On the morning Luo Feng was released from the detention center, in a quaint, antique teahouse in Yian District, within a private room, only Zhou Huayang and Zhang Haobai were present. The tea in the cups before them sent up wisps of steam, the fragrance thick in the air.
“Brother Zhou, why did you call me out so early in the morning? What is it?” Zhang Haobai asked in a hushed tone, lowering his voice. “Is there an update on that matter? If it’s truly settled, Brother Zhou, rest assured, the money will definitely not be an issue.” Zhang Haobai harbored a certain anticipation: had Luo Feng really had an arm and a leg broken?
Zhou Huayang sat there, his expression gradually darkening, remaining utterly silent.
“Brother Zhou?”
Sensing the wrong atmosphere, Zhang Haobai continued in a low voice, “Brother Zhou, you… you should say something.”
“Zhang Haobai, you’ve got some nerve. If you want to court death, don’t drag me down with you,” Zhou Huayang sneered, looking at Zhang Haobai.
“M-me? What did I do?” Zhang Haobai was utterly bewildered, asking urgently, “Brother Zhou, what exactly is going on? Please explain it clearly to me.” Zhang Haobai could detect from Zhou Huayang’s tone and expression that something was amiss, yet he truly had no idea what had transpired.
Zhou Huayang took a deep breath, his voice low. “Zhang Haobai, you asked me to hire someone to break one of Luo Feng’s legs and one of his arms, correct?”
“Yes, so?” Zhang Haobai nodded.
“Hmph, so what?” Zhou Huayang’s voice turned cold, laced with a mocking laugh. “The Luo Feng you were targeting? He’s a Martial Trainee!”
“A Martial Trainee?” Zhang Haobai was instantly stunned mute.
Silence.
The private room fell utterly quiet. Zhang Haobai’s face turned deathly pale; he sat there motionless, foolishly staring ahead, sweat continuously beading on his forehead.
Zhou Huayang sat coldly to the side, raising his teacup and sipping, taking one drink after another, saying nothing.
“How could this be, how could this happen?” Zhang Haobai was now devoid of jealousy; all that remained was terror! His family was wealthy, and he was keenly aware of certain privileges afforded to Martial Trainees… He had actually sent people to cripple a Martial Trainee’s limbs—a Martial Trainee could easily have the Jiangnan City Security Bureau arrest him. Once he entered the Security Bureau, his life would be over!
“No, no…” Zhang Haobai’s face was ashen.
“So now you’re scared, you idiot?” Zhou Huayang slammed his cup heavily onto the table in anger, roaring, “Damn it, if you’re so eager to die, don’t pull me in with you! A Martial Trainee! You asked me to arrange for someone to break a Martial Trainee’s leg and arm. If that person reports it to the Security Bureau, I’m in serious trouble too!”
Zhou Huayang was grinding his teeth in fury.
“Brother Zhou, what do I do? What should I do?” Zhang Haobai pleaded. “I, I don’t want to be arrested by the Security Bureau. Tell me, what should I do now?”
The Security Bureau… To ordinary citizens, it was a mysterious and terrifying place. If the Security Bureau was mobilized to arrest someone, that person’s future was virtually ruined.
“Wait, Brother Zhou, did you give me up?” Zhang Haobai’s eyes lit up as he spoke rapidly. Only Zhou Huayang knew that he had requested him to handle the matter. If Zhou Huayang hadn’t implicated him, there might still be room for maneuvering.
“What are you thinking, you son of a bitch?” Zhou Huayang jumped up in a fit of rage, pointing fiercely at Zhang Haobai. “The government officials came to interrogate me! Do you think I dared not confess? If I didn’t talk, I’d die in your place!”
Zhang Haobai froze.
It was true: if Zhou Huayang didn't name him, Zhou Huayang himself would be in deep trouble.
“I only came to tell you this because of our years of friendship. It’s to prevent you from being arrested by the Security Bureau without even knowing why,” Zhou Huayang scoffed. “I advise you to go back and discuss this with your father. Your father has far more connections than you do. He’ll definitely handle things better than you. Brother… your Brother Zhou is leaving now; I won’t accompany you any further! I’ve already paid the bill for this table; you don’t need to settle it.”
With that, Zhou Huayang pulled the door open and walked straight out.
Zhang Haobai was left alone in the private room.
“How could this be?” Zhang Haobai sat on the chair, shaking his head, still unable to believe it. “He, how could he be a Martial Trainee! Before the college entrance exams, his punching power was only 800 kilograms. Just a few days? How could he possibly become a Martial Trainee?”
“No, no, I don’t want to be arrested by the Security Bureau.”
“Dad, Dad… I’m going to find Dad.”
Zhang Haobai, his face bloodless, rushed out of the teahouse and raced home as fast as he could.
××××××
At home.
Zhang Haobai sat on the living room sofa, his fists clenched tightly, his body trembling slightly.
“Click!” The door opened.
“Haobai, why did you call me back in such a hurry? You even said if I came back late, you’d be dead?” Zhang Zelong, who had rushed back from the company, pushed the door open and walked in. The moment he saw his son’s complexion and demeanor, he felt a knot tighten in his stomach, thinking grimly, Not good, Haobai must have gotten into serious trouble.
“Dad, I’m in trouble,” Zhang Haobai looked up at his father.
These simple few words—I’m in trouble—sent a chill through Zhang Zelong’s heart.
“Tell me, what exactly happened? Explain every single detail; don’t leave out a thing. Tell me everything clearly.” Zhang Zelong’s expression became grave. Although he knew the matter was troublesome, Zhang Zelong did not lose his composure; after all, he had weathered the Great Nirvana period—what storms hadn't he seen?
Zhang Haobai took a deep breath. “It’s like this, Dad. Last time, in our courtyard, when the decoration company was delivering furniture…”
From start to finish, Zhang Haobai dared not conceal anything, laying it all out.
“You, you actually dared to hire someone to cripple a Martial Trainee?” Zhang Zelong’s eyes widened.
“I, I didn’t know,” Zhang Haobai panicked under his father’s glare. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have dared even if you beat me to death!”
Zhang Zelong took a deep breath and said nothing, merely pulling out his phone and rapidly dialing numbers.
“Ring—ring—”
“Beep!”
A tone sounded on Zhang Zelong’s phone, causing him to frown.
“What is it, Dad?” Zhang Haobai asked anxiously.
“I’m calling your uncle, but your uncle is currently out hunting monsters outside the base city,” Zhang Zelong said, sitting back on the sofa. “We’ll wait until your uncle calls back.” Outside the base city, a monster could be lurking anywhere. Therefore, they usually only established communication with the city after finding a secure location.
A moment later—
“Big Brother, what’s the matter?” A deep voice responded. “I’m a bit busy right now.”
“A’Hu, this matter is serious. Your nephew has caused a huge disaster,” Zhang Zelong said, his eyes turning red.
“What kind of trouble did Haobai cause, Big Brother? Tell me,” came the voice of Zhang Zelong’s younger brother, ‘Zhang Zehu.’
“It’s like this.” Zhang Zelong immediately recounted what his son had just told him.
Silence hung over the phone for a moment, then Zhang Zehu’s voice returned: “Haobai, this kid, he actually dared to provoke a Martial Trainee. That’s incredibly bold! Listen, from today on, Haobai, you stay home every day. Don’t go out causing trouble again. And don’t go see that Luo Feng anymore.”
“Understood, Uncle,” Zhang Haobai said, as if grasping at the last straw, nodding quickly.
“Good, neither of you do anything,” the voice on the phone continued. “Wait for me to return for everything. Even if the Security Bureau officers come and arrest you, don’t do anything else. Wait for me to return. My current mission is quite important; it will probably take me one or two months to get back.”
“Okay,” Zhang Haobai nodded repeatedly.
“Relax, Haobai! Big Brother only has you as a son; I will protect you no matter what,” the voice continued on the phone. “Big Brother, the Captain is calling me, so I won’t say any more. Remember, don't do anything else; just wait for me to return.”
After hanging up, Zhang Zelong and Zhang Haobai, father and son, finally breathed a collective sigh of relief.
××××××
The Zhang family was filled with anxiety, but Luo Feng’s family, in contrast, was enjoying themselves.
After dinner.
Luo Feng pushed the wheelchair carrying his younger brother, Luo Hua, downstairs and out into the residential compound for a stroll.
“Brother, we’ve lived in this complex for over ten years, and Mom and Dad have lived here for more than twenty,” Luo Hua said, looking up at the buildings. The residential density was high, and greenery was scarce. “When we move to that Mingyue Complex later, I’ll come out for a walk by myself every day.” For Luo Hua, who was wheelchair-bound, navigating the stairs up and down was an immense difficulty.
“Mm,” Luo Feng nodded with a smile, continuing to push the wheelchair. “Ah Hua, in the future, we won’t have to spend all four seasons without seeing the sun, stuck in that small room. Mom and Dad won’t have to sleep on the sofa anymore.”
Luo Hua nodded repeatedly. This day—they had longed for it for so long.
“Someone is coming,” Luo Hua looked ahead. A young man wearing glasses approached with a smile. He first smiled at Luo Hua in the wheelchair, then turned to Luo Feng. “Brother Luo, right?”
“And you are?” Luo Feng looked at the man, confused.
The young man smiled faintly. “Hello, Brother Luo. My name is Zhou Huayang. I wonder if Brother Luo has some time, perhaps grant this junior some face, and we could find a place to chat?”
P: Episode Two begins now~~ Send those recommendation votes! .