Chapter 37: Negotiation

Luo Feng’s heart stirred.

In the database of the martial artist forums on ‘Limit Home’, there were many posts regarding conflicts and grudges among martial artists. For instance, in the Huaxia Country, martial artists were governed by the government and bound by laws within the six major base cities. However, once they left the base cities and entered the regions inhabited by monsters, there were no legal restrictions.

It was a battleground where martial artists and monsters slaughtered each other, a lawless land! Martial artists always walked on the edge of life and death, and it was not uncommon for conflicts to arise between them, resulting in one killing the other.

Major martial arts academies and the government did not wish to see such situations occur.

Martial artists were the wealth of humanity!

They were a powerful weapon for humans against monsters. Therefore, people preferred to resolve conflicts internally or settle them privately. If there was a grudge, people would sit at the negotiation table to settle their disputes. If negotiations failed, then it was another matter.

“Luo Feng, you are just a newcomer who has recently entered the circle of martial artists. It’s better to have fewer enemies for now,” said Master Wu Tong with a smile, referring to the head instructor. “You are just starting out and in need of money.”

“Yeah.”

Luo Feng nodded, willing to settle things privately if possible. “Master Wu, however, Zhang Haobai shouldn’t go unpunished! If I were weaker, I could have been crippled.”

“Of course,” Master Wu nodded seriously. “If we don’t make them pay, they’ll think our Limit Martial Arts Gym is afraid of them.”

“Wu Shu, how much do you think I should ask for?” Luo Feng asked, not well-versed in the customs and preferring to ask first.

Wu Tong hesitated before saying, “He’s just an ordinary person who offended you, so it’s better not to ask for more than 50 million Huaxia Coins! However, you are an elite of our gym, so it shouldn’t be too low either. At least ten million Huaxia Coins! Between ten million and fifty million, you can just pick a number.”

“Yeah,” Luo Feng nodded thoughtfully.

“If you agree, I’ll notify them to meet tonight,” Wu Tong smiled.

“Alright, thanks, Master Wu,” Luo Feng nodded with a smile.

…

Luo Feng returned and first safely stored away the secret manual ‘Ninefold Thunder Blade,’ then entered the internal network ‘Limit Home’ to look up information regarding private negotiations among martial artists.

“Oh… so that’s how it is.”

“It turns out the compensation also involves issues of face.”

After reading many posts, Luo Feng finally had a rough idea about the negotiations tonight.

“Xiaofeng, time for dinner,” called the voice of his mother, Gong Xinlan, from downstairs.

“Coming, Mom.”

After turning off the power, Luo Feng immediately went downstairs.

In the downstairs living room, his father and mother were both holding their bowls of rice, while one of the housekeepers was cooking.

“Where’s Luohua?” Luo Feng asked in confusion. “Hasn’t he come back yet?” Nowadays, two housekeepers were employed at home, both middle-aged women in their forties. One was specifically taking care of his younger brother Luohua, who needed assistance with many things. Having a dedicated caretaker allowed him to go out often.

“Your younger brother is at the Lotus Pond Park nearby. He just called and said he’ll be back soon,” laughed his father, Luo Hongguo.

“Why has my younger brother been going to that park so often lately?” Luo Feng asked, puzzled.

His mother, Gong Xinlan, smiled quietly and whispered, “Xiaofeng, your younger brother has started dating a girlfriend.”

“Dating a girlfriend?” Luo Feng was surprised. Although nowadays there were many disabled people in society, such as soldiers who often became disabled in battles against monsters, disabled people still dated, married, and had children. However, his younger brother had only moved in about a month ago.

Could he have started dating so soon?

“Don’t listen to your mom, Xiaofeng. Your younger brother is seeing a girl, but they’re not at that stage yet,” laughed Luo Hongguo.

“Whatever, it’s good for my younger brother to date. Whether the relationship succeeds or fails, it’s still a life experience. It will benefit him,” Luo Feng thought happily.

…

Yi’an District, Yangzhou City, Tian Du Garden Community.

“Uncle,” Zhang Haobai looked at his uncle, Zhang Zehu. These days, Zhang Haobai had been living in fear, even afraid that agents from the security bureau would come to arrest him at night.

“Ah Hu, as long as we can protect Haobai, it’s okay if we suffer a little loss,” Zhang Zelong couldn’t help but say.

“Brother, rest assured!” Zhang Zehu was tall, strong, and gave the impression of a ferocious beast. He grinned, showing his white teeth. “That little brat Luo Feng is just a rookie martial artist! He’s only fought against the weakest monsters in the military zone. After becoming a martial artist, he knows the rules! He won’t dare to act recklessly. If he really does… Hmph, messing with me, the Mountain-Opening Tiger, is just asking for death!”

Seeing his uncle so confident, Zhang Zelong and Zhang Haobai felt relieved.

“Alright, leave it to me. I’m off now.”

With a wave of his hand, Zhang Zehu walked outside.

Outside, a heavily modified six-wheeled Hummer was parked, and someone inside the car looked out and smiled, saying, “Brother Hu, ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go pick up Old Li, then head to the Limit Gym,” Zhang Zehu got into the car and waved his hand.

“Got it!”

Rumble~~

The six-wheeled Hummer emitted a deep, powerful sound and quickly left the Tian Du Garden community.

In the evening, in the second-floor meeting room of the Limit Gym in Yangzhou City, Luo Feng and a group of people were gathered.

“Xiaofeng, today’s timing is really perfect. Your Uncle Kong and Brother Chen are both here today,” laughed Master Wu Tong. Luo Feng also hurriedly greeted the two beside Master Wu. One of the two beside Master Wu had a lean build, with a scar that almost split his face in half, making him look intimidating when he stared.

The other person was robust, with thick eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, clearly a very enthusiastic character.

“Brother Chen, Uncle Kong,” Luo Feng quickly called out.

These two were no ordinary people. Currently, the Limit Gym in Yangzhou City housed three warrior-level martial artists: Chief Instructor Wu Tong, ‘Cannon’ Chen Gu, and ‘Eagle Blade’ Kong Quan. Master Wu Tong had already retired and no longer fought against monsters, while ‘Cannon’ Chen Gu and ‘Eagle Blade’ Kong Quan frequently left the base city to hunt monsters.

These two were the leading figures among the martial artists in the Mingyue Community.

“Xiaofeng, we already know about your situation. Don’t worry, we’ll stand up for you in this matter!” laughed Cannon Chen Gu. “Damn it, even though the Lightning Martial Arts Gym is arrogant, they dare not bully us.”

“Yeah,” nodded Eagle Blade Kong Quan slightly.

Moments later—

In the meeting room, people from the Limit Gym and the Thunder Gym sat on opposite sides. The Limit Gym side had more than twenty people, while the Thunder Gym side had only eight.

“Master Wu Tong, it’s indeed my nephew Tiger’s fault,” said a bearded, muscular man with a chuckle. “But his nephew is just a little kid, how old is he? What does he know? And he’s an ordinary person, not a martial artist. There’s no need to be so nitpicky with him.”

“Old Li, don’t talk about irrelevant things,” Master Wu Tong shook his head and smiled. “This matter is crystal clear. You coming here obviously means you want to settle it privately, right? Open Mountain Tiger, you speak.”

Zhang Zehu, known in the martial artist circles as ‘Open Mountain Tiger,’ wielded a giant cleaver with both hands and was renowned for his bravery, ferocity, and ruthlessness.

“Director Wu,” Zhang Zehu smiled slightly, his gaze resting on Luo Feng. “As for how to resolve this matter, perhaps Xiao Luo should speak himself. Xiao Luo, what would make you satisfied with the resolution?”

“Shut up.”

Beside him, ‘Eagle Blade’ Kong Quan glared and rebuked, “Luo Feng is our Limit Gym’s good brother. ‘Xiao Luo’? Do you even have the qualification to call him that?”

Zhang Zehu was taken aback. ‘Eagle Blade’ Kong Quan was a formidable figure in the martial artist circles, and Zhang Zehu dared not provoke him.

“Mr. Zhang Zehu,” Luo Feng stood up and smiled slightly. “Having so many senior brothers come out on my behalf, I feel a bit embarrassed myself. Actually, according to my own thoughts… Hmph, Zhang Haobai wanting to break my legs is a small matter, but he dared to hit my father, that’s asking for death!”

Luo Feng glared and shouted.

Zhang Zehu was startled. The martial artists from the Limit Gym present burst into laughter. This ‘Open Mountain Tiger’ Zhang Zehu was an experienced martial artist, currently an ‘Advanced Warrior-Level’ martial artist, only a step away from ‘Warrior Captain-Level.’ Yet Luo Feng dared to glare at him and act tough, making the martial artists from the Limit Gym feel that this young man Luo Feng was truly courageous!

“Hmph, Luo Feng, what do you plan to do? Speak!” Zhang Zehu was somewhat displeased and his face turned grim.

Luo Feng smiled.

He truly didn’t care about Zhang Zehu’s anger. Not talking about the future, currently Luo Feng’s physical condition was already top-notch among ‘Intermediate Warrior-Level’ martial artists, approaching ‘Advanced Warrior-Level.’ As for his mental power, according to the calculation that his mental power was two levels higher than his physical strength, it was at least ‘Junior Warrior Captain-Level.’

“Just one word, fifty million Huaxia Coins. I, Luo Feng, will give you face, and this matter will be settled,” Luo Feng said with a smile.

“You really are asking for a fortune! Fifty million!!!” Zhang Zehu glared.

“This price is too high,” frowned the gym leader Li from the Thunder Gym.

Luo Feng smiled slightly without speaking.

“This price isn’t high,” smiled Director Wu Tong from the Limit Gym.

“Alright, Luo Feng, I’ll give you a price too, five million! I’ll give you five million, this matter will be settled, and it will also be giving me face. Otherwise, it’s not giving me, Zhang Zehu, face!” Zhang Zehu stared fiercely at Luo Feng.

Five million?

The people from the Limit Gym also frowned. Today alone, the presence of ‘Cannon’ Chen Gu and ‘Eagle Blade’ Kong Quan was a show of respect, and such a low price was not appropriate. Too little money meant not giving face!

“Otherwise, it’s not giving me face?” Luo Feng also glared. “Zhang Zehu, let me say this, fifty million, not a coin less. If you dare to reduce even a penny, then prepare to see your nephew at the Security Bureau!”