Chapter 654 Extra 5: Past, Present, Future

[This chapter will include some random timelines, because while writing the epilogue, I suddenly had a lot more to write...]

Wen Ni carried the baby for ten months and gave birth to a baby girl weighing 5 pounds and 8 ounces. She named her Lu Nian.

The older she got, the more she realized that Lu Nian was extremely similar to Lu Jinye in both personality and appearance...

She is taciturn and quiet, as still as a virgin.

With her doll-like pretty face, she looks just like an elegant, aloof, and refined little princess!

When Lu Nian was 5 years old

Another little baby was added to the family, her younger brother Lu Jiayan.

At first glance, Lu Jiayan's appearance seems to be inherited from Wen Ni. He was born with a cold face that never cried or smiled, suggesting that he wasn't a warm-hearted person...

That is, three months after Lu Jiayan was born, a group of people came to the family.

Lu Nian recognized him; he was the uncle who had a very good relationship with her mother.

"Uncle Leng, Uncle Long, Uncle Zeng!"

"Xiao Nian has grown taller again! Your uncles brought you gifts!"

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Lu Nian, with her pigtails, was very happy. She hugged the gift in her arms, then turned to look at Xiao Jiayan, who was being held by her uncle Lu Jinbai. Suddenly, she pouted and became unhappy.

"What's wrong?" Long Ren squatted down and patted Lu Nian's head.

"My brother didn't receive a gift."

"You're so young and you already know how to spoil your younger brother?"

Leng Feng laughed and pulled out an identical toy from behind his back. "Don't worry, I also brought one for your little brother!"

"Thank you, Uncle!"

Lu Nian happily accepted it and turned to tease Jia Yan.

Wen Ni smiled and patted Lu Nian's hair. "Mom and the uncles have to go out on business. How about you stay home and take care of Xiao Jiayan with Uncle Jinbai?"

"Isn't Uncle Jinbai going?" Lu Nian asked seriously. "I can take good care of my younger brother myself."

"Mom believes you can do it, but Uncle Jinbai will cook something delicious. Don't you want to eat it?" Wen Ni asked earnestly.

"If you want to eat it, then Mom, come back early."

"good."

Wen Ni nodded to Lu Jinbai, then turned and left with the others.

In the old Lu family mansion, little Lu Nian rested her chin on her hand, looking at Lu Jinbai who was warming milk, and sincerely asked, "Uncle, why are you always at home with us?"

"Because your parents are very busy."

"Aren't you busy?"

“I’m busy too.” Lu Jinbai’s hand trembled slightly, his face showing a weariness that was hard to describe. “But there’s always someone who has to keep you company.”

"But you always stay at home with us, so you won't be able to find a girlfriend. When will I be able to have a new younger brother or sister?"

"You're trying to lecture me now? Who's the reason I'm like this?" Lu Jinbai's mentality collapsed.

"Hmm..." Lu Nian sat quietly, thinking very seriously, and then said, "Thank you for your hard work, Uncle. I will work hard to grow up and earn lots of money when I grow up..."

Lu Jinbai thought she was going to talk about how filial she was to him, but before he could even feel touched, Lu Nian said, "I'll make a lot of money and find you a good nursing home. I won't let you die alone."

"..." Lu Jinbai's lips twitched, his hand almost crushing the baby bottle, repeatedly muttering, "Children's words are innocent, children's words are innocent..."

On the other side

Wen Ni and the three members of the Shadow Hunter team reunited and went to the Martyrs' Cemetery to visit Song Yanfeng.

“It has to be you, kid. Eleven years have passed, and we’re all approaching forty, but you’re still so young.”

Leng Feng knelt down on one knee, stroking the photo on the tombstone, his tone light and half-joking!

People always have to learn to accept parting. Time will gradually wear away the pain, but the memories will remain fresh and vivid.

Time flies.

"It's gone by too fast. It feels like the battlefield was just yesterday," Venomous Fang remarked slightly, then asked, "Boss, your vacation is almost over, right?"

"Yes, I still have a lot of things to take care of in the team." Wen Ni nodded, wiping Song Yanfeng's tombstone carefully. Suddenly remembering something, she looked at Long Ren and asked, "When are you leaving again this time?"

"Jimia Ligu is short-handed, so I'll probably have to leave in a couple of days," Long Ren chuckled.

He has been traveling between Northeast and West China for peacekeeping missions over the years, and his mental state seems to have improved considerably.

"You're something else, Captain Long. You'll be promoted to colonel when you come back, right?" Leng Feng said enviously. "I'm only a major. Oh dear, I can't compare to you!"

"And I'm at the bottom too. I'll just retire." Venomous Fang tried to comfort him.

This only made things worse for Leng Feng, who retorted sarcastically, "Get out of here! You're almost a division-level leader. If anyone's going to be at the bottom, it should be this guy lying here!"

"You'd better watch out, or Old Song might come looking for you in your dreams tonight!"

"Haha, it would be great if he could come, I miss him so much!"

Do you owe me or not?

They chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere was no longer heavy.

Smiling faces reflected in the rosy sunset; if only this beautiful moment could be frozen in time forever…

But reality is always cruel.

In the third month after Long Ren went to a foreign country to carry out a peacekeeping mission, he received devastating news.

During a military mission, Long Ren encountered a high-density missile attack. He heroically sacrificed his life to evacuate people. He was 38 years old.

He and Song Yanfeng were buried in the same cemetery.

Two years later, Leng Feng requested to resign from his position as deputy commander of the Sharp Sword Battalion and applied to work as a gatekeeper for the 76482 Unit.

Just like many years ago, Longren went on peacekeeping missions, Fengsui went to customs, Laoda went to school, Duya went to train soldiers, and he was assigned to guard the gate. After going around in circles, he returned to the same place.

He's experienced so much in his life, he's become indifferent to it all, and he doesn't want to lose anything more. Being a gatekeeper is fine...

It was snowing that day, and many newly recruited special forces soldiers were coming and going.

Leng Feng stood at the gate with his hands in his sleeves, his posture casual, and no one dared to bother him.

Until a military ID was handed to him, he glanced at the name on it, and looked up at the young, energetic recruit in front of him.

The new recruit's face beamed with excitement. "Squad leader! I recognize you!"

"Hmm?" Leng Feng asked.

"More than ten years ago! I was kidnapped by thugs, and you rescued me from a building that was about to explode! You told me you were waiting for me at Sharp Sword!" The young man's eyes were filled with tears as he pointed to his name, "My name is Deng Moxian! Deng Moxian!"

Leng Feng was stunned. The events of more than ten years ago seemed like the yellowed pages of a book, each page turned with the dampness of memories.

He was full of vigor and ambition back then.

The little boy pointed to the badge on his chest: "Brother Hero, is this your unit's badge? When I grow up, can I join like you?"

Of course! Remember to join the team when you grow up!

[Brother, will you still be there then?]

"Yes, he'll always be there." That was Wen Ni's answer for him. "What's your name?"

My name is Deng Moxian!

[Alright, we'll be waiting for you at Sharp Sword, young Comrade Deng Moxian!]

The memory abruptly ended, and Leng Feng suddenly lowered his head to return the ID to Deng Moxian. "Young comrade, you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm just the gatekeeper."

“No, I didn’t mistake you for someone else…” Deng Moxian said somewhat awkwardly, “I remember you.”

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else. Go inside; this is where you should be.” Leng Feng stepped aside, clearing the long asphalt road leading to the Sharp Sword Special Forces…

"I……"

Keep moving forward, don't look back.

Leng Feng said calmly, watching the young man hesitate for a moment before reluctantly turning around. The young man carried his luggage bag and slowly walked towards the main road.

Snowflakes drifted down from the sky.

Leng Feng seemed to see his former self in Deng Moxian's back view, elegant and graceful, dressed in military uniform.

It seemed as if four more figures had appeared beside me.

One had a cool and disdainful expression, another grinned broadly and scratched his head sheepishly, one muttered to himself shyly, and the last smiled calmly, shook his head helplessly...

Wen Ni, Song Yanfeng, Zeng Manshan, Long Cheng, Leng Jinfeng.

Thousand Kills, Beacon Tower, Poison Fang, Dragon Blade, Cold Edge.

They are the eternal Shadow Hunters, the everlasting sword.

The iron gate of the Sharp Sword Gate slowly closed. Leng Feng, carrying a kettle of hot water, turned around, and the stirring military anthem blared from the loudspeaker behind him…

(Suansuan: Song Yanfeng's death was an inevitable outcome driven by the plot, and it was also unexpected for Suansuan.)

The deaths of Long Ren on peacekeeping missions and Leng Feng guarding the gate were two events I wrote in the outline eight months ago. Their beginnings were also their endings. It's not just for the sake of being cruel, but because special operations and peacekeeping missions are really dangerous with a high mortality rate, which is why those who participate in peacekeeping are promoted the fastest.

Leng Feng watched his brothers die one by one, and he couldn't accept it, which is why he made this choice.

Dragonblade is constantly exposed to the dangers of war, and always remembers the teachings of the Army Battalion—true soldiers never fear death!