Chapter 0004: Pursuit of the Murderer on a Rainy Night

Born into a family of hunters, Luo Zheng grew up in the forest, possessing an inexplicable familiarity and affection for it. His wilderness survival skills are fairly competent, and after joining the military, his physical fitness improved significantly. In the heavy rain, Luo Zheng moved quickly, almost jogging, with a mountain knife tightly gripped in his hand, rainwater streaming down the handle. A flash of lightning tore through the night sky, illuminating Luo Zheng's resolute face, while the cold light of the mountain knife flickered, as if sensing the anger within its master's heart

The few weapons and ammunition in the storeroom had been completely looted, leaving not a single bullet or usable gun. Luo Zheng recalled the 65-style army dagger that the squad vice-captain had treasured, which was said to be a special award from the higher-ups, carried at all times. He rushed back to the kitchen and carefully examined the charred remains of his fallen comrades, but unfortunately found nothing. A dagger could not be burned; it must have been taken away by someone. Thinking of this, Luo Zheng felt as if his lungs were about to explode with anger.

"Bastard!" Luo Zheng exclaimed angrily, his face cold as he ran back to the barracks not far away. He found a military backpack and packed it with usable food, clothing, and other items. After changing into a clean set of clothes and putting on a raincoat, he took up the Mitsubishi bayonet and military flashlight, then slung the backpack over his shoulders and walked out of the barracks

It won't be long before someone comes to investigate the outpost. The scene must not be disturbed, as it would compromise the evidence. Luo Zheng found some paper and a pen, wrote a few lines, and placed the note in a conspicuous position, pressing it down with a bullet casing. He picked up a standard-issue Type 95 automatic rifle from the outpost, only to discover that the gun body had been damaged by bullets and was no longer usable

In a moment of helplessness, Luo Zheng set the gun aside and inadvertently noticed that the place where firewood was usually stored had turned to ashes. The dust was blown away by the wind coming in through the door, revealing a Mitsubishi bayonet. Luo Zheng knew that this Mitsubishi bayonet was the beloved possession of the squad leader, and it was the only one in the entire outpost, which everyone often played with.

As he gradually regained his composure, Luo Zheng noticed that the ground was littered with shell casings and the walls were riddled with bullet holes. It was evident that the attack had been sudden, leaving everyone with no chance to retaliate. In the aftermath, a fire was set by a group of ruthless individuals who must not be spared; blood debts must be repaid in blood. With this thought in mind, Luo Zheng rushed towards the communication room, only to find that the radio station had been destroyed along with the documents, making it impossible to contact the outside world, causing his expression to change dramatically.

Luo Zheng's somewhat youthful face became resolute; although he had never experienced a real battlefield, had never truly killed anyone, and could not even shoot accurately, Luo Zheng possessed an indomitable spirit and a surge of passionate blood. In order to avenge his brothers, Luo Zheng was willing to risk everything

Without the guiding sound of explosions, Luo Zheng relied solely on his judgment to march forward at a rapid pace. The heavy rain could wash away all traces, making it impossible to find any clues. This pursuit seemed somewhat blind, yet Luo Zheng had no complaints or regrets. He felt a psychological discomfort if he did not take action. Thinking of his brothers who had died tragically, his heart felt as if it would explode, and his entire body was filled with strength

It is unclear how long he has been pursuing, as the sky gradually brightens and the heavy rain finally ceases. Luo Zheng, feeling both sleepy and exhausted, slows his pace, pulls out some compressed biscuits from his bag and begins to eat voraciously. He then takes out his military canteen and drinks a bit of water. Feeling his eyelids droop and his head spinning, he reflects on the exhausting night of rapid marching, coupled with the intense concentration that has drained too much of his energy. Remembering his hatred, Luo Zheng grits his teeth and perseveres

Luo Zheng was taken aback, his face cold as he rushed outside like the wind. The sky was already dark, and the vast mountains and fields were shrouded in black. The heavy rain poured down, making it impossible to see clearly. "Could it be thunder?" Just as he was pondering this, a faint explosion sound suddenly echoed, though very weak, it was still distinctly audible, unlike thunder. Luo Zheng quickly turned his head to look, and in the distance, amidst the dark rain-soaked night, a red light flickered, only to be swallowed again by the darkness.

"It is a grenade explosion." Luo Zheng coldly gazed into the depths of the stormy night, at the site of the grenade explosion, his eyes glinting with cold light. Despite the rain pouring down on him, his face was filled with anger as he abruptly turned and rushed back to the barracks

After more than two hours of frantic running, Luo Zheng was out of breath, severely exhausted, and had no choice but to slow down, switching to a walking pace to continue on his way. Unbeknownst to him, he arrived at a hillside and noticed two bullet casings on the ground. Luo Zheng quickly swept the area with his military flashlight but did not find any suspicious individuals. He hurried a few steps, picked up the casings, and confirmed they were indeed what he thought, yet he could not discern any clues from them.

Not far from the entrance, in the square, the old horse snorted irritably, nudging Luo Zheng who was approaching. The horse pawed the ground with its front legs, clearly sensing something. Luo Zheng gently stroked the neck of the old horse, which was depicted in the book, and pulled out a mountain knife from the cart. With a tone that was resolute yet tinged with regret, he said: "Old Horse, I can no longer make you a wolfskin shoulder cape. The brothers are still watching me from above; I must go. Don't try to persuade me. You should also find a place to shelter from the rain. Tomorrow, the higher-ups will send someone to check on the situation here. You should retire; take good care of yourself." Saying this, he strode decisively towards the direction of the explosion, unwavering and with firm steps that splashed in the rain, as if the brothers were walking alongside him, blessing him, bidding farewell... He strode decisively towards the direction of the explosion, unwavering and with firm steps that splashed in the rain, as if the brothers were walking alongside him, blessing him, bidding farewell...

With a thunderous roar, a clap of thunder resounded, and the torrential rain intensified. The cold wind howled, adding a sense of desolation to the entire wilderness and mountain range. The endless night was chilling, as if it could devour everything like a primordial beast.

In a moment of great joy, Luo Zheng picked up the Mitsubishi cone and gazed at the Mitsubishi bayonet forged from alloy steel. He couldn't help but think, "Could it be that the squad leader and the brothers are watching over me from above, urging me to use this knife for revenge?" With this thought, Luo Zheng's resolve for vengeance grew stronger as he swiftly ran towards the armory.

Thinking that it might be special forces pursuing him, Luo Zheng felt a surge of spirit as he carefully observed the terrain. Relying on his instincts from childhood hunting, he chose a direction and charged forward. Before long, Luo Zheng saw some fragments from grenades that had exploded, quietly lying on the ground, telling the story of what had once happened here

"Could it be that the special forces from the mainland are after us?" Luo Zheng speculated, his spirit involuntarily lifting, his blood boiling. As a soldier, Luo Zheng regarded the special forces as his goal and direction in life. Unfortunately, after beating up a well-connected soldier during basic training, he was relegated to a border outpost, making it difficult for him to achieve his aspirations in this lifetime

Luo Zheng picked up a fragment, glanced at it, and casually tossed it aside. He began to search the area and quickly identified a small pit filled with rainwater. This pit was likely a crater caused by a grenade explosion. Luo Zheng observed the terrain and continued his search. The traces of battle had been completely obscured by the heavy rain, leaving only fragments and shell casings. Based on the terrain, Luo Zheng speculated about the battle scene at that time. Considering that the assailant had fled westward while the pursuers were coming from the east, he determined a general direction and decisively continued his investigation.

Suddenly, a faint sound of an explosion was heard.