Chapter Five: The Southwestern Border, Beneath the Snowy Mountains—Have You Forgotten?

Meanwhile, inside the broadcast studio.

Ji Tianxing watched the Eastern Theater Command, which had been on the verge of collapse, not only recover but also have its two hundred thousand soldiers and Ji Ling advance deeper into the dissipating black mist. He grew increasingly uneasy.

He glanced quickly at his bodyguard, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li immediately understood Ji Tianxing’s meaning, nodded, and then looked toward the host, pointing to the watch on his wrist.

The host, a sharp individual, caught on instantly. Facing the camera, he smiled and said, “Dear viewers, please understand that General Ji is advanced in years, and the high-intensity recording requires rest.”

“We will now enter a commercial break. Please don’t go away; live coverage of the Eastern Theater Command will continue on the small screen!”

The television cut completely from the studio, leaving only the live battlefield footage transmitted from the Eastern Theater Command via the clairvoyant and telepathic systems.

In the makeup room, Ji Tianxing dismissed everyone, leaving only Ji Yun.

After confirming no one else was present, Ji Tianxing lowered his voice and asked, “Xiaoyun, tell me—did your bloodline sense the presence of Yinglong’s bloodline?”

Ji Yun hesitated, unable to answer.

Ji Tianxing rolled his eyes in exasperation and glared at Ji Yun. “Useless!”

“Dad! It’s not my fault!” Ji Yun anxiously tried to defend himself.

But Ji Tianxing gave no chance for explanation. “Quiet! Once you speak, you can’t backtrack! Don’t come out later—I’ll tell them you’re remotely commanding Yinglong from backstage! Got that?!”

Ji Yun nodded miserably, lowering his head, a flicker of grim resolve flashing in his eyes.

Why?

Why did that bastard Ji Ling have such incredible luck?

He went to the battlefield and awakened a heavenly-grade divine realm, earning great military merits!

Now that Ji Yun had taken everything from him, reducing him to a cripple and tossing him into the Eastern Theater Command to fend for himself, Ji Ling could still summon a divine ancestor like Yinglong?

Was Ji Ling a cockroach? Such tenacious vitality?

He should have killed him outright back then, to root out the threat forever!

But now, Ji Ling not only almost humiliated himself in front of the entire nation’s audience, leaving Ji Yun no face to save, but he was also taking Yinglong into battle!

The viewers, deceived by Ji Ling and Ji Tianxing, might not realize this, but Ji Yun was acutely aware.

The combat power of a divine ancestor is terrifying, even if only a phantom is summoned.

Moreover, General Lin had just said Ji Ling’s affinity with Yinglong had reached one hundred percent!

If Ji Ling gained all the glory, Ji Yun’s own fate would be sealed.

For now, only his father’s plan could hold things off temporarily.

...

Eastern Theater Command.

Ji Ling tossed the old firewood stick aside; now that he had a god, it was no longer needed.

He quickened his pace to catch up with the main force’s direction.

Suddenly, a voice called out behind him.

“Ji Ling!”

It was a girl’s voice—soft, yet with undeniable certainty, as if she had no doubt in her judgment.

Hearing someone call his real name, Ji Ling froze momentarily.

But he had just said his name was Jiang Ling. If he reacted to being called by his real name, wouldn’t that prove he was lying?

So naturally, Ji Ling bent down and pretended to tie his combat boots, using the moment to compose himself.

“Ji Ling.” The girl didn’t give up despite his ignoring her. Her white sneakers, splattered with mud, stopped beside him. Ji Ling took a deep breath.

Looks like he couldn’t avoid this.

Yet, he didn’t intend to admit it so easily.

Ji Ling stood and looked at the girl.

The sight nearly took his breath away.

Her face still bore the softness of youth, a slight baby fat not yet gone.

Even so, she was undeniably a stunning beauty.

Such an extraordinary face amidst this rough military camp, especially on the most dangerous Eastern battlefield of the Dragon Kingdom, felt utterly incongruous.

Blood and mud mingled on her face, making it all the more improbable.

When Ji Ling’s gaze dropped slightly and he saw her identification badge, he suddenly understood.

“Qingyun Platform Special War Correspondent, Nangong Lingyue.”

A classical name, Ji Ling thought.

Nangong Lingyue clearly wasn’t going to give him time to weave a lie; she asked straightforwardly, “Ji Ling, why haven’t you told General Lin your true identity?”

Ji Ling was taken aback, scrutinizing Nangong Lingyue with a searching look. After a moment, he gave a sheepish smile and scratched his head. “You must have mistaken me. I’m not Ji Ling. My name is Jiang Ling.”

Nangong Lingyue showed no malice. She smiled, revealing two small tiger-like teeth. “Don’t fool me. We’ve met before, don’t you remember?”

“Two years ago, southwest border, Yun Province, at the foot of the snow mountain. Forgot?”

Ji Ling’s memory was suddenly dragged back to that night a year ago.

Back then, a fierce and strange beast had scattered his troops. Ji Ling and a war correspondent woke up in an icy river at the snow mountain’s base, both soaked and shivering with high fever and disoriented.

It was that female reporter who used her own body to preserve his warmth, letting him survive that potentially fatal night.

But the next morning, when Ji Ling regained consciousness, the reporter was gone, leaving only a note saying she had gone to find the main force.

That night was too dark. Ji Ling, feverish and confused, only remembered that a girl had preserved her purity to save his life, but he didn’t know her name or surname. He couldn’t even reconstruct her entire face in his memory.

Later, when Ji Ling found the main force, he searched everywhere but never saw her again.

It was as if she had never appeared.

Yet now, unexpectedly, he had found her here.

“So, it’s you.” Ji Ling smiled and scratched his head again.

Nangong Lingyue pursed her lips and nodded. “Well, I didn’t save the wrong person after all! You still remember me!”

Ji Ling immediately took two steps back, gave Nangong Lingyue a perfect military salute, and said seriously, “Thank you for saving my life! If ever you need my help, I will risk everything for you!”