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墨書 Inktalez
The transport vehicle jolted along the bumpy dirt road, kicking up clouds of yellow dust. Outside the window lay a monotonous and desolate landscape, occasionally interrupted by the ruins of houses destroyed by war, standing like silent scars that reminded everyone of the suffering that had recently unfolded here.
The atmosphere inside the vehicle was somewhat oppressive. The soldiers remained vigilant, their sharp eyes scanning the outside, fingers resting on their weapons, ready to respond to any sudden situation. A few Medical Soldiers and I sat in the back row, trying to keep quiet so as not to disturb them. I turned on my camera, silently recording the scene within the vehicle. The young, resolute faces of the soldiers, their hands gripping their weapons tightly, and the mixture of alertness and fatigue in their eyes—these were the most genuine images.
Li Heng's command vehicle led the way at the front. I could only catch glimpses of it through the gaps between the vehicles ahead. A sense of irritation bubbled within me. We were too far away to capture any footage of him directing operations.
After more than an hour of travel, a calm voice suddenly came through the radio. "All units, be advised: suspicious individuals have been spotted two kilometers ahead; they may be militant scouts. Heighten your vigilance, maintain distance between vehicles, and be prepared for alternating cover."
The atmosphere in the cabin tightened instantly. The soldiers adjusted their stances, guns aimed out the windows. My heart raced to my throat. Had they arrived?
Instinctively, I raised my camera towards the front. The vehicle slowed down cautiously as it advanced. Tension hung thick in the air.
A few minutes later, Li Heng's voice came through again, still calm. "Target has disappeared; threat is neutralized. Continue forward and remain alert."
The tension in the cabin eased slightly, but the seriousness on the soldiers' faces did not dissipate. I let out a sigh of relief and lowered my camera, only to realize my palms were already sweaty.
Is this what life on the battlefield is like? Danger lurks everywhere, ready to erupt at any moment. And Li Heng seemed to have long since adapted to this rhythm of walking on a knife's edge. No matter how tense the situation became, he always maintained absolute calm and rationality.
This was a stark contrast to the impulsive and passionate youth I remembered. Can the military really change someone so profoundly? Or has he experienced things I am unaware of?
I recalled Zhang Meng's words: "The captain has it tough," which only deepened my curiosity.
The convoy continued onward. After another hour or so, a small village finally appeared ahead. The houses made of mud bricks were sparsely scattered and looked dilapidated. At the village entrance stood several militia members armed with old rifles; upon seeing the Peacekeeping Forces' vehicles, they immediately raised their guns in alarm.
Li Heng's voice came through the intercom: "Stop the vehicles, First Team disembark to negotiate, the rest stay alert and on standby."
I watched as Li Heng and several soldiers jumped down from the command vehicle and walked toward the village entrance. He signaled for the soldiers to keep their distance and approached alone, engaging in conversation with a few members of the militia in the local language. The sunlight was blinding, making it difficult for me to see his expression. However, his tall figure stood out against the vast wilderness, exuding a sense of reliability.
The negotiation seemed to go smoothly. After a while, Li Heng gestured for the convoy to enter the village. As the vehicles slowly rolled into the settlement, my heart tightened at the sight before me.
There were hardly any young people in the village; only a few elderly individuals, women, and children remained. They looked gaunt and wore tattered clothing. Upon seeing the Peacekeeping Forces' vehicles and supplies, a glimmer of hope appeared in their eyes.
"Second Team, Medical Team, disembark and organize the distribution of supplies and medicine," Li Heng's voice rang out. I quickly grabbed my camera and jumped out of the vehicle. Old Wang followed me down, reminding me, "Zhi Yi, be careful and don't wander off."
I nodded and began filming. The soldiers swiftly sprang into action, unloading boxes of food, drinking water, and medicine from the vehicles. The medical soldiers started checking the villagers' health and treating wounds. The villagers gathered around; despite the language barrier, their gratitude was evident in their eyes.
The children curiously observed these camouflaged "Alien Visitors," some bolder ones even reaching out to touch the soldiers' guns. I wove through the crowd, capturing these precious moments on camera.
A small boy, probably around five or six years old, timidly followed me from behind. I stopped, crouched down, and smiled at him. He flinched back in fear. I pulled a piece of candy from my pocket and offered it to him. After hesitating for a moment, he finally took it and dashed away.
After a while, he returned with a small wildflower that looked like it had been picked from somewhere nearby but was already wilting. He shyly pressed it into my hand before running off again. Looking at the little flower in my palm made something inside me soften unexpectedly.
At that moment, I noticed Li Heng walking toward me. He seemed to have just finished talking with an elder from the village; his expression appeared somewhat gentler than before. His gaze fell on the wildflower in my hand for a moment.
"It seems you're quite popular," he remarked, his tone carrying an undertone that I couldn't quite place.
I didn't respond but instead raised my camera to focus on him. He frowned slightly: "Don't film me."
"Why not?" I countered. "You're the commander of this operation and an integral part of this rescue effort."
"I'm not your main focus," he said, avoiding my lens.
"Who says?" I insisted on filming him. "To me, you're very important."
He seemed momentarily taken aback by my words, casting a complex glance my way before turning to arrange the next steps without saying anything further. I watched his back and discreetly pressed the shutter, capturing that moment—his expression a mix of helplessness and something indescribable.
The distribution of supplies and medical treatment continued for over two hours. It wasn't until all the supplies were handed out and the Medical Soldier had treated all the patients in need that Li Heng finally ordered preparations for our return.
The villagers gathered at the village entrance, watching us leave with eyes full of gratitude and reluctance. Sitting in the vehicle, I gazed at their simple faces, feeling a heavy weight in my heart. The scars left by war run too deep.
The convoy slowly drove out of the village, embarking on our journey home. The road back felt even longer than the way there. The setting sun painted the entire wilderness in a tragic orange hue. Leaning against the car window, I watched the scenery rush by while my mind kept drifting back to Li Heng's earlier gaze.
His look at me... it seemed different from before. Was it just my illusion? Or was there something that had quietly changed between us?
As I pondered these thoughts, a sudden urgent warning crackled through the radio! "Attention! Ambush ahead!"
Immediately followed by a barrage of gunfire and explosions! The vehicle jolted violently! I was thrown hard against one side!
Oh no! We were under attack!
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