Chapter 139: Recruitment, the Arrival of the Dragon Special Forces

Li Chao chuckled softly. After resting for a little while, the two of them rinsed off in the shower, got dressed again, and leisurely seated themselves in the small courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the foliage, casting dappled, flickering shadows across their bodies.

Liu Lele's gaze suddenly sharpened, as if recalling something important, and she asked in a soft voice, "Li Chao, tell me the truth. Besides me, how many other women are there?"

Huh!

Li Chao was just enjoying the refreshing coolness of his iced beverage when the question struck. The drink in his hand instantly froze, as if time itself had locked him in place.

This question was indeed rather tricky, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to reply.

A silence lasting dozens of seconds stretched through the air. Li Chao took a deep breath, finally summoned his courage, and answered with complete honesty, "There are two others, and you've met them both. They are Yuxin and Liu Dan."

In truth, Li Chao could easily have chosen to lie, deflecting the matter with all sorts of excuses.

Yet he knew full well that what could be hidden for a moment could never be hidden for a lifetime.

Rather than having it discovered down the line, it was better to lay his cards on the table right now and treat her with absolute sincerity.

Hearing this, Liu Lele fell silent for several minutes.

She had already harbored a vague premonition in her heart, yet hearing Li Chao confess it directly still sent an indescribable ripple through her soul.

She gazed at Li Chao with a complex expression in her eyes—one that held both disappointment and expectation.

A moment later, she spoke again, her voice carrying a trace of resolute firmness: "Then from now on, for my sake, can you completely cut ties with them?"

This...

Li Chao unconsciously fiddled with the beverage bottle in his hand, making a faint rustling sound.

He knew all too well that this was another life-or-death question; the slightest misstep could shatter this relationship entirely.

He took a deep breath and slowly said, "When I was gravely ill, Sister Yuxin was the one taking care of me all along. Sister Dan has also been very good to me. Now that I've made something of myself, to simply abandon them just like that... honestly, I really can't bring myself to do it. Of course, I also know this isn't right, and that it makes me no different from the scumbags people talk about. But I simply feel that since they are my women, I have a responsibility toward them. For them, and for you, it's all the same."

It took Li Chao quite a while of heavy deliberation before he managed to voice these words.

He had no idea whether he could win Liu Lele's forgiveness, let alone whether this complicated relationship could possibly continue.

Upon hearing this, a complicated expression surfaced on Liu Lele's face.

She looked at Li Chao, her eyes holding a mixture of resignation and understanding.

She understood that Li Chao was a man who deeply valued emotional bonds and loyalty—which was precisely one of the reasons she had fallen in love with him.

Yet she also knew that not every woman could be like Yuxin or Liu Dan, willing to quietly give of themselves without demanding a formal title.

Especially for an overbearing female CEO like Liu Lele, the word "compromise" had never once existed in her philosophy of love.

After listening to Li Chao's confession, she said nothing more, merely staring blankly at the hot spring as if pondering some major life-altering decision.

Time seemed to freeze in that exact moment. Li Chao felt an undercurrent of nervous anxiety; the chilling aura emanating from Liu Lele made him shiver involuntarily.

And yet, he did not dare to ask anything further, left with no choice but to silently await her verdict.

After quite a long while, Liu Lele finally spoke, her voice calm yet firm: "Just make your own decisions, I won't force you! Let's head back now!"

With that, she turned and walked away, her steps resolute and entirely devoid of hesitation.

Li Chao followed closely behind her, his heart filled with a gnawing sense of guilt and unease.

He knew that this matter was a knot in her heart, one that Liu Lele would have to slowly untie on her own.

As for him, all he could do was wait and accompany her.

The two of them took another stroll around the hotel, reviewed the recent financial status, and wrapped up the remaining business before preparing to head out.

However, the moment they stepped out of the elevator, they spotted a man in a business suit around fifty years old walking toward them from a distance.

The instant he caught sight of Li Chao, the suited man hurried forward, bowed respectfully, and greeted him with the utmost deference: "President Li! Miss Liu!"

Li Chao nodded, retaining a faint memory of the man.

They had crossed paths once during the establishment of the Huaxi City Chamber of Commerce, and this man seemed to be called Tang Tianjiang.

"President Li is here on an inspection, I presume?"

Tang Tianjiang beamed with smiles, his tone dripping with flattery and subservience. "Do you have time today? My treat, may I invite you to dinner, President?"

Li Chao smiled and politely declined, "Dinner won't be necessary! I have quite a few things to take care of!"

He was not particularly close with Tang Tianjiang and had little appetite for such social pleasantries.

Tang Tianjiang clearly grasped the underlying meaning in Li Chao's words. He offered an awkward smile and said, "Then I won't disturb you any further, President! Please carry on with your work!"

Having said that, he stood respectfully to the side, watching deferentially as Li Chao and Liu Lele departed.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, two people stood rooted to the spot in absolute shock: Liu Hongmei and Guo Yali.

The pair had originally come out to welcome Tang Tianjiang, but upon emerging, they had witnessed Tang Tianjiang groveling and fawning over Li Chao—treating him with the exact posture of a subordinate facing a boss.

Liu Hongmei and Guo Yali simply could not believe their eyes.

They had originally planned to leverage Tang Tianjiang's influence to put Li Chao in his place, but the scene before them completely shattered that notion.

If Tang Tianjiang could not even lift his head in Li Chao's presence, how on earth could they use him as leverage?

Consequently, the two wisely hid themselves away, waiting until Li Chao and Liu Lele had completely vanished before daring to emerge.

"Brother Jiang, you know Li Chao?" Guo Yali asked in a low voice.

Tang Tianjiang glared at her and reprimanded sternly, "Is President Li's name something you can just throw around casually? You must address him as President Li!"

"President? Is he even more formidable than you?" Guo Yali still struggled to comprehend the situation.

Tang Tianjiang heaved a sigh and explained, "Nonsense! That is the head of the Huaxi City Chamber of Commerce, controlling the commercial resources of the entire city! In front of President Li, I'm not even qualified to carry his shoes! If he wanted to deal with me, it would take nothing more than a single sentence!"

At these words, Liu Hongmei's mind went completely blank.

She finally realized how shallow she had been. She had thought that escaping Kaiyuan County meant she could stage some kind of counter-attack against the odds, only to find that Li Chao had already left her far behind in the dust!

Yet the crucial question was: just a little over a month ago, this fellow had been utterly penniless. How on earth had he suddenly become so immensely powerful?

Wasn't this simply too freakish?

However, Liu Hongmei was not about to give up just yet. Her eyes rolled as an idea struck her, and she spoke up once more: "Brother Jiang, you might not know this, but I'm actually Li Chao's second aunt, and Guo Yali is his cousin!"

Hearing Liu Hongmei's familiar address, Tang Tianjiang's expression shifted dramatically.

He thought to himself: *Is my pet name something a woman like you is qualified to use?*

Yet the moment he processed the rest of her sentence, he froze in utter astonishment.

"You're not joking, are you?" Tang Tianjiang asked, finding it hard to believe.

Seeing his reaction, Liu Hongmei felt a surge of secret pride.

She assumed that leveraging this relationship would make Tang Tianjiang look at her with newfound respect and perhaps even allow her to firmly establish herself in Huaxi City under the shelter of Li Chao's influence.

Liu Hongmei lifted her chin and declared with absolute confidence, "Would I make something like that up? If you don't believe me, you can ask the hotel staff right here!"

She felt immensely pleased with herself, figuring that if she couldn't trample on Li Chao, then living a life of luxury in Huaxi City under his prestigious name was a pretty good alternative.

Whenever she found anyone displeasing, she could simply drop Li Chao's name—the second aunt of the Chamber of Commerce's President Li. Let's see who would dare cross them then!

With this thought, Liu Hongmei suddenly beamed with delight, convinced of her own brilliance.

She even began daydreaming about the days ahead when she would wield absolute power and do as she pleased in Huaxi City.

Sure enough, upon learning that Liu Hongmei was Li Chao's second aunt, Tang Tianjiang's attitude underwent a complete one-eighty.

Originally, he had only intended to toy with Guo Yali for a little while and toss her aside once he grew tired of her, never expecting such a powerful connection to be tied to her.

He reasoned inwardly that he must tread carefully from now on and make sure not to offend this "second aunt."

Meanwhile, back at the entrance, Li Chao and Liu Lele stood near the doors.

Li Chao suggested, "Shall we grab something to eat first?"

Liu Lele shook her head, replying that the group had some lingering matters to attend to and she needed to head back.

Li Chao parted his lips, swallowing back the words he had meant to say. He understood that her excuse of having "matters to attend to" was merely a pretext; Liu Lele simply needed some breathing room to calm her mind.

Without pressing further, Li Chao nodded and said, "Alright then! Some quiet time will be good."

He knew all too well that when it came to such matters, he truly had no idea how to comfort anyone.

Holding her car keys, Liu Lele said, "I'm heading back first!"

After a moment's thought, Li Chao shook his head and said, "Maybe I shouldn't go just yet! Let's wait until you've sorted your thoughts out."

Although a relationship now existed between them, it somehow felt burdened by an extra layer of estrangement compared to before.

Li Chao understood in his heart that this was only natural.

After all, having gone through so many twists and turns, both of them needed time to digest and adapt.

After Liu Lele left, Li Chao stood alone at the hotel entrance, a whirlwind of mixed emotions churning within him.

He reminisced about every little moment shared with Liu Lele, from their initial acquaintance to their mutual affection, and now to the current barrier between them. Everything seemed to be in a state of rapid flux.

Watching her car disappear into the distance, Li Chao lingered by the roadside, sinking deep into thought.

He contemplated his next steps: should he check in on his other business ventures, go visit Liu Dan, or perhaps do something else entirely?

Just as he was hesitating, his phone suddenly rang, displaying an unknown number.

Li Chao felt a flicker of confusion; very few people possessed his personal number. Who could this caller be?

He answered the call, and a hearty, robust laugh immediately echoed from the earpiece, exuding an air of eager familiarity: "Brother Li, you're still over in Huaxi City, right?"

Li Chao paused for a few seconds before asking, "Who are you?"

Silence hung over the line for a dozen seconds before muttered self-talk drifted over: "Did I forget to leave my number?"

Followed by a sudden shout: "Damn it! It seems I really forgot!"

The corners of Li Chao's twitched slightly, leading him to suspect that the person on the other end possessed a rather eccentric personality.

After another brief pause, the caller formally introduced himself: "We met last time! Duan Tian from the Dragon Squad!"

The image of a burly figure chomping on a toothpick instantly surfaced in Li Chao's mind, prompting him to ask, "I am indeed in Huaxi City. Does Captain Duan have business with me?"

Duan Tian chuckled, "Drop me a location, let's chat!"

Before hanging up, he added, "You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Here's what you do: find a restaurant nearby, order your dishes ahead of time, and make sure to order plenty of meat!"

Li Chao let out a helpless smile, thinking to himself that this Captain Duan certainly didn't beat around the bush.

He gave his assent, then found a nearby restaurant and ordered the dishes according to Duan Tian's instructions.

"Are you actually here to discuss business, or are you just here for a feast?"

Li Chao furrowed his brows tightly, his face written with utter resignation as his gaze locked onto Duan Tian.

Yet upon second thought, Li Chao had originally intended to treat Duan Tian to a proper meal anyway, so the current situation fit quite nicely.

With that realization, Li Chao gave up the notion of leaving.

Without hesitation, he picked up his phone and swiftly made arrangements, directly booking a private dining room at the Nanshan Hotel's internal restaurant, meticulously ordering a spread of lavish dishes before patiently awaiting Duan Tian's arrival.

Roughly thirty minutes later, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Duan Tian strode in.

Duan Tian's face radiated eagerness and anticipation, his eyes locked straight onto the dishes laid out on the table. The moment he caught sight of the sumptuous feast, his eyes lit up like stars.

Without a second thought, he spat out the toothpick he had been chewing on—a rather crude gesture—tossed it aside, and immediately grabbed a chicken leg, tearing into it with massive bites and staining his mouth with grease.

Seated to the side, Li Chao wore an expression of utter speechlessness, his mouth twitching incessantly as he lowered his voice to ask, "Captain Duan, you didn't deliberately time your visit around mealtimes, did you?"

Originally, he had held a sliver of expectation that Duan Tian would at least put up a show of polite modesty, but to his absolute astonishment, the other man admitted it without a shred of shame: "You bet I did!"

Duan Tian mumbled around mouthfuls of chicken, "To make sure I could catch this good meal, I didn't even eat breakfast! Hold on for a second and let me finish this roasted chicken first!"

With that, he resumed his voracious devouring, completely unbothered by his own image.

As soon as those words fell, he went right back to inhaling his food like a sudden storm.

"..."

Li Chao was left completely speechless, his eyes widening and mouth opening, only to realize he had no words left to express his disbelief.

Good grief!

Could the people from the Dragon Squad... really be this down-to-earth?

Duan Tian gorged himself with immense satisfaction, the sound of rhythmic chewing echoing loudly throughout the room.

Once the roasted chicken was gone, he swept through a plate of braised pork knuckles with the speed of a whirlwind before finally patting his belly in deep contentment: "Nothing beats the satisfaction of meat! Let me catch my breath for a moment! The rest will wait till I've had a breather!"

Duan Tian leaned back in his chair and let out a resounding, comfortable burp.

Li Chao was utterly defeated by this fellow's antics.

My brother, can you please maintain even a shred of the dignity expected from a Dragon Squad powerhouse?

"Captain Duan, you came looking for me surely not *just* for the sake of eating?" Li Chao looked at Duan Tian with a skeptical expression, trying to glean some answers from his facial expressions.

Duan Tian waved his hand vigorously, "Nonsense!"

He glared at Li Chao indignantly and retorted, "I'm here to talk business! Eating is just... incidental!"

Even as he said it, he seemed a bit guilt-ridden, quickly adding, "It's all because of those rigid rules in the Dragon Squad."

Duan Tian curled his lip in dissatisfaction, muttering complaints under his breath.

"They won't let us casually eat other people's food, and the operation funds they give us are pitifully small. Wanting to enjoy a decent meal is harder than scaling the heavens!"

Duan Tian knitted his brows deeply, his face a picture of grievance and woe.

"Since I finally ran into a situation where eating a meal with you doesn't violate any regulations, how could I not eat my fill?"

As he spoke, Duan Tian gently patted his rounded stomach.

Li Chao shook his head resignedly.

He let out a soft sigh, marveling inwardly at the sheer absurdity of the situation.

Was life in the Dragon Squad truly this destitute?

Duan Tian took a sip of water and spoke up once more, "Let's get down to business!"

He cleared his throat, his expression instantly shifting to one of solemn seriousness.

"We've met twice now, and I've already investigated your background thoroughly."

Duan Tian fixed his gaze on Li Chao, absolute confidence radiating from his eyes.

"My visit today is primarily under the instructions of Hall Master Cheng of the provincial branch, specifically to invite you to join the Dragon Squad!"

As he spoke, Duan Tian slowly drew his Dragon Squad badge from his pocket and waved it triumphantly back and forth right in front of Li Chao.

Li Chao was taken aback.

His eyes widened in genuine astonishment.

He truly had not anticipated that the man would get straight to the point with such utter directness.

To be fair, regarding the Dragon Squad, Song Wan had once mentioned a few things to him in the past, even suggesting that he should apply if the opportunity arose.

After all, having official backing within the system would make future actions considerably more convenient.

Naturally, certain drawbacks would inevitably come with it.

Li Chao had indeed given the matter some serious thought, but he never expected the organization to proactively seek him out before he had even made a move.

While Li Chao was lost in thought, Duan Tian continued pressing his case: "The Dragon Squad holds a position of supreme reverence; we are the steadfast guardians operating in the shadows of our nation, wielding the supreme authority to execute first and report later!"

Duan Tian grew increasingly impassioned, his hands gesticulating wildly as if painting a magnificent canvas.

"Even the surface-level law enforcement authorities must show us utmost deference!"

Pride flooded Duan Tian's face as his voice rose in pitch, burning with fervor.

"Don't you dare underestimate my position as a captain; comparing it horizontally, it's virtually equivalent to a municipal mayor!"

Duan Tian patted his chest, pride radiating from every pore.

"You get fame, and you get authority!"

Duan Tian stared intently at Li Chao, burning with anticipation. "Well? How about it? Will you join?"

A beaming smile plastered across his face, Duan Tian sprayed saliva everywhere, looking precisely like a shady uncle trying to lure in a naive child.

Li Chao stared at him for several moments before shaking his head without the slightest hesitation: "Pass."

"Not interested."

Li Chao's refusal was absolute and resolute, devoid of any hesitation or lingering doubt.

The smile froze right on Duan Tian's face.

His expression vanished into thin air, his jaw dropping slightly as sheer disbelief washed over him.

"What the hell!"

"Are you out of your mind?!"

Duan Tian's eyes widened, bulging as if they might pop out of their sockets, and his voice spiked an octave higher, brimming with sheer incomprehension.

Unwilling to give up, he pressed on, "We are heroes who protect our homeland!"

Duan Tian waved his arms in agitation, looking intensely anxious as if desperate to make Li Chao comprehend their greatness.

"Other cultivators have to go through layers of brutal trials just to join! And you're being admitted without even taking an exam—aren't you even slightly tempted?"

Discontent and anger warred on Duan Tian's face, his brow furrowed so deeply it could have crushed a fly.

Li Chao gazed quietly at Duan Tian, then slowly replied, "Indeed! I can tell that you are all heroes without a doubt!"

His gaze was sincere and steadfast, his tone calm yet weighted with conviction; every single word carried immense gravity.

"And the work you do is genuinely great."

Li Chao's voice remained steady and resounding, leaving no room for anyone to doubt the sincerity of his words.

From his tone, one could distinctly perceive genuine seriousness and solemnity, signaling clearly that he wasn't joking.

A glimmer of hope instantly sparked in Duan Tian's heart: "Then does that mean you..."

A hopeful light flickered in his eyes, eager to hear Li Chao change his tune.

Yet Li Chao struck him down with another blow: "Even so, I still don't want to join."

Li Chao refused once more without a moment's pause, his expression unwavering and entirely resolute.

My goodness!

Duan Tian felt as though he were losing his mind.

He clutched his hair in utter frustration, pulling at it in exasperation.

He had poured his heart out explaining so much, only to realize his words hadn't moved the man in the slightest.

Filled with bitter resignation and frustration, Duan Tian couldn't help but let out a loud complaint.

Gritting his teeth, he asked one last time, "Why?!"

A hint of pleading laced Duan Tian's voice as he desperately sought an acceptable reason, his eyes practically trying to pierce through Li Chao's soul.

Li Chao glanced down at the dishes on the table.

"I feel like the Dragon Squad isn't quite as good as you make it out to be!"

His gaze lingered on the food, his tone tinged with disdain, as if the dishes themselves represented his verdict on the Dragon Squad.

"At the very least, if even enjoying a proper, hearty meal is considered this extravagant, then in other aspects, things must be even less satisfactory!"

Li Chao shook his head, a look of disappointment crossing his features, making it seem as though his view of the Dragon Squad had completely plummeted.

Duan Tian sat frozen.

He stood rooted to the spot as if struck by a paralysis spell, his facial expression locked in place.

At that moment, he felt like bursting into tears.

Grievance and helplessness flooded his eyes as his lips twitched uncontrollably.

He wished nothing more than to give himself a few heavy slaps.

What a disaster!

Why on earth did he have to be such a glutton?

Look where it got him now!

He had dug a pit with his own hands and buried himself alive in it!

Following that, Li Chao spoke up once more: "Besides, I've actually thought a lot about things lately."

His eyes grew deep and profound, as if sinking into a distant recollection.

"I'm a man without grand ambitions; all I care about is my own little world."

His tone was plain yet carried an unyielding resolve.

"As long as I can take care of the people around me, that's enough!"

A trace of tenderness surfaced on Li Chao's face, clearly thinking of those close to him.

"As for overly lofty goals, I honestly don't have them."

He let out a soft sigh and gave a slight shake of his head, looking rather resigned.

"Coupled with the various rules and regulations of the Dragon Squad..."

Li Chao frowned slightly, seemingly harboring numerous reservations about those very rules.

"Therefore, I don't think I'm a good fit."

He spread his hands out in a relaxed gesture of complete candor, as though he had seen right through the matter.

Offering a self-deprecating chuckle, Li Chao concluded, "I don't fancy myself a savior, nor am I an ambitious careerist. I simply wish to do my absolute best to ensure that the people by my side live a better life."