184: longing

Jinling, the Huangpu Road Official Residence.

An urgent, top-secret telegram from Xikou was decoded.

As they read the contents of the telegram, the entire Attendants' Office suddenly turned into a boiling cauldron, thrown into a frantic bustle.

At three in the morning, Director Qian Dajun, with a heart full of trepidation, knocked on the door of the Generalissimo's office.

Treading as if on thin ice, he presented the telegram with trembling hands.

Chiang Kai-shek took only one look before his face instantly turned ashen. He then slammed the telegram onto the desk with such force that the teacups rattled and jumped.

"Cena! Trash! A bunch of useless trash!"

In a rare loss of composure, he roared, the veins on his forehead bulging. "A living person, on the heavily guarded Xuedou Mountain?"

"Vanished just like that, without a sound? Along with his wife?"

"Tell me, how was this accomplished?"

"Did they grow wings and fly away?"

Standing below with hands at his sides, Qian Dajun was so terrified he didn't dare to breathe loudly, cold sweat instantly soaking through his back.

"Search! Go and find them!"

Chiang Kai-shek pointed sharply at Qian Dajun, his voice becoming shrill with extreme anger and a trace of imperceptible panic.

"Immediately! Right now! Notify Nickname to deploy everyone in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces and the Shanghai area."

"Cena, use every available force, regardless of the cost."

"Even if you have to turn Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces upside down, find them for me!"

Soon, he calmed down, his eyes flickering with a light of shock and uncertainty. "This matter concerns the reputation of the Party and the State."

"Furthermore... it concerns many old matters. This is the highest priority; all other affairs are suspended."

"Including the investigation into that Security Team—put it all on hold."

"Everything must focus on finding Hanqing. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Generalissimo! This subordinate understands! I will personally handle it immediately! I guarantee..." Qian Dajun quickly snapped to attention and promised.

"I don't want guarantees! I want the person! I want results!!" Chiang Kai-shek interrupted him crudely, waving his hand with exhaustion and rage.

As if granted a reprieve, Qian Dajun bowed and withdrew.

Returning to his office, he immediately dispatched men to find the elusive Boss Dai.

Since he couldn't find Boss Dai immediately, he figured that while the monk might run, the temple wouldn't—he had to pass this red-hot potato of a situation along.

In short, this glowing-red iron pot had to be shifted onto someone else.

In an instant, the massive machinery of the Juntong in the East China region began to operate with unprecedented and frantic efficiency.

However, its goal and attention had shifted completely away from 'searching for the mysterious Security Team.'

This invisibly provided Lu Fan and his team with excellent cover and a chance to breathe, but that is a story for later.

Late that same night, in the Shanghai French Concession.

Lu Fan's car drove openly through the Concession.

He brought Young Marshal Zhang and his wife into a quiet garden villa.

In the living room, Tang Jifeng and Feng Hanqing, who had received word and were waiting, immediately stood up.

When he saw the slightly weary but definitely safe and sound Young Marshal Zhang, Feng Hanqing froze entirely.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.

He lunged forward, grabbing the Young Marshal's arms and looking him up and down.

His voice became incoherent with extreme shock and excitement: "Bi... Big Brother? Is it really you?"

"You... how... this... how is this possible? Hundreds of miles, level after level of checkpoints, and so many guards... this... this... Boss Lu, how did you do it?"

He looked at the calm Lu Fan beside them, his eyes filled with disbelief and deep awe.

Lu Fan had only just agreed to it, and the next moment, it was done.

This was beyond human capability; it was practically a divine feat!

However, this shock was soon overshadowed by the joy of a reunion between brothers, and the two men embraced.

Looking at the agitated Feng Hanqing, the Young Marshal was also filled with mixed emotions.

He patted Feng Hanqing's shoulder firmly and sighed, "Hanqing... you've worked hard."

"I never thought we brothers would meet in such a way."

He then met Tang Jifeng and Sheng Aiyi one by one. As they were all famous second-generation elites within their circles, they were naturally familiar with each other.

For a moment, as old friends reunited after a disaster, joy and sighs of relief intertwined, and the atmosphere became exceptionally warm.

Everyone took a seat, and Sheng Aiyi served tea and snacks as they chatted.

Lu Fan, meanwhile, leaned quietly against a sofa in the corner, closing his eyes to rest.

Aside from not being very interested in their reminiscing, he was truly exhausted and needed sleep.

Before falling asleep, his consciousness sank into the system. To him, saving the Young Marshal was more like a transaction with Feng Hanqing.

Now that the transaction was complete, he was more concerned with the actual rewards.

[Side Quest Completed. Reward: 10,000 Points, one Random Resource Card]

[Quest Completion: 210%. Rating: SS. Reward: 20,000 Points, one Random Gem Card, one Random Potion Card.]

After opening the blind boxes, Lu Fan obtained [50 Cases of C4 Explosives], [One 50m³ Expansion Rune], and [Bulk Pack of Potent Recovery Potions].

It had to be said that the rewards this time were very substantial.

To put it simply, the [Bulk Pack of Potent Recovery Potions] alone made the whole trip worth it.

With his concerns settled, Lu Fan relaxed completely and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

On the other side, after the personal catch-ups, the conversation naturally turned to the currently raging Battle of Shanghai.

When he learned the details of the entire Battle of Shanghai's process and results from Tang Jifeng and Feng Hanqing,

And confirmed repeatedly that the japanese Marine Corps and its affiliated units stationed in Shanghai had been completely annihilated,

The Young Marshal stood up excitedly, his eyes shining with a light of excitement and hope, as a stream of hot tears fell unconsciously.

At this moment, he felt that everything he had done and suffered was worth it.

After a long while, the Young Marshal calmed his emotions and changed the subject: "Hanqing, tell me about that mysterious unit."

"Big Brother, for this matter, you have to ask Seventh Miss Sheng. She was in Shanghai throughout the entire war."

"Furthermore, she actively donated money and materials and organized people to help the army with logistics. She knows the details better than I do."

As Feng Hanqing spoke, his eyes involuntarily glanced toward Lu Fan, who was sleeping quietly in the corner.

Given their previous deal, he was now nominally a soldier under Lu Fan.

What specifically could be said and what couldn't was no longer his decision to make.

Therefore, the best choice was to hand over the floor to someone else.

"Feng Er, you're passing the buck too quickly!" Sheng Aiyi said with a hint of feigned anger, though she understood exactly what Feng Hanqing meant.

But what exactly did Lu Fan intend to do after rescuing this 'hot potato' that was the Young Marshal?

She wasn't sure, so she could only recount the deeds of the Security Team by the book.

Young Marshal Zhang was stunned after listening to the whole story.

As the saying goes, there is no harm without comparison. The things the Security Team had done—

From blowing up docks and destroying warehouses to bombing the headquarters, annihilating japanese infantry battalions, and wiping out tank companies—

To finally capturing the japanese Naval Headquarters and launching an annihilation battle against the japanese forces entrenched by the river, they were practically omnipotent.

Each and every one of these feats was a battle result achieved by a mere civilian armed group.

As the former Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies of the Northeast, he knew clearly that not one of these tasks wasn't a suicide mission.

Someone actually had such great courage to truly disregard their own life and death to fight against the japanese.

This made his blood boil, and a heart of yearning was born within him.

Coming back to his senses, Young Marshal Zhang asked impatiently, "Seventh Miss Sheng, whose unit is this that is so brave?"