Chapter 390: Last Words

“Last words?”

Lu Xin’s strange question immediately cast a deep silence over the surroundings.

The people on both sides were clearly startled by the question.

Some faces showed bewilderment.

Others grew instantly alert, casting fearful glances into the deep surrounding night.

Some on the left understood Lu Xin’s implication. They glanced sympathetically towards the six or so figures in the observation post to the right. They realized Lu Xin was referring to those people and grasped his purpose.

But for the moment no one connected the question to themselves.

Asking about last words felt rather ominous so the silence stretched on for a while. No one rushed to speak.

Lu Xin sighed softly and looked up at one particular person.

That person was the Captain of this advance team. A chunk of his head had been blown off by a bullet; damaged brain matter was visible through the wound.

Yet judging by his current posture and demeanor he must have been an elite soldier in life.

His one good right eye caught Lu Xin’s gaze. Perhaps sensing the need to cooperate he stepped forward first and said with a smile, “If I die on this mission then I hope Mr. Lone Soldier will tell my mother back home to take good care of herself. Qinggang’s compensation is always generous; it should be enough for her later years. Just…”

He paused then chuckled, “Make sure my good-for-nothing uncle doesn’t swindle it away from her.”

Lu Xin nodded and said softly, “I’ll remember.”

The Captain seemed momentarily taken aback.

He’d only spoken up to break the silence not expecting Lu Xin to take it so seriously.

“I…”

Seeing the Captain speak up a soldier with a dagger still embedded in his chest suddenly spoke with a grin, “Well accidents happen so I’ll say something too. If I die I hope someone tells my little brother to study hard. If he keeps hanging out with those street thugs break his legs… Studying is what matters most. Tell him… tell him to study liberal arts.”

“This is actually kind of interesting…”

Just then a slightly older middle-aged man added with a laugh, “Alright my turn. My kid just turned three I was planning to celebrate his birthday when I got back… I’d like someone to pass a message to my wife. I’ve decided let’s sign him up for piano lessons…”

“Who knows if learning that stuff is useful these days but what matters most is that the kid likes it.”

…

It was as if a dam had broken. They started talking one after another and the atmosphere gradually grew livelier.

Nearly all twelve members of the advance team on the left shared their “last words.” The people in the observation post on the right reacted too. They seemed to be slowly realizing something. Inadvertently they all began scrutinizing their companions. Whether they confirmed anything at that moment was unclear but you could faintly sense deep panic appearing on many faces.

“I… I’ll say something too…”

A young researcher from the observation post spoke his voice trembling. His chest was already rotting chunks of flesh falling away. He forced a smile onto his face. “I… I was about to marry my girlfriend. The betrothal gift was paid thirty thousand. Her family… was very satisfied.”

“If I don’t make it back I want someone to tell her to find… find someone else…”

As he spoke his face initially held a stiff smile.

But gradually the smile twisted becoming complex merging with an expression of agony. His voice became muffled and unclear.

Suddenly he slowly crouched down his voice cracking with tears. “No… that’s not right. I don’t want her to find someone else… I know I’m supposed to say that now that it’s the right thing the understandable thing… But… but I really can’t bear it.”

While speaking he pounded his chest forcefully. “I love her! I just want her to marry me…”

Lu Xin watched him sob viscous rotting blood oozing from his eye sockets.

Chunks of putrid flesh fell to the ground from the chest he struck.

…

The surrounding atmosphere turned chillingly cold. Only the dim lights from the tent and distant indicator lamps glowed faintly.

This atmosphere of panic began to affect the others. Watching the sobbing man someone suddenly jolted as if shocked frantically patting themselves down from head to foot. Others clutched their chests tightly as if trying to feel for a heartbeat.

Before they confronted this possibility they hadn’t suspected a thing.

But once the suspicion took root the panic became increasingly difficult to suppress.

And surprisingly this panic sparked an intuition that brought them closer to the truth leading to swift realizations.

“Zhang… Brother Zhang look! Check my head see if there’s a hole!”

Someone suddenly understood desperately pointing at the bullet hole on their forehead for the person beside them to see.

“Let me see… Let me see…”

The other person strained to look rubbing their eyes hard. “My vision’s a bit blurry… It’s been blurry… for days.”

“That… That’s because your eye is ruptured…”

…

The panic started with the people in the observation post then gradually spread to the advance team on the other side.

Initially they had just watched the observation post members warily. But as those people began uncovering the truth the advance team was affected too. They subconsciously started using the same methods to observe their own companions checking for problems.

This scrutiny revealed strange and unsettling details causing them to stare at their comrades in horror.

And upon confirming something was wrong with a companion they would shiver abruptly suddenly thinking of themselves. Their faces instantly turned deathly pale.

The realization of one’s own death seemed to be contagious a form of pollution itself.

From Lu Xin’s perspective it resembled a sudden dawning comprehension. Like being troubled by strange occurrences unsure why people were becoming distant why an oppressive weight grew in one’s chest. Before considering the possibility even if clues emerged they were subconsciously ignored. Then one day the truth struck unexpectedly.

A jolt like electricity would flash through their minds and all the previously ignored details would simultaneously surface.

…

“Ugh…”

Someone suddenly began to retch violently spitting out a pool of foul reddish liquid.

Another person seemed to only now feel the intense pain racking their body. They convulsed falling to the ground and sobbing uncontrollably.

The surroundings instantly transformed into a scene from hell.

Lu Xin stood amidst the group observing their reactions.

This was all part of the plan yet he felt a faint unsettling emotion that wasn’t.

Life and death are monumental events and here he was witnessing the raw agony and struggle of those caught between them.

…

“How… How could this happen?”

“I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die…”

“I’m still alive! I’m obviously still alive! How can you say I’m dead?”

Cries of agony and terror rose and fell. Lu Xin saw people at their most fearful. It was as if the individuals vanished replaced by tangible masses of suffering. They crouched down crushed by a weight heavier than any other pain. Some even began frantically clawing at their own chests as if trying to rip out their hearts to prove they were still alive.

“No it’s not our fault…”

“It’s him! It’s him! He’s the one who made us like this…”

“If we kill him then no one will know we’re dead…”

“We can go back take care of our kids…”

“And… marry her…”

…

This frenzied agony fermented quickly twisting into something else. Amidst the extreme fear a potent hatred spontaneously bloomed—a tangible hatred surging towards Lu Xin like a tidal wave.

Of course it was him.

If it weren’t for him how could they possibly know they were dead?

Lu Xin felt the growing number of chilling gazes fixed upon him and sighed under his breath.

He had been quietly watching their suffering listening to their wails feeling their hatred.

But this was the first time Lu Xin didn’t feel hostility in return for such hatred.