Chapter 1790 Just come back

After a moment of silence, once her emotions had calmed down, Xu Ying reached out and gently patted Lu Jingcheng's shoulder. Her touch was steady yet contained a careful reassurance, her eyes filled with unwavering tenderness and genuine approval.

"Chengzi, you've worked so hard. You've carried the heavy responsibility of the whole team all the way, leading everyone through one life-or-death situation after another, steadily protecting the reagents and your comrades without the slightest mistake. You've done a great job and haven't let me down."

After speaking, he turned to Chai Yutong, who was still crying, and gently wiped away the hot tears on her cheeks with his fingertips. His fingertips touched the girl's cool skin, and his tone was incredibly gentle, containing both a father's doting and heartache, as well as the unique firmness of a soldier:

“Silly girl, why are you crying? It’s good that you’re back. You’re safe now that you’re back. The apocalypse is dangerous, and you’re bound to suffer in the future. But with me here and headquarters as your home, you’ll be our strongest support. I will do everything in my power to protect you. No one can easily hurt you in the slightest. Don’t be afraid.”

As he spoke, his gaze slowly swept over each team member present.

Sun Qi's composure, Lin Hai's introverted nature, Zhou Mei's competence, Shao Guang's cheerfulness, Qin Ziming's naivety, plus Lu Jingcheng's sense of responsibility and Chai Yutong's resilience—every familiar face was clearly reflected in his eyes, and all sorts of past memories surged up instantly.

Thinking back to their innocent yet determined appearance when we first met, recalling my almost harsh demands during training, remembering their nervousness and courage during their first mission, and then comparing them to those familiar figures who are forever left on the battlefield and will never return, I couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat.

The weight that had been hanging over my heart all the way here gradually lifted as my gaze slowly swept over each vibrant person. A smile slowly spread across my lips, but my eyes quietly welled up with tears.

That dampness contained half the burning joy of a long-awaited reunion and half the deep longing for the departed teammates.

The darkness of the apocalypse was too cruel, taking away too many vibrant lives and precious bonds. But these seven unharmed figures are a ray of light piercing through the despair, warm and powerful.

"It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back..."

Xu Ying repeated softly over and over, her voice filled with the profound emotions accumulated from the apocalypse, and even more so with the relief and cherishing of what was lost and regained, "You are all excellent. You did not let me down, and you did not let the Blazing Fire Team down. You withstood the cruel test of the apocalypse, and you upheld the mission on your shoulders and the trust placed in you by your country. You are all the proudest children of the Blazing Fire Team!"

His tone still carried the unique toughness of a soldier, but the love and tenderness hidden in his eyes were like a father looking at his triumphant child, warm and genuine, full of pride and affection.

As he spoke, he slowly reached out and gently touched the heads of each team member, his fingertips brushing against their dusty hair. His movements were so gentle, as if he were afraid of disturbing something, full of long-lost warmth and appreciation.

All the hardships and life-or-death struggles along the way, all the weariness and grievances, are now being soothed and comforted by this gentle touch, leaving only the peace of mind and comfort of "going home".

The apocalypse is cold and cruel, and life and death are unpredictable, but this bond that transcends war and is stronger than kinship is more resilient than any armor and more intense than any light. It has become the confidence and strength that supports them to traverse the darkness and uphold their mission.