# 792
Chapter 793: Return to Shangjing
"Before Commander Zuo left, he already gave orders to have him sent back to his original squad's station for burial and posthumously awarded a personal 'Star' medal. His family will also receive a substantial compensation payment..." Fang Zuo lowered his head to look at the body lying on the stretcher, offering a bitter smile.
"That's good for him... among us brothers who were the first to voluntarily transfer here to defend the war pass, he's become the most honored..."
After staring at the body for a long while, Lin Qiye finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Did he... have any last wishes?"
Fang Zuo was stunned. "He did have some last wishes... but he just hoped I could help take care of his son. After all, we were quite close privately, and his son used to call me Uncle Fang when he was little. But recently he's been going through rebellious phase, and he was worried about him."
"His son?" Cao Yuan asked. "What's his name?"
"Lu Baoyou."
Lin Qiye nodded, secretly memorizing this name.
After several people carried the stretcher away, Lin Qiye sat back down on the city wall, staring blankly at the distant horizon.
"What are you thinking about?" Cao Yuan asked in confusion.
Lin Qiye took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. The sunset and ocean in his vision had vanished, replaced by是一片漆黑.
He reached out toward the sky, as if wanting to grasp something.
"I was thinking... perhaps one day, I will let this night cover the entire Great Xia."
...
Somewhere in Great Xia.
In a spacious abandoned warehouse, a figure cloaked in gray, wearing a vortex mask, opened a heavy door and walked in. Footsteps echoed lowly through the dim warehouse.
He walked to the center of the warehouse and stopped.
"Captain, Commander Zuo sent word—the crisis has been resolved. No need to traverse through time again." The figure with the vortex mask spoke softly.
In the empty space before him, another figure was sitting quietly in meditation, a long blade resting horizontally before them. That lowered "king" character mask slowly lifted, revealing a pair of calm yet weary eyes.
"No need?" Wang Mian said with some surprise. "Didn't they say there wasn't enough time?"
"Lin Qiye and the others returned. They held the Sunken Dragon Pass." The vortex-masked figure couldn't help but exclaim. "Truly, the new generation pushes forward the old... these juniors are progressing at an terrifying speed. I heard they're about to return to Shangjing to formally register their information, and there will be a medal ceremony for two 'Star Sea' medals."
"Lin Qiye?"
Wang Mian murmured the name, and an image surfaced in his memory—the golden-eyed boy from the training camp years ago. Beneath the mask, the corner of his lips curved into a smile.
"So they've finally returned..."
Wang Mian slowly rose from the ground, sheathing the Mandarin Arrow at his waist. He slightly lowered his head and removed the "king" character mask, walking toward the bright sunlight outside the warehouse.
The breeze was like an invisible delicate hand, lifting a strand of Wang Mian's silver-white hair. He raised his face, which had begun to show some wrinkles, and through the gaps in his fingers, squinted at the sun hanging high in the clear sky.
"Our pressure can finally ease a bit..."
...
Shangjing City.
006 Squad Station.
Shao Pingge hung up the phone, let out a long breath, and lay back on the recliner behind his desk, yawning lazily.
"Why are you about to sleep again?" Yuan Gang stood in front of the desk, frowning with some urgency. "What's the actual situation? Tell me! Was the beast tide stopped?"
"Rest assured, the crisis has been resolved." Shao Pingge replied unhurriedly. "The Fifth Special Squad returned and held the Sunken Dragon Pass. They're already on a plane back to Shangjing. They should arrive this afternoon."
Yuan Gang was stunned. "Lin Qiye and the others are back?"
At this moment, Yuan Gang's mind once again recalled that rainy day—the seven figures cloaked in black standing outside the courtyard, riding clouds away.
"Has it already been two years..." Shao Pingge lay there, staring at the empty ceiling above. "They returned just in time."
"Yes, it's time for them to come claim what belongs to them."
"By the way, they'll arrive in Shangjing this afternoon. Will you pick them up at the airport?"
Hearing this, a bitter expression appeared on Yuan Gang's face. "Me? I don't have time to pick them up at the airport. This year's training camp is about to start—the roster of trainees hasn't been filed yet, and we still don't have instructors sorted out. I haven't slept in days, you know that..."
"I see, your work is indeed busy." Shao Pingge nodded. "But I have a meeting at headquarters this afternoon, so I can't go either... How about you send Xiao Zhang to pick them up?"
"That seems to be the only option."
Yuan Gang turned to leave the office but, as if having second thoughts, turned back to ask, "By the way, are you sure about putting Zhenzhen in this year's training camp? She's still too young."
Shao Pingge paused for a moment, then hummed in agreement.
"Put her in. The Night Watch is desperately short of people right now. Her abilities are very special—if used well, she might prove useful in the future... Besides, in a little while, we'll be leaving. She can't grow up forever under the protection of our squad. Zhenzhen may be mischievous, but she's very clever. She can take care of herself."
Yuan Gang was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Understood."
...
Shangjing City.
A plane slowly descended from the blue sky and landed at a military airstrip in Shangjing City.
The cabin door opened, and Baili Pangpang stepped out first. He stretched his limbs and sighed, "It's been a long time since I've flown... Great Xia is really the best."
The other members of the Nightfall Squad stepped out of the plane one after another. Cao Yuan looked around and asked in confusion, "Didn't they say someone from Shangjing would meet us? Where is he?"
"Is it Instructor Yuan Gang?" Baili Pangpang asked.
"No, Instructor Yuan already called. He's been busy with this year's training camp and doesn't have time to receive us. The one coming is a newcomer from a Shangjing City squad." Lin Qiye explained while sweeping the area with his spiritual perception.
"Found it—a military-plated jeep, waiting at the red light on the other side of the road."
"Did we arrive early?"
"No, he's the one who's late."
An Qingyu checked the time and replied.
The seven left the military airstrip and walked straight to the roadside. It wasn't until then that the military jeep arrived, dust-covered, pulling into the intersection.
The driver's door opened, and a tall, thin man stepped out somewhat apologetically.
"I'm truly sorry—something unexpected happened at our squad. Thank you all for waiting." He walked to the roadside and shook hands with Lin Qiye and the others one by one.
"My name is Zhang Zhengting, member of Squad 006 stationed in Shangjing City. Two years ago on that rainy day, we fought each other through the courtyard gate."