Chapter 274: The Soldier’s Duty
June 20th, Saturday.
In District G of C City, on the top floor of a high-end office building, the Ahsintas Import and Export Trading Company.
Ahsintas’s import and export business has preliminarily taken shape, with weekly sales exceeding one million, and a net profit approaching fifteen percent, which greatly exceeds expectations. However, there was not a hint of joy within the company.
As the time approached quitting time in the afternoon, in the general manager’s office, Zhong Jing, sporting dark circles under his eyes, lazily leaned back in his sofa chair, staring blankly at the screen displaying an anime, as if lost in thought.
For more than ten days, since returning to C City to arrange the funeral affairs for Hejian Qingya, Zhong Jing had either been dazed at the cemetery or at Ahsintas, day and night.
He opened the drawer and took out a small bound original Japanese comic book, caressing it with a thoughtful expression.
This was a comic book that Hejian Qingya had once left in Zhong Jing’s office; its publication was long ago, its content clichéd, and its art style outdated, deviating significantly from today’s two-dimensional cultural trends but possessing a special, profound, and pure beauty of its era.
“May I ask who you are looking for… Oh, this is an office, please do not barge in!”
From the office corridor outside, the voice of the general manager’s assistant, Xiao Guo, could be heard stopping someone. Moments later, the office door was pushed open, and a middle-aged woman with an anxious expression walked in.
“Jing’er, don’t do this, you’re scaring your mother!”
Zhong Ma ignored Xiao Guo, who had followed closely behind, and rushed over to the desk, grabbing Zhong Jing’s arm.
“I’m fine, the business is just too busy lately; look, it’s Saturday, and everyone is working overtime.”
Zhong Jing smiled at Xiao Guo at the doorway with a glance and gently pried Zhong Ma’s hand away, speaking in a relaxed tone, “Mom, how did you find out the company’s address?”
“I got it from that girl from the Su family. You, you, why have you locked yourself away like this? Look at your dark circles; you haven’t been sleeping well!”
“How long has it been since you came home? You must go back tonight; tomorrow is Father’s Day. You should chat with your dad more.”
Zhong Ma took out a handkerchief and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, her voice cracking, “Of course, I know how you feel about Qingya, but a person can’t come back to life. You must not torment yourself… Oh, my poor daughter-in-law, she hasn’t even gotten married yet… If anything were to happen to you, how would your dad and I survive…”
Zhong Jing placed both hands on Zhong Ma’s shoulders, his tone calm, “I understand, but I have a lot to do today and need to work late. I will definitely go home tomorrow.”
With a few words, Zhong Jing saw Zhong Ma off out of the company. After the elevator doors closed, he let out a sigh.
His phone vibrated in his pocket, signaling a special contact number. Zhong Jing frowned and hurried to his office.
After checking the network security situation, Zhong Jing took a deep breath and opened a video conferencing software.
The screen shook for a moment, then, against a dark background, Emma’s half-figure appeared.
“Mr. Zhong, on behalf of the board of directors of the EVN Group, I express profound condolences for Miss Hejian’s passing. May she enjoy everlasting happiness in heaven.”
In the screen, Emma was still in professional attire, looking at the camera with a smirk that was almost a smile.
“Heh, Miss Emma, suddenly reaching out at this time, is it that the new company’s board has objections regarding the handling of Hejian Qingya’s shares?”
Zhong Jing tugged at his tie, lit a cigarette, and gazed at the screen with a neutral expression, a hint of mockery at the corners of his mouth.
“No, these matters have been legally disclosed. Mr. Zhong is still so sensitive to money… I am contacting you this time because I estimate that the medication you are taking is probably running low, right?”
“Unfortunately, due to certain reasons, I cannot enter the country for the time being, so I’ll be unable to bring you the next course of medication. However, we can continue this cooperation through other means.”
Emma smiled, intentionally emphasizing the word “cooperation.”
“Cooperation? After that scheme involving the original Niyushan was abruptly thwarted by underhanded means, you have already been blacklisted by Huaguo. Sorry, Miss Emma and the EVN Group, but you should reconsider whether to adjust the share structure of the new company to smooth over the discontent from Huaguo and the Wang family.”
Zhong Jing exhaled a puff of smoke and turned his head dismissively.
“Mr. Zhong, it seems you do not value your health much… Then, will you care about Miss Jiang Yao’s safety? From my understanding, since Hejian Qingya died at the hands of an assassin, suspicions will certainly start turning towards you and Miss Jiang Yao…”
“Then, how about we think of a better way to protect your other relationship?”
Zhong Jing turned his head back, staring directly at the smiling Caucasian woman on the screen. After a few seconds, he parted his lips slightly: “Get lost!”
The video call was abruptly cut off, and Zhong Jing lit a cigarette, retreating back into the sofa.
After contemplating for a whole half-hour, he fished out a phone from the drawer.
After a few taps, the call connected, and Zhong Jing spoke expressionlessly into the phone: “Fourth Uncle, the Engel family has started contacting me… Hmm, they don’t know the real cause of Hejian Qingya’s death…”
“Fourth Uncle, can you guarantee that the Engel family will not harm Xiao Yao?”
…
Outside the window, the sunset painted the sky, and once the office was empty, Zhong Jing grabbed his suit jacket and slowly walked into the elevator.
The elevator descended to the underground parking lot. As he walked to his car, just as he opened the door, Zhong Jing seemed to glimpse something in the side mirror, immediately freezing in place.
Long light blond hair, a cream-colored embroidered dress with dark patterns, a light green small backpack — Jiang Yao was standing gracefully behind him.
Zhong Jing turned around, silently watching her, saying nothing.
Their eyes met, and after a few seconds, Jiang Yao slightly lowered her head, brushing a stray hair behind her ear with one hand, her voice very soft: “Zhong Jing, I’m sorry, I want to go see Hejian Qingya…”
“Jiang Yao is recovering; there is no one else who can hold the fort with the Master. Why did you come out? It’s very unsafe.”
Once in the car, Zhong Jing was in a daze for nearly a minute before speaking to the young woman in the passenger seat.
Jiang Yao kept looking out the window, repeatedly shaking her head: “It’s okay, Fourth Uncle Wang is here; Wan Jie will be fine. I came back to see my sister… Moreover, although I can’t sense anything now, someone from the Wang family is definitely following me.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yao’s left hand gently caressed her lower abdomen, a small motion that Zhong Jing noticed.
“This sudden calmness of yours is something I’m still adjusting to… Buckle your seatbelt; let’s go to and return quickly.”
Zhong Jing started the engine, and the car slowly exited the underground parking lot.
Not long after, another small car also drove out from a distant corner of the parking lot, following Zhong Jing’s car at a distance.
In the driver’s seat of the small car sat a middle-aged man wearing a jacket.
Qian Guilong licked his lips as he watched the off-road vehicle changing lanes to overtake at the end of the road, a sly smile cracking across his face.
With one hand on the steering wheel, he rolled down the car window, took out a cigarette, lit it, and inhaled a few puffs before tapping a phone on the holder.
“There are people from the Wang family following; I can’t get too close,” Qian Guilong said to Emma on the screen. “I can’t keep an eye on two people at once; find a way to get Chu Dali back to the country.”
“No, Chu Dali has already been exposed; it’s hard to evade Huaguo’s monitoring system. If you get exposed as well, we will lose our last chance,” Emma replied, her brow furrowed, clearly impatient.
“Hey, do you have full confidence in this old man or do you not consider his life valuable… I’ve found new information related to Jiang Yao, and I need to negotiate a new price.”
Qian Guilong kept tailing the Bentley off-road vehicle a hundred meters ahead without even glancing at the phone screen.
“New information?”
Emma sounded a bit puzzled or perhaps more worried, fearing Qian Guilong was trying to raise the price under the pretext of withdrawing.
“Go on, Mr. Qian, you have already gained the friendship of the Engel family and are a level three partner in the Ancestor Project!”
Emma thought for a moment and revealed a polite smile.
“It seems Jiang Yao might be pregnant, tsk tsk, a queen’s pregnancy must be planned by the Wang family.”
“What!?”
The screen on the phone shook violently, stabilizing after a long pause, revealing Emma’s startled expression.
“Are you sure!?”
Emma’s voice trembled slightly.
“You must believe it; this old man still relies on you for a good life… Tsk, if you give up, then this old man won’t hold back…”
Qian Guilong licked the corner of his mouth, smiling evilly.
“Alright, you continue tracking, stay in contact at all times! If you have this situation, I will immediately report it to Lord Ervin!”
Emma clearly panicked, almost not waiting for Qian Guilong’s response, and cut off the remote video communication.
“How interesting…”
Ahead, the outline of Phoenix Mountain Cemetery appeared, and Qian Guilong put on a pair of sunglasses and began to slow down.
Before the engine had completely shut off, Qian Guilong frowned and looked to the left side mirror again. Another ordinary car had stopped in the parking lot of Phoenix Mountain Cemetery, a trace of blood clan aura quietly infiltrating his mind.
“Tsk, tsk, that Baron from the Blood Dragon Squad always works so efficiently with his assassination…”
Qian Guilong rolled up the car window, restarted the engine, and drove out of the cemetery parking lot, heading home.
……
……
“When she left, there was no sadness or pain.”
As the last bit of red hue faded from the sunset in the sky, Zhong Jing stood in front of Hejian Qingya’s tombstone, speaking softly.
Jiang Yao took out a scented candle and yellow paper from her backpack, squatting down to silently pay her respects, not paying attention to what Zhong Jing was saying.
“Zhong Jing, if I were the one who died, would you be this sad too?”
Several pieces of yellow paper twisted and carbonized in the flames, and Jiang Yao suddenly asked.
Zhong Jing did not answer, and Jiang Yao smiled bitterly, shaking her head repeatedly.
“Zhong Jing, you are a truly normal person, I am not. So what we care about might never be the same.”
Jiang Yao touched the corner of her mouth, then looked at the glow of the flame, staring at her hands as if recalling the physical anomalies from days before, her heart uneasy.
“Sometimes, I feel like I’m dreaming. I’m afraid this dream will suddenly wake up, and I will return to being the old me… I and my sister, Zheng Ge and the others don’t want me; I am actually very happy to become a blood clan, even if my sister’s life might be very dangerous…”
“I have powerful abilities; everyone envies me, spoils me, and I am the center of attention. This is a perfect world that I dared not even dream of when I was a child… This is my selfish dream, not allowing anyone to disturb or provoke me to recall who I was before…”
As she spoke, Jiang Yao placed the last piece of yellow paper into the fire, clasping her hands together, lowering her head and murmuring:
“Hejian Qingya, please bless the child in my belly, may they always be safe…”
Zhong Jing watched silently, without interrupting, until the yellow paper was extinguished, then walked behind Jiang Yao:
“It’s late; let’s find a place to eat, then I’ll take you home.”
“Mm…”
Jiang Yao nodded, and just as she straightened up, she felt dizzy, her throat tightening with sadness.
Zhong Jing quickly bent down to support her, preventing Jiang Yao from falling.
“Zhong Jing, I feel dizzy…”
All her strength seemed to have vanished, her legs weak, and Jiang Yao couldn’t help but lean into Zhong Jing’s embrace.
Zhong Jing, without a word, scooped Jiang Yao into his arms like a princess, and before leaving, he took one last look at Hejian Qingya’s tombstone.
“Zhong Jing, my sister must have some incurable disease; they’re all hiding it from me… Zhong Jing, I’m afraid my sister will leave me, I’m afraid of losing my power and becoming a piece of meat on the chopping block…”
Huddled in Zhong Jing’s arms, Jiang Yao let out a slight sob.
“It won’t happen!”
Zhong Jing stopped and said earnestly.
“Zhong Jing, do you like daughters? The people from the Wang family all say I’m sure to have a daughter… Zhong Jing, I don’t want to go home; I’m afraid to see my sister’s condition, afraid to smell that kind of scent…”
Hugging Zhong Jing’s neck, feeling the rhythm of his steps, Jiang Yao mumbled different rhymes, slowly falling asleep.
Unlike before, Jiang Yan’s menstrual cycle was delayed for two days this time, yet it came calmly without any discomfort.
In the living room, the TV no longer played the old movie that had been repeatedly aired for several nights, but instead a comedy film.
Jiang Yan comfortably curled up on the sofa, her head resting on Meng Huai’s thigh, half-squinting at the screen.
In recent days, Jiang Yan and Meng Huai wandered through several scenic areas in C City, often returning home only at night.
Jiang Yan no longer had to worry about adding trouble to the Wang family’s hidden protectors as she openly cherished every minute following her own desires.
“Mont Huai, you know, you are quite reserved; you aren’t someone who would overlook beautiful women… Hey, what kind of dress would you like me to wear tomorrow, what color tights…”
“In this era, men like their girlfriends to show off their sensual side… Meng Huai, doesn’t it disgust you at all?”
Jiang Yan turned to face Meng Huai, looking up at his face with a sly smile.
Meng Huai didn’t lower his head or respond, yet kept his eyes on the TV screen, his right hand quietly exploring the texture of Jiang Yan’s thigh through the light purple tights.
Perhaps due to a change in her perfume, the scent of her illness was mostly masked, or perhaps it was because they had spent so much time together that Meng Huai had grown numb to it.
However, what surprised Meng Huai was that during this menstrual cycle, it seemed something had changed at a micro level in Jiang Yan’s body; the release of pheromones was incredibly weak, nearing that of an ordinary person.
Is this the realm of a queen, where unreasonable changes can occur at any time? A reversal of her condition is not impossible, he thought, as he felt the resilient thigh of the girl beneath him, falling into a trance.
“I’m going to take out the trash; you can take a shower first. Do you need anything? I can also stop by the convenience store in the neighborhood.”
Meng Huai glanced at the corner of the living room, as if recalling something, then let go of his hand and gently set Jiang Yan aside.
“Mm, please buy me sanitary napkins, overnight ones. I’ve heard this is something a boyfriend must do.”
Jiang Yan turned, looking at the embarrassed young man, her smile growing wider.
Meng Huai avoided Jiang Yan’s gaze and left the house hesitantly; his departing figure showed clear signs of awkwardness.
“Mont Huai, you’ve been distracted these past two days; are you still troubled by your mission?… Is it that in your eyes, this home is still haunted by Xia Yan, who lingers and occupies Jiang Yan?”
Gazing at the closed door, Jiang Yan let out a gentle sigh.
……
An appealing ringtone rang out as Meng Huai exited the convenience store, carrying a plastic bag. Instead of heading straight home, he walked towards the pitch-black greenery of the neighborhood.
Soon, he spotted two people: Han Jie Li and Tu Weijun, both dressed in plain clothes, standing under a large tree.
“Strange; there are no people from the Wang family nearby… You two talk; I’ll take a look outside.”
Tu Weijun glanced at Han, nodded slightly towards Meng Huai, and then walked away.
“Comrade Meng Huai, this is the last time I ask: Are you willing to accept the headquarters’ orders?”
Han Jie Li sat down heavily under the tree, looking up at the moonless deep sky, his voice solemn.
Aren’t you afraid of sparking a war with the Wang family? If they really had any intentions, they wouldn’t let you get close to them at all.
Meng Huai sat on the other side of the tree, fiddling with the plastic bag in his hands; the soft packaging of the sanitary napkins reminded him of Jiang Yan’s playful, sweet smile from just before he left.
“Tu Weijun followed Zhong Yao and Jiang Yao today; he already discovered that the Blood Clan is secretly watching. It must be the escaped Qian Guilong, indicating the other side hasn’t given up at all.”
“I don’t want to waste time; if soldiers come, I’ll fight; if water rises, I’ll cover it with dirt. Someone has to break the current deadlock, or the Wang family must tell me what they truly want!”
Han Jie Li’s tone was far more unfamiliar than before, as if all emotion had faded.
Let her go… She’s always telling me she hopes the Blood Clan and ordinary people can live openly together; isn’t that worth a try?
Meng Bo’s back rested against the tree, his body slightly trembling, a glimmer of pleading in his eyes.
Han Jie Li was stunned, then let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head repeatedly: “I understand your thoughts, but no matter how great the motivation is, it’s not a reason to force me to change my stance. I am a soldier; my duty is to obey orders.”
“Brother Meng, in this world, there are still things that need to be protected by hidden arrows. Join the Blood Dragon Squad and continue to work for this world!”
“I promise you; I will never harm the innocent, even if it’s the Blood Clan!”
After an unknown amount of time, Han Jie Li turned around, only to find Meng Bo behind the tree had vanished.
He showed no expression of disappointment but rather sighed with relief.
At this moment, a Blood Clan high-altitude drone quietly overlooked the earth, following a certain Bentley SUV as it entered Longquan Mountain…
……
As midnight approached, Zhong Jing returned to the Windflower Mountain villa with the already sleeping Jiang Yao, but just as they got out of the car and walked a short distance, they were blocked by the fully armed Liang Tai.
“Zhong Jing, didn’t I tell you to avoid this place early on?!” Liang Tai’s face looked very unpleasant, nervously glancing at the night outside the villa, “Your identity has been exposed in the hidden arrows; what if someone follows you?”
“Mm, I’ll leave immediately. Don’t worry, I met someone from the Wang family’s twelfth brother outside the mountain; no one is following.”
Zhong Jing gently placed the sleeping, lightly golden-haired girl into Liang Tai’s arms, showing an apologetic expression.
“Sigh, you’re usually so cautious; how could you…” Liang Tai didn’t know what else to say and shook his head. “Since you’re here already, I can’t chase you away. Stay the night, and by the way, greet Fourth Uncle Wang. He’s been watching over Wan Jie these days.”
“No, please tell Fourth Uncle that the RMCE that the Fujiwara family promised to compensate is about to reach customs. You can arrange for someone to pick it up at that time.”
Without looking back, Zhong Jing continued towards his car.
As he opened the car door, Zhong Jing looked up at the night sky.
……
……
In the northeast of D City, on Guanyin Mountain, a summer resort hidden deep in the mountains.
The temperature difference at night cloaked the summer resort in a thin mist. The stone lamp posts emitted a soft glow in the night breeze, the distant mountains vaguely merging with the darkness.
Occasionally, a few sounds of insects could be heard both inside and outside the villa, as if they were whispering the secrets of the night, soon to be swallowed by the darkness.
“Old Ancestor, Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao have shown some new changes, they may soon enter the third phase of the Queen… Eighth Uncle has returned to C City, waiting for your instructions… The hidden arrows are tracking Jiang Yan and Zhong Jing; the Windflower Mountain villa is probably exposed…”
In the main hall, a housemaid quietly walked up behind the old woman, murmuring for nearly a minute.
“Mm, let’s wait a little longer; some people’s big show hasn’t started yet; it’s not worth hurrying…”
The old woman lowered her head, pondering, and after a dozen seconds, she sighed deeply, slowly lifting her head to look at the young man kneeling in the middle of the hall.
Dressed in standard black combat gear of the hidden arrows, the young man had sharp facial features and a serious expression, quietly gazing at the old duke of the Wang family seated several meters away.
“Have you made up your mind?”
The old ancestor of the Wang family picked up a teacup, took a small sip, and looked as kind as ever.
“Old Ancestor, I’ve made up my mind. I still want to return to the Blood Dragon Squad; the brothers all feel the same. We are Wang family people, but we are also soldiers of Huaguo, and we must protect this country!”
“In the past, we were just ordinary people of the Wang family, but now we are the Blood Dragon Squad of Huaguo. Even if we die, we will die on the battlefield!”
Li Hongjun was kneeling but kept his back straight, without a hint of fear in his gaze directed at the old woman.
“Good, good child… Now the family and the country are both here. Go, be the person you want to be, and accomplish what you should accomplish.”
The old ancestor of the Wang family placed the teacup down gently, clapping his hands appreciatively.
