# 22
**Chapter 22: General Zhao**
Lin Qiye frowned. "What do you mean by that?"
Zhao Kongcheng smiled faintly, unhurriedly pulling a cigarette from his pocket. "Mind if I smoke?"
"I do."
Zhao Kongcheng: …
He reluctantly tucked the cigarette away, leaning back in his chair, a trace of nostalgia in his eyes.
"When I was young, I was just like you."
"Honestly, that opening’s a bit cliché."
"…"
"It’s fine, go on."
"My father died of illness when I was six. My mom worked two jobs just to keep me fed." Zhao Kongcheng’s fingers rubbed the cigarette pack, his voice calm.
"Life moved slowly back then. All my mom hoped for was that I’d finish middle school, come back, become a village cadre, marry a local girl, have a few kids, and live happily together.
You know how teenagers are—always rebellious.
When I graduated middle school my grades were decent; becoming a cadre wouldn’t have been hard. But I ignored her wishes and enlisted.
Actually, she didn’t object—she just looked unhappy. The day I left she stood at the door, watching me silently. I walked to the road behind the house—she watched. I reached the village entrance—she was still watching…
Later, at the city station, I couldn’t rest easy and sneaked back… only to find her still standing there, staring in the direction I’d gone, lost in thought.
Truth is, I almost stayed. In the end I hardened my heart and left for the army."
Zhao Kongcheng sighed. "Years passed, my rank kept rising. I joined the special forces, and because I excelled at close-quarters combat, I was transferred to the Night Watch.
Whenever I got leave, I’d go home to see Mom, and then I discovered…"
He stopped abruptly.
Lin Qiye asked carefully, "Your mother… passed away?"
"No, she remarried."
Lin Qiye: …
"She’d ruined her health working too hard. She’d wanted me back so I could look after her, but I didn’t see that and chose the army.
Later, she couldn’t manage alone, so she remarried—at least someone would care for her in old age.
By then I was deep in Night Watch duty, unable to stay by her side. Honestly, when I heard she’d remarried, I felt relieved."
Lin Qiye pondered. "So why tell me this?"
Zhao Kongcheng stood slowly, meeting Lin Qiye’s eyes. "We all once cherished things, yet as we grow we grow used to overlooking them, distracted by something else…
I was like that. But you’re different, Lin Qiye.
You’re smarter, more sensible. You have your own ideas; you want to stay with your family.
That’s good.
Since you’ve chosen this path, walk it well.
Leave saving the world to people like us."
He picked up the kraft-paper envelope from the table and held it out.
"I just met your aunt. Good people like her are rare these days. I know your family’s situation—take this money."
Lin Qiye didn’t hesitate. "I won’t."
"I’m Night Watch; I don’t lack money."
"Still, I won’t take it."
"It’s for your aunt—you have to!"
"My aunt wouldn’t take it either."
Zhao Kongcheng’s mouth twitched. They stared at each other, neither yielding.
Finally he spoke again. "Lin Qiye… I’m old. I can’t bear to watch the regrets I once lived repeat before my eyes, even in someone else."
"Then close your eyes." Lin Qiye was firm. "We may be poor, but we have our pride. A soldier’s money—I won’t take.
Besides, my eyes are healed; I have the skill to keep regrets from happening."
Zhao Kongcheng opened his mouth, then closed it, smiling wryly.
"Wouldn’t this cash be better spent on your wife and kids?"
"Night Watch’s benefits are solid. Even if I die on the battlefield, my family will never want, my kids will attend top universities, have bright futures."
Seeing he couldn’t convince Lin Qiye, he tucked the envelope away.
"Don’t you have any dreams of your own?"
"My dream?" Zhao Kongcheng sat back, brows lifting. "Yes, I’ve had one since childhood."
"What is it?"
"Become a general in the army! Return to my village chest full of medals, in full dress, so everyone who looked down on my mom would know—her son is a general!" His eyes shone.
Lin Qiye stared, suddenly reminded of Li Yifei… they seemed the same kind of man.
"Have you made general?"
"Not even close." Zhao Kongcheng laughed bitterly. "And Night Watch can’t parade medals in public. That dream… stays a dream."
Lin Qiye fell silent.
"All right, I should go." Zhao Kongcheng stood, extended his right hand.
"Wish you a bright future, Lin Qiye."
Lin Qiye gazed at the man’s face; it no longer looked so oily…
He gripped the hand tightly. "May your chest be full of honors one day, General Zhao."
Zhao Kongcheng smiled and walked toward the door.
"Wait—your Coat of Arms." Lin Qiye picked it from the table and waved it.
Zhao Kongcheng slapped his forehead. "Almost forgot—this is my life!"
He took the Coat of Arms, glanced at it, then grinned. "Did you read the lines on the back?"
"I did."
"Pretty cool, huh?"
"Very. Did you write them?"
"No, it’s the oath we swear on joining Night Watch." He flipped it like a coin, caught it, pocketed it. "But… I love it."
"Hold on."
"What now?"
"It’s pouring—take an umbrella."
"Thanks. I won’t be returning it."
"Keep it—as payment for guarding the planet."
"Interesting. All right, I’m really off."
"Goodbye."
Zhao Kongcheng stepped into the rain beneath the black umbrella. Lin Qiye stood by the window, watching him go.
In the downpour, Zhao’s fingers rubbed the Coat of Arms in his pocket as he quietly recited:
"If the dark night finally falls,
I shall stand before the myriad people,
Blade barring the abyss,
Blood dyeing the heavens…"
…
The rain grew heavier.
Zhao Kongcheng calmly folded his umbrella into the black sedan and pulled out his cigarette pack, ready for a moment’s peace.
Suddenly his earpiece crackled!
A man’s voice burst through.
The hand holding the cigarette trembled; his pupils shrank!