At 2:15 in the afternoon, two BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, escorted by a platoon of Bangladeshi military forces, drove onto Highway No. 5 leading to the coastline. The interior of the vehicle was filled with the heavy smell of diesel and motor oil, and the tracks rolled over the uneven road surface, causing violent jolts.
Gu Yu held tightly onto the handrail on the cabin wall, his body swaying with the vehicle’s movement.
Lin Xinyue was carefully checking Dai Zhengguo’s seat belt and softly calming the emotions of several young female doctors.
"Bang! Clang clang clang!"
Suddenly, a series of sharp and piercing metallic crashes came from the right side of the vehicle, causing everyone inside to involuntarily tense up.
"It’s stray bullets! Everyone stay calm and keep seated. The armor on this vehicle is thick enough to ensure safety!"
Ge Zhengxiang’s steady voice came through the vehicle’s intercom.
He was seated at the gunner’s position in the lead vehicle, vigilantly scanning the surroundings through the periscope.
The convoy did not slow down; the leading Bangladeshi military vehicle suddenly accelerated, and the 14.5 mm heavy machine gun mounted on its roof roared deafeningly, laying down a round of suppressive fire towards the distant edge of the forest on the right.
"Report, a small group of scattered soldiers spotted at the 3 o’clock direction on the right, approximately over a dozen men, attempting to approach the convoy!"
The rear vehicle’s special operations team member reported over the communication channel.
These were a few remnants of the Free Army, scattered during a firefight. Disheveled and with eyes filled with desperation and madness, they attempted to approach the armored vehicles, seeking cover or hoping to rob resources.
"Do not engage! Fire warning shots to drive them away!"
Ge Zhengxiang decisively ordered.
"Bang bang bang!"
The special operations team members fired precise shots through the shooting port, bullets hitting the muddy ground in front of the scattered soldiers, raising plumes of mud.
Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi military armored vehicle sounded a piercing alarm.
The group of scattered soldiers, intimidated by the firepower, dropped their weapons and fled into the dense shrubbery, rolling and crawling.
Similar thrilling scenes played out several times over the next twenty kilometers.
The sound of artillery in the distance came intermittently, and occasionally stray bullets whizzed over the vehicle roofs, but under the professional tactical response of Ge Zhengxiang’s team and the assertive lead of the Bangladeshi military, the convoy maintained a strict formation and advanced towards the coastline without incident.
At 3:45 in the afternoon, the convoy finally burst out of the end of the highway, the view suddenly wide open.
The salty and fishy sea breeze from the Bay of Bengal blew in their faces, and on the blue sea, two high-speed hovercraft were anchored in the shallow waters, with gigantic propeller blades spinning, kicking up a mist of water all around.
Farther on the horizon, the all-white, Red Cross-emblazoned Peace Ark medical ship was calmly waiting for them.
"Arrived at the designated location! All prepare to transfer!"
As soon as the armored vehicle came to a halt, the hatch burst open with a roar.
Ge Zhengxiang immediately led the special operations team out of the cabin, quickly establishing a defensive perimeter on the mudflat.
"Quick! Board the craft according to groups! Watch your step for slipping!" Luo KaiXuan loudly commanded.
The medical team members supported each other and, under the protection of the special operations team, quickly and orderly boarded the spacious cabin of the hovercraft via the gangplank.
When the last team member safely boarded the craft, Ge Zhengxiang’s team also quickly retracted the defensive line and retreated inside the craft.
"Boom!!!"
The engine of the hovercraft roared thunderously, its massive body like a giant whale flying close to the sea, plowing a deep groove in the mudflat, then thrusting into the sea, speeding towards the Peace Ark.
Gu Yu and Lin Xinyue stood by the porthole at the stern of the hovercraft, looking back at the gradually receding land.
The coastline of Chittagong gradually blurred from view, yet the dark plumes of smoke rising in the distance and the occasional flashes of artillery fire remained clearly visible.
"The war continues."
Lin Xinyue lightly sighed, a trace of sadness flickering in her eyes.
"Yes, there’s only so much we can do."
Gu Yu embraced Xinyue’s shoulders, taking a deep breath, his gaze flickering, "But at least, we left a spark there. Professor Ruosi, Ez, and those we treated, they will pass on this hope."
At exactly 3:00 PM, the hovercraft smoothly sailed into the side docking bay of the Peace Ark.
As the ramp slowly lowered, the feeling of solid ground beneath their feet brought a long exhale of relief from everyone inside the craft.
The sensation of escaping the grip of death and the mire of warfare brought tears to the eyes of many young team members.
"Everyone gather up! Count off!"
Luo KaiXuan stood at the entrance of the deck, his voice resounding.
"Medical Team One, eight should be present, eight are present!"
"Special Operations Unit, twelve should be present, twelve are present!"
...
"Report to the captain! The advance medical team and security unit dispatched to Chittagong, thirty-five should be present, thirty-five are present, all personnel safely returned!"
Luo KaiXuan turned around, facing forward with a salute.
On both sides of the passage, Captain Yang Hua led the ship’s officers and the remaining medical team, already lined up waiting.
Captain Yang stepped forward, returning a solemn military salute.
He looked at the group in front of him, faces filled with exhaustion, clothing stained with dirt and blood, his eyes flickering with emotion and pride.
"Comrades, thank you for your hard work!"
Captain Yang Hua’s voice reverberated through the cabin, firm and resonant, "In the past thirty-six hours, under extremely adverse conditions, you not only excellently completed the medical aid mission and curbed the spread of the epidemic, but also demonstrated the courage of Huaxia soldiers and the compassion of Huaxia healers amidst complex armed conflicts!"
"Not only did you bring back valuable intelligence, but you also demonstrated to the world the responsibility of our peacekeeping force!"
"Welcome home!"
As Captain Yang finished speaking, enthusiastic and prolonged applause erupted from both sides of the corridor.
Gu Yu stood at the front of the team, listening to the thunderous applause, and seeing the smiling faces of his comrades, his nerves, tense for two days and nights, finally relaxed completely.
He turned to look at those beside him, and everyone exchanged a smile, communicating everything without words.
The return from the flames of war, the benevolence of the healer.
This life-and-death race against time, written amidst the smoke of Chittagong, would become an unforgettable memory for them.
Within Meeting Room No. 3 of the Peace Ark, there were no flowers, no red carpet, only a bright five-star red flag and the military flag quietly hanging at the front.
A simple yet solemn mission summary meeting was being held here.
"...In the past 36 hours and subsequent handover, our advance medical team treated 427 dengue and related complication patients and conducted 35 emergency and debridement surgeries."
Luo Kaixuan stood in front of the projection screen, his voice was loud and proud, "More importantly, we assisted Professor Ruosi’s team in reorganizing the sanitation and disinfection challenges of the refugee camp, establishing a more locally relevant epidemic monitoring and tiered diagnosis and treatment process."
"Currently, the dengue transmission index in the Rohingya Refugee Camp has dropped below the safety threshold!"
Enthusiastic applause sounded in the meeting room.
Academician Hou Yun nodded with a smile, and Captain Yang Hua led the applause, his eyes full of approval.
After the meeting, Captain Yang Hua specifically called Gu Yu over.
"Gu Yu, I need to tell you something in private."
Captain Yang lowered his voice, looking solemn, "The intelligence report about the collusion between the Free Army and the Black Stone Group for smuggling has already been handed over through high-level military channels to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force and Interpol."
"According to feedback, the international side has already identified several key underground transit points based on this. Ez’s family has also been placed on the International Refugee Agency’s special protection list for high-risk witnesses. Once the situation stabilizes, they will be escorted away by professionals."
Upon hearing this news, Gu Yu finally felt his long-held tension dissipate completely.
"Well done, kid. You’ve not only saved lives but have also helped that land at its core."
Captain Yang patted his shoulder.
Leaving the meeting room, as Gu Yu walked into the corridor, a long-missed, crisp electronic voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Detected that the host successfully led a team to complete large-scale complex rescue under extreme combat conditions, and resolved a major armed crisis.]
[Mission rating: S level.]
[Reward settlement in progress... Congratulations to the host for earning 500,000 Check-in Points!]
Five hundred thousand Check-in Points, Gu Yu took a deep breath.
This was the best affirmation of his race against time.
Night fell, and the sea breeze was cool.
Gu Yu and Xinyue stood side by side by the railing on the upper deck, looking out at the deep night sky over the Bay of Bengal.
"Yu, do you think there will still be chaos there after we leave?" Xinyue gently leaned her head on Gu Yu’s shoulder, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"Wars may not stop immediately due to a single medical aid; sometimes, the power of medicine seems limited in the face of gunfire."
Gu Yu reversed his grip on her slightly cool hand, his gaze profound, "But the spirit of humanitarianism is boundless. What we left behind was not just medicine and manuals but the message that the world has not abandoned them. As long as hope remains, new life will come."
Lin Xinyue lifted her head, looking at Gu Yu’s resolute side profile, her eyes shining with gentle light, "This experience has given me a deeper understanding of the word doctor. Yu, I’m grateful to have gone through this with you."
Gu Yu turned his head, looking at the girl who had gone through life and death with him, his heart filled with infinite tenderness.
He gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder; their hearts, tempered by the flames of war, were now closer than ever.
The next morning, the communications officer handed Gu Yu an email received via the encrypted satellite network.
The sender was Professor Ruosi.
"Dear Doctor Gu, Professor Dai, and all friends of the Huaxia Medical Team: By the time you read this letter, you should be sailing toward the distant deep blue."
"Thank you for bringing light in the darkest moments. According to the new plan we explored and left in the tropical infectious disease prevention manual, we implemented water source isolation and targeted disinfection in Zone B, and the epidemic has been miraculously controlled!"
"My related research has also made a breakthrough. The citizens of Chittagong asked me to convey their deepest respect, and may the dove of peace always accompany your flight. — Your eternal friend, Ruosi."
Gu Yu read the email, a gratified smile playing on his lips.
He put down the tablet and turned to walk toward the balcony.
"Woo!"
At exactly eight in the morning, the Peace Ark sounded its deep and long foghorn.
The massive white ship cleaved through the blue waves, slowly leaving the waters of Chittagong.
Sunlight sparkled on the bright Red Cross emblem at the ship’s bow, shining brightly.
According to the set course, they would next cross the Indian Ocean to participate in the surgical society exchange conference in Vienna, Austria.
The sea wind howled, white dove-like waves rolled at the stern.
A new journey was about to unfold once again.
(Note from the author: Due to personal reasons, this book will soon conclude, with only one ending left. If it finishes before then, since completed books cannot post new Chapters, the ending might continue to be updated in the related works section. I will write the entire book adequately as a responsibility to the readers who have followed this book.)
(The content in the related Chapters might not be visible on some platforms, but you can read it on Qidian Reading or QQ Reading for free.)
Chapter 505: 476: Return (End of Volume 3)
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