Chapter 94

Chapter 94 - To Help or Not to Help?

“Do you even know what you're saying?” Sima Rong looked at Ye Hao as if he were looking at an idiot.

To Sima Rong's astonishment, Ye Hao returned the gaze as if he too were looking at an idiot.

When Ye Hao handed his certificate of officers to Sima Rong, Sima Rong's eyes bulged, “You're an officer too?”

It was a rhetorical question.

If Ye Hao weren't an officer, how could he possibly have an officer's certificate?

But Sima Rong was utterly shocked when he saw Ye Hao's photo.

A golden star!

How could that be?

The old major general had worked his entire life and had only achieved the rank of major general. How could this young man, not even twenty years old, possibly be a major general?

“Could it be?” Sima Rong thought, staring at Ye Hao with a sneer, “Maybe you don't realize the consequences of forging an officer's certificate.”

“Forging an officer's certificate?” Ye Hao laughed, “You're quite foolish.”

“You!” Sima Rong said angrily, “If you had pretended to be a major, I might not have doubted you. But you went so far as to forge the rank of major general. Who would believe that?”

Hee Bisheng's expression turned grim.

Incidents of imposters posing as military personnel happened from time to time, and Hee Bisheng had always deeply despised such acts.

So, he stepped forward and snatched the certificate from Ye Hao's hands. But when he saw Ye Hao's department, his eyes lit up, “Greetings, Chief.”

Hee Bisheng rendered a standard military salute.

Special Operations Department!

Sima Rong didn't believe such a department existed in the military, but Hee Bisheng was acutely aware of the prowess of its members.

The military had a clear regulation that personnel from the Special Operations Department held ranks slightly above those of ordinary soldiers of the same level.

That was why Hee Bisheng, though a major general himself, saluted Ye Hao.

The room erupted into murmurs of disbelief.

No one had anticipated Hee Bisheng saluting Ye Hao.

“Mr. Hee!” Sima Rong shouted in surprise.

“His credentials are authentic,” Hee Bisheng declared with an air of finality.

“Impossible,” Ye Hao declared, no longer paying attention to Sima Rong. He promptly made a call, providing the address and reason to the person on the other end. Shortly thereafter, four soldiers arrived. They verified Ye Hao's certificate of officers, saluted him, and then presented their own credentials to Sima Rong.

“We are from the army's Discipline Inspection Department. Please come with us,” they stated.

A glint sparked in Shao Hua's eyes.

As Ye Hao reached for the lighter, Shao Hua's palm nudged it aside with a gentle yet forceful push, altering the trajectory of his hand. She then lit her cigarette and exhaled a smoke ring in Ye Hao's direction.

“You've improved since I last saw you,” Shao Hua remarked with a hint of astonishment.

Ye Hao was taken aback.

He hadn't anticipated that, despite advancing to the second layer of Body Refining, he was still no match for Shao Hua.

“You've reached the Mountain's Echo,” Ye Hao observed, his surprise evident.

Only a master of the Mountain's Echo could remain so composed in Ye Hao's presence.

Shao Hua remained noncommittal. “What brings you here? What do you need?”

“Do you know about the Sima family?”

“They're a renowned martial arts dynasty.”

Ye Hao recounted the day's events and his new feud with Sima Rong.

“What's your plan?”

“I'll follow the standard procedure.”

“The standard procedure means he'll be in solitary confinement for fifteen days,” Shao Hua remarked casually. “But the Sima family has extensive connections within the military.”

“That's why I've come to you.”

“I wouldn't advise making an enemy of the Sima family. It could hinder your future progress,” Shao Hua advised, looking at Ye Hao. “Each martial arts dynasty is anchored by a Mountain's Echo realm master.”

“Are you saying you won't help me?”

“I will help you,” Shao Hua replied, snuffing out her cigarette with a measured tone. “But what will you offer me in return?”

“Marrying you is out of the question.”

“Then leave.”

“Anything else you ask, I'll consider.”

“Is that a promise?” Shao Hua leaned back, her long legs stretched out as she gave Ye Hao an amused look.

“I reserve the right to refuse anything I deem impossible.”

“Coward.”

“I'm simply safeguarding my options,” Ye Hao clarified, careful not to paint himself into a corner. “There's another favor I need from you.”

“Go on.”

“I need the location of Yama's lair.”