Gunshots exploded in Han Xiao's memory, and seemed to thunder in Yue Xiaofei's ears as well.
"Stone fell."
Han Xiao's voice had grown almost unrecognizably hoarse. "With his death, he made the choice for your father."
"Your father knelt there, reaching out to grasp something, but caught nothing except cold, empty air. He stared blankly at Stone's body, as though his soul had been ripped out."
"Then came the second."
"A man codenamed [Old A] walked up to your father. He offered no grand declarations, just bared his white teeth in a grin uglier than a sob."
"Old A said, 'Hahaha! That little bastard Stone stole my thunder! Big Brother Yue, stop fucking acting like a woman. We [Night Watchers] don't have the word coward in our dictionary. In the next life, I'll still follow you!'"
"Then he waved to everyone. 'Brothers, I'll go on ahead and scout the road to the afterlife for you!'"
"Bang! Another gunshot."
"Then the third, the fourth..."
Han Xiao continued without pause, as though reading a roll call of the dead. Every name, every gunshot became a heavy hammer, smashing into Yue Xiaofei's heart.
"[Night Watchers], Li Weiguo! Knowing you brothers made this whole damn life worthwhile!"
"Bang!"
"[Night Watchers], codename [Ghost]! Tell my wife I love her! Tell my kid his dad was a hero!"
"Bang!"
"[Night Watchers], Lin Wei! Big Brother Yue, live on! Avenge our brothers!"
"[As the long night approaches, I shall stand ready, blade drawn!]"
"[Though I stand in darkness, my heart turns toward the light!]"
"Bang!"
Gunshots rang out, one after another.
Their vows thundered through the air.
In that moment, South Mountain seemed not a hell on earth, but the holiest of sanctuaries.
More than a hundred [Night Watchers] offered their lives to their faith in a