"You're always thinking about gathering people around you. A killer? What's next, you want to start some kind of shadow organization? Bro, wouldn't it be better to just live a good life?"

Yao Dou Dou, his face flushed with alcohol, tilted his head and looked at Zheng Han, saying, "Are you enjoying your life right now? Is it interesting?"

Zheng Han was silent upon hearing this.

Under the dim light, the three comrades held their wine bottles, their expressions wooden, and silence fell for a moment.

Reeking of alcohol, Yao Dou Dou spoke first, "The Independent War, the battle of Hua Du, Liu Wei's army lost tens of thousands of men; the battle in the Southern Region saw countless graves of Chinese soldiers. The logistics support team used flamethrowers to collect the bodies everywhere, piling them into huge pits, and then spraying them with bullets as a farewell."

Su Tian Yu and Zheng Han had both experienced this, so neither of them responded to Yao Dou Dou's words.

Yao Dou Dou sighed, "The internal war in the First District, we lost the most compatriots. What's that all about? Are the people buried in those pits considered defending their country, or are they martyrs?"

Su Tian Yu took a sip of wine, closed his eyes, and replied, "Consider it history."

"Bullshit history," Yao Dou Dou paused for a moment, then raised his glass and shouted, "Then come on, let's toast to history!"

With that, the three clinked their bottles together and drained them.

"I've thought it over, the way to live in this era is different," Yao Dou Dou said, his eyes bright. "I want to do something, not just mess around aimlessly. That would be letting my experiences down."

"Then what do you want to do?" Su Tian Yu asked.

"Hehe, I haven't figured it out yet." Yao Dou Dou looked at Su Tian Yu for a long time, but in the end, he didn't say what was on his mind, only quietly replying, "After I help you with this, I might go to the Third District, or maybe take a trip back to the Hua District."

Hearing this, Zheng Han curled his lip and immediately retorted sarcastically, "Still going back to the Hua District? What are you? You're a rebel, and also the number one sniper in the Southern Region, a definite backbone! Someone like you goes back, and the security department will probably take control of you as soon as you get off the plane."

"Haha, that's not necessarily true," Yao Dou Dou said with a confident smile.

Looking at Yao Dou Dou's expression, Su Tian Yu suddenly thought of many things. "Bro, it's fine to joke around, but we can't mess with any political stances, or we won't even know how we died."

"I know what I'm doing." Yao Dou Dou waved his hand, changing the subject. "Come on, it's been a long time since we've all been together. Let's not talk about anything else today, just drink!"

Hearing this, Su Tian Yu took out two bank cards, handing one to Zheng Han and one to Yao Dou Dou. "A little something for your trouble, take it."

Zheng Han feigned refusal, waving his hand. "Forget it, no need. I still owe you money."

"Cut the crap, I know you're short on cash, just take it," Su Tian Yu urged.

Yao Dou Dou didn't take the bank card at all, only asking, "How much is it?"

"There's 300,000 in your card, not much, it's just my boss's way of showing his appreciation," Su Tian Yu replied.

"Hehe, alright." Yao Dou Dou casually picked up the bank card and shouted to the brothers drinking behind him, "Take it and spend it."

"Damn, I thought we were helping for free, I didn't expect there was real money!"

"Sixth Bro is generous!"

"……!"

The people behind him took the bank card, joking and teasing him with smiles.

Judging from their clothes and living environment, these people didn't seem to be doing very well, some even living in poverty. Zheng Han especially didn't even have a house, just hanging out at the old soldiers' bar every day.

But even in this situation, these people didn't seem to care much about money. Yao Dou Dou didn't even look at the bank card with 300,000 in it, just tossing it to the brothers behind him.

Perhaps it was their experiences that made them this way. These veterans, the disabled, had gone through life and death on the battlefield, and whether physically or mentally, they had undergone earth-shattering transformations compared to before they enlisted.

Of course, things like this also came down to birds of a feather flocking together. There were also many people who, after retiring from the military, wandered into various levels of society, starting new lives, striving to integrate into the new world, and working hard for themselves and their families.

That night.

Su Tian Yu drank with Yao Dou Dou, Zheng Han, and the others until after four in the morning, and was sent back to his residence almost completely blacked out.

It was only when he was with his comrades that Su Tian Yu would lose control like this. Under normal circumstances, he almost never let himself get to the point of losing consciousness.

……

After a night of heavy drinking, Su Tian Yu received a call from Wei Xiang Zuo the next day before he even got out of bed. The latter was anxious, urging him to set off as soon as possible.

Su Tian Yu forced himself out of bed, took a cold shower, and then called Da Bai and Kong Zheng Hui.

"Two things. Da Bai, continue to manage the association members who came with us. Although this team-building exercise was forced upon us, now that we're here, we still have to do something. You can discuss it with the Zhou family, go to their factories, companies, and whatever halls they have, take a look around, learn something, and arrange some activities," Su Tian Yu instructed.

"Alright!" Da Bai nodded.

Su Tian Yu took out a document from under his pillow and handed it to Kong Zheng Hui, saying, "This is information that I had the Zhou family find out. Take a look at it, and then go and learn more about it yourself. It's important to get a thorough understanding of the situation. It's important for us to be able to return to The Dragon City."

"No problem." Kong Zheng Hui nodded.

"Alright, that's all," Su Tian Yu got up, "I'm leaving with Wei Xiang Zuo."

"Be careful!" Kong Zheng Hui reminded him, "Damn it, Xu Hu is going crazy trying to catch Lao Wei, don't get caught in the crossfire with him."

"Mm!" Su Tian Yu said goodbye to the two and quickly walked out of the residence.

Outside the Zhou family's villa.

Wei Xiang Zuo, Xiao Feng, and Su Tian Yu met up. The group drove an SUV, switched to new phones, and secretly headed towards The Dragon City.

Along the way, the three took turns driving, and Wei Xiang Zuo and Xiao Feng, in their spare time, were constantly contacting the core members and key brothers of the Tian Hong Port gang.

……

Two days later.

An Qi Qi returned to Hua Du from her mother's place, and as soon as she entered the door, she saw Wa Wa lying on her bed, fast asleep.

"Hey, little white pig, wake up!" An Qi Qi pinched Wa Wa's cheeks and shouted.

"Let me sleep a little longer, I'm too sleepy……" Wa Wa replied sleepily, turning her butt to the other side.

An Qi Qi casually put down her backpack and other things, and turned to change her clothes when she suddenly saw a delicate watch box on the table.

"Whose is this? Did you buy a watch?"

"How would I have money to buy a watch? I'm almost begging for food." Wa Wa replied with a silly smile, "Someone gave it to you."

"Ah?" An Qi Qi blinked her eyes. "Gave it to me?!"

"Yeah."

"……!" An Qi Qi curiously picked up the watch box, tore open the packaging, opened the lid, and saw the exquisite sports watch inside, as well as a handwritten pink card.

The card read: "You once said that beneath the clouds, within reach of your gaze, lies your ideal, and you will conquer every inch of mountains and rivers with your feet, living up to your profession and your youth. May this watch accompany you through every inch of scenery and record every moment of your youth… From Su Tian Yu."

An Qi Qi stared blankly at the watch box, and after a long time, goosebumps rose all over her body. "Tsk tsk…… This is too mushy, it feels so chuuni!" (中二病: chuunibyou - Japanese term for "middle school 2nd year syndrome," referring to adolescent delusions of grandeur)

"Are you sure it's not the feeling of being moved?" Wa Wa lay on the bed, stealing a glance at Qi Qi.

"No, I need to take a shower, my goosebumps are about to fall off." An Qi Qi carefully placed the card back in the watch box, neatly placed it on the table, and turned and ran to the bathroom.

"Damn it, what's written on it?! It's making me too curious!" Wa Wa suddenly sat up, itching to go over and take a look.

"Don't touch my stuff!!!" An Qi Qi shouted in command.

……

Tian Hong Port.

Gu Bai Shun took a dozen people to a gambling den.