Chapter 139 The Hero Returns, Settling Old and New Grudges Together!

A tremendous roar grew louder as it approached, hovering over the island's military region.

The entire military region's parade ground was packed with people.

Everyone looked up, their eyes fixed intently on the dark green iron bird that was getting closer and closer in the sky.

When the helicopter landed smoothly in the center of the helipad, the wind whipped up by the rotor blades so strong that it was impossible to open one's eyes, the entire military region erupted in cheers.

The hatch opened.

The first one to get off was Gu Beichen.

His training uniform was so worn that its original color was unrecognizable, covered in mud and dried blood. His face bore several scratches, and his chin was covered in dark stubble. He exuded a chilling murderous aura, as if he had crawled back from the brink of death.

But he stood ramrod straight, like a sword drawn from its sheath.

Behind him came a line of reconnaissance soldiers, each wounded, yet each standing tall and proud.

Commander Liu Xingsheng personally led the team and quickly went to meet them.

Welcome home, heroes!

Without any unnecessary words, Liu Xingsheng's gaze swept over each soldier, and then he patted Gu Beichen's shoulder heavily.

"Well done!"

The awarding ceremony was held on the playground.

Liu Xingsheng personally presented Gu Beichen and every other member of the team with brand-new military medals.

When he reached the back of the line, he did not stop.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands of people across the military region, this iron-willed general walked step by step to Su Yue, who was standing at the very front of the family procession.

All eyes turned to them.

There was astonishment, confusion, and jealousy.

Su Yue stood calmly, facing everyone's gaze.

Looking at the slender young woman before him, whose face was filled with determination, Liu Xingsheng's eyes were filled with unprecedented solemnity and admiration.

He suddenly raised his hand and gave Su Yue a perfect military salute.

"Comrade Su Yue!"

The general's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire parade ground.

"On behalf of the island military region and all the rescued soldiers, I thank you!"

"You not only saved our hero, but also single-handedly uncovered a huge conspiracy that had been buried for more than 20 years! You are a hero of the military region!"

The entire room fell silent.

Those who had previously gossiped behind Su Yue's back, saying she was a nepotism hire and looking down on her for being a woman and making a fool of herself, all lowered their heads in shame at this moment.

The military wives in the family compound, especially Sister Li and Sister Sun, were so excited that their faces turned red. Their eyes were filled with pride and admiration as they looked at Su Yue.

Su Yue is the idol and role model for all military wives!

That night, the military region convened an emergency meeting of the highest level.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavy.

When Gu Beichen presented the list he had obtained from the enemy's intelligence chief, Zhao Weiguo's handwritten testimony, and the irrefutable evidence on the microfilm to everyone, Qian Guodong, the deputy director of the logistics department, turned deathly pale.

"No! This isn't true! It's a frame-up! They conspired to harm me!"

He sprang up from his chair, roaring wildly.

Liu Xingsheng looked at him coldly and slammed a document in front of him.

"Qian Guodong, codename 'Vulture,' has been undercover for twenty-three years. This is a confession from your superior, with witnesses and physical evidence to back it up. What else do you want to deny?"

Qian Guodong looked at the confession and the familiar signature on it, and felt as if all his strength had been drained away, collapsing into his chair.

He knew it was all over.

"take away!"

At the commander's order, two heavily armed guards immediately stepped forward and pinned him down.

Thus began a purge that swept across the entire island military region.

A vast network of enemy agents was uprooted.

the next day.

The military region's auditorium was packed to capacity.

A solemn and respectful general meeting was held here.

Commander Liu Xingsheng stood personally on the platform, his voice deep and powerful.

"Today, we are here to restore the reputation of a hero who has been wronged for more than 20 years!"

"Comrade Huo Shouzhen, the former captain of the 'Lone Eagle' squad, sacrificed himself to cover his comrades and protect vital intelligence during a supply escort mission twenty-three years ago, dying alongside the enemy! He was not a traitor; he is our most admirable hero!"

"After deliberation by the Party Committee of the Military Region, it has been decided to restore the reputation of martyr Huo Shouzhen and posthumously award him a first-class merit!"

The thunderous applause lasted for a long time.

"Now, please welcome Comrade Su Yue, a relative of the martyr, to the stage to receive this belated medal!"

Su Yue, dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, walked steadily up to the podium.

When she received the heavy, golden medal from Liu Xingsheng, tears finally streamed down her face.

But her back was ramrod straight.

Below the stage, Gu Beichen looked at her, his heart aching with unbearable pain.

The ceremony ended, backstage.

Su Yue leaned against the wall alone, stroking the medal; the cool touch calmed her down a little.

A warm embrace wrapped tightly around her from behind.

The familiar scent instantly made her let down her guard.

Gu Beichen didn't speak, but buried his face in the crook of her neck, warming her with his body heat.

After a long while, he whispered in her ear in a hoarse voice.

"Yueyue, you've worked hard."

"Leave the rest to me."

Returning to their long-missed courtyard, everything was exactly as it had been when they left.

The large red "double happiness" character pasted on the wall remained vibrant in the sunlight.

Gu Beichen didn't let Su Yue do anything. He took off his military jacket, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and walked straight into the kitchen.

Soon, the sounds of chopping vegetables and cooking fumes came from the kitchen.

Su Yue sat on a rattan chair in the yard, watching the tall figure busy in the kitchen, her heart filled with warmth.

Before long, a table full of delicious and colorful home-style dishes was laid out on the table.

Braised pork belly, steamed fish, and a mushroom soup.

Gu Beichen ladled a bowl of soup for Su Yue and placed it beside her. Looking at her noticeably sharper chin, his eyes were filled with heartache and guilt.

"You've lost weight."

"Eat more, it will make up for all your losses."

As Su Yue drank the hot soup, her stomach warmed, and so did her heart.

The two ate the meal quietly, yet it was incredibly heartwarming.

After the meal, Gu Beichen cleared away the dishes.

When he came out of the kitchen, he had a small velvet box in his hand.

He stopped in front of Su Yue, his expression more solemn than ever before.

Then, to Su Yue's surprise, he knelt down on one knee and opened the box.

Inside were not precious diamonds, but a pair of very simple silver rings, simple in design, yet gleaming softly under the light.

"young married woman."

Gu Beichen looked up at her. This man, who was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, had a hint of nervousness and clumsiness in his eyes at this moment.

"I owe you a marriage proposal, I owe you a stable life."

He took Su Yue's hand and carefully slipped one of the rings onto her ring finger.

The size is just right.

"From now on, I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

"Will you marry me?"