Strongest Soldier King

Hatred can destroy people or give them the courage and strength to live. Lan Xue found her power to survive, while Luo Zheng was suffering in a fiery, enclosed world, surrounded by what seemed like countless lava flows, as if they were about to roast or evaporate him. His eyes couldn't see at all, relying solely on feeling, a suffocating heat swept over him, breathing stalled, lungs began to contract, spasm, intense pain swept through his mind.

"Ah—water, uncomfortable!" A voice shouted from his soul, carrying infinite anger and despair. Soon, Luo Zheng felt a sweet liquid flowing down, but amidst the scorching flames, this little water couldn't extinguish them, he continued to shout: "Water, water—"

More water appeared, the surrounding flames seemed to be suppressed slightly. Luo Zheng felt much more comfortable, at least not as stifling hot, he couldn't help but wonder as some memories slowly emerged, and his sense of physical touch gradually returned. Luo Zheng was momentarily stunned, suddenly thinking: "Am I not dead? Or is this place hell?"

"Perhaps it is hell, otherwise why is it this hot?" Luo Zheng was in shock, attempting to open his eyes to observe but found his eyelids heavy as Mount Tai, unable to open them, reluctantly giving up. His instinct for survival suddenly awakened, subconsciously raising his ears and tightening his body under muscle memory.

God knows how long it had been, but the surrounding flames rose again, seemingly ready to burn him to ashes. Luo Zheng was alarmed, instinctively struggling to escape these flames but found his body refused to obey commands, unable to move, leaving only a weak consciousness still present.

"Am I really dead?" Luo Zheng was horrified, thinking of Lan Xue, his family, his comrades who shared life and death moments. A surge of unwillingness mixed with an endless desire for survival rose up, a voice in the depths of his soul screamed: "No—I can't die, ah—!"

Then, a sweet water appeared again. Luo Zheng, regardless of what it was or where it came from, instinctively opened his mouth, drinking large gulps, yearning for this liquid to extinguish the surrounding flames and free him from this agony. Unknown how much he drank, he felt the fire around diminished considerably, elated, he continued drinking.

Gradually, the sweet water disappeared, the surrounding fire diminished a lot, Luo Zheng was ecstatic, countless memories surged into his mind as if about to explode his brain, strong stinging pain erupted too, his entire head seemed ready to burst, Luo Zheng was shocked, the desire to survive surged from the depths of his heart, with endless unwillingness and anger shouting: "No—!" Suddenly regaining control of his body, he abruptly sat up.

The heavy eyelids suddenly lifted, opening up, a flash of light appeared, stinging his eyes with pain. Luo Zheng instinctively closed them, not knowing where he was but felt as if on a bed, he couldn't help but start feeling around, while raising his ears. Surrounding him was indeed a bed, with bedding, and someone speaking excitedly about something, sadly he couldn't understand. Luo Zheng couldn't help but wonder, had Tang Tian's people found him after he jumped into the river?

Given this thought, Luo Zheng was horrified, silently took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down a bit, secretly checked his body, only to find it extremely weak, without strength even to lift hand, let alone resist. Helplessly let out a silent sigh, felt his eyes adapted to the surrounding light, gradually opened them, only to find a boy dressed in blue clothes with a blue headscarf, looking at him with delight.

Around him was a simple wooden house, seeing no modern items, all furniture made of wood, though a rifle hung on the wall, a gun Luo Zheng was very familiar with, often played with as a child. He couldn't help but wonder, firmly looking at the boy, barely asking with strained voice: "Where am I?"

The boy murmured a lot excitedly, sadly Luo Zheng didn't understand a word, a huge wave of fatigue surged over him, only feeling dizzy, his body relaxed, collapsed again, passed out, the boy was startled, step forward checking, probing breath, lifting eyelids, hurriedly rushing out of the wooden house, shouting something.

Soon, the boy brought three middle-aged men in, and an old man, the old man with white hair, a speckled beard, but full of radiant spirit, the boy anxiously asked: "Grandfather, what happened to this person? Woke up for a moment, spoke something unknown to me."

The old man went over to check, felt pulse for a while, then after pondering said: "His life is saved, didn't expect his vitality to be so strong, lying five days and nights can survive, a miracle, everyone don't panic, probably hunger, prepare some light food, can't take supplements. Someone help turn him over."

A middle-aged man came forward, gently turned Luo Zheng's body, lay on side, Luo Zheng's clothes were all stripped, exposed five scars. The old man observed for a while, exclaimed in surprise and praise, saying: "This person's physique is extraordinary, unexpected already scarred, survived five gun wounds, fate, lay flat."

The middle-aged man gently lay Luo Zheng flat, the boy happily said: "Grandfather, your herbal medicine works well, after applying twice, stopped bleeding and grew flesh, five days, surely scarred."

"Stop flattering, how's your father's health? Shot once, with a hunting lead bullet, laid how many days? He suffered steel core bullets, but this guy's muscular body is indeed amazing, solid as wood, actually caught a bullet, remarkable, afraid identity not simple, once he recovers, let him leave, lest bring us trouble." The old man said, deep eyes flashed with worry.

"Understood, I'll make him some broth." The boy agreed and left.

Several middle-aged men left the room, the old man moved a stool over, sat beside, watched Luo Zheng closely, worried whether saving this man would bring fortune or disaster, troubled withdrew pipe from waist, lit it, took draws intensely, waited for a while, noticed person on bed slowly opened eyes, startled, said: "Young man, you're awake, tell me, who are you?"

Luo Zheng struggled to open eyes, saw boy turned into old man, white hair showing world's care and kindness, with a faint smile on face, had no ill intent, actually spoke Huaxia language, though not very standard, could understand, Luo Zheng was surprised, slowly regained consciousness, opened mouth with difficulty saying: "Where is this place?"

"Our ancestral village we've lived for generations, I am the village chief here, who exactly are you?" The old man seeing Luo Zheng speaking fluent Huaxia language, secretly relieved, as long he's not foreigner fewer trouble, continued asking, wise eyes firmly keeping an eye on Luo Zheng, not missing any detail.