Chapter 250: Homeward Journey

The mission accomplished, the heavy burden on my heart lifted, and even the biting, frigid air of Dongbei seemed to lose a few degrees of its bone‑chilling cold.

After a two‑day rest at the military factory, the receipt stamped with a bright red seal was safely slipped into Li Ping'an's inner pocket; the convoy set out again, embarking on the homeward journey.

The way back still involved a truck first, then a train. Yet my mood differed greatly from the outbound trip: the weight of an unknown mission was gone, replaced by a yearning for home and… the reassuring feeling of the "local specialties" hidden among the convoy's supplies, carefully wrapped in oilcloth and burlap, exuding a faint, lingering gamey scent.

Several Liberation trucks followed the tracks left on the way out, crawling across the endless snowfield. The snow on the road was compacted by the shuttling vehicles into a smooth, hard ice crust; even with anti‑slip chains, the wheels still slipped occasionally, emitting a grating squeal that made one's teeth ache. The drivers gripped the steering wheels, sweat beading on their foreheads, daring not to be careless.

Li Ping'an sat in the lead vehicle, his gaze calmly fixed ahead. His Divine Perception continued its habitual outward projection, like invisible tendrils sensing everything within a hundred‑meter radius.

Snow‑covered depressions, wind‑bent dead branches by the roadside, the distant mountain silhouettes… all were within his grasp. The road ahead was clear, yet he knew that on this desolate homeward trek, any lapse could invite unnecessary trouble.

"Chief, this time we're earning merit on the way back!" Xiao Chen, the young officer in the same vehicle, could barely contain his excitement, rubbing his frost‑red hands. "We even brought so much Hard Currency! When the head chef at the mess sees it, he'll be overjoyed!"

Li Ping'an gave a faint smile, saying nothing. The credit belongs to the collective, and the distribution of these items follows his own internal rules.

Most of it must be turned over to the factory for centralized allocation—that's the principle. Yet for the brothers who have fought beside him and the nearby households in the courtyard that are barely getting by, he can always share a portion; as the leader and neighbor, it's a modest gesture within his means.

His thoughts drifted farther. Within the Spiritual Spring Space, the ginseng sprouting from a crevice in Changbai Mountain Crevice thrived, a few wild rabbits and a foolish roe deer ambled leisurely over the black earth, and there were even two bundles of fine‑looking astragalus and Acanthopanax he had secretly collected during solo "recon" trips in the forest near the military factory. These are valuable supplies that can be lifesavers in critical moments. Figuring out how to discreetly extract some of these "private stash" items to supplement household needs requires careful consideration.

The convoy traveled by day and rested by night, moving considerably faster than on the outbound leg. After a day, they finally arrived at the transfer station without incident. Watching the precious mountain goods on the trucks roll safely into the platform, everyone let out a long sigh of relief. This toughest stretch of overland travel had at last passed safely.

The ensuing train journey was comparatively relaxed. The carriage remained cold, but the eager‑hearted teammates wore hopeful smiles. Some took out dry rations they were reluctant to eat and chewed slowly; others leaned against the carriage wall, softly humming hometown tunes in time with the wheels.

Li Ping'an remained vigilant. He chose a seat near the door with an open view, closed his eyes to rest, while his Divine Perception, like a loyal Sentinel, enveloped the entire carriage and its surroundings.

The train roared through the night, outside the window a blur of swiftly receding dark shapes; occasional small stations revealed specks of dim yellow light, like solitary eyes in a wilderness.

In the deep night, most teammates had bundled their coats and were soundly asleep, snoring in waves. Li Ping'an, however, snapped his eyes open!

At the edge of his Divine Perception, two slow‑moving black silhouettes clinging to the ceiling of the adjacent carriage loaded with ordinary supplies, like geckos, caught his attention! Their movements were certainly not those of ordinary railway maintenance workers!

Uninvited "guests" have arrived!

Li Ping'an's gaze hardened; his body rose silently like a raccoon, disturbing no sleeping teammate. He gently pulled open the heavy door, and a biting wind surged in, sharpening his senses. He then half‑closed the door, pressing his body against the cold, rough exterior wall of the carriage, as if merging with the shadows.

The joint between the carriages below emitted a rhythmic clank, and a strong gust nearly lifted him off. Li Ping'an circulated his internal qi and blood, his feet rooting firmly on the roof edge; Carefree Step's Light Body Pulling Technique reached its limit as he slipped along the narrow, slick roof toward the neighboring carriage.

Thick clouds in the night sky hid the moon, leaving only sparse specks of light on the distant horizon as feeble illumination. Yet for Li Ping'an, whose Divine Perception was active, it was as bright as day. He clearly "saw" the two black silhouettes had pried open the ventilation hatch on the neighboring carriage's roof and were about to slip down!

What were they after? The mountain goods hidden among the ordinary supplies? Or something else?

Without time to ponder, Li Ping'an surged his speed, moving across the roof as if on solid ground, closing the gap in an instant!

The two were clearly veterans; hearing the faint wind behind them, they whirled around! Seeing Li Ping'an appear like a phantom behind them, shock flashed in both eyes! Yet they reacted swiftly: one brandished a gleaming dagger, thrusting at Li Ping'an's abdomen; the other quickly drew a Handgun!

However, before a master‑level Divine Perception, their movements seemed in slow motion!

Li Ping'an neither dodged nor fled; his left hand shot out like lightning, arriving before the strike, precisely seizing the dagger‑wielder's wrist. Tai Chi's Tingjin Kung Fu activated instantly, a twist and a shake!

"Crack!"

The crisp snap of the broken wrist bone was drowned by the train's roar.

"Ugh—ah!" the man shrieked, the dagger slipping from his hand and falling into the carriage, vanishing into the darkness.

Almost simultaneously, Li Ping'an's right foot snapped out like a whip, striking the wrist of the other man who had just raised his gun!

"Bang!" The Handgun fired, the bullet shooting into the night sky, its sound swallowed by the wind and wheels.

The man's wrist throbbed in pain, and he couldn't grip the Handgun, which fell away.

Seizing the advantage, Li Ping'an surged forward, his elbow like a hammer smashing the first man's chest, sending him collapsing limp. He followed with a spinning kick that swept the side of the second man's neck; the man didn't even gasp before he fainted outright.

The entire clash lasted only two or three breaths, fast enough to take one's breath away. Both infiltrators, despite their skill, never even saw Li Ping'an's face before they lost the ability to resist.

Li Ping'an quickly searched the two; aside from some lock‑picking tools and a small amount of cash, he found nothing that could verify their identities. He frowned slightly, bundled the pair with the ropes they carried into tight knots, shoved them back beneath the vent they had pried open, and sealed the opening with debris. Were they petty thieves after loot? Or remnants of an enemy special unit with ulterior motives? He could not determine yet.

Having tied up loose ends, he slipped back to his own carriage like a phantom in the dark, closing the door gently as if he had never left. Inside, the teammates remained asleep, unaware of the brief, fierce skirmish that had just unfolded on the roof.

Li Ping'an sat back in his seat, breathing evenly, as if he had merely stood up to stretch his limbs. He cast a glance at the still‑dense night outside the window, his gaze profound.

The homeward road, it seems, is not entirely smooth sailing. Beneath this seemingly calm journey, hidden currents still churn. Yet, whatever monsters or demons dare reach out, he is confident he can sever their claws without mercy!

He exhaled a faint puff of foul breath, then closed his eyes again. His Divine Perception, like the most loyal guard, continued to protect this Mercedes‑like train on the road home, the sleeping comrades aboard, and the supplies bearing hope and warmth.

The outline of home, in the darkness ahead, seemed to grow ever clearer.