Chapter 28: Entangled in a Nightmare

  Drunk, really drunk, completely intoxicated.

  In my drunken dream, I was exhausted and clinging to the cliff of a mountain thousands of feet high, with nothing but desolation all around me and no way up or down. The wind started blowing, getting stronger and stronger; the stronger wind whipped up yellow sand, battering my body; I kept my eyes tightly shut, not letting the sand blind me. Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter's roar appeared in my ears. I opened my eyes to see several terrorists with real guns driving a helicopter hovering not far from me, their faces bearing arrogant smiles, constantly pointing and gesturing at me. At this time, I had no ability to resist them, and could only hold onto the rock more tightly, staring angrily at them through the wind and sand. One of the terrorists wearing a flower-patterned headscarf looked at me with disdain, made an obscene gesture towards me, then threw out a rope lasso that wrapped around my neck.

  The terrorist's hands grasped with great force, pulling me down from the cliff. The noose around my neck tightened rapidly, and I was left dangling in mid-air, my vision blurring to blackness as breathing became increasingly difficult. In a moment of extreme urgency, I struggled to pull out my dagger and used every last bit of strength to cut through the rope around my neck. As the rope snapped, my body began to plummet downwards at high speed, and I saw the jagged rocks and weeds below rushing up towards me... I knew that if my head smashed into those boulders, it would be a fatal blow, ending in a gruesome death with my brains splattered everywhere.

  I quickly adjusted my body, trying to land on a more solid part of myself. But... it was too late. My body fell at a speed much faster than I had imagined, and with a dull thud, I heavily crashed onto the rocky ground. My chest felt tight, my throat dry and painful, and blood gushed out from my mouth. I knew I was done for, so I closed my eyes and took in one last breath of air. Just then, the terrorist's helicopter also descended, its rotor blades whipping up a gust of wind that sent the bloody grass around me flying wildly. The terrorists jumped off the helicopter, their faces twisted with cruelty, and walked over to where I lay... They pulled out knives from their waists, stabbed them into my chest, and before I could take one last breath, they ripped out my still-beating heart. My bloody heart danced in front of my eyes... The terrorists burst out laughing...

  Ah...

  I suddenly woke up from my dream... and saw Jason sitting in the leather chair across from me, staring at me with a weird look. When he saw I was awake, he smiled and asked: "What's wrong, toad? Did you have a nightmare? Your expression is so strange." I patted my dizzy head and realized that the terrifying scene just now was just a dream I had made. I smiled faintly and said: "Yes, I had a very scary dream. It's been too long since I've had a drink, look at me, I'm so pathetic, drunk like this." Jason got up from his chair and walked to my side, saying: "It's okay, you look pretty cute when you're drunk, really, and very manly! How are you feeling now? Do you want some water?" "Oh, no," I said, slowly getting up from the bed. But as soon as I sat up, I felt a wave of nausea, my stomach churning with a storm inside.

  I was retching on the edge of the bed, but nothing came out. Jason looked at me and laughed, saying: "Alright, stop throwing up, you've already thrown everything up last night. Ah, mudfish, I'm telling you, when you get drunk and throw up, it's really fierce - first food, then stomach acid, and finally bile."

  I glared at Jason's smug face and cursed, "You little brat, aren't you being too heartless? I'm already like this, and you're still making sarcastic remarks." Jason spread his hands and said, "If not, I'll go get you a glass of juice to help with your hangover." "No need, I can't drink anything!" I got up from the bed, stretched my body, but still felt uncomfortable, so I sat back down on the bed. Jason said, "Listen to me, just drink some juice, it'll help with your hangover." After he finished speaking, he took out a bottle of juice from the fridge and handed it to me. I took a sip, feeling cool and refreshed, my stomach indeed felt much better.

  I asked Jason, "What time is it now?" Jason said, "It's 10 o'clock." "Ah... I've slept for so long! From now on, I really can't drink again. It's a waste of life!" I scolded myself. Jason said, "Muddy loach, isn't this statement too serious? How is it wasting your life?" I told Jason, "My comrades are fighting bloody battles at the front line, but I'm indulging in drunkenness and dreams here. Isn't that a waste of life? No, it's not just a waste of life, it's a crime." Jason said, "Alright, alright, you're getting worked up again, aren't you, muddy loach? Why do you have to be so tense all the time? Can't you just relax and live life as you please? There's a Chinese proverb that says 'life is short'! Why bother setting rules for yourself?"

  "You don't understand, Jason. My life doesn't have a direction." "What do you mean?" Jason asked. I said to Jason: "I'm different from you, in my life there aren't many choices that I can make on my own, often times I'm being pushed forward by life, sometimes except for faith there's nothing else, so I must cherish and seize every opportunity that I can make a choice on my own."

  "Catfish, I still don't quite understand you. It seems like you've set too many boundaries for yourself." Jason said with a puzzled expression. I smiled and said lightly: "Jason, maybe you'll never understand because we were born in two different worlds." Jason said: "Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore. You go rest some more, I'll come call you at lunchtime." "No way, I can't let my life become so lax, that would consume my combat power." Jason said: "Catfish, you don't need to be like this, this is America, not a battlefield; and you're no longer the warrior you once were, but an American agent."

  When I heard Jason's words, my heart skipped a beat, and a sense of inexplicable loss emerged. "Jason, don't say that, I'll always be a warrior, I'll eventually return to China, return to the troops, return to the battlefield!" Jason smiled and said: "Okay, great warrior, in order to maintain your combat effectiveness, shouldn't you take a good rest and eat something? Only then can you quickly recover your physical strength, break free from the shackles of alcohol, and return to your battlefield!" Seeing Jason's playful appearance, I laughed and said: "Why do you always tease me when I'm being serious?" Jason poked my forehead with his finger and said: "Because... this part of yours is broken."

  I brushed Jason's hand away and said, "Don't tease me, say it, what do you want to eat? I'll treat you, I'm a rich man now too." Jason smiled and said, "Alright, get your wallet ready, let me have a big meal. Let me think... how about spaghetti?" "Okay, then spaghetti it is!" I laughed and said.

  As it was approaching noon, Jason and I arrived at an Italian restaurant. After sitting down at a table by the window and ordering our food, I asked Jason, "These days seem too peaceful, which doesn't feel right. Have you heard anything about any recent missions?" Jason said, "We haven't received any orders yet, so let's just enjoy the good times!" I said calmly, "That's not what I meant. You know that I carry shame with me, and as long as I have this shame on my back, I won't be happy for a single day. And those comrades who sacrificed themselves... every time I think of them, my heart aches to death." Jason said, "The shadows left by war can't disappear in the short term. You, me, and all the surviving soldiers need to prepare ourselves mentally for this. Mudfish, try not to think about annoying things too much, and think more about happy things instead. Maybe that will make your heart feel a little better. For example, you could think about Alyssa."

  "Alyssa... I wonder if she's doing well now!" I muttered to myself.

  Jering said, "Yes, think about Alisha, what a beautiful angel. Say, after I left Seabury Hospital, did anything happen between you two?" I smiled and shook my head, saying to him, "Alright, let's talk about our work instead. I plan to visit Mrs. Jones tomorrow and hope to start substantial work as soon as possible." "You're really boring, mudfish. Say it, didn't you and Alisha... ah... you know what I mean," Jerson said with a sly smile. "Nothing... really nothing happened!" I said helplessly.

  Jason said reluctantly, "It's impossible, Alisha really likes you, I can tell. Besides, the cruel war, bloody battlefield, icy and elegant war nurse, steel-like warrior, if nothing happens, wouldn't it be too boring?" I laughed and scolded, "Alright, stop daydreaming, do you think this is a movie? Let's talk business, help me make an appointment with Mr. Jones."

  Jason thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll call Auntie tonight, but I can't guarantee that she'll be available." I said, "Don't wait till tonight, time is of the essence. It's lunchtime now, so just make the call now." "Ahh... you're really something... fine, I have no choice. I'll make the call now," Jason said as he took out his phone and dialed Mrs. Jones' number.

  "Hmm? Busy line... Looks like Auntie is on the phone with someone, let's contact her again after lunch!" Jason hung up the phone and said to me.

  "I thought for a moment and said, 'Forget it, let's not contact her.' 'Why?' Jason asked. I said, 'It was a brain short circuit that made me ask you to contact Mrs. Jones earlier. Now that I think about it, she is our superior leader, and as special agents, we have no reason or authority to actively contact our superiors on our own initiative. This discipline cannot be broken because of my personal feelings and your relationship with her as her nephew. Sorry Jason, please forgive my impulsiveness.' Jason asked, 'Don't you want to get the mission, aren't you eager to start fighting, find opportunities to clear your name and return to the team?' I sighed and said, 'Of course I do, but if the organization doesn't assign me a task, it's pointless to contact our superior leader in violation of discipline.' Jason said, 'You're right, Loach. Just calm down and wait for the opportunity. I'll do my best to help you!'"

  I looked at Jason and asked, "Why are you so good to me? We're just passing acquaintances." Jason said very seriously, "Because I know you're a friend worth making, really, it's the intuition of a soldier who has been through war." "Just because of intuition?" I asked Jason. Jason said, "Yes, isn't that enough? You know, I'm not an inexperienced child, I have the judgment of an adult; when someone stands in front of you and they have qualities you admire, what reason do you have to not make friends with them? Aren't you the same way? When you were at your most difficult time, you thought of finding me for help, giving me all your trust. Doesn't that also mean you consider me a friend you can confide in?" I nodded lightly: "Thank you Jason, having a friend like you is my good fortune, I will cherish it even more." Jason smiled and said, "Me too!"

  Drip...... Just as we were having lunch halfway through, "A-k" suddenly sent a signal...... At the same time, Jason's phone also rang up......

  Jie Sen answered the phone: "Hello...... Yes, Auntie, I just called you...... What...... Okay, I'll be right there with Niu Yu..."

  "What's up?" I asked Jason. Jason said: "Eel, our mission has arrived..."