Ji Nan moved with ghostly speed, instantly dropping anyone who came within half a step. Wind, footsteps, intuition – all were his weapons for assessing the situation. The deputy battalion commander cursed and leaped onto the bed bare-handed, but before he could restrain Ji Nan, he saw Ji Nan lift a tall, muscular Alpha soldier and smash the deputy battalion commander along with the bed!
The doctor screamed and ran out. Ji Nan paid him no mind, dodging Tang Hao’s hand chop and grabbing his arm to pull forward. In an instant, they passed each other, Tang Hao’s knee delivering a vicious sweeping leg kick that sent medical bottles flying.
Ji Nan dodged like lightning, Tang Hao not even looking up, laughing loudly: “Battalion Commander Tang! What kind of skill is it to bully an Omega who can’t see?”
Tang Hao thought to himself, Crazy Squad 118, can’t you just shut up!
Ji Nan stepped on the IV stand, grabbing the metal frame. Without a word, he swung it down. A deafening crash, the frame smashing against the wall right next to Tang Hao!
“Still want to fight?”
Tang Hao, choked and coughing, held back his eager-to-charge subordinates.
The intensive care unit had turned into a complete wreck, groans scattered everywhere. Ji Nan turned his head, like a wounded and cautious leopard, after a moment throwing down the IV stand with a clang, retreating towards the ward’s exit.
Yan Hao behind him, Ji Nan suddenly turned and grabbed his neck, but released it after just half a second.
“You could recognize me?” Yan Hao put away his PSP.
“Your skin is smoother,” Ji Nan said.
Yan Hao: “…”
Ji Nan seriously asked him: “How do we get to the military committee?”
“You searched and rescued forty-eight hours alone in a zombie-infested city center?”
“Yes.”
“Not infected?”
“Lucky,” Zhou Rong said, “No.”
In the aircraft carrier conference room, a long table stretched across the east end, with General Zheng and four other military officials sitting behind it, each with a cup of plain water.
The middle of the conference room was empty except for a folding chair, where Zhou Rong sat, already washed and wearing a new gray-white urban camouflage uniform, his gun placed neatly on the ground beside him.
General Zheng’s voice echoed in the spacious room: “Did you already know he was an antibody carrier at the time?”
“No.”
“But this action risked your own life, Colonel,” another political commissar said meaningfully.
Zhou Rong stared directly at the table, seeming lost in thought. The four senior officers’ eyes fixed on him. After a while, Zhou Rong said calmly: “I just wanted to bring him back.”
Didn’t think too much.”
“Did you know the antibody carrier was near heat at the time?”
“No.”
The military officers exchanged subtle glances. Zhou Rong didn’t need to look to know what those looks meant.
They didn’t believe a single word. But they weren’t planning to pursue it further for now.
“Let’s end it here today,” General Zheng coughed and stood up: “Thank you for your cooperation, Colonel.”
General Zheng picked up a metal briefcase from the table and strode forward, handing it to Zhou Rong. Zhou Rong was slightly surprised, but General Zheng offered no explanation, just shaking his hand: “We all feel it’s better if you deliver it personally.”
Zhou Rong immediately said: “I don’t need such special treatment. My squad leader and I just want to complete the mission…”
“What are you thinking?” General Zheng was slightly displeased.
Zhou Rong looked at him suspiciously. General Zheng saw he truly didn’t understand, and his tone softened: “This is from above.”
He didn’t specify exactly how high “above” was, seemingly assuming Zhou Rong should understand. Then he firmly patted Zhou Rong’s shoulder and, despite Zhou Rong’s resistance, bent down to pick up his gun and insert it into the holster on his outer thigh.
In this survival battle, hundreds of thousands of troops, armed police, firefighters, and research personnel sacrificed their lives. The special forces represented by Unit 118 saved countless civilians.
Your unit has been disbanded, but your heroic names will forever remain in military history.
General Zheng paused, coughed forcefully to steady his hoarse voice, and looked directly into Zhou Rong’s eyes:
“You and your team rescued virus research materials and primary antibodies, found serum antibody carriers, and bought precious time and resources for the Strategic Bureau Research Institute to develop an antidote. Major General Qian, Chief of Staff Liu, and the souls of Unit 118 in heaven will be proud of you.”
Zhou Rong gave a sad smile and did not respond.
General Zheng spoke gently: “Let your team rest. Someone will come later to take you…”
A knock interrupted him, and the political commissar casually asked, “Who is it?”
“Report!” came a stammering voice from outside: “Captain Yan Hao from Unit 118 has returned!”
General Zheng pushed the door open, puzzled.
In the corridor, guards looked bewildered and helpless. The legendary Yan Hao stood at attention against the wall, expressionless.
Beside him on a bench sat a young man, half his face covered in bandages, his upper body wrapped in bandages, bare-chested. The critically ill patient who should have been unconscious in the intensive care unit was actually here, clearly showing signs of recent combat. General Zheng’s body swayed uncontrollably.
Zhou Rong exclaimed: “Si Nan?”
“
Si Nan raised his head, accurately locating the source of the voice, and extended a hand.
Zhou Rong quickly stepped forward, tightly grasping the bruised hand from IV fluids, then was pulled into an embrace by Si Nan, who buried his face deep into Zhou Rong’s heated chest and took a deep breath.
“How did you get here?” Zhou Rong’s voice trembled as he repeatedly stroked the back of Si Nan’s head.
Si Nan briefly replied: “Can’t see. Wanted to know where you are.”
The guard hesitantly reported to General Zheng: “He injured the main and deputy commanders of the 9th Battalion and several soldiers. No one dared to stop him. Captain Yan helped guide him…” Several senior military officers emerging from the conference room watched in surprise as Zhou Rong lifted the barefoot Si Nan into his arms.
Zhou Rong, also surprised by Si Nan’s journey to find him, kissed the top of his soft black hair, his handsome face slightly red: “I’ll head back then. He seems… like he doesn’t need to return to the hospital…”
The small exposed part of Si Nan’s face showed no expression. But everyone knew his eyes were vigilantly observing every movement through the white gauze.
General Zheng considered for a moment, surprisingly relaxed: “Okay. But the research institute might need to draw some blood later, so please cooperate.”
The chief of staff frowned, seemingly dissatisfied, but was stopped by General Zheng with an almost imperceptible shake of the head.
Zhou Rong responded: “Yes, we’ll definitely cooperate.” He then signaled Yan Hao to follow and carried Si Nan out of the office area.
Yan Hao vaguely guessed something. Zhou Rong signaled the military officer to wait, squatted down, and gently pulled Si Nan’s slender fingers covered in bandages: “Rong Ge needs to take care of something, will come to see you in the ward tonight, okay?”
Si Nan lowered his head slightly, his eyes quietly facing Zhou Rong behind the white gauze.
“If you don’t come,” Si Nan said softly, “I won’t cooperate.”
This was almost a blatant threat, and the military officer’s expression immediately changed.
Zhou Rong pressed firmly on the back of Si Nan’s head, kissing his temple and laughing: “I know, when has Rong Ge ever broken a promise?”
