Qi Taiguo, who Cheng kept talking about, was also discussing his son with Gao Linbing, and proudly took out a photo from his pocket to show him.

"Isn’t my son handsome?" Qi Taiguo said proudly, "Not to brag, but in this family compound, I’ve never seen a kid so smart and handsome since childhood. This is my son."

Gao Linbing laughed, "You’re satisfied now, with a wife and son. Maybe you’ll get promoted again next year."

Qi Taiguo took back the photo and said, "There’s no satisfaction, just more responsibility." He added, "Don’t be bitter, both of us are deputy battalion commanders; maybe we’ll get promoted together next year. Besides, what I have, you have too. Your son is also a few years old now."

Gao Linbing’s eyes darkened, but he quickly feigned indifference and said, "I can’t compare to you."

He looked into the distance, his gaze somewhat hollow.

"What’s wrong? Is there anything at home you’re unhappy with? Just say the word, we’re brothers, can’t we lend a hand?" Qi Taiguo said.

"It’s nothing! Just feel that life is unpredictable, and many things often don’t go as wished." Gao Linbing smiled.

Just as Qi Taiguo was about to speak, Cheng Jiasheng walked over, "Reporting, suspected target has appeared."

The two immediately became alert, stopped talking, and took their positions.

Qi Taiguo used binoculars to look at the village entrance, where a ’elderly man’ with gray hair appeared in sight.

"Cheng Ning, go to rendezvous, confirm the identity, and bring the person back. All units, pay attention to changes in surroundings."

"Received!"

After a while, a woman dressed in a floral cotton-padded jacket with long braids happily walked up to the ’old man,’ raising her hand like a young wife welcoming her father-in-law.

And upon contact, she hugged the ’father-in-law.’

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, identity confirmed; it was the intelligence officer, communicated through an embrace.

"Cheng Ning, that kid, really looks the part when dressed as a woman. No wonder he usually loves pulling tricks." Qi Taiguo laughed and cursed.

"Indeed..."

Rat-tat-tat!

A sudden mishap, someone opened fire at Cheng Ning and the intelligence officer named Zhao Ming. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Qi Taiguo’s face changed dramatically, and he shouted, "Direction at eleven o’clock, full force to protect the target." He spoke while quickly running down.

Everyone moved; gunfire erupted.

Cheng Ning was already lying on the ground, still ’embracing’ the intelligence officer, whose fate was unknown.

Qi Taiguo felt a pang of pain in his heart.

The gunfire aimed at them had already stopped.

"Deputy Battalion Commander Qi, the gunman is fleeing north, please issue the order."

"Pursue." Qi Taiguo commanded in a deep voice.

Looking again at the two on the ground, he tightened his lips, walked over with large strides, and Gao Linbing also rushed over, asking, "Dead?"

Qi Taiguo shook his head, "Not sure yet."

"It’s a machine gun, afraid they’re mercenaries on the chase; the little ones might not be a match." Gao Linbing said.

Qi Taiguo’s face turned even grimmer, stopped his steps, and issued orders again to identify the gunman’s identity.

On the other side, Gao Linbing had already stepped forward, pulled Cheng Ning away, checked the carotid artery, looked at Qi Taiguo, and said, "Dead!"

Qi Taiguo had been mentally prepared, but upon hearing the result, he couldn’t help but feel a sharp pain in his heart.

Just moments ago, they were joking about his convincing woman disguise, and in the blink of an eye, a lively person turned into a corpse.

The young chap had only been enlisted for two years; is this what Gao Linbing meant by life’s unpredictability?

Qi Taiguo’s eyes reddened, he forcefully held back the pain and tears, looking at Zhao Ming, hoping that the person protected with life was still alive.