Chapter 7: Grace and Kindness

Chen Fan had a principle: he did not like to quarrel with others. No matter how much someone slandered him, he disdained to stoop to their level. Perhaps it was an influence left by the old man on Kunlun Mountain.

However, if the person being slandered was someone important to Chen Fan, then—well, that was another matter entirely.

In such cases, exceptional measures were warranted.

Just like now, as Song Tiancheng was sent crashing to the floor by a savage kick to his kneecap from Chen Fan.

A fracture!

A bloodcurdling scream tore from Song Tiancheng’s lips, echoing through the office and reverberating down the corridor.

"Wild Dragon!" Ye Xiu exclaimed in shock.

He had intended to stop Chen Fan before he acted, but by the time he reacted, Chen Fan was already behind Song Tiancheng.

What speed!

Chen Fan’s voice, ghostly and cold, sounded in Song Tiancheng’s ear.

"Have you ever heard the saying," he murmured, "that those who insult others with impunity will meet with divine retribution?"

Fifteen years had passed—who could say how Meng Rongrong might have changed? Chen Fan did not know. But he was certain of one thing: at her core, Meng Rongrong was still the self-respecting, strong-willed girl he remembered.

Even if, by some remote possibility, she had become just as Song Tiancheng claimed, it could only be because of some compelling, inescapable reason.

In any case, for those Chen Fan acknowledged as his own, he would not tolerate a single false accusation.

"You beast! Do you know who I am? I’m the eldest young master of the Song family of Huajiang! Just you wait—you’re dead! Damn it, this pain is killing me! Chen Fan, I swear I’ll make your life a living hell!"

Song Tiancheng’s face was contorted with rage, veins bulging, eyes shot with blood, as he glared at Chen Fan.

Witnessing the scene, Meng Rongrong’s brow furrowed deeply. She gazed at Chen Fan’s tall, imposing figure, momentarily at a loss for words to express her feelings. An inexplicable sense of safety welled up within her.

"And you—are you sick in the head?" Song Tiancheng spat, turning to Ye Xiu. "Just stood there and watched Chen Fan come at me? I’m talking to you, you pretentious bastard! I thought you were supposed to be something special!"

By now, Song Tiancheng had abandoned all pretense. The searing pain in his leg had drenched him in cold sweat, his spirit nearly numb.

Ye Xiu sighed.

"Take this man away," he commanded, referring, of course, to Song Tiancheng.

Song Tiancheng was dumbstruck.

What the hell? He tried to kill me and broke my leg, and now you’re arresting me? On what grounds?

"What right do you have to arrest me? Who gave you the authority? There’s a criminal right in front of you and you’re not arresting him? You’re detaining me, the victim?"

But his protests did nothing to halt Ye Xiu’s men. They hoisted Song Tiancheng up and started for the door. With Ye Xiu present, they never questioned orders—they simply obeyed.

Ye Xiu was their captain, their leader.

"Wait," Ye Xiu called, stepping forward and pulling a slip of paper from his breast pocket. He held it up before Song Tiancheng.

"Mr. Chen Fan was awarded special commendation at the border five years ago. By special approval, he was inducted into the National Security Dragon Group, Earth Division. He is authorized to deal with any act that threatens national security within the country—up to and including summary execution. Today, Song Tiancheng of the Song family trespassed into the Huayang Group, attempted to steal core corporate data, acted with violence and betrayed trust. What fault lies with Mr. Chen Fan? Take him away!"

He explained patiently, for it was necessary—lest the Song family seek to make trouble. From the very start, Ye Xiu’s aim had been to assist Chen Fan. He was simply waiting—waiting for Chen Fan to vent his anger.

It was laughable, really: a man who could cover the retreat of the Dragon Group’s Earth Division on a whim, and some spoiled son of a rich family had nothing better to do than chase girls and race cars, yet he chose to provoke such a monster?

"Wild Dragon, leave the rest to us now," Ye Xiu said. "This matter has nothing to do with you—it was the Song family’s own betrayal."

Chen Fan scratched his head. That was for the best. In truth, if Ye Xiu hadn’t turned up today, a single phone call to the old man would have sufficed. With all the old friends the old man had in the country, what trouble could a pampered young master from the Song family cause?

Though Chen Fan often joked around with the old man, his respect for him was genuine and heartfelt. And if he guessed right, the old man’s reputation alone would settle the matter in this land.

If Ye Xiu could resolve it, so much the better—fewer complications.

"Shall we talk?" Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Ye Xiu nodded slightly.

At that moment, Zhang Siying tugged urgently at Meng Rongrong’s sleeve.

"Rongrong, hurry downstairs to calm the press. The whole company is in chaos—you need to make an appearance."

But Meng Rongrong hardly had the heart for it now. All she wanted was to find a quiet place to speak with her long-lost younger brother—where had he been all these years? What had he done? Was his life well? To possess such skills now, he must have suffered greatly.

The thought brought a sting to her nose and tears to her eyes. She lifted her gaze and met Chen Fan’s gentle look.

"Sis," Chen Fan said, "I’ll chat with Ye Xiu for a bit. You go handle the company matters—but try to be quick, okay? Little Fan’s hoping to have your noodles before noon."

Meng Rongrong pouted, shooting Chen Fan a glance. For all his manliness, he still spoke with a childish whine.

"Alright, there are some quiet rooms on this floor. Here, take my card. Pick any room you like."

Handing Chen Fan her card, Meng Rongrong headed downstairs.

Now, only Chen Fan and a few members of the Dragon Group’s Earth Division remained in the office.

"Wild Dragon, you were incredible just now," one of them exclaimed.

"Yeah, I didn’t even see how you broke his leg!"

"Five years ago, you were already far beyond us—how strong are you now?"

Surrounded by a flood of men, Chen Fan found himself momentarily at a loss.

Five years earlier, he had set out to travel. On the nation’s border, he’d encountered this Earth Division squad, hotly pursued by mercenaries far beyond their ability to handle.

Chen Fan had unhesitatingly stepped in to cover their retreat—not for any other reason, but because they, too, were men who protected their homeland. They shared the same yellow skin—why would Chen Fan refuse?

Of course, he hadn’t acted recklessly. At the time, he was indeed marginally stronger than Ye Xiu and his men, but his greatest trump card was the knowledge that the old man was always watching over him.

As the old man had once said, "I’m already in my seventies. If I lose a disciple as precious as you, who am I supposed to pass all my skills to?"

He and these men had crossed paths only once—but it had been a matter of life and death. Though Chen Fan never expected anything in return, Ye Xiu and his brothers’ actions had warmed his heart.

He grinned broadly, a genuine smile lighting his face.

"Brothers, strength doesn’t matter," Chen Fan said. "But this name—Wild Dragon—it’s a bit too much, isn’t it?"