Urban Super Almighty Student

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.

Sima Rong, realizing the authenticity of Ye Hao's documents, was unfazed. Locking eyes with Ye Hao, he asserted, “Regardless of your connections, I assure you, I'll be released shortly.”

“I'll be waiting with interest,” Ye Hao replied coolly.

With that, Sima Rong was escorted away.

Hee Bisheng hesitated before voicing his concern, “The Sima family has extensive networks in Ubliasia. This issue might just fade away without resolution.”

“You're speaking too soon,” Ye Hao retorted before walking away.

”Hold on,” interjected Lee Ann. “Chief, could you please tend to the old general's health?”

“I am not a doctor,” Ye Hao stated bluntly and then departed.

Indeed, Ye Hao was not a medical professional. Although he had the ability to awaken Xiaolan, it did not mean his vital spirit could cure Hee Bisheng's injured leg.

Watching Ye Hao leave, Zhou Boda cautiously inquired, “Mr. Hee, how is it possible for someone so young to attain the rank of major general?”

“He couldn't have done it through the usual channels; the military values seniority highly,” Hee Bisheng remarked, casting a glance at Zhou Boda. “However, within certain special departments, such as the Special Operations Department, it's feasible. Those individuals are the nation's finest.”

With a chuckle, Hee Bisheng added, “I'm feeling rather tired now.”

Zhou Boda looked on with gratitude, understanding that Hee Bisheng had indirectly revealed Ye Hao's identity to him. He promptly excused himself and left.

Upon returning to the Zhou family, Zhou Boda instructed his subordinates to delve into Ye Hao's background. The investigation yielded only superficial details. No information about Ye Hao's parents or home address could be found.

“It seems I lack the necessary clearance to uncover his family history,” Zhou Boda realized.

With the influence of the Zhou family, they typically had access to the information they needed, yet they were coming up short. This indicated that Ye Hao's background was far from ordinary.

“This individual is actually Lin Rou'er's bodyguard,” Zhou Boda mused, having come across some valuable intel.

“How peculiar, what makes Lin Rou'er qualified to have Ye Hao as her personal bodyguard?” Zhou Boda mused, tapping his fingers on the desk in bewilderment.

At the moment, the Zhou and Zheng families were collaborating to take down the Lin family. Could Ye Hao potentially intervene in their corporate battle?

Zhou Boda couldn't ignore this possibility.

“Let's put a hold on the economic blockade against the Lin family for now,” Zhou Boda decided after a moment of contemplation.

“The Lin family's current head, Lin Rou'er, is still hospitalized. There's a power struggle among the senior members. This is our prime chance to strike at the Lin family,” Zhou Boda's secretary interjected with a moment's hesitation.

“Follow my orders,” commanded Zhou Boda with authority.

“Understood.”

After leaving the sanatorium, Ye Hao made his way to a local branch of the Martial Arts Bureau.

Shao Hua was casually reclining with her legs propped up on the desk.

“Enjoying yourself, I see?”

“What wind blew you in?” Shao Hua quipped as she put a cigarette to her lips. As she was about to light it, Ye Hao materialized in front of her with swift grace.

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.”