Godslayer: A random filename extension?

At dinner, Team 136 gathered to welcome the two new members, and each member participated in preparing this sumptuous meal.

Unsurprisingly, Lin Linhou once again demonstrated what it means to have exquisite and artistic culinary skills.

Moreover, everyone discovered that no matter what dish they ordered, as long as the basic ingredients and seasonings were in place, this person could make it, and with incredible efficiency, and could even multitask.

Gradually, everyone handed over the kitchen to Lin Linhou to do as he pleased, and they were only responsible for making wishes and reciting the names of the dishes.

As a result, in the end, Lin Linhou cooked most of the dishes for this meal...

"That's enough, that's enough. I feel that with only eight people, we shouldn't be able to finish half a Manchu Han Imperial Feast."

When Lin Linhou served another dish and was about to dive into the kitchen to continue showcasing his art, Chen Muye quickly pulled this "cooking fanatic" back.

They also told the others to stop announcing the names of the dishes.

After all, this meal not only cost them almost half a month's worth of food expenses, but it was also so bad that they couldn't finish it even if they were stuffed.

Lin Linhou nodded. Since that's the case, then let's get out of the "God of Cooking" mode. Actually, even if Chen Muye didn't help her, with her stamina, she could only cook one or two more dishes before she couldn't keep going.

"Wait a minute, why are there eight people?"

Lin Qiye was about to pick up his chopsticks when he suddenly realized something and counted the people at the table.

"Captain Chen, speaking of which, where's Uncle Zhao? Isn't he coming back for dinner?"

Lin Qiye realized that he had been here for almost a day but had not seen Zhao Kongcheng. He hadn't paid much attention to it at first, assuming that Zhao Kongcheng had been sent out on some mission.

But now, it seems that things aren't quite right.

As soon as Lin Qiye said this, the atmosphere at the dinner table, which had just been somewhat cheerful, suddenly became too heavy, and everyone suddenly fell silent.

Lin Linhou frowned upon seeing this scene and exchanged a glance with Lin Qiye.

The two had a bad feeling.

Could it be that something happened?

"Uncle Zhao, he..."

"I'm the team leader, so I'll speak."

Chen Muyi interrupted Hongying, who was about to speak, because it was better for him to do the job of reopening old wounds.

"Comrade Zhao Kongcheng of the Night Watch 136th Squad died in battle at 8:23 last night while resisting and eliminating the Ghost-Faced King."

After a simple reiteration, the atmosphere in the room quieted down again.

Lin Qiye's eyes were full of disbelief. He suddenly felt that this might be some kind of April Fool's joke being played by the other party.

Although he and Zhao Kongcheng weren't exactly close, they were still friends. Lin Qiye respected Zhao Kongcheng's spirit of protecting his country. How could such a grown man just disappear like that?

"8:23 last night?"

Lin Linhou did a quick calculation and realized that the time was shortly after Zhao Kongcheng left Lin Qiye's aunt's house, roughly the time when they were eating and being scolded by Lin Qiye's aunt.

Recalling Li Guodong's expression during the day, it seemed a bit off, appearing excessively somber. Also, the other party's comment about "some unforeseen circumstances" might have been related to this incident, leading to a reduction in the number of personnel he could mobilize.

It's not solely because of the need to support counter-terrorism efforts.

"So you mean the Masked King suddenly appeared in the old city last night, intending to massacre civilians, but Uncle Zhao happened to encounter him, fought with him, and ultimately sacrificed himself? Were there also quite a few special forces soldiers who died at that time?"

Chen Muye nodded, acknowledging the young man's basic reasoning ability, since the special forces team was unlikely to inform Lin Linhou of this matter directly.

"The special forces team responsible for protecting you also joined the battle. A total of 28 of them were killed, and almost all of them were completely destroyed."

Lin Linhou: Σ( ° △ °|||)︴

"How could it be... so tragic?"

Lin Linhou never expected that a battle that sacrificed lives to achieve peace had broken out so close to him without his knowledge.

The key point is that this battle seems to actually have something to do with him, which makes him feel quite uncomfortable and uneasy.

"Alright, alright, everyone, let's not be so heavy-hearted. You all cried yesterday, didn't you? Today is to welcome two new family members, so we should be happy. Let's eat first, or the food will get cold."

"If you wish to pay your respects to Uncle Zhao, after dinner, I will have Xiao Nan take you to Uncle Zhao's tombstone... to offer a cup of wine."

Si Xiaonan: ?_? ? ?

After Hongying spoke, the rest of the members of Squad 136 also changed their expressions again.

Leng Xuan patted Lin Qiye and Lin Linhou, who were still lost in thought.

"In battle, there will always be sacrifices and separations, but those who live cannot stop moving forward because of this."

Chen Muye also spoke at this opportune moment.

"At the same time, we need to cherish the present even more, because one day, I, or any one of you here, or one of you may die."

"Would you want your team members to be forever trapped in the pain of your sacrifice, unable to escape that shadow forever?"

"Wouldn't that be even more of a betrayal of the sacrifices and contributions of those who left?"

As Chen Muyi said this, he still unconsciously looked at Wu Xiangnan.

Wu Xiangnan could only smile helplessly, raise his glass and nod in acknowledgment.

"I understand that sacrifice is to protect smiles, not to create sorrow, so you can rest assured."

Lin Linhou was not prone to strong emotional fluctuations, so he quickly recovered from that strange and inexplicable feeling of oppression.

Lin Qiye, however, had a different idea.

At this moment, however, he unconsciously recalled what Lin Linhou had said earlier:

Courage is a hymn, but death is not glory. True glory lies in striving to avoid the need to create heroes through sacrifice.

'If I could become powerful enough, if I really were, as Brother Lin said, the protagonist who saves the world…'

'If in the future I can, as my elder brother suspects, sweep away all the mysteries.'

Wouldn't that mean no one would have to make sacrifices and cause their loved ones pain?

Lin Qiye's gaze gradually became more resolute.

He wants to become stronger, strong enough!

He wants to protect his aunt, Ah Jin, and everyone in front of him and around him.

Since Brother Lin said he could do it, he himself must now believe that he can do it in the future!

"Yes, I understand."

Lin Qiye also calmed himself down again and tried to put on a smile.

Then he said, "Then I'll ask Xiao Nan to take the two of them to the cemetery to pay their respects to Uncle Zhao after dinner."

Si Xiaonan: ? ? ? ?_?!!