Chapter 443: The Protector of the Dragon, Authorized to Act Alone!
"How dare you!"
As soon as Lin Mu finished speaking, a colonel instantly pulled out his pistol and pointed it at Lin Mu’s head. "If you disrespect Major General Liu again, believe it or not, I’ll blow your brains out!"
"You’d better put that gun down," Lin Mu said, glancing at the man. "Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle the consequences."
"Are you threatening me?" the colonel scoffed, clicking off the safety. "When I was fighting on the battlefield, you were probably still playing in the mud somewhere!"
"Hmph, some people are just asking for death!" the old crone from the Fire Cloud Sect said coldly. "The Martial Alliance governs the Martial Artists of Huaxia, but it is also under the jurisdiction of the Military Department. So what if you, Lin Wudi, are ranked tenth on the Heavenly List?"
"He’s truly courting death!" the Great Elder chimed in with a sneer, a mocking smile on his face as he watched Lin Mu. With Liu Xiu’s backing, he didn’t believe Lin Mu would dare to act recklessly.
"Well said," Liu Xiu announced with an air of arrogance. "Lin Wudi, I hereby order you to surrender immediately and accompany me to the Martial Alliance to plead guilty!"
"Plead guilty?" Lin Mu laughed. He looked at Liu Xiu, his face an emotionless mask, and said, "Who do you think you are, telling me to plead guilty?"
"Audacious!" The colonel’s finger twitched and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet shrieked through the air, heading straight for Lin Mu. Facing a Martial Arts Grandmaster, the colonel had fired without a moment’s hesitation, showing his deadly resolve. The bullet flew incredibly fast.
However, everyone’s eyes suddenly widened in disbelief. Just as the bullet was about to strike Lin Mu, they saw him raise his hand and snatch it from the air.
In an instant, many onlookers sneered inwardly. Has Lin Wudi lost his mind? Trying to catch a bullet with his bare hands? Even for a Martial Arts Grandmaster, does he think he’s bulletproof?
But the next moment left everyone with their eyes bulging and mouths agape in shock.
CLANG!
A crisp metallic sound rang out. The speeding bullet was now held firmly in Lin Mu’s hand. He opened his palm, and the bullet dropped to the ground, making a clear clinking sound.
Everyone gasped, their eyes as wide as saucers.
"This..." The colonel’s face turned deathly pale, his heart pounding with shock. Catching a bullet with bare hands? And from the looks of it, he doesn’t seem to be hurt at all.
TAP. TAP. TAP.
Lin Mu began to walk slowly toward the colonel. For every step Lin Mu took forward, the colonel took one step back.
"What do you want?" the colonel asked, a hint of panic in his eyes. He was clearly shaken by Lin Mu’s display.
"Stop!" the colonel yelled, raising his pistol again. "If you dare take one more step, I’ll kill you right now!"
However, Lin Mu didn’t stop.
"Fire!" Liu Xiu commanded with a sharp wave of his hand. Two thousand soldiers instantly raised their rifles, ready to pull their triggers.
"I’d like to see who dares!"
Just then, Lin Mu suddenly raised his hand, and an ancient-looking token appeared in everyone’s sight. The token was a majestic purple-gold, carved with a nine-clawed Golden Dragon that gave it an air of ancient authority. On its face were two boldly stroked characters: Protector of the Dragon!
Beside these characters was a line of smaller text: "A heart of warm blood, guarding our rivers and mountains!"
Seeing these words, all the soldiers present felt a surge of hot blood rushing to their heads. It was like a memory etched deep in their souls, something that resonated within their very blood and bones.
The Dragon Guard Order!
"This is..." The colonel’s body trembled, his lips turning white as a tumultuous shockwave crashed through his heart. "The Dragon Guard Order!" he uttered in disbelief. "This is the Dragon Guard Order!"
It wasn’t just him. Liu Xiu and the two thousand soldiers stared, utterly aghast, at the token in Lin Mu’s hand.
The Dragon Guard Order!
Across the vastness of Huaxia and its million-strong army, those who possessed this token were few and far between. Many had only heard of it in legends, never having laid eyes on it themselves. Yet today, they were witnessing the real thing. Its unique design and familiar aura, an essence seemingly embedded in their very bones, confirmed it for every soldier: this was the Dragon Guard Order!
"Now, do you still want to kill me?" Lin Mu asked the colonel, his eyes as cold and still as water.
"I..." The colonel was so shocked he couldn’t speak. His limbs felt weak, and an icy chill spread through his heart. He had just attacked a bearer of the Dragon Guard Order. According to military law, this was an act of gross insubordination, an offense punishable by a court-martial!
"Colonel Zhao Dalong of the Second Group Army, Jiangling Military Region, greetings, Sir!" The colonel snapped his heels together and threw Lin Mu a sharp military salute.
"Colonel Jia Jianguo of the Second Group Army, Jiangling Military Region, greetings, Sir!" the other colonel followed suit, also snapping his legs together and saluting.
Their gazes were locked on the Dragon Guard Order in Lin Mu’s hand, their eyes burning with fervor. For a soldier, to see the Dragon Guard Order was the greatest honor of their life.
With a unified clatter, the two thousand soldiers instantly lowered their weapons and saluted, their voices thundering like a great bell, "Greetings, Sir!"
At this moment, their hearts were filled with shock and... terror. From the day they joined the army, they had been told one thing: A Protector of the Dragon could act with sole authority!
They had just pointed their guns at a member of the Dragon Protection Hall. This was a grave act of disrespect, an indelible stain on their military careers.
Liu Xiu said nothing.
The old crone and the Great Elder dared not speak.
The disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect didn’t even dare to breathe.
When did Lin Wudi become a member of the Dragon Protection Hall? This is beyond shocking! They’d really courted disaster today!
The Dragon Guard Order could mobilize three thousand soldiers! A Protector of the Dragon could act with sole authority! Today, they had truly brought a catastrophe upon themselves.
That included Liu Xiu. Although he was a Major General, he wielded no real power. Compared to a member of the Dragon Protection Hall, he was leagues below. Daring to lead troops to besiege a member of the Dragon Protection Hall was a military crime! Even if Lin Mu killed him now, no one in the Military Department would dare to object!
This was the privilege of the Dragon Protection Hall. Acting with sole authority wasn’t just for show!
"Sir, I..." Zhao Dalong knew he had made a grave mistake and was terrified.
But Lin Mu had no desire to hear his explanation. He turned to Jia Jianguo and said, "Take him away and turn him over to the Military Department."
"Yes, Sir!" Jia Jianguo’s heart trembled, but he didn’t dare object. He immediately stepped forward, disarmed Zhao Dalong, and put him in handcuffs.
"Sir, I’m sorry!" Zhao Dalong offered no resistance. As a soldier, he knew the magnitude of his mistake. The judgment of a military court awaited him.
After dealing with Zhao Dalong, Lin Mu turned to Liu Xiu, the Major General who harbored such deep resentment for him.
"Lin—" Liu Xiu opened his mouth, but before he could finish, he suddenly clutched his throat as blood began to stream from it. Lin Mu was the one who had struck.
"I warned you not to provoke me," Lin Mu said, his gaze icy as he watched Liu Xiu. "But you brought this on yourself. You have only your own stupidity to blame."
If he had heard these same words earlier, Liu Xiu would have scoffed. But now, all he felt was terror.
"Please... don’t kill me..." As soon as Liu Xiu spoke, a torrent of blood gushed from his mouth.
"In your next life, remember not to provoke me again."
The moment Lin Mu finished speaking, Liu Xiu collapsed to the ground, dead.
A Major General of the Military Department had died so miserably. A cold shiver ran down the spines of the Fire Cloud Sect members.
Lin Wudi... so ruthless!