Chapter 41.3

Upon hearing this, a flicker of displeasure flashed through Lu Yang’s eyes.

“However, this time it’s not about your brother.” Xie Yanzhao’s expression darkened slightly as he looked at Lu Yang and continued, “Are you unaware of how your parents have smeared the Ruan family’s reputation in Haicheng?”

“What do you mean?”

Lu Yang frowned, squinting as he stared at Xie Yanzhao.

“Your parents’ actions have indeed been disgraceful,” Xie Yanzhao said calmly. “Repaying a drop of kindness with a flood of gratitude is expected, but kicking someone when they’re down? That’s rare.”

Xie Yanzhao’s words were a direct hit.

Sure enough, Lu Yang’s pale face flushed, alternating between shades of red and white, a sight to behold.

“Commander Xie, don’t go too far!”

Xie Yanzhao sneered.

“Isn’t it the truth?”

Lu Yang: “…”

For the first time, he realized how infuriating the living king of hell could be.

“Deputy Commander Lu, my patience is limited,” Xie Yanzhao continued, “and my wife doesn’t want to waste time on such trivial nonsense. Don’t you agree?”

“Who do you think you are to speak to my brother like that!”

Lu Yan had just arrived and heard Xie Yanzhao’s words. In a fit of rage, he raised his hand, intending to teach him a lesson.

Unfortunately, he underestimated the vigilance of a soldier.

As soon as Lu Yan’s hand touched Xie Yanzhao’s shoulder, Xie Yanzhao swiftly countered with a flawless throw, sending him crashing to the ground.

“Lu Yan!”

Lu Yang’s pupils contracted as he rushed forward.

Lu Yan lay on the ground, clutching his stomach and crying out in pain, grimacing in exaggerated agony.

“Brother, he hit me.”

Dressed in military uniform, Lu Yan actually looked somewhat composed.

He had offended a local bully recently, and with the man’s growing influence, Lu’s parents didn’t dare face him head-on. They sent Lu Yan to the army under Lu Yang’s supervision, hoping he could join the ranks, temper his rash personality, and avoid further trouble.

Luckily, there had been a recruitment drive recently, and Lu Yang arranged for him to enlist.

Lu Yang helped Lu Yan up from the ground. “Are you hurt? Where does it hurt?”

He was a bit worried.

Lu Yang knew all too well.

Someone like Xie Yanzhao, who had a bit of skill, could easily have seriously injured Lu Yan if he hadn’t held back.

Lu Yan couldn’t even stand up straight, his body curled up like a shrimp.

“Brother, it really hurts.”

He wasn’t exaggerating, wincing in pain with each breath.

Lu Yang’s face, already unpleasant, grew darker.

“Commander Xie, you were too harsh.”

Xie Yanzhao remained calm. “Deputy Commander Lu, after so many years in the military, surely you know the consequences of a surprise attack on a soldier?”

Besides, he had shown mercy by allowing Lu Yan to survive. Xie Yanzhao had gone easy on him.

Lu Yang’s face flushed again, his expression alternating like a palette of colors.

After a while, he clenched his teeth and glared at Xie Yanzhao. “This is retaliation!”

Retaliation for the Lu family breaking their engagement and slandering afterward.

Xie Yanzhao shrugged nonchalantly. “If that’s what you believe, there’s nothing I can do.”

Hearing this, Lu Yang nearly coughed up blood.

“Commander Xie, don’t push it…” Before he could finish, Lu Yan interrupted, “You should be thanking us. If I hadn’t broken off the engagement, you wouldn’t have been able to marry that woman.”

Lu Yan had spent some time in the army and naturally knew who had been suppressing his brother all along.

Especially after learning that Xie Yanzhao had married Ruan Mingfu.

It felt like adding insult to injury, making Lu Yan despise Xie Yanzhao even more.

After being thrown to the ground, his anger boiled, feeling like his internal organs had shifted.

The combined weight of old grudges and new ones completely clouded Lu Yan’s judgment.

“Commander Xie, how does it feel to take the woman I didn’t want?” Lu Yan sneered. “Though her character isn’t great, I have to admit, she’s beautiful…”

“Lu Yan!”

As Lu Yang listened to his increasingly outrageous words, he quickly stepped in to stop him.

Xie Yanzhao’s face darkened, his eyes cold and fierce, radiating a terrifying aura.

“Commander Xie, how does a secondhand woman feel…”

Before he could finish, a sharp pain shot through his face.

Xie Yanzhao had struck.

Supporting Lu Yan, Lu Yang hadn’t been prepared for Xie’s sudden move.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t hold back.

Lu Yan’s cheek quickly swelled up, making him look ridiculous. Several of his teeth loosened, and blood began to ooze from the corner of his mouth. Panicked, he touched his face and cried out in alarm.

“Blood, brother, I’m bleeding!”

Lu Yang’s frown deepened as he glared at Xie Yanzhao.

“Commander Xie, you’re going too far!”

Lu Yan might have had a foul mouth, but Xie Yanzhao didn’t need to hit him so hard.

Xie Yanzhao, however, remained unfazed.

Anger blazing in his eyes, he flexed his wrists, took off his cap, and tossed it aside, his gaze locking onto Lu Yang. In a calm but deadly tone, he asked, “Are you going to fight me yourself, or are you letting your brother try again?”

This is too much!

Lu Yang’s face turned grim, teeth clenched. “I’ll fight.”

If Lu Yan fought, he’d be beaten to death.

Besides, Lu Yang had something to prove.

Though they were close in age and both held high positions, people in the military often compared the two. But thanks to his reputation, Xie Yanzhao wasn’t well-liked outside the military.

But here, skill was all that mattered.

No matter how much Lu Yang’s reputation soared outside, inside the military, Xie Yanzhao still overshadowed him.

This challenge hit Lu Yang right in his pride.

He wanted to prove, in front of everyone, that he was stronger than Xie Yanzhao!

The onlookers, who had been silently observing, were stunned when the two men suddenly began fighting.

“Whoa!”

“Look over there!”

“Oh my god!”

The soldiers could no longer just stand by and rushed over to watch, though they didn’t dare get too close. They stayed on the outskirts, silently observing.

Some of the younger recruits looked on, puzzled. “Why did they suddenly start fighting?”

“It must be because of a woman, the classic ‘a man driven to rage for his lady.’”

The person who said this looked smug. When he noticed the eager expressions of those around him, he became even more self-satisfied.

“Come on, tell us the story!”

“Yeah, we’re dying to know. Just spit it out!”

He shook his head dramatically, “I’ll tell you, but only if you guys wash my dirty socks for a month!”

“You’re the worst.”

“Your socks are so disgusting that even rats would scream for help. You’re killing us with this deal…”

“You’re useless! Guys, get him!”

Seeing that everyone was looking at him with malicious intent, they began to crowd around him. He quickly surrendered, “Alright, alright, I’ll tell you. Just don’t hit me.”

“Hurry up, stop dragging it out.”

“Yeah, spit it out!”

Swallowing hard, he finally spoke, “I heard, just heard, okay, that Commander Xie’s wife was originally the fiancée of Deputy Commander Lu. She came back to visit her family last time, and somehow, she ended up marrying Commander Xie.”

“Hiss—”

What a juicy piece of gossip!

The group listening all expressed their shock.

“Really? Where did you hear that?”

“Yeah, I’ve never heard anything like it.”

“Why would I lie? But since this involves Commander Xie, I can’t say for sure. I only heard it from others.”

The others let out a few disappointed sighs.

“If you’re not even sure, then what’s the point of talking?”

“True… but I also heard that Commander Xie’s wife is exceptionally beautiful…”

“Enough talking! The fight’s getting intense.”

“Who do you think will win?”

“Obviously, Commander Xie.”

“I’m betting on Commander Xie.”

“Me too.”

“Same here.”

…

Meanwhile, the two men in question were locked in a fierce, life-or-death struggle.

Lu Yang wasn’t holding back.

Blood dripped from his mouth, and his face was bruised in several places. His clothes were in tatters, with a large tear in his pants leg. Panting heavily, his chest rose and fell rapidly.

In contrast, Xie Yanzhao seemed to be faring much better. Apart from some disheveled clothing, he appeared largely unaffected, looking almost the same as before the fight started.

A flicker of resentment flashed in Lu Yang’s eyes.

Why did he always have to be compared to Xie Yanzhao? Why was Xie always above him? The more he thought about it, the more bitter Lu Yang became.

His strikes grew more aggressive.

But Xie Yanzhao deflected each move with ease, and when he met Lu Yang’s gaze, he could clearly see the frustration and unwillingness in his eyes.

“Your heart’s in chaos.”

Hearing this only provoked Lu Yang further, as if someone had struck a nerve.

His eyes reddened with anger.

The only thought in his mind was to defeat Xie Yanzhao.

He wanted to drag him down from his pedestal. He should be the one standing on top!

And with so many people watching, he couldn’t afford to lose. With that thought, his attacks became increasingly reckless.

His other hand quietly reached for the gun holstered at his waist…

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