Dreams are the fire in a youth's heart, illuminating their inner selves and filling them with hope for the world.
They are like a young person's first love, vague and beautiful.
Dreams are the pain in an adult's heart, once rooted within them, until they are gradually forgotten after being beaten down by reality, only to be talked about loudly when drunk.
They are like the girls a playboy has dated, like a simp toyed with by a femme fatale, and even more like a merciless carving knife, altering their appearance.
Dreams are also the light in a strong person's heart. No matter how dark the world becomes, they will press forward valiantly under the light's guidance, with no end in sight.
Qin Xiaozhi is an adult, and also a strong person.
Like many adults, he too speaks of dreams after getting drunk, but he has never forgotten his own dreams and strives for them.
He knows his martial arts talent is not strong enough, yet he has never slacked in his cultivation, instead working harder than many martial artists.
Besides diligent cultivation, he also delves into two other fields.
First, firearms.
Although Qin Xiaozhi knows that current individual combat weapons are unlikely to pose a threat to experts in the War God realm, he still immerses himself in this field.
This is because he possesses an 'Absolute Gun Sense' that even the King of Special Forces in the military cannot match, making him a peerless genius in this domain.
Moreover, he firmly believes that with the advancement of technology, one day this world will develop individual combat weapons for experts above the War God realm, much like scientific and biological institutions have developed gene therapies.
Second, combat command.
Qin Xiaozhi has always believed that the war between humanity and extraterrestrial enemies is not over, and that in the near future, a global-scale war will occur.
The entire population will participate, and the future will be decided in one battle!
That battle will not only pit the strength and numbers of peerless experts against each other but also their combat command.
Qin Xiaozhi has never spoken of all this to his father or grandfather. However, Jiang Wuming knows it clearly, and this is why Jiang Wuming chose Qin Xiaozhi first when selecting members for the Zhan Long team.
...
At nine o'clock the next morning, Jiang Wuming brought Qin Xiaozhi, Dongfang Xiaoyao, Xing Tian, and Huangfu Weixia to the headquarters of the Eastern Region Legion of the Martial Department to report to Qin Yuanzheng.
Although Qin Xiaozhi, Xing Tian, and Huangfu Weixia had drunk a lot the previous night, their metabolism is far beyond that of ordinary people. Even without using internal energy to expel the alcohol, after a night of rest, they were like new people, all full of vigor.
Qin Yuanzheng and Staff Officer Zhu Shengxian were already waiting at the training ground.
"Legion Commander, Chief of Staff, Jiang Wuming leads the entire Zhan Long team to report to you!"
As Jiang Wuming led the four to the training ground, he first saluted Qin Yuanzheng and Zhu Shengxian.
*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*
As Jiang Wuming finished speaking, Qin Xiaozhi and the other four immediately clenched their right fists and placed them on their chests, performing the standard Martial Department salute.
Among them, Qin Xiaozhi and Huangfu Weixia were not doing this for the first time and were very familiar with the procedure.
Xing Tian and Dongfang Xiaoyao were formally saluting the Martial Department for the first time.
Even though they had specifically learned from Qin Xiaozhi that morning, as they performed the standard Martial Department salute, they felt a strange sensation rippling through their hearts.
This was especially true for Dongfang Xiaoyao.
She recalled the scene that day at Hanshan Temple when she killed an extraterrestrial enemy, and the people from the Martial Department's Su City office saluted her in gratitude.
Qin Xiaozhi, performing the standard Martial Department salute, looked at Qin Yuanzheng's familiar face with a dazed expression.
When he was young, Qin Yuanzheng thought he was always causing trouble and sent him to the Western Region Legion of the Martial Department for tempering. During one mission, all his comrades died except him.
Those comrades died before his eyes, some even sacrificing themselves to save him. He watched them die with self-reproach and pain, then fled for his life, just to report the illegal infiltration of foreign martial artists.
However—
That operation, he was labeled a deserter and became a disgrace to the Qin family!
To this day, his name has been cleared, but his grandfather, the helmsman of the Eastern Region Legion of the Martial Department standing before him, has never discussed the events of that year with him in person, nor has he praised him in the slightest.
"The other four, state your names."
Qin Yuanzheng's gaze swept over Jiang Wuming and the other four one by one, finally settling on Qin Xiaozhi, and he spoke.
"Reporting to the Legion Commander, my name is Xing Tian!"
"Reporting to the Legion Commander, my name is Dongfang Xiaoyao!"
"Reporting to the Legion Commander, my name is Huangfu Weixia, a graduate of Donghai Martial Academy!"
"Reporting to the Legion Commander, my name is Qin Xiaozhi, formerly a member of the third patrol squad of the first reconnaissance battalion of the Northern Frontier Corps, Western Region Legion of the Martial Department!"
Qin Xiaozhi spoke last, almost roaring the words out. His voice was like a great bell, resonating through the air of the training ground.
Huh?
Upon hearing Qin Xiaozhi's words, Qin Yuanzheng's pupils widened slightly. Even Zhu Shengxian, standing beside him, looked at Qin Xiaozhi with surprise.
In fact, except for Jiang Wuming, Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia were also somewhat surprised, but they did not turn to look at Qin Xiaozhi. Instead, they kept their eyes fixed on Qin Yuanzheng and Zhu Shengxian.
"I am Qin Yuanzheng, the Commander of the Eastern Region Legion of the Martial Department, and beside me is Zhu Shengxian, the Chief of Staff of the Eastern Region Legion of the Martial Department. It is a pleasure to meet you all."
After a brief moment of surprise, Qin Yuanzheng responded and, along with Zhu Shengxian, returned the salute to Jiang Wuming and the other four.
"Not only is Jiang Wuming the captain of the Eastern Region Legion's Zhan Long team, but he is also the strongest among the younger generation in the martial arts world of Longguo, and even globally. He is hailed as the pride and future of the Martial Department, and even a hero of Longguo!"
Qin Yuanzheng lowered his arm, his gaze swept over them again, and he said seriously, "The four of you were personally selected by Jiang Wuming as team members, and you are his future comrades who will fight shoulder to shoulder.
The Martial Department's establishment of guardian teams is a major decision made in response to the current combat situation with extraterrestrial enemies, with the aim of better protecting Longguo and its people, and also to select core strengths for the future of the Martial Department!
I believe that under the leadership of Captain Jiang Wuming, the Zhan Long team will become the strongest guardian team in Longguo, and you will become the pillars of the Martial Department in the future!"
Huh?
Upon hearing Qin Yuanzheng's final words, all four, except for Jiang Wuming, were stunned—Jiang Wuming had not told them that the Martial Department would select elites from the five guardian teams for important positions in the future, or even as Marshals of the Martial Department!
"Staff Officer Zhu, would you like to say a few words?"
Qin Yuanzheng turned to Zhu Shengxian.
"Comrades, the Legion Commander has already said a lot, so I will not repeat it. I will explain the Martial Department's arrangements for the establishment of the guardian teams. Tomorrow, the Martial Department will hold a ceremony for the establishment of the guardian teams at its headquarters. At that time, Marshal Qi Wufu of the Martial Department and Chief of Staff Li Rui will both be present. The legion has arranged helicopters for you; they will take off at ten o'clock sharp to take you to the Martial Department headquarters."
Zhu Shengxian first stated the arrangements and then asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"No!"
Jiang Wuming and the other four replied in unison.
"Since there are no questions, you are dismissed. You may explore the legion headquarters and familiarize yourselves with the environment," Zhu Shengxian said.
"Yes!"
Jiang Wuming and the five received the order and dispersed on the spot.
Just then, Qin Yuanzheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Qin Xiaozhi, come here."
"Yes, Legion Commander!"
Qin Xiaozhi was startled for a moment upon hearing this, then immediately responded loudly.
Qin Yuanzheng said no more and turned towards his office.
Seeing this, Qin Xiaozhi did not follow immediately but quietly asked Jiang Wuming, "Boss, what's going on?"
"I don't know, but it should be a private conversation," Jiang Wuming shook his head and then stated his opinion.
Huh?
Upon hearing Jiang Wuming's words, Qin Xiaozhi's heart stirred, and an irrepressible excitement surged onto his face!
This conversation was something he had waited for for too long!
...