Chapter Fifty-One: The Loftiness of the Heavens

Officer Li took a file out of the drawer. “Ye Dong, Ye Dong, here is the new identity I’ve carefully prepared for you. Make sure you can handle it well.”

Ye Dong and his two companions stood at attention on the new training ground, awaiting the arrival of their new instructor. According to Huiyan, they were about to begin intensive combat training.

“Attention!” From a distance, the SWAT officers saw Officer Li approaching, accompanied by a man in sportswear, about fifty years old. Instantly, they straightened up in reverence.

Xiao Bao whispered, “Who’s that? Why are all the SWAT officers so excited to see him?”

Ye Dong glanced sideways. “Even Officer Li speaks to him so politely. No need to guess—he must be someone formidable.”

Officer Li walked up to the trio and extended his hand to the man. “This is Instructor Wang.”

“Instructor Wang, hello!” Ye Dong and his friends saluted.

“Brother Wang, these are the three. Take a look—do you think they have any potential?”

Instructor Wang’s gaze was sharp as an eagle’s. He examined the three from head to toe, then circled them once, speaking coldly, “Utterly mediocre.”

Ye Dong’s heart tightened. “Damn, this old man is quite arrogant!”

Though he felt annoyed, he held his tongue out of respect for Officer Li’s presence.

Officer Li chuckled instead of getting angry. “Mediocre? That’s not bad. I thought you’d call them useless.”

Ye Dong felt Officer Li was taking the opportunity to mock them and grew irritated. “Even the useless ones run faster than you.”

The young men, still brimming with youthful energy, couldn’t help but show some dissatisfaction in their expressions.

Instructor Wang sneered. “The three of you seem displeased, aren’t you?”

They didn’t answer, unsure how to respond.

Officer Li patted Ye Dong’s shoulder. “Instructor Wang is asking you something. Say what’s on your mind—no need to spare my feelings.”

Ye Dong was taken aback. “Is Officer Li pushing me into the fire?”

He replied quietly, “I’m not upset.”

But Instructor Wang snorted, “Afraid to admit it? Coward.”

Ye Dong took a deep breath and suddenly shouted, “Extremely upset!”

Instructor Wang asked again, “If you’re upset, what should you do?”

Xiao Bao and Da Chun looked to Ye Dong. Ye Dong gritted his teeth and answered, “If someone insults you, you must reclaim your dignity!”

Instructor Wang nodded slightly, then waved his left hand. A young SWAT officer stepped forward briskly. “Master! Please instruct me!”

Instructor Wang patted the young officer’s shoulder. “This is Xiao Mo, my seventeenth disciple. Among my students, sixteen are stronger than him.”

He paused. “The three of you, fight him. Let’s see how much dignity you can reclaim.”

Ye Dong and his companions were stunned. “We didn’t expect things to escalate to a fight so quickly!”

Seeing their confusion, Officer Li spoke up. “Do as Instructor Wang says.”

Xiao Mo was first to step onto the ring, looking down at Ye Dong. “Stop dawdling. Come up.”

The tall Xiao Bao gently pulled Ye Dong. “Let me go first this time.”

But Instructor Wang said coldly, “No need to take turns. All three at once.”

Ye Dong swallowed hard and glanced at Officer Li, who was quietly smoking.

Officer Li looked up at the ring. “If you’re men, don’t hesitate.”

Ye Dong nodded repeatedly, then heard Officer Li whisper, “Be careful.”

Officer Li’s gesture warmed Ye Dong’s heart. “He really is a good person after all.”

The three didn’t hesitate. They leaped onto the ring. “Three against one. You must be impressive.”

SWAT officers training nearby gathered around, worry evident in their eyes. The situation seemed grim.

Instructor Wang checked his phone. “Xiao Mo, finish it in thirty seconds.”

Xiao Mo nodded, cupping his fists toward Ye Dong and his friends. “Xiao Mo, disciple of Five Gates, please give me your guidance.”

Ye Dong was startled. “Five Gates!? What a powerful name!”

“Ye Dong.” “Xiao Bao.” “Da Chun.” “Please give us your guidance!”

The trio wasn’t foolish. Facing a strong opponent, only an idiot would take him on one-on-one.

They quickly surrounded Xiao Mo. At Instructor Wang’s shout of “Begin!” the match officially started.

All three attacked at once. The strong, long-legged Xiao Bao led, throwing a straight punch at Xiao Mo! Ye Dong and Da Chun shouted and swung their fists too!

Xiao Mo ducked swiftly, crouched low, swept his left leg, striking Xiao Bao’s lower body!

“Ouch!”

Xiao Bao’s legs buckled, his body veering left! Before he could regain his balance, a dull pain struck his chest—Xiao Mo’s hand switched from fist to palm, sending Xiao Bao flying off the ring!

Xiao Mo’s movements were smooth as flowing water, taking only 2.5 seconds from start to finish.

“Xiao Bao!”

Their strongest fighter was eliminated in an instant, chilling Ye Dong’s heart. “And there are sixteen stronger than him!?”

In a split second of distraction, Ye Dong felt a pain in his shoulder, his fist went limp, darkness clouded his vision, his body grew light, and pain struck his back—he too was thrown out of the ring.

“Ouch! That hurts like hell!” He turned to Da Chun, who was clutching his neck and shouting, “I’m dying! I’m dying!”

The watching SWAT officers seemed unperturbed, helping Ye Dong and his friends up. “Are you alright? Senior Xiao Mo held back.”

Ye Dong felt bitter to the core.

Instructor Wang stopped his stopwatch. “Eleven seconds.”

Xiao Mo smiled and stepped off the ring, standing behind Instructor Wang.

“Seems none of your dignity was regained,” Instructor Wang said coldly. “Your Master Chen is still waiting for me to have tea. Excuse me.”

So he knew Chen Yao.

He laughed and left with several SWAT officers.

Faced with Instructor Wang’s blatant ridicule, Ye Dong and his friends felt utterly humiliated, staring at the ground with clenched fists.

Officer Li approached and spoke softly. “Oh, I forgot to mention—Instructor Wang is Huiyan’s father, Wang Xiongfeng, head of Five Gates.”

The trio was stunned. “Wang Xiongfeng, the legendary Chinese martial artist who lives in America!? He’s Huiyan’s father!?”

Officer Li chuckled. “And one more thing—Huiyan is ranked ninth in Five Gates.”

Seeing their dumbfounded expressions, Officer Li laughed even harder. He handed Ye Dong a document folder, then left with Xiao Wang and Xiao Li.

Ye Dong and his friends sat on the ground, their confidence shattered.

“We’ve been fighting since grade school, but against Xiao Mo, we didn’t even have a chance to fight back!”

Xiao Bao was dejected. “Dong, are you alright?”

Ye Dong shook his head. “I’m fine. I’m just thinking about how I can ever win Huiyan’s heart.”

Xiao Bao and Da Chun looked exasperated. “Get lost!”

Ye Dong laughed at himself. “No need to think anymore. I’ll probably get killed by her crazy disciples before I even get close.”

He slowly opened the document folder and pulled out a stack of papers. “Ye Dong, your new name is He Wentian, English name N. Here’s your detailed background profile.”