167: Chapter 167 Duan Chengwu

Beijing.

In a courtyard in the suburbs.

A man was sitting in a chair, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly resting his mind.

On the table in front of him lay the disassembled parts of a handgun.

A moment later, the man moved.

He reached out with his right hand and grabbed the parts on the tabletop. Each component danced between his five fingers; the speed of his movements and the dexterity of his fingers were dazzling.

The moment the handgun was fully assembled, the timer suddenly stopped.

The man took a glance.

35 seconds.

That was the time the man had taken.

This time was a full thirty-one seconds slower than his best record.

The man sighed, placed the handgun on his lap, and gently stroked it.

"Captain."

A voice came from behind him, followed by several more.

"Captain."

"Captain."

The man smiled, used his right hand to nudge his wheelchair, and turned around.

"You're here."

"Captain."

Several soldiers in uniform put down the items they were carrying and crowded around the man. A younger soldier laughed and said, "What's this, Captain? Judging by your tone, you don't seem very happy to see us."

He then saw the handgun on the round table and asked in surprise, "Yo, Captain, are you practicing in secret? Is it because beating me with one hand last time wasn't enough, and you're planning to crush me again?"

"Xiao Wu, what are you saying? Does the Captain need to practice to crush you?"

A teammate punched the young soldier and pushed him aside.

"Captain, don't listen to him. This guy got commended this time and has gotten a bit cocky."

"Old Q, I think you're just jealous of me!"

"Me, jealous of you? Get the 'K' title first, then we'll talk."

"Don't get cocky!"

...

The man just watched with a smile. He knew that this scene could only happen in this small courtyard, only here with him.

As soon as they stepped out of here, these people would be completely different.

After the group finished their rowdy banter, they each brought over a small stool and sat down beside the man in a disciplined manner.

"Captain," Old Q said after a moment of silence, "After seeing you this time, we probably won't be able to come visit you for a long time."

The scene suddenly fell silent. Even the usually grinning Xiao Wu closed his mouth obediently, his expression turning serious.

The man closed his eyes slightly, his square jaw—which seemed capable of remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—trembling a few times.

"It's starting again?"

"It's starting again." Old Q nodded heavily. "The United States has dispatched the elite Eagle-Lion Special Operations Group into Somalia and has seized several of our aid workers. The higher-ups have decided to launch a new round of the 'Dark Side of the Moon' operation."

United States.

The man had no expression, but his clenched right fist seemed to indicate his inner turmoil.

But he could do nothing. With his current physical condition, even moving was extremely difficult.

With a dejected sigh, the man opened his eyes.

"Are you... all going?"

"We are all going." Old Q nodded. "The transfer orders have already been issued. 56 people from the Wolf-Eagle Special Forces are going out, and we..."

"...have all signed up."

The man turned his head toward Xiao Wu.

"You signed up too?"

"I did, Captain." Xiao Wu nodded firmly. "I have to go."

The man nodded and spoke again.

"This time... who is the 'K'?"

Everyone fell silent.

Xiao Wu couldn't help but cast his gaze toward Old Q beside him.

The man's pupils constricted slightly.

"You should congratulate me, Captain."

Meeting the man's gaze, Old Q smiled. "I finally took your place. This time..."

Old Q revealed a set of snow-white teeth.

"I am the 'K'."

The man stared quietly into Old Q's eyes, then reached out with his only remaining hand and patted Old Q's shoulder.

"Bring them back... for me."

Old Q grinned.

"Don't worry, Captain."

"Our lives still have half of yours in them; without your permission, who would dare to lose them?"

He cast a fierce look around the circle.

"Who dares?"

"No one dares."

The soldiers laughed and joked.

The man smiled bitterly. These guys...

"That's good," the man nodded and said. "It just so happens I'm preparing to leave this place."

"Leave this place?"

Old Q, who was currently "glaring" at the others, turned his head in surprise upon hearing this.

"Go where?"

"To be self-reliant."

Self-reliant?

Old Q was suddenly furious.

"Captain, what's going on? Is General Zheng trying to kick you out?"

The other team members also wiped the smiles off their faces, becoming very somber, looking as if they would go pick a fight with whoever it was if the Captain just nodded.

"It has nothing to do with General Zheng." The man shook his head slightly. "It's just that my current state is no longer suitable for staying here. Besides..."

The man revealed a gentle smile. "Do I look like someone who is waiting to be supported for the rest of his life? The country has already supported me for two years; how much longer should it support a cripple like me?"

"That's not the issue." Xiao Wu said urgently. "Master, your contributions were confirmed by the Number One Leader. If you don't want to leave, no one can kick you out of the sanitarium."

"The problem is that I want to leave now."

Xiao Wu's voice came to an abrupt halt.

"Captain," Old Q frowned, "Where are you going?"

"A company." The man said indifferently. "A newly established technology company is hiring security personnel. The benefits are quite good, and General Zheng thinks I'm very suitable."

"Working as security?"

Old Q, Xiao Wu, and the others all doubted they had heard correctly.

What kind of company could make the Captain, a recipient of the Huaxia Medal, go work as security?

"They are insulting you!" Old Q and Xiao Wu's faces twisted, and they stood up abruptly, turning to leave.

"I'm going to go ask them what this means!"

"Old Q! Xiao Wu!"

The man called out softly.

Looking at the two who turned around, their faces full of anger and confusion, the man sighed softly. "When will you two change that temper of yours? With a temper like that on the battlefield, how can you remain calm and handle situations?"

"Captain, I just refuse to accept this." Xiao Wu said indignantly. "Why would General Zheng let you go work security for a small company? Regardless of what kind of background this company has, they aren't worthy!"

"Captain, the name 'Duan Chengwu' is a hero, it is glory, it is merit! It cannot be tarnished!"

Looking at the expressions of Old Q, Xiao Wu, and the others, the man smiled.

"It's not as complicated as you think. I'm going this time to act as a security consultant for this company, providing some security-related advice. The salary is fifty thousand a month; why shouldn't I go?"

Old Q and Xiao Wu were stunned.

So... this was just to make money?

That was indeed a good way to be self-reliant, but... why did General Zheng specifically name the Captain?

And... what kind of company would make General Zheng come forward to persuade the Captain, and convince the Captain, who had stayed in this courtyard for two years, to agree to go out?

They all knew very well that ever since he was injured, the light belonging to a soldier had never returned to the Captain's eyes.

Although he would still joke and tease them, and would show a smile and welcome them warmly whenever they visited.

But the Captain's heart had long since died.

"Captain, tell me the truth. Are you doing this voluntarily?"

Old Q's demeanor was very serious.

Duan Chengwu nodded.

"Rest assured, if I didn't want to, no one could force me, because my name is..."

"Duan Chengwu!"