"Regarding anything about Jiang Wuming, do not cause a stir. If the news gets out, the impact will be too great."
Qi Wufu understood Jiang Wuming's intentions and reminded everyone.
"Yes!"
Qin Yuanzheng and the others accepted the order.
They were all well aware that Jiang Wuming was Earth's only hope for victory, and any minor incident would cause a huge uproar globally.
"All members of the Battle Dragon Squad will remain at the training grounds and cooperate with the East Sea Branch's work."
Afterward, seeing that Qi Wufu had no further instructions, Qin Yuanzheng spoke to Qin Xiaozhi.
"Yes, Legion Commander!"
Qin Xiaozhi accepted the order and then led Dongfang Xiaoyao, Huangfu Weixia, and Xing Tian to stand behind Qin Yuanzheng and the others.
In the northwest corner of the training grounds, fifteen extraterrestrial enemies all turned their attention to the entrance of the training grounds.
As vanguards for the five major extraterrestrial families, they held a certain status among them and were well-informed, aware of Jiang Wuming and the Battle Dragon Squad.
The conversation between Qin Xiaozhi and the others had attracted their attention and piqued their interest.
Subsequently, five leading black-robed elders each sent one person back to the great tent to report the news of Jiang Wuming's imminent challenge.
At the entrance of the training grounds, Qi Wufu and the others noticed the extraterrestrial enemies' movements but did not intervene, instead beginning to eat their boxed meals.
"Xiaozhi, that day at home, I asked about your plans, and you said you would follow Wuming in the future, going wherever he goes. I didn't understand it then, but I do now. Whether it's his ability or his character, Wuming is a person worth following for your entire life!"
Qin Linhai took the opportunity during the meal to talk with his son, Qin Xiaozhi.
When Jiang Wuming learned that his promotion was to be canceled, he had directly returned to Longhu Mountain. Later, upon hearing of Qin Linhai's accident, he had resolved it immediately.
This brotherhood was priceless!
"Mhm."
Qin Xiaozhi nodded.
He hadn't told anyone that Jiang Wuming's original intention in forming the Battle Dragon Squad was to help him fulfill his dream of becoming a staff officer in the Martial Department Headquarters.
Nor had he offered thanks after Jiang Wuming called him to inform him that the issue had been resolved through an agreement with Long Shengzhe.
True brothers did not need thanks.
True brothers could trust each other with their backs on the battlefield, even willing to take a knife for each other.
He had always believed that befriending Jiang Wuming was the greatest fortune of his life!
"Xiaozhi, does Wuming have confidence in this fight?"
Qin Yuanzheng also walked over, lowering his voice to ask.
"The extraterrestrial martial arts prodigies have not yet arrived, and the enemy's strength is unknown, so he cannot make a judgment. However, it is certain that if he fights, he will give his all!"
Qin Xiaozhi replied.
"If Wuming wins this battle, he will go down in history and become a hero to Dragon Country and all of humanity!" Qin Yuanzheng said with anticipation.
Qin Linhai and Qin Xiaozhi felt the same way!
Whether from personal sentiment or the overall situation, they all hoped Jiang Wuming would win!
...
Northern Region Legion, Dragon God Guard Squad Base.
Gu Tianlong received a call from his subordinate. The subordinate's father held a key position in the intelligence department, serving as his important source of information.
"Are you sure the disciplinary department has stopped investigating Qin Linhai, and that Qin Linhai has also resumed his original position?"
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Gu Tianlong's expression instantly turned extremely somber.
As the eldest young master of the Gu family, he had been steeped in knowledge of the court and political movements since childhood, making him extremely sensitive to them.
He knew very well that Qin Linhai's investigation was a tactic to scare others, representing Long Shengzhe's pressure on Jiang Wuming!
However, the fact that the disciplinary department terminated the investigation into Qin Linhai as soon as it began... what did that signify?
Gu Tianlong could guess with his toes that the pressure from above on Jiang Wuming had ceased!
"Yes, Young Master Gu. My father said that the higher authorities likely made this decision because of the challenge from the extraterrestrial martial arts prodigies." The young dandy from Yanjing said.
Without a reply, Gu Tianlong hung up the phone with a gloomy expression.
With his intelligence, he could naturally guess the reason!
It made him feel as if he were enjoying a delicious meal, only to swallow a dead fly when Jiang Wuming, who was being pressured and might lose the opportunity to lead the Martial Department in the future, was no longer in that precarious situation. He felt extremely depressed!
Amidst his depression, Gu Tianlong dialed his father, Gu Lü, again.
"Dad, I just heard about Qin Linhai. The higher authorities, under pressure from the extraterrestrial martial arts prodigy's challenge, made this decision. In that case, will the promotions for Jiang Wuming and Qin Xiaozhi still go through?"
Gu Tianlong asked directly.
"If nothing unexpected happens, they will be promoted as scheduled. Because, according to the information I received, Long Shengzhe went to Longhu Mountain this morning to find Jiang Wuming. Also, your grandfather just received a notification that Long Shengzhe is going to convene an Elder Council tonight."
Gu Lü provided the answer, his tone equally subdued.
As one of the core members of the Gu family, his information channels were incomparable to that of Gu Tianlong's subordinate.
"So, Jiang Wuming threatened them with the challenge, and Long Shengzhe bowed to Jiang Wuming?!"
Gu Tianlong's tone became even more subdued, his expression so gloomy it could drip water.
That was the Grand Elder, someone universally revered like a god!
Let alone him, even his grandfather Gu Zhengze, or indeed the entire Gu family, could not make the Grand Elder compromise, let alone bow!
Yet, now, the person he hated most in his life – Jiang Wuming – had achieved this!
"Mhm."
Gu Lü responded softly.
This time, Gu Tianlong, with a darkened face, remained silent.
When the news of Jiang Wuming being pressured spread, he had gloated for a long time, and without any concealment in front of all the Dragon God Squad members.
And now, Qin Linhai's investigation was stopped, and Jiang Wuming and Qin Xiaozhi were about to be promoted as scheduled...
If those members of the Dragon God Squad heard all of this, what would their reaction be? And how would they see him?
Most importantly, since Long Shengzhe had bowed, did he still have hope of replacing Jiang Wuming and taking charge of the Martial Department in the future?
Thinking of this, Gu Tianlong felt the urge to smash his phone!
"Tianlong, there's no need to be discouraged. As your grandfather said, before everything is settled, there will be variables."
Gu Lü, as if able to sense his son's feelings, used Gu Zhengze's words from that day to comfort Gu Tianlong.
"That's true!"
Gu Tianlong's heart stirred upon hearing this, and the gloom on his face gradually dissipated.
"Alright, that's all for now. I have some things to attend to, so I'll hang up," Gu Lü said and directly ended the call.
"Ding—"
As soon as Gu Tianlong put away his phone, the special communicator on his wrist rang again.
Gu Tianlong raised his wrist and saw that it was a call from the Northern Region Legion Combat Command Center, so he answered it directly.
"Captain Gu, the Legion has received orders from the higher authorities. The entire Dragon God Squad is to report to the East Sea Martial Academy before 9 AM tomorrow. The specific mission will be directly assigned by the Headquarters Chief upon your arrival."
"Okay!"
Gu Tianlong only said one word, which sounded like an acknowledgment rather than an acceptance of orders, completely showing no regard for the other party and perfectly embodying the phrase "looking down on everyone."
The dispatcher in the Northern Region Legion Combat Command Center was accustomed to this and, without saying anything further, directly hung up the phone.
"Jiang Wuming, you bastard, I sincerely hope you get beaten into a dead dog by the extraterrestrial martial arts prodigies!!"
Gu Tianlong stood up and muttered to himself with a ferocious expression.
He would rather the extraterrestrial invasion war continue than see Jiang Wuming win!