What is there left to disagree with?
Boson has clearly latched onto Jiang Nan. Those words just now were practically a confession, were they not?
Tsk tsk tsk.
Yang Jian kept smacking his lips. He really could not figure out what was so special about this kid Jiang Nan.
To think he could even bring Boson back.
In the whole world, the only person who could achieve this level of contact with Boson was probably Jiang Nan alone.
Hua Xia must be the only one.
Yang Jian did not expect Boson to have any loyalty. As long as she cared about Jiang Nan, that was enough.
After everything they had been through, Yang Jian trusted Jiang Nan absolutely.
On ordinary days, Jiang Nan might seem a bit unreliable, but when it came to big matters, no one was more dependable.
Yang Jian smiled. “Then it is settled. I will tell Uncle Xiao later.”
“But there still has to be a reward. The medals have already been approved. You lot go to the parade ground to receive them.”
Jiang Nan’s eyes sparkled. Another promotion?
And they were even giving out little medals?
Brilliant.
The atmosphere in the command room was full of joy. Han Menglu, visibly excited, threw herself beside Boson.
She wrapped an arm around Boson’s. “I am the expert in the incantation field. From now on, I will be counting on you for plenty of guidance.”
“Goose box, goose box box.”
Han Menglu: ੧(⌒﹃⌒٩)
Boson looked towards Jiang Nan as if seeking help.
This expert seems a bit abnormal. Can we swap her for someone else?
The group walked towards the parade ground. Jiang Nan sidled up to Yang Jian.
“Hey hey. Brother Jian, this time in the United States I saw quite a few novel things, like spirit-binding bullets, spirit-binding grenade launchers, that sort of stuff.”
“Can we not make some of those here?”
Yang Jian paused, then smiled. “You mean spirit-suppressing weapons? We have them, and quite a variety too.”
Jiang Nan was stunned. “Then why have I never seen the brothers carrying any before? Those things should be very useful for suppressing spirit warriors, right?”
Yang Jian sighed. “Developing spirit-suppressing weapons requires massive amounts of spirit-binding raw iron ore, and they are consumables. The cost of developing and equipping the weapons is no small sum.”
“Unfortunately, spirit-binding raw iron ore resources are scarce in our country. Most of what we mine goes to research.”
“Only the leftovers are used to manufacture spirit-suppressing weapons. There is too little supply and too many places that need them. We cannot equip the entire spirit warrior force.”
“On the international market, the price of spirit-binding raw iron ore is even higher than some low-grade spirit materials.”
Jiang Nan was taken aback. He had found the spirit-binding grenade launcher very handy and was thinking of getting some spirit-suppressing weapons to keep on hand.
He had never imagined the situation at home would be like this.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Spirit-binding raw iron ore only appeared in spirit ruins, and though Hua Xia had many spirit ruins, that did not mean many of them contained spirit-binding iron ore.
Hang on. Wait a minute.
From what Ye Xinghe and Qin Shou had said, there was a mountain valley on Duck Pear Island in the Thousand Island Lake spirit ruin that was full of spirit-binding raw iron ore.
Good heavens.
How much money would that be worth?
Jiang Nan’s eyes shone with excitement, his cheeks flushed red.
We are rich. Absolutely rich.
When I go back to the Thousand Island Lake spirit ruin, I must move those two mountains away.
And I do not know if that Cang Dragon beast ate the blood-nourishing southern red agate.
I can cut them open one by one when the time comes.
The Thousand Island Lake spirit ruin really is a wonderful place.
Yet Yang Jian beside him kept grumbling on and on.
“Sigh. Five years ago, the United States got the core of the third layer of the Abyss and mined huge amounts of spirit-binding iron.”
“The fourth layer had fewer mineral resources. The fifth layer finally had some, but the Eagle Country took it.”
“Not long ago, Xiao Zhen and the others brought back the core of the seventh layer. Unfortunately, the seventh layer also has few mineral resources. Who knows about the layers below…”
Jiang Nan was rendered speechless. Yang Jian at this moment was exactly like a nagging little wife.
Since they were so short of it, Jiang Nan did not have the heart to ask for spirit-suppressing weapons again.
Instead, he set his sights on the little mountain valley in the Thousand Island Lake spirit ruin.
Eh? The floor of the physical training room is also made of spirit-binding iron, is it not?
Should I secretly pry up a couple of pieces?
As they thought about this, the group arrived at the parade ground. Because this mission could not be publicised, there was no grand medal ceremony.
But all the brothers on duty at Longyuan headquarters still came. They lined up neatly to observe the ceremony.
The seven of them went to the changing room, put on formal uniforms, and stood on the medal platform. Even Katrina changed into Night Army uniform.
Jiang Nan grinned foolishly at the sight. Blonde hair, blue eyes, plus Night Army uniform. It had a unique flavour.
Yang Jian pinned the small medals on each of them one by one. All were genuine Scarlet Heart Medals.
Given the outcome of this mission, they fully deserved the Scarlet Heart Medal reward.
Shou Hou, Tie Niu, and the others wore their medals with pride and honour. For soldiers, possessing a Scarlet Heart Medal was the greatest glory.
They looked at Jiang Nan with excitement.
Going on missions with Nan Shen is just brilliant. Not only can you rub off some little medals, but you also get promoted.
Shou Hou, Tie Niu, and the others all rose one rank. Shan Mao did not rise. Yang Jian was saving her merits. She was already a colonel. Further promotion required more experience and seniority.
Jiang Nan naturally rose to colonel.
Jiang Nan grinned happily and nudged Shan Mao’s shoulder.
“Hey hey. Now I am the same rank as you, right?”
Yet Shan Mao did not want to speak and rolled her eyes at Jiang Nan.
(ˉ～￣๐) Hmph~~
Yang Jian walked up to Jiang Nan and opened an exquisite little box. The medal inside glowed with a blood-like radiance.
Deep red and piercing.
The medal was engraved with a scarlet dragon. The dragon’s body twisted nine times, its head raised towards the sky.
Jiang Nan was stunned. What was this? Was his not a Scarlet Heart Medal?
Yang Jian’s expression turned solemn. He took out the medal and pinned it on Jiang Nan’s chest.
At that moment, countless Longyuan members below gasped in shock, their faces filled with astonishment, contributing to global warming.
“Hiss. This… this is the Scarlet Dragon Medal?”
“Goodness. I have never seen one. Today my eyes are opened.”
“What Scarlet Dragon Medal? I have never even heard of it.”
“You would be strange if you had heard of it. It has not been awarded since the Spirit Calamity. The highest honour. Look at those two in front.”
Ye Zhenguo and Zhao Dezhu looked at Jiang Nan, who now wore the medal, with gratification.
Ye Zhenguo: “Scarlet Dragon Medal, ah. So nostalgic. I still have two in my drawer at home.”
Zhao Dezhu curled his lip. “Yours are nothing. I have four.”
The faces of the Longyuan soldiers behind went pale. These two were true immortals.
Those were glories earned by turning the tide during the Spirit Calamity, trading lives for them.
After the Spirit Calamity, none had been awarded. Yet one was given to Jiang Nan?
Even Shan Mao, Shou Hou, and the others were shocked.
This was the Scarlet Dragon Medal, the highest honour.
But thinking about it, Jiang Nan had brought back incantation materials and even lured Boson back. The mission could not have been handled more perfectly. He absolutely deserved the Scarlet Dragon Medal.
Jiang Nan himself was still dazed. This little medal seemed a bit different.
Yang Jian’s expression was grave. “This is the Scarlet Dragon Medal. The colour is the colour of the flag. The nation is like a giant dragon, and you are its spine. That is the meaning of the Scarlet Dragon Medal.”
“You, Jiang Nan, deserve this medal. This is the glory you have earned. Only with the nation is there a home. May you soar like a dragon in the future.”
“The nation will always be your strongest backing.”
Jiang Nan straightened up, his expression solemn. He raised his right hand in a military salute.
Just as he was about to raise his left hand to his heart, his face paled slightly. He quickly suppressed the impulse.
Good thing I did not pull out my golden middle finger to place on my heart.
Otherwise I would definitely have been beaten to death.
Yang Jian paused, then smiled and patted Jiang Nan’s shoulder.
Shan Mao poked Jiang Nan and said urgently, “Xiao Nan. Do not stuff your left hand in your trouser pocket. That is impolite. Hurry and pull it out to place on your heart.”
Jiang Nan was close to tears. If I pull it out, it will only become even more impolite.
I cannot pull it out. I absolutely cannot.
Yang Jian smiled. “Come, rare opportunity. Hong Long has arranged for someone to take a group photo for us.”
Bai Qianxun immediately trotted over with a camera on her back, lens aimed at everyone.
“Everyone stand straight, okay. Show your spirit. Remember to salute.”
Everyone nodded and straightened their chests. Right hand salute, left hand on heart.
Jiang Nan panicked. Another salute?
He could only raise his right hand in salute, left hand in his trouser pocket.
On the platform, everyone:
Tie Niu: ∠(｀ㅂ´*)
Shan Mao: ∠(๐ớᴗờ๐)
Xue Xiaoban: ∠(❀╹◡╹)
Jiang Nan: ∠(˵¯͒﹏¯͒˵)
…
Bai Qianxun was stunned. “Nan Shen? The left side. The left side.”
Only Jiang Nan’s left hand remained in his trouser pocket, not placed on his heart.
Cold sweat poured down Jiang Nan’s forehead. “Ah ha, ah haha. Does it have to be on the left?”
As he spoke, his right hand, which had been at his right temple, circled in front of him and ended up at his left temple…
Yang Jian was dumbfounded. Shan Mao and the others were completely baffled.
What kind of weird salute is that?
You are clearly cosplaying a golden snub-nosed monkey gazing into the distance.
Saluting with the right hand on the left side is the salute of a complete idiot…
[Resentment value from Bai Qianxun +666!]
[From Luo Tianhong…]
[From Yang Jian…]
