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

Zeng Long slowly walked to the makeshift microphone.

Against the backdrop of the white mourning banners, his figure appeared exceptionally tall and solemn. The loudspeaker amplified his voice instantly, like rolling thunder, resounding throughout Shijia Gou Village and even reaching the distant hillsides.

"Fellow villagers and elders present here—"

Hello.

The simple opening silenced the noisy scene instantly.

"First of all, thank you for coming and seeing my Uncle Shi off. We will remember this kindness."

His gaze, like a searchlight on an icy plain, swept across the dark mass of people, finally settling on the three kneeling, trembling figures in front of the mourning hall.

"Do you see those three people kneeling there?"

His voice suddenly turned cold, with a metallic, penetrating quality:

"They are the murderers who harmed my Uncle Shi! They are also the tyrants who have run rampant in the county and township for many years, oppressing the good and harming their neighbors!"

Every word struck people's hearts like a heavy hammer.

"Among you, perhaps some of you have been bullied, beaten, robbed of your hard-earned money, or even... had your families destroyed!"

"But you dare not speak out against your anger! Why?!"

Zeng Long suddenly raised his arm, pointing to the soldiers standing guard around him, guns in hand, like an iron wall:

"Look at them! Look at these most adorable people!"

"And look again, the one who arrived this morning—the general!"

His voice rose to its highest point, carrying a powerful, almost tearing-through-the-dark appeal:

"He represents the nation! He represents the highest will! He represents—justice!"

"I'm telling you now! My Uncle Shi's funeral will be held tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, right here, by the top task force—"

"A public trial!"

"All the guilty, regardless of their identity or who is behind them!"

"They will all be subject to the most severe legal sanctions!"

"Now! I'm giving you a chance!"

"Any injustice! Any leads! Any evidence of their crimes!"

"Step forward!"

"Say it!"

"I, along with the military here, and the laws of this country—will stand up for you!!!"

The words fell.

Dead silence.

There was a deathly silence that lasted for more than ten seconds, as if even the wind had stopped.

Then--

"good--!!!"

Suddenly, someone let out a scream that sounded like a sob!

Immediately, like a dam breaking, a tsunami of applause, shouts, and cheers erupted! Many people clapped frantically while tears streamed down their faces!

The anger, injustice, and fear that had been suppressed for far too long were ignited at this moment by this powerful promise and the immense force before them!

An elderly woman, who looked to be over seventy years old, with gray hair and tattered clothes, led a little girl who was pale and thin with timid eyes. She was the first to walk out of the crowd, trembling.

She walked with faltering steps, but with a clear goal in mind, heading straight for General Liu, who was listening to a report not far away.

As they approached, the old woman, holding the little girl's hand, knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down her face before she could even speak.

"Your Honor... I beg you... to do me justice..."

She tearfully recounted how her son, several years ago, was severely beaten by "Scarface Liu" and his men for refusing to sell his homestead to Wang Guangtou's henchmen at a low price. Unable to afford medical treatment, he was left disabled. His daughter-in-law ran away, leaving only the grandmother and grandson to struggle to survive, and they were constantly harassed…

A heartfelt cry, like a fuse, ignited the fire!

"I'm innocent too! They forced my sister into prostitution!"

"My dad was beaten by them and is still in bed!"

"They lent money at exorbitant interest rates, driving my brother to commit suicide by jumping off a building!"

"I know they're dealing drugs, I have evidence!"

One, two, ten, a hundred...

Villagers, town merchants, county small business owners... more and more people, with red eyes and clenched teeth, walked out of the crowd! Some held crumpled IOUs, some held yellowed photos, and some were just covered in wounds and filled with grief and indignation!

The crowd automatically parted to make way for the temporary reporting registration point. The special task force staff who arrived were immediately busy recording information, receiving materials, and calming people down.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the county and even the surrounding areas!

Many locals who had worked in other places and had been bullied rushed back overnight upon hearing the news!

More people who possess crucial evidence but dare not speak out have seen hope!

As night fell, the number of people arriving did not decrease, but rather increased! The crowd almost submerged the village entrance!

Inside the temporary command post.

General Liu looked at the mountain of举报 materials in front of him and listened to the staff's shocking case summaries. His face turned ashen and his chest heaved violently.

"Bang!"

He slammed his fist on the table, knocking the teacup to the ground and shattering it!

"Corrupt officials! Scoundrels! Lawless!" The old general's roar nearly lifted the roof off, his eyes blazing with thunderous fury. "Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! Don't let a single one escape! I will personally bring these bastards who plague the people to justice! Let them face the harshest judgment of the law and justice!"

He grabbed the phone and issued a firm and unquestionable arrest order to the two task force leaders.

10 PM.

Xiaoya used her intelligence channels and the clues provided by the training camp—evidence of all the protectors behind Wang Guangtou—to deliver directly to the task force.

At 11 p.m., the crowd at the entrance of Shijia Gou Village had not dispersed. On the contrary, even more people spontaneously brought candles from their homes.

Silently and tacitly, they began to build a sturdy and spacious wooden platform—the trial bench for tomorrow's public trial.

They silently cleared a larger area in front of the mourning hall and swept away the dust.

Then, they lit the candles in their hands.

One, two, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand...

The flickering candlelight gradually illuminated the dark night. Soon, it coalesced into a warm, vibrant, and vast ocean of candlelight!

The candlelight illuminated every face—old or young, sorrowful or resolute. There was no clamor, only low prayers and sobs.

They are using this oldest and most devout way—

Pray for Shi Qinglie, who died unjustly, may he rest in peace and find peace in the afterlife.

Let us also pray for a bright and clear tomorrow for themselves and for this land.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the white banners in the mourning hall, the grim silhouettes of the soldiers, and the road in the night that seemed to be gradually being lit up by the raging tide of public opinion and the flames of justice.

The night was still deep.

But the judgment at dawn is already brewing, poised to begin, in the candlelight.