Chapter 51

Su Wen had nothing else to say. If a beautiful woman was practicing with him, he could only accompany her to the end.

Yi Xue was a woman of her word. If she said an hour, it was an hour, not a minute more, not a minute less. Afterward, she dismissed Su Wen quite straightforwardly, but she gave him the black sword. Su Wen wasn't particularly interested in the dark, long sword, but since it was a gift from Yi Xue, he decided to keep it properly. Perhaps one day he would obtain a sword technique from the system, and then he wouldn't have to spend money on a sword.

In the afternoon, Su Wen resumed his physical training. As his vitality increased, physical training became easier, but it also became harder to increase his vitality. According to Xiaotian, physical training could indeed increase vitality, but that increase was within a certain range. Now, his vitality far exceeded the level of physical training, so the increase in vitality was minimal.

Knowing this, Su Wen didn't feel any disappointment. It was like in martial arts novels where the protagonist practices an internal cultivation technique, starting only at the first level. Suddenly, a powerful figure gives the protagonist a top-down transmission, and the protagonist's true qi surges to the maximum. The protagonist then realizes that the internal cultivation technique is no longer effective, as the increase in internal energy is negligible. However, because of the powerful true qi, the protagonist quickly advances the internal cultivation technique to its highest level.

Evening.

In Jiangning, there was a small restaurant called Old Wang Noodle Shop.

Tang Long was a regular customer here, and he was very familiar with the owner. Su Wen heard that the owner's son had been falsely accused of murder. Coincidentally, Tang Long had just taken up his post at the Jiangning Public Security Bureau, and the case fell into his hands. No one expected that a case that was already considered airtight would be overturned by Tang Long. The owner was so moved that he had his son kneel and kowtow three times to Tang Long. During holidays, he would also have his son visit Tang Long. Later, Tang Long felt uncomfortable about this and would often come here to eat, as a way to support the owner's business.

Today, there was one more person at the restaurant: Su Wen.

Tang Long had promised to tell Su Wen about his father, Su Donghe, and Su Wen naturally didn't want to miss this opportunity. He was very curious about his father's military career. Thinking that his father had a comrade who was a bureau chief, he couldn't have been just an ordinary soldier in the army. When he was young, he had heard that his father was strong, smart, and very righteous. Such a person would surely have a bright future in the military, yet he ended up retiring in disgrace, which was extremely strange.

"Uncle Tang, just say it! I'm not a child anymore. No matter how shocking the news, I'll just laugh it off. My father's past won't affect me, so you don't need to feel any burden. I know very well what path I will take in the future. Knowing about my father is just a responsibility as a son. Every filial son wants to know more about his father, don't you think?"

"Don't talk to Uncle Tang like that. It makes him think he's sitting across from a cunning elder, not a vibrant twenty-year-old. Uncle Tang has no intention of calling you 'old man.' Think about it."

"Uncle Tang, stop teasing me. Just say it!"

Seeing Su Wen's wry smile, Tang Long nodded. "Alright, since I've decided to tell you, I'll tell you everything. I'll start from when your father joined the military. Even back then, your father showed extraordinary talent. He quickly made a name for himself in our military district, rising from a new recruit to an elite soldier, and even joining the special forces. All his achievements were outstanding, and I always followed in his footsteps, always second to him."

Su Wen could sense Tang Long's admiration for his father.

Tang Long didn't hide it and continued, "In the military, your father became the best of the best. His personal combat skills and marksmanship were top-notch, and he was later known as the King of Soldiers in our military district. You might not understand the significance of the title 'King of Soldiers,' but I can tell you that in our time, there were no more than ten people in the entire country who could claim that title. It was the highest honor for a soldier and a symbol of combat prowess."

Su Wen was slightly taken aback. He smiled and gestured for Tang Long to continue.

Tang Long took a deep breath, as if he had found the crux of the matter. "In the third year after your father became the King of Soldiers, with his help, I also became the King of Soldiers. I must admit, I owe a lot to your father for becoming the King of Soldiers. From then on, I secretly considered your father my big brother. He was always my idol, and we were a well-known pair of best friends, the only two Kings of Soldiers in the same military district."

Su Wen found it amusing. Two Kings of Soldiers, but Uncle Tang still hadn't gotten to the point!

"Don't be impatient, the story of the Kings of Soldiers is just the beginning." Tang Long took a sip of water and then showed a wistful look. "After both of us became Kings of Soldiers, something unexpected happened. Mercenary organizations began to appear around the world, many of which had state backing. They operated outside the country, earning incredible wealth for their nations. Our country also wanted a piece of the pie, so we established the world-renowned Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group."

"Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group?" Su Wen murmured to himself, remembering that Tang Long had served in the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group.

"To quickly establish the reputation of the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group, the five most famous Kings of Soldiers from the major military districts joined the group, including your father and me. However, internally, we were all discharged from the military. No country would openly admit to maintaining a mercenary group. The five of us quickly formed a powerful force, and within a year, the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group rose to the top three mercenary groups in the world. We also brought significant returns to the country." Tang Long was lost in deep memories.

"Are the other three Kings of Soldiers the ones Aunt showed me in the photos?" Su Wen asked after some thought.

"Exactly." Tang Long took a deep breath. "The other three Kings of Soldiers were my and your father's life-and-death brothers. Their names were Long Yun, known as the Sword King; Hu Yiming, known as the Blade King; and Mo Feiying, known as the Eagle King. Long Yun was from a noble family in the capital, and you might need his help in the future. As for Hu Yiming and Mo Feiying, Hu Yiming is now back in the military, holding a high position, so don't approach him unless it's a major issue. Mo Feiying is still in the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group and is its last pillar. It's because of him that the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group hasn't completely fallen."

Su Wen nodded. "Uncle Tang, what were your and my father's titles?"

Tang Long smiled. "They were just nicknames. I was called the Rat King because of my keen sense of smell. Your father was called the Tiger King because he practiced a fist technique that could produce a tiger's roar."

Su Wen was a bit embarrassed. He had thought Tang Long would be called the Dog King, but the latest scientific research shows that rats have a better sense of smell than dogs. As for his father's fist technique that could produce a tiger's roar, it was likely the Tiger King Fist taught by Yang Xiao.

Su Wen noted this down and asked naturally, "What happened next? What exactly happened? My father wouldn't have retired without a reason. What was it?"

Tang Long took a deep breath, his mouth bitter. "Later, we received a mission from the country, a mission that almost led to the downfall of the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group. The mission was called the Spark Plan."

Su Wen was silent, waiting for Tang Long to continue.

Tang Long didn't keep Su Wen waiting long. He organized his thoughts and, with a sad look, recalled, "Twenty years ago, our country's technology was very backward, especially in the aerospace field. You can imagine the situation back then. At that time, the American Seed Satellite failed to change its orbit and returned to Earth, landing in the African jungle. The Seed Satellite represented the most advanced aerospace technology in the world at that time. If our country could obtain the remains of the Seed Satellite, our struggling aerospace technology would spark a brilliant revival."

Clearly, this was the Spark Plan.

Tang Long looked increasingly dejected, his voice hoarse. "The importance of the Seed Satellite was obvious. It wasn't just our country that had its eyes on it. Since it landed in the African jungle, it was fair game for whoever could get it. Mercenary groups with state backing from around the world were mobilized, and the entire African jungle was stained with blood. However, we, the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group, were the first to find the satellite. But..."

"But what?" Su Wen knew the critical part was coming.

"But when we found the satellite, we were also discovered by mercenary groups from over a dozen countries. Not to mention the top-ranked Blackwater Mercenary Group from the United States and the second-ranked Berserker Mercenary Group from Germany, there were many other smaller mercenary groups. We fought with these mercenary groups in the African jungle for half a month, dragging the remains of the satellite. The Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group suffered heavy casualties, and we were on the verge of collapse. It was at this moment that your father suggested we split up. He would lead a group to divert the other mercenary groups, while the rest of us would take the satellite remains back to the country by sea."

"My father went, right?"

"Obviously. Your father led a part of the Dragon Tooth Mercenary Group in a covert operation. He successfully diverted all the mercenary groups and even severely damaged the top-ranked Blackwater Mercenary Group, causing it to drop to seventh place. Of course, your father also paid a heavy price. He was shot three times in one leg, one of which shattered the bone. After barely making it back to the country, he immediately applied for retirement. Despite our repeated attempts to persuade him to stay, he was determined to leave."

Hearing this, Su Wen couldn't help but smile. "So that's what happened. Thank you, Uncle Tang, for telling me all this."

Tang Long was taken aback. "Aren't you disappointed for your father?"

Su Wen shook his head. "There's nothing to be disappointed about. Being alive is more important than anything. With his leg injured, staying in the military would have been a tragic end. It's better for him to be at home with my mother."

Tang Long was amazed. He looked at Su Wen, unable to say anything for a long time. "You..."

Su Wen stood up and looked at Tang Long. "Uncle Tang, thank you for clearing up my doubts. I won't let my father or anyone close to me fall into such danger again. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

As Su Wen left, Tang Long's gaze became vacant.