Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 552: Chapter 551: [Stay Calm, Stay Calm...]

The story of Li San, true or false, was unknown to many and impossible to verify.

However, it was widely acknowledged among both the higher-ups and subordinates of the Liu family that Li San possessed incredible skill, coupled with a somewhat twisted, even perverse personality. He couldn’t tolerate the slightest fault in others. Outside of the Old Man of the Liu family, not even other direct relatives of the Liu family could command Li San, nor did anyone dare to provoke him recklessly.

Years ago, Li San, with just his iron palms, stormed into the Four Seas Gang. The number of people he killed was indeterminable, but the scene was undoubtedly bloody, cruel, and horrifying. At that time, Li San, in his early twenties, had already achieved Small Success with his Monument Pushing Hand and wielded immense power. If he hadn’t fallen into the trap set by the Double Saber King and been detained, he might very well have killed him.

Even in such circumstances, Li San still managed to fight his way out of the Four Seas Gang with his iron palms and flee to the Liu family’s doorstep. His strength was undeniable, as was the prowess of Monument Pushing Hand. One must remember that the Double Saber King was ranked the third-highest expert among the Huaxia underworld, a name revered in both the dark and light sides of the Huaxia community. And there was Li San, barely in his twenties, managing to fight the Double Saber King with Monument Pushing Hand. Although he was defeated, he left everyone in shock. Over ten years had passed since then, and Li San had been constantly preparing for revenge, seeking out the Double Saber King to settle scores. His Monument Pushing Hand had at least reached the realm of Great Success, a single realm difference being like heaven and earth. His formidable strength was unimaginable.

The reason Li San targeted Ye Tianchen so specifically was that he utterly despised him at heart. The incident from years ago had turned Li San vindictive and wrathful. He would unleash the fury repressed in his heart upon encountering anything disagreeable or any person he didn’t like. Fortunately, Li San wasn’t a madman; as long as no one provoked him, there wouldn’t be much trouble.

The first time Ye Tianchen visited the Liu family, he had peeped on Liu Rumei bathing, causing a huge uproar in Capital City. If not for some control, it could have made national news. That was the most shameful incident for Ye Tianchen and a moment that led him to a profound awakening. He kneeled for a full day and night in the Liu family’s courtyard, and his parents, Ye Hong and Luo Yan, also faced great humiliation.

The person who personally beat Ye Tianchen half to death was none other than Li San. If Liu Rumei hadn’t pleaded with her grandfather on Ye Tianchen’s behalf, he might have been beaten to death. At that time, the Ye family was already in decline and dared not provoke the Liu family. Since the fault was initially on Ye Tianchen’s side, the Liu family had all the reasoning on their side, and having beaten Ye Tianchen to death, no one would have dared to say a word.

Thus, when Li San heard that Ye Tianchen had come, he was somewhat annoyed. He had heard about Ye Tianchen’s transformation and rapid rise. However, Li San was disdainful, convinced that since he had severely punished Ye Tianchen once, he could do it again. He was determined not to allow Ye Tianchen to enter the Liu family and then swagger around, turning the tables and shaming him.

The most important reason was that Li San believed Ye Tianchen had transformed and had come to the Liu family to regain face. Li San had brutally beaten Ye Tianchen once, nearly killing him; would Ye Tianchen let him off? It seemed better to strike first to teach the young man a lesson, letting him know that even if he had undergone a transformation, he was still no match for Li San.

Ye Tianchen and the remaining guard at the Liu family’s main entrance chatted idly, sparking the curiosity of this Falcon Unit soldier. First, because Ye Tianchen’s current status allowed him to speak directly with the nation’s leader, which placed him very high in the pecking order, yet here he was chatting casually; second, it was common knowledge that Ye Tianchen became the laughingstock of Capital City, a despised wastrel in everyone’s eyes, all because of the Liu family. They had caused the Ye family’s further decline and dealt Ye Tianchen the most significant humiliation of his life. Logically, he should have hated the Liu family intensely, perhaps even directly assaulted the Liu household now that he had transformed. But contrary to expectations, Ye Tianchen calmly chatted away. What was his intention?

At this moment, the guard who had previously entered came out, glanced at Ye Tianchen with a strange look in his eyes that disappeared as quickly as it had come, and said, ”Young Master Ye, please come in. I’ll show you the way!”

Ye Tianchen looked at the guard, a slight smile appearing on his lips as he said, ”Then let’s go. Who shall we meet first?”

”Oh... It’s already been arranged. Just follow me!” The guard blinked, then spoke with a smile.

Ye Tianchen smiled faintly, stood up, tossed the cigarette butt outside the Liu family’s main gate, and followed the guard inside. Without saying much, he walked quietly behind the guard, observing the surroundings. He noticed that the layout of the Liu family courtyard was similar to many other large estates, with various areas divided inside. Ye Tianchen’s Superpower Perception also detected fluctuations of energy in the ground beneath the Liu family courtyard, suggesting that they had prepared underground facilities for advanced military research — some things that definitely couldn’t be publicly disclosed.

Along the way, the guard didn’t speak, nor did Ye Tianchen. The further they walked, the more remote the path became. Initially, they encountered a few patrolling soldiers and saw several houses with lights on. But after about ten to twenty minutes, Ye Tianchen noticed that everything around them had disappeared. The houses looked long abandoned, and they arrived in the middle of a desolate and forsaken courtyard.

On either side of this courtyard were abandoned houses, spider webs everywhere, and decaying leaves, surrounded by old trees whose branches spread every which way, tangled and twisted. One glance was enough to tell that these trees had been untended for decades, or even a century.

”Brother, where have we arrived?” Ye Tianchen asked with a smile, still very calm.

”Young Master Ye, I am just errand personnel, so...” the guard said with some difficulty.

Ye Tianchen looked around. His strong Superpower Perception reached out but detected nothing unusual. This, however, did not ease his vigilance; on the contrary, it made him even more cautious. There had to be some sort of ambush here. If his Superpower Perception did not detect it, it only meant one thing: the opponent was a master among masters, extremely strong.

”You may go. I will see Miss Liu myself!” Ye Tianchen said to the guard with a smile.

The guard was stunned. He genuinely couldn’t grasp Ye Tianchen’s character. Previously, this guy was the laughingstock of Capital City, a notorious wastrel and good-for-nothing. Now he had undergone a transformation and risen to power, yet he displayed not a trace of arrogance, even in the Liu family residence that had once brought him the greatest humiliation of his life. Even now, knowing full well he was being led into danger, Ye Tianchen remained composed and let the guard leave. What kind of person was this young man really?

”Thank...thank you!” The guard, somewhat dazed, sped away after finishing his sentence. He was no fool; he knew Li San meant to teach Ye Tianchen a lesson, and with Li San’s ferocious strength, staying here could mean getting killed.

After watching the guard leave, Ye Tianchen, waiting until the guard had exited the side courtyard, spoke with a smile, ”Close the gate, please!”

”This... okay, okay...” The guard, taken aback, shut the large iron gate of the side courtyard.

At this moment, Ye Tianchen made no movements, nor did he attempt to search the area. As soon as the guard closed the gate, he sat down cross-legged on the ground. Instead of extending his Superpower Perception, he withdrew it entirely, choosing not to explore further. He closed his eyes to calm his mind, seeking to achieve a state of deepest steadiness.

Unbeknownst to him, midnight had arrived. In the Liu family manor, there was a large copper bell that rang three times every night at midnight—a warning to all members of the Liu family. Some might think this would disturb the family’s sleep, but a family like the Liu’s often worked late into the night, so the three rings served to alert the guards that the night was yet young.

The defense systems of the entire Liu family were something Ye Tianchen had become aware of upon reaching its main gate: incredibly formidable. Even with his current strength, a direct assault would be difficult, which goes to show why the Liu family are considered the most powerful in Huaxia’s military research. Secrets and data involved here were forever out of reach to outsiders. Hence, many forces from both the underworld and legitimate society coveted the Liu family’s assets. Their defenses were even more sophisticated than those enjoyed by national leaders at Zhongnanhai.

At the third sound of the bell, when the final chime rang, Ye Tianchen slowly opened his eyes and, smiling, said to the large tree at the end of the courtyard, ”You really know how to keep your cool; not making a move until now—waiting for me to invite you to a midnight snack, huh?”

Once Ye Tianchen finished speaking, he rose from the ground. At this moment, his combat power was at its peak. He looked around and, in a sudden flash, disappeared from his spot. The next moment, Ye Tianchen’s fist struck the wall to the left...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com), where your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)