Chapter 75 A Clash of Minds, A Single Word of Annihilation!
With the smoke of war cleared in the south, the capital city welcomed the heroes back with a grand victory banquet.
The banquet was held at the military's No. 1 guesthouse.
Those who can step into this place are all truly influential figures in the capital.
The event was a gathering of prominent figures and dignitaries, with a warm yet solemn atmosphere.
The appearance of Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing was absolutely central to this banquet.
As they walked side by side into the banquet hall, the room fell into a momentary, deathly silence.
Countless gazes, a mixture of inquisitive, awe-inspiring, and envious, instantly focused on them.
Lu Zhanting changed into a brand-new dark-colored uniform, with a brand-new colonel's rank insignia on his shoulders.
He stood tall and straight like a spear, with a cold and stern face.
The life-and-death trials in the Southern Territory tempered his inherent iron-blooded ruthlessness, making it more restrained and even more terrifying.
He simply stood there quietly, and a domain naturally formed around him that no one dared to approach easily.
Those deep eyes would only lose all their sharpness when they looked at his wife beside him.
Su Wanqing chose an elegant light blue dress, without any makeup, and simply tied her long hair back.
Her appearance remained beautiful, but her overall demeanor had changed drastically.
Those once clear eyes are now deep and penetrating, possessing a power to see into people's hearts.
She is no longer just a highly skilled military wife, but more like a master who has weathered many storms and is now calm and composed.
"Colonel Lu, Advisor Su, welcome home."
A high-ranking military leader came forward with a sincere smile on his face.
He gripped Lu Zhanting's hand tightly, then nodded solemnly to Su Wanqing, his words full of approval.
"You have made unparalleled contributions in this crisis in the southern border. On behalf of the military region, I would like to raise a glass to you."
The leader's words were brief and did not reveal any details of the task.
But the phrase "unparalleled achievement" says it all.
The crowd immediately gathered around, and congratulations and praises filled the air.
Lu Zhanting remained largely silent, nodding in return to each person who came to offer a toast.
Su Wanqing responded calmly with a polite smile.
On the periphery of the crowd, at the Yan family's table, Old Master Yan held a wine glass, but did not drink.
His cloudy yet exceptionally shrewd eyes stared unblinkingly at his granddaughter and grandson-in-law, who were surrounded by the crowd.
He was proud of them, genuinely proud.
But he also saw in their brows a solemnity beyond their years, and a tacit understanding of life and death that needed no words.
“Zhengmin,” Old Master Yan suddenly spoke, saying to his son Yan Zhengmin beside him, “the situation in the Southern Territory is probably a hundred times more complicated than what we have heard.”
Yan Zhengmin lowered his voice: "Dad, I've inquired. The Lu family has kept the news very tightly under wraps. All we know is that Zhan Ting and Wan Qing narrowly escaped death this time. After they returned, they were directly appointed to participate in a newly established top-secret unit."
“Top Secret Unit…” Old Master Yan slowly swirled his wine glass, his gaze becoming distant. “Wanqing has already soared to a height that we can’t even see. All we can do is guard her rear and ensure she has no worries.”
On the other side, Lu Zhenguo sat alone in a corner, with only a cup of tea in front of him.
He watched his grandson and granddaughter-in-law receive the highest honor in the crowd. The old man's face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes lay unspeakable worry and heaviness.
This victory celebration was something others would do to celebrate their triumph.
For him, however, it marked the beginning of an even more brutal war.
The atmosphere at the banquet reached its climax after the leader's brief speech.
Just then, a commotion arose at the entrance of the banquet hall.
A young man dressed in a sharp suit, but with a sickly pale face, was stopped at the door.
"I'm looking for Su Wanqing! Tell her to come out and see me!" The young man's voice was sharp and excited, revealing a kind of desperate madness.
The guards tried to take him away, but he clung tightly to the doorframe, shouting, "Su Wanqing! You witch! You ruined my sister's life so badly, and now you dare to accept praise here? Get out here!"
The banquet hall fell silent instantly.
All eyes turned to the doorway.
Su Wanqing's eyes narrowed slightly.
He is Song Tingyu's younger brother, Song Ziwen. A spoiled brat who has been pampered since childhood.
The Song family's retaliation came faster and was more foolish than she had anticipated.
Before Lu Zhanting could make a move, Liu Yuzhen's husband, a cadre working in a ministry, strode over and angrily shouted, "Ziwen! Are you crazy! What kind of occasion is this? Get back here right now!"
"No!" Song Ziwen shoved him away, pointing at Su Wanqing with bloodshot eyes. "It's her! It's this woman! She knows witchcraft! She harmed my sister and the Lu family! You've all been deceived by her!"
His words were illogical and incoherent, yet they successfully stirred up a pebble in the calm lake.
Some people who were already skeptical of Su Wanqing's reputation as a "miracle doctor" began to show expressions of anticipation.
Liu Yuzhen's husband's face turned deathly pale instantly.
He knew the Song family was finished.
Su Wanqing gently pressed down on Lu Zhanting's hand, who was about to get up, signaling him to calm down.
She calmly took a few steps forward, meeting everyone's gaze.
She didn't look at the seemingly insane Song Ziwen, but instead looked at Liu Yuzhen's husband.
“Uncle Song,” her voice was soft but clear, echoing throughout the quiet banquet hall, “Song Tingyu colluded with enemy agents to steal military intelligence, and the evidence is conclusive. Liu Yuzhen poisoned the Lu family and murdered their elders; there is both witness testimony and physical evidence. The military law department and the public security authorities have already opened cases for these matters.”
She paused, then changed the subject.
Are you questioning the country's laws or the military's discipline?
These words, though spoken without a trace of anger, were piercing to the heart.
Liu Yuzhen's husband trembled, cold sweat instantly soaking his back. He dared not speak, and could only repeatedly bow and apologize to those around him: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault for not disciplining him properly, he... he has some mental problems."
"He seems to be in very good spirits."
Su Wanqing finally turned her attention to Song Ziwen.
Her eyes were as calm as a deep pool.
Song Ziwen's roar came to an abrupt halt.
The moment Song Ziwen met Su Wanqing's gaze, he felt as if his very soul had been laid bare. An invisible, chilling pressure enveloped him, causing his heart to stop and making even breathing difficult.
This is an absolute pressure originating from the level of life itself.
Just then, Su Wanqing's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
She sensed that behind Song Ziwen's chaotic emotions, there was another spiritual force hidden.
That spiritual force was very weak and hidden, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, carrying a cold and probing meaning, peering at him through Song Ziwen's eyes.
Ouroboros.
The thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
Soong Tse-ven's disturbance was by no means a coincidence.
He was a pawn, a test for her.
Su Wanqing's eyes suddenly sharpened.
She no longer concealed her spiritual power. A purer and more powerful spiritual pressure, which combined the power of the spiritual spring and the purest yang blood energy, suddenly retaliated against the probing gaze!
"Get out."
She said softly.
These two words carry the power of law.
"ah--!"
Song Ziwen let out a shrill scream, clutched his head and squatted down, his face contorted in pain.
In an inconspicuous corner of the banquet hall, a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor and gold-rimmed glasses suddenly shuddered.
His face turned deathly pale instantly, and the hand holding the wine glass trembled violently uncontrollably, spilling red wine onto his pristine white shirt, staining it a glaring red.
His gaze toward Su Wanqing was filled with shock and disbelief.
What terrifying mental power!
This is definitely not the "initial awakening" level described in the intelligence!
Without hesitation, he immediately lowered his head, blended into the crowd, and quietly retreated towards the door.
Mission failed, objective far exceeded expectations, immediate evacuation is necessary!
All of this happened in the blink of an eye.
Most of the people present only saw Su Wanqing say two words before the troublemaker Song Ziwen screamed and fell to the ground.
Their gazes toward Su Wanqing became even more awe-inspiring, even tinged with fear.
Lu Zhanting also stood up at this moment.
He didn't look at T.V. Soong; his gaze swept across the entire room with lightning speed.
He had also sensed that fleeting mental fluctuation just now. That cold, inhuman sense of being watched was exactly the same as the "Heart of Immortality" deep within the Southern Territory.
His gaze finally settled on the refined-looking man who was quietly moving towards the door.
"stop."
Lu Zhanting's voice wasn't loud, but it resonated in everyone's ears.
The refined-looking man stiffened, but quickened his pace.
"Guards!" Lu Zhanting's voice turned cold.
Two guards who were already waiting rushed over immediately, one on each side, and pinned the refined-looking man down.
"What are you doing! Let me go! I'm a specially invited scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences!" The man struggled violently, his face filled with panic.
Lu Zhanting walked over slowly and looked down at him.
He said nothing, but simply took out the peculiar star-shaped compass from his pocket.
From an angle unnoticed by anyone, a tiny symbol on the compass, representing a threat within the capital, was flashing a blinding red light, the light pointing directly at the man being held down.
"Take him away." Lu Zhanting coldly uttered two words, "Transfer him to 'Kunlun'."
Upon hearing the word "Kunlun," the man's struggles ceased instantly.
The color drained from his face, and only despair and fear remained in his eyes.
It's been exposed.
Two guards escorted the man and the terrified Song Ziwen away from the banquet hall.
The farce ended in a way that no one expected.
An eerie silence descended upon the banquet hall.
Lu Zhenguo and Old Master Yan exchanged a glance, both seeing a storm raging in each other's eyes.
An unseen confrontation has just ended before their very eyes.
The atmosphere at the victory celebration banquet could never be as lively as before.
Many people realized that tonight was not going to be easy, and they made excuses to leave early.
Su Wanqing and Lu Zhanting also came to the terrace.
The evening breeze carried a cool breeze, dispersing the smell of alcohol and the noise in the hall.
"Is he one of the 'Ouroboros'?" Su Wanqing asked softly.
“The compass is responding.” Lu Zhanting nodded, his expression grave. “I didn’t expect them to come knocking so quickly, and with such audacity.”
“They’re not bold, they’re arrogant,” Su Wanqing said slowly, looking at the city’s night view in the distance. “In their eyes, we are just experimental data. Song Ziwen’s disturbance was a test they arranged to see how much we have grown after the Southern Border War.”
"As it turns out, they miscalculated." A cold smile curled at the corner of Lu Zhanting's lips.
Su Wanqing did not speak.
Her mental counterattack just now, while defeating her opponent, also completely exposed a portion of her own strength.
The next time the enemy comes, they will be better prepared and their methods will be more ruthless.
"It seems that this celebration banquet is just the beginning for both us and them," Su Wanqing sighed softly.
Lu Zhanting took her hand and held her cold fingertips in his palm.
“It’s alright,” he said. “They’re in the shadows, and so are we. From now on, the roles of hunter and prey will be reversed.”
The music continued in the banquet hall.
But everyone knew that this grand celebration banquet had already come to an end ahead of schedule.
But a secret war that truly concerns the fate of the nation quietly began beneath the myriad lights of the capital.
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