Chapter 40

“Fan Shu, what are you doing? Even though you’re always a nightmare during training, you don’t need to go this far.”

He Chenguang was utterly at a loss at Fan Tianlei’s sobbing.

“Chenguang, that’s not what I’m trying to say. I want to tell you about your father’s death.”

Fan Tianlei explained, weeping as he spoke.

Fan Tianlei’s words sent He Chenguang into a rage—he immediately lunged to fight him.

“Don’t act rashly, Chenguang. Your father died saving me, not because I killed him.”

Fan Tianlei shouted quickly—he’d just been dramatic, and now bloodshed was about to break out before he’d even finished speaking?

After hearing Fan Tianlei’s words, He Chenguang screamed hysterically: “Who killed my father? I want revenge for my father!”

“Chenguang, don’t rush. I came today to tell you your father’s killer has been captured by Nie Huaishang. Your father’s vengeance has been fulfilled.”

Fan Tianlei’s words instantly extinguished He Chenguang’s burning rage.

The killer had been captured. He Chenguang was momentarily stunned. In just these past ten minutes, his emotions had swung wildly up and down.

Not long ago, he’d learned his best friend Nie Huaishang had become head of the Red Blood Cell unit—he’d been ecstatic.

Then, from Fan Tianlei, he learned the truth about his father’s death. He’d just resolved to avenge him—when Fan Tianlei told him the killer had already been caught.

And caught by his own best friend, Nie Huaishang.

At this moment, He Chenguang’s feelings were complex. He couldn’t personally avenge his father—he felt a pang of regret.

But his father’s vengeance had been fulfilled, and he was ultimately glad.

At this moment, voices from outside the door reached them—Nie Huaishang and Zhang Xiaofan talking.

“Xiaofan, how do you think He Chenguang and the others will welcome us?”

As the two chatted and walked into Fan Tianlei’s office, they burst out laughing the moment they saw Fan Tianlei and He Chenguang, both with red, tear-stained eyes.

Nie Huaishang teased the two:

“You two, I’ve been gone over a month—what happened? Did the iron-blooded men turn into delicate Lin Daiyu?”

He Chenguang snorted coldly at Nie Huaishang’s teasing and turned his head away, ignoring him.

Seeing He Chenguang’s pouting expression, Nie Huaishang teased:

“Oh? Now you’ve even learned to pout? Are you mad because I didn’t take you along to avenge your father?”

“Shouldn’t I be mad?”

He Chenguang retorted stubbornly.

After hearing this, Nie Huaishang snapped at He Chenguang:

“What are you mad about? You’re even worse than Fan Tianlei.”

Fan Tianlei: …

But Nie Huaishang didn’t care whether they were hurt—he kept going:

“Do you know how strong that Scorpion is? He’s a battle-hardened veteran. Your father was killed by the Scorpion because Fan Tianlei dragged him down.”

“If I’d taken you, the Scorpion would’ve targeted you just like he targeted Fan Tianlei—and then we’d all die trying to save you. Is that what you want?”

He Chenguang turned beet red, stammering: “That’s not what I meant. I’m not angry because I couldn’t avenge my father myself—I just feel regret. And am I really that weak?”

Nie Huaishang sneered at He Chenguang’s stubbornness: “Still denying it, huh? Tell me—can you beat Fan Tianlei now?”

He Chenguang paused, then said quietly: “No.”

Even though Fan Tianlei was a terrible trainer, he was still his instructor—he had no confidence he could win.

“But the Scorpion could. He took on your father and Fan Tianlei together—and won. Can you escape him? Answer me.”

Nie Huaishang stared straight into He Chenguang’s eyes, serious.

Nie Huaishang stared directly into He Chenguang’s eyes and asked solemnly.

He Chenguang slumped to the floor. He knew he’d acted rashly. Nie Huaishang had no obligation to explain himself—especially since he’d avenged his father.

“Now that we’re already in, we won’t lack chances to serve our country. Don’t look so gloomy. Today’s my first day as head of the Red Blood Cell unit—you should be happy.”

“Now that we’ve already become part of it, we won’t lack opportunities to serve our motherland—don’t look so gloomy; today is my first day as group leader of the Red Blood Cells, you should be happy for me.”

He Chenguang wiped his tears and said: “Yes, you’re right. We should be happy.”

Today wasn’t just his best friend’s promotion—it was also the day his father’s killer was captured. He should celebrate.

“Fine. Today’s Nie Huaishang’s promotion banquet—but it’s also my farewell party. I won’t join your celebration.”

Fan Tianlei spoke and strode out immediately. When he stepped outside, he picked up his phone and called his ex-wife—the first time in years.

Soon, the voice he’d longed for came through the line:

“Lao Fan, busy man, not busy with military affairs—why are you calling a nobody like me?”

Hearing his ex-wife’s voice, Fan Tianlei’s eyes filled with tears as he choked out: “The man who killed our son—he’s been captured.”

Silence fell on the other end. Fan Tianlei stayed silent too—he knew how devastating their son’s death had been for her.

After a while, the voice returned, trembling with sobs: “Tianlei, really? The man who killed Benben—he’s been caught? He’ll be punished soon?”

The other end of the phone fell silent for a while; Fan Tianlei fell silent too, knowing his son’s death had shattered her.

The woman on the other end wept uncontrollably. The man who killed her son had been caught.

After crying for a while, she trembled: “Did you catch him yourself, Tianlei? I always knew you wanted to avenge our son all these years. It was you, wasn’t it?”

Fan Tianlei: …

For over a decade, he’d truly wanted to avenge his son. He’d tried hard—but it wasn’t him who caught the Scorpion.

If he hadn’t carelessly exposed his wife’s identity, their son wouldn’t have died.

He owed his ex-wife too much—he couldn’t lie to her. Fan Tianlei said quietly:

“I’m sorry. Although I’ve spent over a decade trying to avenge our son and made many efforts, I didn’t catch the Scorpion.”

“I’m sorry. As a husband, as a father—I’m powerless.”

Hearing his guilt, the woman quickly comforted him: “Don’t say that. Our son’s death hurt you too. But at least his killer has been caught—that’s good. You should be glad.”

Fan Tianlei’s face brightened. Since their son’s death, this was the first time she’d spoken to him like this.

“Tianlei, are you free tonight?”

The woman asked gently.

“I’ve been free all this time.”

“I need to talk to you tonight. I have a lot to say.”

“Alright. I’ll come tonight.”

Fan Tianlei agreed, overjoyed. Thinking of what might happen tonight, the darkness in his heart lifted—sky clear, boundless.

I’ve had time free at this stage.

I need to talk with you tonight—I have a lot to say to you.

Fine, I’ll come over tonight.

Fan Tianlei eagerly agreed; thinking of what would happen that night, the gloom in his heart vanished, leaving a clear, boundless sky.