Great Power Reclamation

Chapter 3006 Choice
Ye Yuze stood by the window a little further away, looking at the bustling traffic below, his back view appearing somewhat lonely.

Upon receiving the news, he immediately mobilized all resources to ensure that Han Ye received the best possible treatment.

But faced with this silent questioning from his family, he chose to remain silent. He knew that any explanation at this moment would be futile.

Hurried and forceful footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor. Ye Yufan, dressed in casual clothes, rushed over, having just finished an important meeting.

Seeing this scene before him, he took a deep breath, walked to his father Ye Wancheng's side, and reported in a low voice:
"Dad, the child is out of danger. The bullet has been removed. He needs to rest due to internal organ concussion, but his life is not in danger."

The news brought a slight sigh of relief to everyone, but the tense atmosphere did not ease.

"Nonsense!" Old Master Han slammed his cane on the ground, making a dull thud that broke the silence.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "This is utter nonsense! How old is he? Eighteen! Sending him on a 'Candle Dragon' level mission? You..."

His gaze swept over Ye Shan. "How can you act like elders?!"

Ye Shan stopped and sighed, "Old Chief, this matter... I just wanted to get some experience, and I'll go along with it myself."

"Training? Training almost caused the only son of my Han family to perish in the muddy swamp on the border!"

Grandpa Han was somewhat agitated, his chest heaving.

“I know that being a soldier means being prepared to sacrifice! There are no cowards in the Han family who are afraid of death! But he is still a child! He has never even seen a real battlefield!”

“Dad,” Han Xiaojing began, her voice slightly hoarse, “Han Ye… he’s grown up. He found his direction on the plateau, proved himself at the training camp, and he completed this mission…”

"He was just lucky!" Old Master Han interrupted her. "If it weren't for that girl Zhuoma, if it weren't for Ye Shan leading the team, if it weren't for the timely rescue... the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

He looked at Ye Shan, "Ye Shan, I know you admire him and want to hone his skills. But forcing him to grow too fast will only ruin him!"

Ye Shan turned around, facing Old Master Han's gaze, and calmly said, "Grandpa Han, I have never deliberately toughened him up. He chose this path himself. This mission is an inevitable part of his journey."

"Only after seeing blood and experiencing life and death can he truly understand the responsibility on his shoulders and truly be worthy of the blood in his veins."

"But the price is too high!" Mei Hua said, her voice trembling with tears. "This is my own grandson! If anything happens to him..."

“Mom,” Ye Yuji hugged her mother tightly, “Yezi pulled through, he will be even stronger.”

"Powerful?" Old Master Han sneered. "What I need is not a warrior who only knows how to charge into battle! The Han family and the Ye family, in his generation, need someone who can control the overall situation and strategize, not a vanguard who might die on the battlefield at any moment!"

This statement, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand waves.

Everyone understood what Old Master Han meant. Han Ye, as the dual heir of the bloodline and spirit of the Han and Ye families, should never be defined as just an excellent warrior.

He needs a broader vision and more comprehensive abilities to shoulder the future and expectations of two large families.

This serious injury acted as a fuse, completely igniting long-standing disagreements and deep anxieties within the family regarding Han Ye's life plans.

After Han Ye was transferred to a regular ward, visitors came in droves, but the hospital kept them all out, citing the need for rest. Only her closest relatives were allowed to enter.

When Han Ye woke up, he saw his family gathered around his bed. He smiled weakly, as if to say something, but was stopped by a gesture from his grandfather.

"Take good care of your injury and don't talk." The old man's tone softened considerably, but his eyes remained deep.

While Han Ye was recovering from his injury, a silent yet intense struggle for his future was taking place outside the hospital room.

Grandpa Han and the others reached a consensus: Han Ye must leave the front-line combat troops. His stage should not be limited to the jungle and the smoke of battle.

They envisioned that once Han Ye recovered from his injuries, he should enter a top military academy for systematic study, not only in military command but also in politics, economics, and international relations, laying a solid foundation for future advancement to higher positions.

Some even suggested that he be transferred to a relatively safe research institution or government department.

Ye Yuji was conflicted. She felt sorry for her son, but she also vaguely felt that forcibly changing his will might not be the best choice.

Han Xiaojing, on the other hand, stood firmly by her son's side. Having experienced life and death herself, she understood even more the light of belonging in her son's eyes.

She told Ye Yuze privately, "If he truly loves that place and is willing to sacrifice for it, we shouldn't clip his wings."

Ye Yuze remained silent throughout. He neither directly refuted Old Master Han's plan nor explicitly supported Han Xiaojing.

He would come to the hospital every day to sit for a while, sometimes chatting with Han Ye about the details of training and missions (avoiding the gory parts), and sometimes just sitting quietly.

He asked Han Ye, "Do you regret it?"

Han Ye looked at the ceiling and shook his head. Although the movement aggravated his wound and made him frown, his eyes remained unusually clear and firm.

"No regrets. Dad, at that moment, I knew what I was doing, I knew what I was fighting for. That feeling... was very reassuring."

Ye Yuze nodded and said nothing more.

The deadlock was broken by Han Ye's own statement at a family meeting after his health improved slightly.

That day, Grandpa Han, Ye Wancheng, Meihua, Ye Yuze, Han Xiaojing, and Ye Yuji were all present. The atmosphere remained somewhat somber.

Old Master Han spoke first, his tone gentle but carrying an undeniable authority:
“Ye Zi, you were seriously injured this time, and everyone was very worried. You are still young and have a long road ahead of you. After this incident, your grandpa, grandma, and I all feel that you should change your environment, learn more, and see a wider world. The army doesn’t necessarily have to be a dangerous place.”

Han Ye leaned against the headboard, his face still a little pale, but his eyes were like stars that had been tempered, bright and firm.

He listened quietly to his grandfather's words, then his gaze swept over each of the relatives present.

He saw the expectation and unquestionable look in his grandfather's eyes, the heartache and worry of his grandparents, the support and understanding of his mother, and the complex emotions of his aunt.

Finally, his gaze fell on Ye Yuze, who had remained silent throughout.

He took a deep breath; his wound throbbed slightly, but his voice remained clear and steady:
“Grandpa, Grandpa Ye, Grandma, Mom, Aunt.” He paused, “I know you all mean well, you’re afraid something will happen to me, and you want to plan a safer and brighter path for me.”

“But,” he changed his tone, his voice becoming more resolute, “what is safety? What is the light?”

"If being safe means taking me away from the path I've chosen, the path I love, and the path I'm willing to give everything for."

"If the so-called light means living under the protection of my family, instead of measuring the world with my own feet and bearing the burdens on my own shoulders... then I would rather not have such security and light."

He raised his still-movable right hand and gently pressed it against his chest:
“Here, people are wearing military uniforms; here, the blood of the Han and Ye families flows. I know better than anyone what this means.”

"It's not about letting me rest on my laurels and enjoy the benefits, but about enabling me to step up without hesitation when the country and the people need me!"

Like my dad, like my aunt, like Brother Yeshan, like countless unsung heroes!

His voice wasn't loud, but it was firm and resolute, carrying a maturity and determination beyond his years. "I was wounded on this mission, and I almost died. But I've never been as clear-headed as I am now. I know why I picked up a gun, and I know what I'm meant to protect."

"This kind of belief cannot be obtained in a quiet classroom or a comfortable office; it is forged in mud, blood, and life and death!"

He looked at Grandpa Han with sincere yet stubborn eyes: "Grandpa, you always told me that the sons of the Han family must not bend their spines. My spine can only stand straightest on my own battlefield. Please believe in my choice."

The ward was completely silent.

Grandpa Han looked into his grandson's eyes, which were so similar to those of his own son when he was young. Gone was the youthful confusion; only the fortitude and responsibility of a soldier remained. He remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, his voice filled with helplessness, emotion, and a hint of barely perceptible pride.

He stood up, walked to the bedside, and patted Han Ye's uninjured shoulder.

"I've grown up... I've really grown up."

He murmured, then turned to the crowd, his tone regaining its usual decisiveness:
"That's enough! Children and grandchildren have their own lives to live! Let him forge his own path! We old folks will just watch from behind and provide support!"

With the old man's final decision, this family turmoil finally ended in respect for Han Ye's personal will.

Ye Yuze looked at his son, and a barely perceptible smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He knew that this fledgling eagle had truly acquired the wings and determination to soar through the skies. The family's legacy lay not in planning a seemingly perfect path, but in endowing him with the courage and ability to face any path.

Han Ye's life will ultimately be written by himself, and his family will be his strongest support.

His military career, after being tempered by blood and fire and gaining acceptance from his family, turned a new page.

He and Zhuoma will continue to work side by side in their respective positions, for the sake of their shared beliefs.

The base was not completely silent at night. A low-frequency hum always existed in the air, like the breathing of a giant machine in its slumber.

The beams of searchlight occasionally streaked across the night sky, cutting through the imposing, isolated area enclosed by high walls.

Han Ye followed a silent orderly as they walked along the passageway leading to the core area.

The walls here are made of some kind of explosion-proof material, with a cold gray sheen. Footsteps echoed, sounding unusually clear and spacious.

Occasionally, officers in the same uniform would walk by, their star insignia gleaming in the cold light. When they saw the orderly leading Han Ye, they would nod slightly, their gaze lingering briefly on Han Ye with a cautious, knowing silence.

Finally, they stopped in front of a metal door that had no markings and looked unusually heavy.

The orderly stood at attention, didn't knock on the door, but simply whispered something to the identification device by the door.

A moment later, a very faint "click" came from inside the door.

"Go in." The orderly stepped aside, his eyes filled with a restrained reverence.

Han Ye pushed open the door.

The room was small, and the furnishings were simple to the point of being austere. There was a metal table, two chairs, and a huge electronic screen that occupied an entire wall and was currently in standby mode.

The air was filled with a faint smell of engine oil and the distinctive odor of electronic components after they cooled down.

Ye Shan stood by the table, his back to the door, looking down at a paper document in his hand (in this highly digitalized place, paper documents are unusual).

He wasn't wearing his regular uniform, just a simple training uniform with the sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, revealing his lean forearms covered in a layer of fine scratches and light-colored scars, some new and some old.

Hearing the noise, he turned around.

There were no pleasantries, no formalities. His gaze fell on Han Ye, like two tangible searchlights, cold and precise, instantly piercing through Han Ye's feigned composure, as if assessing him inside and out.

Han Ye could even feel her heart skip a beat.

"Sit." Ye Shan's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable penetrating power, making it exceptionally clear in this enclosed space.

He casually tossed the document onto the table, and Han Ye caught a glimpse of the red "Top Secret" label flashing across the top of the paper.

Ye Shan sat down as well, his movements unintentional, yet every subtle gesture exuded a honed coordination and efficiency.

He picked up an old metal water glass from the table; the glass was even a little dented.

He took a sip. Han Ye noticed that the right hand holding the cup had unusually large knuckles and thick calluses on the web of his hand. When he tilted his head back to drink, a faint pink scar hidden under his collar was faintly visible on the side of his neck.

"Did you bring the things?" Ye Shan put down his water glass and asked directly.

Han Ye quickly handed over the encrypted storage device he had been clutching tightly in his hand. It was a backup of the "Zhen" core data that he and Zhuoma had almost risked their lives to obtain during "Operation Broken Claw."

Ye Shan took it, but didn't examine it immediately. He simply ran his fingertips along the cold metal casing of the memory, his eyes unfathomable. The only sound in the room was the low hum of the electronic device.

“This time,” Ye Shan finally spoke again, his gaze refocusing on Han Ye’s face. There was no approval in his dark pupils, only a bottomless calm, “luck is on your side.”

His tone was flat, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself. But Han Ye sensed an unspoken message in his voice—"What about next time?"

Just then, the internal communicator on the table emitted a very faint beep. Ye Shan pressed the answer button, and a respectful and concise voice came through: "Director Ye, we have results from 'Lighthouse' and need your confirmation."

"Understood." Ye Shan ended the communication and stood up. He didn't even ask Han Ye to leave, but the sudden change in his aura said it all—the meeting was over.

Han Ye tactfully got up.

As he reached the door, Ye Shan's voice came from behind him again, still devoid of warmth: "You're healed. Go to warehouse number three and get your new equipment. You know the rules."

Han Ye paused, nodded, and walked out without turning around.

The heavy metal door closed silently behind him, isolating the man and everything he represented.

Han Ye stood in the passageway, took a deep breath of the cool air that smelled of engine oil, and realized that his back was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.

He glanced back at the unremarkable door. He knew that Ye Shan, his cousin, was not just a mid-level officer in this base.

He is, in a sense, a "gatekeeper," a living legend who walks the line between light and shadow.

His status does not come from a prestigious surname or a dazzling epaulette, but from countless unknown dark nights, countless life-or-death choices, and the silent scars on his body, brick by brick, he built a mountain with his own hands.

A silent, cold mountain, yet one that inspires awe and reassurance in anyone who looks up to it.

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