Chapter Summaries

After helping the Jiaolong members survive the fighting, Jiang Yan Hai advised them to protect their ideals while recognizing the limits of what they could save. Yang Rui then received orders to travel to Basem and rescue Deng Mei, whose phone signal had disappeared with Xia Nan’s in Zaka-occupied territory.

• Xu Hong lamented that although they had saved a man, they could not save his home or child, and Yang Rui said they could only complete their mission.
• Gu Shun introduced himself to Jiang Yan Hai and praised his sniping, while Seagull explained that Jiang Yan Hai worked alone and needed no spotter.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Gu Shun that combat experience would help him improve, then advised Xu Hong and the Jiaolong members to protect their boat and act without hesitation when necessary.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Yang Rui that his orders would soon arrive, and Blood Wolf left with him for their vehicles.
• Yang Rui received orders to go to a government forces assembly point before joining a civilian escort convoy to Basem, where Jiaolong and local Special Forces would rescue Deng Mei.

Jiang Yan Hai briefed Yang Rui’s team on Basem Town’s layout and the likely hostage site before the force set out with journalist Xia Nan. Meanwhile, Gao Yun put the Nanchang on combat alert after armed pickups appeared nearby, and Jiang Yan Hai began explaining Xia Nan’s mission to Yang Rui.

• Yang Rui briefed the team on the operation, and Jiang Yan Hai used satellite images to identify the square and likely hostage location in Basem Town.
• Yang Rui told his team to consider Jiang Yan Hai’s suggestions during the joint operation, and the group set out.
• Jiang Yan Hai and the others arrived at a government stronghold and met French journalist Xia Nan, who insisted she needed to reach Basem Town.
• Gao Yun spotted armed pickups on a mountain near the Nanchang and ordered its weapons and radar readied.
• Xia Nan argued that she had to go to Basem Town to rescue her assistant and complete an important task, and Jiang Yan Hai revealed that she was tracking black-market Yellow Cake dealings involving captive William.

Jiang Yan Hai confronted Xia Nan over the danger her pursuit of the terrorists had brought to others, and she was left behind as the convoy continued. As the convoy entered the mountains, his warning system detected an ambush and the vehicles stopped within range of six enemy mortars.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Xia Nan that her pursuit of revenge did not give her the right to endanger others, and he said she could leave the convoy at the next location.
• Yang Rui refused to take Xia Nan into battle, and the convoy departed without changing its plans for her.
• Jiang Yan Hai warned Blood Wolf to find cover if anything happened on the dangerous road, while Yang Rui remained silent about how the teams should coordinate.
• Jiang Yan Hai's Active Warning System detected enemies hiding within three kilometers of the route, and he suspected the danger warning was meant to make the convoy stop.
• The convoy stopped about a thousand meters from the enemy's position, where six mortars were set up on a mountainside roughly 1,600 meters away.

Jiang Yan Hai and the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group came under a mortar and gun attack while escorting a convoy. Jiang Yan Hai climbed the mountain to eliminate the mortar crew and enemy sniper, while the convoy remained under fire.

• Jiang Yan Hai ordered the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group to leave their vehicles and watch the road as he searched the mountain for a sniping position.
• Yang Rui tried to contact headquarters and coordinate a route change, but poor signal prevented the call from getting through.
• Bandits attacked the convoy with mortars and gunfire, and a shell struck a truck carrying civilians.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered Blood Wolf to cover the rear and search for enemy snipers as he raced up the mountain toward the mortar positions.
• Jiang Yan Hai killed two bandits carrying mortar shells with a long-range shot, then shot the enemy sniper through cover.

Jiang Yan Hai destroyed the enemy mortar position and helped Blood Wolf and Jiaolong defeat the attackers with limited losses. After coordinating relief efforts, he contacted the Nanchang about his proposed battle plan and learned that three American destroyers might join the operation against the Zaka organization.

• Jiang Yan Hai hit the mortar ammunition crate from 1,400 meters away, triggering an explosion that destroyed the enemy position.
• Yang Rui ordered Jiaolong to coordinate with Blood Wolf, and the combined teams cleared the attackers while Jiang Yan Hai shot the last terrorist.
• Jiang Yan Hai directed Blood Wolf to document the battlefield, treat the wounded, and check the convoy route for mines; Yang Rui assigned Jiaolong to help the wounded.
• The government forces' commander thanked Jiang Yan Hai, and Jiang Yan Hai told Yang Rui he would contact their warship despite the poor signal.
• Jiang Yan Hai called the Nanchang and learned that three American Arleigh Burke-class destroyers might participate alongside them in an operation against the Zaka organization.

Jiang Yan Hai received a new mission to help the government forces target Zaka in Basem Town while protecting the hostages. He and Black Lion's team headed there disguised as mercenaries, leaving the outcome of their deception and planned laser-guided strikes pending.

• Gao Yun confirmed the plan could proceed and arranged for laser emitters to be airdropped, while Jiang Yan Hai agreed to cooperate for money.
• Jiang Yan Hai's team connected to the warship, accepted a new mission, and decided to pose as Zaka-hired mercenaries while placing laser emitters around Basem Town.
• Jiang Yan Hai and twenty-one others set out for Basem Town in five vehicles, while Xia Nan went with the government forces and a Special Forces soldier joined the team to translate.
• Er Dan changed Jiang Yan Hai's voice to sound like Zaka as Jiang Yan Hai called Sayyid and told him Black Ghost would arrive to control the hostages.
• Jiang Yan Hai, posing as Zaka, ordered Sayyid to wait for further instructions and to kill the Chinese woman brutally if China refused to give up.

Jiang Yan Hai’s team entered the town disguised as Zaka’s mercenaries and took charge of security at the hostage site. They separated the hostages and installed communications equipment, laser emitter devices, and escape-route explosives as they prepared for the operation.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Sayyid to obtain information about the Dirty Bomb Technology from William and arranged for his team to meet Sayyid.
• Jiang Yan Hai split his men into separate vehicles, and Black Lion posed as Kang Ke to lead the group into town.
• Black Lion persuaded Sayyid to evacuate the building, divide the hostages among three rooms, and establish security measures against infiltrators.
• Jiang Yan Hai’s team installed laser emitter devices around the town and communications equipment on the building’s roof.
• Jiang Yan Hai’s team brought bombs into the building to prepare an escape route, keeping the hostages’ rooms clear of explosives.

Yang Rui and the Nanchang crew coordinated with three Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to strike the terrorists’ position and prepare a synchronized missile attack. The chapter ended with two Yingji-18 missiles launching from the Nanchang toward their assigned targets.

• Yang Rui confirmed the signal was at full strength, and Gu Shun reported that the evacuation route was safe.
• Zhuang Yu sent the signal, prompting Gao Yun to put the Nanchang on combat readiness and notify the allied destroyers that their cargo could be dispatched.
• The three destroyers launched twenty-four Tomahawk missiles in eight waves and shared their laser-guidance target assignments with the Nanchang.
• When the terrorists exposed their rocket launch systems, Gao Yun ordered the Nanchang to fire, and its precision-guided shell destroyed their truck and buried the convoy in a cliff collapse.
• Gao Yun timed the Nanchang’s attack to coincide with the Tomahawks’ arrival, then ordered two Yingji-18 missiles launched.

Jiang Yan Hai led the hostages out of town as the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group destroyed the building behind them and thirty-six missiles struck the terrorists. The group reached the mountain outside town and saw that nearly the entire town had been leveled.

• Yang Rui warned Jiang Yan Hai that the second delivery batch had been dispatched, and Red Fox detonated shaped charges to blast a hole through the wall.
• Black Lion and the others led the hostages through the breach and ran toward the outskirts while Blood Wolf protected them.
• Jiang Yan Hai detonated explosives in the central building, drawing most of the terrorists toward the ruins as the group escaped north.
• Jiang Yan Hai and the others watched thirty-six missiles descend toward town, and he called them “daytime meteors.”
• The missiles devastated the town, and Jiang Yan Hai led the rescued hostages away as local women prayed and wept.
• The group reached the mountain and saw that nearly the entire town had been reduced to ruins.

After evacuating with William and the Yellow Cake locations, Jiang Yan Hai discussed his next steps with Bob Lee and Black Lion’s group at the government forces’ camp. He left them with a warning about keeping their principles and departed with a changed opinion of the Jiaolong Commando Unit.

• Jiang Yan Hai and the others withdrew by helicopter to the government forces’ camp, leaving the remaining Yellow Cake matters to others.
• Bob Lee asked about Jiang Yan Hai’s plans, and Jiang Yan Hai said he might leave for a while to visit someone.
• Black Lion said he would stay in the work and might buy a training base, while thanking Jiang Yan Hai for his help.
• Jiang Yan Hai reminded Black Lion to keep a bottom line, and Black Lion agreed that crossing certain principles could bring devastating consequences.
• Black Lion asked about working with China, and Jiang Yan Hai said his opinion of the country had improved after seeing the Jiaolong soldiers risk themselves to save a hostage.

Jiang Yan Hai said goodbye to Black Lion and the Blood Wolf Mercenary Group, then parted from the Jiaolong team after they thanked him for his help. He disguised himself and headed toward the coast for extraction, while Gao Yun sent Yang Rui’s team to meet him.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Black Lion that the Eviya government could work with the mercenaries, exchanged contact details, and said farewell to the Blood Wolf members.
• Yang Rui led the Jiaolong team and Blood Wolf in a formal salute to Jiang Yan Hai, then the Jiaolong members thanked him and embraced him.
• Yang Rui and the Jiaolong team left by helicopter with Deng Mei and the rescued hostages, while Jiang Yan Hai set off alone in a government-provided vehicle.
• Jiang Yan Hai changed his clothes and bag, evaded surveillance, and rode a motorcycle toward the agreed coastal extraction point.
• Gao Yun directed Yang Rui to meet one of their people at set coordinates, where a helicopter would pick them up.

Yang Rui and the Jiaolong Commando Unit reunited with Jiang Yan Hai and learned that he was the chief instructor of the newly approved Logistics 9th Rapid Reaction Brigade, codenamed Dark Blade. After reaching the Nanchang, Jiang Yan Hai showered, changed, and revealed his uncovered face to Yang Rui and Gu Shun.

• Yang Rui and the Jiaolong team met a hooded man at the seaside cliffs and discovered he was Jiang Yan Hai.
• Jiang Yan Hai and the team flew to the Nanchang, where Yang Rui reported the Jiaolong unit's mission complete to Gao Yun.
• Jiang Yan Hai introduced himself as chief instructor of the Logistics 9th Rapid Reaction Brigade, leaving the Jiaolong team stunned.
• Gao Yun told Jiang Yan Hai to shower and then report to the command room for a discussion.
• After changing into a naval camouflage uniform, Jiang Yan Hai stepped out of his cabin, and Yang Rui and Gu Shun barely recognized him.

Jiang Yan Hai learned that Ivan was a prominent solid-rocket expert whose research could greatly improve missiles, and agreed to ensure his safety and honor his request to meet Fang Ping. After being briefed on the Sha Chen Organization, Jiang Yan Hai asked about the three Arleigh Burke-class ships, and Gao Yun showed him a White House press conference.

• Jiang Yan Hai left Yang Rui and Gu Shun and went to the command room for a briefing.
• Gao Yun told Jiang Yan Hai that Ivan, also known as Pishkov, had submitted a new solid-fuel and rocket-engine design that could shrink missiles by roughly one-third.
• Jiang Yan Hai agreed that Ivan's safety should be protected and accepted Ivan's request not to punish Fang Ping and to meet him later.
• Gao Yun told Jiang Yan Hai that officials had intervened in the Sha Chen Organization's affairs and found important leads.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked about the three Arleigh Burke-class ships, and Gao Yun played a White House press conference for him.

After the United States publicly took credit for the strikes that destroyed the Dane Military Consulting Company, Jiang Yan Hai discussed the political fallout with Gao Yun. Jiang Yan Hai then prepared to return home aboard a warship, while considering how the Americans had concealed the operation.

• The United States held a press conference claiming it had rescued American civilians and launched the forty-eight Tomahawk missiles that eliminated the Dane Military Consulting Company.
• Gao Yun and Jiang Yan Hai discussed how the press conference served the United States politically and how China could avoid drawing attention to its role.
• Gao Yun told Jiang Yan Hai that the remaining matters had to be handled after he returned home, and Jiang Yan Hai chose to travel aboard one of their warships.
• Jiang Yan Hai left the command ship and headed to a training area before the Jiaolong Commando Unit returned to its Type 071 Amphibious Dock Landing Ship.
• Jiang Yan Hai considered how American officials had concealed the operation from their own military officers and would likely investigate the warships without finding the truth.

Jiang Yan Hai revealed his identity as an instructor of the Logistics 9th Rapid Reaction Brigade to Jiaolong Team One and explained how he had recognized the danger before the ambush. He agreed to teach Gu Shun sniper techniques and promised to train Jiaolong during future exercises.

• Jiang Yan Hai entered Jiaolong Team One’s combat room, confirmed he was the genuine Technician, and introduced himself as an instructor of the Logistics 9th Rapid Reaction Brigade.
• Gu Shun asked Jiang Yan Hai to teach him sniper techniques, and Jiang Yan Hai agreed.
• Yang Rui asked whether Jiang Yan Hai had known an attack was coming, and Jiang Yan Hai explained why the convoy’s route and circumstances made an ambush likely.
• Jiang Yan Hai warned Jiaolong Team One that remotely triggered mines and mortars could have caused far greater casualties, and Yang Rui recognized the lesson they had learned.
• Yang Rui asked Jiang Yan Hai to train Jiaolong during future exercises, and Jiang Yan Hai promised he would.

After the Nanchang returned toward China, Ivan prepared to begin a new life while Natasha received further care. A Chinese official offered Ivan payment for his research and two possible jobs, leaving Ivan stunned by the generous terms.

• The Nanchang delivered the expatriates to a nearby peaceful country, then Ivan and Natasha remained aboard as it headed back to China.
• Ivan studied Chinese while caring for Natasha, and he spoke haltingly in the language when officials welcomed him at port.
• Doctors and nurses took Natasha for further treatment after Ivan reassured her that he would find her soon.
• Ivan told the middle-aged official he was ready to work so he could support Natasha.
• The official offered Ivan twenty million RMB for his research and blueprints, along with identification documents.
• The official described a university teaching job and a confidential research institute job, and Ivan was stunned by the offers.

Ivan chose to work for Song Jian Min’s secret research institute on the condition that he and Natasha receive Chinese citizenship, while Jiang Yan Hai reunited with Fan Tian Lei and Master Kang, who praised his service and recruited Gao Yun. The chapter left Jiang Yan Hai discussing possible base locations with the two commanders.

• Ivan accepted Song Jian Min’s offer to work at the secret research institute and requested Chinese citizenship for himself and Natasha.
• Song Jian Min agreed to Ivan’s request, promised to arrange his identification documents and bank account, and said Ivan could meet Fang Ping if he returned from his mission.
• Jiang Yan Hai met Fan Tian Lei and Master Kang, who enthusiastically thanked Gao Yun for helping bring him back and persuaded Gao Yun to exchange contact information and agree to a meal.
• Fan Tian Lei and Master Kang told Jiang Yan Hai he had earned another First Class Merit, and Jiang Yan Hai asked them whether they had backup choices for a base.

Jiang Yan Hai considered a nearly completed nuclear-protection base near Yu City for use as a supercomputer data center and secret air force facility. He approved the proposal, discussed additional bases, and settled on ALS for a comprehensive training base.

• Fan Tian Lei described the abandoned nuclear-protection base near Yu City, including its protected underground structure and concealed tunnel entrance.
• Jiang Yan Hai agreed the base could serve as a primary data-processing site and small secret air force base, provided communications, power, confidentiality, and transportation were secured.
• Fan Tian Lei explained that the base included tunnels designed as a runway and hangars capable of holding about twelve J10s.
• Jiang Yan Hai approved submitting the base proposal and emphasized that its main signal and data transmission systems required careful planning.
• Jiang Yan Hai considered the Overlord Wolf base and said other bases could be shared with brother units.
• Jiang Yan Hai chose ALS as the location for the largest comprehensive training base.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to Wolf Fang Special Operations Base and learned he would visit Professor Liu in Rongcheng before continuing his studies. He traveled to Jiangcheng to reunite with Li Ruo Bai and went home with her.

• Master Kang told Jiang Yan Hai to visit Professor Liu in Rongcheng the day after tomorrow to discuss matters including the Phantom Engine.
• Jiang Yan Hai learned Li Ruo Bai was in Jiangcheng and flew there to see her.
• Jiang Yan Hai waited outside Li Ruo Bai's institute until she came out, and the two embraced and admitted they had missed each other.
• Li Ruo Bai took Jiang Yan Hai to her villa, where they joked about living together and went inside.

Jiang Yan Hai reunited with Old Liu in Rongcheng and learned that the J20’s engine had reached production readiness. He asked whether he could privately develop aircraft and engines, and revealed that his girlfriend had several hundred billion in assets, leaving Old Liu stunned.

• Jiang Yan Hai met Old Liu at the secret base in Rongcheng.
• Old Liu reported that the J20 engine had reached world-class standards, passed major development milestones, and was undergoing tests before mass production.
• Old Liu asked Jiang Yan Hai to fly Qinglong again for special-condition tests, and Jiang Yan Hai agreed.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked whether the country could support a new fighter design, and Old Liu explained the limits of military funding and procurement.
• Old Liu suggested that private funding could support civilian design projects, so Jiang Yan Hai revealed that his girlfriend had several hundred billion in assets.
• Old Liu was speechless at the size of Jiang Yan Hai’s girlfriend’s fortune.