Xiang Qian is Being Targeted?

The Spear Bureau director's office was located in an unassuming building, far from the bustling center of Hu City. Looking out from the office window, one could only vaguely discern the outlines of the city's iconic "Three Highs" skyscrapers.

The office was dimly lit, and a wide-screen LCD monitor on the wall was playing an interrogation recording. The subject of the interrogation was someone familiar to the few viewers in front of the screen: Temugin.

In the footage, Temugin lay slumped on a hospital bed, his chest, abdomen, and legs wrapped in bandages and splints. Despite his condition, he was highly agitated, his face twisted into a grimace as he ranted at the interrogator off-camera.

"Our warriors are endless, our conviction is unshakable. We represent the will of the gods; we are the justice of this world. Our cause will surely succeed..."

"Though you are powerful, every day, every second, you are sliding into the abyss of failure, while we are marching toward success..."

"You may have captured me, but you will never find my father. He will bring you eternal fear; he will grant you absolute defeat..."

Saber, who had been recovered alongside Xiang Tian, let out an impatient hiss. "This guy's brain is beyond saving."

"Keep watching!" came a cold, stern voice from behind the desk.

In the subsequent footage, Temugin suddenly mentioned Xiang Qian's name, causing Xiang Tian and the others to perk up.

"I know that man. He wants to destroy me, but he cannot. I know him—he is Xiang Qian. Your news is filled with his name every day, calling him a genius."

"What a pity. My reaction was a bit slow; I never expected a technological genius to appear on the battlefield. Had I known, I should have detonated the rings the moment we met and dragged your genius to hell with me..."

"He is dead, and you will surely feel the pain of it..."

"Go back and tell Xiang Qian: he has stripped me of my honor as a warrior, and he has stolen my future. But he will soon know what it feels like to have something he cherishes taken away..."

In the video, after finishing this declaration, Temugin suddenly fell into a long silence.

The footage ended, and the lights came on. Only a few viewers were present before the screen, including Xiang Tian, Saber, Vector, and other members of the Special Task Force who had participated in capturing Temugin. They stared at the darkened screen, lost in thought as they recalled Temugin's final declaration.

Behind the desk, a middle-aged man rested his elbows on the surface, his clasped hands obscuring half his face as he silently watched his subordinates scattered before him.

Zheng Xian, the current director of the Spear Bureau, was in his early fifties. He was of medium build with a long, thin face, narrow eyes, and a slightly pointed chin—possessing the typical facial features of someone from Northeast Asia.

He looked younger than his actual age. His hair was short and neatly combed, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, giving the impression of a humble smile. Yet, upon closer inspection, one could see there was no real warmth in his expression.

"Our interrogators conducted an emergency questioning of Temugin. This was just sent back from Tajikistan," Zheng Xian said, explaining the source of the recording.

Such emergency interrogations were standard practice in the intelligence community. Intelligence was time-sensitive; once a key figure was captured, information had to be extracted immediately. If the process dragged on, the enemy would have time to sever ties with the captive, rendering the outdated intelligence worthless.

Xiang Tian was naturally the most concerned. "The Ten Rings have already set their sights on Xiang Qian. Is Temugin's word credible?"

Zheng Xian's voice was calm, with a metallic quality. "I sent my best interrogation experts. Their report states that Xiang Qian's initial torture and coercion of Temugin were highly professional, which laid a solid foundation for their subsequent psychological offensive."

At this, Zheng Xian glanced inadvertently at Saber. Saber rubbed his nose sheepishly and looked away.

"According to the interrogators' analysis, Temugin's words are seventy percent credible."

"But that doesn't make sense. Ever since Temugin was captured, our Special Task Force has been guarding him. He hasn't had the opportunity to send word outside. Even if the Ten Rings were planning retaliation against Xiang Qian, he couldn't have known so quickly," Xiang Tian said, puzzled. "Was he guessing? Or was it just a simple threat?"

"It is also possible this wasn't a reactive retaliation." Zheng Xian pushed a file on the desk toward Xiang Tian. "We received this information a week ago, before the joint counter-terrorism operation began."

Xiang Tian opened the file; the records inside were simple, consisting of only a few short paragraphs.

"The Ten Rings have signs of personnel movement in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria?" Xiang Tian was confused. "It looks like they are preparing for a major move, but what does that have to do with Xiang Qian?"

"The report submitted by the interrogators mentions that, based on Temugin's micro-expressions and shifts in tone, they judged his words were neither empty threats nor impulsive retaliation, but rather part of a purposeful, planned operation."

Zheng Xian pointed to the file in Xiang Tian's hand. "Combined with the intelligence received beforehand, the Ten Rings had already planned an attack involving Xiang Qian. As for Xiang Qian capturing Temugin, that was likely just a coincidence."

"Involving Xiang Qian, but not directly targeting him?" Xiang Tian suddenly realized Temugin's phrasing seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Zheng Xian was satisfied with Xiang Tian's reaction, a hint of a genuine smile appearing on his face. "Our intelligence analysis team reached the same conclusion. The Ten Rings likely aren't targeting Xiang Qian directly, but rather someone or something he cherishes—such as his family, friends, or a project he values."

When Zheng Xian mentioned "someone Xiang Qian cherishes," the eyes of those present focused on Xiang Tian.

"After Grandfather passed away, I am the only immediate family Xiang Qian has left." Knowing that Xiang Qian might not be the direct target, Xiang Tian calmed down. "However, while many know Xiang Qian has an older sister, very few know I am the Weather Witch."

Zheng Xian nodded, understanding Xiang Tian's point.

As a socialite, Xiang Qian's family background could not escape the scrutiny of those interested. Many in the outside world knew Xiang Qian had a sister who rarely appeared in public, and they knew her name was Xiang Tian, but very few knew her true identity.

In the public eye, Xiang Qian's sister was simply low-profile—a trait shared by many relatives of wealthy families who disliked being in the spotlight.

"Aside from the higher-ups, everyone who knows your true identity is within this bureau," Zheng Xian said, his expression stern. "I will arrange an internal investigation to ensure no leaks occurred. However, the possibility of you being the target is indeed very low."

"Could it be a woman Xiang Qian has had a romantic involvement with?" a middle-aged woman sitting by the desk, who had been almost invisible until now, suddenly spoke up.

She was plain-looking, the type who would disappear into a crowd. She was the deputy director in charge of intelligence analysis at the Spear Bureau—her name? Classified!

"That would be a long list," Xiang Tian said, glancing inadvertently at Vector, who was trying to act nonchalant beside her. "Even if we deployed all the field agents in the bureau, we probably couldn't protect them all."

Vector lowered her head, pouting in grievance; she knew the captain was calling her out again. But what bothered Vector even more was that Saber, quite unintentionally, twisted the knife in her heart.

"It can't be those women. Didn't Temugin say the target is something Xiang Qian cherishes?" Saber made no effort to hide his disdain for Xiang Qian. "As for those women, Xiang Qian might not even remember their names once he's out of bed."

Xiang Tian whipped her head around and shot Saber a death glare, her eyes conveying a clear message: "Only I am allowed to insult my brother!"

Saber shrank his neck back and fell silent.

"If the target isn't a person, then it must be an industry related to Xiang Qian," the female deputy director said.

Xiang Tian's mind immediately went to a major experiment led by Xiang Qian: "Project Kuafu?"

"Project Kuafu"—the "Practical Design Scheme for Controllable Thermonuclear Fusion" under the Five Elements Laboratory—was originally scheduled for its final public test in a month, an event that had garnered global attention.

Given the experiment's influence on the global clean energy sector, as well as the subsequent political and economic significance, it certainly fit the criteria for a target of the Ten Rings.

"Project Kuafu." Zheng Xian nodded. "It is indeed a possibility, but I am not particularly worried."

"Why?" Xiang Tian was greatly surprised.

"In fact, the final test for Project Kuafu was already a success at the beginning of the year," Zheng Xian said calmly. "The test a month from now is essentially nothing more than a public demonstration."

"By then, all the nations participating in the nuclear fusion project will send representatives, and the site will have the highest level of security measures. Given the Ten Rings' limited strength, they may not dare to show up."

"Besides Project Kuafu, what else could it be?" Xiang Tian's concern did not diminish. "Xiang Qian's main industries, whether it's the Five Elements Laboratory or the Wude Group, are focused domestically. The other minor assets aren't enough for Xiang Qian to cherish."

"Actually, our bureau has another project related to Xiang Qian." Zheng Xian's expression was now incredibly solemn. "What I am about to say involves the Spear Bureau, the Ministry of State Security, and Military Intelligence, all of whom share the responsibility of confidentiality. It is a project with the highest security clearance. From this moment on, Xiang Tian, your Special Task Force is to cancel all other missions and leave, and execute a new protection assignment."

Xiang Tian and the others wore grave expressions.

"You are to be responsible for protecting a top-secret project we are conducting jointly with the Five Elements Laboratory, ensuring its smooth implementation. The name of this project is—Project Houyi."

Just as Zheng Xian and the others were racking their brains trying to guess what exactly was the "person or thing that Xiang Qian cherishes," Xiang Qian, who had narrowly escaped death at Xiang Tian's hands, received a call from across the ocean.

"Hey, Tony. That satellite business last time was a huge help!"