The once bustling street was utterly silent at this moment.
Everyone present turned their heads to look at the black and white photograph on the screen, stopping in their tracks, somewhat bewildered.
But in the next instant, they suddenly understood!
On the large screen, the dense enumeration of a life's achievements caused many to tremble, and some even uttered the words unconsciously.
"Enlisted in the millennium, officially stepped onto the battlefield, executed rescue missions, sustained three bullet wounds, all narrowly missing fatal areas, recuperated for three days."
"In the first year of the millennium, executed a top-secret mission, critically injured and near death, but survived after intensive medical intervention."
"Millennium..."
One by one, the accomplishments were laid bare for all to see. The entries were brief, each summarizing an entire event in concise language, preserving only the essence of the battles involved.
Yet, it was precisely this straightforward language that resonated deeply!
"With the approval of the highest authorities, Zhang Yi was transferred from the war zone to serve as the deputy captain of the Qilin Army. In the same year, he undertook the mission to assassinate 'Baldhead Fu.' Thirty-five men went, and only five returned, but the assassination was successful."
"In the latter half of the same year, the Qilin Army executed an infiltration mission. Deputy Captain Zhang Yi led two thousand elite soldiers to defend a perilous pass, also serving to intercept pursuing forces and cover the retreat. A battle ultimately broke out, and none of the two thousand elites survived. Zhang Yi recuperated for over half a month before his life was out of danger."
"In the fifth year of the millennium, the commander of the Qilin Army led the remaining personnel to participate in the International King of Soldiers competition. During the journey, they encountered artillery fire, resulting in heavy casualties. Zhang Yi led a strike team composed of soldiers from various countries, capturing the enemy's machine gun positions and securing the second place in the King of Soldiers competition."
"Later, during a top-secret mission, his right leg was blown off. He was discharged from the army in the same year."
"In the seventh year of the millennium: The highest authorities and the Hall of Honor confirmed the decision to award Zhang Yi the rank of one-star general, and he was also designated as one of the elders of the Dragon Pavilion!"
His life's resume was presented before his destiny without reservation.
This was the first time the biographical details of a soldier were publicly disclosed, and the impact on ordinary citizens was undeniably profound!
Furthermore, this was the life story of a frontline combatant.
Around them, countless people lowered their heads in mourning, their gazes cast down, tears already falling unconsciously.
Li Tengfeng clenched his fists, a visible glint of tears in his pupils.
"Li Changteng, you beast!"
Li Tengfeng roared, his fist striking Li Changteng's face, causing his nose to bleed profusely. Before Li Changteng could react, fists rained down upon him like a torrent.
"Our nation's honored soldier, treated like this by you, dying with unavenged grievances! Damn your mother!"
"Beast! You are truly a beast! I'll beat you to death today, you son of a bitch!"
This turn of events stunned many onlookers. Especially after slowly processing Li Tengfeng's words, their eyes turned bloodshot, as if they could devour people.
"Zhang Lanying's son, his name seems to be Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi... truly died with unavenged grievances. So it was this beast who did it?"
Someone from Zhangjiacun village spoke up, then rushed forward and began kicking.
From this point on, it became uncontrollable!
A crowd surged forward, and Li Changteng felt as if the entire world was against him!
"Stop! Stop!"
Amidst the chaotic scene, accompanied by curses and insults to his ancestors, even Li Tengfeng was forcefully pushed out of the crowd.
"Bang!"
Only when someone pulled the trigger did things gradually cease.
Soldiers in black combat uniforms entered the scene, controlling all personnel to prevent a stampede.
"Li Changteng, you are hereby arrested for the murder of a crucial general of our nation. You have the right to remain silent, but you will not have the opportunity to go to court."
Yuan Gang led the contingent.
Li Changteng's bones felt as if they were all shattered; he couldn't stand up. It was a miracle he was still alive after such a beating.
"Officer, may I ask, will someone who harms our soldiers like this be dealt with accordingly?"
Someone asked, feeling unwilling to rest easy if this beast wasn't executed!
Such a hero was from their Nan Province, and they were proud of him. But to have such a hero die because of this beast before them filled them with rage!
Yuan Gang stopped and looked at the people around them, who all wanted to know the answer.
"Tomorrow at noon, after General Zhang's coffin is interred, their lives will be used to commemorate the general and comfort his spirit in the heavens!"
"Good! Well killed, such a beast deserves to die!"
"Hahahaha, a satisfying kill! People like this deserve to die, they truly deserve to die!"
Rustling sounds—
The bustling commercial street erupted in a thunderous applause.
This was not just in this one location; it was a microcosm of a small corner in Nan Province. Many more places wept silently.
In Zhangjiacun village.
Upon learning of the news, the elders of Zhangjiacun village all wept.
"Lanying, your son is a hero! Do you hear? He is a hero, our nation's hero!"
"The entire city is seeing him off. He said he would make you proud, and he did!"
The people of Zhangjiacun village flooded into Zhang's home, speaking to Zhang Lanying.
Beside Zhang Lanying was a radio, a new one that her son had bought for her just last month. Now, hearing her son's life story broadcast on the radio he had bought her, Zhang Lanying wept silently.
"Excuse me, is this Zhang Yi's home?"
Several unfamiliar young men appeared outside the door, peeking their heads in as they asked.
"Hello, what can we do for you?"
An elder at the end inquired.
"We are here to send off the hero."
After confirming this was Zhang Yi's home, the young men, holding three sticks of incense, respectfully kowtowed, then took out everlasting lamps and lit them.
Their arrival seemed to mark a beginning.
In the time that followed, people from nearby villages continued to arrive. The everlasting lamps extended from the mourning hall all the way to the small path.
Even more so, this path lit by everlasting lamps extended all the way into the city.
Simultaneously, news spread that Zhang Yi would be buried at Gongming Mountain at noon tomorrow. Following this, the two-hundred-kilometer road lit by everlasting lamps, spanning north and south, was entirely illuminated.
From Zhangjiacun in the north to Gongming Mountain in the south.
"After this night, if the everlasting lamps extinguish, they are unworthy of being people of Nan Province."
This sentence appeared online and almost made it onto the trending topics.
Although it carried a sense of moral coercion, this time, no one cursed in the comments section.
Mainstream social media platforms even launched a "Seeing Off the Hero" live event!
In a certain villa.
"Boss, everything is arranged. Tomorrow, General Zhang's coffin will be interred, and those involved will be executed."
Ye Longlin nodded, a fleeting killing intent flashing in his eyes, "Tonight, all relevant personnel are to be arrested!"