The engine roared, and beneath the clear winter sunlight, the powerful airflow of the massive fighter plane lifted the snow on the ground, sending it flying along with dirt and dust. Lu Feng walked toward it, and the crew commander's voice came from the walkie-talkie. "News has come from the Northern Base. Monsters have invaded for the first time since winter began, and the scale is of an unprecedented large size, so the base is continuing to ask for reinforcements. Let's hurry."
After the final "bell toll," the Northern Base's military forces were divided into two branches. One part stayed at the original base, while the other part was stationed at the Highland Research Institute to assist with the collection of samples of living things from the Abyss and advance the research of substance frequencies. Since the base and the research institute had reached an accord, it was only natural that the Northern Base would seek the Highland troops' aid upon being attacked.
But, An Zhe thought—
If it weren't for such a crucial pressing task, he doubted that Lu Feng would have ever returned to the Northern Base again in this lifetime. In other words, he had assumed Lu Feng had no plans of going back to that place, but after receiving the emergency mission, the Colonel still chose to walk toward the PL1109's landing pad.
Just like that similarly dusty day three years ago, when he went to the PL1109 and went to the Underground City Base across the ocean.
Because he was thinking, he fell a few steps behind. It just so happened that he could see the back view of Lu Feng up ahead, which was identical to that earlier time. The Colonel always went toward the unknown like this, never looking back.
Just as An Zhe had that thought, he saw the Colonel turn around and look at him. Beneath the silvery sky, a chilly and beautiful facial profile.
An Zhe looked at him while standing in place.
"What are you thinking about?" the Colonel asked.
Only then did An Zhe walk over, catching up to him.
"You're really handsome," he said in a small voice.
Then he saw the Colonel smile.
It was like the fluttering of the aurora or the drifting of snowflakes. The Colonel rarely smiled so obviously.
So An Zhe also asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"I was recalling that time at the base," the Colonel said, "when the incident at the Underground City Base happened."
Surprisingly, this man was thinking of that time as well. Saying nothing, An Zhe listened to him continue.
"I saw you before I left," he said.
An Zhe hummed in response. He remembered that they had touched upon the matter of the mushroom soup, and then the Colonel had told him to take care of himself.
He said, "You also said that you may not be able to return."
"That sounds right," the Colonel said. "It felt like you were worried about me and thus said a few extra things."
"Just one thing," An Zhe replied.
The Colonel smiled again.
The light reflecting off the snow illuminated the silver badge on his combat uniform. The combat uniform was black camo, black fingerless gloves, and a tactical vest. It gave the feeling of a casual yet clean strength, unlike the uniforms worn in peacetime.
"There was indeed something left unsaid," Lu Feng said. "I wanted to ask you—"
He cut himself off.
An Zhe asked him, "What?"
Lu Feng was expressionless, seemingly weighing his words.
So An Zhe became even more curious. Just as he thought that the Colonel was going to say something of vital importance and great depth—
The Colonel gestured to himself with his gun and asked, "Do I look good?"