Chapter 26: The Anthem of the Lone Warrior Sung by All

Liu Lei held the medal in one hand and the microphone in the other. For a moment, his voice choked with emotion and his eyes turned red.

"This medal in my left hand feels heavy," he began. "It doesn't belong to me alone. It should also belong to Zhang Shuhao, Li Qingming, and Wang Fuyong."

"When the three of them sacrificed their lives before my eyes, my heart was in turmoil."

"I was terrified that my own mistakes might give me away to the people from the XX Group."

"If that happened, not only would my three comrades have died in vain, but even the 168 compatriots from Daxia who were being held captive would be implicated."

"My condition at the time was terrible—really terrible. I knew I was in bad shape."

"I tried every way I could think of, but nothing could pull me out of it."

"In that moment, I wondered if I should even continue—not out of fear for my own life, but because I was afraid that if I went, I might endanger those 168 compatriots of ours."

As he spoke, Liu Lei seemed to recall the scene vividly, his whole body trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, the number of people watching the livestream soared into the tens of millions.

"Officer Liu, you're the best. We believe in you, and you didn't let us down. You did it!"

"My tears are welling up and I can't hold them back!"

"Long live Daxia, long live the officers of Daxia, long live Officer Liu! Salute to these lovely people!"

"It is precisely because Daxia has countless selfless people like you, Officer Liu, that our country is the safest in the world!"

"Officer Liu, we're all so proud of you!"

Tears filled the eyes of Ji Jingxian and Liu Ruotong, who were watching the livestream on their phones. Now, at last, they seemed to understand why their sons and brothers had charged ahead without hesitation, even knowing the dangers.

In moments of crisis, at the most critical junctures, there are always those who put their personal concerns aside, placing their devotion to home and country above all else.

Only when the nation is peaceful and secure can its people be truly happy.

At this moment, Liu Lei certainly could not see the flood of encouragement pouring in from countless viewers. After pausing for a moment, he seemed to recall the song that had given him strength.

"But it was a song that changed my mindset," he said. "A delivery man's song, 'The Lonely Warrior,' brought me complete calm."

"I'm sure everyone here has heard this song."

"It truly has a magical power!"

"Now, I want to take this opportunity, in front of all the media and the entire nation, to say to that delivery man: thank you."

"You didn't just save me—you saved 168 of our compatriots from Daxia."

"And it was your intervention that uprooted the XX Group, ridding our country of a poisonous tumor."

'Who says only those standing in the light are heroes?'—this lyric is for the military police, for all of us, and for you as well. You, the delivery man, contributing in your own way—the most lovable of all delivery men!"

As soon as Liu Lei finished speaking, thunderous applause filled the entire hall.

Liu Lei knew that this applause was not only for himself, but just as much for that delivery man.

"All of you are brave," Liu Lei continued in his hoarse voice, reciting, "The wound on your brow, your differences, your mistakes—none of these need to be hidden. Your battered toy, your mask, your true self."

Though Liu Lei's voice was rough and he couldn't match Su Bai's singing, and his rendition strayed from the melody at times, everyone in the hall found it beautiful.

Gradually, people began to join in, singing along with Liu Lei:

"Love you walking alone through the dark alleys
Love you for never kneeling
Love you for standing up to despair
Refusing to shed your tears
Love your ragged clothes
Yet daring to go up against the gun of fate
Love you because you are just like me
Our scars are the same."

The resounding chorus echoed throughout the hall, a mighty spirit soaring to the heavens.

They sang of the resolve they felt in the face of the enemy during their missions. They sang of the faith that spurred them to cut through thorns for their beliefs. They sang of their unyielding determination, refusing to retreat even when beset on all sides and facing despair.

So what if their clothes were in tatters? So what if their bodies were covered in wounds? Even with battered bodies, they could still stand between fate's gun and the enemy's gun!

Viewers watching the livestream were fired up, unable to contain themselves—shouting and roaring with passion.

In university dormitories, in factory worker dorms, in offices in high-rise buildings, in classrooms, in the halls of shopping malls, even in hospital wards—everywhere, people were shouting at the top of their lungs, as if venting their emotions and expressing their devotion.

"Should I go? Am I worthy? With this ragged cloak...
Fight? Fight! For the humblest of dreams...

To all those whimpers and roars in the darkness,
Who says only those standing in the light are heroes?"

When the song ended, countless viewers were still immersed in that final line, repeating it over and over:

"Who says only those standing in the light are heroes!"
"Who says only those standing in the light are heroes!"
"Who says only those standing in the light are heroes!"

It was a long time before the audience came down from their emotions. As they recovered, many suddenly realized—what had they been doing just days before?

This delivery man, Su Bai, who had created such an outstanding piece of work, had faced repeated skepticism from the online community.

If someone as talented as this, and a work as excellent as this, could be wronged and buried by public opinion, how many people would step forward for the future of our nation?

"No, I must contribute my own strength. No matter how insignificant, I have to do what I can!"

This was the voice rising from the depths of countless hearts.

And so, the first video defending Su Bai appeared online.

"I want to ask—why? Why should capital have the power to control everything? Why should capital be entitled to all the resources, while works created by ordinary people are constantly questioned?"

"How much suspicion has Su Bai, the author of 'The Lonely Warrior,' endured these past days? Everyone knows the truth!"

"One video after another distorts the facts to smear Su Bai!"

"Some people couldn't stand it and spoke up for Su Bai, only to be fired for their trouble!"

"Don't tell me there isn't something fishy going on behind the scenes—I don't buy it!"

"If Su Bai is buried or treated unfairly, then I, Shen Qiansan, will be the first to object!"

Once this video was released, it was shared wildly.

"I support my brother's words. If there are any more activities, count me in!"

"Count me in too! Why shouldn't ordinary people receive the treatment they deserve?"

"Why should the people always have to make way for capital? I refuse to accept this!"

In just a few minutes, thousands of voices of support flooded in, and shares quickly outnumbered likes—a rare phenomenon.

Everyone knew that simply liking the video would do little. Only by sharing it over and over could more people see it, and only then could it make a real impact.

This was the only way ordinary people could think of to stand up to capital.