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

Wu Jun's smile finally faded slightly, but he still maintained that feigned gentleness.

He chuckled softly, seemingly oblivious to the barb in his words.

"Young Master Long, you flatter me."

His voice remained "gentle".

"Mr. Wu... just came over to offer a toast and express his feelings."

He paused, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"Whether Young Master Long welcomes you or not... it doesn't matter."

As he spoke, he very naturally reached his hand behind him.

As if by prior agreement, a bodyguard behind him immediately stepped forward and quickly and quietly took out an unopened bottle of red wine with an extremely luxurious packaging, along with two clean stemmed glasses, from a small, exquisite leather suitcase he was carrying. The brand of the wine was not discernible.

The bodyguard skillfully opened the bottle, filled both glasses to about seven-tenths full, and then respectfully handed one of the glasses to Wu Jun.

The entire process was smooth, quiet, and carried a deliberate sense of ritual and thorough preparation.

Wu Jun held the wine glass in his left hand and gently swirled it, the dark red liquid flowing under the light.

He looked up at Zeng Linglong, and that "sincere" smile returned to his face.

"Young Master Long..."

"We do have a history of conflict."

His tone made it sound like he was talking about something trivial.

"But I hope..."

He raised his glass.

"This toast..."

"It can help you... eliminate a little bit."

"Tonight can be considered a summary."

The word "summary" was uttered.

He still wore a "smile" and had a "sincere" look in his eyes, showing absolutely no trace of cold and ruthless emotion; his disguise was flawless.

Zeng Linglong looked at the glass of wine in Wu Jun's hand, then at the wine bottle and another glass held by his bodyguard behind him, and suddenly smiled.

His smile held a hint of understanding and amusement.

"It seems..."

"Young Master Wu really came prepared."

He pointed to the bottle of wine and the glass.

"They even brought their own wine and glasses."

He then changed the subject, his tone carrying just the right amount of "apology":

"But... I hope Mr. Wu will understand."

He rubbed his temples, feigning a slightly tipsy and tired look.

"I did drink too much tonight."

He pointed to the mess of cups and plates on the table and the whispering crowd around him.

"As you can see... this banquet is about to end."

He turned around and picked up his cup of tea, which had long since gone cold, from the table.

"I can only... use tea instead of wine."

He raised his teacup and looked calmly at Wu Jun.

"believe……"

"Young Master Wu, you certainly have that much magnanimity, don't you?"

After saying that, he calmly sat back down in his chair, holding his teacup, and looked at Wu Jun with a leisurely air.

Wu Jun's hand holding the wine glass tightened almost imperceptibly, his fingertips turning white.

The murderous intent in his heart surged like a venomous snake, but the expression on his face remained perfectly controlled, and even his smile did not change.

"Young Master Long..."

His voice remained "gentle," even carrying a hint of "understanding."

"Just being able to clink glasses... is enough."

"I, Wu Jun... don't care about those empty formalities."

He raised his wine glass and gestured slightly forward.

"I'm representing a stance... so I'll leave immediately."

His gaze was fixed intently on Zeng Linglong, and he spoke slowly, each word clear and distinct:

"Wang Long...Young Master..."

"Have fun tonight...!"

"May I...be safe and sound in the future."

He spoke the last four words extremely slowly, and a cold, suppressed glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

"Peace and safety"?

In this context, coupled with that fleeting glint of cold light, it sounds more like a... vicious curse or irony.

Zeng Linglong's smile remained calm.

"Okay."

He readily nodded and stood up, holding his teacup.

"Since Young Master Wu has said so..."

"If I were to refuse again... that would be heartless."

He raised his teacup.

"Young Master Wu's magnanimity and composure..."

"I, Zeng Linglong... admire you."

He changed the subject, looking directly at Wu Jun with an open and honest gaze, his tone equally clear and slow:

"I also hope..."

"I hope everything will be alright for Young Master Wu."

"Everything... is going well!"

"All is well"? In this context of undercurrents and confrontation, it sounds more like... a warning with hidden implications.

"clang--!"

The teacup and the stemmed glass lightly touched in mid-air.

It produced a slightly muffled, yet exceptionally clear, crisp sound.

Zeng Linglong drank the herbal tea in his cup in one gulp.

Wu Jun also tilted his head back and drank the red wine in his glass dry.

Both wine and tea go down the throat.

The meanings, however, are worlds apart.

After putting down his wine glass, Wu Jun's "gentle" smile seemed to deepen.

He extended his right hand forward again.

This time, his gaze was fixed on Zeng Linglong's eyes, his tone carrying a deliberately crafted, almost "admiring" sentiment:

"Young Master Long..."

"Could you do me the honor of...sharing my hand?"

He paused, raising his voice slightly, as if addressing those around him:

"Young Master Long's skills...everyone is praising them."

"I...want to use Young Master Long's help..."

"To share in the joy."

Everyone's hearts were in their throats again.

Refusing to shake hands earlier could be considered a coping strategy, but now that the other party is "sincerely" extending their hand again, refusing again would seem somewhat cold-hearted and petty.

Zeng Linglong looked at Wu Jun's outstretched hand, and then at his eyes behind his smile.

There was a two-second silence.

Then, he slowly extended his right hand as well.

"As you wish."

Two hands, clasped in the air.

The two stood facing each other, holding hands.

Their gazes met, collided, and locked on in the air once more.

Wu Jun's smile remained unchanged as he looked at Zeng Linglong and slowly said:

Wishing you... happiness and well-being.

Zeng Linglong remained calm, responding in a low voice as well, his gaze as still as a deep well.

"May everything be well and go smoothly."

The congratulatory message remains the same, conveying profound meaning in both languages.

The hidden dangers and warnings were known only to each other.

The handshake lasted about three seconds.

Then, at the same time, the two of them released their hands with remarkable tacit understanding.

The force was even, as if it had been practiced.

Wu Jun withdrew his hand, and the smile on his face suddenly widened, turning into a burst of laughter that came out of nowhere and seemed abrupt!

"Hahaha……!"

He smiled, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally settling on Zeng Linglong's face. His laughter contained little genuine joy, but rather an indescribable, unsettling sense of unease.

Nobody knew what he was laughing at.

Perhaps only he himself understands the true meaning and joy behind that laughter.

After laughing, he said no more, nodded slightly to Zeng Linglong, and then turned around decisively.

Under the silent protection of four iron tower bodyguards, he walked steadily through the crowd without looking back, walked straight out of the private room, and disappeared into the end of the corridor lights.

As abruptly as his arrival.

Silence returned to the private room.

But the atmosphere was even more somber and oppressive than before Wu Jun arrived.

That brief exchange, seemingly uneventful, was in fact a battleground of hidden dangers and turbulent undercurrents. Every word, every action, even every glance was filled with probing, retaliation, warnings, and deeper meaning.

Zeng Linglong stood there, watching Wu Jun's figure disappear.

The calm expression on his face gradually faded, and his eyes became unusually deep.

He slowly sat back in the main seat, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop, producing a very regular, soft "tap, tap" sound.

Kong Zhuo and Luo Haoran, these two top figures who had been observing coldly without saying a word, also put away their deep or gentle expressions at this moment.

They didn't understand why Wu Jun had come here this time.

Were they there to test Zeng Linglong's abilities, like the other two? Or did they have another purpose?

However, no one could guess Wu Jun's true purpose.

Wu Jun... was definitely not there simply to "offer a toast" or "cause trouble".

He brought four top-notch guards, his own drinks, feigned goodwill, and then inexplicably burst into laughter and decisively left...

In fact, it is completing a kind of "confirmation" or "ritual".

A much bigger storm has already begun with this seemingly mundane clash at the banquet.

The night is still long.

The game has only just entered... the truly dangerous phase.