Chapter 649: Laurel Crown (Part 2)
However, the situation had now completely changed.
It was no longer just Rong Yang unilaterally protecting Rong Taotao. Now, the two brothers were protecting each other.
For Rong Yang, who was in the Twelfth Squad, this endless blizzard of the Extreme Night had indeed raised the danger level of his missions to new heights.
Rong Taotao was different. At least he had a group of brothers on the wall, each one a skilled fighter. Moreover, the Soul Beast Army had headed toward the territory of the Russian Federation, so he had become the relatively safer one…
“Brother, did you bring me snacks again~” Rong Taotao communicated in his mind.
Rong Yang’s gentle voice emerged in Rong Taotao’s mind, “No. On a mission. Do not disturb.”
Rong Taotao: “…”
‘Damn, my brother Yangyang talks like he’s using some ancient version of QQ, huh?’
‘So what’s the surprise?’
As his mind raced with wild guesses, Rong Taotao returned to the stone cabin, only to see an incredible figure in the dormitory room.
Shoulder-length hair, a beige trench coat, dark jeans, and jet-black knee-high boots.
Rong Taotao was very familiar with that chic, urbanite back, especially the few curls carefully permed at the ends of her long hair.
“Sister-in-law, you’re here?”
Rong Taotao said, a slight smile appearing on his face.
‘Family visits are the best!’
‘Huh? Where are the snacks she brought? Did she hide them?’
Gao Lingwei also walked in and greeted her, finding Yang Chunxi sitting at the only desk in the room. On the desk were two certificates and two small red square boxes.
“You two earned more military merits?” Yang Chunxi turned to the side, her beautiful eyes filled with gentleness and admiration. As she looked at the young man and woman at the door, she felt they looked more and more like a perfect match.
The Cyan Mountain Army uniforms were, of course, identical.
But in Yang Chunxi’s eyes, the jet-black half-face masks and snow-patterned camouflage looked like a matching couple’s outfit.
“Military merit?” Rong Taotao pulled down his half-face mask and stepped forward curiously. He opened one of the small red boxes and saw a familiar medal.
“Acquired Snow Burning Army · First Class · Star Disc Snowflake Medal. Potential Value +10.”
Rong Taotao: !!!
At the desk, Yang Chunxi opened the certificate and read aloud, “Comrade Rong Taotao, for your heroic tenacity in battle, for proactively covering for your comrades, and for your outstanding performance and major contributions in completing your combat mission, you are awarded the First Class Star Disc Snowflake Merit…”
Rong Taotao’s face lit up with joy. ‘Ah~ that’s what I’m talking about!’
Cheng Border stood at the dormitory entrance, looking at Rong Taotao’s happy expression. He said, “During these special times, all ceremonies are simplified. This is the merit from the mission a few months ago when we, along with the Twelfth Squad, escorted over a thousand Bailing Tree Maidens back to Wan’an Pass and repelled the Soul Beast Army.”
A First Class Star Disc Snowflake Merit.
It made sense. That time, everyone had truly faced a near-death experience. Rong Taotao had indeed charged into the enemy ranks, ready to die, to “make it bloom.”
People always said that a living recipient of a First Class Star Disc Snowflake Merit was a rare sight, and that was indeed the truth.
In that battle, if unexpected reinforcements hadn’t arrived, it was likely that the Cyan Mountain Army and the Twelfth Squad, including Rong Taotao, would have all died in that snowy land, their bodies left exposed thirty kilometers outside of Wan’an Pass.
Cheng Border looked at Rong Taotao, his eyes full of gratitude. In his heart, he knew exactly who had saved everyone.
Cheng Border continued, “I’ve already reported the mission where our Cyan Mountain Army and the Pine Soul faculty team went to search and rescue Xiao Ziru. We’ll have to wait some time for the specific details on that.”
“Mhm, mhm.” Rong Taotao nodded repeatedly. “Thank you, Captain Cheng.”
“No, we should be thanking you.” Cheng Border was filled with emotion. “I’ll let you talk. I won’t disturb you.”
With that, Cheng Border closed the dormitory door.
At the desk, Rong Taotao opened the other certificate and saw Gao Lingwei’s name. However, Gao Lingwei’s medal was not a First Class Star Disc Snowflake Medal, but a Second Class Pine Needle Snowflake Medal.
Rong Taotao frowned slightly. ‘For a life-or-death mission like that, doesn’t Da Wei deserve a Star Disc Snowflake Medal?’
‘Was it because my own actions were too outstanding?’
‘Da Wei wasn’t afraid of death either. Besides, the Snowball Cat is hers, so that kind of “technical support” should definitely be credited to her…’
While Rong Taotao was thinking this to himself, Gao Lingwei had no such thoughts. She picked up the Pine Needle Snowflake Medal, a look of delight in her eyes.
She had a role model.
That was her father, the old Commander-in-Chief of the Cyan Mountain Army, Gao Qingchen.
Growing up, she had seen her father’s snow-patterned camouflage uniform, covered in merit medals, many times.
Without a doubt, she was now one step closer to catching up to her father.
Her long fingers brushed over the exquisite little pine needle. Seeing how Gao Lingwei couldn’t put it down, Rong Taotao held back the words he was about to say.
Rong Taotao, holding the small square box, turned to Yang Chunxi and said, “When I was changing shifts, Captain Cheng told me there’d be a surprise when I got back, so…”
Rong Taotao looked at his Inner Soul Map, where another Snowflake Medal had appeared in the top-right corner. He smiled and gestured with the small box in his hand, saying, “Is the surprise this, or is it you?”
Yang Chunxi’s eyes lit up, and a smile blossomed on her face. She couldn’t help but reach out and pat Rong Taotao’s cheek. “Such a sweet talker.”
Rong Taotao: “…”
Yang Chunxi tilted her head to look at Gao Lingwei and said, “These past few months, he must have fooled you quite a bit with his sweet talk, right?”
Gao Lingwei turned around and also shot Rong Taotao a smiling glare.
Rong Taotao scratched his head, chuckled, and changed the subject. “My dearest sister-in-law, what brings you all the way out here? It’s so dark, wasn’t it dangerous to travel?”
Yang Chunxi: “I came with Coach Li to take you back.”
Rong Taotao: “Huh?”
Yang Chunxi nodded lightly. “Coach Li is at the soldiers’ medical center right now, looking for Xia Fangran and Xiao Ziru. Principal Mei has already coordinated with the Snow Burning Army.”
“But…” Rong Taotao looked troubled. Xiao Ziru’s condition had indeed improved a lot. Although he still spoke very little, he could at least communicate normally, and the instances of him being “withdrawn” were becoming rarer.
According to Dr. Cheng Qing, at this stage, Xiao Ziru should return to a familiar living environment and live with familiar friends and family, as it would be more conducive to his full recovery.
Yang Chunxi continued, “Songbai Town has already brought Xiao Ziru’s wife to the school to wait for his return. As for you two…”
Rong Taotao and Gao Lingwei glanced at each other but didn’t respond.
Yang Chunxi: “It’s already June. The World Cup starts next month. You two should start preparing and adjust your routines.”
Rong Taotao held his tongue for a moment, then said softly, “It’s still dark out, and our comrades from the Cyan Mountain Army are still standing guard here. For the two of us to just leave…”
“Principal Mei specifically asked me to come because he was afraid we wouldn’t be able to convince you.” Yang Chunxi sighed and said gently, “It is precisely because it’s still dark here and the soldiers are still enduring this hardship that you two must go and compete. Not just as students, but as soldiers who guarded the Three Walls-Wan’an Pass, you will participate in this World Cup. Taotao, this world is not just this one piece of land.”
Rong Taotao pressed his lips together, still not speaking.
Yang Chunxi’s expression turned serious as she said in a solemn voice, “Beyond the Snow Realm, there is still Huaxia. The sun rises there as usual, the streets are bustling with people, and the wilderness is filled with the songs of birds and the fragrance of flowers. The Huaxia People are also watching us in the Snow Realm, following our news every day, hoping for our daily safety, and hoping that the land of the Snow Realm will one day overcome this blizzard of the Extreme Night.”
Yang Chunxi looked at the young couple before her and continued, “Under these circumstances, for two people with such special identities to walk out of the Snow Realm, representing Pine Soul Soul Martial and the Snow Burning Army, and to stand on the World Cup stage—that is a powerful signal.”
Rong Taotao: “What?”
Yang Chunxi: “The Snow Realm is safe, and the border is secure.”
Rong Taotao’s mouth fell slightly open. He never would have expected Yang Chunxi to say something like that.
Yang Chunxi said softly, “Not everyone has your special dual identity, and not everyone is qualified to participate in the World Cup. You must cherish this and make good use of it. You two, as both soldiers and students, can display a certain spirit. You can tell everyone in this world, that we are confident we can overcome this long blizzard of the Extreme Night, just as we will stand in the center of the world stage and claim the crown that symbolizes the highest honor.”
“Trust me, Taotao.” As she spoke, Yang Chunxi stood up and placed a hand on Rong Taotao’s head, ruffling his hair gently. “Although you’ll be leaving the Snow Realm, the message you can send to Huaxia and the world, and the encouragement you can bring to the soldiers of the Snow Realm, will be far more impactful than you staying here.”
Behind him, Gao Lingwei suddenly spoke, “It seems we have another reason we can’t afford to lose.”