Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 018

Each flow of energy was as precise as an arm directing a finger, without the slightest stagnation or waste.

“So that’s how it is…” Xiao Yan understood. While the growth of power was important, the exquisite control over that power was equally a key measure of a strong individual’s capabilities.

He stood up and slowly paced around the room, feeling the subtle changes in his internal power while organizing his thoughts.

Although he had turned the tide in the Social Security Bureau battle, he had also completely exposed himself to the spotlight.

The name “Xiao Yan” would likely soon occupy a prominent position among the Alliance’s high-ranking officials, and even on the Blood Ghost Cult’s blacklist.

This was both an opportunity and a challenge.

The opportunity lay in the value he had demonstrated, which was enough for the Alliance to allocate substantial resources to him. Cultivation techniques, elixirs, authority, intelligence… things he couldn’t even dream of before might now be within reach. This would greatly accelerate his growth.

The challenge was that he would face more complex and dangerous situations. Retaliation from the Blood Ghost Cult was almost inevitable, and it would certainly not be a minor skirmish. At the same time, the Alliance itself was not a monolithic entity. His sudden rise might touch upon the interests of certain individuals, potentially inviting unnecessary trouble, which was also unknown.

“Strength…” Xiao Yan clenched his fist, feeling the surging power in his palm. “Ultimately, it still comes down to strength.”

As long as he was strong enough, strong enough to deter any enemy from easily coveting him, strong enough for the Alliance to rely on him, then all problems would be resolved.

And his strength growth depended on his offspring.

“Xiuying, Xiuyun, and this unborn child…” Thinking of his family, a trace of tenderness and determination flashed in Xiao Yan’s eyes.

He walked to the information terminal in the room and, after identity verification, accessed the internal security network.

The information on the network was strictly filtered. Public reports about the Social Security Bureau attack were cautiously worded, only mentioning “an attack by an evil organization, causing some casualties, but the conspiracy was successfully thwarted by the joint action of the military and security departments.” No specific battle details or casualty figures were mentioned, nor was Xiao Yan’s name.

However, in internal encrypted channels, some fragmented pieces of information began to circulate.

“Did you hear? The Social Security Bureau held out! Someone amazing apparently made a move!”

“Amazing? How amazing? Even Luo Wu and Chen Li, those two old guys, betrayed us and supposedly turned into Blood Ghosts. They could still hold out?”

“More than just held out! I heard Luo Wu was punched into a wall painting! And an even more powerful Blood Ghost Cult cadre had his head blown off!”

“What?! Really?! Who did it? When General Zhao Meng and his team arrived as reinforcements, the battle was almost over!”

“I don’t know, the information is heavily sealed. All I know is that he’s a ruthless person, with unfathomable strength…”

Looking at these half-true, half-false discussions, Xiao Yan’s expression remained calm. He knew this was just the beginning. As the investigation deepened, his information would eventually be known to more people.

He turned off the information terminal, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began to circulate his cultivation technique, calming his mind and regulating his breath.

No matter how turbulent the outside world became, for him, seizing every minute and second to improve himself was the most important thing at the moment.

The night passed without a word.

The next morning, as the simulated screen projected the soft glow of dawn, a gentle knock came from the door.

Zhao Meng walked in, dressed in a brand new, crisp military uniform, looking much more refreshed.

“Old Xiao, how was your rest?” he asked with a smile.

“Alright,” Xiao Yan stood up.

“That’s good.” Zhao Meng handed him a set of equally new, but not military, dark gray casual clothes. “Put these on. Commander Liu wants to see you. The location is the highest level command center in this base.”

Xiao Yan took the clothes without asking further and began to change.

Zhao Meng looked at him, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Old Xiao, with the strength and potential you showed yesterday, the Alliance’s expectations for you… are very high. So, what Commander Liu will discuss with you next is not just rewards and honors, but also… responsibility.”

Xiao Yan finished dressing, buttoned the last button, turned around, and looked at Zhao Meng, his eyes as calm as water.

“I understand,” he said lightly. “From the moment I stepped into the extraordinary, there was no turning back.”

With great power comes great responsibility.

He understood this principle.

Zhao Meng looked at his calm eyes and nodded inwardly. Although his old comrade had been reborn, this composure and sense of responsibility were just as they had been back then.

“Let’s go,” Zhao Meng said. “Commander Liu is waiting for you.”

The two walked out of the room side by side, along the quiet alloy corridor, heading deeper into the base.

…

The highest-level command center of the Black Swan Base was starkly different from the grim coldness below.

Here, the light was bright and soft, and the space was vast. A huge three-dimensional defense map of the “Fourth New Nanjing” shelter city slowly rotated in the center of the room.

It was marked with energy nodes, defensive fortifications, resource distribution, and real-time monitoring data of surrounding dangerous areas. The surrounding walls were giant information waterfalls, constantly refreshing various operating parameters within the shelter city and sporadic intelligence returned from limited sensors outside the警戒线 (warning line).

Dozens of staff members, dressed in different uniforms but all looking focused, were busy at their respective control consoles. The sounds of keyboard clicks and low-voiced exchanges merged into an efficient and orderly background hum.

Xiao Yan and Zhao Meng, guided by a major, passed through the busy work area and entered a relatively quiet, independent reception room.

The room was not large, and its decor was simple yet solemn. A heavy solid wood long table stood in the center, behind which sat a middle-aged man in a dark blue senior general’s uniform with shining general stars on his shoulders.

He looked to be around fifty, with a resolute face and deep, sharp eyes like a hawk, exuding an intimidating presence without even needing to be angry. Although he merely sat there quietly, the natural aura of authority and control that came from his long-held position made the air in the entire room feel a few shades heavier.

He was one of the highest military commanders of the Fourth New Nanjing shelter, Deputy Commander Liu Zhenbang. An extraordinary mid-tier general!

Seeing Xiao Yan and Zhao Meng enter, Commander Liu’s gaze immediately fell on Xiao Yan. His sharp eyes swept over Xiao Yan like a tangible force, as if to see through him from the inside out.

Xiao Yan’s expression remained unchanged, calmly meeting his gaze.

A few seconds later, a flicker of imperceptible surprise flashed in Commander Liu’s eyes. Then, the oppressive aura slowly receded, and a gentle smile appeared on his face as he stood up.

“You are Xiao Yan?” Commander Liu extended his hand, his voice clear and magnetic. “Indeed, a hero emerges from the young… Oh no, I should say an old tree sprouts new branches, even better than before!”

“Commander Liu flatters me,” Xiao Yan extended his hand and shook his firmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

Zhao Meng instinctively saluted and then stepped out.

“Please sit,” Commander Liu gestured for them to sit, and he himself sat down again.

Without much small talk, Commander Liu went straight to the point.

“Comrade Xiao Yan,” he looked at Xiao Yan, his tone becoming serious. “I have received a complete report on what happened at the Social Security Bureau yesterday. You turned the tide, single-handedly killing a second-grade Blood Ghost Cult cadre and two first-grade traitors, thwarting the enemy’s major conspiracy, and protecting a large number of citizens and city property. This achievement cannot be overstated!”

He leaned slightly forward, his gaze burning: “On behalf of the Fourth New Nanjing official government, and myself, I express my deepest respect and gratitude to you!”

Xiao Yan nodded slightly: “Protecting our home is a soldier’s duty.”

“Well said!” Commander Liu nodded approvingly. “But merit is merit, and rewards must not be ambiguous! I have already reported your deeds to the Alliance Military High Command and the Extraordinary Management Committee. According to the preliminary approval, in view of your outstanding contributions and demonstrated powerful strength, the Alliance has decided to award you the ‘Alliance First-Class Valor Medal’! This is one of the highest honors an individual can receive in peacetime, outside of major campaigns!”