Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 222: Chapter 221 [It’s Really Dangerous Everywhere!]

Ling Yue, the father of Ling Yuxun, was also the helmsman of the Ling family, a highly successful and capable man. Otherwise, the grand Ling family would never have chosen him as their helmsman while Ling Yuxun’s grandfather was still alive.

About three years ago when the Ling family was still expanding abroad and settled in Country M, Ling Yuxun’s grandfather, Old Master Ling, seeing his son Ling Yue so capable and also very filial—coupled with his own aging and weakening—chose to ignore the objections of Ling Yue’s brothers and uncles. He firmly handed over the leadership to Ling Yue, despite continuous dissatisfaction within the family, as everyone still feared Old Master Ling while he was alive and did not dare to cause a complete uproar.

However, Ling Yue and his father had discussed previously that some uncles did not want to return to develop businesses in China. They had become accustomed to life in Country M, indulging in comfort and forgetting their motherland and hometown. Even among Ling Yue’s siblings, some opposed the idea, but they didn’t dare to make a scene only because Old Master Ling was still alive. However, in recent years, Old Master Ling increasingly felt his health declining, thus he decided to have Ling Yue return to China as soon as possible to start transferring the family’s industries back. He knew that once he passed away, Ling Yue would face tremendous pressure from those dissatisfied siblings and uncles who would undoubtedly create trouble.

Therefore, since returning to China, Ling Yue had been making contacts in various aspects, including with the Chinese government, aiming to quickly transfer the industries back. This received significant attention from the national leaders; after all, helping our own Chinese compatriots is only natural. The Ling family, being a major influential force in the international business world, would certainly have a profound impact on the domestic economic development upon their return, which the government welcomed.

Relocating such a colossal family business back to China and establishing deep, rooted operations in the country was not an easy task. The national government could only offer behind-the-scenes support or favorable policies. Much was still dependent on their own efforts, given China’s size with many major families and powers; the government couldn’t simply drop everything to accommodate the Ling family.

To gradually relocate the Ling family’s industries back to China, Ling Yue had been making contacts and clearing paths, while also scouting projects and preparing for major investments. He was also connecting with other major powers and families, hoping for their support in a mutually beneficial way—an endeavor that demanded excellent interpersonal relationships. Hence, Ling Yue was under tremendous pressure.

Upon learning that his daughter, Ling Yuxun, was associating with Ye Tianchen, Ling Yue immediately recognized some critical issues. His family had indeed had a good relationship with the Ye family years ago, living together in the same alley. However, after years without contact, they had gradually drifted apart. Upon knowing that the Ye family had declined and become a Third-class Family of Capital City, unworthy of public mention, Ling Yue realized that, given the Ling family’s current status, the Ye family was not comparable to them anymore.

Most crucially, after instructing Old Lady Ku to investigate, Ling Yue learned that Ye Tianchen had long been caught in the eye of the storm. Although Ye Tianchen was very powerful, the Qin family and the Luo family had both sent top-level assassins to kill him, but they had failed. Ling Yue absolutely didn’t believe Ye Tianchen alone could contend with so many powerful forces, especially since Ye Tianchen’s current adversary was a remarkably strong man from Dragon Rise, a man not to be underestimated. Whether for the development of the Ling family or for the safety of his daughter, Ling Yue was determined not to let his daughter associate with Ye Tianchen.

”Dad, I don’t care what Ye Tianchen is like; he is my friend, and all this is my private matter. You have no right to meddle!” Ling Yuxun argued with reason when she saw her father was adamant about confining her at home.

”I’m your father and the helmsman of the Ling family. What I say is an order, and you must comply, even if you don’t want to. Old Lady Ku, take her away. She is not permitted to step outside the estate!” Ling Yue said sternly to his daughter, Ling Yuxun.

”Dad...” Tears trickled from Ling Yuxun’s eyes. She had never expected her father to be so resolute. This was the first time he had ever been so harsh with her, and thinking that she might not see Ye Tianchen anymore, she felt an inexplicable heartache.

Ling Yuxun was forcefully taken away by Old Lady Ku. Ling Yue sighed deeply; he loved his daughter Ling Yuxun dearly, and she had always been his pride. He did not wish to argue with her, but he had no choice—for the sake of the Ling family and his daughter’s safety, he had to do this.

”Sir, what do you need!” A bodyguard, dressed in a black suit, entered from a side door and stood respectfully beside Ling Yue, asking.

”Keep an eye on Ye Tianchen from the Ye family. If he continues to have any contact with Yuxun, teach him a lesson for me. If he refuses to smarten up, then kill him...” Ling Yue’s eyes flashed fiercely as he spoke these last words.

For major families and forces, whether from the underworld or the legitimate world, attaining such power definitely involved having their own influence in both aspects. Otherwise, they wouldn’t survive the game. Just like the Ling family, being the number one commercial family among overseas Chinese, standing unshaken requires a definite force in the darker aspects; because there are always some unfair competitions, dangers, and assassination attempts occurring. However, the Ling family would not resort to these measures unless absolutely necessary.

”Yes!” The bodyguard in black suit responded crisply and left swiftly.

Ling Yue picked up the newspaper from the coffee table and continued to read about the Qin family and the Luo family, murmuring thoughtfully, ”Yuxun, don’t blame dad. Ye Tianchen is not suitable for you; he won’t go far or bring prosperity to the Ye family, only danger to you and our Ling family. If necessary, it might be better for him to die.”

The next morning when Ye Tianchen woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He yawned and stretched, and as he stepped out of his room, he found Zhang Yide practicing morning exercises in the courtyard. The nearly hundred-year-old man moved now like a soaring eagle, then like a tumbling Divine Ape, seemingly pulling mountains with his strength. Ye Tianchen was taken aback; Zhang Yide indeed was an unfathomable person. Not only was his martial prowess and superlative medical skill as the Divine Doctor Ghost Hand outstanding, but his understanding of ”Eternal Life” also surpassed many. If Zhang Yide had been born in an apocalypse or on another civilized planet, perhaps he could have gone even further on the path of ”Eternal Life.”

”Brother Tianchen, you’re awake, go wash up, we’re about to eat!” Zhang Ruotong said with a smile, holding a plate of food.

”Alright, you’ve made quite a feast, Ruotong, you’re so capable!” Ye Tianchen chuckled.

As Zhang Ruotong entered the dining room, Ye Tianchen washed his face and then headed towards Zhang Yide. At that time, Zhang Yide was stretching his limbs with his back to him, showing no signs of aging. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, he showed no signs of a hunched back or bending waist, which was quite incredible.

Whoosh!

Just as Ye Tianchen reached behind Zhang Yide and had yet to speak, a fist shadow swiftly and fiercely struck towards him, not seeming like a test but more like a fight to the death.

Smack!

Ye Tianchen responded quickly, shifting to the left side and grabbing Zhang Yide’s right wrist with a smile, ”Fancy a practice session?”

Zhang Yide glanced at Ye Tianchen with a hint of surprise in his eyes, not expecting the young man to react so fast. He had wanted to test Ye Tianchen’s skills last night, but both of them had been through a big fight and were injured, which is why Zhang Yide only made his move now.

Seeing that Zhang Yide didn’t speak but kept attacking, Ye Tianchen also gave his all. The two constantly exchanged moves without using any powerful superpower skills, as a duel between masters could almost always determine the victor in just a few moves and did not need to be a fight to the death to see their skill levels.

Bang!

After ten moves, Ye Tianchen and Zhang Yide struck each other with a punch, both being repelled back, staring at each other in shock. Almost simultaneously, both of them burst into laughter.

”Excellent skills, better than I was when I was young!” Zhang Yide said as he looked at Ye Tianchen.

”If I can have your strength at the age of a hundred, I would be very satisfied too!” Ye Tianchen replied with a laugh.

Zhang Yide nodded at Ye Tianchen and, without speaking, headed towards the dining room. Ye Tianchen sensed something off about Zhang Yide, as if the old man had something on his mind. Of course, if he didn’t want to talk about it, Ye Tianchen wouldn’t ask. Being quite a temperamental person by nature, perhaps it was just some peculiar behavior typical of people his age.

During breakfast, Zhang Yide silently ate without speaking. In contrast, Ye Tianchen and Zhang Ruotong chatted happily, with Ruotong even occasionally serving dishes to Ye Tianchen, which made him somewhat embarrassed. Most importantly, Ruotong’s cooking skills were excellent, making every dish delicious, especially for Ye Tianchen, who proclaimed himself a foodie since his rebirth. He ended up eating five bowls of rice, leaving only an empty table as he continued to eat. By the time he finished, Zhang Yide had long left the table, and Zhang Ruotong was smiling at Ye Tianchen.

”Wow, I’m really satisfied, Ruotong, your cooking skills are truly great, up to par with my mom’s. I just don’t know if I’ll have another chance to enjoy your cooking in the future!” Ye Tianchen said with a smile as he complimented Zhang Ruotong.

”Brother Tianchen, you’re a good man. Anytime you come, I’ll be happy to cook for you!” Zhang Ruotong replied with a sweet smile, blinking her beautiful eyes at Ye Tianchen. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it and donate monthly tickets at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation.)