Brother Luo, Hello

On the morning Luo Feng was released from the Yian District Detention Center, in a private room of a quaint tea house in Yian District, only Zhou Huayang and Zhang Haobai were present. Steam rose from the teacups before them, and the aroma of tea filled the air. “Brother Zhou, why did you call me here so early?” Zhang Haobai asked in a hushed, low voice. “Is there any news about that matter? If it’s truly settled, Brother Zhou, rest assured, money will absolutely not be an issue.” Zhang Haobai was somewhat expectant, wondering if Luo Feng really had a leg and an arm broken. Zhou Huayang sat there, his expression gradually darkening, not uttering a word. “Brother Zhou?” Zhang Haobai sensed the atmosphere was off and quickly whispered, “Brother Zhou, you… you should say something.” “Zhang Haobai, you’re ruthless, dragging me down with you on your death wish,” Zhou Huayang sneered, looking at Zhang Haobai. “Me, what did I do?” Zhang Haobai was utterly bewildered, urgently asking, “Brother Zhou, what exactly happened? Tell me clearly.” Zhang Haobai detected that something was wrong from Zhou Huayang’s tone and expression, but he truly didn’t know 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 an arm, right?” “Yes, why?” Zhang Haobai nodded. “Hmph, why?” Zhou Huayang’s voice was icy, a sneer in his tone. “Luo Feng, the one you wanted to deal with, he’s a Prospective Warrior!” “A Prospective Warrior?” Zhang Haobai was instantly stunned. Silence. The private room fell silent. Zhang Haobai’s face was pale, and he sat there motionless, sweat continuously seeping from his forehead. Zhou Huayang sat beside him, sneering, sipping tea repeatedly without speaking. “How could this be, how could this happen?” Zhang Haobai no longer felt jealousy; only fear remained! His family was wealthy, and he was well aware of the privileges afforded to Prospective Warriors… He had actually sent people to cripple a Prospective Warrior. A Prospective Warrior could easily have the Jiangnan City Security Bureau arrest him. Once he was in the Security Bureau, his life would be over! “No, no…” Zhang Haobai’s face turned ashen. “Scared now, aren’t you, idiot?” Zhou Huayang angrily slammed his cup onto the table, roaring, “Damn it, if you’re so eager to die, don’t drag me into it! A Prospective Warrior, you asked me to arrange for someone to break a Prospective Warrior’s leg and arm. If they report it to the Security Bureau, I’ll be in huge trouble too!” Zhou Huayang gnashed his teeth in anger. “Brother Zhou, what do I do? What should I do?” Zhang Haobai repeatedly asked, “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 dispatched to arrest someone, their life was practically over. “Right, Brother Zhou, did you… did you expose me?” Zhang Haobai’s eyes lit up as he quickly asked. Only Zhou Huayang knew about him hiring Zhou Huayang to do the deed. If Zhou Huayang hadn’t exposed him, there might still be a way out. “What the hell are you thinking?” Zhou Huayang angrily stood up, pointing at Zhang Haobai. “Government officials already questioned me; how could I not tell them? If I didn’t, I’d be dying in your place!!!” Zhang Haobai froze. Indeed, if Zhou Huayang hadn’t exposed him, Zhou Huayang himself would have been in deep trouble. “I’m only telling you out of respect for our years of acquaintance, to prevent you from being arrested by the Security Bureau without knowing why.” Zhou Huayang sneered, “I advise you to go back and discuss this with your father. Your father has more connections than you. He’s definitely better at handling things. Brother… I won’t be accompanying you, Brother Zhou is leaving first! I’ve already paid the bill for this table, you don’t need to.” With that, Zhou Huayang pulled open the door and walked out. Only Zhang Haobai remained in the private room. “How could this be?” Zhang Haobai sat in his chair, shaking his head, still unable to believe it. “He, how could he be a Prospective Warrior! Before the College Entrance Exam, his punch force was only 800 kilograms. It’s only been a few days? How could he become a Prospective Warrior?” “No, no, I don’t want to be arrested by the Security Bureau.” “Dad, Dad… I’m going to find Dad.” Zhang Haobai’s face was pale as he quickly rushed out of the tea house, heading home as fast as he could. … At home. Zhang Haobai sat on the living room sofa, his fists clenched, his body trembling slightly. “Click!” The door opened. “Haobai, why did you call me so urgently? You said if I came back late, you’d be dead?” Zhang Zelong, who had rushed back from his company, pushed the door open and walked in. Seeing his son’s expression and demeanor, his heart sank. He thought, “Not good, this child Haobai has probably caused big trouble.” “Dad, I’ve caused trouble.” Zhang Haobai looked up at his father. Those simple words—‘I’ve caused trouble’—sent a chill down Zhang Zelong’s spine. “Tell me everything in detail, don’t leave out a single thing. Explain it all clearly,” Zhang Zelong’s expression became serious. Although he knew the situation was troublesome, Zhang Zelong didn’t lose his composure. After all, he had survived the Grand Nirvana period; what kind of storms hadn’t he weathered? Zhang Haobai took a deep breath: “It’s like this, last time in our family courtyard, the decoration company delivered furniture…” From beginning to end, Zhang Haobai didn’t dare to hide anything, telling him everything. “You, you actually dared to hire people to cripple a Prospective Warrior?” Zhang Zelong glared. “I, I didn’t know, did I?” Zhang Haobai panicked under his father’s glare. “If I had known, you couldn’t have paid me to do it!” Zhang Zelong took a deep breath, said nothing, but took out his phone and started dialing. “Beep—beep—” “Click!” A sound came from Zhang Zelong’s phone, and he frowned upon seeing it. “What’s wrong, Dad?” Zhang Haobai quickly asked. “I’m calling your uncle, but he’s currently hunting monsters outside the Base City,” Zhang Zelong said, sitting on the sofa. “We’ll wait for your uncle to call back.” Outside the Base City, a monster could be hiding anywhere. So usually, they find a safe spot before communicating with the city. A moment later— “Brother, what is it?” A low voice sounded. “I’m quite busy right now.” “Ah Hu, this matter is serious. Your nephew has caused big trouble,” Zhang Zelong said, his eyes red. “What trouble has Haobai caused, Brother? Tell me. I’m listening,” Zhang Zelong’s younger brother, Zhang Zehu’s voice, 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, then Zhang Zehu’s voice came through: “This child Haobai, to actually dare to provoke a Prospective Warrior. He’s truly audacious! Alright, from today onwards, Haobai, you stay home every day, don’t go out causing trouble. And don’t go see that Luo Feng again.” “Understood, Uncle,” Zhang Haobai nodded repeatedly, as if clinging to a last straw. “Hmm, you two don’t do anything,” the voice on the phone continued. “Wait for me to return. Even if the Security Bureau comes and arrests you, don’t do anything else, just wait for me to return. My current mission is quite important; it will probably take one or two months before I can return.” “Hmm,” Zhang Haobai nodded repeatedly. “Don’t worry, Haobai! My elder brother only has one son, you. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you,” the voice on the phone continued. “Brother, my captain is calling me, can’t talk much. 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 sigh of relief. … The Zhang family was in turmoil, but Luo Feng’s family was joyful. After dinner. Luo Feng took his younger brother, Luo Hua, from upstairs to the Residential District. Luo Feng pushed the wheelchair, strolling through the district. “Brother, we’ve lived in this residential district for over ten years, and Mom and Dad for over twenty,” Luo Hua looked up at the residential district. The residential buildings in the district were very dense, with very little greenery. “Later, when we leave here and move into that Mingyue Residential District. I’ll be able to go out for a walk by myself every day.” Going up and down stairs every day was an immense challenge for Luo Hua, who was in a wheelchair. “Hmm,” Luo Feng smiled and nodded, pushing the wheelchair. “Ah Hua, from now on, we won’t have to go a whole year without sunlight, or stay in that small room all year. 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’s coming,” Luo Hua looked up ahead. A young man wearing glasses walked over with a smile, first smiling at Luo Hua in the wheelchair, then looking at Luo Feng. “Brother Luo, right?” “You are?” Luo Feng looked at the man, puzzled. The young man smiled slightly: “Brother Luo, hello, my name is Zhou Huayang! I wonder if Brother Luo has some time, perhaps we could find a place to talk?”