131: Chapter 130 The Truth Revealed! Zhou Family, You Wait and See

The arena vanished.

The silver metal floor, the stone pillars covered in carved runes, and those specks of light and ash floating in the air—all of it disappeared.

Like a dream, leaving nothing behind upon waking.

But the land beneath their feet remained.

That land, barren for ten years: yellow sand, scattered stones, withered grass, and the broken bridge in the distance.

Sunlight spilled through the clouds, warming the land.

The wind carried the scent of dust and grass, along with a faint, indescribable aroma.

Perhaps it was the smell of freedom.

Su Xiaoxiao stood on the high ground, tears still on her face, but the corners of her mouth were turned up to the sky.

She sniffled, wiped her face roughly with her sleeve, soaking a large patch of it.

Then she turned and shouted towards the barren land behind her, 'It's back! Yanjiao is back!'

Her voice echoed across the empty wilderness, carrying far, far away.

Zhao Tiejun stood beside her. He didn't shout, but his fists were clenched, knuckles white, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes rimmed red.

Xiao Yutong stood next to him, tears streaming silently down her face. She didn't wipe them away, just stood there, letting them fall.

The wind lifted her hair, covering half her face.

Chen Zhixing's glasses were gone, lost somewhere. He stood squinting, looking at the land through a blur.

Ye Xinyi had her hands clasped together, eyes closed, lips moving silently, reciting something unknown.

Li Mingze sat on the ground, head tilted back, staring at the sky, lost in thought.

The General stood at the edge of the high ground, his back to them.

The wind whipped at the hem of his clothes, making it flap noisily.

He stood motionless, like a statue.

For a long, long time.

Then he turned around.

His rugged face showed no discernible expression.

But his eyes were red—not from crying, perhaps from the wind.

His gaze swept over the ten of them.

From Lin Feng to Su Xiaoxiao, from Zhao Tiejun to Xiao Yutong, from Chen Zhixing to Ye Xinyi, from Li Mo to Zhou Tianyu, from Li Mingze to Lin Feng.

One by one, slowly, carefully.

Then he snapped to attention and saluted.

It was a standard military salute.

Fingers together, middle finger slightly touching the brim of his cap, arm aligned with his shoulder.

His hand trembled—not from fear, but from emotion.

'Thank you,' he said, his voice hoarse, like sandpaper on wood.

'Thank you all.'

The ten of them were stunned.

Su Xiaoxiao's mouth hung open, unsure what to say.

Zhao Tiejun's hand lifted from his side, wanting to return the salute, then thinking better of it.

Xiao Yutong's tears still flowed, but she smiled.

Chen Zhixing squinted, unable to see clearly, but he smiled too.

Ye Xinyi finally lowered her clasped hands to her sides; they were trembling.

The General lowered his hand and took a deep breath.

'Ten years. Yanjiao was lost for ten years.'

'I came here every year, standing in this spot, looking at that land.'

'Every year, I wondered when we could return.'

'Every year, I was disappointed.'

He paused, his voice dropping lower.

'This year, no disappointment.'

He looked at Lin Feng, his gaze lingering on him for a moment before shifting to encompass everyone.

'You are all heroes.'

'Heroes of the nation, heroes of the people.'

'History will remember you. Yanjiao will remember you. The displaced people of Yanjiao will remember you.'

He saluted again.

'Thank you.'

Su Xiaoxiao couldn't hold back any longer. She let out a loud sob.

Not a sad cry, but a joyful one.

She threw herself into Ye Xinyi's arms, smearing snot and tears all over her.

Ye Xinyi held her, gently patting her back, her own tears falling.

Zhao Tiejun finally couldn't hold back either; tears streamed down his face.

He wiped them fiercely, but they only came faster.

Xiao Yutong looked at him, smiling, tears still flowing.

Chen Zhixing, squinting and seeing nothing clearly, heard the crying and smiled.

Li Mo stood in the corner, his face still expressionless, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

Zhou Tianyu stood at the back of the group, head bowed, lost in thought.

Li Mingze sat on the ground, head tilted back, staring at the sky.

Lin Feng stood in the middle of the group, watching his companions laugh and cry, a complex feeling welling up inside him.

He remembered what his Master had said—Earth ranked at the very bottom among the myriad races of the Universe.

America lost Alaska. Japan lost Hokkaido. Korea lost Jeju Island. Europe lost Gibraltar.

Now, Yanjiao was back.

Not by luck, not by charity, but fought back with fists.

He clenched his fist. His right arm still trembled, the wounds on his knuckles still oozing blood, but his heart felt steady.

The General waited until they had cried enough, laughed enough, before speaking.

'Let's go back. Yanjiao is still here; it won't run away. There will be plenty of time to visit in the future.'

He paused, looking at Lin Feng.

'Lin Feng, you stay. Someone wants to see you later.'

Lin Feng was taken aback. 'Who?'

The General didn't answer, just smiled. 'You'll know when you get back.'

The bus was still parked where they left it.

The ten of them filed onto the bus.

Su Xiaoxiao, exhausted from crying, leaned against Ye Xinyi's shoulder and fell asleep, tears still on her face but the corners of her mouth upturned, dreaming who knows what.

Zhao Tiejun sat by the window, staring out at the barren land for a long time.

The bus started. The land grew more distant, smaller, finally becoming a dot and disappearing below the horizon.

He withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes.

Xiao Yutong sat beside him, also resting with her eyes closed.

Chen Zhixing finally found his glasses. One lens had a crack, but they were still usable. He put them on, and the world finally came into focus.

Li Mo sat in the corner, still expressionless, but the corner of his mouth remained slightly upturned.

Zhou Tianyu sat in the back row, head bowed, silent.

Li Mingze sat next to him, also head bowed, lost in thought.

Lin Feng sat in the front, eyes closed, as if asleep or deep in thought.

Lin Feng sat in the very back, leaning against the window, watching the scenery fly by outside, thinking about what the General had said—someone wanted to see him.

Who?

By the time the bus entered the military district, it was almost dark.

The setting sun hung over the distant mountains, dyeing half the sky orange-red.

The bus stopped at the main gate. The General stood up.

'You've worked hard today. Go back and rest well. Meeting tomorrow at eight AM in the conference room.'

He looked at Lin Feng. 'Lin Feng, come with me.'

Lin Feng stood up and followed the General off the bus.

Su Xiaoxiao waved at him from the bus window. 'Brother Lin Feng, see you tomorrow!'

Lin Feng smiled at her. 'See you tomorrow.'

The General led Lin Feng across the courtyard and into a small gray building.

The corridor was brightly lit, quiet except for the sound of footsteps.

The General stopped before the innermost door and knocked. 'Reporting!'

'Come in,' came a voice from inside.

The General pushed the door open and stepped aside. 'Go on in.'

Lin Feng walked in.

The office wasn't large, simply furnished.

A desk, a few chairs, a bookshelf.

A desk lamp on the table cast a warm yellow light.

A man sat behind the desk.

Not a military man. He wore civilian clothes, had graying hair, and a lean face.

Seeing Lin Feng, he stood up and extended his hand. 'Comrade Lin Feng, hello. I'm from the Ministry of State Security.'

Lin Feng shook his hand. 'Hello.'

The man smiled. 'Have a seat.'

Lin Feng sat down.

The man also sat down, pulled a file from a drawer, and slid it across the desk to Lin Feng. 'Take a look at this first.'

Lin Feng opened the file.

The first page was a photograph—Zhou Tianhao.

Below were lines of text detailing his actions.

Sending assassins after Lin Feng, colluding with Baga Country hitmen, bribing City Management Officers to seal shops, directing the Blood Wolf Group to surround and kill... item by item, clearly listed.

The second page was a photograph—Zhou Tiannan.

Below were records of the Zhou Family's financial dealings with foreign entities, covert transactions with Baga Country, and evidence of suppressing competitors through various means over the years.

The third page held photos and information on other members of the Zhou Family.

Page after page, a thick stack.

Lin Feng looked up. 'What is this?'

The man leaned back in his chair. 'Evidence of the Zhou Family's crimes. It took us three years to collect this much. But it's not enough.'

He paused. 'The Zhou Family has been entrenched in Donghai for three hundred years. With just this, we can't touch them.'

Lin Feng looked at him. 'What can I do?'

The man didn't answer immediately.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

Outside was the military district compound. A few old trees stood in the yard, with soldiers training beneath them.

He watched for a moment, then turned around. 'We need you.'

'Need me?'

'Yes.' The man nodded. 'You are currently the only one who dares to oppose the Zhou Family head-on.'

'You blocked their main gate, fought Zhou Tiannan, and survived.'

'Your strength, your courage—that's what we need.'

He walked back to the desk and sat down.

'Of course, we won't send you in alone. When the time is right, we will act.'

'When that time comes, we'll need you to step forward and testify to the Zhou Family's crimes.'

'You are a victim. Your testimony will carry more weight than anyone else's.'

Lin Feng was silent for a few seconds. 'When?'

The man shook his head. 'I don't know. Maybe a few months, maybe a year.'

'We need more evidence, and we need a better opportunity.'

'But rest assured, that day won't be too late.'

He looked at Lin Feng. 'Are you willing?'

Lin Feng looked at him and nodded. 'I'm willing.'

The man smiled. 'Good. That's all for today. Go back and rest well. We'll contact you if anything comes up.'

Lin Feng stood up, walked to the door, then turned back. 'Regarding the Zhou Family, I'm ready to assist at any time.'

The man nodded. 'Good.'