Actually, it's not that surprising.
No seasoned Special Forces mber truly believes in God.
If there really was a God, Africa wouldn't have endured so much slaughter.
"Alright, I'll go try to talk to him."
With that, Maria left the church hall and went outside to find Father Jose.
Song Heping and Danny walked out of the hall and stood on the veranda in front of the church, leaning against the railing, looking at the entire village.
Danny asked, "You're from the Special Forces?"
Song Heping didn't deny it and nodded, "You are too."
Danny extended his hand, "My na is Danny."
"I'm Song Heping."
The two shook hands, and that was it.
Both looked out for the rules since they shared the sa background.
Asking which unit the other was from would yield no answer.
Unless the other was willing to tell.
Otherwise, don't ask to avoid awkwardness.
"Sergeant!"
Jiang Feng ca running from the village entrance.
"Is Hou Xing's surgery done?"
Song Heping nodded, "It's done."
Jiang Feng said, "Then let's go quickly. It's not safe to stay here. I just asked around; those militants were here this morning. A few were killed by this carpenter. Thirty more ca just now, but we drove them back. They'll surely return, probably with more n. Staying here ans certain death."
Song Heping agreed with him.
Staying would indeed an death.
However, after a mont of hesitation, Song Heping decided to delay their departure, "Let's wait a bit, at least say goodbye to our hosts before we leave."
Jiang Feng appeared anxious, constantly looking around.
"We're unfamiliar with the terrain here. We don't know the situation, nor the militants' deploynt. It's like blindness; who knows when they'll co back? Let's go quickly!"
Just then, Maria and Father Jose returned.
Father Jose walked towards the church with his head down.
Maria kept trying to persuade him.
The scene resembled a daughter persuading her stubborn father.
Father Jose walked silently into the church.
Song Heping exchanged glances with Jiang Feng, who gestured for him to hurry up and say goodbye.
Song Heping had no choice but to go into the church.
Maria was still trying to persuade him. Song Heping went up to them and interrupted Maria, "Maria, Father Jose, I want to say goodbye. It's ti for us to leave."
Father Jose glanced at Song Heping, his murky eyes filled with desolation.
"Alright, you should leave. Staying isn't safe."
"If you know it's not safe, why aren't you leaving!?" Maria grew anxious, "You know staying ans certain death!"
Father Jose sighed and made the sign of the cross on his chest, "Well, if I truly die, it is God's will."
Song Heping looked at the devout old man and couldn't help but say, "Father, I believe avoiding disaster is a normal human response. God would approve of you doing so. Does God want to see you die?"
His words carried a hint of sarcasm.
It was how Song Heping vented his contempt for religion, influenced by the scenes he had witnessed on the road.
Father Jose said, "Maria, you should leave with them. They have strength in numbers. I can tell, Song, you are all fighters. Take the villagers north or to Ethiopia, give everyone a chance to live."
Song Heping said, "I don't understand. Leaving here is harder for you than dying? It's just moving; is it that difficult?"
Suddenly, he smirked coldly, "Do you believe I can tie you up and take you away?"
Father Jose was shocked, "How could you!? Even if you tie up, I won't thank you. I would rather die in front of you!"
"Damn!"
Song Heping was completely at his wit's end.
"Maria, you see, it's not that I don't want to do the right thing. He's like this; I can't manage him. Farewell, and good luck to you."
With that, he didn't waste any more ti. He stepped outside and called Jiang Feng and Antonov in to carry the still groggy Mr. Hou out to the car.
"Danny, what do you plan to do?"
Before leaving, Song Heping asked Danny.
Danny said, "If they don't leave, I can't abandon them either."
Their stances and decisions were clear.
Song Heping nodded, "Alright, I hope you can hold on."
Danny said, "Don't worry, I can hold on for a while. When you first arrived, I was already aiming at you from the shadows."
"I know, you were in that cow shed sixty ters away." Song Heping laughed, "You think I didn't know?"
With that, he patted Danny's shoulder and walked out.
Danny stood there, utterly shocked internally.
When Song Heping and his n entered the village, he indeed hid in the cow shed, aiming his rifle at them.
He planned to shoot them if they showed any hostile intent.
He thought his hiding spot was very secret, that no one could know.
But Song Heping had discovered him?
The details of the previous scenes ca flooding back.
Song Heping always stayed at the edge of his aim range, beside the car's rearview mirror, where it could reflect the cow shed.
He had been watching Danny's every move!
If Danny had made any move, Song Heping surely would have reacted quickly, making it not as easy to kill him as Danny thought.
He couldn't help but look in the direction where Song Heping had left.
A professional recognizes the skill.
He realized now that this Chinese man nad Song was extraordinary.
"Get in! Retreat!"
Beside the jeep, Song Heping waved his hand.
After settling Mr. Hou, everyone boarded quickly.
As before, the guide and Song Heping were in the front vehicle, the wounded and Ah Guan in the rear vehicle.
On the dirt road leaving the village, Song Heping saw pairs of anxious and confused eyes. The villagers watched their two cars leave silently from the roadside.
Figures of the villagers passed by the car windows, looking like abandoned children. Song Heping felt pity for them.
Leaving the village and onto the dirt road, the guide adjusted the direction, guiding the vehicle towards Ethiopia. It was late afternoon, near dusk.
The car had night vision equipnt, providing better night mobility than the militants. Song Heping planned to cross the border before dawn.
"Jiang Feng, did you update Ferrari on our latest situation?"
"Yes, I did. They have already entered Sudan and are coming towards us."
"Good, I know..."
The car moved on.
The car was eerily silent.
Suddenly, intense gunfire sounded from afar.
Thump, thump, thump——
Thump, thump, thump——
Thump, thump, thump——
It was the dull sound of large-caliber machine guns firing.
Everyone in the jeep sat upright.
Jiang Feng turned to locate the sound's origin and quickly concluded, "It seems to be coming from Koma Village! Good thing we left quickly! The rebels have returned so fast!"
No one in the car responded to him.
Including Song Heping.
A mont later, Song Heping suddenly picked up the walkie-talkie.
"All stop!"
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