Chapter Eight: The Living Legend
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On this beautiful, peaceful afternoon, a piece of news exploded across Tongbin City like a bombshell.
Provincial Military Command.
A middle-aged man wearing the shoulder insignia of a major general sat with his brows tightly furrowed.
His name was Xiao Bo.
Several months earlier, he had been assigned here to serve as commander of the provincial military command.
Only moments ago, he had received a call from Cong Gui, the commander of the garrison stationed in He County.
When had an old hero named Ye Yuan appeared in He County?
“Even if it were just an ordinary person coming to the army to seek justice, we couldn’t simply ignore him—let alone an old hero.”
Xiao Bo’s brows drew together slightly as he pondered the matter.
Before long, Political Commissar Liu Ping also entered the office.
He was so agitated that he nearly tripped over the threshold.
“Old Xiao, look! This—this…”
Liu Ping’s voice trembled.
Xiao Bo took the photographs Liu Ping handed him. He had barely glanced at them when he abruptly shot to his feet and stared at Liu Ping in disbelief.
“Six First-Class Merit Medals, two Special-Class Merit Medals, and one… Special-Class Combat Hero Medal…”
Never before had Xiao Bo doubted his own eyes so deeply.
If all these honors truly belonged to one person, then that man was practically a god of war!
“Just who is this old hero?” Liu Ping asked, his voice filled with excitement.
“I don’t know…” Xiao Bo shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’ve met nearly every old hero still living, but… none of them can compare with this one. Of course, that is assuming these honors are all genuine…”
“I’ve never heard of him either.” Liu Ping gradually calmed down. “I suggest we immediately initiate the highest-level identity verification procedure. Then we’ll arrange our travel plans and go there ourselves tomorrow.”
“You’re coming with me?” Xiao Bo raised his head, surprise in his eyes.
Liu Ping had never been one to join in the excitement, yet this time he had taken the initiative to go.
“We have to go,” Liu Ping said without hesitation. “A living legend—who wouldn’t want to see him with their own eyes? Who wouldn’t want to hear, from his own lips, about the great battles he fought?”
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Xiao Bo smiled knowingly.
Liu Ping’s thoughts had coincided perfectly with his own.
The two of them immediately began making preparations to leave.
Just before stepping out, Xiao Bo suddenly reached out and tugged at Liu Ping. He looked at him with utmost seriousness.
“Old Liu, tell me… if we placed this old hero in ancient times, what kind of judgment would history have passed on him?”
Liu Ping shook his head slightly. “That’s difficult to say.”
The two men exchanged a knowing glance before walking out of the office.
Though neither had voiced the thought aloud, they shared the same conclusion.
If all of this was true, then this old hero could truly be described as—
The white jade pillar that holds up the heavens,
the purple-gold beam that spans the seas.
Without question—
A peerless pillar of the nation!
…
Provincial Television Station.
“Quick! Start editing immediately! Five minutes—no, I want the most concise and most powerful news feature within three minutes!”
The television station had never been so chaotic. The station director had shouted himself hoarse.
“Include the old hero’s back as he stood outside the garrison, the medals, and especially that… that chest!”
The director’s voice caught.
“Notify every channel! Interrupt the current programming! Prepare to broadcast a special news report! Put it on the scrolling headlines as well! Contact the wire services at once! Send the report to the local newspapers, national television, and all our sister provincial stations! Use the fastest method possible!”
“Internet Department! Upload all the footage—especially the close-ups of his scars and the photographs of his medals—to the top headline on our website immediately! Make the title eye-catching! Open the comment section and monitor public opinion in real time!”
“Move!”
“Yes, sir!”
The television station’s employees hurried about in tense, feverish activity.
Every one of them was burning with the desire to tell the entire nation about this at once.
The news spread rapidly.
It happened to be Saturday.
Countless people were at home watching television when the sudden news interruption informed them that an old hero had appeared in He County, under the jurisdiction of Tongbin City.
Worse still, this old hero had suffered deeply unjust treatment.
His granddaughter, a top student in the science track, had actually been abducted in broad daylight.
The moment the news broke, countless people were filled with righteous fury.
Many called their relatives and friends to tell them what had happened.
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The domestic age of the Internet had also begun, and many households already had computers.
As a result, people who learned of the incident spread the news to netizens across the country through online chat rooms.
“That diamond-shaped medal with the sword through it! It’s the Special-Class Combat Hero Medal! Only a handful of people in the entire country have ever received one!”
“Those scars… My grandfather was a Korean War veteran, and he had scars too, but nothing this horrifying…”
“I’m in the neighboring city. I’m driving to He County first thing tomorrow morning! I want to see for myself whether that Liu Dehai really has three heads and six arms!”
Before the television stations in the various provinces had even begun to exert their influence, news of the old hero’s mistreatment had already spread across the Internet.
…
Ye Yuan fell unconscious somewhat earlier than the military doctor had expected.
In less than an hour, he regained consciousness.
He opened his eyes in confusion and lay there for three seconds before realizing where he was.
The first thing he did was reach for his chest.
When he felt that the little booklet was still there, Ye Yuan finally relaxed.
“Old Hero, you’re awake.”
Cong Gui came to his side, his eyes filled with profound reverence.
“Where am I?”
Ye Yuan looked around at his surroundings, finding everything utterly unfamiliar.
“This is my office.”
Cong Gui brought a glass of water to Ye Yuan.
“I’ve already reported your situation to my superiors. Commander Xiao Bo and Political Commissar Liu Ping are taking it extremely seriously. They came in person, and they should arrive first thing tomorrow morning.”
“I’ve also stationed men around Liu Dehai’s home. The moment anything happens, they’ll rush in and rescue her. You don’t need to worry about your granddaughter’s safety.”
“Tomorrow, as long as Liu Dehai truly was the one who abducted your granddaughter, we’ll rescue her, and the two of you will be reunited. For tonight, stay here. I’ve already had someone prepare a temporary bed for you.”
Ye Yuan nodded slowly and took a sip of water.
“Thank you.”
Cong Gui immediately gave a bitter smile.
“Old Hero, please don’t thank me… Without people like you from back then, we wouldn’t have the lives we enjoy today. If anything, we’re the ones who should be thanking you.”
Ye Yuan waved his hand without saying anything.
Silence settled over the office.
After a while, Cong Gui finally asked softly, “When you first woke up, you immediately reached for your chest. The military doctor also felt something there while examining you. Is it some precious object?”
A sorrowful look surfaced in Ye Yuan’s eyes.
He took another sip of water before slowly answering.
“It is merely the last keepsake of a dying old man.”
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