Chapter 1789 Leader, We're Back 4

Each report of sacrifice came from the front lines of missions across the country, thousands of miles away, carrying the unique coldness and heaviness of the apocalypse, striking Xu Ying's heart hard.

He insisted on handling every follow-up personally, but the dangers of the post-apocalyptic mission and the fact that the team members were scattered made too many farewells full of regret.

After some team members sacrificed their lives, their comrades did their best to bring their bodies back. He looked at the children's bodies covered in wounds, at the deep and shallow, shocking scars, at their hands that were tightly gripping weapons or rescue tools until their deaths, their knuckles white and their posture resolute. His heart felt like it was being torn apart, and he was in so much pain that he could hardly breathe.

But more often than not, even such a farewell becomes a luxury, as some team members are buried by sudden collapses during rescue operations in the ruins, and their whereabouts are hard to find;

Some were surrounded while fighting against foreign forces and eventually disappeared in the flames of war;

Some were unfortunately swallowed up while clearing out the zombie horde, leaving no trace of their belongings. Their final appearance can only be pieced together from the vague descriptions of their returning comrades and the few personal items they left behind.

Even if she couldn't see the body, Xu Ying would solemnly prepare a farewell for each child. She would stand quietly for a long time in front of their photos, worn-out combat uniforms, and commonly used equipment, gently tracing the traces that carried their warmth with her fingertips. Her eyes would well up with grief, but she would always hold back her tears and refuse to let her emotions get out of control.

He personally registered the files of each fallen team member, wrote down their deeds stroke by stroke, engraved their names on the base's memorial wall, and silently recited them in his heart again and again:

"Children, you have worked hard. I will lead you on the rest of the journey. We will never let down your passion and perseverance, nor will we fail the trust placed in us by our country. We will definitely protect the people we need to protect and the homes we need to safeguard."

Every farewell is a heart-wrenching ordeal, but he knows it is out of respect for the departed child and a responsibility to the living. Even though his heart is already riddled with holes, he must carry this concern and belief and move forward firmly.

Over the years, he has witnessed too many partings and deaths, and has long been accustomed to pretending to be strong. But when he is alone at night, the smiling faces of those deceased teammates will always appear clearly, and tears will still fall uncontrollably. The wounds in his heart are dense and have never truly healed. Every time someone is gone, it is like a piece of flesh is ripped out of his heart. Over time, it has become riddled with holes.

Now, looking at these seven vibrant figures before her, even though they were covered in frost, their combat uniforms stained with dried dust and faint bloodstains, some with heavy bandages wrapped around their arms, and even with faint traces of blood seeping out, their faces etched with the weariness of long journeys and life-or-death trials, they all stood unharmed before her, their eyes still shining with an indomitable light, revealing their commitment to their mission and their sincere devotion to their country. This sense of relief, like something lost and found again, almost made Xu Ying feel suffocated.

After countless painful losses, and amidst the perils of dual missions in the apocalypse, being able to witness the safe return of one's beloved children is a stroke of luck that is both incredibly luxurious and incredibly precious in the cruel post-apocalyptic world.

These seven children are the backbone of his family's defense, his deepest concern, and the source of his confidence to continue moving forward in this dark and chaotic world.

This bond, which transcends war and is stronger than kinship, is more resilient than any armor and more radiant than any light. It is the most precious warmth in the apocalypse and the endless power to protect our homeland.