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

At midnight, the night sky over the capital was as dark as ink, and a biting wind howled across the eaves and treetops, bringing a chill to the bone.

However, beneath this seemingly tranquil night, the mansions of countless wealthy and powerful families, and the secret studies of ministerial leaders, remain brightly lit and bustling with activity.

The low murmurs of conversation, the urgent ringing of the telephone, and the rustling of turning pages intertwined to create an invisible, turbulent midnight symphony.

The bombshell dropped by Longyu Group is sending shockwaves that are visibly shaking the very top of the pyramid of power and wealth.

The Yan family's traditional courtyard house, steeped in history, was no exception at this moment.

Inside the study, the warm yellow light from the CD player dispelled some of the chill, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere and excitement that permeated the air.

The patriarch of the Yan family, Yan Fushan, also wore an undisguised look of fatigue. He leaned back in his large armchair, rubbed his temples, and looked down at his granddaughter, Yan Rugo, who sat opposite him, exuding a cool yet slightly excited aura.

"Ru Ge," Yan Fushan's voice was slightly hoarse as he pointed to the landline on the table that was almost never off:

What you've brought back out of the blue isn't good news at all; it's a thunderbolt that could shake half of the capital!

My phone has been ringing since this evening; my ears are practically calloused from it.

Those who come are all cunning old foxes trying to find out the truth, and there are also those who want to plead for leniency in a roundabout way... Sigh, there's no peace here.

Sitting to the side is Yan Chonghua—Yan Rugo's father, currently one of the core leaders of the Organization and Political Affairs Department!

His face was also filled with complex emotions. He continued, his tone carrying a deeper sense of helplessness and a hint of relief at having escaped the scene:

Dad, you're doing alright, at least you can sit still.

My place is completely packed! Many people are too afraid to come directly to your courtyard house; they're all blocking the entrance to my little villa!

I had no choice but to sneak out through the back door when they weren't looking, and come here to find some peace and quiet.

He gave a wry smile and rubbed his temples. "I reckon Ru Ge's mother won't be getting any sleep tonight; she'll have to deal with this for me."

After speaking, Yan Chonghua turned his gaze to his daughter, his eyes filled with an overwhelming mix of pride, profound confusion, and a hint of disbelief.

Ru Ge, tell Dad the truth, how did you... how did you become the general manager of Longyu Group in China without making a sound?

I vaguely heard Xiao Hai mention it last time, saying that Zeng Long was in charge of the company, but the president and spokesperson on the surface has always been Teng Ao from the Teng family!

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, as if confirming a fantastical tale:

Although the Teng family has been on good terms with our Yan family for generations and has a close relationship, I know Teng Ao well. He is shrewd, capable, and not someone to be trifled with.

The position of General Manager of Longyu Domestic Investment Company puts the flow of trillions of yuan in their hands and controls the industrial layout that can influence the economic landscape of a province or even several provinces...

This is practically a "sword of Damocles" that can determine the political future of a high-ranking official!

Compared to the Yan family, the Teng family's official foundation is not the deepest. This was originally the best and most direct bargaining chip and card for them to consolidate their power and expand their network!

I... I just can't understand how such immense power could have fallen into your hands so easily and without warning.

He patted his chest, trying to calm his still-rapid heartbeat. "My heart is still pounding like crazy, like I'm carrying a rabbit."

Looking at his son's excited yet confused expression, Yan Fushan finally revealed a genuinely relieved, proud, and kind smile.

He reached out and gently patted the back of Yan Ruge's hand, which was resting on her knee. The back of her hand was icy cold, indicating that its owner was also unsettled.

"Excellent! Excellent!" Old Master Yan's voice was filled with satisfaction and pride. "Our Yan family is about to produce a true heroine, and in the near future, we will also have a truly outstanding grandson-in-law!"

His tone shifted abruptly, his gaze becoming deep and sharp, as if piercing through the heart, fixed intently on his granddaughter's slightly flushed cheeks. His voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable force:

"Ruge, tell Grandpa the truth... do you... already know the details of Zeng Long's background?"

Yan Ruge felt her grandfather's all-seeing gaze on her face, and two deeper blushes instantly rose on her cheeks, like the sunset dyeing the white snow.

She subconsciously lowered her eyelids, avoiding her grandfather's direct gaze, and pursed her lips, not answering immediately.

Seeing this young girl's demeanor, the answer was self-evident to the two elders.

Yan Chonghua was still a little confused. He looked blankly at his father, then at his daughter, and asked in bewilderment:

"Dad? I was just asking Ru Ge about this earth-shattering matter concerning the general manager of Longyu Group, and suddenly you've brought up Zeng Long, who's famous throughout Beijing now? And what's with this 'true dragon's grandson-in-law' thing? What does that have to do with anything?"

"Shut up!" Yan Fushan glared at his son, his tone more serious than ever before. "Listen quietly! What I'm about to say concerns the future of the family; it's top secret!"

Yan Chonghua was stunned by his father's sudden sternness and immediately fell silent, sitting up straight, but his heart was in turmoil.

Yan Fushan ignored his son and fixed his gaze on his granddaughter again, with a hint of understanding and mischief: "Ru Ge, speak."

Yan Rugo knew she couldn't hide it any longer. She raised her eyes, looking at her grandfather with a hint of reproach in her eyes, her voice carrying a touch of grievance:

"Grandpa! How dare you ask me? You actually knew Zeng Long's true identity all along, didn't you? You kept it from me completely! You made me feel like a headless fly, constantly guessing and trying to unravel the mystery surrounding him!"

Yan Chonghua, listening from the side, was even more confused. He felt as if the grandfather and grandson were speaking in riddles. He understood each word individually, but when put together, they left him completely bewildered, and he could only stare blankly.

Yan Fushan revealed a sly, cunning smile, and continued to press:

"So, have you been spending a lot of time with Zeng Long lately? How far have things progressed between you two?"

Yan Ruge's face turned even redder, almost as if it were about to bleed.

She lowered her head, her hands unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice barely audible, carrying the shyness and uncertainty unique to young girls:

Well... let it be. Zeng Long... he's always so aloof, so unpredictable.

He knew about his background, and he also knew about... the marriage agreement between us.

He also... he often asked me about the Zeng family, asking about you, Grandpa, and about Uncle Zeng and Aunt He...

"Then why don't you hurry up and step up your efforts!" Upon hearing this, Yan Fushan immediately became anxious, his tone filled with unwavering determination, as if he were deploying a crucial battle!

"Zeng Long is the grandson-in-law I've long considered! He's the only one in heaven and earth truly worthy of my precious granddaughter! You can't let me down!"

Only now did Yan Chonghua finally understand from his daughter's shy, fragmented words and his father's resolute attitude—

He caught a glimpse of a shocking truth! The Zeng family? Zeng Long? Grandson-in-law? These words collided and combined wildly in his mind!

He sprang from his chair, his eyes wide as saucers, his fingers trembling as he pointed into the air, his voice stuttering and distorted with extreme shock:

"Dad! You...you mean...you mean...that Zeng Long! He...he is...?"

He dared not utter that name, the name that represented the Zeng family's eighteen years of pain and longing.

Looking at his son's almost soul-stirring expression, Yan Fushan nodded heavily, his eyes gleaming with absolute certainty and pride, and declared clearly, word by word:

"Yes! Zeng Long, he is my old brother, your Uncle Zeng Rong's biological grandson, whom he has been searching for and lost for eighteen years!"

He took a deep breath and exhaled that long-forgotten, yet heavy-as-a-mountain-like name:

"His original name was—Zeng…Ling…Long!"

"Clang!"

Yan Chonghua felt as if he had been struck by an invisible thunderbolt from the heavens!

He froze instantly, standing still like a clay or wooden sculpture!

The immense impact left his mind blank, and his vision even blurred for a moment.

He subconsciously reached for the cigarette pack in his pocket, but his fingers trembled violently uncontrollably. He finally managed to pull out a cigarette, but it fell to the ground with a "thud".

Unconvinced, he pulled out another cigarette and a lighter, pressing the buttons several times, but the flame just wouldn't go in the right direction.

Finally, as if he had exhausted all his strength, he slammed the cigarette to the ground in despair, as if this could release the turmoil in his heart.

He abruptly raised his head, staring intently at his father, and with all his might, in a hoarse voice, asked again:

"Dad...! I...I'll repeat myself...that...that mysterious Zeng Long who's been stirring up trouble in Beijing lately...he...he's really Zeng Linglong from the Zeng family?! The Zeng Linglong who's engaged to my daughter?! Is...he my future son-in-law?!"

"Yes! Absolutely true!" Yan Fushan said decisively, his voice booming with unquestionable authority.

At the same time, he is also the true and only behind-the-scenes controller of the Longyu Group!

So, are you still wondering why Ru Ge was able to become the general manager of a domestic company with trillions of dollars in power overnight?

Without Zeng Long's personal approval and authorization, even if Teng Ao trusted Ru Ge, how could he dare to easily hand over such core power that was related to the lifeline of the group and affected the nerves of all parties?

He paused, his gaze becoming even more serious and profound, sweeping over his son, who was still in a state of extreme shock, and his granddaughter, who, although aware of the situation, was equally emotional, and said in a deep voice:

"Furthermore, what I'm about to say is currently only for the two of you to know. But as Zeng Linglong's future father-in-law and...fiancée, you have the right to know some deeper things."

The air in the study seemed to freeze instantly; you could hear a pin drop. Yan Chonghua and Yan Ruge held their breath in unison, their eyes fixed on Yan Fushan.

Yan Fushan lowered his voice, each word seeming to carry immense weight:

My dear grandson-in-law, Zeng Linglong, is not only the helmsman of Longyu Group.

He is also a special officer directly under the Supreme General Staff of the Chinese military, holding the rank of lieutenant colonel!

His file was jointly managed by the highest-ranking officials of the inner circle and several major military regions, with extremely high authority and a top-secret level of confidentiality!

He paused slightly, watching his son and granddaughter's pupils suddenly contract, before dropping the final, and most shocking, bombshell:

"He... is also the captain of a mysterious special operations team directly controlled by the Supreme Command of the military... a team that has never been publicly revealed and carries out the most dangerous and classified missions...!"

"Clatter!"

As soon as Yan Fushan finished speaking, Yan Chonghua's body, which had just barely managed to stand up, seemed to have all its bones removed in an instant. His buttocks suddenly slid off the chair, and he fell solidly onto the cold floor!

A high-ranking official in the Organization and Political Affairs Department, who was in charge of the promotion and appointment of countless officials and was usually dignified and composed, was so shocked by the series of shocking secrets that he collapsed to the ground, completely losing his composure!

He seemed to have lost the ability to think, his eyes vacant as he groped around on the ground. Inexplicably, he picked up the cigarette he had just thrown away and shakily put it into his mouth.

This time, he finally lit it with trembling hands, and then squatted on the ground without any regard for his image, taking deep, forceful drags.

The thick smoke seemed to be the only thing that could slightly suppress the frantic, pounding heartbeat that was about to burst out of my chest!

He needed the stimulation of nicotine to help him process the terrifying truth that was being revealed layer by layer, which was enough to overturn his understanding!

While Yan Rugo's expression wasn't as distraught as her father's, the shock and turmoil within her were equally overwhelming.

She had always known that Zeng Long's identity was mysterious, but she never expected that the truth would be so...powerful and terrifying!

She suddenly remembered that night when Zeng Long stood under the moonlight and recited those few lines of poetry in a low, desolate voice.

At the time, she only felt that the artistic conception was magnificent, but she failed to fully understand the profound meaning and weight contained within it.

At that moment, the poem echoed clearly in her mind like a brand, and she involuntarily recited it softly, her voice trembling with a hint of heartache born of understanding:

"Daring to borrow the ink of the heavens' clouds, I paint the landscape in my hands... Amidst the flames of war, a young man arrives, alone with a sword, gazing at the distant sky..."

At first, she only saw his ambition and boundless spirit. Now, she finally understood!

The boy who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood and hellfire carried more than just ambition.

That is a past steeped in blood and fire, a loneliness and responsibility etched into the very marrow!

He was like a solitary, peerless swordsman from ancient times, gazing back at his scarred past on a desolate wasteland where no one understood him.

Yet, with overwhelming force, he severed all injustices and shackles in the world, vowing to carve out his own empire, an unshakeable land, in his own way!

Thinking of the hardships he may have endured, and of his seemingly strong yet still lonely heart, two lines of cold tears could no longer be held back, silently sliding down Yan Ruge's delicate but slightly pale cheeks.

Those tears contained shock, heartache, pride, and an indescribable, complex emotion—a desire to get closer yet a fear of disturbing.

The conversation that took place in the Yan family study that night was destined to completely change the future trajectory of this family, and to bind Yan Ruge's already fallen heart even more closely and heavily with that man named Zeng Long.