Chapter Four: Emergency Deployment!

"Comrades!" Lei Tiangang turned to face his team, his booming voice echoing across the training grounds. "With the authorization of Headquarters, the 'Sharp Sword' punitive operation commences today! Listen to the order!"

Lei Dong, who had been lost in a sea of grief, finally noticed the scene. Along the edge of the training grounds, hidden beneath tarpaulins, military trucks rumbled with a low, steady hum, ready for deployment. The men of the First, Second, and Third Squads stood with massive gear packs strapped to their backs. Their eyes burned with a faint, predatory green light, like wolves catching the scent of prey, and the excitement on their faces could not be contained.

"What's going on?" Lei Dong was startled. "What is this for?"

The thirty-some soldiers below snapped to attention in perfect unison with a sharp, resounding thud. Lei Tiangang raised his voice. "The Furious Dragon Brigade is to depart immediately. By June 1, 2030, you will secretly arrive in the Southern Xinjiang region of Tianshan Province. Once preparations are complete, you will infiltrate Afghanistan before June 7 to launch a surprise raid on the headquarters of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement! Specific operational details will be provided upon your arrival in Tianshan!"

The soldiers stood solemnly, their eyes gleaming. The training field was so quiet that the drop of a needle could have been heard. Lei Tiangang swept his gaze over the thirty-some men, his expression as unyielding as iron. "I expect you, comrades, to plan meticulously, act with composure, and uphold the spirit of our military—courageous in battle and fearless of sacrifice. We will deal a lethal blow to the terrorists who threaten our nation's peace and stability! Comrades, do you have the confidence?"

"Yes!"

The roar of the soldiers shook the heavens. Lei Dong and Wuyun, both known for their violent tendencies, were particularly thrilled, their voices rising above the rest.

"Good!" Lei Tiangang looked around and shouted, "That's what my soldiers should sound like! When you return in triumph, I’ll treat you all to a three-day drinking binge!"

The soldiers curled their lips; this commander was always so unprofessional!

Lei Tiangang continued, "Now, announcing the order of battle: the First, Second, and Third Squads are designated as attack teams and will depart immediately. The Fourth Squad will remain to guard the base and continue training! When the Divine Dragon rages, the world shall tremble—"

"Kill!"

The First, Second, and Third Squads leaped into action, shouting in unison. They quickly organized and boarded the trucks. Within seconds, the military vehicles sped out of the base, roaring into the distance, leaving behind only the six members of the Fourth Squad, standing there stunned.

"What the hell is this?" The first to break the silence was, naturally, Wuyun, the group's resident complainer. The moment Lei Tiangang finished dismissing the troops, he jumped three feet high. "Why do the others get to go to war while we're left behind to guard the base?"

Lei Tiangang, who had just turned to leave, spun around and glared. "Wuyun, you little punk, who are you calling 'Old Man'? Trying to start a mutiny?"

Wuyun immediately put on a fawning smile and scrambled to apologize. "Sorry, sorry, sorry, I misspoke, I deserve a beating, but still, why—"

Before he could finish, Lei Tiangang cut him off with a vicious scowl. "Why? It's an order! You—" He pointed at Wuyun's head. "Disobeying military orders and insulting a superior officer! Three laps around the base, in full gear, within two hours! Get moving!"

Wuyun tried to argue, but Lei Tiangang’s eyes widened. "Say one more word, and see if I don't add another three laps!"

Wuyun was dumbfounded. A military training base, three laps, full gear, two hours—this cursed base had a perimeter of over 40 kilometers. Three laps meant 120 kilometers. To finish that in two hours, even with Wuyun’s current physical condition, would be impossible; he’d literally run his legs off.

Thinking of Wuyun’s long legs churning like frantic wheels, the others couldn't help but gloat. "That’s what you get for not keeping your mouth shut and using foul language. Feeling stupid now? Heh heh heh..."

Seeing their strange expressions, Wuyun pointed his finger at them one by one, furious. "You, you, you... you have no loyalty!"

Lei Tiangang added, "The rest of the Fourth Squad, for failing to stop Wuyun’s inappropriate behavior, are considered accomplices and will share the punishment. Move!"

Now it was Lei Dong and the others' turn to be stunned. Wuyun burst out laughing. "You, you, you, you, you—hahaha, serves you right!"

"Guilt by association!"
"A distraction tactic!"
"Cunning and devious!"

The six men were filled with righteous indignation. They were all cunning foxes; there was no need to play these games! Everyone present was highly intelligent and understood perfectly well that Lei Tiangang was just using this as an excuse to redirect their focus so they wouldn't ask the same questions Wuyun did.

It was obvious: with such a massive operation, the First, Second, and Third Squads had all been deployed, leaving only the Fourth Squad behind. Anyone would be frustrated; it was clearly favoritism.

But no matter how angry they were, they had to obey. Not just because military orders were as heavy as mountains, but because they knew Lei Tiangang well enough to know that if they resisted, he would have even more devious and terrifying tricks waiting for them.

Watching Lei Tiangang pull out a stopwatch, click it, and walk away casually after saying, "The clock is ticking," the group jumped up like rabbits. He was too ruthless! He was even counting the seconds!

Without time to think, the six of them rushed back to their dorms, grabbed their gear in a frantic scramble, and returned to the training field, running like madmen.

It must be said that these "supernatural special forces" soldiers, all at least at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, were extraordinary. Their legs spun like speeding wheels, yet they remained unruffled and breathless, even managing to chat while running.

Wuyun, as usual, was the first to speak. "A surprise raid on the East Turkestan headquarters! This is a massive operation. Why send those squads? What makes them any better than us?" He paused and slapped his forehead. "Damn it!"

The others were startled. "What now? What kind of madness is this?"

Wuyun cursed, "I knew it! Ji Jianye, that jerk from the Second Squad, was grinning at me earlier and acted dismissive about the 200 people we rescued. That bastard must have already known they were going on this mission!"

"Exactly," Lei Dong suddenly realized. "Damn, Wang Tianlai, the captain of the Second Squad, also had that smug, mocking look on his face. No loyalty at all..." Lei Dong looked indignant.

"You've got no room to talk!" Wuyun immediately shifted the target to Lei Dong. "This is all your fault!"

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Not your business? You’re the son of the 'Big Boss' and the only one in the Fourth Squad with a rank. How are you doing your job? If you weren't so incompetent, how could we have missed out on this mission? That’s a raid on the East Turkestan headquarters—an incompetent general kills the entire army!"

Wuyun looked heartbroken, nearly making Lei Dong explode with rage. "You bear-witted soldier, are you looking for death? Do you think I'm your lackey just because I'm the combat instructor? Besides, the Dean announced the order suddenly; what was I supposed to do? Why don't you blame Lei Dong?"

Explanations were useless. The fire of the unscrupulous team members immediately focused on Lei Dong, and they began complaining in a chaotic chorus.

"What do you mean it's not your business?"
"It's because you're stupid!"
"Your father is the Dean, your wife is an instructor, and you couldn't find out a single thing? And you say it's not your business?"

Amidst the chaos, Wuyun provided the summary: "Ever since Brother Lei came back, he's only been thinking about hiding in his wife's boudoir. He hasn't been paying attention to anything else—"

The group let out a series of strange laughs, and Lei Dong turned beet red.

"Lei Dong!" the group said in unison. "Today, you must go ask your father what exactly is going on!"

Lei Dong waved his hand, ignoring his unscrupulous comrades. He opened up his stride, moving as if he had an electric motor attached, and flew forward, leaving the squad far behind in an instant.

Ask his old man? It would be a miracle if he could get an answer out of him! Why bother when he could go to An Jing's dormitory? He could enjoy some tender company and dig for information at the same time. Did they think he was as stupid as his father?

Behind him, a roar of mocking laughter erupted.

Half an hour later, Lei Dong returned with a look of shock. The news he brought left his teammates, who had just finished their run and were panting for breath, completely stunned.

During the few days they were on the Saint Emperor's Bright Island for their mission, five terrorist attacks had occurred in succession within the Republic. From the large-scale armed assault on a police station in the Tianshan Province of the Northwest, to the knife-wielding attack at a train station in the southern city of Chuncheng, the incidents had caused 127 deaths and 75 injuries among the populace, and claimed the lives of 7 police officers. Even in the capital, Hanjing, a car bomb attack had occurred, which was only thwarted because the police were alert.

After the situation was summarized and reported, President Tang Yiping was enraged. He ordered a thorough investigation. Military intelligence, national security, and police departments were all fully mobilized, finally concluding that all the attacks were planned and executed by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement.

Just two days ago, President Tang Yiping signed an order, approved by Headquarters, to initiate the "Sharp Sword" punitive operation. Special forces units from various military regions across the Republic, along with logistics support forces, totaling over 20,000 personnel, began to mobilize. The goal was to conduct large-scale, small-unit cross-border special operations to launch a destructive strike against thirteen terrorist training camps, both domestic and abroad, belonging to the East Turkestan Islamic Movement. In the most critical direction, Headquarters directly deployed three squads from the Furious Dragon Brigade to raid the East Turkestan headquarters, capture its leaders, and completely eradicate this cancer!