Chapter 42: Meeting
Luckily the baptism did start the way the vine had said. Though the process wasn't pretty at least it worked.
After patting Ling Qin for a few seconds on his face, he finally began to stir.
"Qinqin, Qinqin!" Emilia called out as she helped him sit up.
"Mom," he cried out once his eyes opened. He then threw his arms around Emilia, hugging her waist tightly. "Mom..."
"It's alright Qinqin, you're alright." Emilia consoled him while also hugging him tightly. Her fear slowly receded as she held him.
After holding her for a few seconds Ling Qin finally let go of her as he sat up.
"Qinqin how are you feeling, are you alright?" Emilia asked him
"Yes I'm fine," he said shaking his head
"And your body how does it feel? Does it hurt?"
"My body feels fine, heck probably feels better than just fine." He said as he stood up. Swinging his arms and kicking his legs. Ling Qin stretched as he felt out his body's new strength. "My body feels so much lighter yet filled with strength." Ling qin said. Lifting his leg and stomping on the ground a big hole appeared right where his foot landed.
"That's good, that's good" Emilia murmured as she patted her chest, rising to her feet. "Now, what in the world were you thinking?! You could have been killed!" she shouted all of a sudden
"Wahh?" Ling Qin said startled, "how was I supposed to know that the lake would do that?" he asked aggrieved
"It's not about knowing, it's about vigilance, vigilance I say! You can't just randomly touch things in a strange space you don't know anything about."
"But it's your space and it was just water," he said with his head dropping.
"I said I was renting the space not owning it, meaning there could be some unknown danger, plus you of all people should know just how dangerous quiet, still waters are in the apocalypse. they are usually the breeding ground of some dangerous beast or high-level zombie. "
Ling Qin just kept quiet with his head down feeling wronged. Emilia couldn't stand looking at his distraught face anymore; she knew he was not to blame for all this.
"ugh," Emilia groaned before she crouched down to his height. "Look I didn't mean to blame you, and I'm not mad at you. mostly mad at myself cause I didn't warn you in time and that almost killed you. I was just feeling scared and worried and anxious and angry....."
"That's a lot of 'ands' " Ling Qin interjected.
"I know" she giggled as the atmosphere lightened. "My point is I was feeling a lot of things and wanted to vent them out, which I did by directing my frustration as anger at you, which I know I shouldn't have done but did anyway so I'm sorry for that. I know that's wrong of me. Of course, the information I mentioned at that moment is not wrong so don't ignore that, the water can be a very scary place."
"You don't have to be so distraught, I know you didn't mean it. Plus I really could have been more cautious myself as well, after all, I was the one talking to dad earlier about cautiousness so I should also practice what I say. "
"Good, it's great that we are on the same page," Emilia exclaimed as she stood back up. "Now follow me closely and listen to me explain everything first before you go touching things again. My blood levels do not need any more shock as it is."
"Ok, he said a little loudly quickly trotting behind her as she made her way to the tree. Listening carefully as she spoke
"Now as I was saying earlier....."Emilia began wanting to make sure she had explained everything about the space to Ling Qin.
No more accidents could be allowed.
.....
At the gates of the A city military base, a black jeep slowly pulled in coming to a stop at the first of three check-in points. A young soldier came towards the driver's seat while another stood in front of the car, two more in the mini office, and another behind the car. All of whom were fully armed and prepared for any situation that could arise.
After a ten-minute drive, Ling Xiao finally arrived at the military base.
The car's window slowly rolled down as the officer approached. "Registration please," he asked looking at Ling Xiao. Having already been prepared Ling Xiao handed his identification to the young soldier so had could go through the registration process.
Taking a look down at the ID and back at Ling Xiao's face to make sure they were the same, the young officer then made his way back to the little office for further confirmation while the soldier that had been standing behind the car immediately took his place, now standing by the side of the car, gun slightly raised.
Just 30 seconds after having gone in the young soldier came back out, a less tense expression on his face while batting a more respectful face.
"Sorry for the delay major and welcome back." He said to Ling Xiao as he handed him back his identification. Immediately saluting him the moment the identification left his hand, the other soldiers followed along.
"No problem," he said as he placed his id back in his jacket. "Keep up the good work," he said saluting them back before he began driving in once the tall gate lifted to let him through.
As Ling Xiao's car drove away, one of the guards, Zhou Jun, looked at the one who checked the license. "Which major is he, how come I haven't seen him before?"
"That's Major General Ling Xiao of the black star division. He has been away for the last few months, that's why you haven't seen him before."
"wahhh isn't that the division that deals with all the dangerous and cool secret missions" he exclaimed shocked
"Yes, and he is the head of that department" the other soldier replied.
"wow, that's awesome, I've always wanted to join that group."
"Tsk, keep dreaming" one of the other soldiers sneakered, "the requirements to join that division is one of the highest. With your poor skills, you can only join in your dreams."
"Hey, not cool" the older guard retorted. "Don't get discouraged kid," he said to Zhou Jun "as long as you keep up your training and perform well at the upcoming examination you might just get a chance to transfer over there. And even if you don't get in the black star division you can still get a post that is not gated duty at the very least."
"yeah, good luck with that" the other soldier snickered as he moved back to his post. The older soldier shot him a look before patting Zhou Jun on the shoulder, then proceeding to move back to his post
Zhou Jun stared straight at the place where Ling Xiao's car disappeared from his sight, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes.
....
After having to go through two more guard stations Ling Xiao finally arrived at the underground parking of the main building. Heading inside Ling Xiao was greeted by saluting soldiers inside, the badges on his uniform acting as more than enough proof of rank.
As Ling Xiao walked up the stairs towards the meeting room his eyes caught his deputy and teammate Colonel Lin Zhou waiting for him at the top.
"Major" Lin Zhou called as he saluted Ling Xiao once he arrived up top.
"Why are saluting me, with our relationship you don't need to," he said saluting him back nonetheless.
"Even still we've got to keep up appearances when we are here. Just in case some people want to attack us on grounds of no discipline." Lin Zhou responded following Ling Xiao to the meeting room just a few steps behind him.
"heh," Ling Xiao snorted. "Some people just like jumping around like frogs all day long. Never mind, where is the rest of the team". he asked as he looked through the file Lin Zhou had just passed him.
"They are waiting for us back at our office, busy packing up and getting ready to set off once the briefing is complete."
"Good," he nodded as he closed the file since they had arrived by the meeting room. His aura had completely changed to one that was more distant, cold, and dangerous.
One of the two soldiers that stood at the door opened it, while the other stood at the side saluting. Lin Zhou nodded his head at them.
With the entrance of Ling Xiao and Lin Zhou, the meeting room suddenly descended into silence as all the eyes landed on them. all the soldiers of lower rank stood to salute, which included all but one man, Han Xui
"tsk if it isn't Major General Ling. It's been a long time since I've seen you." Han Xue commented
Shooting Han Xue with a sharp look, Ling Xiao went ahead to sit, the others sitting down right after him.
"Major General Han, from what I remember this is a mission briefing for the Black Star division and you are not a member of this division, so what is that you want here?"
Lin Zhou looked at Ling Xiao surprised as he had not expected such a sharp tone from him but he quickly composed himself and looked back at the board.
"Heh, can't a man come and say hello to his colleague, and don't forget I'm now also a major so my rank is no different from yours." Han Xue shot back after also being taken aback by his tone.
"Then as a major, you should also be aware of the rules and regulations in the army better than everyone else. So you should be aware that you shouldn't meddle in the affairs of this department and you definitely should not be attending a mission briefing of this level of secrecy, right Major?" Ling Xiao said. "We wouldn't want you to be blamed if something goes wrong, would we now?"
Standing up and banging his hand on the desk Han Xue shouted " Ling Xiao! Are you accusing me of being a traitor?"
"No one is accusing you of anything Major general Han, I'm just being nice enough to inform you that if something does go wrong, as a man who has nothing to do with this division or mission you will be the first suspect and I'm sure you do not want to be at the other end of an investigation right, Major? "
"You!!" Han Xue said pointing his finger at Ling Xiao "huff" he snorted before fixing his jacket and storming out of the office. not before shooting Ling Xiao another vicious look.
The atmosphere in the meeting room at that moment was completely dead. No one had expected to witness a fight between the two Majors even before the meeting began. For a moment everyone was silent as no one knew what to say.
"ahem", Lin Zhou coughed breaking the solemn atmosphere. "alright, let's begin," he said gesturing for the meeting to start. The people finally breathed a sigh of relief as the meeting could now go on.
As the meeting went on the members all kept shooting looks at the silent Major trying to discern his mood only to be frightened and look back at the board. Lin Zhou was also trying to figure out why Ling Xiao had blown up like that, since usually, he was very restrained when facing Han Xue, no matter how much he disliked him.
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