Bitter Truths in the Heart of the Forest: Sian's Reckoning

Sian was brimming with frustration as he watched Lan Qisheng laugh loudly. He truly wanted to tear that mouth apart and erase that stupid smile.

Perhaps Lan Qisheng sensed the darkness surrounding Sian or realized he had gone too far with his heavy joke. He stopped, then looked at Sian seriously and said in a steady, calm, and firm tone: "Alright, you're right. Me and the five behind me from the army."

"Boss!"

"Sir!"

...

Just as Lan Qisheng revealed their true identities, his subordinates exclaimed in surprise. They were on a secret mission, after all! What was their leader thinking, revealing their identities—and in a live broadcast, no less?

"Stop yelling. Do you think the terrorists haven't already figured out we're here?"

"What? Impossible, sir. We've hidden our identities well; there's no way they know we're here," said Zhao Ling, one of Lan Qisheng's team members and a weapons expert skilled in handling and maintaining both heavy and light arms. With distinctly sharp Chinese features and a robust physique, he looked more like a close-combat specialist than a technician.

"Oh, but they do. Otherwise, why do you think they've left the cameras running? Why are they making such a commotion in a live broadcast? And why are they killing the contestants?"

"Then what do we do now?" asked another subordinate wearing glasses. This man had cat-like, black almond-shaped eyes and very short hair, giving off an air of intelligence—perhaps because of the glasses. His name was Ren Yi, and he was an explosives expert.

The team had three other members: Wu-Hao, Yang Chen, and Liu Weiji. These were the team's medical specialist, sniper, and survival expert, respectively. Though each had a specific specialty, their combat skills were second to none. As members of the special forces, their proficiency in combat was a given.

All five were seasoned operatives who had completed countless missions under Lan Qisheng's leadership. This time, they were tracking a dangerous organization involved in everything illegal, from drugs to weapons and more. The group had been rooted in the country for years, evading police capture by using terrorists and hired assassins as their front.

Even when the authorities managed to arrest individuals, they turned out to be mere pawns, easily discarded by the organization when exposed.

Recently, the military had captured a high-ranking figure in the organization, someone who allegedly had critical information that could finally lead to the group's downfall. However, the prisoner had escaped two days ago while being transferred to a different detention facility. Lan Qisheng and his team were tasked with apprehending him.

Now, you may be wondering how all this connects to Lan Qisheng and his team being part of a live broadcast. Well, it was simple: the trail leading to this forest was the last location where the fugitive had been seen. Furthermore, military investigations suggested the organization had something significant hidden here. To avoid raising suspicion, they disguised themselves as contestants and joined the broadcast.

After explaining all this, Lan Qisheng looked at Sian with barely concealed worry and said, "But we didn't anticipate them learning of our plans, much less launching an open attack, taking the crew and everyone in the forest hostage."

"Tsk and you call yourselves the military?" Sian sneered coldly.

That remark struck a nerve with the soldiers. Their pride in their country and its army was a red line. Zhao Ling, his eyes burning with anger, retorted in a booming voice: "Shut up, kid! What do you know about the military? How dare a civilian like you, living a safe life because of our vigilance and sacrifices, belittle the greatness of the army?"

Zhao Ling was visibly furious, and Sian was certain that if not for Zhao Ling's military discipline and the army's code prohibiting harm to civilians, he would've lunged at him. But Sian wasn't intimidated. Instead, his expression grew even more disdainful and provocative.

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

"You—"

"Silence! I'm not done talking." Sian's tone was sharp and commanding. "You claim that soldiers like you are the reason for my so-called safe life? Where's this safety you speak of? Because of the army's negligence, about seventy innocent people are trapped in this forest, with less than a 10% chance of survival. And let me tell you, that slim chance isn't due to your 'mighty' military but because the terrorists might take what they need and leave once they're satisfied."

"The army, you say? Because of your leaders greed for glory, countless innocent lives are neglected. Don't you dare expect me to feel grateful for such a military. If you truly cared about protecting civilians, you would've shut down this broadcast, sent infiltrators to search the forest, and surrounded it with full force to deter the terrorists.

"But no, your military didn't do that. Do you know why? Should I tell you?"

Sian's voice dripped with disdain. "Because your army didn't want to incur the massive losses—resources, weapons, funds, logistics—required for such an operation."

"I respect soldiers who genuinely protect people. I admire those who stay vigilant and sacrifice their lives for strangers and civilians like me to live safe, peaceful lives. But what I despise is the greed of those in power who exploit people like you—those with noble ideals of heroism, duty, and sacrifice. And now, with your mission failed and both your lives and those of innocent civilians at risk, do you know who will bear the blame?"

Sian's piercing eyes locked onto Zhao Ling. "Let me tell you your future. If you make it out of this forest alive, you'll face a military trial for failing your mission and endangering civilian lives. Your pride as a soldier and every achievement you've earned will be stripped from you. That's if you're not imprisoned."

Sian's throat ached from all the yelling. He grabbed a water bottle from his bag, drank it all in one go, and then sat cross-legged on a rock, glaring provocatively at the soldiers.

...

The silence was deafening. Zhao Ling, who had boasted proudly of his army, was speechless. The contestants, who had been about to curse Sian for his audacity, fell silent. Even the live audience watching the broadcast was stunned.

Sian's words were shocking, but more than shock, some people's silence hinted at agreement. Not everyone was naïve or blind. Of course, the military and police were vital to a nation's safety. But that didn't mean they were flawless saints. Human nature often sought personal interest, and this had always been the case.

Lan Qisheng stared at Sian with a complicated gaze. He wasn't upset about Sian's criticism of the military; honestly, he didn't like those greedy, corrupt higher-ups either. Instead, he was intrigued by Sian—his movements, his words, his demeanor. They all screamed that Sian wasn't "just an ordinary civilian living a safe life," as Zhao Ling had claimed. But now wasn't the time to dwell on it. First, he had to focus on protecting everyone and getting them out of this forest alive. And instinct told him he'd need Sian's help to succeed.

"I need your help," Lan Qisheng suddenly said, breaking the silence. Then, to everyone's astonishment, he knelt on one knee before Xian, who was still perched on the rock.

The scene was breathtakingly romantic, like something out of a fairy tale where a knight kneels before his king, pledging his life to protect him. But when Lan Qisheng opened his mouth, that beautiful fantasy was shattered.

How could a knight ask his king to fight for him? What kind of absurd plot was this?

"Excuse me? What did you just say?" Sian questioned, doubting his ears. [No, the original owner must have a problem with his ear. It seems I am starting to hear things now.]

"Please, help us. I want to protect everyone here. I don't want innocent people to die. So, I'm begging you—help us," Lan Qisheng said earnestly.

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 Author ERATO-SAN has something to say:

 My dearest readers! I'm so thrilled to be back after a week away! I truly missed you and missed my Sian too...I was a title ill and all...

 I want to say that am grateful for your wonderful support during my little break; it means the world to me!

 Now, let's dive back into our journey with Sian because things are heating up, and it's going to be so exciting! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I loved writing it. Although it doesn't have a fight scene... don't worry.

The next chapter will have a little blood hehe.

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