Chapter 4: A Stroke of Luck

"Kneel!" Several armed police officers, wielding metal rods, pressed down on Li Huan's body with force.

"Damn, I have one last request," Li Huan struggled against the pressure and shouted. At this critical moment, he made a final demand to preserve his dignity as a man: "I want to die standing up!"

The execution supervisor waved his hand, signaling the officers to stop, thus granting Li Huan his last request.

With a few soft clicks, the officers retracted their metal rods. Li Huan felt the pressure on his limbs ease, and the slight choking sensation around his neck vanished. This was much better, much more comfortable. Li Huan thought to himself that the execution supervisor was somewhat humane.

Accustomed to a lax posture, Li Huan couldn't stand straight even if he wanted to. He stood crookedly within the execution circle, his silhouette relaxed and a bit nonchalant, almost as if he were casually enjoying the sunset at the seaside. There was nothing about him that resembled a man about to be shot, except for the small red circle on his bare vest, which stood out conspicuously.

The executioner loaded the gun, raised it, and aimed. His movements were textbook perfect. The dark muzzle was pointed at the red circle on Li Huan's vest. He was a seasoned professional, his hand steady as he held the gun, his finger gently resting on the trigger. Holding his breath, the executioner awaited the command, ready for the fatal pull.

Darkness enveloped Li Huan as the hood tightly covered his eyes, blocking out all light. Descending into hell in darkness, he felt the cold pressure of the weapon. It was chilling. At this moment, he felt a sense of resignation. After twenty-six years of life, it was coming to an end. The thoughts of a man facing death are complex, and Li Huan was no exception. He felt a bitter taste in his heart; it seemed a bit unfair. His life was about to be discarded in this cold room, without even a family member or friend to claim his body. What was even more frustrating was that he had never experienced the touch of a woman. He had lived in vain. Among the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants. Facing his ancestors in the underworld, he would have no face to meet them...

At that moment, the execution supervisor's command rang out: "Execute!"

The executioner gently squeezed the trigger. With a "bang," the gunshot echoed, a flash of fire momentarily lighting up the scene. Li Huan's body shuddered slightly.

The executioner holstered his gun with practiced ease. The reverberations of the shot lingered in the empty iron room, gradually fading into silence...

In the quiet iron room, Li Huan, still standing in the execution circle, felt no pain on his back. He had clearly heard the shot. What was going on? Li Huan's mind was a jumbled mess.

Better to live than to die a good death鈥攚ho doesn't want to live? Facing a firing squad, not everyone can stand firm. Li Huan was no exception; he wasn't unafraid of death. At the moment the gun fired, his legs went weak, but fortunately, though trembling, they did not collapse.

Having too clear a mind at such a moment was not a good thing. Li Huan was most frustrated that he remained clear-headed even as he faced the bullet. The taste of waiting to die was unbearable. The shot meant the bullet would shatter his heart, and in that instant, he would leave the world. This time, Li Huan was certain he was done for.

Sadly, mental torment seemed to follow Li Huan relentlessly. He was still standing there, his legs trembling slightly. His consciousness was a bit chaotic. The gun had fired, but he wasn't dead. Could it be that they missed at such close range? Who the hell was executing the firing squad? Were they going to try again? Was there no end to this? Anger flared in Li Huan's heart. His trembling legs were embarrassing, and his demand to die standing up felt like a slap in his own face. It was truly humiliating. Damn it!

At that moment, he heard faint footsteps approaching. Someone was coming closer. With the hood still on, he couldn't see who it was. The chilling pressure of the gun muzzle was no longer felt on his back. The young man took a deep sniff, and the familiar scent of tobacco wafted through his nostrils. It was a familiar smell. Hey, it must be the old guy. He was too close.

The hood was removed, and Li Huan blinked hard. Zhang Zhengzhong's seemingly kind face came into view. It was quite comforting.

"I knew it was you, old guy. Heh, come to see me off?" Li Huan grinned. It seemed his intuition when he left the cell was right. Seeing his old boss, he felt a warmth in his heart.

With a "smack," Zhang Zhengzhong slapped Li Huan hard on the head. It was forceful, and Li Huan's mind went blank for a moment.

"Feel good? Is 'old guy' a way to address your superior?" Zhang Zhengzhong scolded with a laugh, his eyes slightly moist. It had been a long time since he had affectionately patted this kid's head.

The slap was heavy, and Li Huan rubbed his slightly aching head, the sound of his hand rustling.

"Feeling pain is good. Show some respect to your superior. Give me your hand." Zhang Zhengzhong held the key to the shackles.

"What's this? Not shooting me anymore?" Li Huan extended his shackled hand and looked around. The only people left in the iron room were the two of them.

Feeling relieved, liberated, the heavy shackles removed, Li Huan felt light as a feather. It was indescribably refreshing.

"Consider yourself lucky. Come with me." Zhang Zhengzhong patted Li Huan, whose legs were still a bit unsteady, and walked straight towards the door.

Ha, from the old guy's tone, it seemed he really wasn't going to be shot. Li Huan obediently followed Zhang Zhengzhong. This time, he had narrowly escaped the gates of hell. It had been a close call; his bladder almost burst. He didn't bother asking why he hadn't died鈥攊t would spoil the mood. In any case, following the old guy was the right choice...

Blue sky, white clouds, green mountains. Sitting in the front seat of an SUV, Li Huan's eyes were wide open, his nose twitching greedily. The long-lost outside world, the beautiful scenery, he couldn't get enough of it. The fresh air was invigorating. Being alive, damn it, was truly wonderful. Li Huan's sigh came from the heart...

In a residential area along the Third Ring Road of Jinghua City, the environment was serene, and the greenery was well-maintained. The SUV drove straight into the community. After getting out of the car, Zhang Zhengzhong led Li Huan directly into the elevator of an apartment building, pressing the button for the 19th floor.

It was a two-bedroom apartment. After a casual stroll around, Li Huan found the living room to be simply and elegantly furnished, with a set of modular sofas, a glass coffee table, and a wide-screen rear-projection TV. The kitchen was fully equipped and clean, as if it hadn't been used for a long time.

Entering the bedroom, there was a wardrobe and a large bed. Li Huan flopped onto the bed and bounced a few times. It was incredibly soft and comfortable. Compared to the secret prison where he had seen no daylight, this apartment was like heaven on earth. Li Huan lay on the bed, not wanting to move.

Zhang Zhengzhong looked at Li Huan, who had a blissful expression on his face, and asked, "How is it? Satisfied with staying here?"

"Satisfied, very satisfied," Li Huan sat up, grinning mischievously. "What's this? You're letting me live here? Heh, are you clearing my name? Why so generous? Any place would do."

"Dream on. This is just a temporary place for you," Zhang Zhengzhong poured cold water on him without hesitation. "Clear your name? Heh, don't expect your case to ever be cleared. You committed a capital offense, and now you're a dead man, a man who has already been executed by firing squad."

"I'm a dead man now? What do you mean?" Li Huan's expression turned sour, sensing something was off.

"What do I mean?" Zhang Zhengzhong said sternly. "Listen carefully. You've already been executed. Your records and household registration have been destroyed. From now on, you no longer exist in this world."

"No longer exist? Old guy, you're just evaporating me from existence?" Li Huan's face grew even more bitter. The old guy wouldn't lie to him. Without an identity, it was no different from being dead, except he could still breathe.

Looking at Li Huan's bitter expression, Zhang Zhengzhong found it amusing. "You look so pathetic. It's your good fortune to keep your life. So what if you don't have an identity? Being alive is a blessing. At least you can still breathe through your nose."

"Spare me the fortune talk," Li Huan said, pouting. "Keeping this dead man's life won't be easy. Come on, lay out your conditions." The old guy's words had a hidden meaning. Li Huan knew better than to miss it.

"Heh, smart kid, knowing there are conditions," Zhang Zhengzhong said with a chuckle. Talking to this kid was never a hassle.

"Cut the crap. Spit it out, and see if I agree," Li Huan said impatiently. Trading life for life, the conditions were bound to be steep.

"Heh, not agreeing?" Zhang Zhengzhong said with a laugh. "If you don't agree, you'll have to go back and face the firing squad. It doesn't seem like you have any bargaining power right now."

"Can a dead man negotiate? Heh... In the end, you're just asking me to risk my life. What's the difference between that and dying? Staying alive? It's just temporary." After saying this, Li Huan muttered to himself. The old guy hadn't changed his ways, always beating around the bush to get him to comply.

Ignoring Li Huan's sarcastic tone, Zhang Zhengzhong looked at him and said with a smile, "You're smart. Whether it's a death mission depends on your luck. If you complete the task well, you might keep your life."

Getting to the point, a task? It probably wouldn't be easy. Li Huan leaned against the bed, lazily looking at Zhang Zhengzhong, waiting for him to continue.

This kid had been locked up for two years and still acted so casually, showing no respect to his superior. Zhang Zhengzhong felt helpless at Li Huan's nonchalant attitude.

Then, Zhang Zhengzhong briefly explained the 3.1 hostage incident in Afghanistan and concluded, "This time, it's a joint operation between our security department and the military. The entire plan is being overseen by the minister and military leaders. Your task is highly confidential. Even I don't know the specifics of the plan. I'm only responsible for getting you out. Later, someone from the military will come to contact you. During your mission, you only need to follow the military contact's instructions..."

At this point, Zhang Zhengzhong said solemnly, "The entire confidential plan is known to only a few people. Given the confidentiality and special nature of the plan, you should understand the importance of this operation. Be cautious, don't mess it up."

Li Huan chuckled and said, "Heh, you make it sound so serious, with all this confidentiality and special nature. I'm afraid I can't do it. Forget it, just send me back to the execution ground."

"Are you sick? Back to the execution ground? To get shot again?" Zhang Zhengzhong glared at Li Huan. This guy never played by the rules, and he was never quite used to it.

Li Huan continued lazily, "You're right, going back means getting shot. But isn't it the same if I'm out here? Heh, you got me out just to use me as a shield, right?"

"Can't you listen to reason?" Zhang Zhengzhong said irritably. "I didn't get you out to hear your sarcasm. You never failed a mission before. A shield? It's not like I got you out to send you to your death. You're ungrateful."

"Ungrateful? Heh, is it a joke to talk about gratitude now?" Li Huan said with a forced smile. "Even if it's not a shield, this task is probably a life-and-death situation. You know what I mean, old guy. If I agree, what's in it for me?"

After speaking, a hint of greed flashed in Li Huan's eyes. He knew that if they wanted a death row inmate to work for the government, the task must be highly dangerous and urgent. Right now, the important thing was to get what he could. If he couldn't, he'd still do it. Going back to the execution ground? That would be foolish...