Standing in the doorway was an elderly man dressed in a gray Zhongshan suit. His silver hair was as white as frost, and he leaned on a pearwood cane topped with a carved dragon head.
His sharp, hawk-like eyes gleamed with authority. Behind him stood two armed guards, their pistols holstered at their waists, their intimidating presence instantly filling the room.
The newcomer was none other than the Huo family’s patriarch—Huo Zhenxiao.
His gaze swept across the room like a radar.
The wardrobe door hadn’t been fully closed, exposing torn pieces of clothing inside. The bed was in complete disarray. Finally, his eyes locked onto the fresh scratch marks on Huo Zhixing’s arm.
“You little bastard!”
Grandpa Huo’s beard trembled with rage as he slammed his cane against the floor with a thunderous bang.
“You’re a soldier—not a dog in heat! Are you trying to get yourself discharged? How dare you bring some random woman back here!”
Su Jiuyue immediately pulled the blanket over herself, peeking out through a tiny gap with frightened, doe-like eyes. She glanced nervously at the tall man standing beside the bed, too terrified to even breathe.
In this era, engaging in an “improper relationship between a man and a woman” was considered a grave offense—especially for a military officer.
“What are you standing around for?” the old marshal barked.
“Drag the woman out! Send her straight to the Security Department and find out who sent her here!”
The two guards exchanged helpless glances before stepping forward.
“Commander… forgive us.”
As the black muzzles of their sidearms came into view, Su Jiuyue’s face turned deathly pale. She instinctively clenched the blanket tighter.
If she were taken away for a political background investigation, her life would be ruined.
“I’d like to see who dares.”
Only four words.
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it landed with overwhelming force, silencing everyone in the room.
Expressionless, Huo Zhixing stepped forward, his tall frame completely shielding Su Jiuyue behind him.
He casually pushed the guards aside with one arm. His gaze was colder than the guns they carried.
“Grandpa, she’s my fiancée.”
“And your future granddaughter-in-law.”
“What business is it of yours what an engaged couple does in private?”
The room fell utterly silent.
Standing at the doorway, Xiao Zhang sucked in a sharp breath, wishing he could stab out his own ears.
Good heavens… Is the Commander really blooming after all these years?
So many outstanding women have pursued him, yet he rejected every one of them. Don’t tell me he’s actually fallen for this village girl?
“Bullshit!”
Huo Zhenxiao slammed his cane twice.
Seeing his grandson remain unmoved, he was so furious his mustache quivered.
“You think I’ve gone senile? Since when did you get a fiancée? When did you get married? Future granddaughter-in-law, my foot!”
The old marshal laughed in anger.
The yellow pearwood cane whistled through the air as he swung it mercilessly toward Huo Zhixing’s back.
He put every ounce of his strength into that strike.
“Watch out!”
Su Jiuyue could no longer hide beneath the blanket.
She cried out and instinctively threw off the covers, trying to shield him.
Huo Zhixing took one long stride, turned slightly, and completely blocked Su Jiuyue—blanket and all—behind his body.
Smack!
The dull impact echoed through the silent room, making everyone else’s backs ache in sympathy.
Huo Zhixing didn’t even flinch.
He stood perfectly straight, allowing the full force of the cane to crash against his back.
“It’s easy enough for you to beat me to death.”
“But then you’ll never get that great-grandchild you’ve been waiting for.”
His tone remained calm, yet every word struck like a dagger.
“You little brat! You’re threatening me now? Do you have to tear a hole in the heavens before you’ll stop?”
The old marshal raised his cane again.
“Grandpa.”
Huo Zhixing interrupted him.
His voice was unexpectedly calm, carrying a sense of ease that had never existed before.
“From yesterday until this morning…”
“I slept for an entire day and night.”
“Without a single nightmare.”
The second strike froze in midair.
The room seemed to stop breathing.
Even the two guards stood there in stunned disbelief, as though they had just heard an impossible miracle.
Grandpa Huo narrowed his eyes, wondering if his ears had failed him.
“What did you just say?”
Huo Zhixing pointed at his own eyes.
The bloodshot redness that had plagued them was gone.
His gaze was clear and focused, no longer clouded by the madness, exhaustion, and violent instability that had haunted him for years.
The old marshal stepped closer, studying him carefully.
Disbelief slowly spread across his face.
“Xiao Zhang…”
“Is what your commander said true?”
“Reporting to the Old Commander—it is true.”
“Our commander really did sleep soundly for an entire day and night.”
Even Xiao Zhang found it unbelievable.
Yesterday he’d quietly peeked into the room.
He’d seen the commander fast asleep, holding the young woman tightly in his arms.
After one quick glance, he’d immediately retreated and continued standing guard outside.
He couldn’t help thinking…
Maybe the commander’s illness wasn’t so difficult to cure after all.
Perhaps all he needed was… a woman.
Old Doctor Qin kept insisting the illness could only be managed, never cured. Maybe the old doctor was simply getting on in years. After all, he’d never had a woman by his side either. Perhaps he’d misjudged this one.
“For the first time in three years…”
Huo Zhixing looked calmly at his grandfather.
“I finally had a truly restful sleep.”
Grandpa Huo stared suspiciously at him for a long while.
Then, with an oddly embarrassed expression, he tugged his grandson over to the window.
Lowering his voice—though not nearly as quietly as he thought—he asked,
“So…”
“As long as there’s a woman…”
“Your illness can be cured?”
Bonus Mini Scene
Xiao Zhang: Commander, I heard having a woman can cure your illness?
Huo Zhixing (coldly): Get lost. Only Jiuyue can.
Xiao Zhang: …
Got it.
So it’s not any woman.
It’s her.
Su Jiuyue (hiding under the blanket): I have a feeling he’s saying something dirty… but I can’t prove it.