Qi Taiguo was supported back to the front of the dormitory and saw someone pulling at something. Upon closer inspection, it was the woman he had rescued during the mission gesturing, with a young soldier blocking her.
"Battalion Commander Qi is back," the young soldier called out upon seeing Qi Taiguo.
The woman turned immediately at the sound and bit her lip upon seeing Qi Taiguo.
Qi Taiguo walked over with assistance and asked, "What’s going on?"
"Battalion Commander Qi, she..."
"It’s not his fault; I wanted to come," the woman hurriedly interrupted the young soldier, glancing at Qi Taiguo’s bandaged leg, "I’ve come to tell you that I’m leaving."
Qi Taiguo responded with an "Oh."
Many of the stowaways had already been deported earlier, yet this woman had dragged on until now.
Seeing his indifferent attitude, the woman said, "I also want to thank you for saving my life. Additionally, though I’m sorry, I caused you to get injured."
She bit her lip, her young face full of guilt.
"No need to thank me; it’s our military duty. If you’ve decided, then leave. Remember, life is the most important thing. Without life, nothing else matters. By living, everything becomes possible, and there’s hope," Qi Taiguo said calmly.
The woman’s throat choked up, tears welled up, and she couldn’t speak. After a long while, she reluctantly said, "I, I didn’t do it intentionally. It’s just that it feels so unfair. Everything I suffered on the ship, the way those people treated me... I was just a little short of reaching the other side, got intercepted, and felt everything was in vain. I was unwilling to accept it, so..."
"If you feel unwilling, then live even better. In truth, as long as you’re strong enough and resilient enough, you can make a name for yourself anywhere. On the other side, hiding and dodging, maybe no one would know if you died. Is it worth it?" Qi Taiguo said softly, "It’s not only the other side that offers opportunities—in our country, there are many opportunities too. It’s just whether you can seize them."
The woman bit her lip and seemed thoughtful.

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