Chapter 2707 Farewell

Yarebin has gone home. He’s not leaving anymore.

Gao Yang hesitated for a moment. He felt it might be better to let Yarebin have something to do, because if Yarebin did nothing and just lived out his retirement, his body might actually fall apart faster.

But looking at the old man in front of him, Gao Yang suddenly felt that for Yarebin, who had spent his whole life drifting, maybe this was the best resting place he could have.

There was some reluctance, and some relief. Gao Yang finally nodded and said, "You really should rest now. Then stay here. This place really is quite nice."

Yarebin gave a small laugh and said, "You still have a lot to do. You can’t keep me company, this old man, forever. You should leave soon."

Gao Yang said softly, "Teacher, I actually don’t have much to do right now either."

Yarebin waved his hand and smiled. "Right now I have nothing to worry about with you. You’re doing well. If you run into problems in the future, you can listen more to Baskov’s opinions. If you’re going to make any combat operation plans, you can ask Tarta. But for reconnaissance, Glewatov is better, his mind is more meticulous. For stealing things, you can ask Rostotsky. For the rest, there’s not much, really not much. They’re all about the same, they just each have things they’re more skilled at."

Gao Yang laughed and said, "Got it. I’ll listen to what they say. I’m not stupid."

Yarebin shook his head and said, "As a leader, you must not be so proud you can’t listen to other people’s opinions, but you also can’t let others push you around. Remember, you are the leader. Sometimes you have to stick to your own ideas. Even if you make mistakes, it must be you leading others, not others leading you around. It sounds a bit contradictory, and you’ll have to find the right balance yourself. I can’t teach you that. You can only feel it out slowly on your own."

Gao Yang said in a deep voice, "I’ll remember, Teacher."

Yarebin smiled and said, "There’s nothing more I can teach you. You’ve already set out on your own path. You’re Ram. You have your own style. Maybe you’re still a bit green, but you’re already a competent leader. All right..."

Patting Gao Yang on the shoulder, Yarebin laughed and said, "I can’t have you stay here now to enjoy retired life with me. Go bring the lady of the house back to cook for me, and then find someone to take care of my daily needs. I know you’ll worry, so find me a private doctor, a nurse, something like that. Anyway, you’ve got money. But if you stayed here, you wouldn’t need to. You know that’s impossible."

Gao Yang hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, Teacher. I’ll come see you often. This time I’ll stay a few more days anyway. I don’t really have anything to do, and besides, the scenery in Sochi really is very nice."

Yarebin smiled and nodded, then waved his hand and said, "Go on, I’m going to sleep."

Gao Yang said, "Let me help you..."

Yarebin’s face sank, and he said, displeased, "I’m not at the point where I need help even to take off my clothes yet. Just turn on the bedside lamp, and when you go out, turn off the main light for me, that’s all."

Gao Yang let out a soft sigh and said, "All right. I’ll sleep in the room opposite you. If you need anything just call me. Good night, Teacher. Sweet dreams."

Yarebin smiled and nodded.

When Gao Yang went out, he turned off the main light, then gently closed the door.

Back in the first-floor living room, Joseph had already cleared the table. Looking exhausted, he said, "He’s in bed?"

"He’s in bed."

"He’s okay?"

"He’s fine.

Joseph let out a breath and said, "All right, you go to the second floor. I’ll sleep down here. Today really wore me out."

Gao Yang said in a low voice, "Thanks."

Joseph waved his hand with a smile. "What’s there to thank me for? Get some sleep. We’re all tired today."

Gao Yang wasn’t physically tired, but he was a bit sleepy. He went up to the second floor and listened by Yarebin’s door. Hearing the rustling sound of Yarebin getting into bed and lying down, he finally felt at ease and went into the room opposite.

He no longer had the mind to look at the furnishings of the room, and didn’t bother turning off the lamp. Gao Yang took off his clothes, lay down on the bed, and quickly slipped into sleep.

Gao Yang slept very soundly.

He was deep in sleep, but suddenly Gao Yang felt someone was standing by his bed.

After so many years as a mercenary, Gao Yang’s senses were sharp. He opened his eyes and instinctively sat up quickly. Before his hand could reach under the pillow for his gun, he saw that the person standing by his bed was Yarebin.

Yarebin was smiling, gratified, happy, benevolent.

Sitting on the bed, Gao Yang looked at Yarebin, extremely surprised. Then he noticed that Yarebin wasn’t leaning on his cane, and that he was wearing clothes Gao Yang had never seen before.

"Teacher, why are you up?"

Yarebin lifted his right arm and waved to Gao Yang, then said with a gentle, kindly face, "So long, my son."

Yarebin turned to leave, giving Gao Yang his back.

Gao Yang reached out and called anxiously, "Teacher!"

Yarebin walked straight through the door, ignoring Gao Yang’s shout, and left, disappearing from sight.

In his panic, Gao Yang suddenly jolted upright from the bed.

Breathing hard in great gasps, Gao Yang felt a deep, urgent dread in his heart. But very soon he was dumbfounded to realize why he had only just sat up—then immediately understood he’d only been dreaming.

Yes, it was a dream.

Letting out a long breath, Gao Yang lowered his head and looked at his watch. It was three in the morning, still very early.

As he checked the time, Gao Yang felt his vision was blurry. He raised his hand to rub his eyes, and then realized his face was covered in tears.

Why was he crying?

Why?

Why...

Gao Yang’s tears started flowing uncontrollably.

The thing he didn’t dare admit, didn’t dare to think about, made Gao Yang shudder, struggling, as he painfully climbed off the bed.

Barefoot, staggering and fumbling along the wall, he rushed to the door. Gao Yang twisted the handle, then stood in front of Yarebin’s door. He knocked lightly a few times, waited a moment, then knocked again, and said softly, "Teacher..."

There was no response.

The Black Demon would never fail to wake when someone knocked on his door, no matter how old he was.

Gao Yang’s tears immediately streamed down in torrents. He felt it was hard to breathe, hard to stand, so with trembling hands he opened Yarebin’s door. The room was very dark, so he reached in and turned on the light.

Yarebin was lying peacefully on the bed. His jacket was neatly folded and placed beside the pillow, and his cane lay within easy reach by the bed. Everything looked just as it always did.

But Yarebin did not wake.

Yarebin could not fail to wake up. If he did not wake, it could only mean he would never wake again.

Gao Yang stumbled to the bedside. He first lifted the quilt, felt for the pulse in Yarebin’s neck, then felt for his heartbeat. Immediately he placed his hand on Yarebin’s chest, ready to start chest compressions—but when he saw the smile on Yarebin’s face, his hands wouldn’t press down.

Yarebin had left with a smile.

Gao Yang clawed at his own neck, gouging out several bloody scratches. He felt he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t draw air, and that made any movement difficult. Suddenly he began shouting, "Joseph! Joseph! Help! Call an ambulance!"

Grinding his teeth hard, Gao Yang’s hands finally pressed down—but just then, his satellite phone rang.

Gao Yang had no idea who would call at a time like this, and he didn’t want to know. He kept trying to do chest compressions for Yarebin.

Joseph ran upstairs. He took one look, then rushed forward and shoved Gao Yang aside, roaring, "Go answer your phone! Leave this to me!"

"Get out!"

Gao Yang shoved Joseph away, but Joseph used even more force to push Gao Yang back, then said very sternly, "You’ve lost it! I haven’t! Leave it to me!"

Gao Yang froze. Joseph grabbed him off the bed, then began checking Yarebin’s breathing, pulse, and heartbeat.

Following the same steps Gao Yang had just taken, Joseph let out a long sigh and said quietly, "Boss, don’t disturb the old man anymore. Calm down, Boss, calm down!"

Gao Yang stared blankly and stepped back a few paces, his voice shaking. "What are you saying? What crap are you talking? Damn it! Did you call an ambulance? Move! Get out of my way..."

The phone rang again. Joseph said in a low voice, "Boss, answer the phone. Hurry up!"

The ringing grated harshly on Gao Yang’s nerves, unbearably so. He staggered back to his room, picked up the satellite phone. He wanted to hang up, but saw the caller was Hammer, so he connected and bellowed, "What!"

"It’s Hammer! How’s the Captain? How is he? I just dreamed of him. He came to say goodbye to me. I said I’d go with him, but he walked off alone and told me to take care. Where’s the Captain? Let me talk to him, hurry."

Gao Yang slumped weakly to the floor, and then he couldn’t hold it in anymore. Sobbing, he said, "Teacher’s gone. He’s left us forever. Hammer, he’s already gone..."