Chapter Seventy-Six: Return to Mimilu Once More

The great bear had originally been carrying the corpse of Chen Diwen on his back. Chen Cao’s sudden speed caught him off guard, and a heavy punch landed squarely on his face. With a thunderous crash, the bear collapsed, landing hard on the ground, sending water droplets flying all around, mixing with the rain and blurring the faces of those present.

But in truth, no one there had reacted in time. They could not understand why Chen Cao would strike the bear.

The bear sat on the ground, Chen Diwen’s body thrown to the earth. He stared at the corpse—bare-chested, all traces of blood washed clean by the rain, now covered in sand and water. The bear panted heavily, his eyes wide in the downpour.

“The dead deserve respect!”

Chen Cao’s punch had hurt, but the pain was insignificant. What mattered was the disrespect shown to Chen Diwen, their leader. The bear was furious.

With a swift movement, the bear stood up. His massive frame in the curtain of rain was like a mountain. He charged forward.

The others wanted to intervene, but it was already too late. All they could do was pray that Chen Cao might escape the bear’s wrath.

As the bear stormed toward him, roaring with anger and power, Chen Cao merely squinted his eyes, calmly raised a fist, and struck lightly. With a loud thud, the bear was felled once more.

Clutching his face, the bear stared at Chen Cao’s impassive expression, roaring and struggling to stand, but as he tried, he collapsed again, dizzy and dazed.

“Are you alright, Bear?” Xiao Li, about to board the aircraft, rushed over to help him up.

The bear shook his head, snorting like an ox. Only with Xiao Li’s support could he barely stand.

Only Bao Li, a devotee of martial arts, understood: Chen Cao’s seemingly casual blow had hit the bear’s pressure point, rendering him temporarily unable to attack.

In the rain, Chen Cao did not linger. He walked swiftly to Chen Diwen’s corpse, glanced at the still furious, glaring bear, and lowered his voice, steady and calm. Though quiet, each word was clear: “Wake up. Chen Diwen is dead. His body cannot be taken home. We must accept reality.” With that, he took out a small bottle.

Bao Li and Xiao Li recognized it instantly—a special corpse-dissolving liquid.

They understood Chen Cao’s intent. If they wanted to leave Oderlu, they could not take Chen Diwen’s body. Returning directly to Dacheng would attract international attention; they would need to take a circuitous route back to their school.

Chen Cao raised a harsh reality.

Without hesitation, Chen Cao poured the liquid over the scarred corpse of Chen Diwen and produced a dagger from his belt.

Even under the cold rain, a white smoke rose from the body.

With a swift motion, Chen Cao severed Chen Diwen’s head.

“No!” The bear shook his head, broke free from Xiao Li’s support, and tried to rush forward, but without strength, he fell to the ground.

At that moment, Ian, holding his palm computer, reminded them, “You must leave quickly. The allied army has wiped out the remaining holy warriors and will soon arrive here!”

Chen Cao removed his shirt, carefully wrapped Chen Diwen’s head, glanced at Ian, and said, “The rest is up to you.” Without looking back at the bear, he boarded the helicopter.

Now, nothing needed explanation. The most important thing was that a comrade’s soul was going home.

The cabin door closed with a clang, and the helicopter, under Griffith’s control, quickly rose into the sky.

Ian opened a dialog window on his palm computer, pressed the YEI key, and as the progress bar filled, he looked at the small black dot in the sky, raised Alfred’s head in his hand, and let the rain wash over his face.

“Chen, all data from this mission has been deleted, but can I erase the memories of you and your comrades? I hope that from now on we are only friends, and never meet again on the battlefield.”

Ian murmured into the wind and rain. In the distance, the sound of cars and desert armored vehicles could already be heard.

Whether Alfred’s death was real or not, this war would soon end with his disappearance from the world.

...

The bear silently cradled the bundle containing Chen Diwen’s head in a corner of the cabin. He said nothing. Tears had already fallen onto the wrapped head, long since dried.

Chen Cao looked out at the blue sky. Since the mission began, he hadn’t had such a quiet moment for thought in over a month.

The storm had passed. The desert’s weather was indifferent to joy or sorrow, ever-changing as it pleased, raining when it would, shining when it wished, heedless of anyone’s feelings.

So it was now: moments ago, a raging storm, and now, sunlight flooded the land. The helicopter flew low, and the desert below gleamed gold, with no trace of the storm.

Griffith held the controls, a cigarette between his lips, smoking slowly.

Istrov frowned. “Hey, couldn’t you smoke a little less?” In just a few minutes, Griffith had gone through five cigarettes.

Griffith exhaled, releasing a cloud of smoke. “I’ve been infected by them, those kids are deeply loyal to each other.”

Istrov waved the smoke away, smiling. “Is that so? I think these kids will be dragged down by their feelings someday—especially Chen Cao. No doubt, he’s a military genius, ruthless to his enemies in ways that defy imagination, but with his comrades, he’s almost sentimental. That’s his strength and his weakness.”

Griffith frowned. “I don’t agree. Think about our twenty years in the dungeon. Without our bond, we would have gone mad. Emotion is the only way to sustain life—that’s what you taught us at the training school, isn’t it?”

Istrov’s smile faded. “Yes, for us, the mission is done. But the head in the allied commander’s hands—is it really Alfred?”

Griffith shrugged, lighting another cigarette. “True or not, our mission is finished. Twenty years. We’re due a handsome pension from the Kokola government. Time to enjoy it.”

Istrov smiled faintly and said no more. In his heart, he wondered: If Alfred is truly dead, then what will that formidable figure’s next target be? Which nation will be struck next?

When the helicopter landed, Guo Qianshuang merely glanced at the object in the bear’s hands, then led Chen Cao and the others to the car. She thanked Istrov, pressed the accelerator, and headed straight for Mimi Lu. They had already delayed too long; their flight back to school was about to depart, and they had to hurry. The vulture had already sent multiple urgent signals.

As the jeep sped along, Chen Cao sat in the passenger seat, the bear still silent, cradling Chen Diwen’s head. Xiao Li wanted to comfort him, but could not find the words.

Bao Li sat by the window, gazing at the oasis scenery. In ten minutes, they would reach Mimi Lu, and the mission would be complete.

Inside the car, only the hum of the engine and the heat from the open window—no trace of human warmth.

After a long silence, as Mimi Lu, the desert town, came into view, Guo Qianshuang spoke: “Chen Diwen’s assignment was given by me alone. We already knew Yu Hongxiu was a traitor. I had him follow her to Alfred’s lair, playing along.”

As she spoke, the car arrived at Mimi Lu, stopping at the vulture’s stone fortress.

Chen Cao, his eyes drooping, raised his head at her words. “You knew it was a death mission?” His voice, cold as ever, cut through the heat of Mimi Lu.

“I knew. But it was the mission.” Guo Qianshuang jumped out, slammed the door, and through the window, addressed Chen Cao and everyone in the car: “We are soldiers. Our lives belong to the nation. Do you understand?” She turned without hesitation and knocked on the iron gate of the fortress.

“Damn it!” The bear exploded, finally losing control, but Bao Li and Xiao Li restrained him.

“Bear, we are soldiers. Instructor Guo is right. Obeying orders is our duty. Isn’t this your first day in the army?” Chen Cao also jumped out, resting his hand on the window, looking at the bear and speaking slowly and clearly.

In truth, Chen Cao left one thing unsaid: though duty is paramount, one must still protect their own life, for life is the foundation of accomplishing any mission.

At that moment, the bear, who had been raging and howling, suddenly calmed, once again cradling Chen Diwen’s head, gazing silently as tears fell onto the bundle.

“Let’s get out,” Chen Cao straightened up. Dusk had fallen. He looked at the bustling town, where dark-skinned natives carried huge baskets on their heads, chattering in various dialects, filling the marketplace with lively noise.

Everyone slammed the car doors and jumped out.

Chen Cao stared blankly at the distant market. Bao Li asked, “What’s wrong, Chen Cao?”

He smiled lightly. “Nothing. Let’s go.”

The Flame King 76—Flame King Full Text Free Read—Chapter Seventy-Six: Return to Mimi Lu Complete.