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

Time seemed to stand still in the living room of the courtyard house in the western suburbs.

On the carpet, the tablet computer, its screen now black, resembled a scorching hot iron, burning not only into the eyes of the two elderly people,

It was etched even deeper into their hearts, hissing and emitting wisps of despair.

Grandpa Liu struggled to lift his head, the wrinkles on his face deepening from the immense impact.

He looked at Zeng Sheng, whose face was ashen, and forced a bitter smile that was more painful than crying. His voice was dry and hoarse:

"We lost...we lost completely..."

He slowly shook his head, as if trying to shake off the suffocating reality.

"We won't ask... when you started preparing this evidence, or where you obtained it. Right now, we just want to know..."

His gaze refocused, with a hint of desperate inquiry:

Zeng Sheng, what do you, or your Zeng family, really want?

"The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain."

I don't think you came here just to show off, carrying these "nuclear bombs" that are enough to cripple both of our families.

Zeng Sheng looked at them expressionlessly.

Beneath the icy surface of that remarkably resembling Marshal Zeng Rong's resolute face lay a surging, almost uncontrollable heartache and boundless rage.

He felt excruciating pain for everything his son Zeng Long had endured, and was incredibly angry at the despicable nature of these people!

He leaned forward abruptly, a movement that exuded a sense of oppression, his gaze like two tangible torches.

He locked his gaze on Old Master Chen, each word clear and distinct, carrying an undeniable and resolute tone:

There is only one premise.

His voice wasn't loud, but it struck the silent living room like a heavy hammer blow.

"Old Chen, you must personally bring your grandson, Chen Yifeng, to apologize to Zeng Long in person! And you must obtain his forgiveness!"

"What?!"

As if stung by a scorpion, Old Master Chen suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with disbelief and fierce resistance!

The immense shock even made him straighten his back, which had just hunched over, slightly. His withered hands gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

His reaction was so intense it bordered on irrationality; his voice became shrill and distorted, filled with offended rage.

"Zeng Sheng! Do you know what you're saying? You want this old man to go and apologize to Zeng Long, a young man about the same age as my grandson?!"

His chest heaved violently, and his face flushed with excitement.

If word gets out, where will the Chen family's reputation be? How will I ever be able to maintain my standing in the capital again? What will people in our circle think of the Chen family?

This...this is even worse than being shot directly!

The old man's dignity and the family's reputation became his last bulwark against instinct, and also his first card in an attempt to seize the initiative in negotiations.

He was breathing heavily, and his tone even carried a hint of desperate struggle and pleading:

And then there's the wind! How is he supposed to handle that?! He's the 'Young Master of the Capital'! He's used to being arrogant and haughty!

You want him to apologize in person, to bow his head and admit his mistakes to the person he framed? That's worse than killing him! It will completely ruin him!

If he never recovers from this, then he's truly ruined!

Zeng Sheng, considering the past ties between our two families, this condition is far too harsh!

Let's change it! Any other conditions—resources, location, benefits—we can discuss them!

He tried to steer the negotiations back onto the familiar path of exchanging favors.

Grandpa Liu, standing nearby, nodded repeatedly with an excited expression, his lips trembling. He clearly also thought that this precondition was too humiliating and fatal, exceeding their bottom line.

However, Zeng Sheng's expression remained unchanged; instead, the frost on his face intensified, and his eyes sharpened like icicles.

Directly attacking the psychological defenses that Old Master Chen was trying to build:

"Mr. Chen, I think you've misunderstood something."

He sat there steadily, his figure as unshakeable as a mountain, his voice cold and resolute:

I'm not discussing this with you. This is the only premise.

This is also the only condition that my Zeng family has that is non-negotiable on this matter! Without this condition, there is no room for discussion!

His voice suddenly rose, filled with a father's overwhelming, barely suppressed rage.

That anger felt almost tangible, because Zeng Sheng was experiencing immense suffering in his heart, and at that moment he was thinking:

My son! He has suffered an immense injustice! He has endured endless hardship!

He asked for nothing! He gave everything to the country, choosing silence and sacrifice! But as his father, I cannot remain silent!

Zeng Sheng's gaze grew even colder, even carrying a hint of chilling murderous intent:

What I want first and foremost is an attitude! An attitude from your Chen family that sincerely admits their mistakes and repents!

If we can't even do this much, if we're not even willing to pay this price, then we have nothing to talk about.

You should be prepared to bear all the consequences!

Once this evidence is released, will the Chen and Liu families still have any "face" or "place to stand"?

That undeniable strength and determination was like a Siberian cold front.

In an instant, the faint flame of hope that had just risen in the hearts of the two elders, Chen and Liu, was completely extinguished, leaving only cold despair.

Old Master Liu was still unwilling to give up and struggled to speak, trying to find a glimmer of hope:

Zeng Sheng… is it really necessary for you to completely sever ties with both our families just for Zeng Long… one person?

Although... although I know his identity may not be simple, it's not enough to make you, your entire Zeng family, support him so unconditionally, right?

This...this doesn't make political sense! He's trying to sway Zeng Sheng by using the balance of interests.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Sheng's lips curled into an extremely cold, sarcastic smile:

"Heh... that's no trouble for you two gentlemen. Whatever the Zeng family wants to do, we naturally have our reasons and justifications. But we will not regret it, and we will never back down!"

He leaned back slightly, his gaze sweeping over the two elderly men whose minds were in turmoil, and his tone suddenly took on an unfathomable quality:

"Perhaps... you two gentlemen can wait a little longer. I think you might receive some phone calls in a while. After you receive them... you might agree to this condition."

---

At the same time, in the office, Li Weiguo coldly looked at the two people in front of him, who were ashen-faced and absent-minded, as if they were two prisoners who had already been sentenced.

He raised his hand, glanced at his watch, and spoke in a tone as calm as if he were reporting the weather, yet with the ruthlessness of an ultimatum:

Time is running out.

His gaze swept over the dejected Vice Minister Liu and the utterly lost Chen Jianjun:

"Now, the only one who can save you is not me, nor anyone else, but your two grandfathers. Their decision will directly determine your final fate."

He paused, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself:

"I don't care. My conditions are simple: Vice Minister Liu, you must leave the Ministry of Security. There can be no place for you here. As for the rest... I think Elder Chen and Elder Liu will tell you soon."

He seemed to suddenly remember something, adding in a tone that carried a faint, yet chilling, sarcasm:

Oh, I forgot to tell you.

I have backups of all the evidence regarding this incident, including the irrefutable proof that Chen Yifeng actually planned and directed it.

Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, someone should have already delivered copies of these documents to you two gentlemen.

Li Weiguo leaned forward slightly, observing the two men's faces change drastically, as if they had seen a ghost, and made a simple yet cold "please" gesture:

"Alright, now you can make this 'lifeline' call. This is your last chance. If your grandfather chooses not to help... then you can only leave it to fate."

Like drowning people grasping at a last straw, Chen Jianjun and Vice Minister Liu frantically dialed their fathers' numbers.

After the call connected, the two incoherently repeated Li Weiguo's words.

Especially the lines "The only one who can save you is your old man" and "The evidence may already be in the old man's hands."

There was a deathly, suffocating silence on the other end of the phone.

After a long while, Old Master Chen's voice, filled with endless fatigue and hoarseness, finally came through, as if all his energy had been drained in an instant.

He didn't hide anything, revealing the contents of the "nuclear-bomb" level evidence that Zeng Sheng had brought—evidence that was enough to cause devastating losses to their family.

She briefly but clearly told her son and Chen Jianjun (the phone was on speakerphone).

When I hear those transfer records and call recordings...

Especially that crystal-clear video of Chen Yifeng personally directing operations in a luxurious private room at the Jinglong Club, his expression excited and ferocious.

Chen Jianjun felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and the world spinning around him. He had to brace himself against the table to keep from fainting!

The phone slipped from my hand and fell with a sharp "crack," the screen shattering.

They finally understood what Li Weiguo meant by "leaving it to fate"!

This is no longer as simple as losing an official position and ending one's political career!

This is irrefutable evidence that could ruin his own reputation and even his entire family, leading to their utter destruction!

Chen Jianjun's voice, filled with final despair and resentment, was almost a scream as he spoke into the phone:

"Dad! Li Weiguo said... he said his condition is that Vice Minister Liu must leave the Ministry of Security... and he also said... he also said that you and Uncle Liu will tell me other things... Dad! I'm really not willing to accept this!"

On the other end of the phone, Old Master Chen listened to his son's desperate pleas.

He then glanced at Zeng Sheng, who sat firmly on the opposite side, his eyes as cold as knives, showing no sign of yielding.

And there was also his old friend, Mr. Liu, standing next to him with the same pleading look in his eyes.

He closed his eyes, his facial muscles twitching violently.

He was experiencing an unprecedented internal struggle: the dignity of his family, the future of his grandson, his son's prospects, and the irrefutable evidence in the other side's hands that could destroy everything...

All the weights intertwined and crushed him, making this shrewd and experienced old man feel an unprecedented sense of powerlessness and suffocation.

Finally, he abruptly opened his eyes, the last glimmer of light in them completely extinguished.

All that remained was utter coldness, despair, and a resigned resolve. Speaking into the phone, her voice was hoarse yet unusually clear:

"...Okay...I understand. We...agree to their...preconditions."

These words seemed to drain all his strength. After saying them, he slumped down, looking as if he had aged ten years.

---

Inside the living room of a courtyard house.

Hearing Old Master Chen finally relent and utter those words that signified surrender over the phone,

The sharp, icy glint in Zeng Sheng's eyes lessened slightly, but his undeniable dominance still permeated the air like a tangible force.

"Now that the preconditions have been agreed upon, let's arrange the apology as soon as possible." Zeng Sheng's tone left no room for negotiation. "I don't want it to drag on for too long."

Then, as if finally getting to the point, he took out another thin document from his briefcase, which clearly listed several job titles and names.

"Alright, now let's talk about the 'other' conditions."

Zeng Sheng's tone became businesslike, but even colder:

Elder Chen, Elder Liu, those positions you previously led the acquisition of—those positions held by officials with good reputations, capable individuals, and truly dedicated to serving the country and its people—

I, Zeng Sheng, will not make a move, nor do I have any interest in doing so. In political maneuvering, everyone relies on their own abilities, and the Zeng family still possesses that much magnanimity.

His tone suddenly changed, and he tapped his finger heavily on several names on the document, making a dull sound:

"But—these people! Aren't they your men? Mediocre in ability, too self-serving, unworthy of their positions! Sitting in those positions will only harm the country and its people! These people must step down! Not a single one will be spared!"

His gaze swept over the two pale-faced elders, his tone carrying an air of absolute control and unquestionable authority:

"As for who will take over after the position is relinquished..."

Zeng Sheng paused for a moment, then said, "I will arrange suitable candidates. Their abilities and character will be rigorously assessed to ensure they are good officials who are dedicated to the country and the people, capable of getting things done, and getting things done. You two don't need to worry about that."

As Chen and Liu looked at the list, their lips curled into a bitter smile, as if they had swallowed a bitter herb.

Every name on the list is a key pawn they painstakingly placed at great cost, an important part of their power structure.

Now, to have to pull them out one by one by their own hands is tantamount to tearing out their hearts and bones, or cutting off their own arms! But they had no choice.

Compared to the complete annihilation of his family, cutting off his arm to survive was the only way out offered by the other party.

All matters were negotiated with great difficulty in an extremely oppressive and humiliating atmosphere.

Zeng Sheng stood up and carefully straightened the lapel of his suit jacket, his movements calm and unhurried, as if he had just completed a trivial daily task.

Before leaving, he seemed to suddenly remember something, stopped, turned around and said to Old Chen and Old Liu, who were slumped in their chairs like two soulless clay statues:

"Oh, right, there's one more small request."

The two elderly people, like startled birds, suddenly raised their heads and looked at him nervously, wondering what other harsh conditions this jinx would propose.

Zeng Sheng's tone was calm and unremarkable, yet it carried a chilling undertone:

Please, both of you, make a copy of that… recording of the phone call involving Wu Jun, the eldest grandson of the Wu family, and give it to Old Master Wu.

Just say it's a small gift from me, Zeng Sheng. You don't need to worry about anything else.

A faint, cold smile seemed to curve the corners of his mouth:

I think that once Mr. Wu sees this "gift," he will naturally know... what to do.

After all, Mr. Wu has always been the most reasonable and considerate of the big picture, hasn't he?

After saying that, he stopped looking at the two old people's expressions, which instantly became incredibly interesting—first astonished, then suddenly enlightened.

Finally, he transformed into a father seeking justice for his son, and walked out of the living room with righteous indignation.