Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

As night fell...

A black Maybach is speeding along the Beijing-Huaihua Expressway.

Inside the carriage,

Xiao Zhan put down his phone and forwarded the screenshot Zhang Jie had just sent to Xia Keke, saying, "This is the scarred man's phone number. Have your men go to Night Paris and arrest him and Luo Heizi. That bastard is so audacious as to work for Miki Hirofu. For such a pittance, he has no moral compass whatsoever."

"Arrest him directly on charges of treason."

Xia Keke: "Okay, we really need to make an example of him to warn others. Let these aristocratic families in the capital see what kind of fate awaits them for secretly colluding with Liu Shiyuan."

After Xia Keke finished speaking, she started making phone calls to issue arrest orders…

Xiao Zhan gazed at the streetlights flashing past the car window, recalling the scene when he had just spoken to Bai Zexiang on the phone.

Xiao Zhan: "Minister Bai, who exactly is Qi Jingtian?"

Bai Zexiang hesitated for a moment on the other end of the phone before saying, "Xiao Zhan, I remember Boss A specifically told you not to have a direct conflict with Qi Jingtian for the time being. Just follow his instructions."

Xiao Zhan: "Minister Bai, I didn't want to provoke Qi Jingtian, but she provoked me. What should I do?"

On the other end of the phone, Bai Zexiang said incredulously, "Why would Qi Jingtian want to provoke you?"

Xiao Zhan spoke frankly: "Her subordinate sent me a video. In the video, besides her, there were also Liu Shiyuan and Miki Hirofu. The conversation was quite explosive. If Qi Jingtian hadn't instructed his subordinate to send it to me, I don't think her subordinate would have dared to secretly film and send it to me even if they had the greatest courage."

"Because this video not only got Qi Jingtian invited for tea by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, but it also dealt a devastating blow to the Qi family's status in Beijing. I think Qi Jingtian is taking a huge gamble. If she wins, she and the Qi family will be completely turned around. If she loses, her and the Qi family's political future will be ruined."

After listening, Bai Zexiang remained silent for more than ten seconds before saying, "Xiao Zhan, send me the video to take a look."

Xiao Zhan sent the video to Bai Zexiang.

After a short while, Bai Zexiang said, "Xiao Zhan, let me put this to you, Qi Jingtian's matter is very complicated, and I can't explain it to you in just a few words. Since she has taken the initiative to contact you, you should cooperate with her as much as possible, and report to me immediately if there are any developments."

Xiao Zhan: "So, Qi Jingtian is really one of us?"

Bai Zexiang: "Xiao Zhan, don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

Bai Zexiang paused for a moment, then interrupted, asking, "Xiao Zhan, are you and Xia Keke heading to Hongluo Temple now?"

Xiao Zhan: "Yes."

Bai Zexiang: "Ten minutes ago, Deputy Chief of Staff Wan informed me of the military special operations team's action plan. I also received a case report from the intelligence department, and Xia Keke also reported to me. According to the summary of intelligence from all parties, Hongluo Temple should be Liu Shiyuan's destination."

Xiao Zhan: "All I want to know now is how Liu Shiyuan coordinated with the Butcher Squad without a coded signal?"

Bai Zexiang pondered and said, "There is only one possibility, and that is that Qi Jingtian told Liu Shiyuan the secret code for contacting the Butcher Squad."

Xiao Zhan asked in surprise, "How did Qi Jingtian know the secret code for contacting the Butcher Squad?"

Bai Zexiang: "Xiao Zhan, you've been smart all your life but made a foolish mistake this time. The detention center is under Qi Jingtian's jurisdiction. If she makes arrangements in advance, she has at least dozens of ways to get the rendezvous code."

Xiao Zhan: "What if I come face-to-face with Qi Jingtian in the upcoming operation? Please advise, Minister Bai!"

Bai Zexiang: "Xiao Zhan, let me put it this way: if you ever have a direct conflict with Qi Jingtian, you must put Qi Jingtian first and cooperate with her."

Xiao Zhan asked in surprise again, "You want me to cooperate with her?"

Bai Zexiang: "Yes, you must cooperate with her unconditionally. Xiao Zhan, don't act like you've never seen the world before. You need to have a sense of the big picture. Just follow my orders. You're not a newbie. Asking any more questions will break the organization's discipline."

Xiao Zhan: "I understand."

Xiao Zhan felt a little wronged. Every time he talked to Bai Zexiang on the phone or met with him to discuss business, he seemed to get the short end of the stick.

At this moment, Xia Keke finished her phone call and saw Xiao Zhan staring blankly out the car window. So she said, "Xiao Zhan, you just said that the military special forces team is meeting up with us ahead. Where exactly are they? I need to tell Zhang Guoqiang and the others to move closer to us."

Xiao Zhan opened his phone and saw the location sent by Yuan Hongjun, saying, "They have arrived near Hongluo Temple."

At this moment, Shen Jun said, "Instructor, the entrance to the Hongluo Temple scenic area is just ahead."

Xiao Zhan: "Don't drive into the scenic area gate. Take the left fork in the road. They're waiting for us there."

"He's an instructor."

Shen Jun had just turned the corner and driven less than two hundred meters when suddenly a figure walked out from the roadside and waved at the car.

Late at night,

A person suddenly appeared from the roadside, startling Shen Jun so much that he instinctively stepped on the brakes.

Xiao Zhan recognized the figure as Yuan Hongjun at a glance and quickly said, "It's one of our own, Shen Jun, stop the car quickly."

"squeak."

Shen Jun braked the car.

Xiao Zhan jumped out of the car, stepped forward, shook hands with Yuan Hongjun, and asked, "What's the current situation, Staff Officer Yuan?"

Yuan Hongjun: "The target is hiding in a cave behind Hongluo Temple. As expected of India's most elite special forces, their vigilance is at its maximum. They not only have hidden sentries, but also small drones conducting low-altitude reconnaissance near the cave, which prevents our drones from getting close enough to conduct reconnaissance. We can only use military satellites for high-altitude reconnaissance to pinpoint their location."

"Fifteen minutes ago, an Audi A8 drove into Hongluo Temple. The people inside must be your target, right?"

Xiao Zhan: "That's Qi Jingtian's private car."

"Have you spotted Qin Hanwen's mercenary squad?"

Yuan Hongjun shook his head and said, "We haven't discovered it yet, so we haven't entered the attack range, for fear of being exposed."

Xiao Zhan nodded: "What about the other comrades?"

Yuan Hongjun waved to the grove behind him.

Several figures emerged from the woods.

"Captain Xiao, it's been a long time."

"Hello, Captain Xiao."

Several people stepped forward to greet Xiao Zhan.

Looking at the familiar faces before him, Xiao Zhan said with some emotion, "Brothers, almost a year has passed in the blink of an eye. Today, let's fight side by side again. Do you have the confidence to take down the Butcher Squad?"

Several people said in unison, "We're confident!"

Yuan Hongjun: "Captain Xiao, Deputy Chief of Staff Wan has appointed you as the commander of this operation. The special operations team is now officially under your command. Comrades, from now on, Comrade Xiao Zhan will be in charge of this operation. Do you all understand?"

Everyone: "We will obey orders without question."

Xiao Zhan said in a deep voice: "The comrade in charge of intelligence will work together with Director Xia of the National Security Bureau to collect intelligence, analyze and summarize various data in a timely manner, and report to me and Staff Officer Yuan in a timely manner."

Xia Keke and the other two team members responsible for intelligence support replied in unison, "Yes!"

Xia Keke handed the miniature palm-sized device in her hand to Xiao Zhan: "This is a three-dimensional topographic map centered on Hongluo Temple."

One of the special operations soldiers in charge of intelligence held up a drone display screen and said, "Team Leader Xiao, this is real-time footage from drone and military satellite reconnaissance."

Xiao Zhan looked at them and compared the two.

Then he ordered, "Apart from intelligence support, the rest of the personnel will be divided into three combat teams."

"I'm in charge of one group."

"Staff Officer Yuan is in charge of Group Two."

"The third group is a sniper team, consisting of Shen Jun and two other snipers, providing long-range fire support."

"Did everyone understand?"

"I understand."

Suddenly, Zhang Guoqiang reported through the earpiece: "Two SUVs drove into Hongluo Temple. Upon inspection, there were a total of ten people in the vehicles. According to intelligence, they should be Qin Hanwen's mercenaries."

Xiao Zhan: "Captain Zhang, keep a close eye on things."

"Don't do anything yet, wait for my order."

Zhang Guoqiang: "Understood."