Chapter 1858

Linjiang War Zone, Long'an Base.

Enormous, like a steel firmament, inside the mobilization hall, one after another spatial gates unfolded like beehive passages, rapidly swallowing and spewing vast amounts of supplies and combat personnel.

On the command platform, Wen Ya, responsible for coordinating the various war zones, her eyes full of fatigue, watching the wounded continuously sent back from the branches, she felt her heart as taut as a steel wire, an indescribable weight pressing heavily on her chest.

In the stifling heat, urgent reports filled the air everywhere; she had no choice but to tirelessly approve new orders like an unceasing machine.

"Combat Squad c093, immediately proceed to the Qinghai War Zone for support; Second Army Group's Sixth Combat Sequence, withdraw to Wangjiang!"

"Abandon the outer defenses of the Yunnan War Zone; all remaining troops withdraw immediately; notify the Aerospace Sequence of the Northern War Zone to provide fire support and then cover the troops' withdrawal!"

"Zhuanxu! Immediately tally our energy reserves—how much do we have left? What is the battle damage ratio in the Heiyu direction!?"

Orders were issued one after another.

No matter how fast Wen Ya handled things, problems from the major war zones kept pouring in endlessly, as if there were no end in sight.

Unlike when Long'an was first founded, its controlled territory was limited to just Linjiang.

By now, Long'an Base had become a colossus, the largest armed force within the Huaxia War Zone and even across Asia, boasting nearly a hundred million survivors, over ten million combat units, spanning six war zones and fifteen sub-districts.

Behind such immense size, once problems accumulate little by little, they turn into a mountain that can crush anyone!

Unimaginable.

After Gao Tian and Zhang Tie lost contact, An Jing Tian went missing, and the core members all 'disappeared,' Wen Ya, who originally only handled logistics, now had to bear the pressure of the entire Long'an, striving to maintain balance among all sides.

Her mind operated continuously at high intensity; even with Zhuanxu and thousands of various-level commanders assisting, Wen Ya, already at the Fourth Stage, still felt mentally exhausted.

Beneath her pallid complexion, sweat had already drenched her forehead and hair.

However, fortunately, since the 'apparition' appeared two hours ago, the massive horde of refugees that had been besieging Long'an's various frontline bases all withdrew strangely.

"That sword..."

"Could it be him..!?"

She didn't even have time to sip water; after quickly dealing with hundreds of messages on her desk, Wen Ya took a brief pause, her weary eyes involuntarily drawn to the image she had deliberately enlarged on the screen.

That was the satellite image Deng Xiang sent back first thing two hours ago.

In the image, a spirit-energy sword tens of thousands of meters long loomed, as if it had cleaved the entire Pacific, domineeringly occupying the skies above Earth.

Even though she had looked at this picture over a hundred times, that thought had flashed through her mind more than once.

Yet every time she saw it, Wen Ya's heart in her chest would uncontrollably race, even filling her with fear!

She feared she was overthinking, feared that sword wasn't that man's return, feared her fantasy would be shattered, feared it was merely her own wishful thinking!

"Lin An.. is it you.. have you come back..!"

"Those monsters dispersed—do they know you've come back..."

Wen Ya bit her lips, drew a deep breath, and subconsciously sent another message to Gao Tian and the others, hoping for some reply.

But on the other end of the comms, there was still not a whisper of response, as silent as death.

Just as Wen Ya gave a bitter smile, forcing herself to suppress her bitterness and continue handling various issues, a strong spatial transmission surge suddenly erupted inside the base.

That was—!?

She jerked her head up.

Almost the instant the spatial disturbance appeared, in the steel hall covering hundreds of thousands of square meters, every Long'an member instinctively lifted their gaze.

Everyone's faces showed astonishment, and they couldn't help but set down the work in their hands!

The reason was simple! This spatial transmission was unmistakably opened by a transmission command!

"Section Chief Gao! Is it Director Gao Tian or Lord Zhang Tie who's returned!?"

"Quick! Quickly clear the obstacles beneath the passage!"

In an instant, the base interior buzzed with voices; everyone stared nervously at the rapidly unfolding scarlet transmission gate.

Soon, amid everyone's tense gaze, a fiery figure flashed out, bringing a large contingent of Fourth Stage warriors!

Zhang Yong, Gao Tian, Tai Er...

"They're back! All of them are back! They're our Fourth Stage troops!"

Before the crowd could even react, excitedly watching Long'an's strongest force return, the next second, the first to charge out, Zhang Yong, seemed to have no time to speak to anyone, rushing straight toward Wen Ya.

"Lin Dui?"

"Has Lin Dui returned!?"

The urgent voices echoed throughout the hall; in an instant, the entire place fell silent, everyone stunned.

If the safe return of Long'an's Fourth Stage brought a collective sigh of relief, easing Wen Ya's pressure, then when Lin An's name rang out, but they suddenly realized what Zhang Yong's question implied, the entire base interior erupted in an instant!

Did they mishear!?

What does that mean!?

"Lord Lin An has returned!?"

"Lin An..!? You mean Lin An!?"

"He's come back!?"

On the high platform, Wen Ya's whole body shuddered, her eyes instantly reddening. She seemed to cover her mouth in disbelief, then a second later she asked even more urgently than Zhang Yong.

Her whole body trembled with excitement; after prolonged tension, once the pressure on her heart suddenly dropped, she could barely stand at this moment.

However, it seemed she realized she had misspoken; the news of Lin Dui's return was still unknown within Long'an.

Or perhaps, Lin Dui had been directly abducted by Mo Ling!

Watching the crowd go mad, rushing toward him, eager to confirm, Zhang Yong suddenly seemed to think of something and shouted urgently:

"Don't leak the news! Lock down the information! Lord Lin An has returned! But this must not be spread for now!"

As his words fell, the hall fell into a brief silence again; zero point one second later, cries like mountains and seas erupting exploded the pot!

"He's back! He's really back! I knew Lord Lin An wouldn't die!"

"Lord Lin An would never abandon us! We've won! We've won for sure!"

I said it—why did that bunch of trash suddenly withdraw? They must have learned that Lord Lin An is back! That bunch of sons of bitches! Their time is up!

Where is Lord Lin An now? Charge back! Please, sir, lead us to fight back! Take back what's ours!

In the huge, sealed war hall, wave after wave of joyous, exultant roars almost drowned out Zhang Yong's voice.

In the ranks, Gao Tian, face weak and supported by others, watched the crowd's genuine emotion spill out; for a moment his feelings were also touched, and his eyes involuntarily welled up.

But compared to the heavy responsibility amidst the revelry, he still remembered Lin An's instructions before Mo Ling led him away.

Before Wen Ya could likewise become excited, opening her mouth for half a day, wanting to ask something but unable to speak.

The next second, Gao Tian's expression turned somewhat odd, even embarrassed, as he whispered a mental transmission:

"Sister Wen Ya, the news is temporarily blocked; this is Lin Dui's order. Indeed, Lin Dui has indeed returned—you should have seen the scene over Japan."

"Cough cough, as for where Lin Dui went after returning and why he didn't come find you—I reckon.. uh.. he might be.. uh.. with that little girl Mo Ling."

"First block the news, summon all Long An members of rank three and above back; Lin Dui will surely have further big moves—we must prepare in advance!"

As he spoke, Gao Tian gulped, somewhat "nervous" as he watched Wen Ya's reaction.

After Lin Dui was suddenly abducted by Mo Ling, they feared there might still be lingering "trash" in the Japanese waters, so they simply cleaned up for half a day before transmitting back.

The lack of reply was also because Gao Tian worried about the traitor; he only planned to report this important news after everyone returned.

But they also thought that after Lin An returned, he would first meet Wen Ya, and the Long An side should have known as well.

(Looks like... Lin Dui really was abducted by Mo Ling, can't even get "out". That little girl Mo Ling has a very overbearing temperament...)

His expression odd, Mo Ling looked as if she wanted to devour Lin An alive—Gao Tian saw it clearly. Who knows what state Lin Dui is in now.