Jing Mingqiu stopped and turned to look at the captain of the Longyan assault team. "What is it? Is there anything else?"
The captain’s face was solemn. "Professor Jing, the methods of these attackers are very strange. To ensure your health, before entering the factory, we wish to take you back to the base for a thorough check-up."
Jing Mingqiu lowered his head and cast a scan on himself. Confirming all data and finding everything normal, he waved his hand casually. "It's fine. I know my own body. They didn't even touch a hair on me, so there's no need for such trouble."
"Professor Jing," the captain lowered his voice, "the place you were attacked is less than two kilometers from the factory. Such a short distance, and yet after you were attacked, they still haven't sent anyone to help."
"This does not comply with combat regulations. I strongly suspect there is a traitor in the cry battery factory. For your safety, please do not enter the factory for now!"
Specialization is the principle Jing Mingqiu had always followed.
Although the mecha he was wearing, upgraded with the system mall, was very powerful, finding traitors and clearing the scene were indeed not his areas of expertise.
After a quick consideration, Jing Mingqiu readily agreed to the Longyan assault team captain's request. Jing Mingqiu did not return to the factory but followed them to the Longyi Army's base in the Taklamakan Desert.
At the Longyi Army base, Mo Ruixue and Jing Rou were already waiting at the main gate.
Seeing Jing Mingqiu appear, they immediately rushed forward.
"A Qiu, are you alright?" "Mingqiu, are you injured?"
"Just a routine attack," Jing Mingqiu opened his arms, hugging them one with each arm, and said gently, "When did you arrive?"
Mo Ruixue lifted her head from Jing Mingqiu's embrace and quickly explained, "After you were attacked, the female bodyguard who had been following us suddenly appeared and said the situation was urgent, activating the second contingency plan."
"Then, she took us away through an underground passage, and after a few transfers, we arrived here."
"This preparation is quite thorough…"
Jing Mingqiu nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to comfort them a bit more, he suddenly heard someone calling his name.
"Professor Jing, I am deeply sorry that my poor discipline has put you in danger."
Jing Mingqiu looked up and saw an old general with white hair and beard, but a vigorous spirit, standing upright before him, raising his right hand in a solemn salute.
"That's not necessary, that's not necessary," Jing Mingqiu recognized the old general and quickly returned the salute. "Old General Cheng, you are my idol."
"Sixty years ago, if it weren't for you commanding an isolated army, launching continuous assaults for seven days and nights, killing over thirty thousand devils, and completely crushing their evil plan to annihilate Long Country within three months!"
"Now, this land might have fallen into the hands of the little devils. I owe my current life to you."
"No, I should be thanking you! Come with me."
Cheng Feiguang took Jing Mingqiu into the military camp and into his office. He took out a thick photo album from under the desk and pointed to a group photo, explaining.
"This is Da Niu. He jumped onto a grenade to cover me, losing both arms and his eyes. This is Er Gou. The devils laid a minefield, and with time pressing, there was no time to clear it, so he simply rolled over it with stones..."
Cheng Feiguang affectionately called them by their nicknames and recounted their deeds, shedding tears without realizing it.
Jing Mingqiu sat beside him, listening to the old general speak of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation's survival, and his eyes also became moist.
"Alas," Old General Cheng Feiguang sighed, "due to the war, many of my old comrades have disabilities of varying degrees, and coupled with shrapnel that couldn't be removed from their bodies, they have been suffering from pain."
"Over the years, despite our best efforts to treat them, our limited technology could only alleviate their pain, not restore them to full health."
"It wasn't until Professor Jing, you invented the medical pod that can regenerate severed limbs, that they were finally free from suffering and could live healthily."
Jing Mingqiu took a deep breath, suppressing his surging emotions. "Old General, since they have recovered their health, why not arrange for someone to take them out for a walk, to see the beautiful mountains and rivers they protected!"
Cheng Feiguang's gaze went past Jing Mingqiu, looking into the distance, his thoughts traveling back to that era of gunfire, crossing time and space, landing on the weathered skin and pale, white hair of these old soldiers, and he couldn't help but sigh.
"It's a pity, they are already old. Even though they are no longer disabled, they are no longer able to leave their homeland to see the beautiful scenery of the country..."
"Old?" Hearing this word, Jing Mingqiu was instantly stunned. Despite the great achievements he had made with the system's assistance, he was still just a college student, and he didn't truly grasp the concept of aging and frailty.
Cheng Feiguang adjusted his reading glasses and repeated, "Yes, old. I should retire! The future of the country will be entrusted to you young people."
[Beep, information collection complete, mission updated.]
Glancing at the newly generated advanced mission, Jing Mingqiu's lips curled subtly. "That's not necessarily true! Old General, you won't be able to retire that easily."
[Advanced Mission: Change the Heavens and Earth (Phase 1)]
[Mission Description: Permanently alter the characteristics of one hundred thousand square kilometers of land. The greater the degree of alteration, the more generous the rewards.]
[Base Reward: Longevity Potion, enhances cell vitality, increases user's lifespan.]
[Note: Land characteristics include, but are not limited to, soil composition, surface vegetation, the entire biosphere, as well as recent weather and long-term climate.]
Cheng Feiguang was bewildered by Jing Mingqiu's sudden change. "Professor Jing, what do you mean by that?"
"Old General," Jing Mingqiu casually asked, "if I want to permanently change a piece of land, do you have any good ideas?"
Cheng Feiguang waved his hand. "That's easy. Which land is making you unhappy? I'll call the artillery battalion over, and we'll bombard it heavily for two hours. I guarantee it will be so disfigured that even its own mother wouldn't recognize it!"
"Um," Cheng Feiguang's violent suggestion made Jing Mingqiu both amused and speechless. "Old General, the land I want to change seems to be quite large, and bombardment with cannons might not be enough!"
Cheng Feiguang blinked. "How large?"
Jing Mingqiu gestured cautiously with his hand, "One hundred thousand square kilometers! And I hope for a permanent change!"
"One hundred thousand square kilometers, that's a bit tricky," Cheng Feiguang's expression showed difficulty. "We don't have that many bombs in stock. We can't just drop nuclear bombs, can we? Besides, nuclear radiation dissipates over time and cannot permanently alter a piece of land."
Just as they were looking at each other in consternation, Jing Mingqiu, through the window, inadvertently caught sight of a wisp of yellow sand in the corner, and suddenly an idea struck him...