Ye Qiu’s heart tightened.
The Northern Border was in crisis!
The Champion Marquis, Xiao Jiu, was missing, his fate unknown!
It was clear—something major had happened in the Northern Border!
“Old Tang, wait for me a moment. I need to say goodbye to Sister Lin.”
Ye Qiu quickly returned to the room. Upon entering, he found Lin Jingzhi already dressed, sitting on the sofa watching television.
“It’s too noisy outside, so I got up. Have you sorted everything out?” Lin Jingzhi asked again, “What’s with those fighter jets?”
Ye Qiu said apologetically, “Tang Fei’s here. There’s an urgent mission, and I have to go with him.”
Lin Jingzhi paused for a moment, then stood up and said, “I’ll help you pack your luggage.”
“No need.” Ye Qiu pulled Lin Jingzhi into an embrace and said softly, “Wait for me in Jiangzhou.”
Lin Jingzhi hugged Ye Qiu tightly and said, “Be careful.”
“Don’t worry!” Ye Qiu gave Lin Jingzhi a slight smile, let go of her, and turned to leave.
As soon as he stepped out of the room, Qian Duoduo blocked his path.
“Cousin, where are you off to?” Qian Duoduo asked.
“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.”
Ye Qiu gave Qian Duoduo a stern look and said, “Tomorrow, you either go to Jiangzhou with Sister Lin or return to Suhang.”
“Don’t linger here.”
With that, Ye Qiu strode to the courtyard and said to Tang Fei, “I’m worried about Sister Lin’s safety after I leave…”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ve already made arrangements. Just wait a bit; they’ll be here soon.”
After Tang Fei spoke, about four or five minutes later, the roar of vehicles echoed at the entrance to the courtyard.
Then, a large group of heavily armed soldiers rushed in, swiftly surrounding the inn inside and out.
Half a minute later, a middle-aged man in a camouflage short-sleeve shirt, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, strode in.
“Commander Liu, long time no see.”
Tang Fei walked over, shook hands with the man, and said, “There was a riot here just now.”
“A few criminals opened fire on the warriors of the Underworld Palace, and I’ve already executed them on the spot.”
“Commander Liu, please take the rest of these people back. Interrogate those who need interrogating, judge those who need judging. Don’t wrong an innocent person, but don’t let a guilty one slip through.”
“Also, let me introduce you. This is my brother, Ye Qiu. He’s with the Underworld Palace, holding the rank of Colonel.”
Colonel!
At those words, a look of shock flashed in Commander Liu’s eyes as he glanced at Ye Qiu.
This Colonel was awfully young, wasn’t he?
Could Ye Qiu be an heir groomed by some prominent family in the capital? Otherwise, how could he have reached the rank of Colonel at such a young age?
In peacetime, promotions were notoriously difficult.
Just then, Tang Fei added, “Ye Qiu has fought in countless battles, earned numerous merits, and is a first-class national hero.”
This kid, a first-class hero?
Commander Liu’s expression changed instantly.
As the highest-ranking officer in the Dali Military Region, he knew all too well the kind of sacrifices required to earn the title of first-class hero.
Combined with Ye Qiu’s rank, Commander Liu realised he had underestimated Ye Qiu earlier.
This young man was far from ordinary.
Commander Liu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He had struggled for decades to reach the rank of Major General, yet Ye Qiu, barely in his twenties, was only one rank below him. Ye Qiu’s future was clearly boundless.
So, Commander Liu took the initiative to greet Ye Qiu, “Hello, I’m Liu Dong, Commander of the Dali Military Region. Pleased to meet you.”
Ye Qiu stood at attention, saluted Liu Dong, and said loudly, “Greetings, sir!”
Liu Dong smiled, “No need to be so formal.”
Tang Fei added, “Commander Liu, Ye Qiu’s girlfriend is staying at this inn. Please arrange for a few men to protect her and escort her back to Jiangzhou tomorrow.”
“Understood!” Commander Liu nodded, then pointed at the fighter jets overhead and whispered to Tang Fei, “Old Tang, what’s going on? What’s with all this commotion?”
Tang Fei replied apologetically, “Sorry, it’s top secret. I can’t say.”
“Fine, I won’t ask.”
“Commander Liu, we’ll leave this place in your hands. Ye Qiu and I will head off first.”
“Go ahead!”
With that, Tang Fei led Ye Qiu away.
…
An hour later, they arrived at the Northern Border.
As Ye Qiu stepped out of the fighter jet, a biting cold wind hit him. The temperature was at least minus twenty degrees Celsius.
The snow on the ground was two feet thick.
This was Ye Qiu’s first time setting foot in the Northern Border.
Looking around, the vast snow-capped mountains in the distance towered into the clouds, winding and stretching, their peaks raised like the tails of giant beasts under the moonlight.
At some point, Tang Fei had wrapped himself in a thick coat and handed Ye Qiu a military overcoat, saying, “Put it on. It’s freezing in the Northern Border.”
“No need. I’m not afraid of the cold,” Ye Qiu declined.
His innate true energy circulated endlessly within him, keeping him warm despite wearing only a short-sleeved shirt.
Tang Fei urged, “Put it on anyway. It’ll get even colder soon.”
“I’m fine,” Ye Qiu refused again, then asked, “What exactly happened? Why is Xiao Jiu…?”
Shh!
Tang Fei made a silencing gesture and said, “It’s top secret. We’ll talk later. Follow me.”
With that, Tang Fei led Ye Qiu to a military jeep.
The jeep drove about two kilometres before stopping in front of a large building.
Northern Border Military Region Headquarters!
As Ye Qiu got out of the vehicle, he immediately sensed dozens of powerful presences locking onto him.
Hidden sentries!
Ye Qiu scanned his surroundings.
Tang Fei made a gesture, and instantly, Ye Qiu felt the presences locking onto him vanish.
“Come with me!”
Tang Fei led Ye Qiu into the building.
Along the way, Ye Qiu noticed that the building was filled with hidden sentries—at least a few hundred of them.
The security level was unprecedentedly high.
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but find it strange. Why were the security measures here even stricter than those at the Underworld Palace?
Tang Stuart Little!
Tang Fei led Ye Qiu to the ninth-floor conference room.
At the entrance to the conference room stood two men with buzz cuts, dressed in black suits, both around their thirties.
Ye Qiu could tell at a glance that these men were bodyguards.
What surprised him was that these bodyguards were exceptionally strong, on par with Dragon List experts.
One of the men stopped Tang Fei and Ye Qiu, saying, “Sorry, gentlemen, please surrender your weapons, present your IDs, and allow us to conduct a search. Thank you for your cooperation.”
A body search?
Ye Qiu frowned slightly.
By then, Tang Fei had already handed over his sidearm and presented his ID.
Ye Qiu had no choice but to show his ID and take out the leather pouch containing his golden needles.
The two men carefully inspected their IDs, conducted a search, and then allowed Ye Qiu and Tang Fei to enter.
As Ye Qiu walked into the conference room, he saw two familiar faces.
The War God!
Ye Wudi!
The War God was seated in a wheelchair, and beside him sat an elderly man.
When Ye Qiu saw the elderly man’s face, he was stunned.
It was none other than the Supreme Leader, Old Tang!
