After hanging up the walkie-talkie, Pei Zhengnian leaned against the rock, gasping for breath. The sharp pain in his back made cold sweat stream down his face.
Yet, no matter how much his body ached, it couldn't compare to the pain in his heart.
Pei Zhengnian was absolutely certain he hadn't been mistaken earlier; that person was undoubtedly his older brother, Pei Zhengwei.
But why would he want to kill him?
Was he also behind the earlier training incident in the mountains?
Pei Zhengnian's mind was in turmoil.
After catching his breath, he discovered a naturally concealed passage right next to the small tree that had saved his life, leading directly to the rear of the Blue Force's command center.
Gritting his teeth, he crawled to the narrow path at the cliff's edge...
As he approached the command tent, he heard voices inside.
Someone was giving orders over the radio,
"Reinforce the defenses at the southwest corner, the Red Force's main unit is almost here..."
That voice... it wasn't his brother's.
Pei Zhengnian frowned deeply.
Xiong Lei and Sun Xuelin had also followed Pei Zhengnian's orders and climbed up.
The group reunited.
Pei Zhengnian signaled the assault plan to Xiong Lei and the others with hand gestures.
Everyone nodded in unison.
As Pei Zhengnian's hand dropped, the team launched their assault...
In the end, the Red Force, represented by Pei Zhengnian, emerged victorious.
Bearing the pain, Pei Zhengnian carefully scrutinized every member of the Blue Force but found no trace of Pei Zhengwei.
Pei Zhengwei had vanished into thin air.
Pei Zhengnian's eyes held a complex expression.
...
Even lying in the military hospital,
Pei Zhengnian was still pondering Pei Zhengwei's appearance.
He was absolutely certain he hadn't been mistaken, not even a case of mistaken identity.
"Regiment Commander, thank goodness you're alright. Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to explain it to your wife."
Xiong Lei felt a wave of fear just remembering the situation.
"Keep it confidential. Don't tell her."
Pei Zhengnian was afraid Shen Nanchu would worry if she knew.
He would tell her himself once his injuries had improved a bit.
...
Late at night,
Pei Zhengnian lay on the hospital bed with his eyes closed, resting.
His back was wrapped in thick bandages, the wound burning like fire once the anesthetic wore off.
The hospital room door was pushed open gently, letting in a night breeze carrying the scent of disinfectant.
Pei Zhengnian opened his eyes alertly.
A nurse in a white coat pushed a treatment cart in. Her cap was pulled low, and she wore a mask, making her face indistinguishable.
"Regiment Commander Pei, time to change your dressing."
The nurse's voice was somewhat hoarse, as if she was deliberately speaking in a strained tone.
Pei Zhengnian frowned.
Usually, the head nurse came during the day to change dressings; he had never seen this nurse before.
He was just about to ask when the nurse had already reached his bedside. She held a syringe, injecting its contents into a brown bottle.
A pungent, strange odor wafted over.
"What medicine is this?"
Pei Zhengnian's voice was hoarse from pain, but his eyes instantly grew wary.
After all his years in the military, his intuition for danger was sharper than anyone's.
This nurse's movements were too stiff, completely unlike an experienced medical professional.
The nurse seemed not to hear, swiftly aiming the needle towards Pei Zhengnian's arm.
Pei Zhengnian abruptly grabbed her wrist.
"Who are you?"
Pei Zhengnian's voice was as cold as ice. The wound on his back throbbed sharply from the exertion, and cold sweat broke out instantly.
The nurse's hand loosened, her right hand catching the syringe and thrusting it towards Pei Zhengnian's side.
Her speed was incredibly fast, far beyond what a nurse should possess.
Pei Zhengnian tried to dodge, but his injured body wouldn't allow it.
Fortunately, the needle only grazed his clothes.
Pei Zhengnian's pupils contracted. Seizing the momentum, he raised his leg and kicked with all his might at the assailant's abdomen.
The nurse let out a pained cry and fell to the floor.
The commotion in the room was too loud. Xiong Lei, who had just returned from the restroom, heard it and immediately charged in.
"Regiment Commander!"
Seeing the scene before him, Xiong Lei was shocked. He drew his gun and aimed it at the imposter nurse.
"Don't move! I'll shoot if you move again!"
The fake nurse looked at the dark muzzle of the gun and decisively flipped out the window behind her, escaping.
Xiong Lei wanted to give chase but was stopped by Pei Zhengnian.
"Quick, call a doctor for me."
Pei Zhengnian felt his head growing heavy and dizzy, his eyelids unbearably weighty.
"Regiment Commander! How are you?"
Xiong Lei's voice seemed to grow fainter and farther away.
Doctors and guards, hearing the noise, rushed over. The room instantly descended into chaos.
After examining him, the doctor frowned deeply.
Beneath the clothes where the fake nurse's needle had grazed Pei Zhengnian, a red and purple line had already appeared, swollen and inflamed.
The room was in utter turmoil.
...
Early morning,
Shen Nanchu had just gotten up when the system's urgent voice sounded in her mind.
"Host, it's bad. The male lead is in mortal danger."
What?
The male lead is in mortal danger.
That shouldn't be!
Doesn't the male lead always have plot armor?
Moreover, Shen Nanchu had read the novel; the male lead shouldn't encounter anything life-threatening at this point in the story.
"What exactly happened?"
"I'm sorry, Host. The distance is too great; I cannot obtain specific information."
Before Shen Nanchu could ask the system if there was any way to find out, the urgent voice of Political Commissar Liao came from the courtyard.
"Sister-in-law, are you home?"
"Yes, I am."
Shen Nanchu hurried out of the room.
Hearing the voices, Pei's Mother quickly followed her out.
Political Commissar Liao looked at Shen Nanchu with her prominent belly, then at Pei's Mother, a flicker of conflict in his eyes.
Finally, he spoke.
"Auntie, Sister-in-law, Zhengnian was injured during the military exercise."
Pei's Mother felt the world spin. Luckily, Shen Nanchu caught and steadied her.
"Political Commissar Liao, do you need us to go to the hospital to care for him?"
Shen Nanchu blinked at Political Commissar Liao.
Seeing Pei's Mother's state, Political Commissar Liao understood immediately.
"Yes, yes, that's right."
"Then what are we waiting for? I'll go pack our things right away."
Pei's Mother struggled, wanting to return to the rooms, but stopped when she saw Shen Nanchu.
"Mom, you go pack. We'll go together."
Pei's Mother was worried about Pei Zhengnian but also uneasy about leaving Shen Nanchu alone at the army base.
Finally, she steeled herself and looked somewhat embarrassed at Political Commissar Liao.
"Commissar, could I trouble you to help Nanchu and me buy tickets for the next available sleeper train?"
"Preferably soft sleeper. Money is not an issue."
Faced with Pei's Mother's request, how could Political Commissar Liao refuse?
"Of course, rest assured, I'll get them."
"Thank you. I'll go pack now."
Only after Pei's Mother hurried off to pack did Political Commissar Liao find a chance to speak with Shen Nanchu alone.
Before Political Commissar Liao could speak, Shen Nanchu took the lead.
"Commissar, I know if Zhengnian's injuries weren't serious, you wouldn't have told me."
"Please keep it from my mother-in-law for now."
"She's getting on in years; I'm afraid she couldn't bear the shock."
What could Political Commissar Liao say? He could only nod.
"Alright."
Looking at Shen Nanchu's prominently rounded belly, Political Commissar Liao awkwardly managed a few words of comfort,
"Sister-in-law, don't be too upset either. Zhengnian will..."
Before he could finish the phrase "good fortune will protect him," Shen Nanchu cut him off.
"Alright."
As long as Pei Zhengnian wasn't dead before she saw him, Shen Nanchu believed she could save him using the System's Exchange Store.
It would just likely cost a considerable amount of Disgust Points.
Shen Nanchu hadn't even started spending them yet, but she already felt a pang of heartache.
...
