Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Huo Wen’an’s health was not a major concern; he just needed to recuperate in peace. Although the hospital was a private facility of the Huo Family, it wasn’t exclusively open for them. Island residents of Divine Concealment Island could also seek treatment there for illnesses.

Feeling that the hospital was too noisy, Huo Wen’an decided to be discharged and took Xu Xingguang back to his residence.

The night before he was discharged, Huo Wen’an made a phone call to Zheng Lie. Xu Xingguang didn’t listen in, but she overheard Huo Wen’an’s hoarse voice mysteriously saying, ”The highest standard, of course, needs to be...”

Xu Xingguang was playing a mini-game from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall while also pondering what exactly was Huo Wen’an scheming.

Since Huo Wen’an intentionally kept it from her, Xu Xingguang cooperatively didn’t pry further.

The next morning, Cheng Yue arrived in a private jet to pick up Huo Wen’an.

Cheng Yue was the woman who had gone to Cangshan Town to bring Huo Wen’an back to Divine Concealment Island initially.

Upon seeing Xu Xingguang, Cheng Yue appeared particularly delighted, ”Miss Xu, we meet again.” Cheng Yue was even more lively compared to their last encounter; she had heard of Xu Xingguang completely curing the Pilot and also knew Xu Xingguang was the Pilot’s fiancée.

After confirming Xu Xingguang was one of their own, Cheng Yue naturally treated Xu Xingguang differently. ”The last meeting was rather hasty, I forgot to introduce myself to you. I am Cheng Yue, the captain of the Young Captain Mansion’s Guard Team.”

Cheng Yue was dressed casually, wearing a white T-shirt and black trousers. Her arms, exposed by short sleeves, displayed a healthy and sensual wheat color. Her muscles were not bulky but well-proportioned and firm.

A gun and weapons were tucked at her waist, and a cold-radiating iron bracelet on her wrist, likely containing hidden weapons.

The interior of Huo Wen’an’s private jet was luxurious. After boarding the plane, Huo Wen’an was supported by Xu Xingguang and lay down in the inner resting room while she went to the cockpit, her eyes fixed on the instrument panel, feeling an itch to operate.

Seeing Xu Xingguang eager to try, Cheng Yue asked her, ”Miss Xu, do you know how to fly a plane?”

Xu Xingguang said, ”I haven’t flown a private jet, but I’ve piloted a fighter jet.” She once maneuvered a fighter jet, engaging with three enemy aircraft at high altitudes, and ultimately took down the enemy planes, sending them plummeting into the sea, while she successfully ejected and parachuted to safety.

On the enemy aircraft, no less, sat the Minister of that country’s aviation combat department.

After that battle, she became a legendary figure in their corps, with her comrades calling her the ’Divine Eagle of the Skies’.

But that was a long time ago.

Regardless of how much time had passed, she retained familiarity with fighter jets, and there was a fighter jet stored in her bracelet space that had accompanied her in battles for many years.

Upon learning that Xu Xingguang had flown a fighter jet, Cheng Yue gave her a thumbs up, praising, ”Amazing.”

Noticing the various new and old scars on Cheng Yue, Xu Xingguang asked about her past experiences; Cheng Yue responded calmly, ”I was a soldier in Country A, a part of the Marines, and was expelled from the military for disobeying orders. Later, I joined Divine Concealment Island and became a subordinate to the Young Helmsman.”

”You don’t look like someone who would disobey military orders.” Xu Xingguang, having served in the military herself, saw a familiar reflection in Cheng Yue, reminiscent of a certain reincarnation world of her own.

Cheng Yue smiled self-deprecatingly and said, ”Eight years ago, there was a toxic gas leak incident on M Country’s Whale Fall Island. My superior forbade us to reveal the truth, to cover up the scandal.”

”Because those living on Whale Fall Island were indigenous residents, my superior didn’t care about the lives of those hundred-plus indigenous people at all.”

Hearing the backstory, Xu Xingguang realized the consequence, ”So, you told them the truth?”

”Yes.” Cheng Yue said, ”They say a soldier’s duty is to obey orders, yet my original intention was to protect my compatriots, not to harm them. Therefore, I defied the orders.”

Cheng Yue shrugged, lifting the hem of her T-shirt, exposing the gruesome scar on her waist, she said, ”For that, I paid a severe price.”

Just by looking at the scars on Cheng Yue’s waist, Xu Xingguang knew what kind of cruel punishment Cheng Yue had endured.

It was the punishment of waist-cutting.

In M Country, soldiers who disobey military orders either face lifelong imprisonment or endure the cruel punishment of waist-cutting and be stripped of their nationality, becoming stateless and exiled from M Country’s territory.

The so-called waist-cutting punishment involves two poisoned iron hooks piercing through the transgressor’s waist and suspending them from a gallows.

If one endures for a day and a night, they are deemed innocent.

Xu Xingguang felt sincere admiration for Cheng Yue, ”You are truly admirable.”