After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Not right.

Something's really wrong!

First, the shoes.

Our army is issued rubber-soled liberation shoes or high-top training shoes, which are easy to walk in. But these two men are wearing thick-soled black leather boots.

The upper is stiff, and there's a shiny metal buckle on the side.

Imported goods.

Shi Tou had seen the design of these shoes in Gu Zheng's study; they were combat boots worn by foreign special forces.

He held his breath, his eyes fixed on the guns the two men were holding, not daring to move.

That's our Type 81 automatic rifle, no doubt. But the way he's holding it looks so awkward.

The company commander had taught us that when carrying a rifle on the move, the index finger must be outside the trigger guard; that was an ironclad rule, and it was also to prevent accidental discharge and injury to comrades. But these two men kept their index fingers on the trigger the whole time, and the muzzle of their rifles was intentionally or unintentionally pressed very low, swaying as their eyes moved.

That's a habit only people who have killed people, seen blood, and even treat killing as a daily routine have.

A chill ran down his spine, as if he were being watched by a wild beast. His palms were clammy with cold sweat.

"Alpha, position confirmed."

One of the slightly taller and stronger figures said something in a low voice.

The sound drifted into the stone's ears on the wind.

Birdsong.

Foreign devils wearing our military uniforms?

Shi Tou's head buzzed, as if he had been hit on the head with a club, and his vision blurred.

These aren't Red Army comrades-in-arms; these are real wolves!

Stone's palms were covered in cold sweat, and his knuckles were white as he gripped the gunstock.

He wanted to retreat and go report the news.

But those two moved too fast.

They didn't rush towards the sheepfold, but stopped on a high ground about 400 meters away.

The tall, burly foreigner took off his backpack, and the sound of the zipper being pulled open was particularly jarring in the silent valley.

Stone watched as he pulled several dark, murky tubes out of his bag.

"Snap! Snap!"

Several crisp metallic clanging sounds.

The pipes were skillfully assembled together, forming a large unit.

That's... an RPG!

Rocket launcher!

Although Stone had never touched this thing, he had seen it countless times in magazines. One shot from this thing could blast away not only that dilapidated sheepfold, but even a two-story building!

That wasn't all. The foreigner then took a bullet out of his bag and slowly loaded it onto the launcher.

The warhead wasn't one of those training rounds that only produce smoke and make a sound during exercises; it was a high-explosive fragmentation round with striking yellow and black stripes!

The projectile gleamed with a cold and deadly light in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Really.

it is true!

Shi Tou felt his throat go dry and his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his throat.

These people aren't here for a drill; they're here to kill!

There's definitely a high-ranking Blue Army officer hiding in that sheep pen. The moment that rocket is fired, everyone inside will be turned into mincemeat!

The mercenary who was assembling the rocket launcher seemed to sense something, and suddenly stopped what he was doing, turning his head sharply to look in the direction where the stone was hiding.

The distance was too far to see the facial features clearly, but the gaze seemed tangible, cold, venomous, and carrying a strong aura of bloodlust, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue.

The stone froze in fright, instinctively shrinking itself even tighter, its face pressed firmly against the cold rock, not daring to even breathe.

That is the most primal fear of death.

The mercenary muttered something in English, then turned around, picked up the rocket launcher, and began adjusting the sights.

In that brief instant, countless thoughts flashed through Stone's mind.

He was a homeless child without parents, and after years of living on the streets, his only skill was the ability to "run away at the first sign of trouble." His survival instinct was ingrained in him; he would stay far away from any tough opponent.

As long as he stays here and doesn't go out, those two definitely won't find him. After they finish firing this shot and leave, he can still escape with his life and go back to report.

Hiding?

As long as he stays here and doesn't go out, those two definitely won't find him.

but……

Those sheep pen are also occupied by our People's Liberation Army soldiers!

She was the most lovable person my sister-in-law had ever mentioned, someone like Gu Zheng.

If he hides, these people are doomed.

"We don't support idlers in our family. Dr. Ye is only responsible for saving lives, not for taking care of children."

"We didn't just add a pair of chopsticks to our household, we added a soldier!"

"Since it's called Stone, it has to be hardened. Don't go out and embarrass me."

Gu Zheng's face, which always carried a hint of roguishness and a touch of sternness, suddenly appeared before my eyes.

And there's Sister Ye Zhen.

The woman who picked him up from the restaurant, bathed him, cooked dumplings for him, and told him, "If you want a different way of life, follow me."

If he chickens out or runs away today, he can forget about ever walking into the Gu family's house with his head held high again.

He doesn't deserve the word "home".

Shi Tou gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffing out into a hard ridge.

A fire slowly ignited in his eyes, which had always carried a hint of wildness.

That's the fierce determination of a lone wolf protecting its food.

Stone moved the Type 81 rifle from his back to the front of him.

Although his hands were still trembling, and his heart was pounding like a drum.

But he did not back down.

He rested the gun on the cold rock, pressing his cheek against the wooden stock. In that instant, the faint smell of gun oil from the stock inexplicably calmed his wildly beating heart.

Gu Zheng taught him: "Keep your mind calm, keep your hands steady, and entrust your life to the gun."

Shi Tou took a deep breath of the cold, earthy air and poked the gun out from the crack in the rock.

and many more.

Just a second before he was about to pull the trigger, Stone suddenly released his finger, his face turning deathly pale.

This is a drill!

The gun chamber is filled with blank cartridges!

This thing only makes a sound when fired; it can't even kill a rabbit. If this shot goes off, it won't hurt those two beasts at all; instead, it will expose your position and bring about your own death.

He was the one who died then.

And it wouldn't save the people in the sheepfold either.

What should I do?

Sweat streamed down his forehead and into his eyes, stinging painfully. He didn't dare wipe it, his eyes darting anxiously around.

There were no suitable weapons. All that was there was stone and sand.

Stone?

His gaze suddenly fixed on a pebble the size of a fist beside him.

The stone was angular and heavy, fitting perfectly in his hand. When he was a homeless man, he had honed his stone-throwing skills to defend himself and fight off stray dogs that tried to steal his food. He could hit any target from twenty meters away with unerring accuracy.

The distance is now only about thirty meters.

As long as it hits that guy's hand, or misses the rocket launcher...

Stone put down his gun and reached out to grab the cold pebble.

The rough stone surface rubbed against the lines of his palm, and that familiar touch brought back the feeling of risking his life on the streets.

"Commander, you once said that when two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave will prevail."

Stone silently recited a sentence in his heart.

At this moment, he was no longer the "wild dog" Stone who snatched food from the garbage dump; he was a soldier trained by Gu Zheng.

Wind direction: westerly. Wind force: level 3.

He quickly calculated the lead time in his mind. Although it wasn't a bullet, in his hands, it was more obedient than a bullet.

It's now!

Shi Tou suddenly poked half his body out from behind the rock, his right arm like a fully drawn bow, instantly unleashing astonishing power.

"Whoosh—"

The pebble cut through the air with a low whistling sound, like a cannonball, heading straight for the mercenary's head.

"Bang!"

The stone slammed heavily into the mercenary's wrist, which was gripping the rocket launcher handle. The sound of bones shattering and a cry of pain rang out almost simultaneously.

The mercenary screamed, his body swayed violently, and the rocket launcher he had been aiming at the sheep pen suddenly jerked upwards.

"boom!"

A fiery dragon shot out, and the rocket, accompanied by a piercing whistle, soared into the sky, grazed the roof of the sheepfold, and crashed heavily into a distant mountain.

The huge explosion shook the ground, sending debris flying and dust billowing into the sky.