Chapter 97 Zhan Ting, Take Me Home
The snow had stopped sometime ago.
Elder Su Mingyuan's figure disappeared completely into the night without a trace.
The room was very warm, yet quiet enough to hear a pin drop.
Su Wanqing held the sandalwood box in her hands; it felt quite heavy.
She could clearly feel the warmth of the wood at her fingertips, and the sharp aura emanating from the nine golden needles in the box, a aura that seemed to freeze her finger bones.
Yunshui Su Family.
Saintess.
Nine-Turn Resurrection Needle.
A millennia-old nemesis.
These words, which seemed so distant just hours ago, have now become invisible shackles, making it hard for her to breathe.
She is no longer just Su Wanqing who came from Liuxi Village, nor is she merely a military doctor with outstanding military achievements.
She became a person chosen by fate, burdened with a blood feud and the fate of her family.
This sudden heaviness made her feel a deep-seated loneliness.
Lu Zhanting did not speak.
He simply walked up to her, took the wooden box from her hands, and gently placed it on the table.
Then, he took her cold hands in his.
His palms were large and dry, with the roughness unique to soldiers, yet they emanated a constant, comforting warmth.
"Scared?"
He gazed into her eyes, his voice low and gentle, carrying a hint of tenderness.
Su Wanqing's eyelashes trembled, but she did not avoid his gaze.
"I'm afraid I won't be myself anymore."
Her voice was very soft, with a tremor that only she could hear.
"I'm afraid of being consumed by hatred and turning into a monster who lives only for revenge."
"I'm afraid... the Su Wanqing you know has disappeared."
This was her deepest fear.
She was not afraid of the enemy's strength, but she feared that she would lose her true self on this destined path full of thorns.
After listening, Lu Zhanting suddenly chuckled softly.
He reached out his other hand and gently stroked the tip of her nose with his knuckles, a gesture that was both intimate and natural.
"fool."
He spoke, his voice filled with clear memories and warmth.
What kind of person is the Su Wanqing I know?
Without waiting for her reply, he continued talking to himself.
"The Su Wanqing I know didn't shed a single tear after being betrayed by her fiancé in public. Instead, she tore up the marriage certificate herself, cutting ties more cleanly than anyone else."
"The Su Wanqing I know dared to take a feather duster and make a three-point agreement with me, the living devil who is a headache for the entire military region, on our wedding night."
"The Su Wanqing I know can silence the family members of the military region leaders in order to protect his comrades; he can also stay up for three days and three nights to save a complete stranger."
His gaze was so deep it seemed to draw her in.
"The Holy Maiden of the Yunshui Su Family, the orphan burdened with a blood feud, these are just labels that define you."
"They may explain why you are so special and so good, but they can never define you."
"What defines you is every choice you make."
"It's the kindness, resilience, and pride that no one can take away from you."
He took her hand and slowly placed it on his left chest.
"Here, my heart beats only for you."
"The one and only Su Wanqing is the one I love. No matter what happens, that will never change."
His words were not sweet talk.
But it was like a heavy hammer, shattering the icy shell that had formed in Su Wanqing's heart due to the dramatic change in her identity.
His unease and fear crumbled in his firm and heartfelt confession.
yes.
Who she is has never been determined by her birth.
It is up to her to decide.
Her eyes instantly welled up with tears. She took a step forward, buried her face in his firm chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
"Zhan Ting, thank you."
"We are husband and wife."
Lu Zhanting hugged her back, gently stroking his chin on the top of her soft hair.
"Besides, I haven't finished speaking yet."
Su Wanqing looked up, her eyes still moist, and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Lu Zhanting released her and turned to walk to his desk.
His gaze swept over the ancient book that recorded the methods of defeating the enemy, the nine golden needles, and the military map on the table marked with the coordinates of "Valhalla".
The tenderness in his eyes faded, replaced by the calmness and sharpness befitting the supreme commander of the theater.
"Before, all I knew about the enemy was that they were called the 'Council,' a crazy organization that was obsessed with immortality."
"Now we know their background."
He picked up the ancient book about his nemesis's weaknesses and quickly flipped through a few pages.
"Your ancestors left you the sharpest weapon—intelligence."
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. We are no longer reckless fools who rush into the darkness, but hunters who wield the skills to slay dragons."
He pulled Su Wanqing to the map and pointed to the red marker located deep in the Alps.
“My original plan was to have ‘Dragon Fang’ launch a strong attack to create chaos, while I led the team to decapitate them, and you were responsible for providing support and healing from the outside.”
"That's a plan with a high casualty rate."
But now...
He looked at Su Wanqing with complete trust in his eyes.
"Your strength is the biggest variable in this operation, and also the only chance of success."
"I need you, not just as a military doctor, but as the core, the main attacker."
He placed her alongside him, or even at the forefront.
This unreserved entrustment moved Su Wanqing's heart more deeply than any sweet words.
"I will destroy the energy core upon which they depend for survival." Su Wanqing looked at the map, her voice cold and resolute. The records in the ancient books had already allowed her to understand the vital points of those cold and yin energies.
"I'll take care of clearing everything from your path," Lu Zhanting said firmly.
The two looked at each other, a silent understanding flowing in the air.
They are no longer the protector and the protected.
They are a drawn sword and an indestructible scabbard, each other's strongest weapon and their strongest support.
Seeing the renewed fighting spirit in her eyes, Lu Zhanting's heart softened, and he pulled her into his arms again.
This time, his voice carried a man's solemn promise for the future.
"Wanwan, promise me one thing."
"Um?"
“When all this is over,” he looked down into her eyes, each word clear and distinct, “when we have completely wiped the ‘Council’ from this world, I will accompany you back to Kunlun Mountain.”
Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat.
“We’re going to the ancestral home of the Yunshui Su family,” he continued, “to pay respects to your parents. As the saintess, you must tell them that you have returned. As their son-in-law, I will assure them that I will dedicate the rest of my life to protecting their most precious daughter.”
"Then, we settled down there."
“A home that belongs only to the two of us. Whether you want to study medicine or be a carefree saintess, I will accompany you.”
"I don't want you to carry anything anymore. All you need for the rest of your life is peace and joy."
"This is your parents' wish, and it's mine too."
This promise was not a grand or earth-shattering vow.
But it was like a key that unlocked the last door in Su Wanqing's heart.
He not only wanted to avenge her.
He was still planning for her a long and warm life after revenge.
He gave her a home she could return to.
Su Wanqing could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down her face.
She suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips.
This kiss carried the relief of surviving a disaster, the peace of finding a home, and boundless anticipation for the future.
After a long while, their lips parted.
I promise you.
She looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears, yet her smile was brighter than ever before.
The night is still long.
Neither of them went to rest.
A brand new, incredibly powerful force was rising within them.
They fought not only for revenge, but also for the home they could return to.
Su Wanqing held the outline of "Nine-Turn Resurrection Needle" and sat cross-legged.
With her innate talent, she was completely focused and quickly entered a mysterious and ethereal state.
Countless complex acupuncture techniques and spiritual energy circulation routes to suppress the cold and evil energy flowed rapidly through her mind, being disassembled and reassembled.
Her aura was becoming increasingly pure and sharp at an astonishing speed.
Lu Zhanting picked up the encrypted phone and dialed "Dragon Head's" dedicated line directly.
"Dragon Head, the 'decapitation' operation plan needs to be adjusted."
He gave a concise report on Su Wanqing's background and the intelligence provided by the Yunshui Su family regarding the enemy's fatal weaknesses.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
This information goes beyond the scope of conventional military theory.
"I need support," Lu Zhanting said in a deep voice. "The latest models of portable high-intensity explosive bombs and directed energy weapons, as many as you can get. Also, assemble an independent electromagnetic expert team, ready to be deployed at any time."
The Yin-cold energy of the "Guiyuan School" is most afraid of pure Yang energy and high-energy impacts.
Su Wanqing's spiritual power is her fundamental nemesis, while modern, cutting-edge weaponry can create the most advantageous battlefield for her.
"I'm giving you the highest level of authority."
The dragon's voice carried a hint of resolute determination born from shock.
"The whole of China is your support."
After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhanting walked to the window, where the snow had stopped.
A faint light appeared on the horizon.
The night passed quietly.
As the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds and shone into the room, Su Wanqing slowly opened her eyes.
Her eyes were deep and bright; the enlightenment she gained overnight had completely transformed her temperament.
If she was a warm and beautiful jade before, then now she is a newly tempered and sharpened, peerless and deadly weapon.
She got up, walked to Lu Zhanting's side, and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, basking in the morning sunlight together.
Neither of them spoke.
A feud that has lasted for a thousand years will come to an end in their hands.
Half an hour later, a black military transport plane without any markings landed silently on the lawn of the Lu family compound.
Lu Zhanting changed into a pure black special forces uniform, his figure as straight as a spear.
Su Wanqing wore a set of practical and easy-to-move-in clothes, her long hair tied up high, looking neat and efficient. The sandalwood box containing nine gold needles was securely fastened to her forearm with a special strap.
The two carried simple luggage and walked out the door.
Lu Zhenguo, Old Master Yan, Yan Yunfei... all those who cared about them stood outside the door to see them off.
There weren't many words, just tight hugs and suppressed words of "Take care" and "We'll wait for you to come back."
Before boarding the plane, Su Wanqing turned around and took a deep look at this place she called "home".
Then, she turned her head, her gaze falling on Lu Zhanting's face, a confident and bright smile curving her lips.
"Let's go, my husband."
Lu Zhanting grasped her hand, their fingers intertwined, his eyes filled with a mixture of doting affection and fierce fighting spirit.
"Yes, my holy lady."
The two smiled at each other and walked hand in hand up the plane's steps.
The hatch slowly closed.
The massive transport plane rose from the ground, tearing through the morning mist, and sped off toward the rising sun.
Target: The Alps.
Battlefield, Valhalla.
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