Chapter 154: Chu Feng's Emotional Resonance

Chu Feng and Xiao Hei had only retreated a little over a kilometer when they ran into Wang Chen and Menghu, who had already brought Ma Han and Leopard to the border.

Personnel from the 882nd Regiment, who had been waiting at the border for some time, picked them up. Wang Chen and Menghu had come specifically to provide backup for Chu Feng.

"Let's head back quickly. We killed the drug lord's leader; they probably won't dare to pursue us," Chu Feng said, though he couldn't be entirely certain. What if those men were operating under strict, unyielding orders?

The four of them broke into a sprint, and half an hour later, they finally crossed back into Chinese territory. The moment they re-entered China, the heart that had been stuck in Chu Feng's throat finally settled back down.

Just as they reached the border, the men from the 882nd Regiment were waiting there. Boarding a military vehicle, they headed directly for the regimental headquarters of the 882nd.

"Welcome back." Regiment Commander Guo Haifeng came out to greet them personally. When Chu Feng had gone off alone to rescue Ma Han and the others, Commander Guo had held virtually no hope, yet he never expected that Chu Feng would actually bring them back alive.

"Thank you, Commander Guo, for your help earlier. Could I please ask you to prepare an operating room for me? I need to extract the bullet from our captain's abdomen first."

Although Chu Feng was exhausted, his immediate priority was to remove the bullet from Ma Han, otherwise, complications would soon arise.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. Our medical facilities here are actually quite poor. Because this is a remote border area with inconvenient transportation, large-scale medical equipment hasn't been shipped here yet."

Hearing Chu Feng's request, Commander Guo wore a troubled expression. He desperately wanted to help, but the local conditions simply did not permit it.

"The best I can do right now is to use a helicopter to send you to Nanwan City Airport. From there, you can catch a civil aviation flight to any other major city."

The conditions at the major hospital in Nanyun City were also less than ideal. Even if they managed to extract the bullet there, other problems might persist due to inadequate equipment.

"Then I'll make a call to Group Leader Long and have him arrange a commercial flight for me." Borrowing Commander Guo's encrypted red telephone, Chu Feng called Long Feihu, asking him to find a way to secure a civil airliner and transport them away as quickly as possible, to any Tier-1 city.

"You head to Nanwan Airport first. Leave the arrangements to me," Long Feihu said before abruptly hanging up.

"Commander Guo, I must trouble you once more to arrange a helicopter to take us to Nanwan Airport, and please notify the airport there to grant us priority landing."

After Chu Feng explained the situation, Commander Guo quickly arranged the helicopter. Chu Feng and the others lifted Ma Han onto the aircraft and boarded.

Amidst a deafening roar, the helicopter lifted off, heading straight for Nanwan Airport. Meanwhile, Long Feihu was encountering a difficult problem at his end.

Due to weather conditions, only one flight was scheduled to depart from Nanwan Airport, but it was already fully booked and unable to accommodate additional passengers.

This flight was traveling from Nanwan Airport to Shanghai Airport and was scheduled to take off in fifty minutes. Long Feihu contacted the civil aviation authorities, hoping they could intervene and mediate.

"Passengers flying from Nanwan Airport to Shanghai Airport, please proceed to the service desk. Due to special circumstances regarding your flight, departure is temporarily delayed. Please come to the service desk to process the relevant procedures."

The Civil Aviation Administration broadcasted the notice through Nanwan Airport's public address system, informing passengers of the flight delay and urging them to process ticket changes as soon as possible.

"Why can't we fly? I've been waiting here for three hours, and now you cancel just like that? Give me an explanation, or I will file a complaint with your superiors!"

Hearing that the flight was grounded, the waiting passengers surged toward the service desk. Some grew agitated, engaging in heated arguments with the airport staff.

"Please quiet down, everyone. We have an emergency situation—several severely injured Chinese soldiers desperately need this flight to save their lives. They only need nine seats."

"I am hoping some passengers would be willing to give up their seats for these heroic soldiers, who were gravely wounded while protecting our peace. All ticket change fees will be fully covered by us, and we will also arrange hotel accommodations for you."

An airport staff member took the microphone and explained the situation to the surrounding passengers. To everyone's astonishment, upon hearing the explanation, the crowd fell completely silent, and passengers began voluntarily requesting refunds.

At that moment, the helicopter carrying Chu Feng and his team landed at Nanwan Airport. Due to aviation security regulations, they still had to go through a security screening, though they were directed through a special passage rather than the regular one.

"We will all refund our tickets, and we'll cover the costs ourselves. I am a veteran myself," announced one passenger. Following negotiations, all 122 passengers surrendered their tickets entirely of their own accord, driven by a single sentiment.

"Our heroes have shed their blood; we cannot let our heroes be let down. In the past, the heroes protected us, and now it is our turn to help the heroes."

The service staff on duty listened to the passengers' words, tears streaming down their faces. None of them had expected the mediation process to go so smoothly.

When Chu Feng and his companions reached the boarding gate, they saw the passengers processing their ticket changes. Catching sight of the arriving soldiers, the passengers voluntarily stepped aside to clear a wide pathway.

Some sensitive female passengers shed tears at the sight of Ma Han's pale face and Leopard's injured leg. The passenger who had identified himself as a veteran also wept, standing at attention to salute Chu Feng and the others.

Airport personnel briefed Chu Feng on what had just transpired, leaving him utterly astonished. He had never imagined that every single passenger would willingly change their flights.

"My brothers and sisters, I thank you. Had my captain not been so heavily wounded, I would never have imposed upon your time. Thank you."

Chu Feng spoke into the airport microphone to express his gratitude to the crowd, bowing deeply before them. Wang Chen, Menghu, and the others followed suit, bowing in profound appreciation.

As if by tacit agreement, the moment the soldiers bowed, the passengers turned their bodies slightly to the side, deliberately refusing to accept the bow.

They felt that these admirable soldiers had no need to bow to them, which was why they shared that synchronized, respectful gesture of avoidance.

"The flight is now cleared for normal departure. Please board without delay," an airline crew member informed Chu Feng, urging them to hurry.

Carrying Ma Han, Chu Feng and his team walked down the jet bridge and boarded the aircraft. Five minutes later, the plane successfully took off from Nanwan Airport.

"Dear passengers, we have arranged accommodations and meals for all of you. Please follow us to the hotel." The flight crew led the rescheduled passengers toward the lodgings prepared for them.