"Commissar Gui, I entrust my father’s safety to you. Until I return, no one is allowed to touch my father—not a single hair on his head. Commissar Gui, can you do this? Can you guarantee my father’s safety?" Shangguan You’s icy voice rang out as she looked at the equally anxious Gui Yongjun beside her. A powerful aura emanated from her, carrying the authority of a true expert.
With a wave of her hand, the bleeding from Gui Yongjun’s wound stopped, and even the pain mysteriously vanished.
"Miss, rest assured. Even if it costs me my life, I will ensure the Chief’s safety," Gui Yongjun pledged, giving Shangguan You a military salute.
"Uncle Gui, I’m leaving Father in your care. I will handle the remaining matters here and give Father a satisfactory resolution," Shangguan You’s chilly voice rang out again, filled with the imposing authority and palpable pressure of someone in command.
Gui Yongjun and several officers looked at the petite figure before them, at this seventeen-year-old girl. An inexplicable, profound sense of trust bloomed within them. They didn’t even pause to question how a seventeen-year-old girl could possibly confront a thousand men, nor did they doubt her words. Deep down, they truly believed.
They believed Shangguan You could accomplish what they themselves could not.
Seeing the others nod firmly, Shangguan You stood up, Ye Ershao close behind her.
"Father, sleep in peace. Everything will be over by the time you awaken," Shangguan You murmured. Then, her figure once again moved like a phantom, disappearing into the crowd so swiftly that Gui Yongjun didn’t even see her go.
"Commander Liu, your task now is to protect my father. Leave the rest to me." Her cold voice emerged from the crowd. Immediately, Liu Dabao’s hulking body was flung into the air, tossed out from the throng towards where Shangguan Hao and his men were. THUD. Liu Dabao’s injured form landed securely beside them.
"Nonsense! This is the army, not your playground! Shangguan You, get out here! That’s an order!" Liu Dabao wiped the blood from his forehead and roared at the petite figure in the crowd. But before he could finish speaking, his jaw dropped, the remaining words dying in his throat.
THUD! THUD! THUD! The sounds echoed continuously. Wherever Shangguan You’s petite figure passed, soldiers instinctively moved aside, creating a path for her. Ye Ershao followed closely behind.
Neither she nor Ye Ershao made a move or uttered a word, yet as they stood quietly in the crowd, the previously red-eyed soldiers halted once more. From Shangguan You, they sensed a powerful killing intent—they sensed danger.
"As soldiers, you’ve forgotten your fundamental duty! You don’t deserve to wear the uniform," Shangguan You’s cool voice declared as she moved with lightning speed. Her slender legs lashed out with uncanny velocity, kicking at the surrounding men.
THWACK! BAM! CRUNCH! The sounds of impact rang out incessantly as those around her were sent flying one by one, crashing heavily to the ground. A faint, sweet fragrance wafted through the air. All who fell found they could no longer rise.
Such a bizarre scene unfolded within the military unit. The usual elites of the force, even the sharpshooters, were like weeds before Shangguan You, effortlessly kicked aside by her.
Meanwhile, Ye Ershao was not idle. His movements were as swift as lightning. Mimicking Shangguan You, he too sent soldiers flying with powerful kicks.
The soldiers, who had been rampaging moments before, surged towards the pair once more, quickly engulfing them. Liu Dabao, shocked, wanted to rush forward and help. But seeing the constant stream of bodies being kicked out from the melee, he reluctantly abandoned the thought.
Perhaps half an hour passed—maybe less, maybe more. No one was keeping track of time. The sky had not yet fully lightened, and white snowflakes still drifted down. Yet, the entire training ground was now covered in a sea of green-clad figures—every soldier who had just been fighting. Not a single one of them was left standing.
Dressed in black, Shangguan You seemed to merge with the pre-dawn gloom. The wind tousled her hair as her profound, cold eyes surveyed the groaning soldiers on the ground. An eerie silence descended upon the scene. Ye Ershao, like a shadow, stayed close behind her.
The two dark figures stood tall amidst the fallen, their clothing as pristine as when they had arrived, without a single speck of blood on them. They stood there, silently observing the sea of bodies around them.
"My name is Shangguan You, daughter of Shangguan Hao. If anyone here remains unconvinced, feel free to seek me out. I, Shangguan You, will oblige you any time. But let me give you fair warning: since I dared to strike today, I am certainly not afraid of any of you." Her voice, as cold as ice, pierced through the falling snow, reaching every ear with chilling clarity.
"I don’t care whether your feelings were genuine or what other reasons you had for this morning’s mass brawl. But I’m telling you, since you did it, you will pay the price. The Shangguan Family is not to be trifled with! I don’t care who *he* is"—her eyes swept over them—"whoever dared to orchestrate this, they will pay in blood," Shangguan You stated icily, walking step by step towards Shangguan Hao.
She could handle these men, even subdue them easily. But they were the nation’s soldiers, her father’s troops. It wasn’t her place to truly punish them. She would let her father deal with them personally when he awoke. Besides, no one could counteract the drug she had used.
"Commander Liu, I’m taking charge here now. Everyone who participated, regardless of rank, is to be handed over to the Security Bureau. As for how they will be dealt with, Father will handle it personally once he has recovered."
"Yes, Miss!"
Liu Dabao and Gui Yongjun stood ramrod straight, giving Shangguan You a crisp military salute. Her display of prowess moments before had once again earned their profound admiration. In their hearts, Shangguan You’s image had truly become immense.