"Pfft—"
As Huangfu Weixia, with Jiang Wuming's assistance, eliminated an enemy, Dongfang Xiaoyao, on the other side, moved like a nimble snake, swiftly severing an enemy's throat with a single strike.
This strike lacked ferocity but was fatal.
This was Dongfang Xiaoyao's combat style.
As a Shadow Phantom of the War Dragon Hall, her battles might not be aesthetically pleasing, but they were absolutely deadly, with almost every move being a killing blow.
"Clang!"
"Pfft—"
A few seconds later, sounds echoed from not far away.
Xing Tian clashed swords with an enemy, sending the latter's blade flying. His momentum unflagging, he cleaved the enemy in two from top to bottom.
His combat style was the antithesis of Dongfang Xiaoyao's, emphasizing grand, sweeping attacks and overwhelming force to break all defenses.
In comparison, Xing Tian's style was more suited for the battlefield, capable of boosting morale.
Dongfang Xiaoyao, on the other hand, was more adept at assassination, living up to her moniker, Shadow Phantom—appearing and disappearing without a trace, leaving no witnesses!
With Dongfang Xiaoyao and Xing Tian successfully eliminating their respective opponents, the battle concluded. The grand curtain at the entrance of Putuo Temple instantly dimmed and then vanished.
The disappearance of the curtain signified that no second wave of enemies would descend here.
Upon witnessing this, Dongfang Xiaoyao, Huangfu Weixia, and Xing Tian tacitly moved behind Jiang Wuming.
Meanwhile, Qin Xiaozhi, seeing this, retracted his sniper rifle and prepared to withdraw from his sniping position.
"Brother Zhi, come over,"
Soon after Qin Xiaozhi put away his sniper rifle, Jiang Wuming's voice came through the radio.
"Yes, Captain!"
Qin Xiaozhi acknowledged the order and then rapidly sprinted towards the entrance of Putuo Temple.
Soon, the five members of the War Dragon squad regrouped. Members of the Tuoshan office of the Military Department, upon receiving orders, began returning to the entrance of Putuo Temple to clear the battlefield.
"Uh..."
When the members of the Tuoshan office arrived at the combat scene, they were instantly stunned.
Even though they had received orders from the operations command center, informing them that the battle was over and that the War Dragon squad had eliminated the enemies, they were still shocked by the scene before them!
At the entrance of Putuo Temple, ten extraterrestrial enemies, including Mu Qing, lay in pools of blood. Most of their bodies were dismembered. The entire War Dragon squad, led by Jiang Wuming, was completely unharmed!
And they clearly remembered that among the extraterrestrial enemies who descended, there was a seventh-stage three-star War God, a ninth-stage two-star War God, five one-star War Gods, and two nine-star martial artists.
Additionally, there was a spiritual cultivator suspected to be a ninth-stage two-star War God!
The overall strength of the War Dragon squad and the extraterrestrial enemies was vastly different, yet they had completed the mission with zero casualties!
How could this not shock them?!
"Salute to the War Dragon squad!"
After their shock subsided, the head of the Tuoshan office shouted in a low voice. He then shifted his saber to his left hand, clenched his right fist, and placed it over his heart, leading the way in saluting Jiang Wuming and the others.
Swish, swish, swish...
The other members of the Tuoshan office immediately followed suit.
"You're too kind. The rest of the work is yours,"
Jiang Wuming first returned the salute to the members of the Tuoshan office with Qin Xiaozhi and the other three. Then, he said with a smile.
"Yes, General!"
The head of the Tuoshan office accepted the order and led his subordinates in clearing the battlefield.
They were responsible for collecting the bodies and equipment of the extraterrestrial enemies and handing them over to the relevant military departments. Simultaneously, they had to coordinate with the police and other relevant departments to contain the news and repair the damage caused by the battle.
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming stopped talking and led his team to the armed helicopter.
Before boarding, Jiang Wuming used the special communicator on his wrist to contact the Eastern Region Military Command Operations Room and reported:
"Reporting, the War Dragon squad has eliminated the ten extraterrestrial enemies that descended upon Putuo Temple, successfully completing the mission. Requesting instructions!"
"Wuming, the Chief of Staff, myself, and all comrades in the operations command center watched your entire battle with the extraterrestrial enemies through the police surveillance footage—well done!"
In the Eastern Region Military Command Operations Room, Qin Yuanzheng had already been waiting by the control desk for Jiang Wuming's report call. He grabbed the intercom, his emotions subtly agitated.
"War Dragon squad, you are the pride of our Eastern Region Military, and the Eastern Region Military is proud of you!"
At this moment, Qin Yuanzheng's voice was loud and clear, not only for Jiang Wuming but also for Qin Xiaozhi and the other four.
Among them, Huangfu Weixia, who was participating in her first battle, appeared extremely excited, feeling as if a rookie had completed their first mission and achieved great merit.
Jiang Wuming, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Xing Tian, however, maintained calm expressions.
Qin Xiaozhi's expression was also calm, but the muscles around his eyes twitched uncontrollably.
At this moment, he was like the surface of a surging river, appearing calm but inwardly anything but!
"Wuming, hand over the subsequent work to the comrades of the Tuoshan office, and you lead your team back to the base to rest!"
Just then, Qin Yuanzheng's voice sounded again, issuing a new order.
"Yes, Commander!"
Jiang Wuming acknowledged the order, and the call ended.
"Board the helicopter, return to base!"
Jiang Wuming lowered his right hand, giving the command. At the same time, he keenly sensed a hint of loss flicker across Qin Xiaozhi's brow.
That sense of loss was fleeting!
"Yes!"
Qin Xiaozhi and the other four acknowledged the order. Dongfang Xiaoyao boarded the helicopter first and took the pilot's seat. Xing Tian and Huangfu Weixia also boarded.
As Qin Xiaozhi was about to board, his steps suddenly halted.
Because he felt Jiang Wuming's hand on his shoulder, he turned to look at Jiang Wuming.
Jiang Wuming smiled and patted Qin Xiaozhi's shoulder, saying nothing.
Qin Xiaozhi also grinned and then boarded the helicopter.
Silence spoke louder than words.
They were brothers, comrades, and confidants; they understood each other perfectly!
...
At the same time, in the Eastern Region Military Command Operations Room.
Including Chief of Staff Zhu Shengxian, everyone's gaze was drawn to Qin Yuanzheng.
Earlier, they all thought Qin Yuanzheng would talk to Qin Xiaozhi, but he hadn't.
This left them perplexed!
After all, Qin Yuanzheng had questioned Jiang Wuming's decision to have Qin Xiaozhi act as a sniper before the battle.
This might have been overheard by Qin Xiaozhi.
And in this battle, Qin Xiaozhi had achieved legendary status, vindicating himself, and his contribution was even greater than Jiang Wuming's!
Under such circumstances, Qin Yuanzheng should have said a few words to Qin Xiaozhi.
"Old Qin, why didn't you say a few words to Xiaozhi just now? Were you afraid of setting a bad precedent?"
As they left the operations command room, Chief of Staff Zhu Shengxian asked about his doubts.
"No."
Qin Yuanzheng gently shook his head and said with a wry smile, "The next time I see him, I will apologize to him in front of the entire Qin family!"
"So that's how it is!"
Zhu Shengxian understood, and immediately gave a thumbs up.
"Ding—"
At the same time, a crisp sound rang out as Qin Yuanzheng's personal phone rang.
Qin Yuanzheng took out his phone and saw it was Qi Wufu calling. He answered, "Marshal."
"Yuanzheng, have someone send the video of the War Dragon squad's battle at Putuo Temple to the official forum of the Military Department for everyone to learn from!"
Qi Wufu got straight to the point and issued an order.
"Yes, Commander!"
Qin Yuanzheng straightened his back and loudly acknowledged the order, his eyes filled with excitement.
Although he didn't know why Qi Wufu wanted him to do this, he knew that by releasing the video of the War Dragon squad's battle, it would surely cause a sensation in the martial arts world of the Dragon Kingdom and even globally.
...