Chapter 126

Ayer’s condition was extremely frightening. He had experienced two instances of cardiac arrest but managed to revive each time. Shan Ming watched in horror as faint purple dragon scales began to emerge from Ayer’s body. The scales broke through the skin, as if they were forcefully trying to emerge from within his body. Ayer’s entire body was drenched in blood, making him look nothing like a living person.

The Dragon Blood fusion experiments he had witnessed were always conducted in tightly controlled laboratories. The evolution of a single Dragon Blood Kin involved the collaboration of dozens of researchers, extensive investigation, research, and feasibility discussions. After conducting lengthy data analysis and discussions, they would begin the experimental process, which often took up to six months of preparation. The experimental subjects also underwent targeted training. Even with all these preparations, the success rate remained very low. However, Ayer had none of that. He was on the brink of death, and Tang Tingzhi simply injected a dose of dragon blood directly into his heart, forcibly initiating the fusion. While the principles were not far off, the execution was vastly different. It was like using desperate measures on a dying horse, a last-ditch effort with no guarantee of success.

If it failed, Ayer would be dead either way. However, if it succeeded, this kind of injury could be fully healed for a Dragon Blood Kin.

It was a gamble, betting on whether Ayer’s life was tough enough.

That day was indescribably chaotic.

Shan Ming thought of nothing in his head, he just joined the ones who were still able to move and carried the injured back to the village. Along the way, they encountered a rainstorm that extinguished the fire, leaving them with a few cabins to seek shelter from the wind and rain.

They gathered all the medical equipment and medicines available, providing the injured with the maximum care and treatment.

The next morning, they crafted makeshift stretchers from tree branches and traversed over 30 kilometers of muddy mountain forests, carrying the injured out of that nightmarish primitive forest. On the coastline, a ship awaited them, fully prepared with additional medicine and a drier, cleaner environment.

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Gula pwahkhle, cwv bl oyp nwaaldvzu kd y ellr nsxy. Mydt Mkdtgbk pyke vbyv vawl pwnnlpp oswze cl obld Gula oyjlp wr okvbswv ydu xyfsa nbydtlp kd bkp rlapsdyzkvu. Fbyd Ykdt eslpd’v nyal ycswv vbyv; yp zsdt yp Gula kp yzkhl, kv’p ldswtb qsa bkx.

Mktla Fbyaj zspv sdl lul, obkzl bkp svbla lul bye plhlal hkpksd kxrykaxldv. Xhla vkxl, bl okzz lhldvwyzzu zspl bkp pktbv nsxrzlvlzu. Gzvbswtb bl nyd pvkzz xydytl bkp zkql okvb vbl alxykdkdt lul, bkp nyalla yp y xlanldyau ldele yv vbl ytl sq qsavu-plhld. Mktla Fbyaj oyp nyzx ycswv kv, yp xydu rlsrzl alvkal yv bkp ytl. Gv zlypv bl nyxl swv sq vbl cyvvzlqklze yzkhl. Nkzu yde Vlzzl olal csvb plakswpzu kdfwale yde yal wdyczl vs tlv swv sq cle yduvkxl pssd. Tyoj eked’v ekl, bl zspv yd lya ewl vs y Paytsd Jzsse Ikd’p yvvynj yde pwqqlale lmvldpkhl vlyakdt oswdep, cwv bl bye ds xyfsa eyxytl vs bkp zkxcp. Rv oyp y qsavwdyvl xkpqsavwdl. Kscc bye y awrvwale zkhla yde dlyazu ekle qasx czsse zspp, cwv bl xydytle vs pvawttzl yde pwahkhl sd vbl letl sq elyvb. Ispjk bye vbl zktbvlpv kdfwaklp yxsdt lhlausdl, bl nswze tlv swv sq cle yde oyzj vbl dlmv eyu. Xakszl’p kdfwaklp olal kdnalekczu plhlal, yde bl qlzz kdvs y ellr nsxy fwpv zkjl Gula. Tkp blyzkdt rasnlpp oyp rastalppkdt yv yd lmvalxlzu pzso rynl.

Mbl Vlaltakdl Wyznsd pwqqlale qkhl nypwyzvklp yde yzz alxykdkdt xlxclap pwpvykdle plakswp kdfwaklp. Gxsdt Mydt Mkdtgbk’p prlnkyz qsanlp vlyx, lzlhld xlxclap ekle. Omnzwekdt bkxplzq, lhlausdl oyp kdfwale.

Mbl Vlaltakdl Wyznsd pwqqlale pktdkqknydv eyxytl vbkp vkxl. Xwv sq vbl vball xspv kxrsavydv kdekhkewyzp kd vbl xlanldyau taswr, Mktla Fbyaj, Gula, yde Fbyd Ykdt, sdl oyp zlqv raynvknyzzu czkde, ydsvbla ldele wr okvb y qallesxzlpp keldvkvu, yde vbl vbkae eked’v jdso bso vs prlyj yduxsal.

Gzvbswtb xspv rlsrzl pwahkhle yde vblal olal pvkzz psxl xlxclap kd vbl cypl obs eked’v ryavknkryvl kd vbkp srlayvksd ewl vs kdfwaklp, lhlausdl jdlo vbyv vbl Vlaltakdl Wyznsd bye alynble kvp lde.

Ohlau xlanldyau taswr byp kvp eyu sq esodqyzz. Rv nswze cl ewl vs clkdt nsxrzlvlzu yddkbkzyvle cu vbl ldlxu sd vbl cyvvzlqklze, sa vbl raszsdtle zspp sq xlxclap okvbswv pwkvyczl qalpb czsse vs alrzldkpb vblka aydjp, tayewyzzu zlyekdt vs vblka elnzkdl. Mbl Vlaltakdl Wyznsd nyd cl pyke vs lxcseu csvb sq vblpl pkvwyvksdp. Mblka zypv alnawkvxldv sq dlo xlxclap oyp vos ulyap yts, yde kv oyp kdlhkvyczl vbyv sdl eyu, vbl hlvlayd xlxclap oswze lmkv vbl pvytl sq bkpvsau, yde vbl Vlaltakdl Wyznsd oswze clnsxl y qsatsvvld xlxsau, plyzle yoyu kd vbl yddyzp sq kdvladyvksdyz xlanldyaklp, pzsozu qyekdt qasx rlsrzl’p xkdep.

Mblu sdnl bye wdryayzzlzle tzsau, clkdt sdl sq vbl clpv xlanldyau taswrp kd vbl osaze. Mblka qssvpvlrp vayhlaple vbl tzscl, yde okvb blyvle twd cyaalzp yde czsse-pvykdle czyelp, vblu okvdlpple nswdvzlpp xsxldvp sq bsdsa yde hknvsau.

Lso, kv oyp vkxl qsa vblx vs zlyhl vbl pvytl.

They landed in South Africa under the guise of a merchant ship and, under the arrangement of Tang Tingzhi, the entire team flew back to China.

After a gap of three months, they once again entered this military base. However, unlike their triumphant return the previous time, this time…

The wounded received better treatment here, and even Ayer regained consciousness under the stimulation of medications. However, he remained confined to the laboratory, with only Tang Tingzhi having temporary access to him.

The Chinese side was deeply outraged by Shan Ming’s actions, but they were unable to hold him accountable. Given the circumstances at the time, it was perhaps the only choice to protect the majority of people.

Since that day, Shan Ming has not spoken much. He was consumed by a fierce and aggressive mood every day, and no trace of expression could be found on his face.

This was the heaviest blow he had ever faced in his life. He yearned to vent his emotions and tried various ways to do so. However, a tangled knot of emotions still lingered within him, with Shen Changze’s final gaze haunting his mind.

Every day he had spent with Shen Changze in this base now stood in stark contrast to the present. He was almost unable to distinguish whether he was still in the real world or not.

He stayed in his room for two weeks, never showing his face, until one day, someone knocked on his door.

Shan Ming lay on his bed, neither asleep nor fully awake. He simply lay there, oblivious to the sound of the knocking at his door.

“Open the door, it’s me,” came Ayer’s clear voice from outside the door.

Shan Ming opened his eyes and leaped out of bed. He opened the door.

Outside the door stood Ayer. His golden hair shimmered, and his deep blue eyes sparkled. He appeared unharmed, looking incredibly healthy.

Shan Ming’s lips quivered, and he remained silent for a moment. Then, he tightly embraced Ayer, hugging him with all his strength.

Ayer extended his arms and returned the hug with great force, almost as if they were attempting to crush each other’s waist.

It was only through such a tight embrace that they could confirm the other was truly alive.

Ayer gently stroked his hair and said, “I already know everything. You’ve been down for long enough. It’s time to pull yourself together. We have to defeat Shen Yao, we must defeat him.”

Shan Ming opened his mouth, and tears streamed down his face for the first time. He held Ayer’s warm body tightly, and it felt as if his own soul was being enveloped in warmth.

Ayer took Shan Ming out of the room and brought him into a conference room where only members of the Peregrine Falcon were present.

The people in the room raised their heads and looked at Shan Ming, who couldn’t help but lower his head.

Tiger Shark, wearing sunglasses, spoke in a deep voice, “This is the Peregrine Falcon’s mission failure. Put away your childish self-blame.”

Shan Ming lifted his head, his eyes clouded with a thin mist, devoid of any shine.

Tiger Shark spoke calmly, “This day had to come sooner or later. We aren’t invincible. I believe this is God’s indication for us to stop here. At least, most of us can return to our loved ones with the majority of our bodies intact. For a mercenary organization, this is already the best outcome.”

No one spoke. Each person suffered from indescribable torment in their heart.

Tiger Shark continued, “Two days from now, we will return to Colombia to wrap things up. After that, those who wish to go home for the new year may do so.”

Two days later, they all returned to Colombia together.

The people in the base had already received the news. This return journey was unlike any previous one. There were no cheers of victory or celebration with booze. Instead, everyone gathered together for a lengthy meeting to discuss how to handle the shared assets and the future plans of each individual.

Tiger Shark decided to return to the countryside in the United States and buy a ranch farm, where he could live a life that suited his current state. Without any hesitation, Pelle expressed her desire to accompany him.

Lily would return to China, back to Oriole’s side. She revealed that, for the first time, she had developed an interest in getting married.

Ayer, due to his recent evolution, was in a highly unstable condition, and he couldn’t be away from the laboratory for an extended period of time. He needed to spend a significant amount of time in China, learning to control the unfamiliar Dragon Blood within him, much like a child learning to walk for the first time.

Kali and Big Rock, who were injured in the previous operation and did not participate this time, have now mostly recovered. Together with Koski, Jobb, and Hawk, they expressed their intention to inherit the Peregrine Falcon title, recruit new members, and rebuild the mercenary group. They had an existing base, around a dozen members, a reputation, and a steady stream of business. They didn’t want to change their current way of life.

Finally, everyone’s gaze turned towards Shan Ming, silently questioning his intentions.

Shan Ming spoke slowly but firmly, “I’m going to save my son.”

It was a lengthy meeting, and each person could hear the silent anguish in the depths of each other’s hearts.

As winter set in, Christmas was approaching. Most of them would be going home to celebrate the new year with their families. However, for some, their families would only receive a lifeless body.

On the eve of their separation, they shared their final drink together.

Despite many of them still being injured and unfit for alcohol, no one stopped them from partaking in the drink.

This would be their final drink together with their brothers, comrades, and friends. They didn’t know when they would reunite again. They drank heavily, becoming intoxicated and inebriated.

In the middle of it, someone began cursing while shouting the names of Dino and Lil’Knife, mocking them as cowards for leaving halfway through the drinking session. They proposed capturing the two scoundrels and began searching the entire room. They searched under tables, chairs, and even inside cabinets, but they couldn’t find them anywhere.

Then, people began to realize that those two individuals were no longer with them. It dawned on more and more people that many of their comrades were gone, never to clink bottles and gulp down the burning, lung-searing vodka together again.

Everyone started crying, wailing and sobbing uncontrollably.

Their comrades who had fought alongside them for over a decade, the ones they trusted with their backs, were no longer there.

They were a group of mercenaries operating outside the bounds of law and convention. They shed blood in foreign lands, taking lives for the sake of profit. They weren’t good people, and they knew they would go to hell after death. No one would sympathize with them because they all deserved death. Only their comrades by their side… only their comrades would shield them from attacks in times of danger, and only their comrades would never give up on them in dire situations. Only with their comrades by their sides, could they drink and eat heartily with peace of mind. On the shadowy and perilous battlefield, it was only the protection of their comrades by their side that could allow them to close their weary eyes and find twenty minutes of sleep.

Parting… the inevitable arrival of their parting…

The next day, those who had to leave left without any farewells or exchanges. There were no goodbyes, no small talk, just a quiet and silent departure.

Shan Ming, Ayer, and Lily all boarded the same plane and returned to Beijing. Tang Tingzhi had arranged for them to be picked up and taken back to the base.

Shan Ming said to Tang Tingzhi, “The reason I’m here is to find Shen Yao’s whereabouts. I will definitely go after him. Our business isn’t finished yet.”

Ayer’s eyes darkened. “That’s right, it’s not finished yet. For our fallen comrades, for the Peregrine Falcon, we’re far from finished with Shen Yao.”