One Hundred and Six: Bold Li Changjiang (1/?)

Thump, thump, thump!

Li Changjiang seemed completely oblivious to the knocking at his door.

He sat on his bed, his eyes locked through the scope, staring at the tiny, spherical metal screw on the door handle. The intricate patterns on the surface of the metal ball were rendered in startling clarity.

As his consciousness shifted, the image in his vision transformed rapidly, scanning his surroundings in an almost omnidirectional, flawless sweep. This ability was, without question, terrifying. Had he not already grown accustomed to the formidable powers bestowed upon him by that bizarre system, Li Changjiang might have begun to wonder if he had actually turned into a robot.

Thump, thump, thump!

The knocking sounded again. Then, the door was pushed open from the outside.

As Hu Biao stepped into the room, he found himself staring down the dark, hollow barrel of a gun. He jumped back, his heart racing, his face pale with shock.

"What do you think you're doing!"

Li Changjiang hurriedly lowered the weapon, his face flushing with embarrassment. "My apologies! I was just testing the scope!"

Testing the scope?

Hu Biao wore a strange expression. This bastard—not only did he spend his days cooped up in his room instead of going out, but he also spent his time aimlessly aiming a gun at everything. Was this how he had honed his marksmanship? That didn't seem right; he had never heard of anyone becoming an ace marksman just by staring through a scope. Yet, recalling the clean, clinical efficiency of Li Changjiang’s shooting earlier, he found himself momentarily speechless.

What a freak.

"Are you looking for me?"

"It’s not me. The General wants to see you."

Upon hearing that the two generals were summoning him, Li Changjiang didn't hesitate; he followed Hu Biao out immediately.

The weather outside the base was surprisingly pleasant. Days without sandstorms were rare, though the sun was still scorching. The sprawling, dense forest deep within this desert valley was a genuine marvel; Li Changjiang had never understood how such vegetation survived. The area was surrounded by wind-swept sand dunes and man-made concrete walls, covered in a thick layer of gravel that would fool anyone who didn't look closely. These walls stretched far into the distance, beyond the reach of the naked eye.

On the training grounds inside the perimeter, a group of soldiers was training shirtless, their intensity enough to make one gasp.

"Reporting!"

"General, Li Changjiang has arrived!"

"Very well. Return to your unit and continue training."

"Yes, sir!"

Hu Biao turned and sprinted toward his unit. Li Changjiang caught a glimpse of their training regimen and felt a stir of excitement—they were practicing with crossbows!

This was a rare sight in standard units, usually reserved for special operations forces for specific, tactical missions. Compared to modern firearms, the range and power of traditional crossbows were vastly inferior. Even with modern modifications and specialized equipment, it was difficult for them to match the lethality of a modern rifle.

"How is it? Are you envious, kid?"

Noticing the look of longing in Li Changjiang's eyes, Hu Dayou asked with a half-joking tone.

Li Changjiang offered a shy, sheepish smile, his face reddening. Damn it, it was a bow! And a powerful crossbow at that! How could he not be envious? Every man harbored a heroic dream of being a general, harkening back to the Han and Tang dynasties—drawing bows, wielding blades, and riding into battle. In the modern world, however, one could only indulge in such daydreams.

Seeing the expression on Li Changjiang's face, Hu Dayou laughed heartily. He couldn't help but admire the young man. At the end of the day, Li Changjiang was still just a boy. Looking at his bashful, blushing face, no one would ever imagine that this same youth had already claimed hundreds of enemy lives on the battlefield.

If this were a war belonging to the Chinese people, a war of soldiers, this record would be enough to make the nineteen-year-old a standout among the military ranks.

In the history of the Great Han, Huo Qubing had achieved immortal glory before reaching the age of manhood, earning the title of Champion Marquis. While Li Changjiang might not match the legends of old, he was certainly a rare talent in such peaceful times.

Hu Dayou stared at him intently, feeling a surge of regret—it would be a total waste if this kid didn't join the military.

"General, you wanted to see me?"

Li Changjiang felt a chill under Hu Dayou's gaze. These generals were not to be trifled with. Hu Dayou was reasonable enough, but if it had been the other one, Li Changjiang would have turned and run.

He knew there was more to his presence in the Great Northwest. Although Xiang Guofang and Hu Dayou hadn't spoken to him formally, he wasn't in a hurry. He knew the Libyans wouldn't move against Williams and his associates in the short term, provided the intelligence his father held was truly as vital as they claimed.

Ultimately, the Americans were playing a cautious game.

"We brought you here from Nanjiang to confirm two things. We have confirmed the first: you are the Chinese man the Americans are hunting. As for what you did to them in Libya, we have no intention of pursuing it. You were right—a soldier must have resolve. You may not be a professional soldier, but on the battlefield, you are a warrior.

"The second matter concerns the intelligence you hold. It is of great importance to the Americans. We must know the whereabouts of that intelligence, and ideally, we want it in our possession."

Hu Dayou stared into Li Changjiang’s eyes. His intent was clear: they had to have that intelligence.

He was a general. But first and foremost, he was a Chinese man—a Chinese general. Even though he valued Li Changjiang’s potential, when faced with national interests, he would never allow anyone to compromise them, and that included Li Changjiang.

However, he could never have guessed that Li Changjiang did not actually possess the intelligence.

Li Changjiang’s mind raced. He was still hesitant. Based on his current assessment, the only people who knew his father, Li Lin, held the information were himself, Wu Delong, and Wu Sisi. Everyone else had likely been captured by the Libyans, and they wouldn't have leaked it. The biggest uncertainty remained the Wu father and daughter.

But he had already probed the matter indirectly: his father didn't even know there was any intelligence, nor did he know who Wu Delong and Wu Sisi were. The reality was that Li Lin was just a common construction worker hired by the DeLong Construction crew; he would never have had the chance to meet the company’s CEO, let alone be involved in any intelligence.

"General, before I answer that question, I have one request. If you can guarantee that this matter remains confined to the highest levels and will not be leaked, then I will tell you what I know."

What! The kid had some nerve!

As soon as Li Changjiang finished speaking, the major standing behind Hu Dayou widened his eyes in disbelief. This was likely the first time anyone had dared to make such a demand.

Looking at the young, terrifyingly composed face of Li Changjiang, Hu Dayou felt an indescribable sensation. He was certain that if this young man didn't die in Libya, he would undoubtedly become a top-tier operator.

Poise. Courage. Patience. Talent. He lacked nothing. The only thing he lacked was time.