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

The seven days seemed to be stretched out, yet also compressed, in Shijiagou Village.

The loess remains, the green hills stand silent, only the newly erected grave at the village entrance serves as a reminder of the earth-shattering storm that once swept through this place.

Zeng Long, Ye Feng, Xiao Ya, Fang Rong, Tang Long, as well as Danny, Nader, and Lawrence—this group of men and women, whose hands were stained with countless lives and who had witnessed the cruelest scenes in the world, displayed a silence and patience that outsiders could hardly imagine during these seven days.

They stayed with Tiezhu in the Shi family's old house, which had been simply renovated but remained unassuming.

Without saying much, he silently helped with the final arrangements, quietly ate with Tie Zhu and Li Yingxiu, and accompanied Tie Zhu to sit quietly at his grave at dusk.

Jiang Tianhua (Lightning) and seven other members of the "Dragon Return" team who were of Chinese nationality were "driven away" by Zeng Long the day after the funeral.

"Go back to your own home." Zeng Long's tone was unquestionable, but his eyes held a subtle, almost imperceptible concern.

"You're given a seven-day break. Return to your units immediately after seven days. Use these seven days to see your parents, hug your wives and children. Don't just stand around here."

The seven men said nothing, but saluted in unison, then turned and headed towards their long-lost hometowns, which were perhaps also filled with guilt and longing.

They knew that their leader was using this method to make up for some of the regrets that might exist, like those of Tiezhu.

The seventh day after death has passed, and the incense and candles are just burning out.

Tie Zhu knew it was time to leave. His mother needed a new environment to heal, his sister needed a better future, and he himself... still had unfinished missions and a group of brothers who needed him by his side.

More importantly, he knew in his heart that his eldest brother, Zeng Long, was going back to the capital. He was truly returning to his ancestral home.

This event was of profound significance to all of them. They had to stand by him and face all the undercurrents that might lurk in the shadows.

Li Yingxiu, however, refused to leave. Her withered hands gripped the doorframe tightly, gazing towards her husband's grave, tears streaming silently down her face.

"Zhu Zi, you should go... I'll stay here with your father... He's all alone, it's so lonely..."

Even the toughest man, Tiezhu, had tears welling up in his eyes again in front of his mother. He couldn't force her, so he could only do his best to make arrangements.

He found the old village chief and his third grandfather, left them a huge sum of money that would improve the quality of life for the entire village by several levels, and solemnly entrusted them to take good care of his mother.

He hired a highly-regarded and hardworking woman from a neighboring village at a high price to be his full-time nanny and take care of his mother's daily life.

He allocated funds and entrusted his third grandfather to oversee the construction of a spacious, bright, sturdy, and comfortable new house for his mother in a chosen location in the village.

Finally, he gently placed a bank card containing an astronomical sum of money—enough to support his mother for several lifetimes—into his mother's calloused hand, then knelt down and kowtowed.

"Mother, your unfilial son has to go. Please spend this money as you like. If you miss Father, have someone take you to sit at his grave. Once I've settled down outside, I'll definitely come back to visit you often."

Li Yingxiu stroked her son's head, tears streaming down her face, repeating over and over, "My son has made something of himself... My son has made something of himself..."

The engines of the private jet left behind by Teng Ao emitted a deep, steady roar as it climbed to an altitude of ten thousand meters, gradually leaving that land, which carried too much blood, tears, and memories, behind the clouds.

The atmosphere inside the cabin was completely different from the oppressive and murderous aura that had filled the cabin when they arrived.

Although the underlying sadness remains, with the great revenge achieved and the dust gradually settling, a deliberately adjusted, slightly stiff sense of relaxation begins to permeate the air.

Everyone wanted to get Tiezhu, and especially Xiaoshiliu, out of the quagmire of sorrow as soon as possible.

Lawrence was the first to "make his move".

This usually cold-blooded gangster tycoon, who controlled a vast amount of power in the American underworld, was now trying hard to suppress the unsettling aura emanating from him.

She tried her best to soften her facial features, even forcing out what she thought was her most "amiable" smile, as she turned to Little Pomegranate, who was sitting quietly by the window.

"Hey, my dear pomegranate sister,"

His dragon language was accented, and his tone was as light as possible, "How about going to study in America with Brother Lawrence? You can choose any school you like, the best private girls' school, and you don't have to worry about safety at all."

He patted his chest and said, "I'll arrange eight... no, twelve top-notch bodyguards for you! They'll be with you 24/7. If anyone dares to look at you twice, I'll send them to meet their maker!"

As he spoke, he gestured the famous "shooting" action, but tried to keep his eyes "gentle," which looked a bit comical.

Danny immediately leaned forward, not to be outdone, and his Italian-style enthusiasm burst forth instantly:

Sister Pomegranate! Don't listen to him! What's so great about America? All they do is eat hamburgers and fries all day!

Come to Europe! Come with Danny! We'll attend the oldest aristocratic school, immerse ourselves in art and history, and watch the UEFA Champions League!

Which soccer player do you like? Tell me, and I'll make him come to school with you! I promise no one will dare bully my little princess!

He gestured wildly, as if he could already see the little pomegranate standing side by side with the star player.

Nader stood to the side, scratching his head with a worried expression.

His country, Mexico... aside from the scorching sun, chaotic streets, endless gunfire, and drug problems, seems to have nothing to offer that can attract little girls.

Take Xiao Shiliu with him? He could almost see Tie Zhu's fist, as big as a clay pot, and Zeng Long's icy gaze falling on his face. He couldn't help but shiver and wisely chose to shut up, only looking at the two "performers" with envious and helpless eyes.

Xiaoya had already put her arm around Xiaoshiliu's shoulder. Upon hearing this, she scoffed and retorted in a teasing tone:

"You two damn foreigners, stop spouting nonsense and corrupting my sister!"

She then spoke affectionately to Little Pomegranate, her tone full of the allure of a "big sister of Beijing":

Little sister, ignore them. Let's stay in Beijing! I'll show you around the whole city!

Attend the best international schools, drive the coolest sports cars, and fight the most exhilarating battles!

When the time comes, I'll have Yan Hai, Yang Li, and their gang of spoiled brats fawning over you every day, playing with you. I guarantee you'll be able to walk with your head held high in the capital, and everyone will tremble before you!

She became more and more excited as she spoke, and with a large wave of her hand, she made a chopping motion:

"If any fool dares to mess with you, humph, look at all these guys on the plane, every single one of them can back you up! Just go over there, give them a slap, and their head will spin 360 degrees!"

Her description was so vivid and descriptive that she even added a spinning gesture.

"ah……?"

Little Pomegranate listened to these increasingly outrageous and "terrifying" arrangements.

Her small mouth was slightly open, her delicate face filled with confusion and helplessness, her eyes wide open, looking at this and then at that, completely unsure how to respond.

Over the past few days, she had gotten to know these older brothers and sisters quite well and knew that they were very kind to her, but the way they spoke and acted was still too much of a shock for a girl from a small mountain village like her.

"Bang!"

A light tap on Xiaoya's head landed on her head.

Zeng Long withdrew his hand, glaring at her with annoyance:

You're so cunning! Do you think I don't know you?

Do you feel that you're not having enough fun in Beijing on your own, and that things might get out of hand if you go too far, so you want to bring Xiao Shiliu along as a "protective charm"?

If you really cause some catastrophic disaster, I won't punish you severely for Xiao Shiliu's sake, right?

With her thoughts exposed, Xiaoya immediately raised her hands in surrender, forcing a fawning smile, but her eyes darted around.

"Boss! I swear to God! I really didn't mean it that way! I just wanted to broaden my sister's horizons and have some fun!"

"Hmph!" Zeng Long clearly didn't believe her and couldn't be bothered to pay her any more attention.

He turned around, his gaze gentle as he looked at Xiao Shiliu, his voice steady and earnest:

"Little sister, don't listen to their nonsense. Tell your brother Long, what do you want to do? What are your dreams, or what kind of person do you most want to become right now?"

The cabin fell silent instantly. Everyone dropped their joking expressions and focused their attention on the unusually mature girl who had endured so much hardship.

Little Pomegranate lowered her head, looked at her fingers which were rough from long hours of work, and remained silent for a moment.

Then, she raised her head, her gaze clear and firm, looking past Zeng Long at her brother Tie Zhu, who was sitting diagonally opposite her, silently gazing out the window—she remembered her brother's crisp military uniform and the star insignia on his shoulders.

She took a deep breath, her voice soft but clear enough to reach everyone's ears:

"Brother Long, I want to join the army."

"I want to become... a soldier like my brother."

She paused, but her tone remained unwavering, carrying instead the tenacity characteristic of a child from a mountain village:

"I'm not afraid of hardship. Really. I've been doing farm work since I was a child, chopping wood, carrying water, planting crops, I've done everything. I'm very strong. When I'm working, I can walk 10 or 20 miles back and forth on mountain paths without even panting."

She was stating a perfectly ordinary fact, her eyes showing no boasting, only earnestness and longing.

The words fell.

A longer, deeper silence fell over the cabin.

All the previous jokes, banter, and excitement seemed to be instantly wiped away by this sentence.

Zeng Long fell silent, looking at the faint yet unusually stubborn flame in Xiao Shiliu's eyes.

Ye Feng turned his face away and looked at the rolling sea of ​​clouds outside the window.

Xiaoya opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing, only hugging Xiaoshiliu even tighter.

Fang Rong and Tang Long lowered their heads and rubbed their fingers together.

Danny and Lawrence exchanged a glance, both seeing emotion and an indescribable respect in each other's eyes.

Leonard sat up straight, his expression solemn.

Tie Zhu slowly turned his head and looked at his younger sister.

This steely man, who never flinched amidst gunfire and never retreated before blood and flesh flew everywhere, now found his eyes instantly turning red and moist.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he only felt that something was blocking his throat.

This fourteen-year-old girl, who had just lost her father and should have been experiencing a different life under the pampering of her brothers, chose the path that was the most bitter, tiring, dangerous, yet also the most glorious—following in her brothers' footsteps, putting on a military uniform, and picking up a rifle.

It's not for fun, and it's not for special privileges.

It is for protection, for the responsibility and strength that the military uniform represents.

Inside the cabin, only the steady roar of the engine could be heard. Sunlight streamed through the porthole, falling on Xiao Shiliu's earnest yet innocent face, and into the moved eyes of these seasoned soldiers.

A heavy past has temporarily come to an end.

A brand new future, full of challenges and hope, and a seed of a dream that has quietly taken root, are flying with this iron bird to the distant capital.

In the capital, with Zeng Long's arrival and Zeng Linglong's return, undercurrents and conspiracies are about to slowly surface.