Years turn into wind

The night at the Marshal's residence was quiet and profound, but this tranquility couldn't mask the surging crisis. Although Cheng Yuwei kept silent, she knew the enemy wouldn't give up easily. To avoid dragging Ling Xiaotian down, she threw herself even deeper into her experimental research, often neglecting sleep and food.

"Weiwei, take a proper rest." Ling Xiaotian pushed open the door of the laboratory and saw her concentrating on observing the liquid in a glass flask.

"Xiaotian, why are you here?" Cheng Yuwei put down the instrument in her hand and breathed a sigh of relief. "The experiment just now almost failed, but fortunately I adjusted it in time and finally made some progress."

Ling Xiaotian approached, picked up her hand, and examined it carefully. There were several small scratches on her fingers from the instruments. He frowned slightly. "Even if there's progress, there's no need to get yourself into this state. Don't forget, you still have a warlord husband who's worried about you."

Cheng Yuwei smiled, placed his hand in her palm, and said softly: "I know you are worried about me, but this is the only thing I can do for you. When the research is successful, the soldiers on the front line will suffer less pain and recover their combat effectiveness faster. This will also increase your chances of winning."

Ling Xiaotian didn't say anything else. He just held her in his arms and whispered, "You don't need to prove yourself to anyone, and you don't have to pay too much for it. I just hope you're safe."

Sudden enemy attack

One morning a few days later, the Marshal's Mansion had just woken up and there was still a faint light in the sky, but a burst of rapid gunfire came from a distance.

"Commander, bad news! Someone's attacking the east gate!" Zhang Jun rushed into the meeting room, his tone urgent. "They're not many, but they have strong firepower. They're clearly well prepared."

Ling Xiaotian suddenly stood up, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Dare to provoke me at this time? It seems their purpose is not simple at all."

He turned to the guards behind him and ordered, "Immediately seal off the perimeter of the General's Mansion and do not allow anyone in or out. Inform all captains to quickly bring reinforcements to the east gate."

"Yes!" The guard left quickly.

Cheng Yuwei was also awakened by the gunshots and rushed over from her bedroom. Seeing Ling Xiaotian, she couldn't help but ask, "What happened? It's so chaotic outside."

Ling Xiaotian held her shoulders and soothed her, "Don't worry, the enemy has attacked the east gate, but we will deal with it soon. Go back to your bedroom now and don't leave. I will send someone to protect you."

Cheng Yuwei shook her head: "Xiaotian, I can't just wait here. Let me go to the medical room to help. There may be wounded people sent here soon, and I can do my part."

Ling Xiaotian stared at her for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay, but be sure to pay attention to safety. I will send a few people to protect you at all times."

Fierce Battle at the East Gate

The battle at the east gate was fierce. Though the enemy was small in number, every one of them was fearless, as if injected with some drug that unleashed their full potential. Their tactics were precise, and they knew the weak points of the Marshal's defenses like the back of their hand.

As Zhang Jun directed his soldiers to fight back, he couldn't help cursing, "These guys are simply desperate! What on earth do they want to do?"

"Stop talking nonsense and hold your ground!" the adjutant shouted. "Reinforcements will be here soon, hold on!"

Just as the fierce battle was in full swing, a soldier carrying a flamethrower suddenly emerged from the enemy's ranks and rushed straight towards the gate.

"Stop him!" Zhang Jun shouted loudly, pulling out his pistol and aiming to shoot, but the distance was too far and his bullet did not hit the target.

Seeing that the enemy was getting closer and closer, the gate of the Marshal's Mansion might be breached at any time. At this critical moment, a sniper fired decisively, and the bullet hit the enemy's head accurately. The flamethrower fell to the ground instantly, and the enemy's offensive rhythm was disrupted for a moment.

"Well done!" Zhang Jun cheered loudly, and then took the opportunity to order: "Push forward and drive them back completely!"

The soldiers' morale was boosted and they quickly launched a counterattack. The enemy began to be defeated and had to retreat.

The enemy's true intentions

After the battle, Ling Xiaotian personally went to the East Gate to inspect the situation. The scene was full of traces of fighting. While several soldiers were cleaning up the battlefield, they found some special badges and documents from the enemy's corpses.

Zhang Jun handed the document to Ling Xiaotian and said solemnly, "Commander, these are not ordinary mercenaries. They belong to a secret spy organization in the north. It seems that their target is probably not us, but Madam."

Ling Xiaotian flipped through the documents, his expression growing increasingly gloomy. "Sure enough, they're here for Weiwei. It seems her research is more important than we thought, and has already attracted the attention of many parties."

Zhang Jun nodded. "Yes, the new drug Madam is researching could have a decisive impact on the war. They probably want to kidnap Madam and seize her research results."

Ling Xiaotian sneered, "Since they dare to come, I will make sure they never return. Pass on my order. From today on, the defense level of the Marshal's Mansion will be raised to the highest level. Anyone who dares to approach will be killed without mercy!"

Hidden crisis

At this time, Cheng Yuwei was busy treating the wounds of several lightly wounded soldiers. She didn't know that her every move had become a key target in the eyes of the enemy.

When she came out of the medical room, she ran into Ling Xiaotian. His eyes were filled with concern and a hint of complexity. "Weiwei, the situation is a bit complicated. I need you to reduce your outings from today onwards. All research should be conducted in the laboratory."

Cheng Yuwei looked up at him, keenly aware that something was wrong: "Is there something I don't know? Those people are coming for me, right?"

Ling Xiaotian was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. "Yes, their target is very likely you and your research. But don't worry, I will never let them succeed."

Cheng Yuwei took a deep breath and said calmly, "In that case, we must be even more careful. I will complete the final improvements to the potion as soon as possible to reduce our reliance on experimental equipment. This way, even if the enemy launches a surprise attack, I can hide the formula more secretly."

Ling Xiaotian looked at her, feeling both relieved and worried. He knew this woman's resilience far exceeded his imagination, but he still couldn't let go of his uneasiness.

Next steps

At night, the atmosphere in the Marshal's residence remained tense. Ling Xiaotian summoned several of his confidants to the study to discuss the next course of action.

"Even though their attempt failed this time, the enemy won't give up easily. Their next move could be even more dangerous," Zhang Jun analyzed. "We must proactively attack, locate their stronghold, and completely eliminate this threat."

Ling Xiaotian nodded. "That's exactly what I meant. Tomorrow morning, I will personally lead a small team to conduct counter-reconnaissance. Zhang Jun, you stay at the Marshal's Mansion and ensure Weiwei's safety."

"Understood, Commander." Zhang Jun responded immediately.

After everyone dispersed, Ling Xiaotian stood alone by the window, lost in thought for a long time. His heart was filled with fighting spirit, but at the same time, he also harbored a deep worry—for Cheng Yuwei, and for this increasingly fierce war.