Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yan Hai received the rescued soldiers at the training base and scanned them, finding that many had lasting hidden injuries. After waking in the barracks, Gong Jian and the others realized they had been tricked and carried back during the night.

• Two disguised soldiers thanked the local herdsmen and returned to the helicopters with the rescued soldiers.
• Jiang Yan Hai received the report that everyone had been picked up and ordered the soldiers to rest after they returned.
• Medical staff brought the soldiers to their barracks, where Jiang Yan Hai scanned them and found widespread hidden injuries that could cause serious health problems later in life.
• Gong Jian woke in a military barracks, realized the soldiers had been transported there, and concluded they had fallen for the trick again.
• He Chen Guang, Song Kai Fei, Xu Tian Long, and Wang Yan Bing discussed how the rescue had fooled them, and Gong Jian suspected the milk tea had been drugged.
• Yang Rui arrived and told Gong Jian he was impressed by the person behind the deception.

Jiang Yan Hai asked Gong Jian, Yang Rui, Gao Da Zhuang, Shao Bing, and Chen Shan Ming to help decide how the Dark Blade Unit’s Special Operations Regiment should be organized. They agreed to retain a regiment structure, and Jiang Yan Hai assigned the five of them as battalion commanders while keeping the existing teams intact.

• Jiang Yan Hai welcomed the five officers after their failed wilderness exercise and told them their next mission had been completed.
• Jiang Yan Hai asked the group whether the Special Operations Regiment should use a regiment-and-battalion or brigade-and-company structure.
• Gong Jian recommended a regiment structure to help keep the secret unit’s identity concealed.
• Old Gao explained how the regiment structure could organize twelve-person teams into squads, companies, battalions, and a regiment.
• Gong Jian warned that splitting the existing sixty-two personnel could weaken their combat effectiveness.
• Jiang Yan Hai kept the teams intact and appointed the five officers as battalion commanders, with team leaders taking higher command roles during joint operations.

Jiang Yan Hai appointed Gong Jian and the others as battalion commanders and assigned them to train the remaining special operations personnel while he recruited new trainees. When he returned to Base No. 9 to request permission to start selection, the Old Commander postponed it until after Spring Festival and gave him another mission tied to Phantom’s test flights.

• Jiang Yan Hai appointed Gong Jian, Yang Rui, and the others as battalion commanders, explaining that higher-level operations would be directed by the brigade command center.
• Jiang Yan Hai assigned the new commanders to train the remaining 316 elite special operations personnel while he traveled to inspect selected units and recruit new trainees.
• Jiang Yan Hai returned to Base No. 9 and asked the Old Commander for permission to begin trainee selection, but the Old Commander postponed it until after Spring Festival.
• The Old Commander asked Jiang Yan Hai about Phantom’s test flights, and Jiang Yan Hai explained that its public appearances and leaked photos were intended to showcase the aircraft.
• The Old Commander told Jiang Yan Hai that he had another important mission, after discussing Phantom’s supersonic cruise and the public attention surrounding it.

Jiang Yan Hai was ordered to attend the National Science and Technology Award ceremony under Jiang Ling’s identity and travel to the capital. After checking into the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, he found Li Ruo Bai waiting for him and showed her the makeup supplies prepared for his disguise.

• The Old Commander ordered Jiang Yan Hai to attend the conference as Jiang Ling, receive an award, and complete his National Defense University graduation assessment.
• Three days later, Jiang Yan Hai flew to the capital and checked into Room 303 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
• Jiang Yan Hai used his Scanning System to check the room and detected Li Ruo Bai hiding in the living room.
• Li Ruo Bai explained that Old Liu and the others had invited her to the ceremony, and Jiang Yan Hai encouraged her to aim for the award stage someday.
• Li Ruo Bai told Jiang Yan Hai that his things had arrived, and he opened the case of makeup supplies prepared for his disguise.

Jiang Yan Hai tested a lifelike breast disguise with Li Ruo Bai, and their playful teasing led to an intimate encounter. He then carefully applied his makeup and put on his custom suit and wig, becoming Jiang Ling as he prepared to meet the arriving experts.

• Li Ruo Bai urged Jiang Yan Hai to try on the silicone disguise, and he put it on for her.
• Li Ruo Bai examined and squeezed the disguise, then Jiang Yan Hai teased her and their playfighting moved to the bed.
• Jiang Yan Hai left the bedroom and carefully began applying makeup, anticipating that he would soon need to interact with the experts.
• Li Ruo Bai came to watch as Jiang Yan Hai finished his lipstick, put on a wig, and transformed into Jiang Ling.

Jiang Yan Hai disguised himself as Jiang Ling and went shopping with Li Ruo Bai before meeting Professor Liu and Professor Qian. He introduced himself to the professors, who did not recognize him.

• Jiang Yan Hai revealed his disguise to Li Ruo Bai, who teased him about using it in women's spaces.
• Li Ruo Bai persuaded Jiang Yan Hai to go shopping, and they bought dozens of outfits for Jiang Ling.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai returned to the hotel and spent the night together in special outfits.
• The next evening, Professor Liu and Professor Qian waited at the restaurant to meet Jiang Yan Hai.
• Jiang Yan Hai approached the professors disguised as Jiang Ling and introduced himself, but they did not recognize him.

Jiang Yan Hai revealed his disguise as Jiang Ling to a group of trusted professors, who were impressed by how convincingly he had altered his appearance and voice. He then proposed expanding his engine design into a series, including larger models suitable for stealth bombers.

• Li Ruo Bai joined Jiang Yan Hai, and he revealed his true voice and identity to Professor Liu and Professor Qian.
• Professor Liu brought Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai to meet the professors, telling Jiang Yan Hai to use the name Jiang Ling around researchers arriving the next day.
• Jiang Yan Hai introduced himself to the gathered professors as Jiang Ling, then confirmed his identity as Jiang Yan Hai in his original voice.
• Professor Li examined Jiang Yan Hai's hands and praised how convincing his disguise was, while the professors agreed to help keep his identity secret.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Professor Qian he could develop his engine design into a series, including larger engines for stealth bombers, and offered to send annotated blueprints.

Jiang Yan Hai agreed to help Professor Qian's team expand the engine series and discussed Phantom's upgrades and rapid finalization with Old Liu and Professor Li. After the meal, Jiang Ling met the veteran professors so they would recognize her in the future.

• Jiang Yan Hai agreed to share his engine expertise and let Professor Qian lead the series' expansion, while offering to advise on the overall design.
• Old Liu told Jiang Yan Hai that Phantom was close to finalization after its test aircraft and engines accumulated strong test results.
• Jiang Yan Hai said Phantom's main upgrade needs involved electronic systems, but kept quiet about the electronics blueprints he had already designed.
• Jiang Yan Hai ate with Li Ruo Bai and the professors, who watched him finish the meal.
• Jiang Ling met the veteran professors so they would recognize her later.

Jiang Yan Hai met veteran researchers before the award ceremony, where he would accept the Phantom’s award under the identity of Jiang Ling. Several groups with different levels of knowledge about his identity were gathered to watch the live broadcast, though they did not yet know why.

• Jiang Yan Hai met veteran professors and researchers, who admired his achievements and were impressed by him and Li Ruo Bai.
• Jiang Yan Hai prepared to accept the award at the Great Hall disguised as Jiang Ling to protect his identity and draw out spies.
• Director Wen, Yu Dong, and former Wolf Fang members gathered to watch the broadcast and were told Jiang Yan Hai was on a mission and would accept the award for Jiang Ling.
• He Chen Guang and the first sixty-two people Jiang Yan Hai had recruited gathered to watch, knowing Jiang Yan Hai had designed the Phantom and were ordered to keep it secret.
• Young PhDs who knew the Phantom’s chief designer were told Jiang Ling was a state intelligence operative meant to divert attention from Jiang Yan Hai.
• Song Kai Fei questioned why Wolf Fang had to watch the broadcast, while Xu Tian Long and Gong Jian told him to follow orders and recognize the professors.

During the awards ceremony, Jiang Ling received the highest science and technology award for designing the Phantom Fighter Jet and its engine, and former special operations team members watching the broadcast realized she was their Boss Jiang in disguise. He Chen Guang revealed Jiang Yan Hai had also designed other weapons and was an Army Aviation and fighter pilot with nine kills, leaving everyone stunned by the scale of his abilities.

• The awards ceremony introduced Jiang Ling as the designer of the Phantom Fighter Jet and its engine, and she walked onto the stage to receive the award.
• Chen Shan Ming and the former Red Cell members recognized Jiang Ling as their future brigade commander, Jiang Yan Hai, and crowded around the television in shock.
• The team teased Chen Shan Ming about having been attracted to Jiang Yan Hai in disguise, while Tong Li envied Jiang Yan Hai's makeup skills.
• He Chen Guang told the team that Jiang Yan Hai had designed the improved Type 10 Rifle and the Type 19 Assault Rifle.
• Gu Shun asked whether Jiang Yan Hai was a pilot, and He Chen Guang confirmed he was an Army Aviation and fighter pilot with nine kills who had designed the Phantom Fighter Jet.

Jiang Ling’s identity as the twenty-five-year-old chief designer of the Phantom fighter jet and engine was revealed at the State Supreme Science and Technology Award ceremony, stunning viewers in China and abroad. After Jiang Yan Hai received the award and presented the others, the ceremony ended with the remaining attendees warned to keep the secret.

• He Chen Guang, the ceremony audience, and livestream viewers were stunned when Jiang Ling was revealed as Phantom’s young chief designer.
• Jiang Ling’s identity and achievements surged across Weibo and drew attention from foreign media and intelligence agencies.
• Jiang Yan Hai received the State Supreme Science and Technology Award and gained five hundred authority points from the Red Star Engine.
• Jiang Yan Hai presented awards to the other recipients, and the senior leader privately showed curiosity while keeping his composure.
• After the ceremony, officials instructed the other groups to maintain confidentiality, and Li Ruo Bai decided not to tell anyone what she had witnessed.

After receiving the country’s highest scientific honor, Jiang Yan Hai rejected the idea of pursuing a Nobel Prize and returned to the National Defense University for his graduation assessment. He earned perfect scores and was exceptionally promoted to senior colonel, leaving the Old Commander urging him to keep working toward general.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Old Liu that he cared more about his country’s recognition than a Nobel Prize and joked that there might someday be a Jiang Yan Hai Prize.
• Jiang Yan Hai said goodbye to Li Ruo Bai, then returned to the National Defense University for his graduation assessment.
• Jiang Yan Hai completed the assessment with perfect scores and attended the senior advanced study class graduation meeting.
• The Old Commander announced Jiang Yan Hai’s exceptional promotion to senior colonel and replaced his lieutenant colonel insignia.
• The Old Commander encouraged Jiang Yan Hai to aim for general and teased Major General Bai Zhipeng about Jiang Yan Hai possibly surpassing his rank.

Jiang Yan Hai received permission to return home in uniform and began preparing to recruit and train a second batch of soldiers. He reached Jinling for the Spring Festival, where Li Ruo Bai welcomed him and Su Ya Xuan noticed his colonel insignia.

• The Old Commander told Jiang Yan Hai to go home in uniform and approved his recruitment plans, requiring recruits to understand the danger of the training.
• Jiang Yan Hai flew to Jinling in a two-seat J10, and Hound drove him to the villa with gifts prepared for his visit.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Hound to let eligible personnel take New Year leave and explained that he would leave on the third day of the lunar month to begin training the second batch.
• Li Ruo Bai welcomed Jiang Yan Hai at the villa, and they greeted each other before Su Ya Xuan called out from inside.
• Su Ya Xuan spotted Jiang Yan Hai’s colonel insignia and asked how he had already become a colonel.

Jiang Yan Hai visited Li Ruo Bai’s family for New Year and revealed he had been promoted to colonel. He and Li Ruo Bai’s parents agreed on his plans to marry her, and Li Yun Feng proposed holding their engagement banquet that day, leaving Jiang Yan Hai hesitant about the sudden celebration.

• Jiang Yan Hai told Li Ruo Bai that he had been promoted before arriving, surprising Li Yun Feng and Li Ruo Bai’s mother.
• Li Ruo Bai showed Jiang Yan Hai the men’s clothes she had bought for him and said he would stay in her room.
• Li Ruo Bai’s mother asked Jiang Yan Hai about his plans, and he said he would submit a Marriage Report after his September birthday and marry Li Ruo Bai once it was approved.
• Li Yun Feng and Li Ruo Bai’s mother approved of the marriage, and Jiang Yan Hai promised to do his best as a husband and father.
• Li Yun Feng proposed holding an engagement banquet for Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai that day, and Jiang Yan Hai hesitated because the event would draw many people.

After Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai became engaged, Jiang Yan Hai spent nearly two months recruiting volunteers for the Special Forces and selecting 3,689 candidates. The chapter leaves him ordering the candidates’ files sealed at the highest classification his authority allowed.

• Li Yun Feng hosted a family meal where Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai were considered engaged, though their military marriage date remained undecided.
• After the Spring Festival, Jiang Yan Hai left Li Ruo Bai’s family home and traveled to recruit volunteers for the Special Forces.
• Jiang Yan Hai used his Advanced Scanning Program and Er Dan’s records to screen candidates according to character, ability, and potential, selecting 3,689 people.
• Er Dan identified 2,052 candidates whose professional skills or physical fitness were lacking, including 387 military academy students, while the others were mostly active-duty soldiers.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered Black Hawk and the others to contact the candidates’ units, seal their files, and restrict access to the highest classification his authority permitted.

Jiang Yan Hai organized the first intake of candidates into two groups for different kinds of training and arranged for their conduct to be monitored while they remained in their units. The recruits gathered at the expanded Special Forces 1st Battalion training grounds, where Jiang Yan Hai began welcoming them.

• Master Kang relayed Jiang Yan Hai’s plans to higher command, which approved them, and Jiang Yan Hai arranged for half of the Special Forces 1st Battalion to serve as instructors.
• Jiang Yan Hai divided the candidates into 2,052 trainees for customized physical training and 600 soldiers for special-forces-style recruitment training led by Gong Jian and the others.
• Selected soldiers received notices, and Jiang Yan Hai ordered Er Dan, Black Eagle, and the others to monitor how candidates handled envy and mockery in their original units.
• The first group of 2,652 candidates assembled in the converted hangar, where Gong Jian, He Chen Guang, and Wang Yan Bing speculated about Jiang Yan Hai’s plans for them.
• Jiang Yan Hai took the stage, welcomed the recruits on behalf of their future unit, and began addressing them.

Jiang Yan Hai warned the soldiers that the classified Special Forces unit’s training carried a risk of death and gave them the chance to withdraw. No one left, and the soldiers began signing the danger acknowledgment forms.

• Jiang Yan Hai explained that the unit was classified, would only be revealed to those who passed assessment, and involved extreme danger.
• Soldiers distributed forms warning that training could use live ammunition and endanger lives, while He Chen Guang and the others read copies outside the hangar.
• Wang Yan Bing joked that the rookies did not know what kind of live ammunition awaited them, and Song Kai Fei and Xu Tian Long discussed how frightening combat could be.
• Jiang Yan Hai gave the soldiers one minute to withdraw, but none stood up.
• A soldier joked that his parents had made a backup account for him, drawing laughter before Jiang Yan Hai ordered everyone to sign the forms.
• The soldiers picked up their pens and began signing, finding the task unexpectedly heavy despite having already decided to stay.

Jiang Yan Hai had the recruits sign documents, write wills, and enter Training Camp No. 1, whose codename was Chicken Coop. After dividing them into two groups, he left Pan Ye and Zhang Qi to train one group while he took responsibility for the other.

• Everyone signed the documents, and Jiang Yan Hai told them they could withdraw from training at any time.
• Jiang Yan Hai gave the recruits one hour to write their wills, and they handed them in when time was up.
• Jiang Yan Hai announced that the recruits would enter Training Camp No. 1, codenamed Chicken Coop, and split them into two training groups.
• The recruits answered Jiang Yan Hai's final question with a unified roar before their teams led them away.
• Jiang Yan Hai assigned Pan Ye and Zhang Qi to train one group and said he would train the other.

Jiang Yan Hai began training six hundred recruits by sending them in helicopters over deep water and ordering them to swim back to shore. He left the recruits facing a choice between jumping into the sea or withdrawing.

• Jiang Yan Hai took charge of the six hundred recruits and announced that some would be eliminated that day.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered the recruits to change into wetsuits and assemble within fifteen minutes, then called Bei Chen Xiang to bring helicopters.
• Wang Yan Bing, He Chen Guang, Song Kai Fei, Xu Tian Long, and Chen Shan Ming led the first three rows onto five helicopters.
• Jiang Yan Hai sent the helicopters one thousand meters offshore, where He Chen Guang told the recruits to jump into water 175 meters deep and swim back to shore.
• When a recruit warned that non-swimmers would drown, He Chen Guang said they could either jump or withdraw.

Jiang Yan Hai put the soldiers through a dangerous open-water swimming exercise, forcing them to jump from helicopters and swim while helping struggling comrades. As the Water Ghost Team secretly rescued those in danger, the exercise left the trainees confronting life-or-death choices.

• He Chen Guang ordered the first batch of soldiers to jump from helicopters into the sea, and they all went in without withdrawing.
• Jiang Yan Hai sent the second batch into the water while nearby swimmers helped non-swimmers, and the Water Ghost Team secretly retrieved three soldiers who sank.
• Jiang Yan Hai watched drone and suit-transmitted footage as soldiers struggled, cursed, and supported one another across the sea.
• Bei Chen Xiang called Jiang Yan Hai a devil and worried the exercise would expose the trainees to destructive choices.
• A non-swimmer broke free from his swimming companion and sank, but a Water Ghost Team member rescued him while Jiang Yan Hai said each choice belonged to the soldiers.