Chapter 436: Do What You Think Is Right

Here.

Hmm.

Lu Yang greeted without turning his head, and Bai Yuan also sat down beside him.

The two didn't speak, just listening to the sea waves and staring blankly at the mist in the distance.

After a long while, Bai Yuan broke the silence first: 'You know what identity those unidentified intruders have, right?'

I know.

Don't you feel you're being cruel?

I do.

If there's a next time, what will you do?

I'll chop off their heads, sink their ship, and make them disappear completely from this world.

Bai Yuan turned his head, looked at Lu Yang's profile, and said with a smile: 'Being merciful to the enemy is the greatest cruelty to one's own side; decisive killing is what makes a qualified commander.'

Congratulations, you're qualified.

Lu Yang sighed: 'Time flies; two months just passed like that. When you're alone guarding an island, do you ever feel that time is both fast and slow?'

Bai Yuan straightened his head, looked at the misty sea surface, and said: 'Maybe, I forgot.'

How did you leave that island?

Just like you do now.

Lu Yang looked at him curiously: 'How exactly the same?'

Bai Yuan took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it; Lu Yang refused, he didn't want to smoke.

Your mindset is good; I usually, after completing a mission, especially after killing enemies in the mission, want to smoke a cigarette to relax.

Just now on the law enforcement ship, there was an enemy smoking at the stern, whom I killed underwater with a spear gun.

So you concluded that smoking is harmful to health and endangers life?

Hmm.

Your conclusion is correct; on the battlefield, smoking only leads to two outcomes: either you're seeking death or waiting for death.

Bai Yuan exhaled a puff of smoke, speaking calmly: 'You asked earlier how I left that island; it's actually simple—a group transporting drugs by water, trying to evade the coast guard's pursuit, panicked and landed on the island.'

Then what?

Then they wanted to kill me; relying on my familiarity with the island's environment, I literally played them to death.

Bai Yuan: 'I earned a first-class merit; many wanted to poach me, but I chose to join the Flood Dragon and became a Special Operations member.'

Lu Yang: 'Why are you telling me all this? You're not trying to poach me, are you?'

Bai Yuan smiled: 'I know you don't want to go; you have your comrades waiting for you at the Sea Training Base, so I don't want to waste words.'

Lu Yang found Bai Yuan's personality interesting: his exterior was tough and seemed carefree, his speech was sarcastic, but his thoughts were very meticulous.

He wouldn't say useless nonsense when he knew the outcome, and he disliked sucking up and begging for favor.

Bai Yuan flicked the ash off his cigarette and said: 'Soldiers spend most of their time being directed; opportunities to make one's own choices are few. You have the opportunity, you have the choice, and what matters is having the ability.'

The small-unit combat model of special forces determines its development path and its online development; staying in regular troops, maximizing your value and ability, doing what you think is right, is enough.

To be frank, our maritime defense capabilities are weak; compared to Western countries, we still have at least ten to twenty years to go.

Relying solely on the Flood Dragon is useless; small-unit combat and local skirmishes we can handle, but once it comes to a frontal confrontation, we cannot.

Special Operations only count as special operations when backed by a large force; without grassroots units' warships, coastal defense, and aviation, the Flood Dragon cannot exhibit any advantage in battle.

Lu Yang: 'So you've always emphasized not abandoning, not giving up; is it because you never thought becoming Flood Dragon company commander was such a big deal, and only through unity and cooperation can greater advantages be exerted?'

That's not entirely true; our appearance when we deploy is still quite impressive. Bai Yuan pulled out a pair of sunglasses and put them on: 'When regular troops see us standing there, see our combat uniforms and tactical vests, they start imagining just how strong we are.'

In fact, most of the time I'm either staring blankly or wondering what to eat for dinner in the cafeteria.

Hahaha, I thought only I was like that when on duty, but it turns out you Special Operations folks are the same.

Lu Yang asked: 'Do you guys electrocute frogs?'

Bai Yuan: 'Back on the island, I used a rope to leash a frog, walking it like a dog; later, when bad weather hit and supplies couldn't get through, I was so hungry I had no choice but to stew the frog as emergency rations.'

Lu Yang laughed until tears came out: 'The frog said, you're amazing, you're aloof; I treated you as a brother, and you put me in the pot.'

Bai Yuan savored that taste, licked his lips, and said: 'I have to say, the stew made from the frog I raised myself is exceptionally delicious.'

After finishing, he stood up and said: 'Let's go, we should also prepare to head back.'

Back to the island?

Lu Yang thought it meant returning to that island for wilderness survival training.

Bai Yuan shook his head: 'Training and evaluation are already over; but I don't have the time to specially send you to the Sea Training Base. We need to first return to the Flood Dragon to report back, then call Zheng Chengfeng to pick you up.'

That works.

Let's go.

Wait.

Bai Yuan turned his head, saw Lu Yang picking up the fire axe from the ground, and was puzzled: 'This thing, are you still taking it back?'

Lu Yang: 'I'll keep it as a memento; this thing gave me a bit of inspiration.'

Fifteen minutes later, everyone boarded the coast guard ship one after another.

Perhaps because Lu Yang was holding an axe, aside from Lao Mao and Bai Yuan, nobody dared to get close to him.

Even Xu Ce and Tu Hongwei kept their distance; deep down, their fear of the sunny, outgoing Lu Yang grew even more.

In the past, they wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken, but earlier they personally witnessed Lu Yang wielding an axe like a brutal butcher, ignoring the victims' cries and pleas, chopping off their limbs one by one.

The strong visual impact gave them great psychological trauma, making them unable to even look at the current Lu Yang, always feeling that the next second he would grimly raise his axe and start hacking people.

Lu Yang looked at another coast guard ship, carrying many captives heading off in another direction, and asked curiously: 'How are those people going to be handled?'

Lao Mao pursed his lips: 'Return things to their owner; whoever lost it claims it.'

Lu Yang: "Is what comes after that none of our business?"

"Yeah, someone will be in charge of the aftermath."

Lao Mao draped his arm over his shoulder: "Lu Yang, you did a fantastic job this time; I've already asked the platoon leader to let you enroll without an exam; once you join our Flood Dragon, you'll be my deputy—what do you think?"

"Such treatment isn't available to just anyone; even many old soldiers forming a platoon line don't get this opportunity."

Lu Yang naturally knew this guy was just bluffing, so he retorted: "But your platoon leader already promised to let me take your place and make you my deputy?"

"He said you performed poorly in this field exercise, had no effect whatsoever, and is preparing to relieve you of your duty."

"What did you say?!"

Lao Mao instantly bristled, his voice cracking.

He stopped paying attention to Lu Yang and went straight to Bai Yuan to stir up trouble.

The island slowly drifted away, yet the flag on high continued to flutter in the wind.

On the sea surface, the sun rose slowly, gradually dispersing the surrounding mist.

Lu Yang rested his chin on his hands, leaned on the railing, and wore a faint smile.

He felt that at this moment he resembled those ambitious youths who went abroad to study advanced knowledge, then returned to serve their country.

"I don't know what class of merit I could earn upon returning."

"Old Ma, He Zhen Tao, and Squad Leader Zhou will surely be delighted to hear that."

"That brat Kang Changyi will likely die of envy, staying up half the night jealous, slapping himself twice, hahaha...."