Blood Queen

August 17th, Saturday.

Based on their bodies once again showing gradually obvious abnormal sensations, this time Jiang Yan and Jiang Yao learned their lesson and requested leave two days in advance to avoid causing discomfort to some of their male colleagues at the club.

Last night's heavy rainfall finally brought relief from the high temperatures that had persisted for over two months.

The old alley, usually full of charm, began flooding last night.

After breakfast, Jiang Yan took advantage of the rare cool outdoor weather to tend to the flowers, trees, and potted plants in the small courtyard that had been neglected for over a month. This elderly-like lifestyle made Jiang Yao secretly complain.

"Hey, sis! Look, it's Director Jiang, Grandma Jiang is on TV!"

Jiang Yao's delighted shout came from the living room inside. Jiang Yan quickly took off her dirt-covered gloves and hurried back to the living room.

On the TV screen, the white-haired elderly woman Jiang Chunhua was calmly interacting with the host in front of the camera, with occasional cuts to pixelated footage of some disabled abandoned infants.

"...For every parent forced to abandon a disabled infant, perhaps their pain and helplessness is something we cannot comprehend, but for Director Jiang, these children are all angels who have descended to earth. They are different, and they are equally treasures of this world.

"...Now, several little babies at W District Children's Welfare Institute urgently need surgery. We welcome people from all walks of life to extend your hands and offer your love. Below will be specific introductions to each baby's condition, along with dedicated donation accounts. Finally, let us once again wish these little babies health and happiness."

The beautiful female host on TV spoke her touching closing remarks. Then, the screen froze on several lines of information, lingering for nearly a full minute with beautiful music.

"Sis, if Grandma Jiang hadn't run out of options, she wouldn't have turned to the media for help. Last time she donated all our compensation money and didn't keep a penny for herself... How about tomorrow I ask Zhong Jing to transfer some money to Grandma Jiang too? I still have nearly 300,000 in my account!"

Jiang Yan quickly used her phone to photograph the TV screen, while Jiang Yao opened her mobile banking app, looking at the row of numbers with a pleased smile.

"No, we already transferred money a few days ago. I believe Shadow Arrow Force already knows about our relationship with Grandma Jiang. They probably determined that the last anonymous transfer was from us. We shouldn't cause trouble for the old lady anymore... Or, let's spread it out this time. You can transfer money separately to each of these children who need surgery."

After thinking it over, Jiang Yan decided to use a more dispersed approach to indirectly reduce Grandma Jiang's burden while avoiding leaving any traces that Shadow Arrow Force could catch.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, but tomorrow is C City's anime convention. Zhong Jing and I made plans to go together. I'll talk to him about the money transfer!"

Seeing that Jiang Yan supported her idea, Jiang Yao quickly pointed at her phone.

"Tomorrow is Sunday. Didn't we agree to volunteer at the welfare institute?"

Seeing Jiang Yao making excuses to go out and play again, Jiang Yan frowned slightly.

"Even if I go on Sunday, I won't see Grandma Jiang. And if I go normally, I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and give something away..." Jiang Yao lowered her head, her tone dropping. "I'm not like you, I can't always keep my composure... Anyway, knowing that she's in good health is enough..."

Xiao Yao was right, whether or not to volunteer shouldn't be forced. Besides safety, her life really shouldn't be something I interfere with too much... Thinking this, Jiang Yan could only nod.

...

...

Noon, Xuan Jia Squad stationed base.

Meng Huai was still continuing to perfect the details of Han Xiao's series of imaginative plans from that day, racing against time.

Unlike Han Xiao's various subjective or objective reasoning, Meng Huai felt he didn't need any evidence–he just had a premonition that Xia Yan and Gu Yao were definitely in C City. Han Xiao's plan had very high feasibility, especially since he was too familiar with Xia Yan's personality traits.

Ring ring, the internal dedicated phone on his desk rang. Meng Huai directly grabbed it with his left hand and put it to his ear, while his right hand continued writing on paper.

"Little Meng, it's me, Zhen Guangquan."

"Yes, Chief of Staff."

Meng Huai unconsciously straightened up, his eyes looking straight ahead, and the pen in his hand stopped.

"I got your medical examination report. You... Do you think you can fool people by just modifying the paper records? What exactly are you planning?"

On the phone, Zhen Guangquan's tone was very calm, as if he had long expected his subordinate would have such a day.

"No particular plan. It's still just a Stage Two warning."

Meng Huai answered indifferently, his eyes cold.

"I looked at the comparison values. Several indicators are almost approaching Stage Three. Sigh... You're not even thirty yet. My opinion, along with the other leaders', is to give you two months of leave to recuperate at Beijing Headquarters. All your current work will be transferred to Deputy Squad Leader Zhao. The 430 task force matter won't be delayed with Han Xiao and Han Jieli there."

"Chief, I'm fine now. I know my own body."

Pain appeared in Meng Huai's eyes, as if Chief of Staff Zhen's decision was depriving him of the right to personally arrest Xia Yan.

"Heh, that’s what everybody says. I've been through this. do you think I don't know what happens to your bodies at Stage Two? It's just that you haven't truly experienced it yet!"

Hearing this, Meng Huai unconsciously lowered his wrist and looked at the phone receiver, as if making eye contact with the person on the phone: "Chief, after completing this operation, I'll apply for leave."

"You... sigh, let me tell you another piece of bad news. Deputy Commander Han's eldest son Han Jiesheng sacrificed his life yesterday in Pakistan. He was your military academy classmate. You should know him. He was the squad leader of the special support squad secretly dispatched to Pakistan this time...

"During this period, you need to take extra care of Han Xiao. She doesn't know this news yet. For hundreds of years, every generation of the Han family has had people sacrifice themselves on the front lines against the Blood Clan, including Deputy Commander Han's two brothers. Now his only son has also sacrificed himself. As your inherited elder, I still hope you and Han Xiao can be together."

Zhen Guangquan's voice was heavy and sorrowful.

"Chief, is this considered an organizational assignment?"

Meng Huai was first shocked by the news of Han Jiesheng's sacrifice, but when he heard the last sentence, his mood quickly darkened.

"What kind of attitude is this! Now it's all about free love. I certainly can't force you to get a marriage certificate. You and Han Xiao are both my students, especially you, you're also my inherited subordinate.

"From the moment we joined Shadow Arrow Force, we knew we could sacrifice our lives at any time, but I don't want to see the Han family's lineage end, and I don't want you to face any irreversible consequences. At least, you both need to leave yourselves something to remember... So many children even more outstanding than you are just gone without any remembrance..."

Probably reaching a sad point, Zhen Guangquan choked up on the phone.

"Chief, maybe I'm not the person she likes... If something really happens, given my current condition, I would sacrifice myself before her, which wouldn't be fair to her either."

"Don't say such unlucky things! During the next operation, you're not allowed to inject anti-blood infection immune medication anymore, just stay in the back and command!"

Zhen Guangquan's voice gradually became stern, leaving no room for negotiation.

Meng Huai gritted his teeth, closed his eyes tightly, and after a few seconds, hung up the phone himself.

After sitting in a daze for a while, Meng Huai picked up the phone again and dialed a number. After a few minutes, Tao Qiao'er knocked on the office door.

"Did you tell Chief of Staff Zhen about my medical issues?"

Looking at his subordinate standing straight in front of him, Meng Huai showed no expression.

"Commander Meng, you really should pay attention to your health."

Tao Qiao'er bit her lip and for the first time showed a stubborn expression in front of Meng Huai: "I was hoping... hoping you could break Chief of Staff Zhen's service record."

"That's not for you to worry about."

Meng Huai coldly pulled open a drawer, took out a special document, and threw it in front of Tao Qiao'er. "If I remember correctly, you should complete two years of service next month."

"Yes..."

Tao Qiao'er's heart suddenly jumped, feeling inexplicably panicked.

"Good, then you meet the requirements."

Meng Huai nodded and pointed at the document with his finger: "Fill this out yourself, then file it with Deputy Squad Leader Zhao. From now on, you'll serve as the candidate for the next Xuan Jia Squad leader. This is the privilege of our inherited unit. No need for a year of headquarters training or service age restrictions."

"Commander Meng... I, I can't do it!"

Tao Qiao'er suddenly lowered her head and burst into tears.

"Carry out the order... You may go."

After saying this, Meng Huai continued looking down at his work.

When Meng Huai looked up again, he found himself alone in the office once more.

He opened a cabinet to the side and took out a photograph. It was a group photo of all Xuan Jia Squad members when they received a collective second-class merit citation last year.

In the photo, standing next to Meng Huai was Xia Yan.

At that time, Xia Yan had just completed two years of service and was designated by Meng Huai in the same way as the next Xuan Jia Squad leader, promoted to the rank of captain.

Quietly looking at each comrade in the photo, his gaze finally fell on the smiling Xia Yan, and images of Han Xiao and her brother Han Jiesheng appeared in his mind.

If he hadn't been infected with blood invasion, perhaps now I would still have some courage to retire from the front lines and could confidently hand over Xuan Jia Squad to his hands... Thinking about this, Meng Huai felt his eyes begin to sting.

I should still go see more of the place where Xia Yan grew up. Maybe soon, that place will be reduced to nothing, and Xia Yan too will reach the end of his fate...