With the sun high in the sky, Hanxing climbed out of bed, his aching back and waist a reminder of last night's "war." He shook his head helplessly. Firefly had long been waiting by the window for him to wake up. She smoothed her hair and pulled him to his feet.
"Yesterday... it couldn't have been...?" Firefly asked tentatively. "Mm... it was probably just what you're thinking." Hanxing smiled. "Come to think of it, why are you up so early?"
Firefly shook her head. "Glamoth's genetic modifications mean the Iron Cavalry hardly need any rest." Then she changed the subject. "After doing something like that, you have to take responsibility!" "Of course." Hanxing looked at Firefly helplessly.
Knock, knock, knock. A series of knocks sounded, and Hanxing opened the door to find Han Chuan standing there. When the door opened, Han Chuan gave a crisp military salute. "Mr. Hanxing, Miss Firefly, Political Commissar Yan has important matters to discuss and invites you to the command post to talk in detail."
"Then let's go. Please lead the way." Hanxing gestured for him to go ahead and asked Firefly to make sure the door was shut. Together, they left the inn.
"Our two friends are here? Quick, have a seat!" Yan Bai spoke first, pulling over two chairs and setting them beside the command table. A dignified man stood at its center. "Yan Bai, what's the story with them?"
"Them? They're two 'visitors from beyond the stars,'" Yan Bai said, then turned to Hanxing. "This is Lie Feng, our regimental commander." But Commander Lie Feng's expression did not soften in the slightest. "You believe a trick like that? What if they're Shuofeng spies?" He walked over to Hanxing, his words no less sharp as he looked down at him. "Young man, confess and you'll be treated leniently. Resist and you'll be dealt with harshly. Speak. Who sent you?"
"We don't intend to start a conflict, but we really are 'visitors from beyond the stars'!" Hanxing argued, his eyes turning blue so he could incapacitate the commander at the first opportunity. "Oh? Then prove it." Lie Feng remained just as cold, staring fixedly at Hanxing.
"First," Hanxing said, having already thought of two reasons, "you can tell at a glance that our clothes aren't local, don't you think?" Lie Feng nodded. "They are indeed unlike any style on Fansha Star. Go on." "Second, the girl beside me is Firefly. She belongs to a Path that only came into being after the curse descended-'Destruction.'"
"If what you say is true, and she belongs to the Path of 'Destruction' that came after the curse descended-" Lie Feng's face gradually relaxed. "Congratulations. You passed my test."
In fact, Yan Bai's trust was a major factor in his favor, which was why he could believe the two of them so readily. Of course, even if he had not believed them, Hanxing had a way to render him unable to resist.
Lie Feng returned to the large map. "Our next objective is to attack Night Return Port! Our superiors have ordered us to cooperate with the 135th Regiment and seize the government that very night! All operations will proceed according to the existing plan!" "Yes, sir!" The unified response rang through the command post.
"Hanxing!" Yan Bai called out to Hanxing as he was about to leave. "Are you... planning to join the battle? As long as you can handle staying up all night..." Hanxing merely smiled. "In a regimental-level attack, what difference does one more or one fewer person make?"
"I hope you can join us!" Yan Bai revealed his true purpose. "I hope that starting tomorrow morning, I can call you 'comrade'!"
"Sure!" Hanxing smiled. "I'd be glad to do my part." He then looked at Firefly. "What about you?" Firefly did not hesitate. "Wherever you go, of course I'll follow!"
"Right turn! Double time, march!" The commands from the various units rang through the command post, and many units had already set out, some on foot and others in vehicles. Hanxing turned to look at Firefly. "How about we do it like last time?" "I think you're getting addicted to taking advantage of me, aren't you?" Firefly said helplessly. Then heat surged, and the mecha appeared. "Hold on tight!" A serious male voice rang out, and the two of them rose into the air and flew toward the assembly point.
About a kilometer from the assembly point, the mecha stopped operating. To avoid exposing their movements, the two decided to continue on foot.
"Comrades, conceal yourselves by squad according to plan. Launch the attack at twelve sharp. Until then, rest as you see fit without exposing yourselves!" Lie Feng's speech was stirring, but unfortunately, Hanxing and Firefly had arrived late, and it ended just as they got there.
"You two, over here!" Yan Bai's voice came from afar. "This is the makeshift frontline command post. You two can rest here for now."
"The attack is at twelve, and we're assembling this early. Won't an operation like this be too conspicuous?" Hanxing voiced his concern. "It's all right. We're still dozens of kilometers from the positions at Night Return Port, and the port is surrounded by mountains. The enemy won't discover our movements anytime soon."
"When the attack begins, follow Han Chuan and his men. They're my personal guard squad. I'll personally lead another unit in the attack on the front line." Yan Bai changed the subject and spoke to Hanxing about the pre-battle arrangements.
"We have no objections. We'll wait for the attack to begin," Hanxing said. He and Firefly exchanged a glance and nodded.
"Then let's wait for the general offensive to begin!" Yan Bai looked up at the sky. "May our flesh and blood bring a crimson dawn to Fansha Star!"