118: Chapter 118: Going Home! What?! They want me to attend my sister's parent-teacher conference?!

Su Han checked the time. "It's time to head out."

The members of the War Eagle Squad helped move Heibao's belongings into the car.

Houzi hung a specially made dog tag around Heibao's neck, engraved with 'Heibao - Retired Meritorious Dog' and the unit's numerical designation.

"This was specially made by our War Eagle Squad." Houzi rubbed Heibao's head. "From now on, you're an off-staff member of ours."

Heibao puffed out his chest, as if he understood what Houzi meant.

Zhou Mo checked the paperwork one last time and said to Su Han, "Chief Instructor, Heibao's files and medical card have been placed in the medicine box. The base veterinarian's phone number is also written on it; they can be reached 24 hours a day."

Su Han nodded. "Thank you for your hard work."

Xiao Budian was already impatient, pulling Heibao toward the car. "Xiao Hei, we're going home! I'll introduce you to my good friends!"

Heibao obediently followed Xiao Budian, but before getting into the car, he suddenly stopped, turned toward the training ground, held his head high, and let out a loud bark—

"Woof!"

Barks echoed from the distance one after another, as if the other dogs were seeing off this veteran.

Only then did Heibao jump into the car, quietly lying down at Xiao Budian's feet.

The car slowly drove out of the base gates. Xiao Budian leaned against the car window, excitedly pointing out the scenery to Heibao.

Through the rearview mirror, Su Han saw that Heibao was still looking in the direction of the base, his eyes showing a sense of attachment that only soldiers could understand.

"He will adapt," Su Han said softly.

Xiao Budian hugged Heibao's neck, full of confidence. "Of course! I'll make Xiao Hei the happiest dog in the world!"

Heibao turned his head, licked Xiao Budian's face, and his tail began to wag gently.

Sunlight poured through the car window onto the person and the dog, warm and bright.

Watching the Jeep gradually disappear from sight, Su Qingcheng suddenly felt her nose tingle.

Perhaps many years from now, they too would leave the stage with honor and a touch of helplessness, just like Heibao.

In the distance, Xiao Budian's cheerful voice could be heard: "Great-grandfather, can we buy a small bed for Xiao Hei?"

"Okay."

"Then can I sleep on the small bed with him?"

"..."

The military Jeep drove smoothly along the winding mountain road, the scenery outside the window changing from dense jungle to open fields.

Heibao lay quietly in the back seat, his head resting on Xiao Budian's lap, his ears twitching occasionally as if listening to the wind outside.

"Great-grandfather, Xiao Hei seems a bit carsick." Xiao Budian touched Heibao's head worriedly. "He keeps drooling."

Su Han glanced in the rearview mirror. "That's just him dissipating heat. Military dogs ride in cars often during training; he won't get carsick."

"Oh..." Xiao Budian nodded as if she understood, then pulled a bag of beef jerky from her backpack. "Would eating something make him feel better?"

Smelling the meat, Heibao immediately raised his head but didn't rush to grab it. Instead, he looked at Su Han first, only carefully taking the jerky from Xiao Budian's hand after receiving silent permission.

"He's so well-behaved!" Xiao Budian exclaimed. "He's much more sensible than the little Teddy at my deskmate's house!"

The corners of Su Han's mouth twitched upward. "Heibao has undergone professional training. Sometimes he's more disciplined than a Special Forces Soldier."

The Jeep entered the highway, and the scenery outside began to flash past.

Xiao Budian leaned against the window, looking at the rolling mountains and occasional villages in the distance.

"Great-grandfather, when will we get home?"

"Before dark." Su Han adjusted the rearview mirror. "Sleep for a while if you're tired."

Xiao Budian shook her head. "I'm not tired! I want to talk to Xiao Hei, or he'll get bored!"

As she spoke, she turned around and said to Heibao seriously, "Xiao Hei, let me tell you about school! There's a boy in our class named Wang Xiaohu who is so annoying; he's always pulling my braids..."

Heibao seemed to really be listening, letting out a 'wu' sound every now and then in response.

Su Han watched the interaction between the girl and the dog through the rearview mirror, his gaze softening.

The car drove across a bridge over a river. Sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell on the water, creating shimmering ripples.

Xiao Budian was captivated by the beautiful scenery and temporarily stopped her 'school stories.'

"Great-grandfather, that river is so pretty! Can we stop and take a look?"

"No," Su Han refused flatly. "We're traveling according to schedule."

Xiao Budian pouted but soon cheered up again. "Then when I grow up, I'll drive Xiao Hei here myself!"

"The prerequisite is that you have to learn how to drive first," Su Han said calmly.

"Great-grandfather can teach me!" Xiao Budian's eyes sparkled. "You know how to do everything!"

Su Han didn't answer, but his fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

Heibao suddenly pricked up his ears and looked forward alertly. Su Han also noticed something unusual—several police cars were parked near a highway exit ahead, and officers were setting up a checkpoint.

"Strange, why would there be a spot check at this time..." Su Han frowned and slowed down as he approached the inspection area.

A traffic officer stepped forward and gave a salute. "Comrade, please show your driver's license and vehicle registration."

Su Han handed over the documents and asked, "What happened?"

"Routine inspection." The officer carefully checked the documents and suddenly noticed Heibao in the back seat. "Is this... a military dog?"

Xiao Budian immediately hugged Heibao's neck. "He's my Xiao Hei! We're taking him home!"

The officer looked at Heibao's retirement certificate and vaccination records, then at Su Han's military ID. His expression immediately became respectful. "So it's Major Su. Sorry to take up your time."

Just as he was about to let them through, his radio suddenly crackled. "Attention all units: the suspect vehicle may be carrying dangerous items. Intercept immediately upon discovery! Repeat, intercept immediately!"

The officer's expression changed. "Major Su, there might be a situation ahead. You'd better..."

Before he could finish, a piercing screech of brakes came from behind.

A black van suddenly swerved out of the traffic flow, ignoring the police's attempts to stop it, and smashed through the roadblock!

"Stop it!" the police shouted, but the van accelerated frantically, charging toward Su Han's direction!

At the critical moment, Su Han grabbed the sidearm of the officer outside the window, slammed the gear into place, and the Jeep performed a beautiful tail-flick, stopping sideways in the middle of the road, perfectly blocking the van's path!

"Xiao Budian, get down!" Su Han shouted sternly, while quickly unbuckling his seatbelt.

Seeing its path blocked, the van didn't slow down at all and crashed straight toward them!

In the instant before the two vehicles collided, Su Han pushed the door open and leaped out like a flash of lightning, drawing the handgun at the same time.

"Bang!"

A gunshot rang out, and the van's front right tire blew out!

The out-of-control van spun and crashed into the roadside guardrail. The doors flew open, and three masked men jumped out and ran!

"Heibao!" Su Han commanded.

The previously docile Heibao instantly turned into a bolt of black lightning, leaping out of the car window and pouncing on the lead thug with incredible speed!

"Ah!" the thug screamed as he was pinned to the ground by Heibao, his arm held in a death grip.

Seeing this, the other two thugs actually pulled out daggers!

"You're looking for death!" Su Han's eyes turned cold, and he fired two shots.

"Bang! Bang!"

The bullets accurately struck the thugs' wrists, and the daggers fell to the ground.

The police who rushed over immediately subdued the three men.

"Major Su! Thank you so much!" The traffic officer ran over, his face full of admiration. "These three are bank robbers, and there are explosives hidden in the van!"

Su Han returned the handgun to him and walked toward the Jeep. "Xiao Budian?"

The back window slowly rolled down, revealing Xiao Budian's pale face. "Great-Great-grandfather... Xiao Hei..."

"He's fine." Su Han looked nearby; Heibao had already released the thug and was sitting nearby, alertly watching the subdued criminals.

The police officers surrounded Heibao, both admiring him and not daring to get too close.

"What... what an incredible dog..." a young officer murmured.

Xiao Budian suddenly pushed the door open and stumbled toward Heibao. "Xiao Hei!"

Heibao immediately turned and trotted to meet her, gently rubbing his head against her leg, showing none of his previous ferocity.

Su Han walked over and knelt down to check Heibao's teeth. "He's not hurt."

"He's so brave!" Xiao Budian hugged Heibao's neck tightly, her voice still trembling slightly. "He protected everyone!"

"He was just carrying out his mission." Su Han stood up and looked at the thugs being loaded into the police car. "A military dog's duty."

The scene was quickly cleared. The police officer in charge thanked Su Han repeatedly and said he would apply for a merit for him with his superiors.

"No need," Su Han declined flatly. "I'm in a hurry."

After getting back on the road, Xiao Budian was uncharacteristically quiet, her small hand constantly stroking Heibao's head.

"Scared?" Su Han looked at her in the rearview mirror.

Xiao Budian shook her head. "I was thinking... did Xiao Hei catch bad guys like this often before?"

"Yes."

"Then would he... would he have been badly hurt?"

Su Han was silent for a moment. "For military dogs, just like soldiers, getting injured is a common occurrence."

Xiao Budian suddenly hugged Heibao tightly. "I will definitely take good care of him from now on! I won't let him get hurt again!"

Heibao seemed to understand and gently licked Xiao Budian's face.

As the sun set, the Jeep's shadow stretched long on the highway.

Xiao Budian finally couldn't resist her exhaustion and fell asleep leaning against Heibao.

Heibao carefully adjusted his position to make her more comfortable.

Su Han watched this scene through the rearview mirror, his gaze soft.

"Let's go home," he said softly, stepping on the gas and accelerating toward home.

...

Finally, before dark, the car stopped at the gate of the high-end residential complex where Su Wu lived.

At this time, Su Wu was waiting at the gate.

"Third Grandpa!"

Su Wu hurried to meet them.

"Daddy!"

Xiao Budian threw herself toward Su Wu. "Daddy, Xiao Budian missed you so much!"

Su Wu hugged Xiao Budian and said with a smile, "Sweetie, Daddy missed you too."

"Daddy! Daddy!" Xiao Budian bounced excitedly. "Look, look, this is Xiao Hei! Great-grandfather said he's part of our family now!"

Xiao Budian turned and waved to Heibao. "Xiao Hei, come! This is my daddy!"

Heibao walked to Su Wu with steady steps, head held high, his gaze sharp yet gentle.

Su Wu knelt down and carefully looked at this majestic military dog. "Is this the meritorious dog you mentioned?"

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Budian puffed out her little chest proudly. "Xiao Hei is amazing! He's caught many bad guys and has even been awarded the Third-Class Merit three times!"

As she spoke, she stood on her tiptoes and pointed at the dog tag on Heibao's neck. "Look, the uncles in the army made this especially for Xiao Hei! It says 'Retired Meritorious Dog' on it!"

Su Wu gently stroked Heibao's head and noticed a clear scar on his left hind leg. "This is..."

"This is his medal!" Xiao Budian cut in, her little face full of seriousness. "Great-grandfather said that scars on a soldier's body are symbols of honor! Xiao Hei was injured while saving his handler uncle!"

Heibao seemed to understand Xiao Budian's words; he let out a soft 'wu' and rubbed his head against Su Wu's hand.

Su Wu couldn't help but be moved. "Good boy, Heibao." He stood up and smiled at the approaching Su Han. "Third Grandpa, you've really brought back a 'war hero' this time."

Su Han nodded slightly. "He deserves a better retirement."

"Xiao Hei is so smart!" Xiao Budian shook Su Wu's hand back and forth. "He understands so many commands and even helps me find things!"

After entering the house, Xiao Budian took Heibao to get familiar with the new environment, while Su Wu served Su Han a bowl of hot soup.

"Third Grandpa, how long can you stay this time?"

"A week." Su Han took a sip of the soup. "There are still tasks at the Military Region."

"That's perfect then!" Su Wu's eyes lit up. "Tomorrow is Third Great-Aunt's school parent-teacher meeting. Do you want to attend? If she knows you're back, she'll definitely be thrilled."

Su Han's expression suddenly turned awkward. "Xiao Nuan's parent-teacher meeting? Me attending?"