Chapter 74 God-level Appointment, Code Name: Kunlun!

The black Volga sedan glided silently through the streets of Beijing, eventually turning into the military compound heavily guarded by sentries.

The poplar trees and red brick buildings outside the car window, though only a little over a month apart, now seem like a lifetime ago.

The car was deathly silent.

Secretary Zhang, who was driving, glanced at the two people in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

Their clothes were clean and tidy, but the sharpness in their eyes, forged in blood and fire, and the weariness they couldn't hide, silently told of the tragedy and horror of their journey to the Southern Border.

Secretary Zhang's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He didn't ask anything, but simply gripped the steering wheel tighter to make the car drive more steadily.

The car stopped in front of the small building where Lu Zhenguo lived.

Lu Zhanting was the first to push open the car door and get out, the crisp air invigorating him. He turned around and naturally reached out his hand to Su Wanqing inside the car.

Su Wanqing placed her hand in his palm, their fingers intertwined, and used the leverage to get out of the car.

The two stood side by side in front of the door.

On the steps, a figure in military uniform, as upright as a pine tree, was already waiting.

It is Lu Zhenguo.

He seemed a little older than he had a month ago, and the white hair at his temples was particularly noticeable in the night wind.

When he saw Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing unharmed at the bottom of the steps, something suddenly broke out in his eyes, which were used to the bloodshed of the battlefield and were no longer calm.

The body of this iron-blooded veteran showed a very slight stiffness.

He didn't say any welcoming words, but quickly walked down the steps.

He stretched out his large, calloused hands, which had once commanded thousands of troops, and tightly gripped Lu Zhanting's and Su Wanqing's arms, one on each side.

The force was so great that his knuckles turned white.

With sharp eyes, he scanned the two men from head to toe, making sure they were both physically intact before finally letting out a long-suppressed breath.

That breath was as heavy as a mountain.

"It's good that you're back."

He patted Lu Zhanting's shoulder heavily, his gaze falling on Su Wanqing's pale face, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness and lingering fear that even he himself was unaware of.

"It's good that you're back."

After all the words, only these four remain.

The study. The air was so heavy it felt like it was about to freeze.

Lu Zhenguo personally brewed piping hot tea for the two of them, but he never picked up his own cup.

"Speak," he straightened his back, the strategist general was back, "Don't miss a single detail from beginning to end."

Lu Zhanting didn't waste a moment.

He placed the black notebook he had brought back from underground, along with the strange star-shaped compass, side by side on his desk.

“Grandpa, the situation in the Southern Territory is far more complex than any of the contingency plans we have submitted.”

He began by recounting the secret orders, then went on to describe the nauseating modifications in the secret base, the fearless undead, the beating "immortal heart" underground, and finally, the organization known as "Ouroboros".

When the true identity of "Lynx" was revealed, and when the organization's real purpose—not to create a virus, but to complete a so-called "divine descent ritual"—was spoken, Lu Zhenguo's brows furrowed tightly.

“This is the logbook left by Lynx.” Lu Zhanting pushed the notebook over.

Lu Zhenguo picked it up and turned the pages one by one.

His expression changed rapidly as the contents of the paper appeared, from initial shock to disbelief, and finally, all emotions settled down, transforming into a chilling and murderous aura.

"'Southern Ark' - The Immortal Heart".

"'Northern Glacier' - The Sleeping Core".

“'Abyssal Trench' - Eye of the Void”.

...

He whispered the place names and codes, each word like a heavy hammer blow to the hearts of everyone in the study.

“They’re not creating a disaster,” Su Wanqing added, her voice a little hoarse. “They’re ‘recycling.’ The Immortal Heart is just the first item on their recycling list. Their chessboard is the entire world.”

Lu Zhenguo's gaze finally settled on the last few pages of the log.

There were the bloodline test data of the lynx on "Key" Lu Zhanting, as well as information about the "Return to One" plan and a sealed being that he called "He".

*Smack*

Lu Zhenguo slammed his laptop shut, the crisp sound sending a shiver through the air.

He raised his head, his gaze no longer scrutinizing, but penetrating, as if trying to cleave the air itself.

"Besides the two of you, who else knows about this?"

“No more.” Lu Zhanting said decisively.

Lu Zhenguo remained silent.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and unconsciously tapped his fingers on the table.

Each strike seems to be a question about the future fate of this country.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes again, his gaze filled with unwavering resolve.

"This is not a terrorist attack, nor is it a localized conflict." His voice was low, but every word carried immense weight. "This is a war we have never heard of before, and we are completely unprepared for."

He stood up abruptly without hesitation and went straight to the red secure telephone.

The moment he picked up the microphone, he turned to Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing and said, "You two, from now on, stay here and don't leave even for a moment. Forget everything you saw in the Southern Territory until new orders are issued."

The tone left no room for argument.

"Yes!" The two men immediately stood at attention and answered in unison.

The call was connected.

"Commander, it's me, Lu Zhenguo." His voice was extremely low, yet it carried the feeling of a storm about to explode. "There's been a major breakthrough in the Southern Border. No... a revolutionary discovery... I'll take the 'evidence' there immediately... The seriousness of the matter has exceeded our highest contingency plan."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhenguo grabbed his notebook and compass from the table and strode outside.

At the door, he paused, turned around, and took a deep look at his grandson and granddaughter-in-law.

"Zhan Ting, Wan Qing."

"arrive."

“You are heroes.” Lu Zhenguo’s voice was filled with complex and unreadable emotions. “Now, prepare for a real battle.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around, his tall figure resolutely disappearing into the night.

That night, beneath the tranquil surface of the capital city, a raging undercurrent was brewing.

A Hongqi sedan without local license plates silently drove into the heart of the country.

A conference room that doesn't exist on the map was brightly lit, its lights never going out all night.

Those who can sit at this conference table are all true pillars of this country.

When Lu Zhenguo placed the black notebook and star-shaped compass on the table, a top-level secret meeting that could shake the very foundations of the nation was convened.

No one knows the specific content of the meeting.

All the outside world knows is that, starting the next day, an invisible, extremely tense atmosphere rapidly spread among the highest levels of the military and several core departments.

Countless encrypted commands were sent like locusts to classified units across the country.

A batch of files, sealed away for decades and marked with "absurd" and "weird," were retrieved from the deepest basement.

Several retired experts, revered as titans in the fields of intelligence, physics, biology, and ancient history, were invited back to their posts overnight.

Ouroboros.

"Return to One".

"The Holy Ark".

These words became the country's top-level secrets, and a Damocles' sword hanging over the heads of all decision-makers.

During the meeting, the names of Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing were repeatedly mentioned.

They are no longer the executors of the mission or the survivors.

They are the only known "living coordinates" and "information source" to have directly confronted "Ouroboros" and successfully destroyed one of its important strongholds.

Their strategic value has been redefined and elevated to an unprecedented level.

Especially Su Wanqing.

The title of "miracle doctor" was given a completely new and extremely heavy meaning after this conference.

She is no longer just a highly skilled doctor.

She is defined as a "national treasure-level strategic expert" with top-notch practical experience and reverse analysis capabilities in the fields of unknown biology and high-dimensional energy research.

Meanwhile, at the Beijing Military Region General Hospital.

Dean Chen held a newly issued internal notice, his fingers trembling slightly.

The announcement was extremely brief: The alert for a Class A biological hazard in the southern region has been lifted, and the crisis is under control.

He knew better than anyone that it wasn't an "epidemic" at all. Several batches of top experts sent there couldn't even effectively isolate the virus samples, and their reports were full of words like "incomprehensible" and "contrary to biological common sense."

Then, Su Wanqing went.

The alarm is now off.

He doesn't need to know the process; the result itself is a miracle.

“The miracle doctor has returned…” he murmured to himself, a look of near awe appearing in his eyes for the first time. “We were all wrong… This granddaughter-in-law of the Lu family is probably the country’s most hidden trump card.”

He picked up the internal phone, his voice extremely serious.

"Issue this order: all of Comrade Su Wanqing's files are to be physically sealed and their access level raised to the highest. No one, regardless of rank, is to inquire about or discuss them! In addition, immediately organize a team to compile all relevant records in ancient texts concerning 'plague,' 'evil spirits,' and 'purification rituals,' raise their security level to the highest, and submit them to me as soon as possible!"

...

The two-day "lockdown" was not a period of idle waiting.

Lu Zhanting practiced an extremely slow set of boxing moves in the courtyard. Each punch he threw produced a muffled boom in the air. He was re-familiarizing himself with the power he had suddenly gained and was not yet fully in control of.

Su Wanqing sat cross-legged, gazing inward at the increasingly bright golden seed within her spiritual space. The Southern Territory's depletion was being rapidly replenished; streams of pure energy flowed through the invisible spiritual link between her and Lu Zhanting, nourishing each other and restoring them at a speed far exceeding that of the past.

They are sharpening their claws in their own way for the coming storm.

On the evening of the third day, Lu Zhenguo returned.

His face bore the weariness of two sleepless nights, but his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

He placed a brown paper file bag on the table with a dull thud.

"The Supreme Command's preliminary decision."

Lu Zhanting opened the file bag and pulled out two thin sheets of paper.

The first page contains an appointment letter.

"It is hereby decided that a special operations response force directly under the Central Command, codenamed 'Kunlun,' will be established immediately. This force will report directly to the Supreme Command, possess the highest operational authority, and be dedicated to handling all matters related to the 'Ouroboros' organization and related supernatural events..."

"Appointment: Comrade Lu Zhanting, as the leader of the advance action group of the 'Kunlun' troops, and immediately awarded the rank of colonel."

The second page is for Su Wanqing.

"Special Appointment: Comrade Su Wanqing, Chief Scientific Advisor of the 'Kunlun' Unit, and concurrently Chief Expert in Bioenergetics. He will enjoy the National Special-Class Expert Allowance and his administrative rank is equivalent to Major General."

There were no unnecessary words, only a cold and direct appointment.

But these two thin pages are heavier than any mountain peak.

It represents the opening of a hidden front, unknown to the world.

"Are you ready?" Lu Zhenguo asked the two of them in a low voice.

"Always be prepared!" Lu Zhanting's answer was firm and resolute.

Su Wanqing nodded emphatically, her gaze more resolute than ever before.

"Very good." A hint of relief finally appeared on Lu Zhenguo's face. "The organization will give you all its support. Wanqing, your research access has no limit. All laboratories and databases across the country, including those 'things' that are never shown to others, will be open to you."

He turned to Lu Zhanting: "Your action team will be selected by you personally from among the sharpest blades in the entire army. You have only one mission: find them, and then eliminate them!"

The old man paused, and his tone suddenly softened.

“But remember, you are facing a bunch of madmen, unknown ghosts. Make sure you stay alive first.” He looked at Su Wanqing and instructed her word by word, “Especially you, Wanqing. You are more important than all of us old guys who are ready to be buried at any time combined right now.”

As night deepened, Lu Zhenguo left.

Inside the room, Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing stood side by side by the window, looking out at the sleeping capital city.

Peaceful and tranquil.

Who knew that, in order to protect this peace, an invisible net had already been quietly spread out with them at its center.

Lu Zhanting took out the star-shaped compass from his pocket.

It felt cold to the touch, neither gold nor iron, and under the moonlight, the intricate symbols on its surface shimmered with a faint glow.

suddenly.

On the compass, the symbol representing "Northern Glacier - Sleeping Core" flickered without warning.

A very thin red light appeared, like a red-hot poison needle. Although it only flashed by, it pierced the eyes of the two people with precision.

The two suddenly locked eyes and saw the horror reflected in each other's pupils.

The smoke of war in the southern border has not yet cleared.

The shadow of the north has already descended.

Returning is not the end.

Rather, it was the beginning of another infernal battlefield.