Chapter 60 I'm Sorry I'm Back Late

Zhou Weiguo stretched out his only remaining right hand, which was covered with thick calluses and scars, with an irresistible yet extremely cautious force.

He hugged Shen Lingning and Fubao tightly in his broad and solid arms!

This hug carries with it the roughness of the dust on the road, the chill of the smoke of gunpowder, and even more the ecstasy of regaining what was lost and the heart-wrenching guilt.

He used all his strength, as if he wanted to rub the mother and daughter into his own bones and blood.

Use your body to build an iron wall for them to isolate them from all wind, rain and malice!

Shen Lingning's body trembled at the sudden hug that was filled with great strength and scorching heat.

The strange yet familiar aura that belonged to him completely enveloped her.

The loneliness, grievances, and fears that I had endured alone for the past year seemed to have found an outlet at this moment.

She could no longer hold back and buried her face deep in his chest which was covered in dust and smoke, her hands tightly grasping the fabric of his military uniform on his back.

Like grabbing the only piece of driftwood when drowning, the suppressed sobs finally turned into broken, heart-wrenching cries!

"Woo... Weiguo... Weiguo..."

She spoke incoherently, just repeating his name over and over again, as if it was the only spell that could confirm his existence.

All the strength and planning collapsed at this moment, leaving only a wife venting her endless grievances in her husband's arms.

Zhou Weiguo's heart was torn to pieces by the crying.

His jaw was taut and his Adam's apple rolled violently, suppressing the fishy sweetness in his throat and the heat surging in his eyes.

He lowered his head, pressed his chin against Shen Lingning's trembling hair, and his lips, stained with dust and smoke, pressed against her cold forehead.

His voice was hoarse and broken, but it carried a firm, mountain-like promise:

"Ling Ning... I'm back! Don't be afraid! I'm here!"

He held his wife and daughter in his arms even tighter, as if he wanted to embed them into his body.

Then he slowly raised his head.

The eyes that were bloodshot and full of murderous intent just now were still icy cold, but all the emotions were compressed into an extremely restrained and chilling calm.

He didn't look at anyone around him, his eyes were like two sharp ice blades.

It passed through the crowd and nailed the closed gate of Li Jinhua's house with incredible precision.

It then slowly moved towards Wang Xiuqin's house, and finally swept across the narrow alley where Jiang Weiyi disappeared.

There was no anger in those eyes.

There was only a dead, judgmental coldness.

As if silently declaring:

None of you can escape.

The cold gaze was like a physical blade, slowly sweeping across the deadly earthen floor.

The tightly closed gate of Li Jinhua's house, the low earthen wall of Wang Xiuqin's house, the narrow alleyway filled with debris where Jiang Weiyi disappeared...

Every point was fixed by that gaze, as if locked by an invisible mark of death.

Aunt Sun and Wang Shufen exchanged glances, each seeing relief and a subtle hint of...

mercy?

Mercy for whom?

it goes without saying.

Shen Lingning's crying gradually subsided and turned into intermittent sobs, and her body was still shaking uncontrollably in Zhou Weiguo's arms.

It was as if he wanted to shake out all the panic and grievances that had been pent up for a year.

Fubao seemed to be comforted by this heavy and safe embrace. His little hands grabbed Zhou Weiguo's collar helplessly, trying to break free from the close embrace of the two.

If I keep holding her like this, she will really turn into a mature roujiamo!

But in Zhou Weiguo's eyes, his daughter is:

With tears still in her big eyes, she looked at her father who suddenly appeared with confusion and curiosity.

He couldn't help but kiss Fubao on the cheek.

Fubao turned away in disgust, not letting him kiss him again, muttering in his heart: It's all stubble.

But Shen Lingning, the only one who could hear her inner voice, didn't bother to answer. She was still crying.

The crying made Zhou Weiguo feel even more distressed. He couldn't help but tighten the hug and press their heads into his arms.

He felt the trembling of his wife's thin shoulders in his arms and his daughter's small, warm body.

The violence surging in his chest and the bone-eating guilt intertwined into a boiling magma.

He took a deep breath, the air was as chilling as the late autumn mountain breeze and a faint smell of rust.

He tilted his head slightly, his chin still against the top of Shen Lingning's head, his voice was low and hoarse, but it clearly penetrated the dead air.

With an unquestionable commanding tone, he addressed Xiao Zhang, who had been silently guarding beside him, and also addressed the dead silent family compound:

"Xiao Zhang."

"Here! Captain!"

Xiao Zhang shuddered, immediately straightened his back, and spoke in a loud voice, breaking the heavy silence.

"Go to the camp headquarters,"

Zhou Weiguo's voice was flat, yet as cold as a Siberian blast: "Call Chief Wang of the Security Department and bring someone here immediately."

He paused, his eyes once again sweeping towards the direction of Li Jinhua and Wang Xiuqin's house, and then he spoke word by word, smashing it to the ground:

"Just say I, Zhou Weiguo, have returned and a thief has broken into my house, disturbing my wife and children.

Please ask him to make sure to investigate thoroughly to find out who this thief is who is so blind as to dare to act so recklessly at the doorstep of my home, Zhou Weiguo!"

The last three words, "Sa Ye", carry a chilling feeling that makes one's heart tremble.

Xiao Zhang was shocked and immediately understood what the company commander meant. He stood at attention and said, "Yes! I promise to complete the mission!"

He turned around and ran towards the camp headquarters, his footsteps particularly harsh in the silence.

The remaining neighbors on the dirt floor all gasped!

Security Section Chief Wang? He has the authority to arrest people and conduct investigations!

Captain Zhou, how could this be just a thief investigation? This was clearly a serious matter!

And the accusations of "disturbing his wife and children" and "running wild" were put on him...

Li Jinhua and Wang Xiuqin are probably in big trouble!

As for Jiang Weiyi... she ran fast just now, but Captain Zhou's eyes clearly showed that he had noticed her!

Everyone's eyes were involuntarily focused again on the tall figure who was holding his wife and daughter tightly and standing like a rock at the gate of the courtyard.

He came back, covered in gunpowder and scars, as well as with a raging rage that wanted to burn all the evil spirits and monsters!

The mountain wind whimpered as it swept across the dirt floor, picking up fallen leaves and dust, and also swept away the last vestiges of hope.

A storm of reckoning has silently gathered over the family compound deep in the Qinling Mountains, revealing its ferocious fangs.

Shen Lingning leaned against the door, the tears on his face had been wiped away, and his eyes were red and swollen.

Zhou Weiguo stroked her eyes and wiped them for her, his deep eyes full of anxiety: "Lingning, I'm sorry I came back late. You've suffered."

Shen Lingning pursed her lips and smiled, tears about to fall again.

She leaned lightly in Zhou Weiguo's arms, but she was secretly thinking in her heart.