Conquest of Taboo and Debauchery

Chapter 171: 171: Getting Along in the Quiet Room

Until the other groups arrived, Ye Fei and Liu Junyi remained silently embracing each other. The special forces members who saw this said nothing, as most were already aware of their close relationship. It was natural for Liu Junyi to seek comfort from family after such a heavy emotional blow.

By the time all ten groups had gathered, night was falling. Liu Junyi inquired around and discovered that, apart from Ye Fei's team, none of the other groups had seen even a glimpse of the enemy. Like Ye Fei's group, they had found no trace of their adversaries.

The force returned to base after 10 PM. Upon arrival, their first priority was to ensure that the dozen wounded soldiers, including Li Yun, were taken to the hospital for treatment. Thanks to the captain's meticulous care, Li Yun's condition had stabilized, and his life was no longer in danger.

Ye Fei breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if anything had happened to Li Yun, he would never have forgiven himself.

At Ye Fei's suggestion and with Liu Junyi's approval, Li Yun was sent back to Wanghai that very night to receive the best medical care. Meanwhile, Liu Junyi summoned all personnel ranked squadron leader or higher to a conference room.

Dozens of people, each holding the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher, gathered in the large room. Ye Fei, though only a soldier, was present due to his exceptional performance. His actions had earned him the respect of the special forces, making his presence in this high-level meeting unquestioned.

Once everyone was seated, Liu Junyi opened the discussion, "What are your thoughts on today's events?"

Ye Fei's team captain spoke first, "Today's events were strange. We searched thoroughly, yet found no trace of the enemy. But somehow, they managed to outflank us. It doesn't add up."

Zhang Qiang, from Liu Junyi's team, added, "It was the same for us. No signs at all, and suddenly, we were surrounded."

The other groups, while not directly attacked, had heard the reports and joined the discussion. After much debate, they could reach no firm conclusion. Finally, Liu Junyi summed up, "I suspect the enemy was aware of our movements in advance and set up an ambush along the route we had to take."

When Liu Junyi first heard Ye Fei's analysis, she had been equally surprised. Now, the officers of the special forces echoed that reaction. Some, with more volatile temperaments, even voiced mild dissatisfaction, interpreting Liu Junyi's theory as a lack of trust in their comrades.

Liu Junyi clarified, "I don't doubt our teammates. The enemy clearly aimed to capture us all in one stroke. No one would knowingly put themselves in harm's way for personal gain. But remember, we aren't the only ones who knew the specifics of this operation."

"Are you implying the General Staff leaked our plans?" a captain asked, startled. "That seems unlikely. Besides, if that were true, why were only two of our ten teams ambushed?"

Liu Junyi was momentarily caught off guard by this valid question, as she hadn't fully considered this aspect after hearing Ye Fei's analysis.

Ye Fei stepped in with a smile, "It's easy to explain. To the teams that weren't ambushed, did any of you deviate from your original route?"

After a pause, the captains confirmed that, due to the terrain and other factors, they had indeed strayed from their initial path.

"In other words," Ye Fei continued, "if you hadn't deviated, all ten teams would have been caught in the ambush. This means the enemy's numbers weren't limited to the 500 that the General Staff reported. There must have been between 2,000 and 3,000. Even if the intelligence was inaccurate, the difference couldn't be that great."

Ye Fei's confident, almost commanding, tone left a strong impression. He no longer appeared as the youthful soldier but carried the authority of a seasoned general. His words earned the admiration of even the most elite special forces members, and Liu Junyi's gaze toward him shimmered with approval.

Someone then asked, "Even if this is a conspiracy, why target us? Haven't we always followed orders?"

Once again, Ye Fei didn't answer directly but looked toward Liu Junyi. It was her role as commander to showcase both her authority and wisdom in such a moment.

Catching Ye Fei's silent cue, Liu Junyi felt a wave of gratitude for his thoughtfulness. She addressed the room, "It's simple. While we technically serve that organization, only the organization can issue us orders—not any specific individual. Someone likely wants to remove those currently in power and take control of the special forces."

Her words caused a stir, but as the officers reflected, they realized the logic behind her statement. The captain of the Northeast Special Forces, known for his fiery temper, blurted out, "I get it now! No wonder the Beijing commander didn't send a team this time. He must have been tipped off by his backer, who's behind this conspiracy. Too bad we don't know who that is."

The room grew animated with speculation. Though one officer tried to downplay the accusation against the commander from Beijing, his tone suggested he believed it about 80%. Suspicious glances shifted toward Captain Gao, who was overseeing Beijing's team.

Captain Gao, growing increasingly uncomfortable under the scrutiny, knew that Liu Junyi's earlier words had already cleared him of direct suspicion. But the fact that the traitor was his superior made him feel ashamed.

Ye Fei intervened once more, "I don't think so. If the Beijing commander were behind this, why even send a team? With his control over the special forces in Beijing, he wouldn't need to. He could've easily found an excuse to stay out of the operation."

The Northeast captain nodded, "Maybe he sent Captain Gao instead to avoid suspicion?"

Ye Fei shook his head. "No, that would only raise more suspicions. If he wanted to avoid involvement, it would've been easier not to participate at all. Captain Gao, why didn't your commander come?"

Captain Gao hesitated before answering, "Well, he wasn't happy about having Captain Liu in charge of the operation, so he sent me instead."

Ye Fei couldn't help but chuckle, "So he wasn't thrilled about my aunt, a 'yellow-haired girl,' leading the operation, huh?"

His comment drew laughter from the room, easing the tense atmosphere. Even Liu Junyi gave him a playful glare, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood after the serious conversation.

As the discussion shifted back to the larger conspiracy, Liu Junyi cleared her throat to regain control. "Right now, our priority shouldn't be figuring out who's behind this. What matters most is how we're going to defeat the enemy. If we win, we can handle the conspiracy later. But if we lose, none of this will matter. Let's reconvene tomorrow with strategies to deal with the enemy."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and the meeting concluded. Ye Fei was about to follow the others out when Liu Junyi called out, "Ye Fei, stay behind."

Ye Fei paused, surprised that Liu Junyi wanted to speak with him privately. He didn't think that after what had happened earlier, her feelings toward him had shifted from Yu Wuxia.

Once everyone had left, Liu Junyi turned to Ye Fei, her expression serious. "Come with me," she ordered, leading him to her residence.

The southwest region, while relatively underdeveloped, offered plenty of space. The accommodations for the special forces were generous, with each team assigned a spacious compound. As commander-in-chief, Liu Junyi's quarters were particularly secluded, providing her with much-needed privacy.

As soon as they entered her residence, Liu Junyi's stern demeanor vanished, replaced by a glimmer of annoyance. She playfully grabbed Ye Fei's ear, scolding, "How dare you call your aunt a 'yellow-haired girl'!"

Though Liu Junyi's grip was far from painful, Ye Fei feigned discomfort, crying out, "Auntie, have mercy! I was wrong!"

"Hmph! If you want mercy, tell me all your secrets!" she demanded, finally revealing her true intention.

Ye Fei had anticipated this. Knowing his aunt's fascination with martial arts, he had expected her to question him after witnessing his performance earlier. However, he didn't expect her to be so eager. "Alright, alright, ask away. I'll tell you everything I know."

Satisfied, Liu Junyi released his ear. "Fine, explain to me—why are you bulletproof? Did you stumble upon some magical protective armor?"

Ye Fei laughed. "No, it's all thanks to my protective techniques. My body is indestructible."

"Rubbish!" Liu Junyi, having grown up in a martial arts family, was familiar with the concept of indestructible techniques, but she didn't believe anyone could actually achieve such a legendary level, let alone her nephew.

"Don't believe me? See for yourself." Ye Fei smirked, removing his bullet-ridden uniform and revealing his muscular chest.

For a moment, Liu Junyi was taken aback. It was the first time she had seen an adult man's chest, and the sight stirred unfamiliar feelings. She quickly pushed the thoughts aside and examined his chest, noticing small red marks but no serious wounds. These marks were remnants of the earlier battle, where Ye Fei had taken enemy fire without fully defending himself.

Seeing the red dots, Liu Junyi softened and asked, "Does it hurt?" She gently touched his chest, her fingers brushing the small marks.