Chapter 15: Defense

Kyoto, Akasaka Ward, Reisaka Town, No. 27.

This was a vast compound—not quite fitting to call it merely a courtyard—surrounded not by ordinary walls but by blue barriers. At the rear stood a four-story building, beside which several tall scaffolds had been erected. Clearly, some form of construction was underway.

A black Wuling business van glided smoothly forward. After more than three hours of winding through the streets and alleys of Kyoto, the vehicle had finally confirmed no one was tailing it before steadily arriving here.

Inside, seven people sat in silence. Bei Shiliang’s eyes were fixed intently on the small screen of the Minya Federation’s newest anti-wireless scanner, while Leidong closed his eyes, his spiritual senses sweeping the surroundings relentlessly.

Two minutes later, Bei Shiliang withdrew his gaze and spoke softly, “No surveillance, no monitoring devices, no radio signals. It’s safe.”

Almost simultaneously, Leidong opened his eyes, shook his head, and said, “No one’s here.”

Leidong’s words were simple, yet every team member exhaled deeply. They all understood what this meant: within a five-kilometer radius, there was no suspicious activity.

Only Li Yongzheng appeared somewhat puzzled, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes.

He didn’t know much about the members of this small unit or their abilities. Why did their reconnaissance and alertness seem so casual, so effortless? They had only scanned for wireless signals, and the only check for human presence was the young man who had initially made contact with him, who had listened carefully for a while.

Yet he knew that since this was a special forces unit directly under headquarters, they must possess secrets unknown to the outside world. Li Yongzheng showed no sign of doubt, gripping the steering wheel steadily as the vehicle slowly slipped through a narrow gap in the barriers and entered the compound.

Before the building, the Wuling van came to a smooth stop. The door slid open quietly.

“Get out!” Leidong commanded softly. The team members vanished like ghosts into the night, moving silently and swiftly.

Leidong made a gesture, and Bei Shiliang dashed toward the building carrying a suitcase filled with wireless equipment. Meanwhile, Wuyun, Lang Tianyu, Luo Haoran, and Song Jingang dispersed in all directions, setting up infrared sensors, electronic eyes, and various defensive traps at key points. These items had been distributed from Leidong’s storage ring after they landed, purposefully done to avoid alarming the contact.

Although each member’s spiritual sense could detect movement within at least 800 meters—and especially Leidong’s “human radar,” which at full power provided a 360-degree, near ten-kilometer range surveillance—having these ready-made tools was advantageous. They allowed the team to relax a bit, conserving strength for the imminent battle.

Leidong listened intently as Li Yongzheng explained the situation here.

Before the team set out, Leidong had just been promoted to major and formally appointed as squad leader of the Fourth Squad of the Angry Dragon Battalion.

No one questioned the decision, not even slightly.

This was not because Leidong’s rank had risen two levels to a regular battalion officer—many on the team held higher ranks—but because of his recognized ability to analyze intelligence, grasp the tactical situation, understand operational strategy, and adapt swiftly.

The team trusted him, willing to heed his advice and follow his command, ready to march under his leadership toward victory!

For this was the Angry Dragon Battalion, the army’s sole special forces unit continuously engaged in real combat—not one of those “peace armies” that had long forgotten how to fight. Here, without skill, you earned no trust, no matter how senior your rank or experience—you were nothing but a fart.

“This is my flying club,” Li Yongzheng said as they walked. “When I got the mission half a month ago, I decided to pause operations here and carry out some ‘expansion.’”

Leidong nodded slightly, sharing a smile with Li Yongzheng. The latter laughed and added, “These past two days happen to coincide with Jepan’s traditional Boys’ Festival. Every Jepanese family celebrates their children on this day. So, I gave all the workers three days off. Whether they’ll want to come back after that, only the gods above know…”

Leidong’s lips twitched upward. He fully understood Li Yongzheng’s meaning: the battle would erupt in twenty-four hours, turning all Kyoto upside down. Although Jepanese were famously punctual and disciplined to the point of rigidity, it would be nearly impossible for them to calmly return to work afterward.

About ten minutes later, Bei Shiliang came rushing in, wearing a relaxed smile. “Boss! Defenses are set—25 electronic eyes and 40 infrared sensors within a 500-meter radius; ten anti-personnel mines buried.” He pointed upward. “All equipment is functioning. Everyone’s ‘Polaris’ devices are connected. Old Lang’s watching from above.”

As Bei Shiliang spoke, Li Yongzheng rose and went to the corner of the room. Opening a refrigerated cabinet, he pulled out two large containers and magically produced an array of food—sashimi, rice rolls, copper plate cakes. He warmly invited, “Have something to eat. Unfortunately, we can’t light fires and reveal our location, but Jepanese are used to eating raw food...” He added with a smile, “All made by me, totally safe.”

This fellow was indeed cautious. Leidong glanced at Li Yongzheng quietly—not because they couldn’t cook, but because Li Yongzheng had deliberately stepped away while Bei Shiliang was speaking, clearly to avoid any misunderstanding. In a foreign land conducting intelligence operations, every word and action was fraught with peril. One could only imagine what torment he had endured over the past twenty years.

At the mention of food, Wuyun’s energy surged instantly. He bounded over and began rummaging eagerly through the spread. Leidong laughed and scolded, “Damn glutton!”

Since the battle of St. Emperor Bright Island, several team members had advanced in cultivation to the stage of “fasting,” requiring only water, no longer needing to eat. But habits formed over decades are not easily broken. Besides, what fun is life without savoring fine food? So, when there was something good, they indulged heartily.

Moreover, Wuyun was unfazed by Leidong’s teasing. With a big grin, he swallowed several rice rolls, gave Li Yongzheng a thumbs-up, and mumbled, “Great craftsmanship!”

Without waiting for Leidong’s reaction, he grabbed two large pieces of sashimi and pointed upstairs. “I’m going to fetch Old Lang down!” he said as he hurried off, muttering, “Everyone should try this—it’s really good...”