The Huanglong Task Force, Part 1

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"To the west of Fuping County in Beidi Prefecture, by the riverbank, stand two mountain peaks facing each other, with the river flowing between them—this is the Shanghe Gorge, commonly called Qingshan Gorge. The river passes through the gorge flowing north, then branches eastward. It continues northward past the western edge of the old city of Fuping County, where during the Qin dynasty, the Northern Commandery was established, with its seat in this county town.

Wang Mang renamed the prefecture Weirong and the county Chiyu.

During the Jianwu era (25–57 AD), Cao Feng, styled Zhongli, served as the governor of Beidi. His governance and moral education achievements were outstanding, so much so that a Yellow Dragon appeared at the Gaogang Pavilion in Jiuli Valley.

The dragon’s horn was three feet long, its body ten feet thick, and its tail extended more than ten zhang. The emperor praised him, rewarded him with a hundred bolts of silk, and raised his salary to two thousand shi.

The Yellow Dragon mentioned here is the very subject of your investigation."

Lan Pan combed her hair, a few more wrinkles appearing on her face. The overwhelming reports praised her but lamented her aging, an inevitable decline.

Mei didn’t understand why she was summoned, so hearing this news, she couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied.

“Do you expect a dignified battalion commander to handle an investigation like this?” she frowned unhappily.

"With your experience, you're not yet suitable to be a commander. We need to assess you first," Ju’s image appeared on the projection screen.

"Sending me away from Mei City to do these trivial tasks is thoughtless," Mei said firmly, well aware that the safety of Mei City was her responsibility.

"We will closely monitor Mei City’s developments, with Zhu and Lan in charge. If you don’t pass the evaluation, we cannot coordinate in battle. This is also how we get to know you better. Since the data on various aspects is insufficient to quickly improve our synergy, we need you to demonstrate more,” Ju patiently explained.

“Ugh, so troublesome...” Mei had no retort.

Ju ended the communication.

“The Yuan Jin Xing has gone berserk!” Vice Captain Yu’s voice came through the comms. Mei’s eyes lit up with interest as she looked toward Lan.

“Resurrected from death; quite incredible,” Mei thought secretly, already quietly observing Yuan Jin Xing and noticing something different.

Lan no longer carried that relaxed and spirited demeanor. She gazed out the window, looking much aged.

“Save my niece,” she whispered.

Yuan Jin Xing’s medical report showed wildly abnormal readings, skyrocketing sharply. It required examination with paleobiological instruments. Although the area should have been sealed, Lan still held onto some hope.

“She’s been dead for a long time,” Mei said bluntly, disregarding Lan’s worries.

“I learned that when Zhu saw the black dragon disappear, perhaps the Dragon King, to protect the entire clan, chose to abandon its physical form as its body deteriorated and switched shells. The one whose body was taken over is your niece, Yuan Jin Xing, the first to arrive at the scene. But it seems ‘It’ has fallen into a deep slumber. Yuan Jin Xing, a mere squad leader, couldn’t possibly withstand the spirit of the Dragon God... it must have long since turned to ashes,” Mei said casually.

“Is there still hope?” Lan refused to give up.

“It’s irreversible.” Despite Mei’s power to reverse death, she would no longer use it.

“But your records clearly...” Lan began.

“If that were true, those dragons would keep absorbing my power, accelerating their revival, but your niece still wouldn’t return. The price of my resurrection ability is steep; I’m already very weak. The outcome is losing a squad leader and plunging the world into chaos,” Mei said helplessly.

“The priority is stabilizing the Dragon King. Its power must not be underestimated, and as the dragon clan’s core, if we control it, the dragons can serve us. If it dies and the fawn inherits the dragon clan’s legacy, we’re done for.” Mei propped her chin casually.

“But for now, they are all asleep.”

Lan, who had been proud all her life, finally bowed in concession.

“Lock up Yuan Jin Xing.” Her hands trembled.

Mei left.

Standing at the door, she pondered for a moment.

“Let’s keep this between us. Ju won’t agree to such a big risk staying here. I also want to see if these guys can be of use to me. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to protect your niece’s body.”

The word ‘body’ reminded Lan of her sister who had been devoured.

“Don’t stress the old lady’s heart anymore.”

Mei departed.

Bai Changpu, as support staff, naturally left first to notify everyone. Zhu was the first to arrive on the scene, as he was nearby at the hospital.

Yuan Jin Xing’s cheeks sprouted platinum-colored scales, stark and flamboyant.

She looked puzzled, standing still, staring blankly at Zhu.

Such a familiar face.

The room was in disarray—equipment and bed overturned. Yuan Jin Xing wore a hospital gown and showed signs of physical mutation.

“What’s wrong with you?” Zhu tried to approach, but she recoiled in fear, maintaining about three meters’ distance.

“Who are you?” Yuan Jin Xing couldn’t help but ask, fragments of memories flashing through her mind.

“I’m your commander,” Zhu said, puzzled by her question.

“Commander.” Uttering those words triggered a memory.

My name is Yuan Jin Xing.

Why did I come to Zhu City? Because here there is... something.

Several memory fragments flickered, piecing together an image of a cold, gloomy personality.

There is... Zhu, the squad leader.

My brain seemed to develop a growing lump, draining my consciousness and clouding my judgment. I barely had time to wonder what it was before my awareness started returning as the lump shrank.

This was followed by several more moments of recalling while drifting in and out.

Squad Leader Zhu... More memories surfaced. I joined the guard to protect the people.

But why choose Zhu City? One reason... I like Squad Leader Zhu.

Yuan Jin Xing’s memories returned.

“Zhu, Squad Leader Zhu!” She looked at her mutated hands and recalled again.

After waking, she wreaked havoc.

“Eh? Eh?! What is this?” Yuan Jin Xing stared at her hands, her mind blank.

Where am I? Where am I?

“Listen, listen to me,” she said nervously, retreating step by step until she nearly touched the wall.

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Zhu took an unknown coat from the rack and approached, draping it over Yuan Jin Xing’s shoulders.

She timidly looked at his handsome face, feeling uncertain.

“You’re a bit warm.” He touched her forehead, then gently placed a finger on her lips, checking before removing it.

“Don’t worry, this is a method my mother taught me to check for fever.”

Yuan Jin Xing’s head felt hot and light, as if she did have a fever.

“Probably hallucinations,” she thought.

Mei stood at the door.

“Yuan Jin Xing, you are under arrest!” Mei stepped forward.

“Commander Zhu, please hand over your squad member to me,” Mei said.

Zhu placed his hand on Yuan Jin Xing’s shoulder, wary of Mei.

“You’re about to go to Mei City soon. You can protect her for a while, but not forever,” Mei said, not intending to forcibly take her, knowing Zhu wouldn’t stay long.

“She may be infected and mutated. I don’t want you to treat her as an outcast. If her body changes, her soul must not suffer more damage,” Zhu’s eyes were filled with sorrow, evoking pity.

“Commander Zhu.” Yuan Jin Xing was deeply moved, not wanting to cause him trouble.

“Commander Mei, I’ll come with you,” Yuan Jin Xing adjusted her coat and moved closer to Mei.

“Don’t worry, this is Lan’s territory. You’ll be safe,” Zhu advised.

“Commander Zhu, I don’t want to leave you,” Yuan Jin Xing cried as Mei dragged her away.

Confused, Yuan Jin Xing arrived at the interrogation room.

Lan was the first to enter, followed closely by Mei.

“Are you my niece?” Lan asked.

Yuan Jin Xing thought deeply.

“Otherwise? Aren’t you my only aunt? As for the claws just now, that was an accident. Maybe my feeling was triggered, causing the mutation to manifest externally.” Yuan Jin Xing’s eyes darted, her hands returning to normal.

“Yuan Jin Xing! Answer me!” Lan slammed the table.

Yuan Jin Xing took a deep breath.

“I am!”

“Good. Next question.” Mei began her questioning.

“What did your nine-year-old birthday cake look like?” Mei smiled.

“Cake?” Yuan Jin Xing’s memory blurred.

If she said she didn’t remember, she might be deemed abnormal and removed from the guard, plunging her life into darkness.

“It was that—egg, cake.” Yuan Jin Xing forced a grin, her face stiff.

No response from the others. Under the harsh light, their expressions were serious.

Yuan Jin Xing’s heart sank.

“A pink ice cream cake,” she suddenly recalled and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Who gave it to you?” Lan asked.

“You, Auntie,” Yuan Jin Xing answered without hesitation.

“You truly are my good niece!” Lan jumped up and hugged her.

Mei couldn’t help but rub her forehead.

“Shouldn’t the correct answer be your mother?” she said.

Lan held Yuan Jin Xing tightly.

“Poor memory isn’t unusual, right?”

“Commander Lan, please do not interfere with the interrogation, or I will have to ask you to leave,” Mei said disdainfully.

“So heartless.” Lan grudgingly returned to her seat.

“Next question.” Mei smiled again.

Yuan Jin Xing looked at Lan, two comrades in hardship.

“When is your mother’s death anniversary?”

The word ‘mother’ pricked Yuan Jin Xing’s head like needles.

“June first,” she answered, tinged with sadness.

Mei scribbled in her notebook.

“Next.”

“Auntie’s birthday.”

“April twelfth.”

“Father’s birthday.”

“I don’t know.” Yuan Jin Xing really couldn’t recall.

“That’s normal; you’ve rarely met your father,” Mei continued.

“Next question.”

“The birthday of the Primordial Qilin.”

“July...” Wait, what am I saying?

Mei’s eyelids drooped slightly.

“Very good, that’s all for now. Go to the detention room and wait. We’ll get back to you later.” Mei took her notebook and left with Lan.

Yuan Jin Xing wondered who the Primordial Qilin was.

“That was a dog you raised as a child. Don’t overthink it,” Lan told her.

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Is that so?

Mei entered the laboratory.

Behind the glass window lay a jade disc.

“They are resting now; without offerings, their recovery is slow.” Mei paused as she passed by, handing the notebook to Lan.

“See for yourself.”

Though Lan knew the answer, seeing the date June first still tugged at her heart.

“She lost her mother on Children’s Day,” Lan murmured sorrowfully.

Mei, of course, knew well—the Wuyu incident all stemmed from her.

“Past events are like smoke; dwelling on them causes us to miss many things,” Mei said lightly.

“Living in Yuan Jin Xing’s way could also be a form of punishment for ‘It’,” Mei said, gazing at the disc behind the glass.

“It’s also a punishment for me,” Lan added.

Yuan Jin Xing was locked in the detention room for a long time before someone came.

“Yuan Jin Xing, you are now officially part of the Yellow Dragon investigation task force,” Deputy Officer Yu issued the order.

“Yes!”

She could continue her missions.

Mei found Zhu.

“I’m entrusting you with affairs in Mei City. The situation there is complicated, with paleobiological creatures mixed among the populace. Here’s a list.” Mei’s move aimed to ease Zhu’s doubts, as he knew nothing and taking over would be difficult.

This was Old Mei’s design, hence the list.

Her wish was for humans and paleobiological creatures to coexist harmoniously.

Understanding dawned in Zhu’s eyes.

“So you’ve been hiding so much from us.”

“This list isn’t complete. We need to find out who is plotting the revival of paleobiological creatures,” Mei revealed a shocking conspiracy, though she knew everything but chose to keep it secret.

“This has been going on for so long; it’s hard to handle.”

“You mean this was all premeditated?”

“Exactly. Don’t underestimate those creatures.”

“Amid your violent suppression, the clever ones slipped away to plot secretly. Isn’t that normal? But it also shows that humans and paleobiological beings can coexist,” Mei said, as if saying, “You don’t know what I know.”

“Justice exists only within cannon range,” she added wryly.

Zhu studied the atlas and annotations beside him.

“Very complex forces.”

“There are good and bad among them. Our goal is to maintain balance, which better protects the people,” Mei said, eyeing his handsome face with some envy. Even the air seemed fragrant.

“Slap!” The atlas was slapped onto her face. Zhu left in a mix of embarrassment and anger.

Mei picked up the atlas, looking delighted.

“Even his temper can’t make me angry.”

Yuan Jin Xing reclaimed the jade disc.

“This isn’t mine.” She didn’t want to accept something unknown, to avoid suspicion.

“Take it,” Lan came out.

To prevent the dragons from rampaging after long without sensing the Dragon God’s presence.

“Mei seems knowledgeable in this area. You must have merged some dragon bloodline. Lucky you haven’t had your mind replaced,” Lan personally placed the disc on her.

“Yuan Jin Xing, welcome back to the team.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

But Yuan Jin Xing hadn’t expected that one of her teammates was—Mei?!

“What’s wrong? Never seen a commander in action?” Mei showed no care for others’ stares.

“Commander Mei, if you leave, what will happen to Mei City?”

“Zhu City is still rebuilding; we sent Commander Zhu there.”

“Poor Zhu, his shoulder injury hasn’t healed. If he used my saliva—slurp—it would heal faster. Too bad he didn’t even give me the chance to refuse—left overnight,” Mei complained.

Yuan Jin Xing’s eyes darkened, an emotional crisis brewing!

And her opponent was the formidable Commander Mei...

“Oh, right,” Mei grinned.

“You’re a poor loser in love.”

Yuan Jin Xing was stunned on the spot.

Ridiculed by a romantic rival!!

“You...” Yuan Jin Xing somehow found the courage to offend a battalion commander.

“Alright, you two. If Zhu had to choose, he wouldn’t pick someone strong-limbed but simple-minded.”

Mei and Yuan Jin Xing froze simultaneously.

Both thought, “Is she talking about me?”

“Master Huang is the contact for this mission and my mentor. You two will meet him at Anxi Tuojiang’s Little Three Gorges. Be polite,” Lan handed both their mission manuals.

The two got into the car heading to the mission site, each giving the other a cold look.