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

The sixth day is also the Lantern Festival in the Dragon Kingdom.

A thin mist lingered over the river, and the morning light pierced through the mist, scattering across the surface and creating a shimmering effect.

A group of young people were jogging along the riverbank, their footsteps sounding particularly clear in the quiet of the early morning.

Yan Hai, panting heavily with dark circles under his eyes, said breathlessly to Lone Wolf:

"Wolf... Brother Wolf, please... please spare me. I stayed up too late last night, I... I really can't run anymore."

As he ran, Lone Wolf glanced at Yan Hai with disdain, his eyes full of contempt.

"With your pathetic physique, you dare to acknowledge the boss as your master? I'm ashamed of you! It's alright, just look behind you and you can run away."

Yan Hai looked puzzled and turned to look behind him—

"My God!" He immediately channeled his superhuman abilities and ran incredibly fast.

He saw six large military dogs baring their teeth and chasing after him, each with a cobra on its head, its tongue flicking out.

The snake's tongue flickered in the morning light, and its canine teeth gleamed coldly in the sunlight.

Yan Hai was so scared he was almost out of his mind.

He ran for another half hour, and finally collapsed in front of Zeng Linglong at the place where Zeng Linglong was exercising.

Zeng Linglong, wearing a tight vest, was doing push-ups. His muscles rippled in the morning light, and sweat dripped down his back.

He didn't even glance at Yan Hai, his breathing was steady, his movements were precise, one after another.

After completing 500 push-ups, he knew that his fitness and rehabilitation efforts for the day could only end there.

He dusted off his hands and sat down directly on the stone floor.

Yan Hai regained some strength and looked at Zeng Linglong with a look of utter despair.

"Brother-in-law, do you know what the greatest honor and misfortune of my life are?"

Zeng Linglong's lips curled up in a smile, a smile that seemed to see through everything:

"Your greatest honor is calling me brother-in-law, and your greatest misfortune is recognizing me as your mentor."

"Ah!" Yan Hai exclaimed in surprise, "Brother-in-law, how did you guess that?"

Zeng Linglong looked at him with disdain, his eyes as if he were looking at a three-year-old child:

"Your face clearly shows it, do I need to guess?"

Yan Hai immediately got up, sat to Zeng Linglong's right, placed his hands on his knees, leaned forward, and looked on with a thirst for knowledge:

"Brother-in-law, why did you let the Wu family go but instead went to suppress the Chen family?"

Zeng Linglong took out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it.

Smoke curled up in the morning light. He exhaled a smoke ring and watched it spread and dissipate in the air.

"Because of politics, because of the game and balance, because of human nature."

Yan Hai looked like he understood but didn't quite, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

Zeng Linglong sighed, speaking earnestly:

"Xiao Hai, you are destined to shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Yan family in the future."

"Your grandfather has decided that you must go into politics in the future, so you must have a political vision and acumen."

"When you think about things and observe things, you can't use tactical concepts to challenge strategic thinking."

He took out a cigarette case, then used four cigarettes to prop it up, his movements slow and solemn, as if he were building a miniature structure.

"Xiao Hai, this cigarette box represents politics, and the four cigarettes represent the game and balance."

"A person with strategic thinking would absolutely not touch these four cigarettes."

"These four cigarettes can only support each other while also checking each other."

"In the grand scheme of things, they cannot bring the other down."

"Because if any side falls, the overall political structure above will be destabilized—this is a self-destructive act."

"This is an unwritten rule in the industry."

"The younger generation can fight and struggle, as long as their foundations aren't damaged, no family will fight to the death."

Yan Hai stared at the cigarette box as if it were a precision instrument.

"But—" Zeng Linglong took out another cigarette and placed it at the bottom of the cigarette pack, "Do you know what this cigarette I just put in is?"

Yan Hai shook his head, not daring to speak.

Zeng Linglong spoke calmly, as if he were explaining a math problem:

"This cigarette is a gamble, but also an opportunity. Because if any one of the four cigarettes falls, the fifth one will immediately take its place. And the cigarette pack won't fall over either."

Yan Hai was struck dumb; his eyes lit up instantly, and his voice was filled with excitement:

"Brother-in-law, so you're saying you've only found one cigarette to substitute, so you've only targeted the Chen family? If you found two cigarettes, the Wu family would also fall, right?"

Zeng Linglong shook his head, the movement was very light, but it carried an undeniable denial:

"Do you think anyone could have substituted for those four cigarettes?"

"It only works if the cigarettes are from the pack—meaning only those approved by the Imperial Household Agency are effective."

"Besides, didn't I just mention human nature? Human nature represents the root of the problem."

He picked up a match, struck it with a "hiss," and the flame danced in the morning light.

He started to light one of the cigarettes, the flame licking the paper and making a soft crackling sound.

"Xiao Hai, the burning cigarette represents humanity. Once humanity is gone, the cigarette will burn itself."

"This proves that the cigarette is rotten and useless, and it's time to get rid of the cigarette box."

"Even if this cigarette is the mainstay, it has rotted and affected the overall situation, so the cigarette box can only choose another cigarette to replace it."

Yan Hai suddenly clapped his hands, his voice filled with excitement:

"Brother-in-law, I understand! It's because Grandpa Wu personally contacted Great-Grandpa and informed him of the Chen family's situation. Moreover, as a Chinese citizen, he preserved his humanity—"

"Just like when you lit that cigarette with fire, Old Wu personally extinguished the flames as soon as the smoke started to burn."

"The Wu family's foundation is not rotten, so you and your great-grandfather let the Wu family go. The imperial court also gave the Wu family a warning, considering the overall situation."

"But the Chen family is different. They know that you, brother-in-law, and the Zeng family have sacrificed so much for the country, yet they are still considering their own interests."

"The Chen family thought outsiders didn't know, so they made one mistake after another, and continued to let the burning cigarettes continue to burn."

"This means that their humanity has collapsed and their political consciousness has collapsed. They are simply not suitable to be a pillar of the cigarette industry, so the cigarette box can only select a new cigarette from the inside."

"Brother-in-law, am I right?"

Zeng Linglong nodded with a smile, a smile that showed satisfaction and approval.

"Yay!" Yan Hai waved his hand, almost jumping for joy. "Let me guess—this cigarette must represent your grandfather's family, brother-in-law, right?"

Zeng Linglong remained smiling, neither confirming nor denying.

"Ah! I guessed right?" Yan Hai looked incredulous, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it.

Zeng Linglong looked at Yan Hai, his voice earnest and his eyes full of expectation:

"Xiao Hai, remember what your brother-in-law said to you today."

"Everything has its limits, and the higher you climb, the colder it gets."

"Power has no end, just like gambling. You want to win more after you win, but in the end you lose everything."

"Only by stopping in time, suppressing inner desires, and knowing when to give up can one become the ultimate winner."

"Sometimes giving up can be more beneficial than gaining, because too much power can overwhelm you."

"And the power that is relinquished is still power."

"So Xiaohai, you guessed wrong—this time it wasn't my maternal grandfather's family that was attacked, but Yang Li's family."

"What?" Yan Hai's eyes widened in shock.

He couldn't understand why the Yang family had taken the position; his mind went completely blank.

Zeng Linglong continued to offer guidance, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze:

"Xiao Hai, when you become an official in the future, the relationship between cigarette boxes and cigarettes is something you need to understand."

"When you want to improve, you have to find a way to become the fifth cigarette."

"Once you've achieved your goal, lie low and wait for an opportunity; never try to actively seek one."

"Politics isn't like business, where you can gain benefits just by trying. If you do that, you'll become the enemy of four cigarettes."

"You just need to let the cigarette pack show your abilities and political standing."

"As long as you live up to the interests of the country and the people, you will eventually see the cigarette box."

"At the same time, you should observe that if your colleagues fail to do these two things, it proves that they have impure intentions."

"You should stay away from colleagues who do this, because they will hurt themselves and others."

"This is what I mean by enlightenment."

"And the strategy I'm talking about is Yang Lijia."

He looked at Yan Hai solemnly, his eyes burning like torches:

"Because Xiao Hai, you will be pursuing a political career in the future, and Yang Li is your best brother. He will be your best support in the future."

"So I chose Yang Li's family—this is a gift from your brother-in-law."

At this point, Zeng Linglong stood up, patted Yan Hai heavily on the shoulder, and then turned and left.

That figure, standing tall and straight like a sword in the morning light, carried a deep warmth.

Yan Hai didn't say anything, just quietly watched Zeng Linglong's departing figure.

He clenched his fists tightly. At this moment, he was no longer a playboy, but a politician about to embark on his official career.

His expression was full of excitement, and his eyes were full of hope.

He murmured to himself, "Brother-in-law, thank you!"

"Now I finally understand the relationship between the cigarette pack and the cigarettes you mentioned, and I understand your deeper meaning. I also understand why my grandfather wanted me to stay by your side."

"Because what you teach is something that schools simply cannot teach. What you teach is the essential experience I will inevitably have on my future path and the core principles I will have to learn."

The morning light shone on him and on his young face.

He stood there, like a growing tree.

In the distance, Zeng Linglong's figure disappeared around the bend of the riverbank.

On the river, the thin mist gradually dissipated, and the sunlight shone on the water, making it sparkle like gold.