Mingchao: The Survival Journey of a Comedian

Chapter 46 I'll take responsibility!

With his mother's help, he quickly completed the discharge procedures. Just as he was about to leave, his mother stopped him again.

"I hope you can bring this medicine gourd to Huo Huo."

"Although he is determined to go to the front lines to fight the enemy and defend his country... I also hope that he can remember his nature as a doctor."

"Not blinded by killing and bloodshed."

"Although the number of injured people has decreased recently... we're still quite busy overall, so thank you for your help."

Seeing the gourd offered to him, he, who had also intended to seek out Ji Yan, accepted it without hesitation. He nodded to reassure the other party.

I will convey your message to the other party.

"I also believe that this child won't become that kind of person."

"...He was always a very good person."

That child who always greets people with a smile and takes care of everyone with concern... is a very good person.

Therefore... he will definitely take good care of her.

After saying goodbye, he slowly walked onto the street, looked around—and then realized he didn't know the way.

"Why is this layout different from what I remember?"

"By the way, where is the Bell Tower Square?!"

Before even embarking on his great undertaking, he had already lost his way on the path of life, innocently wandering the streets with his gourd, utterly bewildered.

Fortunately, his mission objective was bound to Ji Yan, so his system should still be able to plan a route. Just as he opened the panel to try and locate himself, he only saw several large notifications.

"Dear host, when you see this notification it means I've gone for maintenance."

"Having been punished by that mysterious hooded man several times in a row, this system has collapsed."

"I've decided to perform a maintenance and upgrade, during which most functions will be disabled."

Please refer to the "System Maintenance Manual" for details.

Looking at those prominent red characters, he could only sigh silently in his heart—

My useless system... and that damn hooded man...

Why does nothing good ever happen to me? Why does that thing always seem to be repaired when I need it most?

I suspect someone is deliberately trying to frame me, but I can't find a reason.

After searching for a while, I finally opened that manual. After a quick glance, I found that the locking function actually wasn't that extensive.

Some key skills, such as reminding oneself of mission safety and the most crucial death teleportation... were actually not banned.

He just happened to block a few of the ones he needed.

"..."

It seems you really have to rely on yourself when you're out and about. Maybe I should ask someone along the way if they can find it.

If it's any slower, it might be over there already, and then we might not even see Huo Huo anymore.

As the saying goes, if you have trouble, go find the police. But here, the police aren't called police; they're called Night Return Soldiers... wait a minute!

Aren't I just a soldier returning home at night?

After thinking for a moment, he finally found a road sign and followed it... and then got lost again.

He didn't remember being directionally challenged, so how come he couldn't find anything?

As time ticked by, he forgot all about his identity and happened to see a man in a military uniform returning home at night quietly walking past a corner. He quickly went up to ask for directions.

"Hey bro! Do you know which way to Bell Tower Square?"

"...Uh, I don't know the way."

He walked up behind the other person, patted them on the shoulder, and just as he opened his mouth, he saw the person's body tremble and suddenly jump up:

The distance of the high jump left him speechless with amazement—brother, were you a jumping shrimp reincarnated in your past life?

"Who's there! Don't come any closer..."

"No...this is no longer a battlefield..."

"Who...who is that...are their ghosts haunting me...?"

He noticed something was very wrong with the person in front of him; their face was filled with fear, as if they were trapped in some kind of nightmare, and they were involuntarily backing away.

"Dude...? Are you okay? Do you need me to take you to the hospital?"

"Actually, I'm not in a hurry to ask for directions... Are you sure you don't need to?"

He stared at the man, who seemed to awaken from a nightmare. The fear on his face gradually faded, and his eyes regained their clarity and brightness. As if realizing something, he gradually returned to calm.

"I...I'm alright now."

"I just remembered some bad things... I hope I didn't scare you?"

The other person, looking somewhat apologetic and embarrassed, scratched their head and looked at him, so they changed the subject.

"Did you need me to show you the way just now...? Seriously, you look kind of familiar."

"...Are you called Mo Wunian?"

Upon hearing the other person say those words, he trembled slightly. After quickly searching his memory to confirm that he didn't really know the other person, he slowly spoke.

"My name is indeed Mo Wunian, and I need your help to show me the way... But have we met before?"

"You're the one who single-handedly held out on the northern front until reinforcements arrived!"

"No way! Is it really her?!"

Seeing that the other person's eyes had suddenly become somewhat obsessive, she subconsciously took a step back and waved her hands repeatedly, urging the other person to calm down.

"Hmm... I think I'm the person you're talking about."

"But what's so shocking about that?"

"Don't you know how famous you are?! Look at how badly the northern defenses had collapsed back then?"

"I can't believe they actually held on!"

"Of all those people, only you and another soldier named Beiwang survived..."

The other person's excited voice abruptly stopped there, as if they had suddenly realized something. Their expression gradually changed, and finally they fell silent.

"...Only the two of you survived."

"..."

The atmosphere grew heavy, and he didn't know how to begin—that memory was something most people experienced as "Mo Wunian"...

Instead of Mo Wunian

He treated those experiences like a movie, forgetting that those who died were real lives, his very comrades-in-arms.

From this perspective... the other side's previous reaction was very likely a so-called "post-war syndrome."

"...My name is Nan Chui, and I was one of the soldiers guarding the southern defense line back then."

Shall I take you to the Bell Tower Square first?

He followed the other person along the way and learned their name. However, upon hearing the name, he inexplicably thought of someone named Beiwang.

Do you know Beiwang?

"Yes, we know each other. We grew up together, like brothers. We promised to go to the front lines together to fight the enemy when we were kids..."

As a result, the two of us weren't assigned to the same defensive line.

"When I heard the news from over there, I even thought I would never see him again..."

"By the way, I learned about you from Bei Wang. Everyone said you were aloof..."

"It seems like a rumor now."

It's truly rare to be described as aloof in this lifetime. I never imagined I'd experience what it's like to be a cool and aloof man.

"...Don't believe the rumors."

"Hmm...that's right. People like us need to be very meticulous when gathering intelligence, so we can't believe rumors that are just passed around casually."

"The new recruit induction ceremony is currently underway at Bell Square... and it's almost over."

"Where are you going?"

The two walked quickly and finally arrived at their destination before everyone else left.

After their identities were quickly verified, the two were let in. Even the person verifying their identities was momentarily shocked upon seeing them, and then showed an expression of admiration.

"..."

I feel like my skin has become thicker.

There was still a small crowd when they went in, but most of the people had already been assigned to their places. The two of them wandered around, and when he heard the other's question, he simply nodded.

"Hmm... I promised a child I'd teach him swordsmanship."

I also promised his mother I would take care of him.

"The gourd in his hand is the one his mother asked me to bring to him."

After shaking the medicine gourd in his hand and finishing his explanation, Nan Chui nodded thoughtfully.

"How old is the child?"

"After all, you have to be at least 14 years old to join the team."

"...He should only be about 10 years old this year."

"How many?!"

He knew it! Joining the army at ten was definitely too early, and he wasn't the only one who thought so.

"...Hmm, now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember it."

"A 10-year-old is too conspicuous... I remember the medical department did seem to have taken in a young child."

"It seems like they're arguing about age..."

Upon hearing this extremely important news, he quickly patted the other person on the shoulder and asked him to show him the way.

"What else is there to say? Brother, take me there!"

Young age, medical issues, controversial... He's not stupid.

You'll definitely be able to guess it!

----------

Meanwhile, in the medical department on the other side, a debate was indeed taking place regarding contraindications to inflammation.

A clamor arose in the small space as people on both sides argued over their own ideas.

“He did pass all the tests… even the Resonator… but he was too young…”

"Not to mention what he initially wanted to go... Sending him to the front lines? You guys are really crazy..."

"He has passed the test...and we are currently facing a shortage of medical personnel..."

"Based on the intelligence we have, the war that is about to break out will definitely not be smaller than the last one..."

"Not to mention he did it on his own initiative..."

"Then who will guarantee his safety... He's hardly ever had any formal training..."

Ji Yan sat quietly in the corner, watching the argument that had arisen because of him without saying a word, unsure of what to do.

His mental maturity may be much higher than that of his peers, but he is still just a 10-year-old child.

I managed to secure a spot for myself through my mother's connections, and that's why I've been trying so hard to pass on the first try so as not to cause trouble for anyone...

But why does it seem that the controversy has only intensified after I passed the test?

My age ultimately became a limitation...

It seems he's caused trouble for others again.

If I didn't say that I actually wanted to go to the front lines to fight the enemy... wouldn't things be much simpler? Wouldn't I avoid causing so much trouble for others?

But if I really stay on the front lines forever... how will I be any different from my previous self?

"I……"

He tried to speak up and stop the conflict he had caused, but no one paid attention to what a little kid like him was saying.

Who can help him? And who would be willing to help him in this situation?

Why not help a child with a "promising future"?

After an unknown amount of time, the arguing seemed to subside. Both sides were flushed and gulping down their tea, panting heavily.

Finally, someone remembered that there was a child still squatting in the corner.

"Ji Yan...we've discussed it..."

"It's not that we don't want you to go to the front lines... it's just that this is the first time we've encountered a situation like this..."

"Not to mention you've barely had any training. Even if you pass the test, we wouldn't dare let a child like you go..."

"Your talent is excellent..."

He could tell that the person in front of him was doing it for his own good and was thinking of him, but the more they did so, the more unsettled he became.

"...Is there really no other way?"

The other person sighed helplessly, not wanting to discourage the child, but unsure how to begin.

The child he witnessed passed all their remaining tests, from basic battle analysis to medical examinations… all of which he handled perfectly.

The only thing it lacks is the ability to protect itself.

"...There is another way."

"It means having a nominal guardian who is physically capable, sincerely willing to protect and teach you, and who doesn't hold a special position by your side."

"But... there are too few people who meet these standards."

He did have a few candidates in mind, but one was disabled and had to step down. Another had a personality...

He was horrified just looking into the child's eyes: how could someone without the will to live protect those around them?

Upon hearing this, Ji Yan knew that the other party had done their best.

He didn't want to cause any more trouble for anyone.

Finally, she slowly closed her eyes and lowered her head.

"Sigh...you can wait another four years."

You will grow better during this period; there's no rush.

Seeing that even the child in front of him seemed to have given in, he breathed a sigh of relief and turned to give instructions to the people who had been arguing for who knows how long.

The other party had anticipated this outcome and finally nodded in satisfaction, then looked down at the silent child crouching in the corner.

"We've said almost everything we needed to say."

"...If no one like the person you just mentioned appears and volunteers to vouch for them..."

"This child can only remain in the second tier; formal training can only begin after he reaches the required age..."

"None of us dare to gamble on that possibility..."

"None of us dare to take on this responsibility!"

But just then, the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang, and the moment he looked up, those vibrant eyes crashed into his world.

The boy, backlit, hurriedly pushed open the door and looked directly at himself—the one who had brought him such a glimmer of hope.

"If these are the conditions you're referring to..."

"I think I can give it a try."

"I am willing to...be his guarantor."

"Take responsibility for him!"