Jiang Wuming did not hear the evaluation of the mysterious man wearing a ghost-face mask. After leaving the ancient building, he took a car and departed.
"Stop the car by the roadside, you can go back."
After the special car with a military department license plate drove out of the red-walled compound, Jiang Wuming suddenly spoke.
"Yes!"
The driver immediately acknowledged and then pulled over.
"Marshal, did I do something wrong to displease you?"
As the car stopped, the driver asked with unease.
Originally, for him, driving into the red-walled compound today would have been the highlight of his life! He had even thought about how he would brag to his friends and family, telling them what it was like inside the red-walled compound. However, Jiang Wuming's words were like a basin of ice water poured over his head, instantly sobering him up and making him feel deeply uneasy. This was because, as a member of the military department, he knew how transcendent Jiang Wuming's status was within the department, even being able to meet with the Grand Elder Long Shengzhe alone. This was something the younger generation in Long Country wouldn't even dare to dream of! If such a promising young man with a bright future were displeased with him, his own future would be bleak. This was also the reason why a saying once became popular in some units – "Better to offend the old than the young!"
"No, I just want to walk by myself. You've worked hard."
Jiang Wuming was slightly taken aback by the driver's question, but he quickly saw through the driver's thoughts and said with a smile.
"Alright, Marshal!"
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words, the driver immediately responded. After Jiang Wuming got out of the car, he let out a long sigh of relief and then reported the situation truthfully. His mission was to be responsible for Jiang Wuming's travel, and now that Jiang Wuming wanted to walk by himself, he had to report it to his superiors.
After Jiang Wuming got out of the car, he walked alone on the street. Although this was outside the red-walled compound, there were almost no people around. Instead, there were hidden sentries responsible for security. Jiang Wuming ignored these sentries and walked while recalling his meeting and conversation with Long Shengzhe that day.
Realism, dominance. This was the impression Long Shengzhe left on Jiang Wuming after their meeting and conversation. Regarding realism, Jiang Wuming already understood that Long Shengzhe sought him out not because of the great achievements he and the Battle Dragon team had made, but because he had restored Xia Xueqin, who was on the verge of death, to her prime – making her look young again! This was almost a divine ability, enough to make all the big figures' hearts flutter! And when Long Shengzhe learned the truth behind the "youthful rejuvenation," he immediately changed the subject, poured tea, and adopted a demeanor of seeing Jiang Wuming off, which was the epitome of realism. He had obtained the information he wanted, and having confirmed that Jiang Wuming could not meet his demands, he lost interest in conversing with Jiang Wuming! In fact, reason told Jiang Wuming that Long Shengzhe's attendance at the commendation ceremony and his support for him were largely due to a misunderstanding that Jiang Wuming could "rejuvenate."
Regarding dominance, Long Shengzhe had held high positions for a long time and wielded great power. He not only possessed inherent authority, but his words and actions could not be questioned. This was fully evident in the subsequent conversation between Jiang Wuming and Long Shengzhe!
"Ding—"
Just as these thoughts flashed through Jiang Wuming's mind, the special communicator on his wrist rang, pulling him back from his thoughts. He realized he had moved far away from the area of the red-walled compound, and the pedestrian traffic on the street had increased. He glanced at the incoming call, found that the caller was Qi Wufu, and walked to a relatively secluded and quiet corner to answer the phone.
"Wuming, I just got news that you've met Long Shengzhe and left there?"
After the call was connected, Qi Wufu spoke first. He had contacted Jiang Wuming as soon as he received the report. This was because he felt that Jiang Wuming's sudden suggestion to walk by himself was somewhat unusual and implied that his meeting with Long Shengzhe had encountered problems.
"Yes, Marshal," Jiang Wuming replied.
"Why did you suddenly decide to walk? Did your conversation with him go unpleasantly?" Qi Wufu asked again.
"It was indeed not very pleasant." Jiang Wuming did not hide anything. He had always regretted that his father, who was stationed in Loulan Ancient City, could not meet him. He knew that Long Shengzhe was the instigator, but the latter did not seem to care about it at all, nor did he believe that his actions were problematic in any way, including the deaths of Su Shirong and others! This made Jiang Wuming somewhat angry, even to the point of directly mocking Long Shengzhe to his face!
Jiang Wuming's answer confirmed Qi Wufu's judgment. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "Wuming, could you tell me the content and details of your conversation?"
"Marshal, it's like this..." Jiang Wuming did not conceal anything and truthfully told Qi Wufu everything that had transpired during his conversation with Long Shengzhe.
After listening, Qi Wufu was silent for a few seconds and said, "Wuming, please believe me, I am different from him. No matter what happens, my and the military department's support for you will not change!"
"I understand, thank you, Marshal." Jiang Wuming could feel Qi Wufu's sincerity. He responded with a smile and then changed the subject, saying, "By the way, Marshal, I promised Ye Zheng I would have dinner at the Ye family compound tonight, so I won't be returning to the guesthouse."
"Okay." Qi Wufu responded and did not mention the previous matter again, directly hanging up the phone. This was because he could sense that Jiang Wuming did not want to discuss the meeting and conversation with Long Shengzhe any further.
"As expected of the number one chess player in Long Country." After hanging up the phone, Qi Wufu walked directly to the window, looked in the direction of Longhu Mountain, and murmured softly to himself. He recalled his conversation with Daoist Tianlong that day, asking him if he was willing to let Jiang Wuming take over the military department and become its marshal.
"Wuming's future is his own to decide, I will not interfere." This was Daoist Tianlong's answer at the time. Because of this answer, Qi Wufu was very excited and eagerly planned the commendation ceremony, indirectly indicating his intention to have Jiang Wuming become his successor in the future! Long Shengzhe's attendance at the commendation ceremony and his meeting with Jiang Wuming were things outside Qi Wufu's plans and also surprised him. Initially, like everyone else, he thought it was a good thing, indicating Long Shengzhe's strong support for the military department and Jiang Wuming. Now, after learning the internal details of Jiang Wuming and Long Shengzhe's meeting and conversation, he realized that things were not as he had imagined at all.
"Old friend, although I don't know how your chess game will unfold next, I will not give up." After an unknown amount of time, Qi Wufu withdrew his gaze and murmured to himself again, his expression becoming extremely determined. Although he knew that, given the current situation, it would not be easy to have Jiang Wuming successfully carry the banner of the military department and become its marshal – it would require Jiang Wuming's willing participation and Long Shengzhe's support. However, he would persevere and do everything he could to realize his aspirations! As he spoke, he turned towards his desk, but as he took a step forward, he remembered that Jiang Wuming had said on the phone that he was going to the Ye family compound for dinner at Ye Zheng's invitation that evening.
"Did Ye Zheng invite Wuming to the Ye family compound because he was also misled by the illusion? If Ye Zheng knew about the illusion, would he still support Wuming?" Qi Wufu couldn't help but ask himself. There was no answer.
At the same time.
The young man stopped wandering aimlessly on the streets of Yanjing and instead used his phone to locate the Ye family compound and headed towards it. This was his second visit to the Ye family compound! The first time, he had seen through Ye Zheng's chess game, actively entered the fray, used Ye Zheng to step on the Luo family, and proudly looked down upon the Ye family members in the Ye family compound. Today, wearing his flashy but insubstantial new attire, he was heading to the Ye family compound again, so how would it unfold?!
...