Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

"Testing over."

Old Qin's voice came through the communicator, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"The data collection is very complete! Consultant Jiang, how are you feeling now?"

Jiang Nian slowly opened her eyes; everything in the room remained exactly as it was.

The silver indicator light on the wall was off, and Su Qing was carefully putting it back into her bag.

"Nothing unusual."

Jiang Nian stretched his neck. "The cooling sensation in the marked area disappeared about ten seconds after the test ended. Everything is normal now."

"Very good!" Old Qin's voice was even more excited.

"We've collected crucial data! In particular, during the three seconds when the reverse interference wave was activated, the labeling activity in your body was significantly suppressed!"

"Although the increase is small, only about 15%, it proves that our approach is correct!"

"What is the significance of this 15% inhibition rate in actual combat?"

Jiang Nian stood up and walked towards the door.

"Of great significance!"

Old Qin quickly explained, "This means that as long as we can increase the suppression rate to over 70%, and combine it with your own internal energy regulation, we can significantly reduce the probability of being detected remotely."

"If you can achieve 90%, theoretically you can be invisible to their radar for several minutes!"

Su Qing opened the door, and Chen Meng stepped aside to let Jiang Nian pass, his eyes still scanning the corridor warily.

How long does it take to increase the inhibition rate?

Jiang Nian asked questions as he walked, keeping his voice very low.

"If there is enough data, it is expected to reach 50% within 72 hours."

Old Qin paused for a moment, then said, "But to reach 90%, it will take at least a week, and we will need more experimental data, and we may also need your cooperation in testing."

"There's not enough time," Jiang Nian said.

There was a two-second silence on the communicator before Bai Yongxu's voice came in.

“Jiang Nian is right. Based on the activity decay model and the intercepted intelligence, the organization is likely already deploying its forces.”

"Three days is the maximum safety window we can secure."

"Three days."

Old Qin's voice was filled with resentment, "A 50% inhibition rate can only reduce the risk, not completely eliminate it."

"Then reduce the risk."

Jiang Nian had already returned to the set of "Lifeline," and the assistant director was waving at him.

When will the trapping plan be finalized?

"The detailed plan will be sent to your encrypted terminal before 10 p.m. tonight."

Bai Yongxu said, "Commander Zhao is doing the final simulation."

"You don't need to do much preparation, but you need to be mentally prepared."

"clear."

Communications cut off.

On set, Director Zhang Yi saw Jiang Nian return and glanced at his watch: "Just a twenty-minute break. Jiang Nian, come and take a look at the takes we just filmed."

Several people were gathered in front of the monitor, including Lin Wan and Chen Xiao.

The screen is replaying a scene from a previous conversation between Jiang Nian and the patient's family.

“Look here,” Zhang Yi pointed to Jiang Nian’s slight turn in the picture. “The timing of this turn was very good. It avoided the family’s overly emotional physical movements and maintained a professional distance.”

"But how to put it in their eyes? It's not sympathy, it's understanding. It's hard to strike the right balance."

“Lu Chenxi has experienced too many life and death separations,” Jiang Nian said, looking at himself on the screen. “He knows that words of comfort are pale and powerless, so he chooses to support the family with professionalism and calmness.”

"But behind this support, he himself is also bearing the burden."

Lin Wan nodded thoughtfully: "So when Teacher Jiang said 'we will do our best' just now, her tone was very calm, but her fingers unconsciously curled up. That wasn't nervousness, but suppressed emotion."

"You're very observant," Jiang Nian said, glancing at her.

Zhang Yi clapped his hands in satisfaction: "Great! That's exactly the kind of detail we need!"

"Alright, get ready for the next scene. Lin Wan, Jiang Nian, you two go to the ward area to practice your positions."

The subsequent filming went smoothly.

By 4:30 p.m., all the filming schedule for the day was completed.

When they finished work, Zhang Yi specifically called Jiang Nian aside: "We're filming the rooftop night scene tomorrow, which involves a lot of emotional ups and downs. Are you really okay?"

"no problem."

Jiang Nian said confidently, "I will be ready."

"That's good." Zhang Yi nodded and lowered his voice. "Zhou Yuxuan's company sent someone over today to discuss compensation and follow-up publicity. I didn't see them; I had the producer handle it."

"Don't worry, the production team won't let him cause any more trouble."

"Thank you, director."

"Of course," Zhang Yi waved his hand. "Whether a film succeeds or not depends on the whole thing. We can't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. Go back and get some rest. See you tomorrow."

It was already 6 p.m. when we got back to the hotel.

Chen Meng strolled casually at the end of the corridor, but was actually monitoring the activity on the entire floor.

Jiang Nian took a shower, changed into comfortable loungewear, and sat on the sofa to open the encrypted tablet.

Several new documents have been received.

One document is a data analysis report of today's tests compiled by Qin Lao's team. It is rich in graphics and text, and details the changes in marker activity curves, the effect parameters of the reverse interference wave, and the risk prediction model based on this data.

The second document was a brief report from Bai Yongxu regarding the latest developments in the South China Sea.

Satellite monitoring shows that in the past 24 hours, three brief unidentified underwater signals appeared near the target sea area, all originating from depths of over 800 meters, and their characteristics are similar to those of the underwater vehicles encountered previously.

"They're already nearby."

Bai Yongxu added a note at the end of the document: "Our time may be tighter than expected."

The third document is the largest; it is a preliminary draft of the trapping plan, titled "Operation Fishing," and is classified as top secret.

Jiang Nian clicked on it and quickly browsed through it.

The core of the plan is to use Jiang Nian as bait to lure the organization's underwater units closer, and then have our submarines and deep-sea submersibles lying in ambush nearby capture or destroy them.

The operation was to take place in international waters in the South China Sea, about 200 nautical miles from the mainland, where the water depth was suitable and the area was far from major shipping routes.

His mission was to arrive at the designated coordinates in a disguised vessel at a specified time, then dive to a depth of 300 meters and actively release an enhanced harmonic signal.

Using the temporary amplification device developed by Qin's team, the activity of the marker can be increased by another level in a short period of time.

"This is equivalent to lighting a torch in the dark," the draft states, "and will inevitably attract all nearby units that are sensitive to the signal."

The risk assessment section was very detailed: the probability of successful detection was over 95%; the probability of being attacked was about 30%; the probability of mission exposure leading to identity leakage was 10%; and the risk to personal safety, assuming a well-developed contingency plan and timely response, was controlled to within 15%. Jiang Nian's gaze lingered on the "personal safety risk" section for a few seconds.

Fifteen percent is a very high figure for conventional military operations.

However, this assessment may be overly optimistic for such special operations targeting extraordinary individuals and unknown technologies.

He continued to look down.

The response plan is divided into three levels.

In the best-case scenario, after the signal is sent, the organization appears and is successfully captured or driven away, and Jiang Nian returns along the original route; in the second-best-case scenario, he is attacked but not exposed, and evacuates after activating emergency shielding.

In the worst-case scenario, if exposed and pursued, our attack submarines, lurking deeper in the water, will provide fire support, even at the cost of sinking the enemy, to ensure Jiang Nian's safe evacuation.

"We will not hesitate to sink the enemy." Jiang repeated this sentence in a low voice.

This means that if the worst-case scenario unfolds, a direct underwater conflict could break out.

The consequences of the conflict could prematurely ignite the already fragile balance between the organization and the conflict.

There was a gentle knock on the door, and Su Qing's voice came through: "Teacher Jiang, dinner is ready."

"Come in."

Su Qing came in carrying a tray and placed several exquisite dishes on the small table.

She glanced at the tablet screen in Jiang Nian's hand. Although she couldn't see the content clearly, she could guess what it was.

"We just received news from the base," she said in a low voice as she set the table, "Qin's team is trying to synthesize a new composite waveform, which is said to have a better inhibitory effect on labeling activity than expected. The first batch of experimental data will be available in an hour."

"After one hour."

Jiang Nian checked the time; it was 6:40 PM. "That means we'll know tonight whether the inhibition rate can be significantly improved in a short period of time."

“Yes.” Su Qing nodded. “Chief Bai asked me to tell you that regardless of the suppression rate results, the fishing operation will proceed as planned.”

"The only difference is that your level of security will be different."

“Su Qing,” he suddenly asked, “have you participated in similar missions before?”

Su Qing paused for a moment, then regained her professional demeanor: "Chen Meng is experienced. Three years ago, he participated in a raid on a foreign biological laboratory, and the opponent also used some unconventional methods."

"The results of it?"

"Mission successful, target destroyed."

“But two of our men were seriously injured, and one was killed.” Su Qing’s voice was calm, but a hint of heaviness flashed in her eyes. “Chen Meng’s left shoulder injury was from that incident.”

Jiang Nian nodded and didn't ask anything more.

After dinner, he did his evening exercise as usual.

Today, however, his movements were slower and more focused than usual.

His internal energy flowed slowly through his meridians. He could clearly perceive the marked areas, but when he focused his attention on them, he could detect subtle differences between them and the surrounding tissues.

This perception did not exist before the test.

"Is it more obvious because it's been activated?" Jiang Nian wondered.

The workout ended at 8:30 p.m.

A new message popped up on the encrypted tablet, from Professor Qin: "The results of the first batch of composite waveform experiments are out. The suppression rate is 41%, which is lower than expected."

"However, a new phenomenon has been discovered: composite waveforms can induce periodic fluctuations in label activity, during which the detection risk decreases. The mechanism is being analyzed."

Forty-one percent.

Jiang Nian stared at the number.

We're still a little short of the 50% target, and even further from 90%.

But the cyclical fluctuations are a new clue.

He replied: "How long is the fluctuation period? What is the peak suppression rate during the fluctuation period?"

A few minutes later, Professor Qin replied: "The cycle is unstable, averaging about three minutes. During the fluctuations, the suppression rate can reach as high as 68%, but it can only be maintained for ten to fifteen seconds. We are trying to stabilize this fluctuation."

Jiang Nian quickly calculated in his mind. If he could trigger this fluctuation at a critical moment, even if it only lasted for a dozen seconds, it would be enough to significantly reduce the probability of being locked on.

Just as he was about to continue asking questions, an urgent communication request suddenly interrupted the encrypted channel.

From Bai Yongxu.

"Jiang Nian, we have just intercepted important intelligence."

Bai Yongxu's voice was unusually urgent, "The organization's activities in the South China Sea have suddenly accelerated! We intercepted an encrypted command that indicates a verification operation will take place in the target waters around 11 p.m. tomorrow!"

"Receive verification?" Jiang Nian frowned.

"The intelligence is incomplete, but based on the activity cycle marked in your body, we speculate that they may be planning an active probe tomorrow night to verify the status and location of the key!"

Bai Yongxu quickly said, "If that's the case, our fishing operation must be moved up! It would be best to disrupt their rhythm before they even begin!"

"How far in advance?"

"Tomorrow night at nine o'clock," Bai Yongxu said, emphasizing each word, "that is, twenty-four hours from now."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Su Qing stood at the door, clearly having overheard the conversation, her expression grave.

Chen Meng pushed open the door from the corridor and said in a deep voice, "Advisor Jiang, we need to adjust tomorrow's schedule. The film crew needs to find a reasonable reason to request leave."

Jiang Nian did not answer immediately.

He walked to the window and looked at the night view of the film and television base outside.

Several film studios in the distance still had lights on, suggesting that night scenes might still be being filmed.

“We can move it forward.” Jiang Nian turned around, his gaze calm. “But the plan needs to be adjusted. If their verification is at 11 o’clock, our action at 9 o’clock will alert them in advance.”

"The best time is around 10:30, when they are about to start their operation and their attention is at its peak, that's when we will make our move."

Bai Yongxu was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the call: "You want to take advantage of the time difference?"

“Yes.” Jiang Nian walked back to the table, quickly swiping his fingers on the tablet to bring up the nautical chart.

"They started verification at 11:00, so by around 10:30, their detection equipment should have been warmed up and personnel should be in place, but they should not have entered the highest alert state yet."

"Our appearance at this time can both attract their attention when they are most sensitive and disrupt their plans."

“The risks are also greater,” Bai Yongxu said in a deep voice. “If they react quickly, you might run right into their main force.”

“Then let’s just go for it.” Jiang Nian’s tone remained unchanged. “If you’re going to fish, you have to use the best bait. If they really value this key, they will definitely send a sufficiently powerful unit to verify it.”

"What we're looking for isn't small fish or shrimp."

Commander Zhao's voice came through the communication channel; he was clearly listening in as well: "Jiang Nian makes sense. But your safety..."

"My safety is contingent on the success of the mission."

Jiang Nian interrupted him, "If we can't severely damage or capture their core units this time, and they complete their verification and determine my location and status, then we'll only be able to passively take the beating."

"At that time, my safety was even less guaranteed." (End of Chapter)