Title: Reborn Qi Tongwei, who defies fate by half a move and refuses to kneel

Chapter 4: The Game with Gao Yuliang, Allocating Frontier Areas!

Gao Yuliang's study was as elegant as ever.

The walls are covered with books that exude the fragrance of ink, and a set of purple clay teaware sits quietly on a mahogany tea tray.

Today, however, that scholarly air has been diluted by an invisible pressure.

Gao Yuliang sat behind his desk, not flying into a rage like the department head.

He simply looked quietly at his former most proud student, his expression complex, a mixture of heartache, regret, and a hint of bewilderment.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly, his voice tinged with weariness.

"Tongwei, please sit down."

Qi Tongwei did not sit; he simply stood in the center of the study, his posture ramrod straight.

He looked at his mentor from his past life, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

It was Gao Yuliang who single-handedly promoted him from a poor country boy to a prominent figure at Handong University.

It was Gao Yuliang who, for the sake of his own political future, personally presented him to the Liang family as a gift.

"teacher."

Qi Tongwei spoke, his voice calm.

Gao Yuliang took off his glasses and slowly wiped them with a soft cloth. He did this very slowly, as if he was organizing his thoughts or calming his mind.

"The Liang family has already called me."

"Liang Fan's wrist has a dislocated joint and a minor fracture. But that's secondary."

"The main problem is Liang Lu. She locked herself in her room, refusing to eat or drink, saying she'll make you pay the price."

Gao Yuliang raised his head, his sharp gaze piercing Qi Tongwei.

"Do you know who you're dealing with? The Executive Vice Governor of Handong Province! A person who can decide your entire future with just a single sentence!"

Qi Tongwei remained silent, waiting quietly for what was to come.

Give me a reason.

Gao Yuliang's voice turned somber.

"Give me a convincing reason: Why are you doing this? Why are you ruining your future?"

Qi Tongwei raised his head and met Gao Yuliang's gaze.

"Teacher, scholars have the integrity of scholars."

"The police have the backbone of the police."

"Integrity? Backbone?"

Gao Yuliang felt as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. He stood up abruptly, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Can integrity feed you? Can backbone allow you to realize your ambition of protecting the peace of your region?"

He walked up to Qi Tongwei, practically pointing his finger at him.

"You're too idealistic, Tongwei! This is reality! The reality is that power is the foundation for achieving all ambitions! Without power, you are nothing!"

"You have a wealth of talent, but in the end, all your sharpness and ideals will be worn down in some remote, impoverished place, and you'll become a mediocre person who accomplishes nothing!"

"Is that what you wanted?!"

Gao Yuliang's words, every single one, were like a judgment from a past life, striking Qi Tongwei's heart hard.

Yes, wasn't he just like that in his past life?

He wasted ten years in the countryside, and in the end, he abandoned everything for power.

Qi Tongwei's body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the suppressed anger and sorrow.

He looked at the teacher in front of him, who was so excited that his face was red, and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"If the prerequisite for realizing one's ambitions is to break one's own spine."

"Then I'd rather not have this ambition."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Gao Yuliang was stunned.

He looked at Qi Tongwei, at that young face filled with determination, at those eyes that seemed to see right through people.

He suddenly felt that the student in front of him had become an absolute stranger.

That's not the look a young man in his early twenties should have.

It's a kind of world-weariness that comes from having experienced great life and death and seen through the ups and downs of life.

After a long silence, Gao Yuliang let out a long sigh.

All his anger seemed to have been drained away in that moment.

He slumped back into his chair, waved his hand, and looked as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

"That's enough, that's enough..."

Everyone has their own ambitions, and you can't force them.

His tone was filled with disappointment.

That was the disappointment of a cherished work of art that ultimately suffered from irreparable flaws.

Qi Tongwei knew that Gao Yuliang had completely given up on him.

He went from being a promising pawn to a discarded one.

Gao Yuliang remained silent for a long time before reaching for the red telephone on the table.

He glanced at Qi Tongwei one last time before dialing the number.

"This is your own choice, don't regret it."

Qi Tongwei did not answer.

Regret?

He has already regretted it once, with his life.

Gao Yuliang no longer hesitated and began to move his fingers across the dial pad.

"Secretary Liang?... This is Gao Yuliang."

"Yes, yes... I feel deeply saddened and apologetic about what happened to Qi Tongwei..."

"...We've done our best to persuade him. But this young man is too extreme and too stubborn...yes, he's like a rock in a latrine, both smelly and hard!"

"...As you can see, regarding his job placement after graduation...the school fully respects your opinion."

"...Hmm?...Okay, okay, I understand."

"...I will certainly do as you instruct."

After hanging up the phone, silence returned to the study.

Gao Yuliang didn't look at Qi Tongwei again; he simply leaned back in his chair, exhausted, and closed his eyes.

"You can leave now."

Qi Tongwei took a deep look at his mentor, said goodbye, and turned to leave the study.

The door was gently closed.

Gao Yuliang opened his eyes and looked at the empty doorway, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

But he eventually shook his head and picked up the book he hadn't finished reading, "History of Ming".

A few days later, the bulletin board at Handong University was packed with people.

The final list of graduates assigned to jobs has been released.

Everyone craned their necks, searching for their own name in the densely packed list, as well as the name that had recently caused a sensation throughout the school.

"Found him! Qi Tongwei!"

Someone shouted.

All eyes instantly focused on the end of the list.

"Qi Tongwei, assigned unit: Southwest border, Mopan Town Narcotics Control Station."

hiss--

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.

Millstone Town!

What place is that?

Bordering the Golden Triangle, this is the most dangerous and arduous frontline of drug enforcement in the country!

That's not a place to work, that's a place to risk your life!

Every year, anti-drug police officers sacrifice their lives on that land, and very few of them return intact.

They assigned a bright, law school student with no connections to that place...

This is no longer just suppression.

This is going to kill him!

Everyone felt a chill run from the soles of their feet straight to the top of their heads.

They finally witnessed firsthand just how terrifying the power of authority truly is.

This is the consequence of offending the Liang family.

In an instant, those who had once envied and mocked Qi Tongwei were filled with nothing but fear.

TRAIN STATION.

The sounds of car horns and the clamor of the crowd mingled together.

With red eyes, Chen Hai forced a wad of cash into Qi Tongwei's canvas bag.

"Tongwei, when you get there, be extremely careful! Don't try to fight head-on! If you can't win, run away, there's no shame in that!"

"If you run out of money, just give me a call and I'll send you some!"

Even though he was a grown man, his voice was trembling with sobs.

On the other side, Hou Liangping silently handed him a cigarette and lit it for him himself.

"I've said it before, integrity won't buy you a future."

He took a drag of his cigarette, the smoke blurring his complex expression.

"But I respect you as a man."

"Come back alive."

Qi Tongwei took the cigarette and took a deep drag.

He looked at his two brothers and a relaxed smile appeared on his face.

"rest assured."

"It's just a change of scenery, and I'll continue being a policeman."

He patted Chen Hai on the shoulder and nodded to Hou Liangping.

Then, he shouldered his simple bag and turned to walk toward the ticket gate.

Without the slightest lingering attachment or hesitation.

The train slowly pulled away, leaving the bustling provincial capital of Handong far behind.

Qi Tongwei leaned against the window, watching the scenery rushing past outside.

His face showed no confusion or dejection.

In those deep eyes, it seemed as if two flames were burning fiercely.

Millstone Town...

Narcotics Control Station...

well.

In my past life, I, Qi Tongwei, earned the empty title of hero only because I was shot three times in the anti-drug squad.

In this life, let me fight my way out of this most dangerous place in the country!

A half-step victory over Heaven?

No.

In this life, I will personally take to the field and have a good showdown with the so-called Heaven and those high and mighty gods!