"Clap, clap, clap…"
On the podium, Jiang Wuming and Qi Wufu saluted each other, and the auditorium erupted in warm applause again.
The applause was for Jiang Wuming and for this special moment of transition.
Then, amidst the enthusiastic applause, the two lowered their arms. Jiang Wuming stepped down with the medal, while Qi Wufu returned to his seat.
According to the commendation ceremony's procedure, Long Shengzhe was to give a speech, followed by Qi Wufu's concluding remarks.
This was also why the political commissars of the major military regions and mid-level and above personnel from the Military Department Headquarters attended the commendation ceremony. They were to listen to the directives of their superiors and deploy future work accordingly.
At 11:30 AM, the commendation ceremony concluded successfully. Qi Wufu and Li Rui saw Long Shengzhe off in his car, and then had lunch with the entire Zhanlong team led by Jiang Wuming and the political commissars of all military regions.
"Wuming, the Grand Elder asked me to inform you before he left that he wants to see you. Go see him at 3 PM this afternoon," Qi Wufu said to Jiang Wuming privately before lunch.
"Marshal, why does the Grand Elder want to see me?"
Jiang Wuming was somewhat surprised.
His trip north to the capital this time, besides attending the commendation assembly, was also to take this opportunity to meet Long Shengzhe, and even to discuss his father's affairs from back then with him. However, he hadn't found a suitable reason or opportunity. He hadn't expected Long Shengzhe to ask to see him proactively.
"I don't know."
Qi Wufu shook his head. Long Shengzhe hadn't told him why he wanted to see Jiang Wuming.
Jiang Wuming fell into thought.
"Wuming, you don't need to overthink it. Just meet him normally. It shouldn't be anything bad," Qi Wufu added, offering his judgment.
Although he didn't know why Long Shengzhe had suddenly decided to attend the commendation ceremony and implicitly show support for Jiang Wuming, it was a good thing for the Military Department and for Jiang Wuming.
"Alright, Marshal."
Jiang Wuming nodded. He had a feeling that Long Shengzhe's appearance was a bit sudden, but he didn't dwell on it further.
After all, he would know Long Shengzhe's purpose once they met.
…
At 2:50 PM, Jiang Wuming arrived outside the highly exclusive red-walled compound and was stopped by the guards at the entrance.
Jiang Wuming stated his identity and purpose. After the guards checked his credentials, they allowed him to pass in the car with Military Department plates.
Subsequently, the driver followed instructions and drove to the entrance of a courtyard.
Jiang Wuming got out of the car and underwent another identity and security check.
Jiang Wuming was very cooperative throughout the entire process.
He knew it was the guards' job and a regulation that had to be followed.
After entering the courtyard, Jiang Wuming followed the guards' directions to an ancient-style building and stopped. His eyes widened in shock as he looked at a person at the entrance.
Judging by his build, the person was a man, his age indistinguishable, with a robust physique, exuding the terrifying aura of a Five-Star War God!
However—
What truly shocked Jiang Wuming was not the mysterious man's powerful aura, but the ghost mask he wore on his face!
After his adoptive father, Su Shirong, died, a mysterious man wearing a ghost mask had found Su Yuanshan and informed him that Su Shirong's death was not an accident but a deliberate murder. He also revealed that Su Shirong's comrades had all died, and urged Su Yuanshan to quickly arrange for Liu Guifang, Su Shiyun, and Jiang Wuming to leave the Su family, otherwise, they would be in great danger, and the Su family would be implicated!
For this reason, Su Yuanshan staged a scheme of self-inflicted injury, severing ties with Liu Guifang, Su Shiyun, and Jiang Wuming, and driving them out of the Su family. The three were forced to go to Liu Guifang's maternal home—the Liu family, where they lived as dependents.
At the age of twelve, Jiang Wuming learned of his true origins, left the Liu family, and only returned to the Liu family when Su Shiyun was forced to marry Zheng Fei, a dandy from the Zheng family, to stop the marriage and make the Zheng family pay a heavy price!
After this incident, Su Yuanshan appeared and revealed the secrets of those years, telling Jiang Wuming that the reason he dared to come to the Liu family to bring Liu Guifang, Su Shiyun, and Jiang Wuming back to the Su family was that he had seen the mysterious man again and learned that the crisis had been eliminated.
At that time, when Jiang Wuming heard this news, he suspected that the mysterious man was related to his master, Daoist Tianlong!
After all, Daoist Tianlong had arranged for Jiang Wuming to wear a ghost mask while on a mission.
This was also why, when he led the members of the Zhanlong Hall in battles in the dark world, he was hailed as the Ghost-Faced War God.
However, when Jiang Wuming later asked Daoist Tianlong about the mysterious man, the latter said he had nothing to do with him and was unaware of the matter Jiang Wuming mentioned.
For this reason, Jiang Wuming had always been curious: Who was the mysterious man wearing the ghost mask?
Why had he approached Su Yuanshan twice to warn him?
These two questions had always lingered in Jiang Wuming's mind, with no answers to this day.
Under such circumstances, to suddenly see the mysterious man wearing the ghost mask, and in this red-walled compound symbolizing absolute power, how could he not be shocked?!
Outside the gate of the ancient-style building, the masked man saw Jiang Wuming staring at him in shock. His eyes were calm, as if he didn't care at all.
"Hoo…"
A few seconds later, Jiang Wuming took a deep breath, walked towards the masked man, and said, "Hello, I am Jiang Wuming. The Grand Elder asked me to come find him at three o'clock."
"He is already waiting for you in his office," the masked man replied calmly.
"Okay."
Jiang Wuming nodded, then hesitated and asked, "Excuse me, did you once go to the Su family ancestral home in Sucheng and look for someone named Su Yuanshan?"
The masked man gently nodded, admitting to it.
Flash!
Although Jiang Wuming's intuition had told him the moment he first saw the person that this was the mysterious man from back then, and his rational deduction suggested a high probability, his expression couldn't help but change when he saw the man nod!
"I know you have many questions. Go in and ask the Grand Elder. He can answer everything you want to know."
Later, when Jiang Wuming recovered and wanted to ask again, the masked man spoke first.
"Okay."
Jiang Wuming nodded again, then walked towards the ancient building that commanded awe from all the important figures in the Dragon Country.
"Wait."
Seeing Jiang Wuming about to walk away, a hint of surprise flashed in the masked man's eyes, and he called out to stop Jiang Wuming.
"Do you need anything else?"
Jiang Wuming stopped and turned to ask.
"You should know how special his identity is. I'll give you a reminder: if anything unpleasant happens during your conversation, do not reveal any killing intent, not even a trace. Otherwise, you will become a corpse."
The masked man spoke again, his tone calm but bone-chilling.
This was a warning from a Five-Star War God!
"Understood."
Jiang Wuming glanced at him thoughtfully and replied, his heart vaguely feeling that his meeting with Long Shengzhe would not be as good as Qi Wufu had said—otherwise, the masked man wouldn't have needed to issue a warning!
As this thought flashed through his mind, Jiang Wuming arrived at the door of the ancient-style building and pushed the door open.
Then…
The young man strode into the ancient building symbolizing power, to face the Grand Elder Long Shengzhe alone!
…