The arrival of extraterrestrial enemies at Hanshan Temple did not affect the people of Suzhou.
To be precise, apart from a few special individuals like the leaders of the Martial Department's Jiangnan Branch and the police, the common people of Suzhou, and even the entire Dragon Country, were unaware of the incident. Their lives continued as usual.
As night fell, Suzhou's major entertainment venues and night markets were crowded and as lively as ever.
Suzhou Grand Hotel was the official hotel of Suzhou.
Su Shiyun, Liu Guifang, and Su Yuanshan were staying here.
This was Su Shiyun's decision.
Although she didn't know the specific situation at Hanshan Temple, when she received Jiang Wuming's call and was asked to leave the Su family ancestral home and find a hotel, she first chose a hotel with official status to increase her sense of security.
At eight o'clock in the evening, in her room, Dongfang Xiaoyao was not meditating and cultivating as usual. Instead, she sat at her desk, opened her laptop, and logged into the Shenwang Forum.
"Extraterrestrial Enemies Descend on Suzhou, Dragon Country's Martial Department Jiangnan Branch Suffers Heavy Losses, Jiang Wuming Turns the Tide!"
"Jiang Wu's First Battle Against Extraterrestrial Enemies in Loulan Ancient City!"
Upon entering the homepage of the Shenwang Forum, Dongfang Xiaoyao was met with two pinned and highlighted posts, both related to Jiang Wuming. She clicked into them and, as usual, began to browse with great interest.
It took her a full half hour to finish reading the posts and their popular comments. The corners of her mouth curved upwards, and a bright smile bloomed on her pretty face.
Browsing the Shenwang Forum and keeping track of everything related to Jiang Wuming was the happiest thing she did daily after returning to the Dragon Country, besides her trip to Nan Guang.
Huh?
As Dongfang Xiaoyao smiled happily and was about to close the forum page, her gaze was instantly drawn to a new post.
"According to reliable sources, the Dragon Country's Martial Department will establish five guardian squads!"
Dongfang Xiaoyao clicked into the post out of curiosity upon seeing the title and then read its content.
The whistleblower claimed that due to the new landing sites of extraterrestrial enemies, the Martial Department had decided in a meeting to establish a guardian squad in each of the five major military regions – East, South, West, North, and Central – to ensure the safety of the country and its people. These guardian squads would be responsible for the daily patrols and rescue operations in their respective regions, with extremely high specifications.
"Will he join a guardian squad?"
After finishing the post, Dongfang Xiaoyao's mind conjured Jiang Wuming's image. She couldn't help but ask herself.
"Ding——"
The next moment, before Dongfang Xiaoyao could find an answer in her mind, her phone rang.
Dongfang Xiaoyao immediately picked up her phone. Upon seeing that the caller ID displayed Jiang Wuming's name, a hint of surprise appeared on her pretty face, and she pressed the answer button.
"Xiaoyao, Shiyun jie's phone is busy. Tell her later that she can bring my mom and Grandpa Su back tomorrow morning." Jiang Wuming spoke first as soon as the call was connected.
"Brother Wuming, there's a landing site for extraterrestrial enemies at Hanshan Temple. Will Grandpa Su, Aunt Liu, and Shiyun jie continue to live in the Su family ancestral home?" Dongfang Xiaoyao asked after a moment of hesitation.
"Yes. The Martial Department has dispatched a five-star War God elder to guard Hanshan Temple, so there will be no trouble." Jiang Wuming replied.
Originally, Jiang Wuming had also planned to have Su Yuanshan, Liu Guifang, and Su Shiyun move out of Suzhou. However, after learning about the extraterrestrial enemies' next movements from his senior brother, and with the Martial Department assigning Zhou Hetu to assist the Eastern Region Military Command in guarding Hanshan Temple, he was no longer worried about their safety.
"Tomorrow morning, you will accompany me to the Suzhou Office of the Martial Department. They want to thank you in person," Jiang Wuming added.
"Okay."
Although Dongfang Xiaoyao didn't care about the thanks from the members of the Suzhou Office of the Martial Department, she had no objections since Jiang Wuming had arranged it this way.
She just needed to do as Jiang Wuming said, without considering anything else.
This had always been her habit.
"Also, Xiaoyao, I've decided to join the Eastern Region Military Command of the Martial Department and form the guardian squad for the Eastern Region Military Command. You will join too..."
"Okay!"
This time, before Jiang Wuming could finish, Dongfang Xiaoyao replied first, as if she was afraid he would go back on his word.
"???"
Jiang Wuming smiled wryly and then hung up the phone.
Wonderful!
At the same time, Dongfang Xiaoyao put down her phone, so excited that she jumped and skipped, even feeling the urge to shout to the sky.
Shadow Phantom of the War Dragon Hall.
Following Jiang Wuming into battle as a shadow of the War Dragon Hall!
She had waited for this day for far too long!
...
Meanwhile, at a secret base of the War Dragon Hall.
Qin Xiaozhi, holding a bottle of vodka, sat alone in the hall, drinking.
Not far away, Xing Tian sat cross-legged, meditating and cultivating.
"Xing Tian."
Suddenly, Qin Xiaozhi took a swig of vodka, known for its potent spirit, and called out to Xing Tian.
"Swish!"
Xing Tian heard the sound, opened his eyes abruptly, and looked at Qin Xiaozhi in confusion: "What is it?"
"Come over and have a couple of drinks with me," Qin Xiaozhi said.
"No, I'm meditating and cultivating," Xing Tian shook his head.
"Sigh..."
Upon hearing this, a hint of envy appeared on Qin Xiaozhi's brows. Then, he thought of something and couldn't help but sigh.
He didn't lack perseverance or motivation, and he had also cultivated diligently like Xing Tian. However, due to his talent, his ceiling had always been suppressed very low, and it would be difficult for him to break through to the War God realm in this lifetime.
"Xing Tian, I just received a call from my grandfather. The Dragon Country's Martial Department is going to establish five guardian squads. Boss agreed to join the guardian squad of the Eastern Region Military Command and will serve as captain," Qin Xiaozhi spoke again.
"Oh."
Xing Tian responded subconsciously, then suddenly realized something was wrong. He jumped up abruptly and rushed to Qin Xiaozhi, asking excitedly, "You mean we can return to the country and fight alongside Boss?!"
"It's you, not us," Qin Xiaozhi sighed.
"What do you mean? Boss doesn't want you to go back? Or you don't want to go back?" Xing Tian scratched his head, looking confused.
"Of course, I want to go back. But according to my grandfather, the guardian squads of the five major military regions of the Dragon Country are established to resist extraterrestrial enemies. The enemies' strength is estimated to be between one-star and three-star War Gods. Do you think I am qualified to join a guardian squad?"
Qin Xiaozhi smiled bitterly, and before Xing Tian could answer, he raised his neck and gulped down the remaining half bottle of vodka.
As he said, he wanted to go back.
Very much so.
He wanted to follow Jiang Wuming's footsteps and fight together as he had in the past.
Besides that, the Qin family's double War Gods were famous in the Dragon Country's Martial Department.
And he was known as the Qin family's failure.
Yes!
Even though his crime of desertion from years ago had been cleared, in the minds of the high-ranking officials and contemporary members of the Dragon Country's Martial Department, he was a failure.
The Qin family's martial arts inheritance would be interrupted in his generation!
Seeing Qin Xiaozhi's actions and feeling his disappointment, Xing Tian didn't know how to comfort him for a moment.
Because, being not particularly bright, he had always agreed with Qin Xiaozhi's reasoning and had gotten used to not refuting him.
In fact.
In the War Dragon Hall, apart from Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao, no one would question any decision or word made by Qin Xiaozhi.
Moreover, even Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao had never refuted Qin Xiaozhi!
"I'll drink with you..."
Perhaps sensing that Qin Xiaozhi was too upset, Xing Tian decided not to cultivate tonight. He picked up a bottle of wine and intended to drink with Qin Xiaozhi.
However—
Just then, a light "ding" sound echoed in the quiet hall.
Qin Xiaozhi's satellite phone rang. He picked up his phone and saw that it was a call from Jiang Wuming.
"Xing Tian, Boss is calling. He probably wants you to go back to the country. Go and prepare."
Seeing the call, Qin Xiaozhi didn't answer immediately. He said to Xing Tian instead. Da Feng Novel Network.
Xing Tian remained silent, just looking at Qin Xiaozhi.
Qin Xiaozhi took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and answered the call: "Boss."
"Xiaozhi, you and Xing Tian will return to the country tomorrow!"
Jiang Wuming got straight to the point.
"Boss... Boss, my grandfather told me about you joining the Eastern Region Military Command. Are you asking me and Xing Tian to go back and join the guardian squad?" Qin Xiaozhi understood clearly and brought up the matter himself. Da Feng Novel.
"Mm."
"Boss, Xing Tian can go back by himself. My strength is too weak, and I won't be of any use. I won't join, so as not to waste a spot," Qin Xiaozhi said softly.
Although he desperately wanted to join the guardian squad with Jiang Wuming, he also knew that the guardian squad would face one dangerous battle after another in the future.
He couldn't be selfish, waste a spot, become a burden to the squad, and increase the risk of casualties among the squad members.
"Brother Zhi, I'm asking you to join the guardian squad, not because you are the grandson of Qin Yuanzheng, nor because you are my brother Jiang Wuming, but because your name is Qin Xiaozhi – a small person with great wisdom, you are the strategist of the War Dragon Hall and the deputy captain of the War Dragon Squad of the Eastern Region Military Command of the Dragon Country's Martial Department!"
Jiang Wuming, in a rare instance, used the title "Brother Zhi," explained the reason, and then said sternly:
"Qin Xiaozhi, as the captain of the War Dragon Squad, I order you and Xing Tian to return to the Dragon Country tomorrow and report to me. Can you do it?!"
"Yes, Captain!!"
Qin Xiaozhi straightened his body abruptly and shouted with all his might.
As he shouted, Qin Xiaozhi's eyes reddened. He waited for three full seconds, and only after confirming that Jiang Wuming had hung up the phone did he put down his phone.
"I was just about to say that Boss would never..."
Xing Tian stepped forward immediately upon seeing this.
However—
He stopped halfway through his sentence.
Because he clearly saw the young man, who called himself a small person with great wisdom, suddenly squat down on the ground, burying his head deeply, clenching his fists, his body slightly trembling, and tears splashing onto the floor.
"Thank you, Boss. I am not a failure, nor will I be a burden!"
The young man said softly to himself, his eyes red.
...