The Martial Department's division in Lingjin City was decorated with bright lights and festoons, and large red lanterns hung on both sides of the main gate.

A luxurious commercial vehicle slowly drove into the courtyard and stopped below the main building. The driver, a middle-aged man in his forties, wore a black suit and a crew cut. His deep-set, eagle-eyed gaze scanned his surroundings. After getting out of the car, the middle-aged man opened the rear door with utmost respect and said, "Young Master, we've arrived."

"Where's Yan Yong? Why hasn't he come to greet me?"

Following the indifferent remark, a burly young man slowly stepped out of the car. He was around thirty-two or thirty-three years old, towered over 1.9 meters, and had piercing eyes that shone like a tiger's. His blue denim outfit not only accentuated his powerful muscles but also gave him an air of untamed wildness. His spotless, black high-top boots were polished to a shine.

The middle-aged man, Lu Jingyuan, looked back at the small building and said in a low voice, "Yan Yong probably didn't come to welcome you because he doesn't consider you a member of the Martial Department."

The young man put a cigarette in his mouth and struck a match to light it. Shaking out the match, he took a deep drag and squinted. "It looks like this Yan Yong has no desire to advance his career any further."

"Indeed, he's quite clueless," Lu Jingyuan said coldly.

Zhong Yuan chuckled and strode into the small building.

「On the second floor, in the office of the head of the division.」

The young man didn't bother knocking; he just pushed the door open and walked in.

"Hm?" Yan Yong, who was busy with documents, frowned slightly. Upon seeing the visitor, he forced a smile and stood up.

"Oh, it's Zhong Yuan!" Yan Yong approached with a cheerful expression. "I had two reports I needed to sign off on and lost track of time. Otherwise, I would have come down to welcome you."

"Cut the act," Zhong Yuan said, walking directly to Yan Yong's desk. He sat down, propped his legs up on the desk, and scoffed, a cigarette held in his hand. "If my father were here, you'd probably be making tea right now, wouldn't you?"

"Your father is an Eighth Rank Military General. As my superior, it's only proper for me to make tea for him," Yan Yong replied evenly, the smile never leaving his face. Deep in his eyes, however, a flicker of disgust appeared.

Barging in without knocking was one thing, but to sit in his chair with such a posture and smoke in a strictly no-smoking area was beyond arrogant—it was utterly uncivilized. Although the man held no official position, his father was an Eighth Rank Military General. All Yan Yong could do was endure it in silence. The implication of his words was clear: your father is your father, and you are you. How can the two be compared?

Zhong Yuan blew a mouthful of smoke toward Yan Yong and said with amusement, "You're being quite discourteous. Aren't you afraid it will affect your future?"

"I treat all ordinary visitors this way. Don't get the wrong idea, Zhong Yuan," Yan Yong said with a smile. "As for my future, I've gotten where I am today without relying on anyone."

"Fine. I'll remember that," Zhong Yuan nodded, then abruptly changed the subject. "Tell me about you backing someone up today. Deploying five thousand Martial Guards… what a spectacle!"

"I was just following orders," Yan Yong replied simply. Such matters were internal affairs and not to be discussed with outsiders.

"Following orders from a Sixth Grade Martial General?" Zhong Yuan, who had clearly been briefed on the matter, sneered. "You, Yan Yong, are a Sixth Grade Martial General yourself. Are you going to tell me you didn't show favoritism in this matter?"

"He's not just anyone; he is—"

Yan Yong began to explain but was cut off by Zhong Yuan's wave. "Don't tell me. I don't want to know. No matter how great his military achievements are, he's ultimately just a mere Sixth Grade."

"I don't care what your relationship with him is. I'm here today mainly to inform you that I'm going after the Qin Corporation. Keep your men in line. Don't let them show up where they don't belong."

Zhong Yuan ground out his cigarette on the surface of the desk and looked Yan Yong straight in the eye. "Do you understand me?"

"You're also trying to seize that prescription?" Yan Yong's gaze darkened, his anger palpable at Zhong Yuan's brazen act.

Zhong Yuan stood up and dusted off his clothes. "How can it be called seizing when I, Zhong Yuan, do it? After all, that prescription can only reach its full potential in my hands. This is a great service to the people."

"Let me offer a piece of advice: it's best not to act recklessly, lest you bring disaster upon yourself," Yan Yong said coolly.

He had been about to reveal Chen Yang's true identity, but Zhong Yuan's unbearable arrogance made him decide against it.

Was this considered favoritism?

"You grovel before him, Yan Yong, because you're incompetent!" Zhong Yuan stood before Yan Yong, his hands clasped behind his back. "Besides, I was merely notifying you."

"Remember that. You can't afford to bear the wrath of an Eighth Rank Military General."

After throwing this threat, Zhong Yuan shoved Yan Yong aside and strode away.

Yan Yong's expression shifted repeatedly, his anger boiling over. He had seen his share of pampered heirs, but this was the first time he had ever encountered one so boundlessly arrogant, someone who looked down on everyone.

"Hmph!" Yan Yong sneered coldly. "Your Zhong Family may be prestigious in Lingjin City, but I'm afraid it will be utterly ruined in your hands."

"I kindly tried to explain things to you, but not only did you refuse to listen, you acted as high and mighty as the Heavenly King himself!"

"Go after the Qin Corporation? Heh, I can't wait to see how that turns out!"

「Qiyun Road.」

A commercial vehicle sped toward the Qin Royal Family estate in the West Suburb of Qiyun Road.

「Meanwhile, inside the Qin Royal Family compound.」

Qin Gang and his family were escorted into a courtyard.

"Keep a close eye on them. I'm going to notify the Family Head," Qin Zhuo said before turning to leave.

The family looked around, marveling at their surroundings. Though they were people of the world, they had never seen a residence so exquisitely luxurious, rivaling the scale of a royal palace.

Qin Gang was overcome with emotion. He had grown up here, living in this very place until he was thirty. Now, thirty years later, he had returned. Scene after scene from the past surfaced in his mind.

"Grandpa, you still want to come back here, don't you?" Qin Qiu asked gently, taking his arm.

"Ahh…" Qin Gang sighed deeply. "As the saying goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. How could I not want to come back? But… I offered my loyal heart to the bright moon, only for it to shine upon the gutter."

A bitter expression filled Qin Gang's face. His deep-seated ailment still plagued him. Although Jin Zongquan's Taixuan Thirteen Needles had pulled him back from the Ghost Gate Pass, the root cause of his illness was incurable. He didn't have many years left in this world. After being exiled for thirty years, he desperately wanted to spend his final days in the Qin Family home. Unfortunately, they had given him no such opportunity.

Deeply moved, Qin Qiu tried to console him. "Let's see what they want first. Maybe there's still a chance?"

Qin Gang simply shook his head and said no more.

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