The sun set, and its afterglow fell upon Suzhou, as if draping the city in a golden cloak. Apart from Hanshan Temple, all other places were filled with peace.
Even though the news of the fierce bandits at Hanshan Temple had spread online, people still felt that their lives were no different than before.
When disaster strikes, there are always unsung heroes who shield the people from storms and eliminate calamities, making everyone believe that the world is full of beauty.
Once the disaster cannot be eliminated, a beautiful life shatters like a mirror in an instant, and people begin to panic and complain. Even worse, some believe that those who have silently contributed have not done enough.
Then, as the disaster spreads completely, people finally realize that those silent heroes had already charged forward to protect their homeland, truly becoming behind-the-scenes heroes. They are saluted, and people hope they can eliminate the disaster as they have in the past.
Finally, everyone unites and stands together tightly to resist the disaster.
This is a rule, and it is human nature.
Hanshan Temple.
Yan Jun and others placed the bodies of all deceased members of the Military Department in a corner of the courtyard. Then, they stood in formation, looking at Qin Yuanzheng and Xia Xueqin.
Qin Yuanzheng and Xia Xueqin had just arrived.
Under the setting sun, their moods were heavy, and their expressions were solemn.
Because.
They saw the neatly arranged bodies – fallen heroic spirits.
They also saw Yan Jun and the others, covered in blood, with resolute expressions – living heroes, ready to fight and die at any moment.
“Salute!”
The next moment, Yan Jun suddenly shouted in a low voice.
Swish, swish, swish…
In an instant, Yan Jun and the surviving warriors of the Jiangnan Military Branch placed their sabers in their left hands, clenched their right fists over their hearts, and saluted Qin Yuanzheng and the others.
“Reporting, Chief~ Commander, the Jiangnan Branch of the Military Department, as per the Legion’s orders, has eliminated extraterrestrial enemies at all costs! To date, a total of ten extraterrestrial enemies have been killed. Among them, Master Jiang Wuming and his friends killed eight enemies. Our department killed only two enemies, and allowed one enemy to escape Hanshan Temple, thus failing to fully complete the mission assigned by the Legion…”
After saluting, Yan Jun immediately began reporting the situation at Hanshan Temple.
Swish, swish, swish…
However, before Yan Jun could finish his report, Qin Yuanzheng and Xia Xueqin and the others returned his salute.
“Comrades, you are all heroes of the people!”
As Qin Yuanzheng saluted, he interrupted Yan Jun.
There was no response.
Including Yan Jun, everyone had no trace of pride or satisfaction on their faces. Instead, they were filled with self-reproach.
This was because they had not completely fulfilled their mission, allowing an extraterrestrial enemy to escape Hanshan Temple, and felt unworthy of the title of hero.
“Yan Jun, what is the situation of the enemy who escaped?”
Qin Yuanzheng could sense the guilt and self-reproach of Yan Jun and the others. He did not comfort them, nor did he blame them. Instead, he asked.
Clearly, he understood that the immediate priority was to find the escaped extraterrestrial enemy and eliminate them at all costs!
“Reporting, Chief~ Commander…”
Yan Jun began to speak again, his tone solemn, and reported all information about Mu Ming after his arrival and departure to Qin Yuanzheng, including Mu Ming using his mental power to obtain Chen Yong’s memories, going to the ancient city to find Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Jiang Wuming immediately rushing to the ancient city after learning about it.
“Has Wuming called yet?”
After listening to the report, Qin Yuanzheng immediately asked.
“No.”
Yan Jun replied with a hoarse voice, his eyes reddening further.
Because he knew very well that if Jiang Wuming found and killed the extraterrestrial enemy, he would definitely call to inform them.
To date, Jiang Wuming’s silence meant either he hadn’t found the enemy, or he had found them but was killed by them!
Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao killed eight extraterrestrial enemies, saved their lives, and were their benefactors, as well as heroes to the people of Suzhou and even the entire Dragon Country.
Yan Jun and the others would rather die themselves than see Jiang Wuming and Dongfang Xiaoyao in trouble!
Qin Yuanzheng fell silent, a deep worry appearing on his face. At the same time, he hesitated, wondering whether to proactively call Jiang Wuming.
“Minister Yan, where is the curtain?”
Just then, Xia Xueqin swept her gaze around the courtyard of Hanshan Temple and asked with some confusion.
The confusion stemmed from the fact that before arriving at Hanshan Temple, Qin Yuanzheng had informed her that the curtain was within the Hanshan Temple courtyard. However, the courtyard was now empty of the curtain, and there were no energy fluctuations from it.
“It’s right behind us…”
Yan Jun said subconsciously, then turned around, only to find that the curtain in the courtyard had disappeared, and he froze in surprise.
Seeing Yan Jun’s expression, the other warriors of the Jiangnan Military Branch also turned around.
“The… the curtain is gone…”
The next moment, those warriors of the Jiangnan Military Branch were also stunned.
“Yan Jun, are you sure the curtain was right behind us?”
Qin Yuanzheng asked again, his worried expression replaced by anticipation.
This was because, according to the patterns derived from years of combat with extraterrestrial enemies by the Military Department, the curtain would disappear after all descending extraterrestrial enemies were killed.
Now that the curtain had disappeared, he could figure out what it meant with his toes!
“Buzz… buzz…”
The next moment, before Yan Jun could answer, his phone vibrated.
Swish!
Yan Jun also realized something, his expression changed. Without answering Qin Yuanzheng’s question, he took out his phone and saw that the caller ID was Jiang Wuming’s!
“It’s… it’s Master Jiang Wuming!!”
Upon seeing the phone number, Yan Jun became so excited that he could barely speak coherently.
“Connect it.”
Qin Yuanzheng was also very excited and quickly said.
“Minister Yan, I have found and killed the escaped extraterrestrial enemy. Is the curtain still in the courtyard?”
As soon as Yan Jun pressed the connect button, Jiang Wuming’s voice came through clearly via radio, transmitted through the speakerphone to everyone’s ears.
“Master Wuming, the curtain has disappeared…”
Yan Jun said excitedly.
“Hoo…”
Hearing Yan Jun’s answer, Jiang Wuming, who was in the Su family ancestral home, let out a long sigh of relief.
He had been to the Loulan Legion and knew what the disappearance of the curtain meant.
At this moment, Qin Yuanzheng stepped forward, flashing to stand before Yan Jun, and took his phone: “Wuming, this is Qin Yuanzheng. Are you injured?”
“Grandpa Qin, I’m fine,” Jiang Wuming replied.
“That’s good, that’s really good!”
Upon hearing this, Qin Yuanzheng first sighed with relief, then said, “Wuming, on behalf of the Eastern Region Legion, I express my sincere gratitude to you and your friends…”
“Grandpa Qin, no need for thanks. Please handle the aftermath,” Jiang Wuming interrupted Qin Yuanzheng.
He knew that the Jiangnan Military Branch had suffered heavy casualties in the battle, and Qin Yuanzheng and the others needed to collect the bodies of the fallen soldiers and comfort their families.
“Okay… okay.”
Qin Yuanzheng was slightly stunned, then swallowed the rest of his words, his face filled with gratitude.
And Yan Jun and the other members of the Jiangnan Military Branch, upon hearing Jiang Wuming’s words, their eyes reddened further, and some of them shed tears on the spot.
Tears were not a sign of weakness!
Rather, they represented the grief over the death of their comrades, and even more so, the touching sentiment brought by Jiang Wuming!
“Hoo…”
After ending the call with Jiang Wuming, Qin Yuanzheng first walked with Xia Xueqin and the others to the neatly arranged bodies, saluting them in tribute.
After doing all this, he took out his own phone and called Qi Wufu to report.
Two minutes later.
Jiang Wuming, who was in the Su family ancestral home, received a video call request from Marshal Qi Wufu of the Military Department.
Originally, Jiang Wuming was sitting by Dongfang Xiaoyao’s bed, intending to carefully examine her spiritual world. However, upon seeing the video call request on his phone, he got up, walked to the window, and answered.
“Marshal Qi…”
Soon, Qi Wufu’s figure appeared in the video frame. Jiang Wuming spoke first, and at the same time, he was somewhat confused – besides Qi Wufu, there were several unfamiliar faces in the frame.
“Salute!”
The next moment.
The answer was revealed.
Qi Wufu, along with the five elders of the Military Department behind him, saluted Jiang Wuming.
His right fist was clenched and placed over his heart.
The Elder Council of the Military Department paid their highest respect to Jiang Wuming!