Super Soldier in the City

Chapter 1877 - 1940: A Lifetime of Regret

Su Tianhai thought it through well and believed it was the most correct decision. At worst, he would send the female hero to a safe place, then return to kill the enemy. As long as the female hero was safe, he would give his life for the country, killing as many enemies as possible, even aiming to infiltrate the enemy’s main camp to assassinate high-ranking officers.Walking to the center of the village, Su Tianhai suddenly felt something was amiss. Usually, at this time, even in the late night, the village should not be so quiet. Although most people would be asleep, based on his experience, there should at least be some sound. Yet today, there was no sound at all. He quickly moved to a house where the wounded were accommodated and saw several of them lying there motionless. Su Tianhai immediately checked them and found they were all unconscious.

Something bad has happened, Su Tianhai thought with a jolt and hurriedly dashed outside. He was not too worried about these men but was concerned about the female hero. He leaped thirty meters away to a small house where the female hero resided. Su Tianhai was very worried that the enemy’s experts would take advantage of the emptiness here to infiltrate and attack the wounded, especially targeting the female hero.

Arriving at the female hero’s place, he disregarded manners and pushed the door open to enter. The house was divided into an outer and inner room. The female hero had been recuperating on the bed in the inner room. Su Tianhai went straight to the inner room, only to find it empty. The tender figure that should have been resting on the bed was nowhere to be seen, making Su Tianhai’s heart sink—could it really be as he feared?

Without time to think, he dashed out hurriedly, heading to the innermost part of the village, where the officers stayed. They did not stay in the largest house but hid in a man-made cave at the innermost part of the small village, previously used by villagers for refuge. Unfortunately, before they could hide inside, the enemy had rushed in and started the slaughter.

As Su Tianhai raced over, even before he got near, he saw flames flickering in the cave and heard voices. He immediately stopped, initially to avoid alerting possible enemies. But as he quietly approached, he heard the conversation inside the cave.

This conversation was something Su Tianhai could never forget. He heard several familiar voices. One officer named Gao Shang was questioning, "Li Qiushui, why are you doing this?"

Li Qiushui was the female hero’s name, but neither Su Tianhai nor Murong Yuanqing would call her by name. Murong Yuanqing preferred to call her sister, and since Su Tianhai was around the same age as Li Qiushui, he often addressed her as you. At most, he would respectfully call her Mr. Li, though he most wanted to call her by her nickname, Little Shui’er.

Upon suddenly hearing the highest-ranking officer among them questioning Li Qiushui, Su Tianhai was momentarily stunned. Having just returned, he couldn’t figure out the situation. After being frozen for a full ten seconds, he still approached, only to be more cautious, now only a short distance from the cave.

At this point, Li Qiushui spoke. Her voice was still so chillingly cold, as if untouched by worldly desires, creating a sense of distance when heard. Yet upon hearing this voice, Su Tianhai couldn’t help but feel agitated, eager to know what had truly happened.

Li Qiushui said, "Ladies and gentlemen, don’t blame me. You have your mission, and I have mine."

Upon hearing this, Su Tianhai suddenly got a bad feeling. Li Qiushui’s voice remained unchanged, but seemed even colder. And Su Tianhai was no fool. The people inside the cave were clearly divided into two groups, with that officer questioning Li Qiushui.

The female hero, who was supposed to protect these officers, why was she suddenly saying such things? Su Tianhai’s eyelids twitched. He even hesitated to step to the entrance to see the situation inside, although he was only two meters away, three or four steps would bring him close enough to clearly see what was happening inside.

Eventually, Su Tianhai walked to the entrance, and simultaneously, he heard the officer asking again, "Li Qiushui, I don’t know which organization you represent, but please don’t do this. We are not afraid to die, but... not like this."

Su Tianhai saw the situation inside clearly. Li Qiushui had her back to him, blocking the entrance. Her figure was still so alluring. Despite wearing tattered clothes, there was still something transcendental about her. Her hair was done up in a woman bun, a change from the long braid she usually wore before she married and began using this style.

Seeing the hair, Su Tianhai felt another wave of heartache. That feeling of love yet unattainable, desire yet unfulfilled, had tormented him for years, and despite everything, he still cherished her, even though Li Qiushui was now a married woman.

Li Qiushui faced the officers, holding a sword, her long-carried blade, presented to her by her master when she graduated, in the hope that she would punish evil, promote good, and bring peace to the people. After the nation fell into chaos, Li Qiushui wielded this sword to kill enemies, robbers, and those who deserved to die.

And now, her hand grasped the sword, the tip lowered, yet there was blood on it. This sword, meant never to be stained with blood, was stained. Blood dripped from the tip—one drop, two drops...

Although Su Tianhai didn’t fully understand what had happened, seeing several bodies lying at Li Qiushui’s feet, he realized something. These people were also officers. One of them had given Su Tianhai a letter a few days ago, a letter written in blood, not on paper but a piece of cloth from his inner garment. The situation was dire then; his wound wasn’t heavy, but he feared dragging everyone down and thus wrote the letter, asking Su Tianhai to get him a gun if things truly became desperate, so he could kill as many enemies as possible and asked others not to worry about him. The letter contained few words, urging his children to study hard to serve the country and telling his wife not to wait for him, to remarry, and mentioned being unable to care for his parents.

At that time, Su Tianhai comforted him, saying there was no need to worry; they would certainly make it out, and now, here the man lay, clutching his chest, eyes wide open in death, seemingly filled with confusion. Why was the person who killed him not the enemy but... Li Qiushui! Wasn’t she one of their own, their protector! Why would she suddenly strike?

The man had died just a couple of minutes earlier, no more, his body still warm, his eyes fixed on Li Qiushui.

Beside him lay three or four more bodies, all officers, possibly not of high rank, but having survived the flight up to now, they too lay here. They might have died later, but none expected it here, without taking down an enemy, without turning the tables, instead falling under... Li Qiushui’s sword, this swordswoman who had protected them and slain many enemies along the way.

They died with their eyes open, and the officers still alive could not understand why Li Qiushui would suddenly do this. What was her purpose?

Su Tianhai, as if struck by lightning, was stunned by the situation inside the cave. The flickering bonfire cast Li Qiushui’s shadow at the cave entrance. The flames leapt, and her shadow danced. If it were any other time, Su Tianhai would have been captivated, but now he felt fear, as if that shadow were a demon, weaving maliciously, intimidating the living.

Su Tianhai couldn’t understand why Li Qiushui was doing this. She had no reason to kill those she had painstakingly protected. What benefit could this bring her?

Watching Li Qiushui’s back, Su Tianhai regretted returning. She was already able to stand and kill, proving that her severely injured appearance from days before was feigned. Su Tianhai was no fool; he realized many things upon seeing this scene.

All the experts had been sent to kill the enemy, leaving the rear unguarded. Li Qiushui suddenly turning on them, with the officers’ capabilities, they stood no chance, even if they had guns, which were now scattered around Li Qiushui’s feet.

Su Tianhai envisioned Li Qiushui stopping the few and forcing others to throw away their guns. Perhaps she promised not to kill them if they did. But when the guns were thrown over, Li Qiushui nonetheless started killing. She broke her word, lacking the demeanor of a true expert. But having decided to kill, she wasn’t noble anymore—betraying faith, betraying all. Maybe she had some compelling reason, but why couldn’t it be articulated? Why do this?

Su Tianhai couldn’t comprehend it. He only felt dumbfounded, with a splitting headache, his heart convulsing, yet he couldn’t faint. Even his eyes wouldn’t close, staring fixedly at Li Qiushui.

Li Qiushui seemed tired of arguing with these people, so she slowly raised the sword in her hand, its blood-reddened tip pointing at that officer, saying, "You’re next."

The voice was as icy as ever, lacking even a shred of emotion.

The officer suddenly deflated, seeing Li Qiushui’s demeanor, knowing resistance was futile. Despite facing such a death, his heart brimming with reluctance, with the nation still struggling, the war at a crucial juncture, they had significant roles to play. Given their unit, they could serve immensely, yet tonight they would fall here. Seeing Li Qiushui refusing to explain, he knew there was no point in asking further.

He had, moments before, tossed the guns over, but it saved no one. The officer gave up, saying, "Since you are determined to kill me, I resign to fate, though I die with regret. The nation remains beset with troubles, the people engulfed in misery and suffering—I am unwilling, unwilling!"

Su Tianhai could not see Li Qiushui’s expression, but he was certain she was extremely cold at this moment. No emotion crossed her face, even hearing the officer resigned, merely advancing slowly toward him with her sword drawn.