Chapter 79 Kunlun receives its rank, fight to the death and never retreat!
Three days later, in the Western Hills of the capital.
A secret base that cannot be found on any map.
There were no celebrations, no media, only a small, solemn auditorium.
There were fewer than twenty people seated in the auditorium.
But any one of them could shake a certain sector of the country with a stomp of their foot.
Lu Zhenguo sat in the first row. Even though he was old, his back was still straight, but his hand, which was gripping the armrest tightly and whose knuckles were white, betrayed his turbulent emotions.
Su Wanqing sat down next to him.
Today, she changed out of her usual dress and chose a tailor-made dark blue suit with simple lines and a clean cut.
This outfit added a touch of valor to her cool and aloof temperament, making her still-undisclosed identity as "Chief Advisor of the Kunlun Force" seem even more legitimate.
On the platform in front of the auditorium, only one person was standing.
It was the same old man who chaired the last secret meeting, the one with the rank of general on his shoulders and an imposing presence that commanded thousands of troops.
The entire auditorium was so quiet you could hear your own heartbeat.
In the air, a weight called "history" is slowly condensing.
It was exactly 9:00 AM.
The heavy side door of the auditorium was pushed open, and Lu Zhanting, dressed in a crisp military uniform, stepped in.
He proceeded step by step, calmly and resolutely.
The crisp, rhythmic sound of military boots striking the ground resonated in the hearts of everyone present.
He walked to the front of the platform, stood still, and raised his hand.
An impeccable military salute.
The general returned the greeting, and then picked up a document with a gold-embossed cover from the red velvet table in front of him.
He opened the file, and his clear and loud voice became the only sound source in the space at that moment.
"Secret order from the Supreme Command."
"In view of the severe challenges facing national security at present, and in order to deal with potential and subversive supernatural threats, the highest core decision-making body has unanimously decided to formally establish a top-level special response unit that is independent of the conventional order of operations."
"This unit is codenamed 'Kunlun'!"
"The 'Kunlun' troops are directly responsible to the Supreme Command and have the highest level of operational priority, intelligence access, and wartime decision-making authority."
"Its sole mission is to investigate, contain, and completely eliminate the hostile organization codenamed 'Ouroboros' and all its schemes worldwide, to defend the fundamental interests of the nation, and to protect the flame of civilization!"
Every word carried immense weight, crashing into everyone's eardrums.
The tycoons present all held their breath.
They knew they were witnessing a new and top-secret chapter.
After the general finished reading, he paused for a moment, and his insightful eyes locked onto Lu Zhanting below the stage.
"Hereinafter appointed—"
His voice suddenly rose in pitch, filled with all his strength.
"Comrade Lu Zhanting is hereby appointed as the first supreme commander of the 'Kunlun' forces, and is hereby awarded the rank of Major General, effective immediately!"
Major General!
These two words, like a silent thunderclap, exploded in the auditorium.
From colonel to major general, a meteoric rise.
This is a promotion that would be impossible within the conventional system. Behind it lies the fact that the country has resolutely placed the heaviest and most dangerous burden on the shoulders of this young man who is only thirty years old.
The general closed the document and personally picked up a tray presented by a guard.
On the red velvet of the tray lay a brand-new, gleaming golden epaulettes of a general.
He stepped down from the podium and approached Lu Zhanting.
Lu Zhanting removed his colonel's epaulettes from his shoulder and handed them to the guard.
His face showed no excitement, no joy, only a deep, calm, and solemn expression.
The general picked up the brand-new star and personally pinned it on Lu Zhanting.
He was very close, moved very slowly, and was meticulous in every detail.
"Comrade Lu Zhanting."
As he straightened his collar, he spoke slowly and deliberately in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"From this moment on, the country's most secretive front is in your hands."
"Behind you are 400 million compatriots."
"Before you lies an unknown abyss."
"You are the last Great Wall standing before the abyss."
Lu Zhanting remained motionless, his eyes deep and resolute.
"Please rest assured, sir," he replied in a deep voice.
All worn.
The new general, with his broad shoulders, reflected a brilliant yet profound light.
The general stepped back and saluted him again.
This military salute was not related to superiors or subordinates.
This is the highest respect between comrades who entrust their country and their lives to each other.
Lu Zhanting raised his hand in return.
At this moment, he was no longer just the prodigy of the Lu family, nor the valiant battalion commander with illustrious military achievements.
He is the swordsman of "Kunlun".
It is the sharpest and most resolute dagger that this country has handed out when facing endless darkness.
Su Wanqing sat below the stage, quietly gazing at the scene.
Her hands tightened subtly at her sides, her nails digging deep into the soft flesh of her palms, yet she felt no pain whatsoever.
pride.
A pride that almost bursts out of his chest, born for him.
But what followed was a dense mass of heartache that made her heart clench.
She knew better than anyone else in the world just how dangerous and how heavy the pressure were behind that golden star of a general.
Just then, a warm, dry hand gently covered the back of her hand.
It is Lu Zhenguo.
The old man didn't look at her; his gaze remained fixed on his grandson on the stage, who had already shouldered the fate of his family and country.
But in this way, he silently conveyed the comfort of an elder and the strength of sharing the burden.
"It's your turn to take the oath," the general's voice rang out again.
Lu Zhanting turned around and faced the bright red flag in the center of the podium.
He raised his right fist and placed it beside his ear.
There was no prepared speech, no plan in mind.
He looked at that splash of red, and with all his might, roared out his vow.
"I, Lu Zhanting, hereby swear!"
"In the name of the military spirit, and on the fate of the nation, we swear an oath!"
"I will transform into a sharp blade, piercing through all darkness!"
"I will become a steadfast shield, protecting my homeland and ensuring its eternal prosperity!"
"Until the ouroboros is eliminated, Kunlun will not fall!"
"I will fight to the death!"
The last four words, brimming with murderous intent, shook the entire auditorium, causing it to vibrate.
That was his determination.
It was also his only destiny in this life.
The oath has been taken.
The conferment ceremony has concluded.
The entire process took less than twenty minutes, yet it felt to everyone as if a century had passed.
There was no applause.
There were no congratulations.
Everyone present simply stood up silently and cast a deep glance at Lu Zhanting on the stage.
In that glance, there was expectation, entrustment, and resolve.
It carries more weight than any words.
Then they turned and quietly left.
Soon, only the General, Lu Zhenguo, Lu Zhanting, and Su Wanqing remained in the auditorium.
"Your first order."
The general took another sealed document bag and handed it to Lu Zhanting.
"The 'scholar' we captured at the victory banquet—we tried every means possible, but we couldn't get him to talk. His spirit was being tightly protected by a force we couldn't understand."
“The order is simple.” The general’s gaze shifted between Lu Zhanting and Su Wanqing. “Interrogate him, in your own way.”
"Yes!" Lu Zhanting took the file bag, its contents cold to the touch.
"In addition," the general added, "according to the latest intelligence, abnormal geological activity and high-frequency energy fluctuations have recently occurred in the 'Northern Glacier' region. One of our research teams has been out of contact for more than seventy-two hours."
His gaze became incredibly solemn.
"Zhan Ting, you don't have much time left. Finish the interrogation as soon as possible, and then prepare to head north."
"clear."
"Go." The general waved his hand, a hint of fatigue finally showing on his face. "Remember, you are not fighting alone. The entire nation is your support."
Leaving the secret base, it was still that black Hongqi sedan.
The car was eerily quiet.
Lu Zhanting sat next to Su Wanqing, clutching the document bag containing the order that would decide the first battle of "Kunlun" tightly in his hand.
He didn't open it; he simply turned his head and looked deeply at Su Wanqing with an extremely complex expression.
"I dragged you into the abyss." He suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of guilt that he himself was unaware of.
Su Wanqing was taken aback.
She did not answer.
He simply reached out and gently stroked the cold, hard star on his shoulder with his fingertips.
Then, she leaned forward.
On that star that carries the fate of the nation, a gentle yet solemn kiss was imprinted.
"General Lu."
She looked up and met his gaze; the light in her eyes was more dazzling than the sunlight outside the window.
She spoke clearly, word by word.
"To be able to fight alongside you is the greatest honor of my life."
Lu Zhanting's heart was gripped tightly by those words.
He suddenly grabbed her hand, their fingers intertwined tightly, as if he were etching the warmth of her palm into his very bones.
A thousand words cannot express even a fraction of the feeling at this moment.
The car passed through layers of checkpoints, drove out of the Western Hills, and rejoined the bustling traffic of Beijing in the afternoon.
Outside the window, tall buildings stand tall, the city is bustling, and the atmosphere is peaceful and serene.
Nobody knows.
Just now, at the heart of this country's power structure, a sword powerful enough to change the world order has been quietly drawn.
The swordsman, along with his only lover, is heading towards that fateful war that no one knows about.
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