui out.

  Look, I told you so. They've all been chased away. These three people must be escaped prisoners. Otherwise, take a look outside... The previous passenger excitedly pointed out the window and loudly said to his companion.

  Left Ming suddenly stopped at the cabin door, clenched his fists, and twitched his facial muscles a few times. Without saying a word, he turned around and walked up to the passenger, his right fist shooting out like a bullet towards the man's face. The cabin erupted in a chorus of gasps. The passenger was shocked, closing his eyes tightly, and when he opened them again after a few seconds, he saw Left Ming's fist had already withdrawn into the seat headrest. Following the direction of the fist, he looked up to see a gloomy face staring back at him, stammering: "W-what do you want?" Left Ming didn't respond, slowly withdrawing his fist and extending his index finger to point at the passenger's eyes several times before turning around and leaving. A nearby flight attendant saw that public property had been damaged and was about to step in to handle the situation when the captain stopped him, gesturing for him to look outside instead. The flight attendant looked out the window, revealing a shocked expression, and involuntarily froze in place.

  The snow outside grew thicker, with white snowflakes scattered across the leaden sky, giving off a hazy elegance. The snowflakes danced in mid-air, blurring Shao Hui's line of sight, but he could still see the flashing warning lights on the ground not far away - a police car and a military vehicle, with several policemen and soldiers standing motionless beside them, gazing up at this side, waiting for their arrival. Shao Hui looked down at the scene below, took a deep breath, and stepped down from the stairs one step at a time.

  Got it!

  Arrived! Left Ming reflexively stood up straight with his back straight.

  Shao Hui!

  Arrived!

  Liu Junhao!

  Arrived!

  An army major opened the folder in his hand and carefully checked the photos and materials, after confirming their accuracy, he closed the folder and said two words:

  Get on the bus!

  Shao Hui didn't move, neither did Zuo Ming and Liu Junhao. The lieutenant colonel stood upright on the spot after giving the order, staring at them. Both sides were in a standoff in the snow like this.

  Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, we can choose not to obey your orders. Firstly, we have already retired and are no longer soldiers; secondly, your military uniform has no right to give us orders! Shao Hui stood at attention and replied quickly.

  The lieutenant colonel stared at Shao Hui's face for a few seconds, then took out his military ID and opened the file folder, handing it to Shao Hui: "Brothers, I'm also here under orders to pick you up. I know your past, and I understand your desire to go home. But once you put on the uniform, it means you're a soldier for life. The country needs you now, even though you've retired, but our veins still flow with the blood of special forces!"

  Shao Hui handed the folder to Liu Junhao after finishing reading it, and the lieutenant colonel quietly waited beside him. After Zuo Ming closed the folder, he opened the car door for them: "Get in." Shao Hui sighed, bent down and got into the car.

  As the vehicle drove out of the airport, a plane flew overhead, Shao Hui gazed longingly at the sky, and a crystal tear slid down his cheek.

  After an unknown period of time, the car got off the highway and ran wildly for a while before entering a courtyard. The three men got out of the car and looked around, and the lieutenant colonel indicated that they should continue to move forward. In the open space, a snowman stood upright in the center. The lieutenant colonel walked straight over and saluted: "The target has been safely brought here, please instruct!"

  The snowman suddenly raised his right hand and returned a military salute: You've worked hard, let me take care of them.

  "Yes!" The lieutenant replied curtly and turned around, running away.

  Young men, aren't you wondering why I brought you here? The snowman began to move and shake off the accumulated snow, revealing a large military rank: We've been waiting for you for a long time.

  Please instruct! Shao Hui responded loudly as the first one.

  You are the kings of soldiers in the army. To invite you over with such grandeur, there must be a reason. Do you still remember the discipline of the troops? The lieutenant colonel asked, standing before the three men.

  Remember!

  That's good, from now on you don't have to ask why, communicators!

  Here! With a crisp reply, a warrior came running from afar.

  Take them to rest!

  Yes! The sentinel gave a standard salute, walked to the three people: Follow me. After finishing, he turned and walked towards the depths of the courtyard. The three people hesitated, looking at each other, wanting to move but not moving.

  Young men, this road is not qualified for anyone to walk on. You will be proud of it for the rest of your life! The principal saw their psychology and said aside.

  Watching the sentry gradually turn into a shadow, the three of them slowly followed him.

  If I could go back... The principal muttered to himself as he gazed at the figure's back.

  November 28, 2005, afternoon, Hunan.

  Hunan, a village was desolate in the biting cold wind, at the crossroads beside the village stood two elderly people supporting each other, staring intently at the distant intersection, due to the extremely cold weather, the two elderly people again shrunk their necks and put their hands into their sleeves.

  "Go home first, I'll wait for him myself." The old man said, looking at the gloomy sky.

  I won't, the child hasn't come back for so long, I'll pick up my child here. The old lady, not tall, shrunk her nose into her cotton-padded jacket and said in a muffled tone.

  Alas... The old man sighed, took out his hand to help her straighten her collar, stomped his feet, and stood still, staring at the end of the road.

  On the 28th, in the afternoon, inside a barracks of a certain unit in Beijing.

  The room was pitch black, with the only window covered in black paper, and outside was a dark snowy day. Shao Hui's eyes couldn't see clearly even after adapting to the darkness. Just as they were thinking of a plan, Shao Hui suddenly felt a black shadow approaching, a feeling of oppression rushing towards his face. With his expertise in Taekwondo, he instinctively took a step back, his body quickly spinning 180 degrees, and with incredible force, he kicked out with a lightning-fast back kick. The black shadow let out a dull hum as it fell backwards. At the same time, Zuo Ming and Liu Junhao were also attacked, but they were skilled fighters, and although they were caught off guard, they quickly adjusted their bodies to counterattack. In a very short time, the three of them knocked down the black shadows. Shao Hui shouted loudly in the empty space:

  Stop!

  There were unknown numbers of people hiding in the house, but after Shao Hui shouted "Halt!" there was no more movement. The only sound coming from inside the house was a series of rapid breaths.