Mysteries of the Past?

"Good heavens, I've only ever seen someone dressed like that on TV!"

"I saw he was wearing an earpiece. Could he be reporting on the funeral here to some high-ranking official?"

"Damn, did you see that suit he was wearing? It looks even better than the eight-hundred-thousand imported suit our boss owns!"

"Just who is he?"

At the funeral, relatives and friends murmured among themselves.

Su Chen stood calmly at a distance, holding a black umbrella as he watched the funeral proceed.

What should have been a quick funeral was forcibly dragged out for two hours by the tears and reminiscences of the three veterans.

Chu Anfu was distracted. He glanced at Su Chen, who had been standing in the distance, then at the three veterans still crouched beside the tombstone, lost in memories of the past, and sighed.

Why aren't they leaving yet?

He did not dare say it aloud and only muttered it under his breath.

As though in response to him—

Drip!

Raindrops scattered across the ground. The sky darkened as black clouds churned overhead and a cold wind swept in.

The world seemed to grow dimmer.

The weather changed in an instant!

"Huh? The forecast clearly said it would be sunny. Why is it suddenly raining?"

"Looks like it's going to pour. Hurry and find shelter!"

"It's getting heavier! It's getting heavier!"

The three Chu siblings ran beneath a large tree to take shelter from the rain.

That did not stop their determination to fight over the Relocation funds, and the three continued arguing.

The surrounding relatives and friends also hurried beneath the trees.

Raindrops struck the leaves before scattering across the ground and the tombstones in the wind.

"Elder Cheng, I'll get you an umbrella!"

The driver who had been waiting nearby hurried toward the Mercedes-Benz to fetch one.

"Elder Liu, please wait. The umbrellas will be here soon!"

On the other side, people behind the other two elderly men also went to fetch umbrellas for them.

Their voices rose and fell amid the falling rain.

The rain only grew heavier.

"Even Heaven is weeping for you, Old Chu!"

Elder Cheng gritted his teeth. The tears on his cheeks had not yet dried before fresh tears welled in his eyes.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chu Guozhong had taken a bullet for him and saved his life!

He had kept that firmly etched in his heart all these years, never daring to forget it for even a moment. He had only hoped for a chance to repay the favor, never expecting that Old Chu, whom he had spoken with just yesterday—

Would be resting here forever today!

Regret, guilt, and longing for his comrade surged into his heart all at once.

How could a few brief words possibly express it all?

The two comrades beside him felt the same.

When serving their country, they had been veterans at the very front lines, never daring to retreat even a single step!

Hovering between life and death, they had been fearless and brave—shedding blood and flesh but never falling behind, bleeding and sweating but never shedding tears!

They had held the line and protected their country, pressing forward without hesitation!

The sudden passing of their old comrade had torn open that old scar: the national hatred and family grievances, the brotherhood forged among comrades in battle, the era when countless compatriots bled and sacrificed!

The three sat before the grave, unwilling to leave even as raindrops pounded down on them.

Then—

A black umbrella opened above the three of them!

Every raindrop struck the canopy.

Elder Cheng turned around, frowning.

"You are?"

Su Chen wore a black suit, black sunglasses, and a Bluetooth earpiece, with a black umbrella in hand.

A unique aura radiated from him, quietly stirring the three veterans!

The three had once charged across battlefields amid endless artillery fire and raging flames, climbing out of mountains of corpses and rivers of blood time and again. What storms had they not seen?

Even if Mount Tai collapsed before them, their expressions would not change.

Yet after seeing Su Chen, all three showed a change in expression.

The presence he gave off was not something an ordinary person could possess.

Even the sunglasses could not conceal the mysterious aura surrounding him. He was impossible to read, yet carried a distinct and imposing pressure!

Whoosh—

The rain poured down in torrents, as though someone were dumping buckets from the sky!

The four crowded beneath the black umbrella, guarding Chu Guozhong's portrait and that medal of merit!

Now that they were close, the three discovered that everything about the umbrella—from its fabric and frame to its ribs and wrapping—was extraordinary! It was unquestionably top-tier craftsmanship!

And the effect of Su Chen's suit was not something ordinary fabric could achieve either.

Su Chen's image in their hearts became even more mysterious.

"Young man, thank you!"

Elder Liu narrowed his cloudy eyes as he looked at Su Chen. He could sense that the aura emanating from this young man was actually stronger than his own.

Tempered by war and weathered by countless years, Elder Liu had seen all kinds of people. There were certainly people with such bearing and presence, but they were all high-status figures, and usually much older. For such a young man to possess this kind of aura, he was far from simple!

"Elder Liu, the umbrellas are here!"

"Elder Cheng, sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Soon, one umbrella after another stretched several meters outward from around Su Chen's black umbrella.

The three veterans were still somewhat shaken.

After retiring, their comrades had scattered in all directions, and they rarely saw one another anymore.

Su Chen's International Agent-like attire made the three suspect there was more to Chu Guozhong's past.

"Could it be that Old Chu had always kept a low profile because he was secretly carrying out Dragon Country's highest-level classified missions?"

Elder Cheng could not hold back any longer and asked.

Elder Liu beside him shook his head. "If it were classified, how could I not know?"

Hearing their conversation, Su Chen remained cold on the surface, but panicked inwardly.

Not simple!

These two are definitely not simple!

At that moment, the other veteran, who had barely spoken until then, raised his head.

"Young man, may I ask what your relationship with Old Chu is?"

"I came to see Old Mr. Chu off!"

Su Chen spoke calmly, saying nothing more.

His indifference was frightening.

With an agent-like outfit, it was difficult not to associate him with some mysterious part of Chu Guozhong's past.

Su Chen's funeral escort service was meant to create a mysterious past. Naturally, that mystery included the three men attending the funeral.

"Since you came to see Chu Guozhong off, you are a friend of mine, Liu Hongxuan. If you ever need anything in the future, come find me!"

As Liu Hongxuan spoke, the driver beside him hurriedly handed Su Chen a business card with great respect.

Mysterious attire, terrifying presence.

Liu Hongxuan had even worried that Su Chen would refuse it, but Su Chen accepted it.

Putting on airs was one thing, but he could not refuse the card. Judging from the conversation between these three, their identities were certainly extraordinary.

They might prove useful to him in the future. There was no reason to turn it down!

"Ah, Old Chu is gone. There are only a few of us comrades left now!"

Elder Cheng sighed from the side.

The other elderly man was also deeply moved.

"No matter how glorious things once were, they all end as a mound of earth! When we join them down below, we brothers will gather again and have a good drink!"

"Old soldiers never die; their spirit lives on!"

Su Chen suddenly said.

Liu Hongfei's eyes lit up. "Well said!"

Yesterday was the anniversary of the September 18 Incident. Never forget our national humiliation.

This chapter was originally supposed to be posted yesterday, but after thinking it over, I saved it for today.

Honor the martyrs, cherish the present, never forget our national humiliation, and strive to make ourselves stronger!

Also—

Thank you all for your support and votes!