Chapter 6/16 Early Morning

On the morning of June 16th, Ye Xunyang had prepared early, leading her crew from the "Star Warrior World" program towards the Starfall Army in the Imperial Capital.

The Starfall Army's compound wasn't a place just anyone could enter.

Although this new army had just been established, its discipline was strict. The personnel transferred from various military units were all elite soldiers. Fortunately, Ye Xunyang had already contacted the Starfall Army, and the program crew wasn't stopped outside the gate.

The crew took a few shots outside the gate and inside the compound. Led by a soldier, they arrived at a conference room to wait.

In the morning, Jiang Xiao, dressed neatly, arrived at the agreed-upon time and pushed open the door to the conference room.

Jiang Xiao saw all kinds of interview equipment and that familiar face.

Ye Xunyang was wearing a white women's suit, her long hair draped over her shoulders. She had a gentle smile and held interview materials in her hand, saying something to the camera.

Hearing the door open, she quickly stood up, but was a little dazed.

Ye Xunyang was very familiar with Jiang Xiao, extremely familiar. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Ye Xunyang had watched Jiang Xiao "grow up."

From the National High School Competition to the first and second World Cups, she had countless partners by her side.

Relying on her personal abilities, she went from being one of the four little flowers of the younger generation to becoming the top hostess of CCTV, and she had her own program. Her life of struggle was also quite legendary.

Now, with strong support from within the station, her program "Star Warrior World" was considered a national program.

Especially during this very special period, "Star Warrior World" repeatedly analyzed and studied the current integration of Earth and the Alien Sphere, invited guests from all walks of life to discuss it, conveyed valuable information to the public, and guided public opinion...

Times create heroes.

This Star Warrior World created heroes not only among the star warriors, but also among thousands upon thousands of people in other positions.

In this age of information explosion, the importance of publicity was beyond doubt.

Ye Xunyang, as a host, was undoubtedly one of the heroes.

But when this "heroine" saw Jiang Xiao in his ocean blue uniform, pushing the door open, she had a moment of mental恍惚(huang hu).

He had indeed grown up.

In her memory, the strong and playful star warrior youth on the field had now become a heroic and dashing young man.

Ye Xunyang's first glance was at Jiang Xiao's face, which had lost its childishness.

The second glance, however, was at the exquisite array of medals hanging on the left side of Jiang Xiao's chest.

Ye Xunyang knew her stuff. When she reported the heroic deeds of star warriors, she naturally had an in-depth understanding of the medals of various military branches.

Seeing this scene, Ye Xunyang's expression became a little strange... How could the Pioneer Medal and the Night Watch Medal appear on the same soldier?

Was this kid really jumping back and forth between pioneering and night watch, as everyone guessed?

Ye Xunyang was sizing up Jiang Xiao, and Jiang Xiao was also looking at this old friend.

She had a unique intellectual beauty, with a capable and mature temperament. Her external qualities were impeccable. To some extent, she was also one of the faces of the country.

The two hadn't had much contact in private. Ye Xunyang had reported on several of Jiang Xiao's matches. During the first World Cup - National Team Trials, she had also done an exclusive interview with him, but that was all.

They hadn't exchanged contact information. If there was any communication at all, it was when Ye Xunyang had privately messaged Jiang Xiao on Weibo once, saying that the Weibo post he had made at the time was inappropriate.

At that time, Jiang Xiao had posted: All are mortals with fleeting lives, night ravens boast arrogantly of being gods.

Ye Xunyang believed that Jiang Xiao, as the captain of the Chinese team, calling the star warrior students who would be fighting in the World Cup, and even star warriors all over the world, "mortals with fleeting lives" seemed a little too bleak and had a negative impact.

And Jiang Xiao listened to the advice, and then wrote a youthful poem that was appropriate for his age: Holding a spear and riding a horse, a young subject, unafraid of ghosts and gods, unashamed of people.

The room was quiet for a few seconds. Ye Xunyang came back to her senses, with a gentle smile on her face, and said, "Hello, Little... um, Vice Commander Jiang."

"Hehe, you can call me Xiao Pi in private, just don't record it on camera." Jiang Xiao smiled and shook hands with Ye Xunyang.

Looking at Jiang Xiao's gentle smile, Ye Xunyang's professional smile became much more sincere, and she felt a lot of emotion in her heart.

Am I still that boy I used to be, without a trace of change?

Jiang Xiao was very easy-going, but Ye Xunyang wasn't stupid. She knew what kind of person was standing in front of her, and she wouldn't really call him "Xiao Pi."

"Commander, please take a look at our interview flow first. Please tell us what questions you can answer and what you can't." A staff member from the program team came up and handed the interview script to Jiang Xiao.

Half an hour later, a relaxed interview began.

Jiang Xiao and Ye Xunyang sat face-to-face, without a table in between.

Ye Xunyang straightened her clothes, looked at the camera, and after waiting a few seconds, said, "Hello everyone, welcome to 'Star Warrior World,' I'm your host, Ye Xunyang.

Today, we are fortunate to interview a special star warrior.

After he awakened his star map and became an awakened student, he became active in everyone's sight.

He was a contestant in the National High School Competition, and also a member of the national team and national captain for two Star Warrior World Cups.

Our impression of him seems limited to his status as a World Cup champion, an unprecedented and unrepeatable grand slam winner, and a defending champion.

Today, after being absent from the public eye for a year, he has returned to the public eye and become the vice commander of China's new army - the Starfall Army.

How can a World Cup champion student become a general in a new army in just one year, and what exactly happened during the year he disappeared? I think we will get the answers today."

Saying that, Ye Xunyang turned her head and looked at Jiang Xiao, saying, "Please join me in welcoming our guest today, the Deputy Commander of the Starfall Army..."

As the camera shifted, Jiang Xiao, wearing his ocean blue military uniform and covered in medals, entered the eyes of the world.

Of course, this interview program wasn't live. According to Ye Xunyang, the program team would work overtime overnight to produce it and broadcast it on the "Star Warrior World" program tomorrow night.

Ye Xunyang said with a smile, "Vice Commander Jiang, I believe many people, like me, noticed the medals you are wearing on your chest at first glance. Would you like to share and explain their origins with us?

I noticed that among the medals on your chest, there are medals from both the Night Watch Army and the Pioneer Army. This seems to be a difficult achievement for a soldier to accomplish."

"Well..." Jiang Xiao organized his words and said, "Indeed, there are the Pioneer's Wildfire and Starlight Medals, and also the Night Watch's Full Moon and Crescent Moon Medals."

Ye Xunyang guided the topic, "Let's talk about the Pioneer Medal first."

Jiang Xiao said, "When I was studying at the Imperial Capital Star Warrior University, I joined the Pioneer Apprentice Army. Everyone should be familiar with this."

"Yes." Ye Xunyang nodded and said, "Initially, the newly established Pioneer Apprentice Army used the Imperial Capital Star Warrior University as a pilot school, and achieved very good results, which were promoted nationwide.

If I'm not mistaken, you were among the first students to join the Pioneer Apprentice Army?"

Jiang Xiao said with a smile, "Yes, I was in the first batch, or more precisely, I was the first in the Pioneer Apprentice Army. My Pioneer Army apprentice number is 001."

Ye Xunyang: "..."

Jiang Xiao continued, "In the Pioneer Apprentice Army, I served as a squad leader and went out to perform tasks. The specific tasks won't be disclosed. This Pioneer Medal was obtained when I was a member of the Pioneer Apprentice Army."

Ye Xunyang adjusted her state and said, "Then what about the Night Watch Medal? I saw a lot of Night Watch Medals with first-class merit. It's hard to imagine how you obtained them."

Jiang Xiao said, "Over the years, in the public eye, I was a contestant, but in fact, in 2015, I was already a member of the Night Watch Army.

I was once a member of the Light Chasing Squad in the Northern Night Watch Army.

Later, I was transferred to the Great Northwest and became the captain of the Light Chasing Squad, then the deputy commander of the Light Chasing Regiment, and also served as the deputy brigade commander of the Light Chasing Brigade. Now, I am the deputy commander of this Starfall Army.

I didn't become a general of the Starfall Army from a star warrior student in just one year."

Ye Xunyang was slightly stunned and said, "So, as early as when you participated in the World Cup, no... as early as when you were a high school student participating in the National Competition, you were already a member of the Night Watch Army?"

Jiang Xiao blinked and nodded.

These things could be said. With the establishment of the Starfall Army, the life experiences of the high-level generals in the army were public.

Ye Xunyang's heart trembled slightly. This guy was really good at hiding!

Ye Xunyang suddenly realized that last year, when she persuaded Jiang Xiao on Weibo, she wasn't persuading an ordinary contestant, nor an ordinary Pioneer Apprentice Army member, but a团长(tuan zhang)?

Maybe even a brigade commander!

Ye Xunyang felt a little confused and subconsciously sought words to fill the blank: "With the creation of the Pioneer Apprentice Army, this top Chinese force entered the public eye.

And with the emergence of the phenomenon of the integration of Earth and the Alien Sphere, the mysterious Night Watch Army has gradually unveiled its veil to the people..."

As she spoke, Ye Xunyang had already adjusted her state, and said, "It's hard to imagine how you obtained this array of first-class and second-class medals.

What you show to the public is a... um, cheerful, lively, and sunny image, but in places people don't know, you must have experienced a lot of hardships and pain..."

There was a very clear fact, which was...

Being able to obtain first-class merit, no matter what military branch's first-class merit it was, if you could still survive, it was extremely valuable.

People understood that every medal Jiang Xiao wore on his chest represented a time, or even several times, of wandering between life and death.

With the slightest carelessness, the young man in front of her wouldn't be sitting here being interviewed, but would have disappeared from the public eye long ago.

Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders and said, "The specific tasks won't be detailed."

Ye Xunyang nodded to show her understanding.

There were many clichés in society, such as: The things that make you suffer and sad, one day, you will laugh about them.

But when Jiang Xiao smiled and refused to answer, Ye Xunyang's heart was extremely complicated.

Ye Xunyang sighed deeply and said, "We all know now that you didn't parachute into the Starfall Army with the identity of a World Cup champion student."

Jiang Xiao nodded and said, "Being able to lead this new army is an affirmation of my ability from the organization, and also a recognition of my past achievements.

The organization trusts my style of performing tasks and it is more compatible with the Starfall Army... um, can I tell you an interesting story?"

"Oh? I'm all ears." Ye Xunyang's eyes lit up and she leaned forward slightly.

Jiang Xiao said, "Do you know how the two words 'Starfall' came about?"

Ye Xunyang blinked her bright eyes, waiting for Jiang Xiao's next words, without interrupting.

Jiang Xiao said, "Half a year ago, on behalf of the Northwest Night Watch Army, I entered the alien dimension from Earth to explore the road to the Alien Sphere, and finally found the legendary Alien Sphere.

There, I found many lost Chinese warriors, all of whom were tenaciously surviving.

There were Guardian soldiers, Night Watchmen, Mountain Shattering soldiers, and Pioneers.

You can't imagine how shocked your heart will be when you see those soldiers who are stubbornly and diligently surviving in the wild land.

On the Alien Sphere, we formed a special team, named Starfall, and searched for other lost soldiers, and cleared the Star Beasts on the Alien Sphere...

The Starfall designation was passed down in this way."

Jiang Xiao had specifically asked if the origin of this designation could be said. Not only should it be said, but the Chinese people should also know how the Star Beasts that ran rampant on Earth disappeared, and who worked hard to make it happen.

And Jiang Xiao wasn't lying. The soldiers under his command in the team he first established included Wang Dachui from the Mountain Shattering Army, who helped build the base;

There were the Hu family couple from the Guardian Army;

There were the Falcon brothers and Zhang Songfu from the Night Watch;

There was also He Yun, a pioneer of the Pioneer Army.

Ye Xunyang nodded blankly. In fact, when she heard the first sentence, when she heard that Jiang Xiao was exploring the road to the Alien Sphere, her mind was already a little恍惚(huang hu).

Jiang Xiao glossed over it in a few words, but didn't say that he was running towards death.

How much determination did it take for a young, promising star warrior to risk his life and plunge into the upper dimensions to explore the unknown realm?

There was an unwritten rule in this world. Star warriors, including most ordinary people, were well aware that entering the upper dimensions meant "death."

Of course, Jiang Xiao didn't specifically state that he had previously used bait to open the road to explore the Alien Sphere.

However, in terms of results, Jiang Xiao did "die," and more than once.

Fortunately, his death was valuable.

Jiang Xiao pointed to the first Great Wall Medal on the left side of his chest and said, "This is also its origin."

This was the only task content that Jiang Xiao could say about obtaining the medal, and it was also the task content that he was required to say.

"When the Star Beasts disappeared from various regions on Earth, it wasn't a miracle.

But on the Alien Sphere, the Starfall team, composed of various Chinese military branches, cleared the corresponding positions of the Star Beasts in the upper dimensions."

Jiang Xiao continued, "Subsequently, the rapid restoration of peace in various regions of China was because the ten thousand-strong army composed of the Chinese Pioneer Army, Night Watch Army, and Mountain Shattering Army, arrived quickly, divided into three routes, and cleared all the Star Beasts on the Alien Sphere, Chinese territory."

Jiang Xiao said with a smile, "I am honored that the organization recognized this designation and continued it, establishing the Starfall Army.

In fact, the current Starfall Army is a new army jointly established by the Pioneer Army, Night Watch Army, and Mountain Shattering Army.

I like this designation, Starfall. You can understand it as: The Chinese Star Warrior Corps descends.

This is also the meaning of the Starfall Army's establishment and existence. I hope that in the future, whether it is in China or abroad, wherever the Chinese Star Warrior Corps passes...

There will be no more wars, only peace."