The Reborn Aristocrat’s Daughter
Chapter 115: Years (3)_1

When the elevator reached the top floor and the doors opened, Situ Xin saw Liu Yuxiang and Xia Yujie standing in front of the elevator doors. They had been aware of her arrival at the base of the Dragon Society building.

This entire set of security measures was personally orchestrated by Situ Xin. In designing them, she not only incorporated some advanced concepts from more than a decade later but also integrated the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams.

Therefore, when all of the Dragon Society’s security protections were activated, it would not be easy for those who wished to penetrate it. In most cases, they would be eliminated before they could even enter the Dragon Society’s territory.

"Master, if you were coming, why didn’t you call us? I could have picked you up," Liu Yuxiang said to Situ Xin, his face full of respect. After truly interacting with Situ Xin over the years and learning about her abilities, he had grown to greatly admire her. Situ Xin’s teachings furthermore engendered his gratitude. She was very generous to those loyal to her and to those who earned her approval, such as the elites of the Dragon Society who did not lack anything she deemed fit to give.

After the issues with the Dragon Society were resolved, Xia Yujie, following Situ Xin’s instructions, selected fifty elites from all the underlings. Then, after Situ Xin had tested these fifty elites, she took them to the area where Situ Haoran and the others had previously conducted military exercises. This location had ceased to be used after Xiao Qinfeng was shot, which conveniently allowed Situ Xin to use it as a training ground for her subordinates.

The initial training Situ Xin imposed on them was similar to that of special forces with the goal of enhancing their physical capabilities. Both Liu Yuxiang and Xia Yujie were included in this training by Situ Xin. After three days of such intense training, Liu Yuxiang was exhausted and collapsed on his bed, while Xia Yujie, who had matured greatly after his father’s murder and the raid on the Dragon Society, understood that only by becoming strong enough could he protect what he cherished.

Once Situ Xin felt their physical conditioning was sufficient, she grouped them according to their constitution, then began to teach them Inner Strength and hand-to-hand combat techniques. Of course, before handing over the Internal Cultivation Methods, she made it clear that anyone who leaked these techniques would have only one fate: death.

After years of training, who in the underworld didn’t know of the Dragon Society’s might, aware that they had an elite force of fifty members with capabilities surpassing even the special forces of Country H. Situ Xin divided these fifty into five squads corresponding to the Five Elements, thus naming them Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

Previously, no other gangs dared to provoke or create trouble for the Dragon Society, especially when Situ Xin had just begun to see the fruits of her training with the five squads. Xia Yujie initially intended to lead his men to reclaim their territory, but Situ Xin stopped him, eager to test the effectiveness of her training and the strength of the five squads.

She dispatched these five groups to carry out the mission. As soon as the members of the five squads stood before the other gang’s hoodlums, the scene immediately quieted down. It was the first time they had seen such well-organized and unified gang members. Previously, their encounters had been chaotic brawls with machetes and shouting, never this ordered.

The leader of the opposing gang spoke to Xia Yujie: "Don’t tell me you brought in the cops for help, kid."

"Boss Xiong, rest assured, these are our Dragon Society people." Xia Yujie felt gleeful inside, his frustration swept away. "Brothers, attack! Take them down." With Xia Yujie’s command, the five teams sprang into action. Soon, all the opponent’s men were subdued, including their leader who was captured as well.

From then on, the reputation of the Dragon Society’s five squads named Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth resounded in the underworld.

Through years of training, both Liu Yuxiang and Xia Yujie significantly improved their capabilities. Initially, Liu Yuxiang’s father wanted him to return home for training, but after witnessing his skills, his father was beaming with joy, repeating "Good, good." He also stopped restricting Liu Yuxiang’s freedom and even unfroze his assets, letting him make his own way outside because he believed that his son was learning far more in the outside world than he ever could at home.

"I happened to be free, so I came over. Besides, it’s much faster for me to come on my own," Situ Xin said to Liu Yuxiang, then turned to look at Xia Yujie, who over the years had shed his naïve boyishness and carried the aura of a leader, much to Situ Xin’s satisfaction. "Yujie, I came here today because I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes, Miss, let’s talk in the office," Xia Yujie responded with a smile to Situ Xin. Ever since his father’s murder, smiles had become rare on Xia Yujie’s face, and over the years, few people had seen him smile. What no one knew was that he sometimes smiled when he was with Situ Xin.

"Alright," Situ Xin said and led the way into the building. "As you all know, next year is 1997 and Xiangjiang will soon be returned to us." She began as soon as she sat down.

"The whole country knows about it. Miss, does what you want to discuss have something to do with this matter?" With years of collaboration, Xia Yujie had come to understand a lot about Situ Xin and knew she was not prone to idle chatter.

"It does relate. You know, back when Xiangjiang was occupied by Country Y, so many years have passed and now that they have to return it, although they’ve agreed verbally, they are likely to be uncomfortable about it. I suspect that Country Y might engage in some underhanded tactics during this period. Therefore, I would like your help to keep an eye out for any activities from Country Y and inform me right away if you hear anything." Situ Xin made this special trip to speak with Xia Yujie because a few days ago at home, she had overheard the three elders discussing the matter. She remembered that there had been incidents during this period but did not have a clear picture of the specifics.