"Old Song, are you serious?"
Song Shadao's words were not only unexpected by Shen Lang and Wang Yuyan, but even Gu Qinghan was shocked as she spoke.
"Do you think I would joke about something like this?"
Song Shadao chuckled, "Although the Military Guard Department requires an exam for every promotion, exceptions can be made for those with significant contributions or exceptionally outstanding talents. Wasn't I an exception when I joined the Military Guard Department?"
"Yes, how could I have forgotten that."
Gu Qinghan patted her head and said, "I forgot. As the director, you have the authority to allow extremely talented individuals to enter directly as an exception."
With that, Gu Qinghan was overjoyed and said to Shen Lang, "Brother, don't just stand there. Thank Old Song."
"Thank you for your kindness, Old Song, but I appreciate the sentiment."
Shen Lang looked at Gu Qinghan and smiled, "I promised my sister that I would join the Military Guard Department, but not through this method. I want to join in a righteous manner."
"You want to take the exam?"
Song Shadao was a little surprised by Shen Lang's answer, "You need to think carefully. Those who take the Military Guard Department exam every year are either retired veterans from special forces or outstanding graduates from schools. If you truly participate in the exam, it will be a fair competition, and you might not stand out."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghan spoke to Shen Lang, "Brother, don't be silly. Accept Old Song's offer now."
"Didn't you just say I was an exceptionally talented individual? If so, what are you worried about?"
Shen Lang smiled, "If I stand out, it proves you didn't misjudge me. Conversely, if I fail, you'll discover an even more talented person. Either way, you benefit, right?"
"Hahaha—"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Song Shadao burst into laughter, "Kid, you're not only like me, but you're also like Shen Tianjun. If I didn't know that Shen Tianjun's son had died in a car accident and drowned in a river long ago, I would think you were Shen Tianjun's biological son."
"Who is Shen Tianjun?"
Shen Lang asked curiously, hearing Song Shadao mention Shen Tianjun's name twice.
"He is my senior brother, once an extraordinarily gifted individual, the strongest in Long Country. In his era, he single-handedly suppressed the world, including the Four Grandmasters and the Five Great Families. Everyone was suffocated under his might."
"However, due to an aviation accident, his son was lost and presumed dead. After searching for years without finding him, he became completely deranged, indulging in debauchery. Not only did he cause my sister to divorce him, but he also got himself expelled from the family."
"Your sister?"
Shen Lang asked, "So, your sister was Shen Tianjun's wife?"
"Yes—"
Song Shadao replied, "Among the older generation, the only one I admired was my master. Among my peers, the only one I admired was my senior brother, Shen Tianjun."
"It's a shame he's crippled, completely ruined."
"However, I understand his pain, because that was his only son."
Song Shadao looked at Shen Lang and smiled, "If his son hadn't died, he would probably be about your age now."
"By the way, I heard Qinghan say you are an orphan, without parents since childhood, and you also have the surname Shen. It's possible you might even be his son."
"Hahaha—"
Hearing Song Shadao's words, Shen Lang laughed, "Old Song, you jest. Although I am an orphan and my surname is Shen, I came from a beggar's background. How could I be related to such an important figure?"
"I know it's unlikely, I was just saying."
Song Shadao chuckled, "Honestly, I wish you were Shen Tianjun's son. That way, the next time my sister has an episode and asks me where her son is, I can bring you to her side and firmly tell her, damn it, he's right here."
"It seems Old Song dotes on his sister a lot."
Shen Lang smiled, "I once heard people say that Song Shadao of the Military Guard Department was a beast who ate raw meat and drank blood. I never expected such tenderness. It seems the rumors are not true."
"My parents died when I was ten. Not only did my uncle seize the family fortune, but my sister and I were also kicked out of the house. We begged together, eating leftovers from others, enduring countless scornful glances, and being bullied and insulted countless times."
"When I was fifteen, I managed to send my uncle to prison and reclaim the property that belonged to my sister and me. At that time, I swore that I would give her the best of everything in this world. Anyone who hurt her, I would fight them to the death."
Song Shadao took a sip of tea and spoke slowly, "Because of her, I became enemies with my senior brother Shen Tianjun, even engaging in numerous life-and-death duels. However, even though Shen Tianjun became decadent and a cripple due to debauchery, I still couldn't defeat him."
"It's no use. I can't defeat Shen Tianjun and can't get justice for my sister, so I've been searching for her son everywhere. After more than twenty years, I still haven't found him."
Saying this, Song Shadao looked at Shen Lang and smiled, "If you ever meet someone whose chest displays a crimson dragon totem when they are enraged, be sure to tell me, because he is my nephew."
"When enraged, a crimson dragon totem appears on his chest?"
Hearing Song Kuangwang's words, Shen Lang was secretly startled. When he was extremely angry, a crimson dragon totem did appear on his chest.
A coincidence, it must be a coincidence.
Since Shen Lang could remember, he had been begging in Nanling. How could he be related to people like Shen Tianjun and Song Kuangwang?
"Shen Lang, what are you thinking?"
As Shen Lang was lost in thought, Song Shadao said slightly surprised.
"I'm thinking, is it possible for a person with no connection to Shen Tianjun to also have a crimson dragon totem appear on their chest when enraged?"
Shen Lang looked at Song Shadao and said after some thought.
"Impossible."
Song Shadao shook his head and said, "The crimson dragon is the family totem of the Shen family. It is innate and hidden beneath the skin, leaving no trace. But the blood of the Shen family descendants is extraordinary. When enraged, their blood burns like fire, and only then does this totem appear."
"Is that so?"
Hearing Song Shadao's words, Shen Lang's heart churned like waves, but he maintained a calm demeanor.
No, no, he's just an orphan. How could he suddenly be connected to Shen Tianjun and Song Shadao? The totem on him must be an exception. Shen Lang kept reassuring himself, trying to find reasons to convince himself.
"Shen Lang, why are you here?"
After Shen Lang recited the Ice Heart Technique silently to calm his mind, a shocked voice suddenly rang out.
Shen Lang looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhao Min's family sitting diagonally opposite them.
Looking at Shen Lang, Zhao Min said angrily, "You scoundrel, you are so shameless! You're actually stalking our family!"