Chapter 38: Kicking Fan Tianlei Away

Inside the police station's interrogation room, Fan Tianlei looked at Ruan Wenxiong with eyes bloodshot and tearing, for it was this very man who had killed his old comrade-in-arms, who had kidnapped his ex-wife and son, causing himself and his son to be separated by life and death.

He had completely destroyed a perfectly good home of his own; through countless days and nights, Fan Tianlei had wished to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin, yet he was utterly powerless against him.

Recalling the various events of the past, Fan Tianlei suddenly stood up.

Goutou Gao, who was nearby, hurriedly stepped forward to hold him down, fearing he might do something foolish: "Old Fan, don't be impulsive; he will be shot by firing squad sooner or later. Don't do something foolish."

After Goutou Gao's comfort, Fan Tianlei's emotions gradually stabilized.

Looking at his former defeated opponent, Scorpion Ruan Wenxiong sneered disdainfully: "I never thought one day my defeated opponent would come to interrogate me. If I hadn't been betrayed by the company's high-level executives, Fan Tianlei, a piece of trash like you would never have been able to catch me."

Seeing Scorpion still being stubborn, Goutou Gao mocked:

"This is the difference between mercenaries and soldiers. You fight for money, so naturally you will also betray your teammates for money. But we, who fight for faith, will never betray our teammates."

Hearing Goutou Gao's mockery, Scorpion did not refute; he merely reminisced about the days he fought for his country in Vietnam back then, when he had his country behind him and reliable comrades-in-arms by his side.

It was just that he later became a mercenary for money. From the moment he became a mercenary, he could only rely on himself. However, he was very confident in his own strength, confident that there was simply no one in this world capable of catching him.

Although the other side had the advantage of waiting at ease, the fact that they could knock him unconscious before he could react meant their strength was far superior to his.

He never thought there were people in this world far stronger than himself, and moreover, they were so young. Thinking of these people, Scorpion couldn't help but sneer at himself.

Seeing Scorpion's expression, Goutou Gao asked in confusion: "You are now a prisoner. According to your situation, if you go to court, it will definitely be the death penalty with no second path. In this situation, how can you still laugh?"

"I am not laughing; I am mocking myself. If I hadn't left my country back then, I would probably be a soldier like you now, instead of being judged by you as I am now."

Scorpion's tone carried a hint of nostalgia.

Looking at Scorpion's regretful appearance, Fan Tianlei couldn't help but sneer inwardly: Regretting only now? What were you doing earlier? But fortunately, he had retired; otherwise, avenging his old comrade-in-arms, He Weidong, would have been a distant prospect.

Looking at Fan Tianlei and Goutou Gao before him, Scorpion sighed:

"Those few young people are all yours, right? Their strength is very good; they captured me without the slightest effort. I have never seen figures as powerful as them."

Speaking to this point, Scorpion stared fixedly at Fan Tianlei and Goutou Gao and asked: "Can you tell me who they are?"

"Of course I can. Anyway, you will be shot by firing squad in a few days."

Goutou Gao agreed readily.

Scorpion listened intently to what Goutou Gao was about to say next.

"They are all soldiers who protect the home and defend the country."

After hearing this, Scorpion sneered at himself, never thinking he would have a day of being foolish; how could Goutou Gao possibly tell them their identities?

After Goutou Gao and Fan Tianlei walked out, the Battalion Commander, seeing Fan Tianlei's emotional loss of control, stepped forward, patted his shoulder, and comforted: "Old Fan, we are all soldiers. From the moment we became soldiers, we must always be prepared."

Fan Tianlei stepped forward to shake hands with each of Guo Jing and the other three to express his gratitude. Especially when he reached Nie Huaishang, he held his hand tightly without letting go, and sobbed in a low voice:

"Thank you, thank you for avenging my old comrade-in-arms and my son. If it weren't for you, I don't know when I would be able to avenge them."

Seeing Fan Tianlei sobbing, Nie Huaishang also felt somewhat sad and stepped forward to advise:

"Chief of Staff Fan, we all belong to soldiers who protect the home and defend the country; we are comrades-in-arms sharing weal and woe. We are all people who fight for the national interest. Your enemies are not only your enemies but also the enemies of all of us. You do not need to thank us."

Looking at the four young people before him, Fan Tianlei sighed: "Although you are all young, still children, you are all stronger than me."

After sighing, Fan Tianlei sincerely praised the Battalion Commander, He Zhijun: "Commander, Nie Huaishang and the other three are all excellent. I have wanted to cut that beast Scorpion into a thousand pieces for over ten years but never succeeded. These few captured Scorpion in less than two months."

"What need is there for you to say that? My few soldiers are definitely stronger than you."

He Zhijun was also very happy. He knew that Nie Huaishang and the others were only in their twenties and still had great room for growth. He must let them stand on their own feet as soon as possible to accelerate their growth. Thinking of this, He Zhijun said to Fan Tianlei:

"Old Fan, I remember that more than a month ago, you and Nie Huaishang made a bet: whoever catches Scorpion first will be the leader of the Red Blood Cell Special Action Group."

Hearing this, Fan Tianlei immediately made a statement: "Battalion Commander, I understand. I also think Nie Huaishang is competent to be the leader of the Red Blood Cell Special Action Group. However, I want to stay in the Red Blood Cell, after all, I have poured too much of my heart and blood into it. Is that okay?"

After finishing speaking, Fan Tianlei looked at He Zhijun imploringly.

He Zhijun did not agree immediately. He turned his head and asked Nie Huaishang: "Now you are the leader of the Red Blood Cell Special Action Group. What is your opinion? Do you want Fan Tianlei?"

Nie Huaishang certainly could not want Fan Tianlei. For the safety of his own life and that of his subordinates, he had to kick Fan Tianlei away. If he were to be ruined by Fan Tianlei, he would die with his eyes unshut.

But he had to be tactful; he could not directly say "You are too troublesome, I don't want you." Thinking of this, he politely said to Fan Tianlei:

"Chief of Staff Fan, the concept of building an information-based combat Red Blood Cell unit and the training during this period were all done by you. Your contribution is indispensable. Rest assured, you will forever be the first leader of our Red Blood Cell."

Speaking to this point, Nie Huaishang changed the subject: "But, Chief of Staff Fan, you are an old veteran in the army, with ten-plus years more service than me. If I become your leader, the influence would not be good."

"Your meaning just now is simply that you don't want Fan Tianlei, right?"

He Zhijun asked with narrowed eyes. This little slippery fellow said all this polite talk just because he didn't want Fan Tianlei.

Nie Huaishang smiled awkwardly:

"Battalion Commander, commanding old veterans in the army, let alone me, even the famous Wei Qing in history could not command Li Guang. When Li Guang got lost during the Battle of Mobei, Wei Qing did not even have the qualification to enforce military law on Li Guang. Instead, everyone thought he bullied an old veteran and forced Li Guang to his death."

"I often think that if Wei Qing had not taken Li Guang along with the army, there wouldn't have been so many issues."

Hearing this, Fan Tianlei also understood. Nie Huaishang was afraid that he would refuse to obey orders based on his seniority. He hurriedly explained: "Battalion Commander, I am very obedient to Nie Huaishang. There will be no situation where I refuse to obey orders based on seniority."

Nie Huaishang absolutely could not let Fan Tianlei stay by his side. He quickly complained on his own behalf: "Battalion Commander, a general like Wei Qing who defeated the Xiongnu for the first time, displayed the great might of the Han Dynasty, and defeated the Xiongnu seven times, even an old veteran like Li Guang looked down on him. How much more so for me? I cannot compare with Wei Qing."

Nie Huaishang complained on his own behalf. He Zhijun pondered for a moment. An old veteran in the army like Fan Tianlei would indeed not obey the command of a young person like Nie Huaishang. A situation of discord between the general and the commander would surely arise.