Military Emergency Summons, the Army's Secret?

After Fang Yi and Wang Liang met up.

There was none of the awkwardness of not having seen each other for three years.

They had been childhood friends who grew up together.

One tight hug was all it took for them to immediately recapture the feeling of those days.

"What are you staring at me for?" Fang Yi curled his lip.

"I just feel like you've changed a lot."

Wang Liang's eyes were sharp. Perhaps military training had made his gaze resemble that of a wolf, leaving Fang Yi speechless.

"It's been three years. Of course people change. You've changed a lot too."

Wang Liang was burly and imposing even without showing anger. His entire body exuded the resolute air forged by military life, making Fang Yi sigh at how true that saying was: regret joining the army for three years, regret not joining for a lifetime.

The two looked at each other, then finally smiled.

"Where to?"

"The old place."

"Come on, I'll drive."

"Damn, you bought a car?" Fang Yi cursed in half-joking surprise before getting into Wang Liang's car. It was a modest car worth a little over a hundred thousand, highly cost-effective, with a tough exterior and spacious interior—perfect for Wang Liang.

The two of them went to the fried skewer shop they had often eaten at as children.

They filled the entire table with food.

"My treat." Wang Liang patted his chest, looking exactly like the straightforward, good-natured boy he had been as a child. Fang Yi could not help but feel sentimental. They had both grown up now. Those fried skewers they had loved as kids, filthy as they were, tasted bland in his mouth now. Only the spicy seasonings that assaulted his taste buds gave him a bit more energy.

Yet both of them ate a great deal.

From time to time, they reminisced about amusing things from the past, then laughed together.

"These past three years... I've felt a lot. Life in the army... sigh."

They clinked glasses, and Fang Yi did not let Wang Liang continue.

Wang Liang knew that life in the army was destined to be anything but peaceful, especially during this recent unusual period. Wang Liang looked much more mature now, but men were always forced and pushed into maturity. He must have had it hard.

Fang Yi patted his shoulder and said, "You've made it through, haven't you? You've become a qualified rank-and-file soldier too."

"Fuck off."

"What about you?"

"I got into a vocational college."

"Oh."

The atmosphere immediately fell silent, growing somewhat awkward. Deep down, everyone seemed to believe that the future of vocational college students was destined to be bleak. But soon, Fang Yi suddenly sensed something off. Wang Liang's eyes had become blazing, and the intensity of his stare left Fang Yi somewhat at a loss.

"I'm going to tell you something next. You might think I'm joking or trying to comfort you, but you must take it to heart."

"In the near future—maybe in a few months, maybe in a year—the education and wealth we value so highly now will become worthless scraps of paper. Everything will be reshuffled."

Fang Yi's heart stirred.

Naturally, he already knew about this.

Still, hearing Wang Liang say it made him feel a little warmth in his heart. It was not strange for people in the military to know such information, but Wang Liang must have long been ordered to keep it confidential and not reveal even the slightest bit.

Yet Wang Liang had said it now.

He was clearly trying to subtly warn Fang Yi, letting him know in advance that Spirit Qi Recovery was coming.

After saying that.

Wang Liang solemnly reminded Fang Yi not to reveal anything they had discussed today.

Fang Yi nodded heavily.

They exchanged a glance, their unspoken understanding saying everything.

Ding, ding, ding!

Just then, a bell that seemed to have traveled through the years suddenly rang out, jolting them both awake.

"School's out."

This place was right outside Fourth High School. That string of melodious, crisp bells seemed to awaken memories seeped into their blood, giving them goosebumps.

Watching the students stream out one after another.

The two smiled at each other, greatly enjoying the relaxed, lively atmosphere.

What was the future?

The future was an unknown road. Everywhere they looked was shrouded in darkness, and they could only walk it one step at a time. This relaxed atmosphere, however, let them unwind.

"Were we this lively when we were kids?"

"Anyway, happiness was simple back then."

The two looked at the fried skewers in their hands and ate with even more relish.

Wang Liang had returned this time with a mission and had taken a short leave. After one meal, he had to rush back. Once they were full and satisfied, Wang Liang insisted on driving Fang Yi home, and Fang Yi did not refuse too much.

The car had barely driven out of the underground garage when a phone suddenly rang.

"Get to this location immediately. You have three minutes."

"Yes, sir."

Wang Liang's heart jolted.

The hot-tempered female voice on the other end was his superior.

Though his superior had a bad temper, she was a good person. Since she had agreed to let him take leave temporarily, she would not go back on her word. He had not expected something to happen at a time like this.

"Did something happen?"

"Yes."

The brief call diluted the joy of their reunion and reminiscing. The atmosphere inside the car instantly became oppressive.

The air of a soldier facing a grave enemy around Wang Liang made Fang Yi realize more deeply that he was no longer that inexperienced kid, but an iron-blooded soldier.

"Yi Zi, I'm in a hurry now. Once we get to where I'm carrying out my mission, you can leave on your own. Sorry, the mission's too urgent, there's no other way. If you see anything later, just pretend you didn't."

Wang Liang gave him a solemn warning.

He had considered dropping Fang Yi off by the roadside, but he had to arrive within three minutes and had no time. Perhaps he also harbored a selfish thought, wanting to use this "accident" to let Fang Yi see the "truth of the world" beyond his understanding.

The world Fang Yi thought he knew had long since been turned upside down.

"Mm."

Fang Yi nodded slightly and said nothing more.

The car sped down the road, leaving even the traffic lights far behind.

Judging by how skillfully Wang Liang ran red lights, he had probably received plenty of tickets before. But emergencies called for flexibility. What he had to deal with was a race against time; even being one second late could result in unbearable casualties.

Based on Wang Liang's reaction, Fang Yi already had a rough guess about that call.

What Old Wang is going to deal with is probably related to the Great World Change.

The military clearly knows about Spirit Qi Recovery. Something happened along the way, so they would definitely send people to handle it in secret. But the Great World Change involves too many things—like that Vine roaming everywhere, and the two disgusting anomalies I dealt with before... all of them need to be handled.

Since those anomalies were all dealt with by the Spirit Qi Cultivation Association, then... what is the military in charge of now?