Mercenary’s War

Life is unpredictable, and life is fragile.

Lilia is dead. Gao Yang felt somewhat sad, but not too sad, because he had seen too much death.

The main reason Gao Yang felt sad was that he couldn’t imagine how devastated Cui Bo must be facing all this.

Lilia had once been presumed dead. Although it was later proven to be a misunderstanding, Cui Bo had already suffered a blow.

If when Lilia first "died," Cui Bo and Lilia only had a vague fondness for each other, this time, Cui Bo and Lilia were truly in love, and Lilia was truly dead.

Rabbit’s girlfriend died, which was a big deal for some in Satan, like Gao Yang and Li Jinfang, and also for Frey and Glolov.

They got to know each other in humble beginnings, supported each other through hardships, and stumbled together to where they are today. A brother’s girlfriend dying is no small matter for these oldest members of Satan.

Li Jinfang accompanied Cui Bo to Kiev, while Glolov needed to stay in Yemen to oversee the situation.

When Cui Bo saw Lilia’s made-up remains, he cried very sadly.

Leaving the final private farewell to Cui Bo, Li Jinfang and Gao Yang stood outside the door, speechless.

After a long pause, Li Jinfang gently nodded at Gao Yang and then said softly, "Lilia is dead, and Angel has been crippled. What should we do next?"

Gao Yang sighed softly and said, "Angel is crippled, but they can quickly recruit and expand. Lilia is dead, but she’s gone entirely."

Li Jinfang said with a face full of emotion, "We entrusted Lilia to Angel, thinking it would keep her safe. Unexpectedly, this is fate."

Gao Yang said bitterly, "What fate? It’s still a matter of choice. If I had been more determined not to let Lilia return to Ukraine, she might have hated and cursed me, but she wouldn’t be dead. I let her return to Ukraine and enter the battlefield, so of course she was more likely to die in the war. Lilia, a delicate girl who didn’t want to enjoy a wealthy and stable life but insisted on returning home to become a militia, had already decided her fate. Ultimately, the path is chosen by oneself; whatever path you choose determines your destiny."

Li Jinfang sighed softly and said, "With emotion, seeds are sown; with conditions, fruits bear. Without emotion, no seed; without nature, no life."

Gao Yang furrowed his brow and looked at Li Jinfang, "What do you mean? Is that Buddhist language?"

Li Jinfang gently nodded and said, "All conditioned phenomena are like a dream, an illusion, a bubble, a shadow, like dew or a flash of lightning. This is how one should observe them."

Gao Yang waved his hand, looked directly at Li Jinfang and said, "Your thinking is very dangerous. I know you’re still in contact with that Black Monk in Congo-Brazzaville, but I didn’t expect you to be so influenced that you’re now speaking in verses. Are you ill? A mercenary chanting ’Amitabha’ — are you sick?"

Li Jinfang shook his head and whispered, "Empathizing with others, I understand Rabbit’s pain, it’s just a moment of insight. The seeds one sows are the fruits one gets, as you said, everything is chosen by oneself."

Gao Yang was very surprised, "You’re not thinking of becoming a monk yourself, are you? Putting down the butcher’s knife and instantly becoming a Buddha?"

Li Jinfang said with a face of bitterness, "I never mentioned Amitabha. Covered with sins of killing, and destined to continue creating them. Chanting Buddha’s name with lips only deepens the sin. I said it was merely a moment of insight."

Gao Yang said coldly, "I don’t oppose finding some spiritual support, but Buddhism doesn’t suit you — it will only make you more and more painful. You should stop meeting that monk, especially since he’s a foreign Black Monk."

Li Jinfang smiled bitterly, "It really was just a moment of insight."

Gao Yang waved his hand and said, "Don’t speak such nonsense to me. Toad, I’m telling you, I don’t believe in fate, I don’t believe in evil. I only believe my life is governed by me, not by heaven! The path is chosen by oneself. No matter how difficult, it must be walked down. We took the path of a mercenary; we will pave this small path into a broad and bright avenue!"

Li Jinfang gently nodded and whispered, "I understand."

Gao Yang said coldly, "Relying on heaven and earth is not as good as relying on yourself. Remember this sentence. Whatever kind of future you want, strive for it yourself. As a mercenary talking in riddles — foolish!"

Li Jinfang sighed and said, "Brother Yang, I’ve told you already, it’s just a moment of insight. I never thought of becoming a monk or any of that putting down the butcher’s knife to instantly become a Buddha, no endless sea of suffering with a turn-around to shore. Ha-ha, stepping into this boat, walking this path, can we turn back? Brother Yang, you lead us on, wherever you go, I’ll follow, no matter what obstacles lie ahead, we’ll cut through them! We’ll forge an unprecedented bright avenue!"

Gao Yang softly said, "That’s more like it!"

Looking down at his watch, Gao Yang softly said, "It’s been half an hour and he’s still crying. Let’s leave it at that. Go bring him out; the past has passed, and what’s to be let go should be let go."

Gao Yang was referring to Rabbit, but he was looking at Li Jinfang.

Because there was something off about Li Jinfang. Cui Bo’s experience reminded him of himself, so now Li Jinfang’s emotions were not right. Plus, with his connection to that Black Monk, Gao Yang was concerned about Li Jinfang being negatively influenced and becoming withdrawn, so he had to counsel Li Jinfang even in a time when Cui Bo needed comforting.

Gao Yang gently patted Li Jinfang and said, "It’s time to let go."

Li Jinfang softly lamented, "I can’t let go."

Without giving Gao Yang a chance to persuade him, Li Jinfang opened the door to support and lead the still-crying Cui Bo away.

Gao Yang was quite helpless. He knew how to reel back those Angel guys, knew how to persuade Nate, who wanted so badly to die, whether by deceit or coaxing, Nate had ultimately come around. But with Li Jinfang, even after so long, there was never really anything he could do.

Cui Bo was reluctant to leave, but what resistance could he put up against Li Jinfang? With slight effort, Li Jinfang easily half-carried and half-dragged Cui Bo out of the mourning hall.

At that moment, Gao Yang suddenly seemed to have an epiphany too.

Cui Bo was brought to Gao Yang’s side, and by then he had stopped crying, only sniffling as he said, "Brother Yang, I really shouldn’t have let Lilia go back, really shouldn’t."

Gao Yang said sternly, "Lilia is an adult. She has the right to choose her own path. You’re not wrong, you’ve done nothing you shouldn’t. Go rest a bit, and think about how to arrange Lilia’s burial."

Cui Bo was taken away by Li Jinfang, and with one last look at Lilia’s corpse, Gao Yang gently closed the door.

What Gao Yang thought and what he said to Cui Bo were completely different. Actually, he felt that Cui Bo was right. Just like parents with children — if you know your child wants to do something dangerous, do you still let them do it? This is when you must resolutely shut down a troublesome child’s dangerous ideas, even if doing so will surely provoke their resistance and resentment, it must be done.

As Satan’s leader, it’s actually not much different from being a parent. It was a moment of insight, Gao Yang felt there were some things he ought to take control of.

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