Now That I've Taken Off This Uniform, I Can Hit You, Right?

Jin Dapao's roar cracked across the grounds like thunder.

Everyone froze where they stood.

"What are you waiting for?"

Sweat poured down Hou Tao's face as he shouted at his men, "Seize Jin Dapao! Director Ruan will take responsibility if anything happens!"

But not one of the hundreds of men he had brought moved.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Every gaze fixed on Jin Dapao's scar-covered torso.

Then, without a word, they stepped aside and opened a path.

It wasn't fear. It was respect.

Reverence for those scars!

Respect for a hero!

Recognition of his courage!

Those scars were medals earned under a hail of bullets!

Those bullet wounds were proof that he had shouldered his duty through trials of life and death!

In their hearts, they all made the same comparison.

Director Ruan was a polished scholar in a suit, too weak to defend himself and promoted on the strength of his father-in-law!

Jin Dapao was a battle-hardened man covered in scars, the kind of big brother they could trust with their backs!

If they had to choose a comrade, they would choose Jin Dapao!

One was a soldier who said, "Brothers, follow me!"

The other was a coward who said, "You lot, get in there!"

Which would you choose?

The answer was obvious!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Supporting Yue Xiaofei, Jin Dapao walked forward step by step.

As Yue Xiaofei watched the Elite Guards silently make way on either side, his heart pounded and his blood seemed to burn.

He was fired up!

Following Uncle Jin like this was exhilarating!

This was what a man should be!

"Damn it!"

Hou Tao stamped his feet in frustration at the sight.

He knew that if Yue Xiaofei got away and the Gao Family fell, he would be ruined too.

But there was nothing he could do. His men wouldn't obey him.

Just then, someone no one expected made a move.

"Stop!"

Director Ruan, whom everyone had always seen as spineless, suddenly charged forward like a madman. He spread his arms and blocked Jin Dapao's path.

"That's right. You're right!"

"I got this position because of my father-in-law. There's nothing shameful about it!"

"All I have to do is call him, and I can have you suspended on the spot. I can even make sure you never serve again! Don't believe me?!"

Threats filled every word.

"I believe you."

Jin Dapao stopped. His voice was calm. "I've never doubted you could do that."

"Then how dare you—"

Director Ruan froze.

"But I'm still taking Yue Xiaofei with me!"

Jin Dapao cut him off, his gaze hard as iron. "Even if it means taking off this uniform or going to prison, I'm taking him!"

Now it was Director Ruan's turn to stare in disbelief.

"Why? Just because he's an old company commander's son?"

He couldn't understand it and pressed on. "What makes Yue Xiaofei so important that you'd go this far for him? He isn't even your son!"

"He isn't my son, but he's Company Commander Yue's son!"

Jin Dapao's voice turned hoarse, and his eyes reddened in an instant.

Then he spoke slowly, his voice heavy with memory.

"My family were farmers for generations. We worked the land from dawn till dusk and couldn't read a word."

"My father named me Dapao—Cannon—because, as far as he knew, a cannon was the most powerful thing in the world!"

"When the cannon fires, it's worth a fortune."

"When I first enlisted, I was a clueless kid wearing patched cloth shoes. I couldn't even speak standard Mandarin properly."

"Everyone laughed at my rustic name and treated me like a joke."

"I couldn't keep up in training or understand tactics. More than once, I wanted to pack up and go home."

"Company Commander Yue was the first person to pull me to my feet."

"He gave me half his steamed bun and said, 'You need a full stomach to have the strength to train.'"

"He taught me how to take a gun apart and put it back together, step by step. He said, 'Dapao, this thing is worth more than your family's hoe, but the principles are similar. Pay attention and learn.'"

"He took me to the training ground at night for extra practice. He said, 'The slow bird has to start early. If everyone else does it once, we'll do it ten times.'"

"He lent me his notes and said, 'A soldier can't rely on strength alone. He needs a brain too.'"

"Once, during an exercise, I stepped into a trap. It put a hole in my leg, and I couldn't stop the bleeding."

"Company Commander Yue carried me three li through the mud to get me back to camp. His shoulders were rubbed raw, and he bled more than I did."

"He said, 'Dapao, soldiers can't be afraid of pain, much less death. But we need to know who we're hurting for and who we're dying for.'"

"He said, 'Dapao, your father named you Cannon because he wanted you to be strong. But real strength isn't measured by how many enemies you can fight. It's measured by how many people you can protect.'"

"He said, 'Dapao, if you ever amount to something, remember this: don't bully ordinary people, and don't forget where you came from.'"

By the end, Jin Dapao's voice had grown increasingly choked.

Every word was steeped in burning tears.

Even the Flying Tiger Squad members who saw him every day had never witnessed this side of him.

Who said a man of iron couldn't have a tender heart?

"Company Commander Yue taught me more than tactics and knowledge. He taught me how to be a decent person, a good soldier, and a Dragon Kingdom citizen with courage in his blood!"

"He was my brother! My teacher! The man I, Jin Dapao, have respected most in my entire life!"

"Now his son has been treated like this. If I stand by and do nothing, how could I face what Company Commander Yue taught me? How could I face these scars on my body?"

"Ruan Zhongxian, you tell me—how the fuck could I do nothing?!"

Jin Dapao had all but roared the last sentence.

The entire grounds fell silent again.

Hou Tao's men looked at Jin Dapao with even deeper respect.

Yue Xiaofei stood there as tears slipped silently down his cheeks.

So that was the kind of man my father was.

And that was the kind of man his brother-in-arms was.

The bond between them was as solid as a mountain!

"Jin Dapao!"

Ruan Zhongxian's face turned ugly. Through gritted teeth, he said, "I respect what you and the old company commander meant to each other, but Yue Xiaofei stays here today!"

Before he had even finished speaking, he yanked the pistol from his waist.

Its dark muzzle pointed straight at Jin Dapao's chest.

The crowd erupted!

Hou Tao's men sucked in sharp breaths and instinctively took half a step back.

No one had expected Director Ruan to draw his gun in public—let alone aim it at a colleague!

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The Flying Tiger Squad members raised their guns at once.

Dozens of muzzles swung toward Director Ruan, fingers tight on the triggers.

All it would take was one order from Jin Dapao!

Yue Xiaofei was stunned too, and guilt surged through him.

"Uncle Jin, don't do this! I'm not worth it!"

His eyes reddening, he shouted, "I'll stay! Please, go! Contact Secretary Sha in Handong Province. Once he hears about this, he'll make sure I get justice!"

Yue Xiaofei's emotions churned.

He couldn't let Uncle Jin ruin his career because of him, much less get hurt for his sake.

"Hahaha!"

Just then, Jin Dapao burst into loud, hearty laughter.

He looked at the hand Director Ruan had wrapped around the gun. There was no fear in his eyes, only utter contempt.

"What are you laughing at? Have you gone mad?"

Ruan Zhongxian's gun hand trembled slightly. The laughter unnerved him.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Jin Dapao stepped closer, bringing his chest almost against the muzzle.

"You think that piece of junk can scare me?"

"Ruan Zhongxian, do you know why I left the military early?"

"Because I beat up some privileged brat who'd come down to pad his résumé!"

"He was just like you, throwing his weight around because his family had connections! I couldn't stand it, so I knocked his teeth out!"

"And I don't mind doing it again today!"

With that, Jin Dapao tore off his shirt, exposing his scar-covered torso.

That uniform had been like a set of shackles!

The moment he shed it, his whole body seemed to relax.

The light in his eyes burned brighter than fire.

Swish!

He fixed his gaze on Ruan Zhongxian and the gun in his hand, like a hunter sighting prey.

"Ruan Zhongxian!"

Jin Dapao's voice was low and dangerous, every word edged with lethal intent.

"I quit!"

"I don't answer to you anymore. That means I can hit you now, right?"

"If I don't knock your fucking teeth out today, my name isn't Jin!!!"

The words had barely left his mouth!

Ruan Zhongxian had no time to react!

A fist the size of a cooking pot swelled before his eyes!

Covered in calluses, it cut through the air with a whistle and smashed toward Ruan Zhongxian's face!

(Brothers, you've been incredible! Please keep the tips and good reviews coming!)

(Jin Dapao's heavy punch is coming, and Zhao Mengsheng is on his way too... More excitement tomorrow!)