Chapter Forty-Two: The Jinling Command Headquarters

The car came to a halt.

Not far ahead stood a grand and imposing gate. Beyond it stretched a vast expanse—the very heart of the Eastern Theater Command, the Jinling Eastern Command Headquarters.

“Please put on the blindfold. It’s standard procedure,” said the driver, reaching back and handing Jiang An a black blindfold. His gaze brooked no refusal or argument.

Jiang An said nothing, quietly accepting the blindfold and slipping it over his eyes. It served no real purpose for him, except to put others at ease.

The vehicle moved forward once more. The guards at the gate had clearly received prior notice; after checking the necessary documents, they allowed the jeep to pass. It entered this mysterious realm, a place where most ordinary citizens of Huaxia would never set foot.

They drove in circles for a full ten minutes. During this time, there were no sounds of military training, no shouts or drills. Eventually, the vehicle stopped again, this time in front of a six-story office building.

“You may remove the blindfold now. Please remain in the car and wait,” the driver said after shutting off the engine.

Jiang An took off the blindfold and saw that they were parked in the plaza before the office building. Four identical jeeps had already arrived and were parked in a row; his was the fifth, and it seemed they were waiting for a sixth.

Sure enough, after another ten minutes, a sixth jeep pulled up and parked beside Jiang An’s vehicle.

Then, somewhere nearby, a whistle sounded—a command.

“Please disembark!”

The driver got out first, opening Jiang An’s door for him. Jiang An stepped out and glanced around. Each jeep held a stern-faced driver and a doctor who, like him, was scanning their surroundings. However, when the other doctors saw Jiang An, they were visibly surprised; compared to their average age of over fifty, Jiang An was strikingly young.

Suddenly, a wave of synchronized footsteps approached, growing louder as ten fully armed soldiers jogged across the plaza from both sides. They halted before Jiang An and the others. The lead soldier saluted and spoke, “Greetings. By order of our superiors, we will now carry out a routine procedure. Please cooperate.”

He gestured, and the soldiers dispersed. Each doctor was thoroughly scanned from head to toe with a sophisticated device, checking for any listening or surveillance equipment. Every vehicle, even the drivers who had brought them, underwent the same scrutiny, ensuring absolute security. No one dared express dissatisfaction; this was the military, and a high-level command post at that. They were here for a classified mission, and the military’s caution was entirely justified.

Jiang An was especially aware of the lethal intent lurking nearby—at least five snipers had their sights trained on this group.

His curiosity deepened. He could not imagine what task would require so many doctors, all of them renowned healers of Huaxia.

The scanning was quick and efficient. Soon, the soldiers departed, taking with them the doctors' phones, wallets, lighters, pens, and other belongings, leaving only the clothes they wore.

“Esteemed doctors, thank you for your cooperation!”

The doors of the office building opened, and several impeccably uniformed officers emerged. Leading them was Colonel Luo, whom Jiang An had met before. Luo wore a faint smile as he addressed them.

“I apologize—some procedures are dictated by protocol, nothing personal. Please follow me now; all your questions will be answered soon.”

Colonel Luo gestured invitingly. The six doctors exchanged glances; then, led by the bearded elder, they followed Luo inside.

The first floor was a typical office space—simply larger than most. Colonel Luo said, “I’ll take you to see the Commander first, then to the research institute.”

Many eyes brightened at the mention of the Commander. In the headquarters, he could only mean the highest authority of the Eastern Theater Command—a general.

They took the elevator to the top floor, but rather than entering a conference room or public area, they found themselves in a lounge guarded by a sharp, armed soldier. Upon seeing Colonel Luo, the guard exchanged a brief glance with him before opening the door.

Inside was a spacious room dominated by white tones. Expensive medical equipment flashed and hummed, reminiscent of an intensive care unit. Before Colonel Luo led the group in, there were already ten people present—two doctors, two nurses, three scholarly elders, and three others who immediately caught Jiang An’s attention.

In one corner stood a rugged man, perhaps in his forties, eyes half-closed as if indifferent to his surroundings. Yet no one could ignore him; his very presence radiated a fierce, iron-blooded aura—violent and sharp. The sense was overwhelming: should anything happen, he would leap like a tiger and tear apart any adversary. He was even more formidable than Cheng Yang, and Jiang An sensed that this man’s skills were at their peak—on the verge of becoming a master, though for some reason he had not yet crossed that threshold.

The second was a woman—an exceptionally beautiful woman. Since returning to Earth, Jiang An had met many striking women; the most outstanding were Song Wanshuang and Tong Yi. This woman matched their beauty, though in a different way. Song Wanshuang was like a frosty plum blossom, cold and ethereal; Tong Yi was playful, bright, and delicate, like an orchid. This new woman was full of vibrant energy and untamed wildness—a rose impossible to domesticate. She appeared under thirty, wore her hair in a neat bob, her skin was sun-kissed, her features sculpted to perfection. Her large, bright eyes under sword-like brows and her curvaceous figure inspired a powerful desire for conquest.

The third was an elderly man with silver hair, surrounded by deference. Time had etched its marks on his square face. He reclined on a hospital bed, his gentle gaze falling on each newcomer, yet none dared meet his eyes for long. There was a subtle sharpness within their depths, a radiance that seemed to see through everything. Everyone knew this was the Commander—the steadfast pillar of the Eastern Theater Command. No one would risk offending a general of such stature.

“Commander, I am here by order…” Colonel Luo saluted, preparing to report, but the silver-haired Commander raised a hand and laughed softly. “My name is Li Qiancheng. Perhaps you have heard of me. I must apologize for the abrupt invitation; please forgive me.”

All the doctors present, save for Jiang An, were seasoned figures. Seeing a general speak so courteously, they hastened to reply, “Not at all, Commander Li. You are too kind. It is our duty to serve our country,” and similar phrases.

“Ah, you truly are patriots. Please, sit. Let’s not be so formal—think of it as visiting an old friend,” Commander Li said, growing more hospitable and urging everyone to relax and chat.

The atmosphere eased; the earlier tension dissipated. Everyone took a seat, with many vying instinctively to be closer to the Commander. Naturally, Jiang An was edged out to the farthest seat.

“This grand invitation is for a major, classified mission requiring your expertise. But before that, I have a personal request. Aside from the three doctors from the military district, I don’t know the names of the rest of you. May I ask?”

The military’s intelligence had surely investigated these doctors countless times. Commander Li’s inquiry was merely to break the ice.

The closest to Commander Li, the bearded elder, stood and replied respectfully, “Commander, my name is Wang Bixuan.” Concise and to the point.

“Commander, I am Dong Chengjun.”

“Commander, I am Yan Kaizhi.”

The rest followed suit, each standing and reporting their names, all with great respect. Commander Li’s gentle manner belied a lifetime of accumulated authority; only after he acknowledged them did they sit. When it came to Jiang An’s turn, he stood and said simply, “Jiang An,” then sat down without ceremony.

His manner seemed less respectful than the others.

Such pride naturally grated on the others, especially given his youth. Many glanced at him with doubt and disdain, most notably the exquisite woman beside Commander Li.

“Colonel Luo, are you sure you didn’t invite the wrong person?” she said coldly.