Chapter 1155: Weighing Loss and Triumph After the Battle

Eleven years into the disaster, Xia Qing had grown strong enough to take it all. The losses suffered in this mission weren’t about making her physically sick—any burden she carried was squarely on her mind.

Yang Jin, experienced as he was, would never toss out something shallow and useless like, “It’s not your fault.” He knew those empty words wouldn’t comfort Xia Qing; if anything, they’d only chip away at her sense of agency.

He started by asking, “I’ve already watched Tang Zhou’s combat recording. Can I see yours too?”

Only by watching footage shot from different angles can you really analyze how a mission played out.

This mission involved three groups: the military’s Zhu Zhenming and Shiyue, Tang Zhou’s squad from Azure Dragon Squad, and Xia Qing herself. Zhu Zhenming and Tang Zhou both definitely made recordings. As the Azure Dragon Squad leader, Yang Jin had no trouble getting Tang Zhou’s footage—but as for the military’s, he’d have to submit a request through the Base.

Xia Qing had already intended to show her video, so she’d exported it onto a USB drive and could play it right on the meeting room’s monitor.

The battle had been fierce but brief. From spotting the first intruder to bringing it all to an end, the whole thing took just twenty-one minutes.

Yang Jin played the video from Tang Zhou’s perspective on another screen for Xia Qing to watch.

Once it was over, Yang Jin introduced the enemy incursion team. “This squad was the Phantom Squad, ranked number one within the Black Panther Squad, which itself is Hui Five’s top team. Phantom Squad has eleven core members—one top-tier sniper, three senior snipers, one advanced scent evolutionary, one advanced auditory evolutionary…”

“Phantom Squad usually lurks behind the main force, carrying out assassinations and ambushes. Azure Dragon Squad has bumped into them six times during operations. In those encounters, sixteen of our people were killed, thirteen wounded. Twice I led, once Luo led. With their main force running interference, we never even got a chance to take them on directly, much less wipe them out.”

Then, Yang Jin acknowledged Xia Qing’s team’s accomplishment. “Last night, your squad of thirteen took down all eleven members of Phantom Squad and two Scavengers, suffering only two deaths and five wounded. You avenged nearly a hundred people they’d killed from our Base and spared us countless future casualties. The way you handled it blew away everyone’s expectations—including the Base Director’s.”

Once he’d confirmed their feat, Yang Jin helped Xia Qing see the meaning behind their losses. “You’re a Territory Lord. Your main job is farming and running the Ninth Center. The Base Director had you and Luo handle the bird-hunting sniper mission, which is outside your normal scope.”

“Mid-mission, the Base Director suddenly had you switch to something even riskier. You raised reasonable concerns, just as you should have—no evolved fighter would join an unfamiliar squad to go somewhere unknown. After he agreed, he called me, and I authorized him to send Tang Zhou’s squad. Tang Zhou’s team was the second-strongest of all those assigned to Hill Sixty. Add in Special Ops Captain Zhu Zhenming, senior sniper Shiyue, and you, and that made the strongest squad on the mountain. There was nothing wrong with the Base Director’s call.”

“From the surveillance and Tang Zhou’s video, it’s clear your squad made no command or tactical mistakes. Evolved fighters have resilient bodies—the five wounded aren’t missing any parts, and even Tang Zhou, who was hurt worst, will heal up completely in two and a half months. Only Sun Si and Zhang Gang were truly lost last night.”

“Sun Si was a mid-level sniper, assigned by Zhu Zhenming to the safer second sniper perch. He was killed by an enemy senior sniper while swapping positions. Zhang Gang died in the final assault, blocking an enemy evolved fighter to protect Tang Zhou. Losses like these are inevitable in a fight. It wasn’t a tactical flaw, and definitely not your mistake.”

“Anyone who joins the military or a combat squad and picks up a paycheck knows exactly what those credits mean. They also accept from day one that they might give their lives in the field.”

Yang Jin then encouraged Xia Qing to share her grief and guilt so he could shoulder some of it with her. “You trained with Sun Si, didn’t you?”

As fellow snipers, Xia Qing had crossed paths with nearly everyone from Azure Dragon’s sniper team at the range. The sadness weighed on her, but hiding her emotions around her own kind was second nature. She just gave a silent nod.

“Yeah.”

Since Xia Qing stayed quiet, Yang Jin didn’t push. He just slid a bowl of tea soup over, its warmth just right.

Xia Qing lifted the bowl and took a sip. The warmth of the Green Lantern food traced down her throat into her stomach, reminding her what being alive felt like.

“Thank you, Captain Yang.” Xia Qing accepted his kindness, then turned back to business. “How many credits do you think I owe you for this?”

“Neither Sun Si nor Zhang Gang had family, so you don’t owe any family allowances.” Yang Jin got up and headed for the kitchen, where he brought out the fresh meat pies and boiled eggs, setting them on the table.

“Medical costs for the four injured will be split—half by the Base, half by Azure Dragon Squad. By the rules, there’s nothing you need to cover. If you find some time, visiting them with a little food would be enough. If Sister Qing is open to it, when you and Number Four search for the Scavengers’ stash on Mount Twenty-Nine, let me come too. I’ll ask for a twenty percent cut.”

Xia Qing picked up a meat pie packed with more meat than celery and took a huge bite. “The Base Director isn’t sending anyone?”

“If they could find it, sure. But both Scavengers are dead, and Phantom Squad’s survivors definitely have no clue where it’s stashed.” Yang Jin grabbed a pie of his own. “By the way, how’s your pay getting sorted for that mission on Mount Twenty-Six last night?”

“…”

Xia Qing paused mid-bite, then calmly replied, “I didn’t bring it up.”

What?!

Yang Jin’s face tightened with pain as he tried to comfort her. “If you didn’t raise it, then the military will use their standard system for recruiting advanced evolvers. You scored the highest merit on this mission, so you’ll get at least thirty percent of the seized supplies. Just the Phantom Squad’s weapons, new material protective suits, and gear are worth over five million credits—that’s a cool one-and-a-half million. Those Scavengers might have had high-grade Yi Stone granules, which are worth more too. And don’t forget the credits from the bird-hunting mission last night. Trust me, you’re not coming out short on this one.”

“Mm.” Xia Qing gave a simple answer, finishing off six pies, two eggs, and a bowl of tea soup, before asking, “What’s the situation with Phantom?”

“That wolf bit straight into his cervical spine—broke the bone and pinched the spinal cord. He’ll probably end up paralyzed. Once they squeeze all the intel out of him, and send him back to Hui Five Base to rot in prison, he’ll likely be gone for good.” Full and content, Yang Jin leaned back in his chair, stretched, and yawned. He returned to the earlier deal. “Sister Qing, if nobody gets those supplies out of Mount Twenty-Six, they’ll end up lost in some cave or buried underground for good.”

Xia Qing understood. “The Base Director will definitely ramp up surveillance and searches in that area. I’m not planning on heading over there any time soon.”

Yang Jin was quick to chime in. “When you do want to go, call me?”

Xia Qing explained, “If it’s with the Northern Wolf Pack, no problem, but I can’t speak for the southern side. If the Base Director’s people still can’t find it, you’ll distract the search teams there, and I’ll go in with Number Four. I’ll cut you in, twenty percent.”

“Deal.” For a haul big enough to get Phantom Squad to come out en masse, it had to be worthwhile. Two-tenths was plenty for Yang Jin.