Volume 1: The Fierce Tiger Leaves Its Leash Chapter 20: Comprehensive Manhunt (Part 2)

  After receiving Wang Yilin's phone call, Zhou Guohui rushed to the 414th sentry post. Gu Weimin led his team to search in front for several days without any gain, and could only lead the troops back to the sentry post.

  "It's clear that the US ambassador is here to find our weakness." Zhou Guohui called out to Gu Weimin and Qi Jianjun outside the sentry post, "Perhaps the US government has already obtained some information about Ling Tianxiang, and the ambassador's mission is to confirm whether Ling Tianxiang is in the military camp. If he's not there at that time..."

  "It's impossible for the US side to say that we launched the attack just because of this?" Gu Weimin slightly furrowed his brow.

  "Of course it's impossible, but this will let them know that Ling Tianxiang hasn't returned yet. Then they'll thoroughly strengthen their search efforts. At that time, if we want to rescue Tianxiang, the difficulty level will be even higher." Zhou Guohui clasped his hands behind his back and gazed towards the western mountain peaks. "We must find him as soon as possible."

  "But now, we don't even know where he is." Qi Jianjun glanced at Gu Weimin and said to Zhou Guohui, "Our people have been searching for several days, the terrain in the mountains is very complicated, Tian Xiang is the strongest in mountain warfare in our team, if he wants to hide, no one can find him, not even the US military."

  "The problem is, he can't stay outside forever!" Zhou Guohui turned around, "We must find him, no clues, then go find clues. Didn't you mention earlier that Wei Daming said something?"

  "Mission, traitor, just these two words, nothing else." Gu Weimin sighed, this was basically not even a clue.

  "Then let's start searching from here." Zhou Guohui walked to the front of the two school officers, "Tian Xiang must have gone to continue completing his mission, otherwise he wouldn't have killed his way back. And judging from various signs, what happened in Sanggeliqi is also related to him. Maybe he's on his way back now."

  "But we have no way of knowing whether he is still alive or has been killed in the bombing. And it's possible that the US military was searching for resistance groups, rather than..."

  "He must still be alive!" Zhou Guohui's hand trembled slightly as he struggled to suppress the anger that was about to erupt.

  Gu Weimin immediately glared at Qi Jianjun and said to Zhou Guohui, "Maybe the US military is looking for them, otherwise they wouldn't have mobilized hundreds of helicopters. Moreover, the US ambassador asked to come to our troops, which also explains that they still haven't found Ling Tianxiang."

  "Then let's act quickly and stop wasting time."

  Zi Jianjun also knew he had started talking nonsense. "Then I'll go back to the hospital and see if I can get more clues from Wei Daming."

  "We will lead our troops out soon, hoping to find Tian Xiang this time."

  Zhou Guohui nodded at the two school officers who had just looked over. "We must find him as soon as possible, I'll rush back and make other preparations."

  Gu Weimin led the troops to set out again, while Qi Jianjun followed Zhou Guohui back to the Military Region Command, and Zhou Guohui had the helicopter land first in the courtyard of the Military Region General Hospital.

  Wei Daming has not been out of danger since the surgery and is still in the intensive care unit. To rescue him, the General Hospital of the Military Region invited several expert doctors from other hospitals to conduct two consultations. The main reason for Wei Daming's coma was severe infection of the wound, with the virus spreading throughout his body through the bloodstream. Although the amputation surgery was successful, it could only temporarily save him. The final diagnosis by the experts is that whether Wei Daming can pull through depends on whether he has a strong will to survive and whether his immune system can defeat the virus in his body.

  "Director Liu, the situation is very urgent." After hearing the doctor's introduction to Wei Daming's current condition, Qi Jianjun immediately said, "I only need five minutes, no, two minutes of time, let him wake up for two minutes, I must ask him a few questions."

  "Enough, I've made myself clear." Director Liu said as he stood up. "This is the most critical moment. If we want him to wake up, we must stop administering the medication, which may lead to a worsening of symptoms. At that time, none of us will be able to save him. Moreover, this is not something I can decide on my own."

  "Then who can make decisions? Is it your principal?" Qi Jianjun also stood up.

  Director Liu stopped in his tracks by the door. "Only the patient's immediate family members can make decisions, and without their consent, I won't stop administering medication."

  "Then where are his relatives?" Qi Jianjun rushed up and grabbed Liu's arm, not letting him leave.

  "Go talk to them yourself, they're right across from here." Director Liu sighed, "Qi team leader, I really can't understand you. If you care about this subordinate so much, why do you still want to harm him? Ah, forget it, I didn't say anything. I'm just doing my duty as a doctor, what to do next is up to you. When there's a result, come find me in ward 3."

  Qī Jiàn Jūn released Liú Director's arm, and through the glass on the door, he saw the silhouettes of several people in the room across. At this moment, he also hesitated. Liú Director's words were not exaggerated at all. Now Wèi Dà Míng's life was maintained by medication, and to wake him up, they had to stop the medication, which might make the previous rescue efforts go to waste. To save one person, would it be worth killing another? Moreover, Líng Tiān Xiáng had risked his life to rescue Wèi Dà Míng back then. If he were to sacrifice Wèi Dà Míng again in order to find him, would Líng Tiān Xiáng accept this outcome?

  Qijian Jun looked again at the family members in the room opposite, they were Weidaming's parents, wife and 3-year-old son. Qijian Jun did not know how to explain all this to Weidaming's relatives, nor did he have the face to explain, should they abandon their loved ones for a stranger?

  Qijian Jun stood still for five minutes, his fists clenched and crackling with anger. He knew that none of this could be blamed on Ling Tianxiang; if it weren't for Ling Tianxiang, Wei Daming might not have made it back alive either - he might already be dead by now. Although there was no guarantee that the clues obtained from Wei Daming would lead to Ling Tianxiang's whereabouts, neither could it be confirmed that Wei Daming wouldn't collapse after leaving the medication. Five minutes felt like five days and nights to Qijian Jun; finally, he took a step forward. Some things had to be done before their consequences could be determined - just like every battle these soldiers had fought on the battlefield.