Yu Jie said, "Third Sister told me that the boy previously attended Yangzhi Wuyi and became a fighter, and later passed the exam to enter Center City Wuyi Academy. Now they say he holds a post in some defense department or other. Quite promising either way."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Han Kuang was somewhat surprised. "Then it really hasn't been easy for the kid."
Testing into Center City Wuyi Academy was no simple feat. As for the boy's exact position, he didn't give it much thought. Judging by his age, he probably hadn't even graduated yet; most likely, he was receiving sponsorship from the local Center City Defense Department. That was a common arrangement, but it meant a bright future lay ahead.
He thought for a moment and added, "I recall your Second Sister was a fighter too, wasn't she? Maybe her son takes after her in this line of work."
Yet no sooner had the words left his mouth than he regretted saying them.
Sure enough, Yu Jie's voice immediately rose in response.
"What's so great about being a fighter? Yu Zhen was just a young girl, practicing that stuff day in and day out—do you have any idea how much she suffered back then? Never mind Mom and Dad, even I ached just watching her! Ah, if Yu Zhen had only listened to my arrangements back then instead of running off with that petty researcher, she wouldn't have vanished into thin air later on!"
Han Kuang kept his mouth shut. He had heard Yu Jie harp on this subject countless times; once she started, there was no end to it. He broke in, "I'm hungry. Going to grab a bite to eat first."
Yu Jie said, "Old Han, I simmered some pumpkin and millet porridge for you. I'll have Mother Ling bring it over. Your stomach isn't well, and you stayed up late again last night, so you have to look after yourself. Don't eat anything greasy first thing in the morning. And another thing—no smoking, either!"
Han Kuang grunted an acknowledgment, threw on his clothes, and went out to rinse his mouth and wash his face. Then he sat down in the small dining room next to the bedroom. Mother Ling brought out a bowl filled to the brim with pumpkin porridge. He scooped up a spoonful, took a sip, and nodded to himself. After all these years, the porridge Yu Jie made was still his favorite.
Once he finished the bowl, a warm, soothing comfort spread through his stomach. After rinsing his mouth and wiping his face, he returned to the study. He first took the unapproved documents that had arrived the day before and reviewed them, then picked up the internal military newspaper delivered that morning.
His army unit was garrisoned right on the outskirts of Center City. If the forces at the Confluence failed in their defense or if any unforeseen emergency arose, the garrison could march into Center City at a moment's notice to assist in defense or launch a counterattack. Because of that, they had to stay constantly abreast of all intelligence regarding Center City.
After reading for a while, he heard laughter and chatter drift up from the courtyard below. Han Kuang immediately recognized the voices of his two daughters. Neither took after him in the slightest; instead, they were the spitting image of Yu Jie, possessed of extroverted temperaments that turned extraordinarily lively the moment guests arrived in the house.
He also heard the voice of another young man. Its slightly hoarse tone clearly belonged to someone with a military background—undoubtedly Yu Jie's Third Sister's son.
He recalled when his brother-in-law had come to him looking for a path forward for the boy. At the time, Han Kuang happened to hold a military recommendation slot. Nian Qian had performed exceptionally well across all his physical evaluations, so Han Kuang had sent him to take the military academy entrance exams. Who would have thought the young man would actually make something of himself? By contrast, his own eldest son had adamantly refused to enter the military, insisting instead on starting some commission agency. Han Kuang couldn't help shaking his head at the thought.
Glancing at the newspaper a little longer and seeing no major developments of note today, he folded it away, changed into fresh clothes, and walked downstairs.
Nian Qian was currently chatting with his two younger cousins beneath the courtyard corridor. Both sisters were sharp and vivacious. The last time he had seen them was five years ago; in the blink of an eye, they had grown into young women with fully developed features. The elder, Han Xiaohuan, was sixteen and took somewhat after Han Kuang, with a high nasal bridge and firmer facial contours that lent her a spirited, heroic look. The younger, Han Xiaojing, was fourteen and took more after the Yu family sisters, having softer features and exceptionally pretty eyes and brows.
Seeing Han Kuang emerge from the house, Nian Qian immediately snapped to his feet with a crisp salute. "Greetings, sir!"
Han Kuang returned the salute, thoroughly pleased by the young man's formality. He smiled and said, "We're all family here. No need to be so stiff at home. Just call me Uncle."
"Yes, sir!"
"Come on, sit, sit." Han Kuang took a seat, and once his daughters and Nian Qian had sat down as well, he asked, "Where are your parents?"
"Eldest Aunt just took them into the city to go shopping. My younger brother and sister went along too."
"Mm, that's fine. It's rare for you to visit, and your uncle has time today, so let's have a good chat..."
Noticing his two daughters leaning against each other on the corridor bench, Han Kuang's brow furrowed, and he snapped, "Slouching all over the place—what kind of posture is that? Sit up straight!"
Han Xiaohuan and Han Xiaojing immediately straightened their backs, sitting prim and proper.
Only then did Han Kuang turn back to Nian Qian. "I see you're already a major. At your age, that's no small feat."
Nian Qian said, "Uncle, I walk on eggshells every day, terrified of putting a foot wrong."
"Walking on eggshells is the right attitude, but don't bother playing humble in front of your uncle. I can tell you've got guts."
Han Kuang pointed at him with a smile. "The moment I laid eyes on you back then, I knew you were cut out for the army. Turns out your uncle's eye didn't fail him after all."
Han Xiaohuan chimed in from the side, "I heard that Cousin led a special reconnaissance company on an island mission just a while ago!"
Han Kuang frowned slightly.
Nian Qian quickly said, "It wasn't classified. Our unit was primarily cooperating on a mission to gather technical data and test performance results. The outcome was very successful, and it might be rolled out to other forces before long."
Hearing that, Han Kuang's interest was piqued. "Care to give me some details?"
Nian Qian shared what he was permitted to disclose. Naturally, he withheld specific data without authorization from his superiors, even though Han Kuang was an officer himself.
As a staff officer, Han Kuang gleaned a great deal merely from the fragments Nian Qian disclosed. He couldn't help sighing in admiration. "Your unit really is ahead of the curve. Then again, your station borders the sea. Facing forces out on the Outer Ocean while confronting direct pressure from the Linakes Federation, it's only natural that advanced technology is prioritized there. Let's leave it at that, though—no need to speak further on it. Nian Qian, tell me about what you've been up to since you joined the ranks."
"Understood!"
The two chatted on, their conversation never straying far from military matters—cutting-edge warfare innovations, new technologies, and discussions regarding the military capabilities of various nations.
The elder daughter, Han Xiaohuan, was fascinated by such topics and listened with rapt attention, while the younger, Han Xiaojing, merely listened for the spectacle. Seeing their teacups run low, she stepped up to refill them.
After talking for a good while, Han Kuang felt thoroughly invigorated. Taking advantage of a sip of tea, he asked casually, "How did your family travel here this time?"
Nian Qian replied, "My cousin arranged an airship for us. We flew to Gu County first, then switched to a motor vehicle from there. The journey was quite smooth."
"An airship?"
Han Kuang was mildly surprised. Being able to requisition an airship was no ordinary privilege; it seemed he had underestimated this nephew of his. He said, "I heard your eldest aunt mention that your cousin is in the Center City Defense Department." Bringing his cup to his lips, he asked, "What post does he hold now?"
"He serves as the Chief of the Center City Security Defense Department."
"Oh, the chief..." Han Kuang was in the middle of a swallow when he suddenly choked, spitting out a mouthful of tea. Han Xiaohuan cried in alarm, "Dad, are you all right?"
The younger daughter, Han Xiaojing, hurriedly patted his back and dabbed at his clothes with a handkerchief.
Han Kuang paid no attention to the tea splattered across his tunic. Staring at Nian Qian in sheer disbelief, he wondered if his ears were playing tricks on him. "Nian Qian, what did you just say? Your cousin... the chief? Of the Security Defense Department?"
Nian Qian nodded. "Yes. Chief of the Center City Security Defense Department."
Han Kuang froze, stunned to his core. As an army staff officer, how could he fail to understand what the Center City Security Defense Department was? Its chief sat at the pinnacle of Center City's hierarchy, equal in rank to the Chief Executive and answering directly to the Capital! Transposed into military terms, that position would be held by at least a general!
He gazed at Nian Qian in disbelief. Only after a long pause did he manage to ask, "Your cousin... how did he ever land that seat?"
Nian Qian cleared his throat and spoke slowly. "Because... my cousin is a martial artist."
Han Kuang's eyes flew wide. This revelation struck him with an impact far exceeding the previous one, and for a moment he simply could not process it. He remained dazed for quite a while until his daughters' murmurs snapped him back to reality. Hurriedly steadying the teacup that had nearly overturned, he took several gulps to mask his composure's collapse.
After another moment, the turmoil in his mind began to settle. He murmured under his breath, "A martial artist..." Unbeknownst to himself, an involuntary tremor laced his voice.
As a staff officer, he was privy to far more classified knowledge than ordinary people, and he understood all too well what a martial artist represented. He drew a deep breath and asked, "How long ago was this?"
Nian Qian thought for a moment. "Only a few months ago, I believe."
Han Kuang nodded slowly. Matters concerning martial artists were generally kept under wraps and never publicized with fanfare. Furthermore, intelligence was not shared freely between different center cities, so it was completely normal for Shannan Dao to be in the dark. Still...
He looked up toward the sky. The glaring sunlight outside seemed faintly surreal.
After a beat, he couldn't help asking again, "Is your cousin even twenty years old yet?"
"Come the New Year, he'll be exactly twenty."
"A twenty-year-old martial artist..."
Han Kuang could not suppress his awe. What sort of breathtaking talent and genius did that take?
There were martial artists in the military as well, but he had never laid eyes on one. They were stationed on the front lines of the Confluence and rarely showed themselves; even when they traveled, they flew back and forth via airships. Yet he had read the classified dossiers detailing the sheer combat power martial artists commanded. He could already foresee that this cousin of Nian Qian was destined to become a towering figure among the ruling elite of Great Shun.
The realization drew another deep breath from his chest.
A thought struck him, and he ventured to ask, "Did your cousin say he was coming this time?"
Nian Qian nodded. "He intended to come, but some sudden official business came up that he had to deal with first."
Han Kuang nodded repeatedly. He could understand that completely—being both a department chief and a martial artist, how could the young man not have a mountain of affairs demanding his attention?
As they were speaking, a telephone rang urgently from inside the house. A moment later, Mother Ling came hurrying out. "Sir, a superior from your department is on the line! It seems there's an urgent matter!"
Chapter 859