Chapter 1128: Chapter 671: Accepting the Summons (Part 4)

But the problem is, they are willing to prove their loyalty, yet still cannot prove it.

They understand others’ distrust, but they are powerless to change anything, unless they use their lives.

In the dead of night, some soldiers have thought about ending it all, so as to clear their names.

During this period, six soldiers have attempted suicide.

If Li Cheng hadn’t been prepared in advance, these six might have been gone.

They survived the days at Base A02, yet cannot endure peace.

Now, the person who turns decay into magic suddenly appears again, then says, “Even though I don’t believe you, as long as you are innocent, I can prove your innocence.”

The soldiers could no longer remain calm.

Li Cheng smiled and said, “Everyone is free to choose, to continue living a comfortable life here, or to endure hardships in the wilderness. No one will mock those who stay, I promise.”

“When do we leave?”

Li Cheng: “Tonight.”

“So soon?”

“Yes.”

In the conference room, everyone looked at each other, some showing hesitation on their faces.

In fact, this is the point of why Qing Chen wanted them to live a good life for a while. The days at Base A02 were so harsh, that whatever Qing Chen previously asked them to do, it was better than staying in that ghostly place.

They had no choice.

This might make Qing Chen feel like he was exploiting their vulnerability.

Now Qing Chen gave them a choice: good days or hard days, choose for yourself.

But once you choose, don’t regret it.

Li Cheng quietly waited until ten minutes later: “Those who are coming with me, pack your things now. If you wish to stay, just remain in this conference room until we leave, then you can come out. Don’t make it difficult for everyone; let’s not say goodbye to each other, we may never meet again in this lifetime.”

After speaking, he turned briskly and walked out of the conference room.

Seconds later, the first soldier made his choice and followed Li Cheng out the door.

Then came the second, the third…

Gradually, everyone left the conference room, and not a single person chose to stay!

Even Li Cheng was surprised, he glanced at the suddenly empty room, curiously asking, “Isn’t there anyone left?”

He thought at least half would stay!

A soldier standing in the hallway chuckled and cursed: “Lao Lee, who do you look down on, huh? Only you’re loyal and grateful, only you’re strong-willed and willing to endure hardship?”

Someone else laughed, “Seeing your incredulous look, it’s like we’re all cowards to you. Is enduring hardship so impressive? Back at Base A02, I could endure much more than you!”

“This life was given by the boss. I said back on the escape road, he could ask me to do anything in the future.”

Lao Lee looked at these people silently, for a moment even feeling tears in his eyes. He quickly blinked to avoid letting this group of rascals see: “Alright, enough nonsense, go pack your things. Don’t bring too much, just leave the camp like usual, then leave from the southern checkpoint at border gate 2. The boss has already arranged things there.”

“Let’s go, let’s go suffer!”

The soldiers began to joke around again.

At midnight, the sentinel in the Garrison barracks felt something amiss.

According to routine, by now Li Cheng’s group should be wandering back into camp, somewhat drunk. Yet, not a soul was seen.

Indeed, sometimes soldiers wouldn’t return overnight, but not the whole group altogether.

He thought about it and decided to report the situation upstream.

Operation Red Sparrow was in motion, deploying informants to track their whereabouts.

Later, Red Sparrow discovered that in City 18, under the leadership of Qing Ling, intelligence personnel began gathering, seemingly preparing to leave as well.

Only at that moment did the Li Family react.

These people weren’t in danger; they were answering someone’s call.

…

…

On the southern wilderness of City 18, Li Cheng sat on a big roadside tree, shading his eyes as he gazed into the distance.

“Stop waiting, Lao Lee, I have a feeling Qing Ling and the others aren’t coming,” someone said, “I heard Qing Clan treated Qing Ling and those people better than us, some even regained power, and Qing Ling’s intelligence role was restored. Their life is much better than ours.”

“Well, our boss is their direct lineage, everyone shares the surname Qing, and our boss is now the Spy Bureau’s leader, so naturally, they get more care,” someone added, “Our boss is high-ranked in Li’s Family, but there’s always some distance… Qing Ling and his group can work for the boss in the city, even if they don’t want to go to the wilderness. It’s just us who have it tough, having to eat bitterness in the wild.”

Li Cheng glared at the speaker: “What’s on your mind, the boss told me, the intelligence personnel of Li Clan and Qing Clan are treated equally, he will summon Qing Ling as well.”

“Then why hasn’t Qing Ling shown up yet?”

Li Cheng pondered: “There must be something delaying them, even if others don’t go to the wild, Qing Ling surely will.”

However, at this moment, more than twenty troop carriers approached from the western wilderness, forming a long line.

Li Cheng and the others immediately tensed up, someone whispered, “Could it be Li Clan coming to arrest us?”

Li Cheng signaled everyone to keep quiet: “Stay hidden!”

But gradually, they realized something was off, in the first vehicle, Qing Ling was looking at them with a teasing smile!

The troop carriers slowly stopped, Qing Ling sat at the shotgun seat, arm resting on the window, teasing, “Brothers, you weren’t thinking of trekking to the 002 Taboo Land, were you? After reaching 002 Taboo Land, you still need to trek another 200 kilometers to the wilderness settlement. This spirit of endurance is truly admirable.”

Li Cheng was stunned for a moment: “How do you have vehicles?”

“That’s obvious,” Qing Ling laughed, “What kind of person is our boss in Qing’s Family? I just had to say the word, and Qing Ye and Qing Qu immediately volunteered to send supplies, vehicles, and satellite phones, fearing we wouldn’t eat or sleep well on the road. That’s Qing’s Family for you, much better than Li’s Family. I heard you guys sneaked out, hahahaha, why so cautious, overthinking much!”

Li Cheng’s face turned red with embarrassment: “Shut up, what if we got stopped, who knows the political games up above?”

Qing Ling curiously asked, “Everyone on our side came out. What about you?”

Li Cheng proudly said, “Don’t make it seem like we’re worse than you, not a single one of us is missing either!”

The two began to compete again.

After a moment of silence, Qing Ling suddenly opened the door and jumped out, giving Li Cheng a strong hug: “Long time no see.”

Li Cheng smiled: “Long time no see.”

Since they were taken onto the floating airship after their award, the intelligence personnel of Li Clan and Qing Clan hadn’t met.

But their camaraderie, forged over more than a decade in Base A02, wouldn’t break.

“Alright, get in the vehicles!” Qing Ling laughed heartily: “From now on, let’s roam the world, not knowing when we’ll meet again!”

The twenty-plus troop carriers wobbled down the path, heading south.

The military song inside the vehicles startled the birds, piercing through the celestial clouds.

…

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