Chapter Summaries

Jiang Yan Hai briefed Sharp Blade Team on a covert assault against a terrorist-held Sand Bear Federation military base with Intercontinental Ballistic Missile silos. With no air support and only thirty operators from three teams, they had to breach the base quickly and escape before its forces could surround them.

• Ma Qiang warned that the mission was extremely dangerous and said three special operations teams would take part: Mipu Republic's Special Forces, Sulan's Special Air Service, and Sharp Blade Team.
• After Ma Qiang left, Jiang Yan Hai studied the base intelligence and explained that terrorists had seized a missile-capable military base staffed by professional soldiers.
• Jiang Yan Hai said Sand Bear could provide intelligence but not acknowledge or support the operation because its unstable political factions might escalate the crisis into nuclear conflict.
• Jiang Yan Hai ordered the team to leave sniper rifles behind and move quickly, using smoke to avoid the base's armed personnel and armored vehicles before escaping the base.

Jiang Yan Hai’s team reached the military base and coordinated with Su Lan’s, Mipu’s, and Price’s teams to begin their assault. Just as the power went out, Er Dan revealed that the enemy was preparing to launch three Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, forcing Jiang Yan Hai to rethink the operation.

• Jiang Yan Hai led the team through the night to the target location, where they rested briefly before moving toward the military base.
• Jiang Yan Hai’s team, Mipu’s people, and Price’s team approached the base from different directions while Er Dan infiltrated its information systems.
• Jiang Yan Hai waited for the other teams to join the comms channel and asked Price when he could cut the base’s power.
• Price cut the power, and Jiang Yan Hai’s team received twenty seconds to act before the backup generators came on.
• Er Dan warned Jiang Yan Hai that the enemy was preparing to launch three Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles within twenty minutes, and Jiang Yan Hai realized they could not breach the base in time.

Jiang Yan Hai joined the ground crew to arm a fighter jet while Price and the other teams assaulted the missile base. After two Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles launched, Jiang Yan Hai intercepted the first in the fighter, and its explosion sent fragments crashing into the second.

• Jiang Yan Hai helped the Russian ground crew load additional missiles onto a fighter jet as the assault teams entered the base.
• Price and the Sharp Blade Team advanced toward the underground base and discovered that the missile silos were open and several Armored Vehicles blocked their route.
• The first two Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles launched, and Price's team received orders to enter the base and stop them.
• Jiang Yan Hai told the teams to withdraw and revealed that he was flying a fighter jet to handle the missiles.
• Jiang Yan Hai destroyed the first missile with the aircraft cannon, and the resulting debris struck the second missile.

Jiang Yan Hai destroyed the enemy fighter jets and helped Price and his team escape. Price asked Bayonet what Haidongqing did, but Bayonet and the others did not know.

• Price and his team took cover from the falling missile debris, then hijacked two trucks and fled toward the outskirts.
• Three enemy fighter jets took off as Jiang Yan Hai prepared to intercept them.
• Jiang Yan Hai launched three missiles, which tracked and destroyed all three fighters.
• Price asked Bayonet what Haidongqing did, and Bayonet and the others admitted they did not know.

Jiang Yan Hai destroyed the missile base, protected Price and his team from pursuing forces, and shot down Zakayev’s helicopters. He flew into Red Star airspace and identified himself to two Red Star pilots as a Special Forces operative on a secret mission.

• Jiang Yan Hai fired a missile into an open silo, triggering explosions that crippled the missile launch base.
• Jiang Yan Hai used the fighter’s cannon to destroy the vehicles pursuing Price and the others.
• Jiang Yan Hai launched missiles at the five helicopters approaching from the airfield and blew them up.
• Kamalov’s forces seized the nearby Air Force Base, allowing Price and the others to retreat safely.
• Jiang Yan Hai flew toward the Red Star Nation, entered its airspace, and gave the approaching pilots his identity and mission details.

Jiang Yan Hai was escorted back to a Red Star Air Force Base after an aerial battle, where he casually revealed that he had shot down three fighter jets and five helicopters. He landed at the base after joking with the pilots about why he preferred ground combat to flying.

• Big Bird and Magpie escorted Jiang Yan Hai toward the Air Force Base after confirming his identity and noticing the missile mounted beneath one wing.
• Jiang Yan Hai told Big Bird that he had commandeered a fighter to stop two missiles that might have triggered a war, and the Control Tower ordered the pilots not to discuss the matter outside.
• Jiang Yan Hai revealed that he had shot down three fighter jets and five helicopters, astonishing Big Bird, Magpie, and the Air Force personnel listening in.
• Big Bird invited Jiang Yan Hai to join the Air Force, but Jiang Yan Hai joked that fighter combat was less thrilling than fighting on the ground.
• Jiang Yan Hai spotted the Air Force Base near the border, maneuvered toward the runway, and landed.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to the airbase and learned that the Sharp Blade Team was out of danger, while Zakayev’s base had been destroyed. As the team departed with the respect and gratitude of their allies, its members reflected on their losses and the limits of whom they could save.

• Jiang Yan Hai landed at the base, where Li Ping and Bai Yang thanked him and told him the Sharp Blade Team would be picked up near the border.
• Jiang Yan Hai said he had acted to protect his people and asked for a place to rest until the others returned.
• Price and the assembled soldiers saluted the seven Sharp Blade Team members, and the Mipu United States Marine Corps officer asked Bayonet to thank Haidongqing for saving his family and country.
• Bayonet and the team boarded a helicopter while the soldiers continued saluting them.
• Bayonet checked on Little Fish, Sparrow, and Big Saber, who had been the most seriously wounded.
• Bandage said he wanted to apologize to the captain, realizing that the team could not save everyone and needed to focus on its true mission.

After Jiang Yan Hai’s fighter-jet intervention saved Sharp Blade, the team discussed his extraordinary abilities and wondered about his past. In negotiations with Red Star, Director Liu revealed that Jiang Yan Hai was Phantom’s chief designer and had already arrived in the country.

• Little Fish, Qin Bai, urged Sharp Blade to focus on future battles, and the team praised Jiang Yan Hai’s flying, combat, and physical abilities.
• Bayonet, Hu Tian, suggested asking for Sea Eagle to remain their captain, while Tablet speculated about Jiang Yan Hai’s former teammates and the group agreed not to pry.
• Director Liu’s team and Red Star’s representatives discussed exchanges involving Phantom, advanced technology, and military designs.
• Mr. Bai asked for help from Phantom’s chief designer, and Director Liu revealed that Jiang Yan Hai had already arrived in Red Star.
• Mr. Bai and the others were stunned that Phantom’s chief designer had become a Special Forces soldier.

Mr. Liu explained to Mr. Bai and the Red Star Republic’s experts how Mr. Jiang, a special forces soldier, had designed the Phantom Fighter Jet out of personal interest. After Haidongqing’s successful mission confirmed his abilities, Mr. Bai finalized the negotiations and agreed to proceed with the technology exchange.

• Mr. Liu told Mr. Bai that Mr. Jiang had developed the Phantom after teaching himself to improve sniper rifles and fly helicopters and fighter jets.
• The Red Star Republic’s experts questioned Mr. Liu’s account, but he insisted that Mr. Jiang’s unusual story was true.
• Mr. Bai agreed that Mr. Jiang would help establish production lines because he knew the Phantom’s design and performance in detail.
• An aide informed Mr. Bai that Haidongqing had shot down three fighter jets and several helicopters, making him an Ace Pilot.
• Mr. Bai and Mr. Liu settled the negotiations, planned to sign a contract that afternoon, and agreed to exchange technology.

Jiang Yan Hai learned that Red Star and the country had reached a major trade agreement, then was sent home for a vacation after completing his mission. His identity as Han Xiao remained difficult to resolve, since faking the death of someone so formidable would not be credible.

• Sand Bear agreed to lease the Caucasus Mountains temporarily to the Red Star Republic, while Red Star and the country reached a trade agreement that included nanobiochemical suit materials and aircraft carrier blueprints.
• Mr. Liu told Jiang Yan Hai that Dark Blade had shifted its focus to the Republic of Goa and that the Great Qin world was developing rapidly, though social changes there would take decades.
• Mr. Liu told Jiang Yan Hai to go home and rest before returning with the Phantom Fighter Jet for a longer stay.
• Jiang Yan Hai chose to go home rather than meet the Sharp Blade Team, and he learned that Blood Wolf's safety abroad would be guaranteed if its members followed the law and kept secrets.
• Jiang Yan Hai's identity as Han Xiao remained classified, and arranging Han Xiao's death on the battlefield seemed difficult because he had been portrayed as exceptionally powerful.

Jiang Yan Hai returned from the Star Gate to find the Republic of Goa transformed by American and local efforts to clear the rebels and stabilize the region. The Star Gate site had become a vast military complex, where precise scans were used to detect anything arriving from the other world.

• Jiang Yan Hai concealed his identity after returning from the Star Gate while the Republic of Goa and American forces continued clearing the region of rebels and gangs.
• The American military handed the former rebel-controlled territory to the Republic of Goa government, which mobilized its troops to maintain public order.
• The Republic of Goa became far safer as its military base, airport, and the area around the village rapidly expanded.
• Jiang Yan Hai emerged from the Star Gate into a huge steel-framed facility equipped with scanning equipment.
• Jiang Yan Hai had Er Dan install subprograms in the scanners to improve detection and analysis, including constant monitoring of the Star Gate's dimensions for signs of microscopic robots.
• The American side was also informed about using Star Gate measurements to detect arrivals from other worlds.

Jiang Yan Hai traveled from the Republic of Goa back to his home country, observing the rapid development of the base and the unusual cooperation between countries at the airport. He arrived at Base No. 9 and took off in Phantom, eager to go home.

• Jiang Yan Hai saw that farmland outside the base had been transformed into factory construction sites and military development zones.
• Jiang Yan Hai boarded a military transport plane and noticed C17s from next door operating alongside aircraft from home, including J10s escorting a C17.
• Jiang Yan Hai flew through friendly Mabu Country and entered home territory under escort from fighter jets bearing the August 1 insignia.
• Jiang Yan Hai landed at Base No. 9, where Phantom was waiting for him.
• Jiang Yan Hai climbed into Phantom and took off at supersonic speed toward home.

Jiang Yan Hai returned to Jinling after a dangerous mission and went to find the woman he had left behind, easing back into ordinary life as he approached her. He left the chapter smiling at a couple’s argument, saying it proved he was still alive.

• Jiang Yan Hai landed at Jinling Military Airport, changed into civilian clothes, and asked Hound to take him to the woman he had come back to see.
• Hound told Jiang Yan Hai that she was shopping with An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan, while Sparrow followed them.
• Jiang Yan Hai got out at the shopping center and felt his tension ease amid the peaceful crowds.
• A young man confronted Jiang Yan Hai for smiling at his argument with his girlfriend, and Jiang Yan Hai replied that seeing them argue proved he was still alive.
• The young man and young woman froze at Jiang Yan Hai’s words.

Jiang Yan Hai reflected on his separation from ordinary life as he wandered through a shopping center after helping a young couple make peace. He headed to the third floor to find Li Ruo Bai, who was shopping with her two best friends.

• Jiang Yan Hai urged a young couple to cherish their time together, and his words helped them put aside their argument and reconcile.
• The couple wondered about Jiang Yan Hai's unusual presence before leaving hand in hand to get a meal.
• Jiang Yan Hai surveyed the mall and reflected that ordinary people's peaceful lives felt distant from his own, though he found satisfaction in knowing his actions had helped protect them.
• Jiang Yan Hai imagined eventually leaving military life for an ordinary future with Li Ruo Bai and their children and grandchildren.
• Jiang Yan Hai went up to the third floor, where Li Ruo Bai was browsing a store with her two best friends.

Jiang Yan Hai surprised Li Ruo Bai at a shop, where she eagerly kissed him after his return. She joined him and her friends for a meal, while An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan teased her as they headed out together.

• Jiang Yan Hai entered the shop and disguised his voice to offer Li Ruo Bai a hat.
• Li Ruo Bai recognized Jiang Yan Hai, rushed to him, and kissed him in front of An Mei Xin, Li Yu Xuan, and the sales clerk.
• Li Ruo Bai asked when Jiang Yan Hai had returned, and he said he had arrived two hours and forty-two minutes earlier.
• Jiang Yan Hai suggested treating An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan to a meal, and the group agreed to go for teppanyaki.
• An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan linked arms with Li Ruo Bai and teased her as they walked out, while Jiang Yan Hai followed behind them.

Jiang Yan Hai shared a teppanyaki meal with Li Ruo Bai, An Mei Xin, and Li Yu Xuan, who talked about the hardships of military wives. After An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan left the couple to themselves, Jiang Yan Hai learned that an unidentified gentleman had paid for their meal, though the restaurant manager said he had treated them because they were worth it.

• Jiang Yan Hai joined Li Ruo Bai, An Mei Xin, and Li Yu Xuan for teppanyaki and said he had returned after completing a mission.
• An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan discussed the sacrifices military wives made while their husbands were away, and Li Ruo Bai said her friends helped keep her company.
• An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan left for the spa, while Jiang Yan Hai discovered that someone had already paid their bill.
• The restaurant manager told the cashier that he had treated Jiang Yan Hai and the others because they were worth it.
• An Mei Xin and Li Yu Xuan said goodbye, leaving Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai alone together.

Jiang Yan Hai returned home with Li Ruo Bai, and the two shared a quiet reunion at her house. Li Ruo Bai prepared a bath and washed his hair as he rested in the warmth of home.

• Li Ruo Bai and Jiang Yan Hai left the mall together and rode with Sparrow to Li Ruo Bai's home.
• Li Ruo Bai embraced Jiang Yan Hai at home, cried against him, and told him how much she had missed him.
• Li Ruo Bai prepared a bath while Jiang Yan Hai noticed the books, computers, and aircraft blueprints she had been studying.
• Li Ruo Bai helped Jiang Yan Hai undress and settle into the bathtub, then washed his hair while he rested.

Jiang Yan Hai returned home exhausted and fell asleep beside Li Ruo Bai, sleeping for a day and a half. After waking refreshed, he ate the homemade noodles she had prepared for him.

• Li Ruo Bai helped Jiang Yan Hai bathe, then comforted him as he admitted he was tired and quickly fell asleep beside her.
• Li Ruo Bai watched over Jiang Yan Hai as he slept, then lay down beside him and fell asleep too.
• Jiang Yan Hai woke feeling fully rested and learned from Li Ruo Bai that he had slept for a day and a half.
• Li Ruo Bai offered to cook, and Jiang Yan Hai hugged and kissed her as she prepared northern-style noodle soup.
• Jiang Yan Hai ate two large bowls of Li Ruo Bai's noodles and praised the meal.

Jiang Yan Hai returned home and reassured Li Ruo Bai that he might have time off while intelligence agencies closed in on Sandstorm. Their visit to Li Ruo Bai’s family was interrupted by Old Liu asking her to come to Rongcheng for new Phantom Engine and chip research results, and he also wanted to question Jiang Yan Hai.

• Jiang Yan Hai explained that Sandstorm’s secret ports had been located and that the intelligence agencies were waiting to eliminate the organization in one strike.
• Jiang Yan Hai considered bringing Li Ruo Bai with him on a future Phantom Engine production-line assignment, since she had helped design the engine.
• Jiang Yan Hai and Li Ruo Bai visited her family, where her mother reminded Jiang Yan Hai to stay safe for the people waiting at home.
• Old Liu called Li Ruo Bai and asked her to come to Rongcheng because the Phantom Engine project and new-chip research had made progress.
• Li Ruo Bai asked to delay the trip because Jiang Yan Hai had just returned, but Old Liu said he had questions waiting for him.

Jiang Yan Hai learned that Li Ruo Bai and her team had made rapid progress in materials science, including a new chip architecture and a promising new material. He was pleased by their advances, and Li Ruo Bai was about to explain what the new material was.

• Jiang Yan Hai spoke with Old Liu, who told him there was research work waiting and asked Li Ruo Bai to explain what she had been doing.
• Li Ruo Bai told Jiang Yan Hai that China’s lithography research had advanced, while its team pursued a different chip architecture because progress toward smaller manufacturing nodes was limited.
• Li Ruo Bai said the team had developed a chip using 12-nanometer manufacturing technology whose performance was roughly twice that of Intel’s Xeon E7 processors with the same number of transistors.
• Li Ruo Bai revealed that the team was also researching quantum computers and Graphene chips and had developed another new material.