Chapter 21: Brother Luo, Hello

On the morning Luo Feng was released from custody, in a private room of an antique teahouse in Yian District, only Zhou Huayang and Zhang Haobai were present. The teacups before them exhaled steam and filled the air with fragrance.

“Brother Zhou, why did you call me here so early?” Zhang Haobai lowered his voice, asking softly, “Has that matter been resolved? If it’s really taken care of, Brother Zhou, you can rest assured, there won’t be any problem with the money.” Zhang Haobai felt anticipation, wondering whether Luo Feng had indeed had a leg and an arm broken.

Zhou Huayang sat there, his face gradually darkening, saying nothing.

“Brother Zhou?”

Zhang Haobai sensed the unusual atmosphere and urgently whispered, “Brother Zhou, come on, say something!”

“Zhang Haobai, you’re ruthless enough! You want to die, but why drag me down with you?” Zhou Huayang sneered, staring at Zhang Haobai.

“What are you talking about? What’s going on?” Zhang Haobai, confused, anxiously asked, “Brother Zhou, tell me clearly what’s happening.” Zhang could sense something was wrong from Zhou’s tone and expression, yet he truly had no idea what had occurred.

Zhou Huayang inhaled deeply and said in a low voice, “Zhang Haobai, you asked me to have someone break Luo Feng’s leg and arm, right?”

“Yes, so what?” Zhang nodded.

“Hmph, what do you think happened?” Zhou’s voice turned cold as he sneered, “The Luo Feng you’re trying to deal with—he’s an Initiate Warrior!”

“An Initiate Warrior?” Zhang was stunned.

Silence filled the room.

Zhang sat motionless, his face paling, sweat continuously dripping from his forehead.

Zhou Huayang sat aside, coldly sipping tea, one cup after another, without uttering a word.

“How could this happen? How could it come to this?” Zhang was no longer jealous, only fear gripped him. Coming from a wealthy family, he was well aware of the privileges Initiate Warriors enjoyed. He had actually sent people to break the limbs of an Initiate Warrior! The Initiate could easily report this to the Jiangnan City Security Bureau and have them arrest Zhang himself.

Once he entered the Security Bureau, his life would be ruined!

“No, no…” Zhang’s face turned deathly pale.

“You’re scared now, aren’t you?” Zhou angrily slammed his cup onto the table, shouting, “Damn it, if you want to die, don’t drag me down with you! An Initiate Warrior! You asked me to arrange for someone to break an Initiate Warrior’s limbs. If he reports this to the Security Bureau, I’ll be in serious trouble too!”

Zhou was furious.

“Brother Zhou, what should I do? What should I do?” Zhang begged, “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 got involved to arrest someone, it was almost certain that person’s life was ruined.

“Wait, Brother Zhou, did you mention my name?” Zhang’s eyes lit up as he quickly asked. Only Zhou knew about his request, so if Zhou hadn’t revealed his involvement, there might still be a chance.

“What the hell are you thinking?” Zhou angrily stood up, pointing at Zhang, “Government officials came to interrogate me! How dare I not speak up? Do you want me to die for you?”

Zhang froze.

Indeed, if Zhou hadn’t revealed his name, Zhou himself would have faced serious consequences.

“I’m only telling you this because we’ve been friends for so many years,” Zhou sneered, “To prevent you from being arrested by the Security Bureau without even knowing why. I suggest you go home and discuss this matter with your father. He has more connections and can handle things better than you. Brother… I’m leaving first. I’ve already paid for the tea. No need for you to settle the bill.”

After speaking, Zhou Huayang directly pushed open the door and walked out.

Zhang Haobai was left alone in the private room.

“How could this happen?” Zhang sat on the chair, shaking his head, still unable to believe it, “How could he be an Initiate Warrior? Before the college entrance exam, his punch force was only around 800 kilograms. How could he become an Initiate Warrior in just a few days?”

“No, no, I don’t want to be arrested by the Security Bureau.”

“Dad, Dad… I need to find my father.”

With a pale face, Zhang rushed out of the teahouse, hurrying home as fast as he could.

…

At home.

Zhang Haobai sat on the living room sofa, clenching his fists, his body slightly trembling.

“Click!” The door opened.

“Hao Bai, why did you call me so urgently? You even said if I came back late, you’d die?” Zhang Zelong, rushing back from work, pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing his son’s face and demeanor, he felt a chill in his heart, thinking, “Something bad must have happened. Hao Bai must have gotten into serious trouble.”

“Dad, I’m in trouble.” Zhang Haobai looked at his father.

Those simple words—”I’m in trouble”—made Zhang Zelong’s heart turn cold.

“Tell me everything, don’t leave out any details. Explain it all clearly.” Zhang Zelong’s expression turned serious. Although he knew the matter was troublesome, he did not panic. After all, he had survived the Great Nirvana period and had seen many storms in his life.

Zhang Haobai took a deep breath: “It was like this. The last time at our family courtyard, a furniture company delivered furniture…”

From beginning to end, Zhang Haobai did not dare to hide anything and told everything.

“You actually dared to hire people to cripple an Initiate Warrior?” Zhang Zelong glared at him.

“I didn’t know, okay!” Zhang Haobai panicked under his father’s glare, “If I had known, I would never have dared to do such a thing!”

Zhang Zelong inhaled deeply and said nothing, only taking out his phone to make a call.

“Beep—beep—”

“Di!”

A sound came from Zhang Zelong’s phone, and upon seeing it, he frowned.

“What’s wrong, Dad?” Zhang Haobai quickly asked.

“I was calling your uncle, but he’s currently hunting monsters outside the city base.” Zhang Zelong sat on the sofa, “We’ll wait for him to call back.”

Outside the city base, monsters could be lurking anywhere.

Therefore, people usually found a safe place before contacting the city.

Moments later—

“Brother, what’s up?” A deep voice came through the phone, “I’m pretty busy right now.”

“Ah Hu, this time it’s a big issue. Your nephew has caused a major problem.” Zhang Zelong said, his eyes reddening.

“What trouble has Hao Bai caused, Brother? Tell me. I’m listening.” The voice of Zhang Zelong’s younger brother, Zhang Zehu, came through.

“It’s like this.” Zhang Zelong immediately repeated what his son had just told him.

There was a moment of silence on the phone before Zhang Zehu’s voice came again: “Hao Bai actually dared to mess with an Initiate Warrior. How bold! From today on, Hao Bai, you are to stay home every day and not go out causing trouble. And don’t meet Luo Feng again.”

“Okay, Uncle.” Zhang Haobai, as if holding onto the last straw, nodded repeatedly in agreement.

“Alright, you two mustn’t do anything else.” The voice continued from the phone, “Wait for me to come back. Even if the Security Bureau comes and arrests you, don’t do anything else. Wait for me. This mission of mine is quite important. I estimate it will take one or two months before I can return.”

“Okay.” Zhang Haobai nodded quickly.

“Don’t worry, Hao Bai! Your father only has you as his son. I will definitely protect you no matter what.” The voice continued from the phone, “Brother, the captain is calling me. I have to go. Remember, don’t do anything else. Just wait for me to come back.”

After hanging up, Zhang Zelong and Zhang Haobai finally exhaled in relief.

…

The Zhang family was in turmoil, but Luo Feng’s family was filled with joy.

After dinner.

Luo Feng, accompanied by his younger brother Luo Hua, came downstairs to the residential compound. Luo Feng pushed the wheelchair, strolling around the compound.

“Brother, we’ve lived in this compound for over ten years. Mom and Dad have lived here for more than twenty years.” Luo Hua looked up at the compound, where the residential buildings were densely packed and greenery was scarce, “When we move out and into the Bright Moon compound, I’ll go out for walks by myself every day.”

For Luo Hua, who sat in a wheelchair, going up and down the stairs every day was a monumental challenge.

“Alright.” Luo Feng smiled and nodded, pushing the wheelchair, “Ah Hua, from now on, we won’t have to live in a small room all year round without sunlight. Mom and Dad won’t have to sleep on the sofa anymore.”

Luo Hua nodded eagerly.

This was the day they had longed for.

“Someone’s 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, “Are you Brother Luo?”

“Who are you?” Luo Feng looked at the person in confusion.

The young man smiled slightly: “Brother Luo, hello. My name is Zhou Huayang! I wonder if Brother Luo has some time. Can we find a place to talk?”