Zhong Yun felt a strange mix of frustration and amusement. "Do you have so little faith in your own sister?" But as for the true nature of his feelings toward Yu Daoqing, only he knew that.

"I have no faith in you," Yang Yunrong retorted, his annoyance piqued, giving Zhong Yun a sharp look.

Zhong Yun shook his head, realizing arguing was pointless, and answered his earlier question. "She fell ill, said she needed to go somewhere for treatment, and then we parted ways."

Yang Yunrong frowned deeply. While he often found that woman irritating, that was merely a matter of personal preference. However, the influence she had cultivated now subtly rivaled that of the Yang family itself. No one welcomed an emerging competitor.

Yet, he couldn't deny that over the years, this woman had made contributions to Dawa that were unparalleled. Though her achievements were not publicized, those at their level were well aware.

Thus, even though the Yidao Group's rapid expansion threatened the interests of some, and a large faction disliked them, the Group continued to thrive. The world largely credited Zhao Tingjian, a man from the common grassroots, for this success. Few knew that Yidao Group's miraculous rise was entirely due to one woman.

Politics is the art of balance, and that woman understood this implicitly. She always managed to present the ruling class with offers they couldn't refuse in exchange for the continued development of the Yidao Group. Step by step, she reached where she was today, and it was no exaggeration to call her the most powerful woman in all of Dawa.

Moreover, her rumored status was her safest talisman. There were those who coveted her power and her beauty, wishing to claim both, but the fates of such men…

So, although no one wished to see this woman grow stronger, everyone was resigned to the situation; she held too many trump cards.

The Yang family usually scratched their heads when this woman was mentioned, preferring to forget her existence and avoid even speaking her name. But now, in this critical time, her presence would undoubtedly be a huge asset to the war effort.

However, this woman was notoriously elusive, once having a record of ten years without returning to Dawa, leading people to believe she had perished abroad.

Hopefully, she hears the news of the war and returns quickly, Yang Yunrong thought helplessly.

Just then, a man walked in. Zhong Yun recognized him instantly, as Yang Yunrong was almost a mirror image of him, save that the newcomer possessed greater maturity and refinement.

Indeed, upon seeing the visitor, Yang Yunrong stood up in surprise. "Father, why are you back?"

Zhong Yun also rose and performed a proper salute. "Uncle, it is a pleasure to meet you for the first time. My name is Zhong—"

Yang Bingchang smiled at Zhong Yun, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "I heard we had an esteemed guest visiting, so I hurried over immediately."

Zhong Yun felt a chill run through him, tiny goosebumps rising on his skin. The gaze of this prospective father-in-law was like the full-spectrum scan before boarding a spaceship; he felt as if his very organs had been laid bare.

"Uncle is too polite. I should have been the one to call upon you," Zhong Yun said, feigning humility, though a malicious thought crossed his mind: Could Yang Yunrong’s father’s ability just be X-ray vision?

Yang Bingchang chuckled, walking over to the main seat and taking his place. Only after he was settled did Zhong Yun and Yang Yunrong follow suit.

"You are Zhong Yun?" Yang Bingchang inquired.

Zhong Yun’s eye twitched. His tone was perhaps too formal, making him uneasy. It was his first time meeting his future father-in-law; nervousness was inevitable. He appeared somewhat restrained. "Yes, sir."

"I have heard your name many times. This is the first time we meet formally." Yang Bingchang beckoned his son. Yang Yunrong stepped forward, discarded the freshly brewed tea, and proceeded to steep an entirely new pot.

In his father’s presence, Yang Yunrong was as docile as if he were a different person.

Watching Yang Yunrong respectfully present the tea to him, Zhong Yun felt genuinely unaccustomed to the sight.

He took a sip of the tea, set the cup down, and said, "I have heard much about your exploits. Meeting you in person, I realize the rumors did not exaggerate."

Yang Bingchang waved a hand, silencing Zhong Yun, who was about to speak. "You are only seventeen this year, aren't you?"

"Seventeen in a few months," Zhong Yun replied. "Seventeen years old and already at Ninth Level of Body Arts. Aside from Qi'er, you are the first in Dawa's history." Yang Bingchang spoke as if discussing a trivial matter.

Zhong Yun was greatly surprised. Based on his tone, did this imply Liu Yunqi’s body arts skill was exceptionally high? It wasn't entirely his fault for being slow; Liu Yunqi had never shown anything unusual to ordinary people. Moreover, he couldn't sense any sign of Yuan energy within her.

Yang Bingchang’s voice drew back his wandering thoughts. "You carry many secrets that others cannot fathom."

This statement caused cold sweat to break out on Zhong Yun’s back. He managed a dry laugh. "Everyone has their secrets, don't they?"

Yang Bingchang gave him a meaningful glance, then stood up.

Just as Zhong Yun thought the conversation was concluding, Yang Bingchang uttered something that shocked him: "My father wishes to see you."

Yang Bingchang’s father? That meant Liu Yunqi’s grandfather, the Hero of the Nation who led the Dawa people to repel the great pirates—Old Marshal Yang!

He wants to see me? Zhong Yun felt a dizzy spell coming on. If Yang Yunrong hadn't pulled him back, he didn't know how long he would have remained standing there.

Yang Yunrong looked at him with envy. "Hurry up, don't keep Grandpa waiting."

Yang Bingchang led the way. Observing the direction they were headed—seemingly out of the main gate—Zhong Yun asked curiously, "Isn't the Old Marshal here?"

"Grandpa dislikes being disturbed, so he lives elsewhere. None of us dare visit him without being summoned," Yang Yunrong replied softly.

They arrived at the helipad in front of the main gate, where a sapphire-blue aircraft was waiting.

The three of them, along with about ten attendants, boarded the plane.

Seated in the luxurious cabin, Zhong Yun couldn't help but ask, "Why exactly does the Old Marshal want to see me? He shouldn't know me, should he?"

Finding Zhong Yun’s question amusing, the lines on Yang Bingchang's face softened considerably. He may hide many secrets, but at the end of the day, he is still a seventeen-year-old boy; no matter how deep his scheming, he has an innocent side.

"Do you know how much merit one earns for completely annihilating an enemy fleet, especially the commander?" Yang Bingchang asked a question entirely unrelated to the topic at hand.

"No," Zhong Yun answered honestly. Though he possessed perfect recall, who would bother studying the method of merit calculation in their spare time?

"Complete annihilation would earn at least one Star," Yang Yunrong answered. "If it were the enemy's main fleet, even two Stars might not be impossible."

By standard logic, fleet commanders were usually Generals, so one or two Stars were measured against that rank.

"And what if the enemy’s strength was a full tier above our own? And what if two of their main vessels were captured? What if the commander held no military rank?"

A series of 'what ifs' left Yang Yunrong dumbfounded.

Yang Bingchang’s sword-like gaze made Zhong Yun offer a continuous dry laugh. "Well, since he isn't a soldier, it wouldn't count as military merit, would it..."

At this point, if Yang Yunrong hadn't understood, he would have been impossibly dense. He suddenly snapped his head around, staring fixedly at Zhong Yun, his eyes flashing with an extremely dangerous light.

Having reached this stage, Zhong Yun surprisingly calmed down. Truthfully, if they weren't Liu Yunqi’s father and brother, he wouldn't maintain such a deferential posture.

"Perhaps the person doesn't care about this military merit?" With his composure restored, Zhong Yun's expression became relaxed.

Yang Bingchang’s eyes showed a flicker of approval at the sudden shift in demeanor, and he said with interest, "Then tell me, if he disregards military merit, what does he value?"

Zhong Yun leaned fully back into the seat. "There are people in this world for whom fame and status mean nothing. The reason he acts as he does is because he loves this country. Because this country holds everything he cares about: family, friends... and a lover."

He deliberately emphasized the word 'lover' while meeting Yang Bingchang’s gaze without yielding, sparking a subtle friction between them.

Zhong Yun was clearly sending a message: My previous deference wasn't out of fear of you; it was respect. Don't mistake me for a clay figurine you can mold at will.

The smile on Yang Bingchang’s face deepened. "Since he loves this nation and lives within it, he must abide by the rules of the game here. I trust you won't disagree."

Zhong Yun nodded silently. The man was correct; even with the Yang family's power, they couldn't act arbitrarily. If one lives in this place, one must follow the local rules of the game.

"However, I imagine he is accustomed to freedom and might not submit to being commanded."

Zhong Yun’s words caused the smile on Yang Bingchang’s face to vanish abruptly. His pupils contracted slightly, and the gentle facade hardened instantly into severity. "Young man, confidence is a fine quality, but overconfidence is arrogance."

As a seasoned superior, Yang Bingchang possessed an inherent authority others couldn't match. Yet, Zhong Yun remained unmoved. "Whether it is arrogance depends on the strength of his foundation."

Standing nearby, Yang Yunrong desperately wished he had a large mallet to knock Zhong Yun senseless. He understood his father well; the harsh words were merely a senior lecturing a junior. A simple apology would have sufficed, but this young man dared to talk back—utterly clueless!

Indeed, the father's eyes narrowed slightly, then curved into a smile. "It seems you believe his foundation is quite solid."

Yang Yunrong’s heart clenched. His father was genuinely angered. Zhong Yun, Zhong Yun, you truly don't know how to save yourself! Is my father someone you can so easily contradict? If it weren't for Yunqi, I wouldn't care if you were executed.

At this moment, he could only fret anxiously.

Zhong Yun remained visibly relaxed, making Yang Yunrong wish he could punch him. "Whether his foundation is solid or not, I don't know, but perhaps he can be more effective off the battlefield."

"Oh?" Yang Bingchang’s eyebrows rose dangerously. Those familiar with him knew he was teetering on the edge of exploding.

Zhong Yun quietly spoke five characters, causing the expressions of both Yang Bingchang and Yang Yunrong to drastically change.

P: Drafting content for the featured push of Chapters 4 and 5. Everyone please give some monthly ticket encouragement.