At the military base, a general stood in full uniform, his expression complicated. He had just finished a call with his superiors.

His aide asked, "Should we inform Kuang Huan's family?"

The general shook his head. "His family has already lost their minds. Nothing we say now will do any good. There's no reasoning about matters of this scale. Their own interests matter more to them than the nation."

The words came out smooth and well-worn, the same old moral leverage. The nation, after all, was the instrument of the ruling class. Especially in the Qin Yuan Kingdom, where the royal family and the Seven Martial Stars governed the world together.

The aide nodded. He understood perfectly what the general meant.

The general added, "The order from above is to keep this contained. Handle it quietly. If Kuang Huan's family comes looking for me again, find an excuse and turn them away."

"Understood. Honestly, Kuang Huan brought this on himself. He should have stuck to arms dealing. Why did he have to go to the front lines?"

The general nodded in agreement.

None of this would’ve happened if Kuang Huan had followed the plan and focused on arms dealing. In the general's view, Kuang Huan had grown greedy, running side ventures on top of everything else. That was what had landed him in enemy hands.

Now Kuang Huan's capture had put them all on the back foot. To the general, that was the real mistake.

He said flatly, "He probably won't die. Some roughing up is unavoidable, though."

The fact that they hadn’t pressed charges against the viscount was already generous. Whether he came back with all his limbs and organs intact was another question. Wugui Country and Qin Yuan Kingdom were enemies. Kuang Huan would certainly suffer.

***

Back at the villa, Kuang Xi stared at the young man before her with a flicker of disappointment.

Since her brother's capture, she had dug up what information she could on Qi Yuan. However, the information she obtained was little to no use. The man was an apprentice at the Mingwu Martial Arts Gym in Tianyue. His meeting with her brother had been pure chance. Beyond that, she couldn't find anything.

Unbeknownst to her, Zero-One had buried and disguised every trace of his identity online. Those who looked for him would only find the most ordinary, surface details.

According to Kuang Xi, Kuang Huan had been captured while collecting the Youlong Root, a key material Qi Yuan asked for. The plant grew in Wugui Country's territory. Kuang Huan had taken the risk to personally procure it, and when word leaked, Wugui Country's forces picked him up.

Kuang Xi asked, earnest and firm, "We went to the generals above him and they all dismissed us. Mr. Qi, do you happen to know anyone with real influence? Someone who could negotiate with the Wugui and get my brother released? The Kuang family is willing to pay any price."

As the viscount, Kuang Huan was the family pillar. He had no children. If he died out there, his title would likely pass to another branch of the family.

Qi Yuan answered honestly, "I don't know anyone influential."

He had only been in this world for three months, and today was his first time stepping outside the city. What powerful connections could he possibly have?

Sure enough, both women’s faces fell.

The young woman said quietly, "Your visit already means a great deal to us."

Thinking of how everyone else had responded, her chest tightened with quiet bitterness.

Qi Yuan said casually, "Actually, I'm fairly capable myself. Have a car arranged and drive me to the front. I'll go get Kuang Huan out."

He stated it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Kuang Huan had ended up in this situation because of him. Naturally, Qi Yuan would save him. As a kind, law-abiding citizen, Qi Yuan had no interest in crafting some selfless image for show. He simply did as he saw fit.

Besides, in all his years of cultivation, he had never once crossed paths with a modern army. Now that the chance has come, why not go take a look? He would put a few people down while he was at it.

After all, once he returned to his peak, he'd be punching stars out of the sky. At that point, bullying ordinary people would be beneath him entirely. There would be no fun in it whatsoever.

Kuang Xi gawked at him. "Mr. Qi, are you going to rescue him?"

That was not the answer she had expected. Even Kuang Huan's wife looked equally stunned.

"Yes. I'll go by myself and bring him back from the camp." Qi Yuan said lightly, as though discussing something barely worth a second thought.

That answer broke Kuang Xi's composure completely.

The methods she'd been imagining all involved some powerful figure using diplomacy, exchanging leverage, and negotiating her brother's return through backroom channels. Personally picking him up hadn't crossed anyone's mind as a real option.

Qin Yuan Kingdom's military could certainly flatten Wugui Country if it came to open war, but the Ancient Wu Kingdom wasn't a pushover either. And there was no world in which the Qin Yuan Kingdom would start a fire over one man named Kuang Huan.

"Mr. Qi, are you serious? That's a Wugui Country military camp. They have a full regiment stationed there!"

Under Wugui Country's military structure, a regiment meant roughly three thousand soldiers with advanced weaponry. They wouldn’t lack tanks, armored vehicles, drones, and even fighter jets!

Storming such a camp to extract one prisoner was the stuff of dreams. And yet, Qi Yuan said he would do exactly that. The women were astonished. It made no sense by any logic they knew!

Qi Yuan didn’t falter. "I know. I'll handle the rescue. All you need to do is arrange the car."

The women were rendered speechless.

Qi Yuan exhaled quietly. "Ma'am, you don't want Kuang Huan suffering in that camp, do you? Let's not waste time. Get the people together and take me to the front. As for how I'll manage it, feel free to use your imagination."

Qi Yuan had always valued efficiency. He didn't believe in drawn-out conversations.

The young woman and Kuang Xi exchanged a glance, still reeling. The day had taken such an unexpected turn. At this point, they wouldn't even be surprised if this man turned out to be a genuine lunatic.

Still, Kuang Huan's wife gave a firm nod, choosing her words carefully. "I'll have someone arrange your transport to the front right away. Mr. Qi, if things prove impossible, please just make sure you come back safely."

If you can't save him, don't throw your own life away.

Kuang Xi said, "My brother trusted you, so I'm entrusting this to you, Mr. Qi!"

Kuang Huan had once told his wife, “In a true emergency, look for someone like Qi Yuan.” That was why both women were willing, however bewildered, to send him to the front.

"Make it quick. I'm in a hurry," he said.

The journey to the front would take several days by road. The Martial Arts Tournament was only two days away. He was definitely not making it back in time.

Kuang Xi turned and left. "Of course. I'll arrange it immediately. Please wait a moment."