Page 354

At five o’clock on the second day’s morning, everyone was startled awake by whistle blows.

Under tense assembly, everyone led their military dogs quickly into formation, and finally, the opening ceremony of the competition commenced.

Just as dawn broke, the military district compound was already bustling with activity, the crisp air carrying the coolness of dew, with teams from various countries lined up neatly in rows.

The crowd was packed, yet orderly, even the military dogs stood at their designated spots, daring not to move an inch.

After the opening ceremony, the teams were divided into six groups, each participating in six different military dog assessments.

Quan Shaoqing led his people, divided by Long Yi, Yun Xiao, Gu Xiaoxi, Jing Haoran, Guan Dongjiu, and Baili Tao into six teams, dispersing into the arena.

Everyone chose their strongest events.

This military dog competition included events in scenting, hearing, nighttime search and rescue, tracking, human rescue, apprehension, search, detection, resistance to temptation, obedience, vigilance, long-distance running, obstacle crossing, minesweeping, and other combinations of eighteen competitive events.

Gu Xiaoxi selected obstacle crossing, minesweeping, resistance to temptation, and search and rescue for Xiao Xiao.

Joining her in the competition were Zhuang Xiaomeng and Ji Xinyu.

By nine in the morning, everyone had arrived at the venue for the competition.

Though it was a temporary military dog military base, the architectural facilities were all in place.

Gu Xiaoxi knew that winning this competition wouldn’t be easy.

Because gathered here were elite talents from each country, and not only Xiao Xiao’s military dog possessed spirituality.

At the start of the competition, Gu Xiaoxi noticed a black Shepherd.

That military dog wasn’t particularly large, but its gaze carried an air of clarity and spirituality not found in ordinary military dogs. Perhaps because she was very sensitive to Spiritual Energy, she could feel that this military dog was even more so endowed than her Xiao Xiao.

Its master was a teenager about her age, named Sa Mo. He came from Xiongli, a very poor country near the Primitive Forest.

Due to the high population and unique geographical location, military development was savage.

Although technology didn’t develop strongly in recent years, the quality and ability of the soldiers were particularly outstanding.

Therefore, this world competition extended them an invite, providing them the opportunity to make an appearance on the global stage.

The event was being live broadcasted, not only was Young Master Quan watching the competition, but countless people within the country who cared about the world competition were as well.

Jing Yuan had already brewed a cup of tea, postponed all his current work, and waited in front of the television, watching the live broadcast of the Xuan State competition.

However, a phone call came in, causing him to feel extremely regretful, because he had to leave the television to pick someone up from the airport.

Meanwhile, in the luxurious Hexagon Building, Fu Qiuyi was likewise focused on the television screen.

His secretary was completely befuddled, "Chairman, why are you watching this?"

"It’s none of your business. Postpone this afternoon’s meeting to tomorrow. Hand over the new investment case to Xiu to handle," said Fu Qiuyi, with a cold demeanor.

Once the secretary had left, he returned his gaze to the live broadcast on the computer, involuntarily feeling anxious.

Ever since the conversation at the Zhang family with Quan Shaoqing, he had taken notice of Gu Xiaoxi and then inquired about her affairs.

He could affirm that Gu Xiaoxi was indeed his daughter.

After years of separation since her disappearance, he had gone through so much over the years in the search for his daughter, only to find out she had been near him all along. They had even met but still did not recognize each other.

While he was slightly excited, looking at the computer screen, the office door was knocked on again by the secretary.

"What is it? Didn’t I instruct that if it’s not important, not to disturb me?" A trace of anger appeared on Fu Qiuyi’s face.

The secretary immediately said, terrifyied, "There’s a lady downstairs who claims to be your ex-wife. She’s here to see her daughter."

Fu Qiuyi was taken aback, then he was visibly shaken, his mind going blank for a moment.

His ex-wife was back, looking for their daughter!

Jing Rui, she was still alive!

Instantly, Fu Qiuyi clenched his fists, his chest filled with hatred in that moment, his angry eyes reddened.

"Tell her, I have no ex-wife, nor do I have her daughter," the man said, feeling the air turning ice cold, breathing as though it pained him.

The woman, who had abandoned him and their daughter, left for twenty years without a word. He had thought she died out there.

Now, she’s back, looking for her daughter, how laughable. Is she worthy?

"Oh! I say, Mr. Fu, twenty years no see, you’ve forgotten your old love with a new one. Do you really not recognize me, or are you pretending? Or perhaps, you’re afraid your current wife will get angry and misunderstand if she sees me?"

Right then, the sound of high heels clacking was exceptionally loud at the entrance of his office.

The secretary was shocked to see the woman who had just been at the company’s main entrance now appearing here.

To know that the security here was very tight, how did she get in?

Fu Qiuyi looked up at the woman who approached, in her forties yet maintained herself like a woman in her twenties.

She wore a black body-hugging dress that highlighted her proud curves and beautiful sandy blonde wavy hair that enhanced her delicate features, exuding a dangerously enchanting allure.

She was naturally beautiful. At the age of twenty, she was innocent and cute, even without any embellishment, she was dazzlingly beautiful.

At forty, she had become a top-tier mature woman, her bones radiated a femininity that is unique to women, combined with the calm and maturity honed by years, something a woman in her twenties could not compare with.

Her aura was complex, like a beautiful but poisonous flower, gorgeous yet dangerous.

Twenty years had passed.

He had forgotten her face. In the murky recesses of his memory, he had always thought of her as the wicked woman who abandoned her husband and child.

But he would never forget her name.

After she left, he burned all her belongings, but what he couldn’t burn from his memory was her name.

The words Jing Rui, like a scar, even after the lengthy passage of time, still remained over his heart, aching every time he recalled them.

At the same time, he grew to utterly hate the person that was Jing Rui.

The secretary only felt the atmosphere in the office turn peculiarly eerie.

Especially since the chairman’s face was as dark as ink, the hatred in his eyes was palpable even to an outsider, fiercely bitter.

The woman who walked in had gorgeous features and lips as vibrant as a rose. With skin as fair as jade and stunning beauty, she appeared even more beautiful than a rose. Even with a faint smile on her face, she seemed as dangerous as Hell’s Abyss.

"I don’t know you! Get out, Xiao Zhang, are all our company’s security guards good for nothing?" Mr. Fu slammed his hand on the desk, startling the secretary nearly out of her wits.

Regaining her composure in a panic, she immediately nodded, "Chairman, please calm down, I will call someone right away."

"No need to call, with their pitiful skills, I can handle them all with one finger," Jing Rui said with the ticking of her high heels in the room, particularly grating.

She stepped towards the man in front of the desk, the smile still on her face as if it had never changed, "Who would have thought that the poor boy from back then could rise to such a position today. Tsk tsk, I underestimated you. You’ve had a good life. Where did you hide my daughter?"

The woman sat down across from him, arrogantly crossing her slender legs, took out a cigarette and lit it, then looked at him nonchalantly as if waiting for his answer.

Fu Qiuyi was clenching his fists, his face full of anger, "Don’t even dream of seeing her, because you’re not worthy."

Jing Rui’s slightly raised brows furrowed, her hand resting on his desk, her expression growing serious, and a hint of murderous intent seeped through her eyes.

Fu Qiuyi felt a sudden chill in his heart.

He realized, she was no longer the simple yet intelligent rich girl from twenty years ago.

But a terrifying and cold-blooded killer, that gaze enough to make one’s skin crawl.

Just as the atmosphere tensed and the air in the room seemed to drop to freezing, with their gazes locked in a fierce standoff.

Several security guards, battered and bruised, rushed in from the doorway, quickly explaining, "Chairman, it’s our fault. This woman is too formidable; we couldn’t stop her. We will throw her out right now."

As they said this, they charged at Jing Rui, but upon reaching her, fear kept them from advancing.

The chief security stuttered, "Madam, please leave quickly. I’ve called the police already, and if you don’t leave now, you’ll be taken to the police station."

Jing Rui’s seductive red lips pursed slightly, then suddenly, she exhaled and her attitude softened somewhat, "Fine, I’m not worthy. But surely I can see her, at least. Pretend I’m dead, but even dead, I should have the right to see her from heaven. Fu Qiuyi, I’m begging you."

She had never begged anyone all these years, and now, lowering herself so humbly, pleading so desperately, was only for the regret in her heart that she could never make right.