Chapter 522: Duty

“Brother Lin, you’re here?”

“Brother Lin, your driving skills are truly amazing!”

“As expected of Brother Lin; so domineering, even behind the wheel!”

Lin Xiao was burning with the urge to immediately fly to the Anling Mountains, yet his expression remained unchanged. He casually tossed the car keys to a security guard. “Park the car.”

“Rest assured, Brother Lin, I’ll make sure it’s parked perfectly.”

The security guard held the keys with both hands, looking both honored and deeply respectful.

Lin Xiao gave a slight nod and quickly walked into the building. Without even greeting Ning Xi or Wan Caixuan, he took the elevator straight to the top floor.

Once at the top, he looked into the distance. After waiting for about two minutes, he finally saw a military helicopter approaching from afar.

A regular helicopter typically flew around 125 miles per hour, but a military helicopter was faster. What began as a tiny black speck rapidly grew to the size of a fingertip.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in his heart, and waited for the helicopter to descend.

A surprised voice suddenly rang out behind him, “Lin Xiao, what are you doing here?”

Turning around, Lin Xiao saw Ning Xi standing at the elevator entrance, dressed in a professional skirt suit, alluring and seductive as ever.

Her gaze swept past Lin Xiao’s shoulder and caught sight of the military helicopter approaching from afar. Her expression instantly changed. She ran up to Lin Xiao and grabbed his arm tightly, as if afraid he would vanish.

As Wan Caixuan’s right hand, Ning Xi naturally had sharp insight.

How could she not recognize a military helicopter, especially one bearing the insignia of the Southern Military Region?

“Lin Xiao, where are you going?” she asked anxiously.

“Sister Ning Xi, I’m going to carry out a mission,” Lin Xiao said softly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

But Ning Xi refused to let go. “Didn’t you retire already? Why are you still going on missions?”

“Sister Ning Xi, I’ll explain when I return, alright?”

The helicopter was getting closer. Lin Xiao could already hear the spinning rotor blades.

“I’m in a hurry. Please let go.”

“No, I won’t!” Ning Xi’s eyes were turning red, her pearly teeth biting her cherry lips. Crystalline tears welled up in her eyes. “You’re leaving so suddenly without saying anything. Just from that, I know this mission is dangerous. I won’t let you go.”

“Sister Ning Xi, I’m sorry, but I must go.”

Lin Xiao’s voice rang with iron resolve. He pried her hand open and gave her a gentle push, causing her to stagger back a few steps.

After pushing her away, Lin Xiao hardened his heart and strode forward without looking back.

Seeing his determined departure, Ning Xi could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She tried to chase after him again, but a hand grabbed her wrist.

Wan Caixuan’s cool and melodious voice rang behind her. “Ning Xi, let Lin Xiao go. You can’t stop him.”

“Miss, I… I…” Ning Xi choked, unable to finish her sentence.

Wan Caixuan raised her hand and lightly patted Ning Xi’s shoulder, offering comfort. “This isn’t a life-and-death farewell. I believe he’ll return to us very soon.”

“But… the military sent a helicopter to pick him up. It must be a highly dangerous mission.”

“Isn’t this the path he chose?” Wan Caixuan’s autumn-water-like eyes watched Lin Xiao’s departing back. “This is his choice. All we can do is bless him and wait for his safe return.”

While Wan Caixuan was speaking with Ning Xi, Lin Xiao had already reached the rooftop center. He raised his arm and made a hand signal toward the hovering helicopter above.

The pilot understood the signal immediately. Abandoning the idea of landing, he held the helicopter in a hover. Then the cabin door opened, and two fully armed soldiers leaned halfway out and threw down a rope.

Lin Xiao grabbed the rope with one hand. With a few quick swishes, he climbed up with ease and agility, like a monkey.

“Lin Xiao, you must come back safely!” Ning Xi shouted through tears from the rooftop.

Inside the helicopter, Lin Xiao looked down at Wan Caixuan and Ning Xi clinging to each other. The rotors whipped up a gale, causing their hair to dance wildly and their clothes to flutter.

A flood of complex emotions surged in his chest.

Lin Xiao knew very well why Ning Xi reacted this way. She was worried for his safety.

But alas, he was a soldier. Protecting the nation was his duty.

He hardened his resolve, waved forcefully, then shut the cabin door without looking back.

“Let’s go. Head to the Anling Mountains.”

The helicopter climbed steadily and disappeared into the horizon under Ning Xi and Wan Caixuan’s watchful gaze.

***

At that moment, in the Anling Mountains—

Intense gunfire shattered the ancient silence of the forest. Birds and beasts fled in panic, desperate to escape the clash of men.

Zhao Yu was hiding behind a tree thick enough for one person to embrace. Bullets pounded the trunk, turning it into a pockmarked mess. Woodchips flew everywhere.

She couldn’t move at all. The moment she showed herself, the gunfire would intensify severalfold—bullets would rain down like a storm.

Not far from her, the other seven soldiers were also engaged in battle. Two had already fallen. The remaining five were all wounded.

Yet their counterattack never ceased.

They were being pursued by numerous armed men clad in camouflage and wearing sun hats. Their faces were obscured by black masks, making their identities untraceable.

In the dim forest, these armed figures were everywhere. Zhao Yu estimated their numbers to be over a hundred.

Over a hundred seasoned, well-equipped desperadoes.

During the earlier fights, Zhao Yu and her elite squad had already taken down at least twenty of them. But as the enemy’s numbers grew and the location offered no defensible terrain, the pressure mounted, resulting in casualties.

Amid the fierce battle, one soldier raised a rocket launcher and fired without hesitation.

Boom!

The rocket left a trail of orange flame, traveling more than thirty meters before exploding. It blasted several prone enemies into the air, limbs and blood flying everywhere.

But that soldier was immediately targeted in return. A bullet pierced his forehead, killing him on the spot.

However, his action had drawn most of the enemy’s attention, buying Zhao Yu a precious opportunity.

Clenching her silver teeth, a fierce killing intent burst from her. Like a ghost, she dashed out from behind the tree, sword in one hand and pistol in the other, charging into the enemy ranks instead of retreating.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots rang out. Three enemies dropped dead.

The bullets in her gun were already spent.