Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

In the western suburbs, there is a seemingly ordinary car dismantling plant.

Deep within this place lies a secret that even satellite maps cannot mark—the ultimate training base of Dragon Shield Security, which was also the first stop for the "Dragon Fang" special operations team after they returned home.

The sky was overcast on the night we returned to the city.

Instead of attending the unavoidable political and business engagements, Liu Ming changed into a faded camouflage vest and mud-splattered tactical boots, and walked alone into the heavy blast-proof door of the base.

Behind the gate, there was no expensive mahogany furniture, only a rough, industrial-style long table and rows of neatly arranged cold weapons. The air was filled with a familiar smell, a mixture of machine oil, sweat, and strong liquor.

This scent made Liu Ming feel even more reassured than the sandalwood scent of Zhongnanhai.

"The boss is here!"

A roar like muffled thunder resounded.

Tank's massive body was the first to rush out. His original oversized black suit had long been thrown aside, and he was now shirtless, with a grotesque scar running across his chest under the light.

But he smiled brightly, revealing a set of white teeth, though his temples were now covered with a glaring layer of frost.

Immediately afterwards, a slender figure turned around in front of the computer screen.

Ghost hands.

This top hacker, who could once break into the command system of foreign mercenaries in a minute, was now rubbing his red eyes, and the lenses of his glasses on his nose had become even thicker. When he stood up, Liu Ming clearly heard a "crack" sound from his kneecap.

"Boss." Ghost Hand smiled, the deep crow's feet at the corners of his eyes a testament to his desperate struggles during those sleepless nights.

Poison Doctor, Lone Wolf, Vulture, Wild Boar...

These codenames, which once struck fear into the hearts of foreign forces, now stood vividly before Liu Ming.

Among them, some had lost their little fingers, some had a deep knife scar on their faces, and some had developed a slight hunchback due to years of lying in wait.

Looking at his old friends, Liu Ming felt a sudden tightness in his throat and his eyes welled up with tears.

These once-proud and fierce soldiers, these brothers who crawled out of piles of corpses with him, have finally grown old.

"What are you looking at? Do you think we guys look awful?" The Poison Doctor walked up. Although he was now the behind-the-scenes boss of a top private hospital in the country, his cynical attitude hadn't changed at all.

He placed two boxes of the strongest liquor heavily on the table.

"We call these medals, understand? Boss, don't think you're younger than us just because you're a big leader. Your hair is as white as a tank's."

Liu Ming laughed and cursed, then stepped forward, opened his arms, and bumped shoulders hard with each of his brothers.

The impact was powerful and heavy.

That's a language only men who have faced life-or-death situations can understand.

"There are no leaders here today, no leaders at all." Liu Ming pulled out a wooden stool, sat down casually, and opened the seal of a bottle of wine. "Today, only the old captain of Dragon Fang is here."

"Great! That's exactly what I was waiting for!"

Tank sat down hard, the wooden bench creaking loudly.

Everyone gathered around the long table. There was no elaborate plating, only several large bowls of freshly cooked braised beef and peanuts, and a large bucket of steaming mutton soup.

This way of eating is just like how everyone secretly celebrated in a damp cave after a jungle mission back in the day.

After several rounds of drinks...

Everyone started talking non-stop.

"Vulture, your kid should be taking the college entrance exam this year, right?" Liu Ming asked casually, picking up a piece of beef.

Vulture sighed, but his eyes revealed an undisguised pride. "Don't even mention it. That brat is hopeless. He insists on taking the entrance exam for the National Defense University, saying he wants to follow in his father's footsteps. I couldn't stop him no matter what. His mother argues with me every day, saying I've corrupted our son."

"That's a good thing!" Tank exclaimed, his voice still booming. "How could the descendants of Dragon Fang be cowards? If my son were a boy, I'd throw him into the mud for two years of training too."

"Come on, that's your daughter, you treat her like she's something precious. Last time I passed by your house, I saw you braiding her hair, I almost popped my eyes out." Ghost Hand mercilessly exposed his shortcomings from the side.

Everyone burst into laughter.

The laughter swept away the somewhat heavy and lonely atmosphere that had been there.

Although time has left indelible marks on them.

Despite each of them carrying their own family, responsibilities, and heavy past.

But whenever they get together, whenever these people sit around this table, that lawless arrogance and passion that makes them think they can defy fate never seems to cool down.

"Boss."

Lone Wolf suddenly put down his wine glass. His face, which was usually expressionless, turned an unusual red under the influence of alcohol.

He was the quietest member of the squad, and also the most reliable at killing.

"We've won these past ten years. Right?"

Liu Ming's hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

He looked at the lone wolf, then at the weathered yet resolute faces around the table.

He thought of Xiao Qi, who had fallen in the Golden Triangle, and of the nameless heroes who had disappeared into the shadows to protect the 3-nanometer technology from leaks. He also thought of all the killings and intrigues along the way.

"We won."

Liu Ming's voice was soft, yet every word carried immense weight.

"We not only saved the lithography machine, but we also wiped out all those scum who wanted to eat our flesh and drink our blood. From today onwards, no one can point their finger at the Chinese people and curse them, and no one can strangle us at will."

"That's worth it." The wild boar took a big gulp of strong liquor, wiped his mouth, and said, "I haven't lived in vain."

The more he drank, the more he drank.

The empty bottles on the table gradually piled up into a small mountain.

This group of people, who could wield considerable influence in Yancheng and even the whole country, were now all slumped over, some with their arms around each other's shoulders, spouting nonsense, while others stared blankly at the old map on the wall.

Tank swayed as he stood up, his face flushed and his breath reeking of alcohol.

He walked to the honor wall at the base, where the military flag and team emblem were displayed, and suddenly straightened his slightly hunched back with great effort, letting out a hoarse and impassioned roar.

"stand up--!"

That was the assembly call from back then.

The alcohol seemed to have been burned away in that instant.

Liu Ming, Ghost Hand, Poison Doctor, Lone Wolf, Vulture, and Wild Boar—almost instinctively, at the same instant, all six of them stood up abruptly!

Their movements remained perfectly synchronized; even the sound of their heels hitting the ground was perfectly synchronized.

Even if they are wearing expensive suits, even if their hair is gray, even if their bodies are already covered in wounds.

But at this moment.

In this dimly lit base.

They are still the invincible, god-slaying Dragon Fang Special Forces Team!

"Ready—Sing!"

Tank led the singing, his voice tinged with a hint of drunkenness, yet exuding a fierce and heroic spirit that could pierce through the rooftops.

"Smoke rises...gazing northwards at the land...dragons rise and swirl...horses neigh...swords flash like frost..."

A poignant yet powerful melody, "Serving the Country with Utmost Loyalty," echoed wildly in the basement.

These bigwigs, who are usually dignified and imposing in front of their subordinates and cunning and calculating in front of their political enemies, are now shedding tears and shouting this military song that is engraved in their bones with heart-wrenching emotion.

Their lost youth is reflected in their songs.

There were their brothers who sacrificed their lives.

Even more so, there is the great nation that they have protected their entire lives, which now stands proudly at the top of the world.

Liu Ming mingled in the crowd, singing loudly, letting hot tears mix with the spicy alcohol churning in her throat.

He felt an unprecedented sense of exhilaration and fulfillment.

This is his brother.

This is his true nature.

Tank let out a loud hiccup, his large, dark hand gripping Liu Ming's neck tightly. Amidst the deafening singing, he mumbled something indistinctly:

"Boss... in the next life... we'll still follow you... it was fucking worth it."