The ancient building was very old. After the founding of Long Country, it had been renovated several times, retaining its original structure and appearance, but its interior had changed drastically.
The ancient building had a total of three rooms: an office, a reception room, and a lounge.
Jiang Wuming walked into Long Shengzhe's office and immediately saw Long Shengzhe sitting at his desk, reviewing documents.
"Wuming, have a seat. Wait for me for a minute."
Long Shengzhe looked up at Jiang Wuming.
"Alright, Great Elder."
Jiang Wuming nodded, sat on the sofa in the office, and subconsciously surveyed the office that everyone in the court dreamed of entering.
Behind Long Shengzhe was a bookshelf lined with photos of him inspecting various places during different periods, as well as many books, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign. Almost all the books showed signs of having been read.
The mahogany desk was very neat, with two landline telephones, one white and one red, for different purposes.
Long Shengzhe sat at the desk, his head bowed as he browsed a red-header document, his expression focused, exuding an aura of authority.
That aura was invisible and intangible, but it was real.
It was the unique aura of a superior holding great power.
Their words, their decisions, could change an industry, a region, or even an entire country, inspiring awe.
"Alright, Wuming, let's go to the reception room."
A minute later, Long Shengzhe made a notation on a red-header document, put down his pen, and stood up.
"Alright, Great Elder."
Jiang Wuming nodded in response, stood up, and followed Long Shengzhe into the reception room next to the office, then sat opposite him.
A waiter entered, poured a cup of black tea for both Long Shengzhe and Jiang Wuming, then quietly left and gently closed the reception room door.
"How do you find this tea?"
Long Shengzhe took a sip of tea and spoke first.
This tea came from a certain tea-producing region, from the oldest tea tree. The annual yield was very small, and most of it went into the red-walled compound.
"I don't usually drink tea, so I can't tell if it's good or bad," Jiang Wuming replied truthfully.
"That's true. Your energy is all focused on cultivation."
Long Shengzhe smiled, then put down his teacup and got straight to the point:
"I've watched the videos of the three battles you led the Battle Dragon team in. You displayed the bravery and defiant spirit of a soldier in combat. This commendation is well-deserved and long-awaited by the people."
"The Great Elder flatters me. This is our responsibility. Every soldier of the Long Country's Military Department would do the same as us," Jiang Wuming replied.
"While that's true, only you have done it. As the saying goes, rewards are given for merits."
Long Shengzhe shook his head slightly, correcting him, and then said, "Furthermore, you should be able to sense that this commendation ceremony is no ordinary event. The Military Department has decided to vigorously cultivate you and your assistant, Qin Xiaozhi. I fully agree with this. You are both exceptionally outstanding young individuals. The future burden of the Military Department and Long Country will need to be carried by you."
Hmm?
Hearing Long Shengzhe's words again, Jiang Wuming's heart stirred.
Before this commendation ceremony, Qi Wufu had called Jiang Wuming, explaining the true purpose behind the ceremony – to officially make Jiang Wuming the successor to the Marshal of the Military Department!
Jiang Wuming stated that he could give up this opportunity and suggested that the Military Department heavily rely on and cultivate Qin Xiaozhi, maximizing his combat command abilities!
In response, Qi Wufu said that Jiang Wuming did not need to give up the future position of Marshal of the Military Department to create an opportunity for Qin Xiaozhi to be heavily utilized. He could discuss Jiang Wuming's proposal with the Military Department elders.
Ultimately, both Jiang Wuming and Qin Xiaozhi received significant recognition, with their promotion speed being unprecedented in the history of the Long Country's Military Department!
After finishing his previous statement, Long Shengzhe looked at Jiang Wuming, his gaze like a spring rain, silently permeating, trying to see through Jiang Wuming's thoughts. He found that Jiang Wuming showed no emotional fluctuations, as if he didn't care at all.
This made Long Shengzhe somewhat surprised.
After all, being the Marshal of the Military Department was one of the most prestigious statuses in Long Country, a position that many ambitious people could never reach in their lifetime.
Even those so-called aristocratic scions would be excited and their eyes would light up upon hearing about this position, unable to hide the deep desire within their hearts. How could Jiang Wuming be so unfazed?
"By the way, Wuming, how is the situation of Dean Xia Xueqin of Donghai Military Academy now?"
Seeing that Jiang Wuming remained silent, Long Shengzhe spoke again.
"Dean Xia's injuries have been repaired, and there is still hope for the recovery of her martial arts cultivation, but it will take time," Jiang Wuming replied truthfully, while also feeling somewhat puzzled as to why Long Shengzhe was asking about Xia Xueqin.
"That's good."
Long Shengzhe said, then casually asked, "After the battle at Donghai Military Academy, the report from the Military Department stated that Dean Xia Xueqin had overdrawn her martial arts cultivation and her life. I was very worried about it. Later, I heard that it was you who saved her?"
"Yes, Great Elder. I happened to know a secret technique that can compensate for the overdrafted vitality, but it requires strict time constraints."
Jiang Wuming nodded, then glanced at the wrinkles on Long Shengzhe's forehead and the crow's feet around his eyes, and vaguely guessed the purpose of the man summoning him.
"What do you mean by 'strict time constraints'?" Long Shengzhe asked.
"It means that treatment must be administered within a very short period after a person overdrafts their vitality, otherwise the effect will be greatly reduced, or even negligible," Jiang Wuming said.
"So, according to your statement, if Dean Xia Xueqin's situation had been delayed, you wouldn't have been able to restore her vitality. Or, if it were an elderly person in normal aging, you wouldn't be able to restore their vitality either – am I understanding this correctly?" Long Shengzhe pondered for a moment.
"Yes, Great Elder, you are correct," Jiang Wuming nodded.
"It's fortunate that you intervened in time. Otherwise, if Dean Xia Xueqin couldn't have recovered her vitality and martial arts cultivation, it would have been a huge loss for Donghai Military Academy and Long Country."
Long Shengzhe commented, then picked up his teacup and began to drink tea.
Seeing that Long Shengzhe seemed to have no intention of continuing, Jiang Wuming hesitated and then asked:
"Great Elder, who is that mysterious man wearing a ghost-faced mask outside? He approached my adoptive father's father twice before, to give him hints. Was this at your instruction?"
"His name is Long Qisheng. He is my brother."
Long Shengzhe seemed to have anticipated this question from Jiang Wuming, and he appeared very calm. "I did arrange for him to go to the Su family."
"Why did you do that?" Jiang Wuming asked.
"Because I promised your father," Long Shengzhe replied.
"That was your agreement. My father led the soldiers of the Loulan Legion to guard the ancient city of Loulan and was forbidden to leave for his entire life, while you ensured that I could live safely."
Jiang Wuming recalled that agreement and directly asked Long Shengzhe about it.
"Yes."
Long Shengzhe nodded again, not denying the agreement, nor showing surprise that Jiang Wuming knew about it.
After all, he was well aware that Jiang Wuming had not only become the darling of the Military Department but was also very close to the Ye family. It would not be difficult for him to find out such things.
"Great Elder, my father fulfilled his part. Do you think you have fulfilled yours?"
Jiang Wuming gazed at the imposing Long Shengzhe opposite him and posed his question.
"What do you think?"
Long Shengzhe smiled slightly and retorted, then, before Jiang Wuming could reply, said, "You are now the most outstanding genius in the global martial arts world, the pride of the Military Department, and the future of Long Country – this should be the best answer!"
"Elder Long, do you think all of this has a lot to do with you?" Jiang Wuming asked again.
"I may not have achieved all of this, but I can change it."
Long Shengzhe raised an eyebrow, and the aura of authority around him instantly intensified. "Even if we step back ten thousand paces, regardless of the process, the final outcome shows that I have not broken my promise to your father, have I?"
"You make a very good point."
Jiang Wuming smiled.
This was the first time the young man had smiled since entering the room today.
However –
That smile, in Long Shengzhe's eyes, was filled with mockery!
"Wuming, at different positions, you see different things and think differently. I know you are a person who values loyalty and righteousness, but let the past fade away like the wind. The most important thing for a person is to live in the present and do things well now."
Long Shengzhe's brow furrowed even tighter for a moment, but he soon relaxed and sighed softly, saying, "I believe you will not let down the expectations of the Military Department and Long Country!"
"Great Elder, I am just an insignificant person who didn't even deserve a name in the past," Jiang Wuming said, his smile fading, word by word.
"If one does not make a sound, one will be astonishing when one does; fame will spread throughout the world. These are principles that many people cannot comprehend and achievements that they cannot reach in their lifetime. Yet, you have achieved them at such a young age. How can you be so self-deprecating?"
Long Shengzhe smiled, then put down his teacup and said, "Alright, I have other matters to attend to soon. We'll talk again another day."
"Goodbye, Great Elder."
Jiang Wuming stood up to say goodbye and left the reception room without looking back.
Outside the reception room, the mysterious man wearing the ghost-faced mask stood there, as if he had appeared out of thin air.
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming understood that the man had been protecting Long Shengzhe all along, but he said nothing, not even looking at the man, and walked past him.
After Jiang Wuming had completely left the ancient building, Long Shengzhe walked out of the reception room and asked the mysterious man wearing the ghost-faced mask, "How do you feel about him?"
"Young and spirited, he still needs tempering," the mysterious man wearing the ghost-faced mask replied. "However, Qi Wufu has elevated him too high, making him prone to a fatal fall."
Long Shengzhe remained silent.
...