Chapter 171 : Chapter 171
Chapter 171. Jiang Yichen’s Great Feat Stuns the East China Command Headquarters
At the border defense of Rift Valley Town, the darkness in the sky faded away, and brilliant sunlight once again bathed the land.
“Auntie, the beast tide has already been driven back by these young people. Tell the townsfolk to come out of the air-raid shelters.”
Feng Xiazi tugged at his bloodstained military coat as he gently pushed away the food in the old woman’s hands.
When the villagers who had come to deliver food heard that, astonishment appeared in their eyes, and they all turned to look at the Divine Battle Division and Jiang Yichen’s group.
“Ah? Sentry Captain Feng, you are not fooling us, are you? These little youngsters held back the beast tide?”
“They look way too young. Are they really that capable?”
Feng Xiazi nodded. “If it had not been for them, Rift Valley Town would already have been trampled flat by the beast tide.”
The villagers were utterly stunned.
“My goodness, these children are incredible.”
“I told you so. The moment they entered town, I could tell they were not ordinary.”
“Then, Sentry Captain Feng, have the mayor prepare some dishes. Come eat with us tonight. Everyone wants to see the heroes.”
“...”
Even the Divine Battle Division and Jiang Yichen’s group were starting to feel embarrassed from all the praise.
But Sentry Captain Feng only shook the smoking pipe in his hand. “The beast tide has only just passed. We still cannot lower our guard.”
“How about this? Jiang Yichen, your wilderness mission is already complete, so this is the perfect chance for you to experience the hospitality of our Rift Valley Town.”
Huh?
Jiang Yichen paused slightly. Then Feng Xiazi walked up with a smile and patted him on the shoulder.
“Thank you.”
After saying that, Feng Xiazi put on his eyepatch and returned to the watchtower with dozens of border soldiers, continuing to stand firm at their posts.
Jiang Yichen watched Feng Xiazi’s departing figure, his eyes trembling slightly.
It was as though there was not the slightest trace of a life of ease in any of them.
“Young man, Sentry Captain Feng has always been like this. He has not gone home for the Spring Festival in several years now. Ah.”
“That is right. Ever since Sentry Captain Feng came here, the town has been much more peaceful.”
“How about we talk to the mayor and hold the banquet at the watchtower? We cannot let Sentry Captain Feng and the others feel unappreciated.”
“That sounds good. When I think about how we get to stay home with our wives and children while Sentry Captain Feng and the others stand guard for our safety, my heart just does not sit right.”
“Come on, let’s go talk to the mayor.”
Hearing the villagers discussing it, Jiang Yichen and the others smiled.
“Jiang Yichen, the beast tide has already retreated, so we will be leaving first. I look forward to our next cooperation.”
Mei Xue’er of the Divine Battle Division spoke in a deliberately sweet voice and gave Jiang Yichen a faint smile.
Our next cooperation?
Jiang Yichen frowned. Could this man be plotting something again?
“Who would want to cooperate with you again? Take that fake coy act somewhere else.”
Mei Xue’er, still disguised as a bearded middle-aged man, clenched her fists slightly.
“That is not up to you. Just wait and see.”
She shot him a provocative look and was just about to leave with the members of the Divine Battle Division.
But the villagers immediately rushed over and started pulling at them, refusing to let them go.
“Do not rush off. Stay for dinner before you leave.”
“Yes, yes. You helped Rift Valley Town survive the beast tide. We have to thank you properly. Do not go, do not go.”
Awkward expressions appeared on the faces of the five members of the Divine Battle Division, but they could not withstand the villagers’ enthusiasm, so they had no choice but to say,
“Then we will report it to our superior first.”
When the villagers heard that, they stopped pressing them and quickly nodded.
Mei Xue’er placed a call to the Commander-in-Chief.
...
East China First Military District, Command Headquarters.
A soldier hurried over and knocked on the door of the Command Headquarters.
“Enter!”
“Report! Satellite surveillance shows that the SS-Rank Beast Tide in the Great Rift Valley has already dispersed. The beast tide crisis has been resolved!”
After saluting Hong Wu and Xu Lin, the head of the Beast Tide Monitoring Department spoke in an excited tone.
But the moment those words fell, the entire Command Headquarters went silent, and everyone stared over with widened eyes.
The SS-Rank Beast Tide had retreated?!
A look of disbelief appeared on Hong Wu’s face, and he immediately asked, “What caused the beast tide to retreat?”
“The reason is still unknown, but before the beast tide retreated, the satellites detected the energy fluctuations of Cerberus, the divine beast of ancient Greek myth.”
“This beast tide was very likely caused by it!”
“A divine beast from beyond the borderlands...” Xu Lin, the commander of the military district, frowned. “It seems the powers beyond our borders have already begun to stir.”
Hong Wu thought for a moment. “Cerberus was probably driven back by the three Martial Gods, but what I want to know is why the SS-Rank Beast Tide was stopped at the Rift Valley Town border watchtower.”
As everyone was still filled with confusion, the sound of a ringing phone broke the silence.
Hong Wu looked at the phone on the table, slowly picked it up, and held it to his ear.
“Well? Are Jiang Yichen and the others safe?”
“Uh... Commander-in-Chief, do you want to hear the good news or the bad news?” Mei Xue’er said in that affected sweet voice.
Hong Wu frowned. “At a time like this, why did the beast tide suddenly retreat? Stop speaking in riddles.”
“All right. The bad news is that we failed to take Jiang Yichen and the others away. The mission you assigned us failed.”
Hong Wu’s expression immediately changed. Jiang Yichen was the first person in Huaxia’s history to break into the Eighth Realm right after graduation. It was practically certain that he would become a Martial God in the future.
If Jiang Yichen had died in the beast tide, it would have been an immeasurable loss to Huaxia.
“Mei—”
Just as Hong Wu was about to lose his temper, Mei Xue’er continued, “The good news is that Jiang Yichen used Ninth-Rank Talismans to hold back the beast tide...”
What?
After hearing Mei Xue’er recount everything in full, shock flooded Hong Wu’s eyes, and he stood rooted to the spot like a statue.
Seeing the Commander-in-Chief with that expression, everyone in the Command Headquarters became even more curious.
A moment later, Hong Wu finally came back to himself and said, “You have all worked hard. Stay in Rift Valley Town and rest for the night. Tomorrow, I will send people to award honors to the border soldiers there. As for yours, they will be presented together after you return to the military district.”
“Understood. Thank you, Commander-in-Chief!”
Hong Wu let out a long breath and put down the phone.
“Commander-in-Chief, what happened?” Xu Lin asked.
Hong Wu pondered for a while before saying, “Under the leadership of Jiang Yichen of the Jiang family, the beast tide was stopped at the Rift Valley Town border watchtower. This is a great merit.”
???
The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the Command Headquarters was dumbfounded.
Xu Lin’s eyes widened. “Commander-in-Chief, if I remember correctly, Jiang Yichen is only a recruit currently undergoing military district internship...”
“You do not need to worry about that.” Hong Wu raised a hand. “Xu Lin, tomorrow send people to Rift Valley Town and award the border soldiers there Third Class Merit.”
“When Jiang Yichen and the others return to the military district, award Jiang Yichen Special Class Merit, award Su Linyu, Tang Long, Chu Xingchen, and Jiang Feng Second Class Merit, and award the Divine Battle Division Second Class Merit.”
Special Class Merit!
Every officer in the Command Headquarters was stunned. That was the highest honor in the military.
They had served in the army for so many years, yet none of them had ever even seen it.
And now Jiang Yichen, a recruit who had not even finished his military district internship, was actually being awarded Special Class Merit. Had he really stopped an SS-Rank Beast Tide by his own strength?
“C-Commander-in-Chief, this is not appropriate...”
“Jiang Yichen used two Ninth-Rank Talismans to stop the SS-Rank Beast Tide in the Great Rift Valley from invading the border. You all know exactly how disastrous it would have been for the East China border if that SS-Rank Beast Tide had broken through. And you still think what I said is inappropriate?”
Hong Wu asked coldly.
Xu Lin froze in place, and the entire Command Headquarters sank into deathly silence.
Two Ninth-Rank Talismans?!
How was that possible? There was only one in all of Huaxia.
Could it be that the Jiang family had produced a talisman master capable of refining Ninth-Rank Talismans?
Everyone’s hearts trembled. The hidden foundations of that foremost family were even more terrifying than those of the nation itself.
“N-No, there is nothing inappropriate about it. I will send people there tomorrow.” Xu Lin had completely lost his resistance.
Hong Wu gave a slight nod. “Send notice to all major military districts in East China. The SS-Rank Beast Tide crisis has been resolved!”
Everyone in the Command Headquarters rose to their feet and saluted.
“Yes, sir!”