Chapter 56

Chapter 56

In the blink of an eye, the final day of the ranking challenge officially concluded.

After a period of relentless effort, Bai Luming achieved a perfectly respectable mid-tier result, contentedly relinquishing his mecha piloting privileges within the Elite Team.

That day, unburdened by training, Bai Luming slept until noon. Had it not been for the excessive commotion outside, he might have continued his slumber.

He threw off the covers and sat up, asking, "What's all the commotion outside?"

He Yilan, engrossed in a collection of essays, merely cast a fleeting glance at him. "Go see for yourself."

Bai Luming detected an unsettling implication in that look. Pushing open the door, he stepped out to find the dormitory hallway window completely obscured by a dense crowd, all peering intently at something.

He naturally joined the throng, looking down with them. "What's going on now?"

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?" The cadet in front didn't even turn around. "These convoys have been assembling since morning. No idea where they're headed now. I heard General Qin and the officers from the Four Great Legions just boarded their vehicles. Such a grand display, could it be we're going to war?"

Someone nearby scoffed, dismissing the idea. "Since when do we use space vehicles for war?"

Bai Luming remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant rows of convoys indeed driving out of the fortress.

Such an imposing procession, almost spanning the entire Nawei Fortress, with every vehicle emblazoned with military insignias, conveying both solemnity and authority.

By now, Bai Luming fully grasped the situation.

His eyes subtly swept towards the military spaceport. When he looked back, his gaze met He Yilan's from inside their room.

Clearly, if he could deduce it, He Yilan had likely known long ago.

What was destined to happen, would happen.

However, the Nawei Military Region's arrangements were indeed excessively elaborate.

Wasn't it just Marshal Shen Yanfeng of the Blaze Legion making a personal appearance? This full-scale deployment almost rivaled the formal military parades of past years when all four marshals gathered.

Bai Luming lingered by the window, admiring the awe-inspiring sight of the departing convoys, then turned and re-entered the room, casually closing the door behind him.

"That's all the reaction you have?"

He Yilan spoke, seemingly disappointed by Bai Luming's nonchalant attitude.

"What reaction should I have?" Bai Luming casually retrieved a small mirror from a drawer, adjusting his stylish layered hair—a preliminary preparation for meeting his former subordinate. "He's the one who wants to see me, not the other way around. If anyone should be nervous, it ought to be him."

He Yilan nodded. "True. I hope you can maintain that excellent composure."

Bai Luming chuckled and tossed the mirror over. "Here, keep it. It's yours."

As He Yilan looked at him, he continued unhurriedly, "Walk by the river often enough, and you're bound to get your shoes wet. You should also look in this mirror often. I hope that when your day comes, you can maintain the same excellent composure as I do."

He Yilan glanced at the small object now in his hand and smoothly put it away. "I shall certainly learn from you."

*

Half an hour later.

The neatly aligned military space vehicles arrived one after another, and the originally spacious military spaceport gradually became crowded.

Officers from the 12th Military Region returned once more. As they disembarked, their faces still bore the shock they had felt upon receiving the news.

The head navigator immediately approached Qin Zhangzhou the moment he stepped out. "General, you've finally arrived!"

Qin Zhangzhou casually took the record book handed to him and walked inside, asking, "Where are the four marshals now?"

The navigator, flustered and busy, wiped cold sweat from his forehead. "Ten minutes. They'll arrive in ten minutes."

As the words fell, Qin Zhangzhou sensed something amiss and paused slightly. "What do you mean by ten minutes?"

The navigator's voice trembled slightly, almost on the verge of tears. "...It means... they will all arrive above the spaceport simultaneously."

"......"

Qin Zhangzhou remained silent, his expression visibly darkening.

Unlike the previous representatives from the Four Military Regions.

Back then, the four had first attended a meeting on Planet 3425, arriving on the same starship. But now, the four marshals were each aboard their own personal cruisers. Given the size of this military spaceport, it was impossible to accommodate four vessels at once.

The navigator asked anxiously, "So, later... which marshal's cruiser should we allow to land first?"

Qin Zhangzhou: "."

A good question, but next time, please refrain from asking such perilous questions.

A voice suddenly came from behind. "General Qin."

Qin Zhangzhou turned to meet Rong Wenyu's gentle gaze. "Army Officer Rong, is there some arrangement?"

"Not an arrangement, just passing on a message from Marshal Jin." Rong Wenyu smiled slightly. "Marshal Jin said he is currently visiting Marshal Qing. Due to other arrangements, our Gold Army cruiser will return first. General Qin doesn't need to arrange for its landing."

Other arrangements?

That's what was said, but Qin Zhangzhou understood the underlying intention. He gave Rong Wenyu a grateful look. "Please thank Marshal Jin for me."

"You're welcome." Rong Wenyu nodded, his gaze shifting slightly towards the distance. "It seems I'm not the only one delivering messages."

Huo Mingyue approached just in time to hear this and smiled. "I am indeed here to deliver a message."

He said to Qin Zhangzhou, "Marshal Shen is using a private vessel for this trip. He asks that you proceed with military arrangements without undue concern."

"Please thank Marshal Shen for me as well." By now, Qin Zhangzhou was completely relieved. After thanking both, he instructed the navigator, "Proceed. Arrange for the cruisers of the Red Feather Legion and the Azure Shadow Legion to land."

Navigator: "Yes!"

Huo Mingyue watched Qin Zhangzhou and his group depart, then lifted his eyes slightly. Gazing at the sky, he still found it somewhat surreal.

He had naturally known that Shen Yanfeng would be coming to the Nawei region. But no one had told him the other marshals would be coming too!?

He glanced at Rong Wenyu beside him and detected the hidden turmoil beneath the other's calm exterior. After a moment's thought, he asked again, somewhat doubtfully, "Are you sure you don't know why the marshals are here?"

Rong Wenyu also looked towards the sky. "Who could possibly know?"

Huo Mingyue: "...Indeed, who could know."

A faint rumble of engines broke the tense and solemn atmosphere in the military spaceport.

Two cruisers gradually appeared in everyone's sight.

On the top of each vessel were the military insignias representing the Red Feather Legion and the Azure Shadow Legion.

The sweeping winds seemed to stir something in everyone's hearts.

As far as the eye could see, the soldiers present instinctively straightened their backs, saluting as they watched the cruisers complete their docking at the spaceport.

The side elevator door descended, and the first to come into view was Chi Yan's imposing stature. At the same time, Qing Yileng and Jin Wumian also stepped out from the doors of the other cruiser.

After the three disembarked, they were in no hurry. They waited until the last private starship had docked, exchanged greetings with the last to arrive, Shen Yanfeng, and then had a brief meeting.

The Four Great Legions have always been fiercely competitive in terms of strength, but judging by today's scene alone, the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Just these four standing there conversing was enough to make everyone around them silently wipe away sweat countless times under the invisible pressure.

As everyone knows, among these four marshals, Jin Wumian undoubtedly has the most approachable temperament when it comes to interpersonal interactions.

At this moment, he was also the most easygoing one. After a brief exchange, he smiled and looked towards Qin Zhangzhou, their host. "General Qin, what are the arrangements next?"

Qin Zhangzhou hurriedly replied, "Accommodations for all four of you have long been arranged. The journey must have been exhausting—if you need to rest, you can go anytime!"

Jin Wumian's handsome features softened slightly, clearly feeling a bit tired. Just as he was about to kindly agree, he heard Chi Yan speak up beside him. "No rush."

Chi Yan's nearly transparent pupils turned towards Qin Zhangzhou. "I think I just heard an assembly signal."

Qin Zhangzhou responded, "That would be from the trainee training area. A few days ago, we just finished the elite squad selections from various military regions. They should be assembling now for the list announcement."

Chi Yan asked, "Would it be convenient to go there?"

The question was asked very casually, but it left Qin Zhangzhou stunned. "You... want to go to the trainee training area?"

Qing Yileng suddenly added, "We can go check it out."

Jin Wumian, listening nearby, looked at Chi Yan, then at Qing Yileng. Curiosity led him to temporarily cancel his rest plans. "You're all going? Then I'll go take a look too."

As he spoke, he didn’t forget to extend an invitation to Shen Yanfeng. "Marshal Shen, care to join us?"

Shen Yanfeng: "...Hmm."

With just a few words, their destination was decided. Though Qin Zhangzhou didn’t understand, he had no reason to refuse. "Of course, I’ll lead the way for everyone right away."

Shen Yanfeng watched as the other three got into the car, then waved for Huo Mingyue to follow him before getting in himself.

Once Huo Mingyue was in the car and it started moving, Shen Yanfeng finally couldn’t help but massage his temples.

He waved Huo Mingyue over, and when the latter leaned close, Shen Yanfeng asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "What’s the status of our person?"

Huo Mingyue glanced towards the driver in front and similarly lowered his voice. "In the No. 6616 Military Region camp... seems quiet."

Shen Yanfeng nodded and asked, "How much do the other three representatives who came with you know?"

Huo Mingyue replied, "I'm not sure... I specifically invited Duan Heguang and the others out to eat yesterday. From what I observed, they don’t seem to know about him. Could it be that these marshals came here for another reason?"

"No," Shen Yanfeng said. "Aside from Marshal Jin, the other two are indeed here for him."

After a moment of silence, he slowly exhaled and turned his gaze out the window, saying nothing more.

Huo Mingyue wanted to say more, but seeing Shen Yanfeng’s expression, he decided not to press further.

At the same time, the trainees of the 12th Military Region had already assembled on the central training ground.

The uproar in the fortress today had been too great. Until now, everyone was still guessing where those motorcades had gone, but a large portion of the focus remained on the upcoming announcement of the elite squad list.

In theory, the instructors from each army should have arrived by now, but for some reason, no one had shown up despite the long wait, which only ramped up the speculation on site.

The trainee camp of the No. 6616 Military Region was located in a relatively remote area.

Tang Ruyan had wandered off somewhere and returned with a mysterious gleam in her eye, gathering everyone together.

Her information had always been well-informed, and she always shared freely. Her gaze swept slowly around the circle as she dropped a bombshell in a perfectly measured tone: "Bet you didn’t expect this—the reason the military region was in chaos this morning is because the Four Marshals are here."

"Wh—"

Chu Xiao’s voice rose sharply, but Ji Xinghan expressionlessly covered his mouth. "Keep it down."

Chu Xiao nodded repeatedly: "Mm—! Mmm!"

Ji Xinghan shot Chu Xiao a glance and released him.

Pei Suqi, meanwhile, wasn’t not surprised—he was so shocked he was momentarily speechless. When he finally regained his composure, he stared wide-eyed at Tang Ruyan: "The Four Marshals are here? Really?!"

Tang Ruyan smiled faintly: "I don’t deal in rumors."

As she spoke, her gaze drifted towards the two nearby. "Speaking of which, do you two have some inside info? You don’t seem surprised at all."

Bai Luming blinked innocently: "Not at all, I’m very surprised."

He Yilan chuckled silently beside him.

Tang Ruyan looked at the two, a slight smile tugging at her lips: "Is that so?"

Chu Xiao, having recovered, asked eagerly: "Which of the Four Marshals is here?"

Congratulations, it’s Marshal Shen, here to pick you up for the White Army.

Bai Luming thought to himself, then heard Tang Ruyan say slowly: "Not just one—all four."

Chu Xiao: "What do you mean?"

Bai Luming, however, began to grasp the meaning: "."

Tang Ruyan’s gaze shifted past them towards the entrance: "Just what it sounds like—'all four marshals.' Well, they’re here now. See for yourself."

Bai Luming turned slowly and saw the all-too-familiar figures entering through the gate one after another.

After a long silence, he reached out and pinched He Yilan’s arm: "Does it hurt?"

He Yilan’s voice was utterly flat: "...What do you think?"

Bai Luming: "."

Shen Yanfeng I get, but what are the other three doing here?