In everyone's gaze, the vehicle convoy carrying a red flag came to a stop not far from the port.
Shortly after, fully armed soldiers jumped out, gripping steel rifles across their chests as they marched in formation.
Behind them were the wounded and hostages being supported.
The setting sun cast a golden hue over them, the lead officer waving a red flag that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight.
They marched forth with an overwhelming presence.
Everyone stared at the scene in a daze.
Until the soldiers approached, the flag-bearing officer stood at attention and saluted, shouting hoarsely, "My unit has rescued the trapped hostages, awaiting your orders, sir!"
To maintain secrecy, he omitted the name and number of the Hidden Sword Special Assault Team, as well as his own position.
"Swish!" The Xia Country navy captain stood at attention and saluted.
The Xia Country sailors on the warship and the Laya Country soldiers at the port all saluted the Hidden Sword team in unison.
"Clap clap clap clap..."
A Xia Country reporter, tears welling, began applauding.
Soon the reporters from other countries joined in.
With less than a hundred troops, they had ventured deep into the chaotic enemy-occupied zone and successfully rescued the hostages - an absolute miracle. The Xia Country soldiers had earned the respect and admiration of reporters from all nations present.
Thunderous applause erupted at the port, though the few reporters from U Country looked somewhat awkward.
The navy captain turned to the confrontational U Country reporter from before, his expression grave as he proclaimed loudly, "I don't know why you were asking such pointed questions earlier, but now I can answer your previous question - the combat capability of Xia Country's soldiers is forged by blood and fire, beyond doubt!"
Then, ignoring the U Country reporter's embarrassed look, he turned to another petite reporter from an island nation, "And you, I recall you asked what if this team also got trapped - well now I can answer you too: we would keep rescuing them! We will never abandon any Xia Country citizen. Our soldiers are always ready to sacrifice for our nation and people!"
His earlier evasiveness was not out of cowardice, but because he preferred demonstrating with actions over empty words. As an officer, though of a different branch, he had deep faith in his country's soldiers.
"............."
For a moment, the entire dock fell deathly silent, before once again erupting into thunderous applause.
"Clap clap clap clap..."
The reporters then became feverishly animated.
"This is the northern port of Laya Country, where the hostages trapped since yesterday have just been rescued by a special operations unit from our country that infiltrated deep behind enemy lines..."
"Oh my god, it's unbelievable - the Xia Country soldiers have created a miracle! Just earlier, almost no one thought they would make it back alive..."
"An unidentified special forces unit that pulled off a Hollywood-style movie plot - a respectable team from a respectable country..."
"This team refused interviews and has already boarded the warship, so let's interview the rescued hostages instead...Hello, could you share your experience of this miraculous rescue..."
"Excuse me for interrupting, but we don't believe in miracles. We only believe in the People's Liberation Army. Thank you to our motherland for bringing us home. May our nation prosper!"
When the interviews from the port aired back home along with official reports, the entire nation was instantly stirred into an uproar.
"Thanks to our motherland for keeping us far from war, and for bringing us back from others' wars."
"Blood is boiling - that unit is insane, wasn't that like 10 against 1000? A whole team of Aces?"
"Damn, even the national news is more exciting than action movies now, watching it got me so pumped I'm peeing everywhere."
"Wait, didn't you notice the guy with the sniper rifle is Li Fei from the missing New Recruits Company?"
"Oh sh*t, it is him! If the whole team is made up of freaks like him, no wonder they're so strong."
At the New Recruits Company of the 3rd Battalion, 152nd Regiment in Yan Province:
"Isn't that Li Fei?!" The soldiers like Wang Dali who were watching the news were equally shocked.
"He's already started missions?"
"What a war god - we're from the same batch but we haven't even been commissioned officers yet, and he's already a lieutenant!"
Everyone buzzed with discussion, especially Liu Xiaojun and Zhang Teng who had complicated looks on their faces. The gap was just too large.
Large to the point of feeling hopeless.
But soon, the two became resigned.
After all, one can't really compare humans to livestock.
At the same time, in a Changning hotel, the real Li Fei was drenched in cold sweat. Thinking about having to regularly take on missions like this after the exchange program ended...
He couldn't help but shudder. Wouldn't a newbie like him just be getting served up on a platter going into such high-stakes operations?
Not only served up, but also dragging his teammates down.
With that thought, he promptly grabbed his phone and called Chen Han, "Big Bro Chen, I need to increase my loan!"
The threat of death was an extreme motivator for consumption.
"Little Li, you need to think this through carefully, and I don't really have that much anyway..." Chen Han feigned dissuasion.
Li Fei's eyes reddened as he cut Chen Han off with a shout, "Cut the crap, it's not about how much you have, it's about how much I can borrow!"
Chen Han: "........"
"If that's how you want to put it, then even if I have to take out a loan myself, I'll have to meet your borrowing needs. Can't be helped, I'm just that dedicated to helping others in times of urgency." Chen Han proclaimed self-righteously, though inwardly he was beaming with delight.
Watching the news on TV, he could barely contain his laughter. The shifting international situation was indeed a boon for economic development, just as the financial experts had assured him.
At the very least, it had stimulated his own finances tremendously.
Thanks to brother-in-law Zhao Yan for boosting my economy.
Zhao Yan: Don't mention it, Big Bro-in-law. I've not only boosted your economy, but also your sister's.
............
Several days later, at a military airport in Yan Province.
Two rows of honor guards stood ramrod straight like javelins.
The plane door opened, and the Dragon Soul Special Operations Team members, dressed in civilian attire like the Hidden Sword operatives, disembarked carrying urns draped in red flags.
Each step was slow and heavy.
They carried the remains of their fallen comrades.
"Present arms!!!"
Swish swish swish -
The honor guards turned their eyes obliquely and raised their arms.
"Order arms!"
"Fire salute!!!"
Bang! Bang! Bang...
Apart from family members, there was no one else present, let alone any media reporters.
They were heroes, but due to the sensitive nature of their service, their deeds could not be publicized.
They had sacrificed their youth amidst raging flames, but their deaths would pass in silence. From the moment they chose this path, they had forsaken all flowers and applause.
No one would know their names, their unit designations, or the great merits they had accrued...
Their names would remain unknown, their deeds etched forever in history... They were the soldiers of Xia Country!
Perhaps when the confidentiality period passed and historians reviewed the archives later, they would find that there had been a group who continued spilling blood for the motherland even in times of peace.
These were never truly peaceful times - it was only because there were those bearing the unseen burdens, quietly dedicating themselves in countless hidden corners.