Gangwan Village was a place of peace and tranquility, characterized by mottled walls and the marks of time. Yet, this serenity was shattered by a sudden, thunderous roar.
"Over here! Come on, dig this part up!"
A massive excavator with its mechanical arm raised high stood like a beast capable of swallowing everything, growling and clamoring to consume this quiet village.
"What are you people doing?"
"We won't let you tear down our homes! This is where we and our ancestors have lived for generations. Do you think you can just tear it down whenever you want?!"
An old woman stretched out her arms in a desperate attempt to resist, but she could not stop the mechanical arm from descending heavily. The mottled walls crumpled like paper at the slightest touch, sending clouds of dust into the air. The old woman collapsed to the ground, her face of despair lost in a sea of dust. Tears carved paths through the grime on her deep-lined cheeks.
The massive excavator, however, did not pause its advance, continuing to hunt for its next victim. Standing atop the machine was a man with a defiant, arrogant air, dressed in casual clothes. He had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and his narrow eyes were filled with contempt.
"Next house!"
His subordinate followed closely, bowing obsequiously. "Boss Zhang, the next one is going to be difficult. It seems the family there earned military honors in the past."
Zhang Chong spat out his cigarette. The sparks danced in the air before extinguishing.
"Damn it, what era is this? Who cares about military honors? Is that stuff worth any money?" Zhang Chong barked. "Don't give me any more nonsense. Keep tearing it down!"
The mechanical arm creaked and groaned, casting a shadow over the small house. Looking down from his perch, Zhang Chong grew impatient at the sight of figures refusing to budge beneath the excavator. He began to curse loudly.
"What the hell are you all good for? An old hag and a woman—how long has it been? You still can't clear them out?"
The subordinate looked miserable. "They're impossible. Every time we move them, they just come back. They simply refuse to leave."
Cursing, Zhang Chong grabbed a megaphone from the side and shouted, "Grandma, let’s be reasonable. Just step aside, and I might even give you a bit more in relocation compensation. You’re at an age where you don't have many years left anyway—just be content with that."
Mother Liang trembled with rage, shielding Grandma Liang firmly behind her. "Bah! You thugs and gangsters! You’ll get your retribution for this forced demolition sooner or later!"
Zhang Chong’s eyes glinted with malice at the insult. He jumped down from the excavator with the megaphone in hand, his boots scuffing the dirt as he slowly approached. "Retribution? Heh, where is this retribution?"
He reached Grandma Liang and Mother Liang and slapped Mother Liang across the face. "I'm being lenient because you're a woman. Get lost if you’re smart. If you keep standing in my way..."
"I'll bury you both alive!"
Grandma Liang’s eyes were bloodshot with fury. "You bastards! My son died on the battlefield—not so that scum like you could terrorize people!"
Zhang Chong scratched his head, his expression full of cruelty. He glanced inside the house, where a black-and-white portrait hung in the dim room. The man in the picture wore a badge on his chest, his eyes filled with resolve. Zhang Chong sneered in utter disdain.
"Do I care that he saved the country? Now he can't even protect his own wife and child—what's the point of him hanging up there?" Zhang Chong mocked. "If he's so great, have him come out and deal with me! He’s just a dead man. You really treat him like some kind of treasure?"
He looked up at the first-class military merit plaque on the roof beam. It looked aged, yet it had been polished until it was spotless. He turned to the two women. "How many pennies is this thing worth? Do you know how much money you’re costing me by wasting my time here?"
Mother Liang roared, "You animals only care about money! You’ve lost all humanity!"
"Heh heh heh, humanity? How amusing." Zhang Chong shook his head, too lazy to argue further. "I’m giving you a final ultimatum: either leave, or die!"
With that, Zhang Chong ordered the excavator to begin digging. His subordinates stood by, shouting and cheering with excitement. In their eyes, Grandma Liang and Mother Liang were not people, but mere playthings.
"Dig!"
"Dig!"
As they clamored, the mechanical arm descended slowly and firmly toward the house. Mother Liang stood her ground, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Don't tear down my house!"
"You animals, stop!"
"Don't dig!"
The cries did not stop the mechanical arm. A deafening roar filled the air as the walls and tiles were crushed into powder. Mother Liang’s small, frail frame looked so weak, and as she gazed at the ruined house, tears of pure bitterness finally streamed down her face.
After finishing the outer rooms, the mechanical arm reached toward the center of the house. Grandma Liang looked at the machine, her eyes filled with tears yet burning with resolve. She walked slowly into the house, dust clinging to her deeply-lined face.
"If you want to tear down my house, you'll have to walk over my dead body!"
The mechanical arm finally stopped. Everyone looked at Zhang Chong in a state of deep unease. They were only there to make money from the demolition; they didn't want to be responsible for a death.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Zhang Chong’s eyes remained cold and unyielding. "You old hag, so you want to join your son? Fine, I'll grant your wish!"
"Keep digging!"
The excavator operator hesitated, afraid to proceed. Zhang Chong, seeing the hesitation, kicked him aside. "Useless coward! I'll do it myself!"
Zhang Chong grabbed the controls. The mechanical arm, like a long-dormant beast suddenly awakened, lunged aggressively toward the crumbling house.
Mother Liang shielded Grandma Liang, both of them feeling as though their hearts had turned to ash. Just as the mechanical arm was about to smash the house down, a vibrant figure suddenly appeared.
"Everyone, stop!"
Liang Song looked at his grandmother and mother, covered in dust, sitting amidst the half-ruined house. His blood seemed to boil and roar through his veins.
"Do you have any idea what you are doing? You are murdering people!"
Though he had transmigrated here, becoming the son of Liang Sanxi—a Company Commander who had heroically sacrificed himself in the counterattack against Vietnam—the love he felt from his grandmother and mother was genuine. He would never allow anyone to harm them!
Liang Song was dressed in a military uniform with a large red flower pinned to his chest. Zhang Chong hesitated, unsure how to act, and asked his subordinate, "Is he an officer?"
The subordinate shook his head. "He’s just a raw recruit. Today was supposed to be the day for new recruits to enlist."
Zhang Chong arched a brow. "Not even enlisted yet?"
He breathed a sigh of relief, his expression returning to its previous sneering, venomous state. "Get lost, kid! You’re all lining up to die; the King of Hell won't have enough room for you all!"
Liang Song gently wiped the dust from his grandmother’s and mother’s faces. Then, he turned slowly, his gaze as piercing as an eagle’s as he stared at Zhang Chong.
Suddenly, a "ding" sounded in his mind.
"System binding. System activated."
"Please make a choice: Option one is to protect your family; option two is to hide your talent and wait for the right moment."
"Different choices will yield different rewards."
"If you choose to protect your family, you will immediately receive a physical enhancement."