148: An invitation from the Dragon Group!

Ye Chen was stunned for a moment, quite surprised.

He hadn't expected the leader of the Dragon Group to extend an invitation so directly.

After pondering for a moment, he shook his head politely.

"Thank you for your high regard, Elder, but..."

"I'm used to being free and easy; I'm afraid I wouldn't fit in with the Dragon Group's discipline."

This was the truth. The Dragon Group was, after all, a special national department, and there were bound to be many rules. He carried many secrets, and his style of doing things was rather casual.

If he really joined, he figured all the secrets he carried would be dug up... "Haha, you've misunderstood."

Xuanyuan Huo waved his hand and said with a chuckle.

"I'm not asking you to work a desk job at the Dragon Group, nor am I asking you to follow anyone's orders."

"I am inviting you to become an external consultant for the Dragon Group, or what we call a special combatant."

"You can keep doing whatever you usually do—protecting Wanqing, driving, falling in love, living your life—none of that will be hindered."

"Only when the Dragon Group encounters a major incident that it can't handle, or one that requires the skills of a special talent like you, will you be called upon to assist."

"To put it bluntly, you'll just have your name on the books. We'll ask for your help when needed, and otherwise, we won't disturb you at all."

Hearing this, Ye Chen hesitated.

These terms sounded... pretty good?

He could have an official background as a protective shield without being subjected to too many constraints.

Seemingly seeing through his hesitation, Xuanyuan Huo added another sentence, his tone carrying a hint of deep meaning.

"Furthermore, when Dragon Group members are out on missions, they have the privilege of 'acting first and reporting later.'"

"When facing dangerous elements who threaten national interests or endanger the safety of the people, you can, in necessary circumstances, deal with them directly without reporting first."

"I imagine..."

"You've encountered quite a bit of trouble lately, haven't you?"

"Aren't there always some flies that you have to worry about this and that when you try to swat them?"

Ye Chen's heart skipped a beat!

Acting first and reporting later!

These words were too great a temptation for him!

He was currently beset by troubles—the Hidden Sect, the Black Prison, and various enemies that might appear in the future... Sometimes, the enemy was already right in front of him, yet he couldn't strike a killing blow.

Because he had to consider the law, public opinion, and his own moral compass as a university student raised through nine years of compulsory education.

But if he had the privilege of 'acting first and reporting later'... that would be completely different!

Faced with enemies who wanted his life or sought to harm those around him, he could eliminate the threat completely legally and in compliance with regulations!

Moreover, this was equivalent to having an extra layer of protective coloring backed by the state!

Ye Chen's mind instantly became active.

He glanced at Bai Wanqing, who was standing nearby with a silent smile.

Clearly, this woman had anticipated this step long ago, and might have even coordinated with the old man.

This was a great gift, and the benefits far outweighed the drawbacks.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, no longer hesitating, and nodded.

"Fine."

"I agree."

The smile on Xuanyuan Huo's face deepened, and he clapped Ye Chen hard on the shoulder.

"Good lad! Straightforward!"

"From today on, you are an external special consultant for my Dragon Group!"

"Wanqing will help you handle the credentials and paperwork."

"As for that Huang Tian... I'll have him write a self-criticism later and put him in solitary confinement for a few days."

"You sure hit hard, kid. Those little brats of mine probably have some psychological trauma now."

Ye Chen rubbed his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Elder, that was purely a misunderstanding..."

"Fine, a misunderstanding it is then. No discord, no concord!"

Xuanyuan Huo laughed heartily, clearly in a very good mood.

"Wanqing, I've seen the man for you and tied him to our boat. This old man's mission is complete; it's time for me to head back!"

Bai Wanqing chuckled, covering her mouth. "Uncle Xuanyuan, let me see you out."

"No need, you young people chat."

Xuanyuan Huo waved his hand and turned to walk toward the door, the eight Bodyguards immediately following him.

Reaching the door, he suddenly stopped, glanced back at Ye Chen, and said meaningfully.

"Kid Ye, do a good job."

"This old man has high hopes for you."

"These waters... are about to get murky. We need a 'catfish' like you to stir things up."

With that, he didn't stay any longer and disappeared out the door with his men.

In the office, only Ye Chen and Bai Wanqing remained.

Bai Wanqing walked to Ye Chen's side and looked up at him, her peach-blossom eyes shimmering.

"So, Consultant Ye?"

"Are you satisfied with this 'driver' job?"

Ye Chen looked at her charming and alluring face and sighed helplessly.

"Madam Bai, your schemes... are truly one after another."

"Should I say that now that I'm on your pirate ship, I can't get off?"

Bai Wanqing smiled sweetly and reached out to straighten his collar.

"It's only right that you can't get off."

"This ship of mine... is very stable."

"Let's go, Consultant Ye-slash-Driver Ye, take me home."

Ye Chen nodded and said nothing more.

This ship... was indeed stable.

Soon.

The two took the private elevator downstairs... At the same time, in a high-end hotel suite in Xiamen City.

Huang Tian stood before the floor-to-ceiling window with a grim expression, a half-finished cigarette in his hand and seven or eight butts already on the carpet beneath his feet.

Behind him stood six lean, powerful men.

These were the men he had secretly mobilized, the experts of his Huang Family.

"Listen carefully."

Huang Tian turned around and crushed his cigarette butt viciously into the ashtray, his gaze ruthless.

"The target is named Ye Chen. He's in his early twenties. His skills are unknown, but they are above mine!"

"The mission tonight is simple—make him disappear from Xiamen City completely."

"Keep your hands clean, make it look like an accident, and don't leave any evidence."

The six men responded in unison, "Yes, Young Master!"

Huang Tian nodded with satisfaction and was about to continue explaining the details—

BANG!

The suite door was suddenly kicked open from the outside!

The wooden door slammed against the wall with a loud crash.

Huang Tian looked up sharply, a fierce light flashing in his eyes, but when he saw the people pouring in, the ferocity on his face instantly froze and turned into bewilderment.

Seven or eight people stood outside the door, all in black combat uniforms, with a golden dragon emblem embroidered on their armbands.

The leader was a middle-aged man in his forties with a square face and eyes like a hawk. He was the deputy captain of the Dragon Group's action team, Wang Anxing.

"Old Wang? Why... why are you here?"

An ominous premonition rose in Huang Tian's heart, and he forced a smile as he stepped forward.

Wang Anxing remained expressionless, his gaze sweeping over the six men behind Huang Tian before finally landing on Huang Tian's face.

"Huang Tian, by order of the Group Leader, you are commanded to immediately cease all private actions and return to headquarters with us to report."

Huang Tian's face changed. "Return to headquarters? Why? My protection mission has only just begun. Madam Bai's side..."

"Your mission is over."

Wang Anxing interrupted him, saying word for word, "The Group Leader personally ordered that your responsibility for protecting Madam Bai Wanqing be revoked, to be taken over entirely by the new special consultant."

"New special consultant?" Huang Tian's pupils shrank, and he took a sharp step forward. "Who is it? Who replaced me?!"

Wang Anxing looked at his agitated state, remained silent for two seconds, and slowly uttered two words: "Ye Chen."

"???"

Huang Tian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He froze on the spot, his face turning pale.

Ye Chen?

That kid who had made him spit blood in just three moves at the restaurant?

He... had become a special consultant for the Dragon Group?

And had taken over his mission?

"Impossible... that's impossible!"

Huang Tian's expression darkened, his eyes filled with rage.

"He's just a kid of unknown origin. On what grounds can he join the Dragon Group? On what grounds can he replace me?!"

Wang Anxing frowned, his tone turning cold.

"Huang Tian, watch your words! The Group Leader's decision is not for you to question."

"Now, please cooperate and come with us immediately."

Huang Tian's chest heaved violently, his fists clenched until they cracked, and fire almost spewed from his eyes.

He was not reconciled!

To stabilize the Huang Family, he had exhausted his efforts to gain this opportunity to get close to Bai Wanqing, and just as he was about to succeed... Ye Chen had appeared out of nowhere. Not only had he ruined his plans, but he had also stolen his mission and his position!

"I want to see the Group Leader!"

He gritted his teeth and growled, "I want to ask him personally!"

Wang Anxing shook his head.

"The Group Leader is too busy; he has already returned to Yanjing."

"You won't see him unless you return to Yanjing with us."

Huang Tian's face was ashen as he squeezed out the words through his teeth: "Then I'll call..."

"Even if you call, it won't change anything."

Wang Anxing interrupted him, a hint of pity in his eyes. "That Ye Chen is simply stronger than you, and you lost to him, didn't you?"

These words were like a red-hot needle, stabbing deep into Huang Tian's sensitive self-esteem.

He looked up abruptly and roared.

"He's strong? He's of unknown origin!"

"Who knows what his background is? Since when did the Dragon Group become so casual as to let someone with an unclear background be a special consultant?!"

"Unknown origin?" Wang Anxing couldn't help but laugh. "Huang Tian, let me ask you: could you have removed that shrapnel that had been stuck next to Elder Zhou's heart for decades?"

Huang Tian was choked by the question and answered subconsciously.

"I certainly couldn't."

"No one could have done that!"

"So many experts have consulted on it, and they all said it was a forbidden zone. Touching it would mean certain death."

"What?"

"Are you trying to tell me that Ye Chen did it?"