Strongest Soldier King

All raised their guns solemnly, gazing at the body ahead with mournful expressions. Following Lan Xue's command, they pulled the trigger to bid farewell to the deceased in the manner of soldiers. Without giving further explanation about the person's identity, Luo Zheng did not ask, signaling the Ghost Team to find a door and make it into a makeshift stretcher, upon which they placed the body, binding it before covering the head with a sheet.

Everyone silently watched as the body's face was covered, their hearts heavy, saluting in respect. Lan Xue nodded gratefully to Luo Zheng, saying, "All right. Let's thoroughly search and see if there's anything to be found, and then set this damned wolf's den ablaze. Time to go home."

"Yes," everyone responded with sorrow and anger, the sacrifice of their comrade reigniting their fury. They dispersed quickly, searching in pairs.

Luo Zheng did not join them, staying instead with the somber Lan Xue. Thoughts of the helicopter pilot who had been blown to pieces came unbidden to his mind. This is what war is.

Lan Xue stared intently at the covered body, her face so overcast it could drip water. Luo Zheng, not knowing how to console her, grasped Lan Xue's hand tightly, feeling her hand stiffen and instinctively recoil, but then she gripped back fiercely, with great force, as if to vent the anger in her heart.

Just as Luo Zheng felt his hand might be twisted out of shape, Lan Xue released her grip, nodding apologetically and saying, "Thank you, I'm fine now. He was not only my comrade-in-arms but also my second cousin, one of the people who cared for me the most. We grew up together and enlisted together."

"You don't need to explain to me. I trust you, always," Luo Zheng said, instantly understanding Lan Xue's distress, his tone steady and firm.

"I know." A faint smile squeezed through Lan Xue's icy façade.

The two stood in silence, sorrow permeating the air. After a while, the others returned, shaking their heads to indicate they'd found nothing. Lan Xue had anticipated this; the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group had withdrawn too neatly to leave behind any clues. The search was merely a formality. She then said coldly, "Let's withdraw."

The Ghost Team carried the stretcher, and everyone walked outside, with Ghost Hand leading and Mountain Eagle covering the rear. Seeing Lan Xue in deep sorrow, no one dared to ask questions. Intelligence personnel are the most confidential existence, and though Ghost Hand and the others did not recognize the deceased, they could guess from Lan Xue's mournful expression that this person was no ordinary individual.

The withdrawal went smoothly, and several days later, they arrived at the border, where they called their respective units via satellite phone. Lan Xue's people were the first to arrive. Luo Zheng signaled the Ghost Team to line up and salute as a send-off. They embraced each other one by one. After days of combat, they had formed bonds of life and death. Lan Xue pulled Luo Zheng aside, gesturing to turn off their earpieces before she whispered, "The attack on the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group's base is top secret. No one is to reveal anything, especially our identities. I'll explain it over the phone to your team leader."

"I understand. I'll remind everyone to keep it confidential," Luo Zheng nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, take care," Lan Xue said earnestly.

"Take care," Luo Zheng replied, his gaze lingering on Lan Xue as he watched her turn to leave.

Not long after Lan Xue's people left, the Special Warfare Team's helicopter arrived. Everyone boarded, and half an hour later, the helicopter landed on the Special Warfare Team's helipad. Luo Zheng saw the team leader waiting to welcome him, but the leader's face was gloomy, and standing beside him was a squad of the Constitutional Soldier Team, armed and with their guns aimed at the helicopter.

"Hiss?" Everyone looked around in surprise at this scene, their eyes finally resting on the team leader. They forgot even to disembark. Luo Zheng, too, was taken aback, a vague unease rising in his heart, but still, he urged everyone to get off and then to line up.

"Report to the battalion commander, the first squad has returned from their mission, awaiting orders," Luo Zheng sprinted to the battalion commander with a surprised look and saluted, then shouted loudly.

"Are you Luo Zheng?" Before the battalion commander could speak, a major dressed in the Constitutional Soldier Team's uniform asked coldly.

Luo Zheng did not answer but looked towards the battalion commander. The battalion commander's face darkened with displeasure and snapped, "This is my turf, not some place where your Constitutional Soldier Team can do whatever you please. If you piss me off, none of you are leaving this military camp."

"I am merely executing official duties impartially; you can give it a try," the major retorted coldly without giving in, waving his hand and ordering, "Handcuff him, take him away."

"Who dares?" the battalion commander roared, his face turning ashen. Ghost Team had just returned from the battlefield with an aura of killing still lingering on them. Upon hearing someone wanted to arrest Luo Zheng, they all raised their guns, and the atmosphere was charged with murderous intent and the strong scent of gunpowder, ready to explode at any moment.

"What, thinking of rebelling?" the major shouted back just as unyieldingly.

Luo Zheng looked at the battalion commander with great doubt. Seeing the battalion commander ready to bite someone's head off, he knew trouble was brewing. The Constitutional Soldier Team had a special status in the army similar to police, and to openly assault them was a grave offense. He hurriedly said, "Major comrade, I'm unaware of any wrongdoing on my part that would have alarmed you?"

"You'll be told in due time, let's go?" said the major coldly, his tone tight-lipped.

"No way," the battalion commander exploded, about to take action when Luo Zheng quickly said, "Battalion commander, what harm is there in me going with them? If you walk the right path, why fear your shadow is crooked?"

The battalion commander looked deeply at Luo Zheng, then, glaring angrily at the Constitutional Soldier Team's major, he said, "Kid, we'll see about that. For now, I want to speak to him alone for a few moments. You can refuse, of course, and we can let this escalate all the way to the Military Committee, how about that?"

After pondering for a moment, the major turned his face away, as if to give silent consent. The battalion commander gave Luo Zheng a look, and the two moved aside. Making sure they couldn't be overheard, the battalion commander pointed to Luo Zheng's earpiece. Luo Zheng checked it, saw that it was off, and gave a slight nod, his expression turning serious as he asked, "Battalion commander, what exactly is happening?"

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be the Song family that's trying to deal with you," said the battalion commander in a quiet voice.

"The Song family," Luo Zheng was shocked, then with an iron-blue face he demanded, "The reason?"

"This operation, the order from the Group Army was clear: our battalion was to ambush the opium convoy," the battalion commander explained softly.

Upon hearing this, Luo Zheng instantly understood and sneered, "As expected, when they want to condemn someone, they'll find an excuse. We didn't just fail to ambush the target transporting the drugs; we also lost a helicopter. So, they claim my command was faulty and I must face a military tribunal, right?"

"You're a smart man, and it's good you can see this coming. I'm still not sure how they plan to deal with you specifically. This was an order from the political commissar, who is one of the Song family's. Rest assured and go with them; don't say a word. I will find a way to rescue you," the battalion commander said with an oath, his face resolute and his eyes firm.