The Rise of a Special Forces Soldier Abandoned by a Wealthy Family

Military Region General Hospital, Ward No. 3 (Special Care).

Time: 3:00 AM.

Outside the window, the night was thick and dark, and the indoor lights were turned to a cold white, illuminating everyone's faces with sharp angles, devoid of any warmth.

The air was as solid as lead, and every breath felt heavy and oppressive.

The three elderly gentlemen, Chen Guoqing, Liu Xingguang, and He Minquan, sat side by side on three accompanying chairs against the wall.

They wore dark-colored Zhongshan suits, their backs straight, maintaining the last vestige of dignity of the older generation.

But their taut jawlines, slightly clenched hands, and the undisguised weariness and anxiety deep in their eyes betrayed the fact that their spirits had been extinguished.

Zeng Linglong sat on the hospital bed.

He was wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown, with gauze on the side of his legs faintly visible.

But he sat very relaxed, leaning against the headboard, his hands casually folded on the blanket, his eyes calm and unwavering, as if he were facing just three ordinary visitors.

This "host's" composure contrasts sharply with the three old men's tense demeanor as "guests," creating a cold and cruel effect.

A long, almost suffocating silence lasted for a full three minutes.

In the end, it was Mr. Liu Xingguang, the most impatient man, who broke the agonizing silence first.

He cleared his throat, his voice dry and hoarse from suppressing complex emotions:

"Zeng boy..."

He paused, seemingly considering his words:

"You... and your grandfather Zeng Xu, this time the grandfather and grandson teamed up... and you played this game beautifully."

"We...are completely convinced of our defeat."

His gaze, like a heavy iron anchor, was fixed firmly on Zeng Linglong's face:

"But even if we lose, even if we die... we must die knowing why!"

"Our grandsons—Chen Yifeng, Liu Sheng, He Ziming…"

Old Master Liu's voice suddenly rose, carrying the last stubbornness of an aging lion:

"What...did they do wrong?!"

"I've been held captive for so long! No news of me! My fate is unknown!"

"To kill or to torture? At least... let us old folks have some idea what to expect!"

His chest heaved slightly, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger, resentment, and a deep-seated...fear.

"Killing someone...it's just a matter of beheading!"

"We've lost this political struggle! We admit defeat!"

"Your Zeng family... has won a fortune; you've taken everything that was rightfully yours!"

"Now--"

Old Master Liu Xingguang leaned forward slightly and spoke slowly and deliberately:

"We just want... a definitive answer!"

Although Chen Guoqing and He Minquan did not speak, their gazes, like sharp blades, were also fixed on Zeng Linglong.

We await his reply.

They awaited... a hope and an answer that would allow Chen Yifeng and the others to live.

Zeng Linglong's gaze slowly swept over the three old men in front of him, who had once been influential figures in the political arena of the Dragon Kingdom but now appeared somewhat disheveled.

His face was expressionless.

There was neither the arrogance of a victor nor the satisfaction of a vengeance.

There was only one kind of... unfathomable calm.

He stood up.

He walked to the center of the room, turned his back to the three old men, and faced the boundless night outside the window.

Then, gently...

He sighed.

"well……"

This sigh, as if carrying a thousand pounds of weight, struck the hearts of the three old men, causing them to inexplicably tense up.

Zeng Linglong slowly turned around and faced them again.

His eyes possessed a power that pierced the heart:

"I think... the three old gentlemen may... have misjudged some things."

"I only have one question for the three of you—"

"Does my Zeng family... my Zeng Linglong, have any life-or-death feud with your three families?"

"Um?"

The three old men were all taken aback!

His eyes instantly filled with astonishment and...deeper confusion!

A blood feud?

Before this, they might have thought there was a conflict of interest, political opposition, or a struggle for face...

But a "life-or-death feud"?

It seems... not really.

Zeng Linglong, observing the changing expressions on their faces, continued:

"If there were no blood feud..."

"Do I really need to... fight you to the death?"

"I'll arrest your grandson..."

"It's because they—are suspects!"

"Suspected of attacking a high-ranking active-duty military officer! Suspected of colluding with foreign forces!"

"This is the law of the land! This is military discipline!"

"But that doesn't mean... that I, Zeng Linglong, am intentionally targeting them personally, or... targeting your three families!"

Zeng Linglong's gaze, like a scalpel, swept across the faces of the three elderly people in turn:

"If I were to target..."

"There's no need to go through all that trouble."

"because--"

He looked at Chen Guoqing, his eyes sharp as knives:

"Mr. Chen, you and I both know the truth. Who was the real mastermind behind that media storm that targeted me last time?"

"I have a complete chain of evidence in my possession... all I need to do is release it."

"Do you think... Chen Yifeng, and the Chen family... can still sit here unscathed?"

Chen Guoqing's body jolted violently! His face turned deathly pale instantly!

Zeng Linglong's gaze then turned to Liu Xingguang and He Minquan:

"And Old Liu, and Old He."

"What did your grandson do at Yueting Garden that time? What 'blueprints' did he get...?"

"You all know..."

"I just need to 'manipulate' things a little to... change the nature of that matter."

A chilling smile curved Zeng Linglong's lips.

"He Chen and Liu Sheng... will immediately become—traitors who stole state military secrets and endangered national security!"

"At that time... will things be better for both of your families?"

"!!!"

Liu Xingguang and He Minquan's eyes widened simultaneously! Their backs were instantly soaked with cold sweat!

During the incident at Yuetingyuan... they found classified military weapon blueprints on their grandson. Although Zeng Linglong was behind it, they couldn't find any evidence.

At this moment, Zeng Linglong directly exposed his lie again, interpreting it with the most serious charge of "treason"...

They then realized just how fatal it was that their grandson's weakness had fallen into Zeng Linglong's hands!

That's all I have to say.

Zeng Linglong walked back to the bedside and sat down, his tone returning to its previous calmness, yet carrying an air of indifference that suggested he controlled everything:

"I, Zeng Linglong, and the Zeng family... have never intended to be your enemies."

"Is your grandson innocent? Has he been involved with foreign forces?"

"You...should know better than anyone else."

He paused, then gave his final and most important promise:

"This time, I am also giving your family, and them themselves, an opportunity."

"I won't bring up past grievances again."

"If the investigation confirms nothing wrong... I will release him."

Zeng Linglong's gaze swept over the three of them one last time, his voice suddenly turning cold, carrying a resolute ultimatum:

"but--"

"If you... still choose to continue fighting."

"Then... let's bring up both the old and the new grievances together."

"Fight to the death - to the end!"

"No! No! No...!"

Almost the instant Zeng Linglong finished speaking!

The three old men sprang up from their chairs as if propelled by springs!

The movement was so hurried that it even knocked over a chair, making a loud "bang" sound!

They waved their hands repeatedly, their faces initially tense, anxious, and unwilling... but instantly replaced by an expression of relief and almost relief!

"Zeng...Zeng boy! No, Xiao Long!"

Mr. Chen Guoqing's voice trembled slightly:

"It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!"

"We...we have absolutely no intention of continuing the fight!"

Liu Xingguang hurriedly added, "Yes, yes, yes! Let's stop here! Let's stop here!"

He Minquan went further, stating directly: "Xiaolong is very understanding! He left us families with some leeway! We are extremely grateful!"

Should we continue fighting?

Only a fool would do that!

Zeng Linglong held potentially fatal leverage over their grandson, but he hadn't acted on it before because he was leaving himself room to maneuver.

If they dare to be disrespectful now... they're courting death! Chen Yifeng and his group's future is sealed!

The promise to release them if the investigation finds nothing wrong is the best outcome they can hope for right now!

As for appearances? Or substance?

In the face of bloodline and family heritage... it's worthless!

The three old men said a few more words of assurance and thanks, and seeing that Zeng Linglong had closed his eyes slightly and was no longer speaking, they knew that the conversation should end.

They quickly excused themselves and left the ward in a somewhat hurried manner.

The door closed gently.

Silence returned to the ward.

Zeng Linglong slowly opened his eyes, his gaze devoid of any emotion, only a cold and profound depth.

This is a test.

He was now almost certain that the Chen, He, and Liu families were not involved! In the end, only the Wu family remained...