Chapter 016: The Mercenary

Zhao Feng had never expected that his mother possessed such a profound awareness. He nodded. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll find a way to pay back this money.”

Chen Lan shook her head. “Son, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Your father and I will think of something.”

Zhao Feng knew she was only thinking of him, and he didn’t wish to let her good intentions go to waste. In the end, he nodded.

Standing to the side, Chen Ying smiled, “Let’s hurry on. Once we’re in the county, we’ll take Zhao Feng for a proper bath first.”

“Alright!”

“Okay!”

No one objected. Chen Ying waved, “Let’s get in the car! I’ll drive this time!”

Just as Li Ping and Chen Lan were about to agree, Zhao Feng shook his head.

Chen Ying looked at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong, Zhao Feng?”

Zhao Feng grinned. “Chen Ying, take my mom ahead. I’ve got something to take care of.”

Chen Ying frowned. “What is it, exactly?”

Zhao Feng glanced into the depths of the woods. “There’s a small river nearby. I want to wash up first—or I’ll get the car dirty.”

Li Ping quickly chimed in, “He’s right, Zhao Feng would just dirty the car like this.”

“You talk too much!” Chen Ying shot him a glare.

She looked back at Zhao Feng. “Zhao Feng, it’s fine! Li Ping should be washing the car anyway.”

Seeing she still insisted he come along, Zhao Feng felt awkward.

He scratched his head, pondering, then said, “I just remembered, I forgot something. I need to go back and get it.”

“I’ll come with you!” Chen Ying blurted out.

Zhao Feng rolled his eyes. “Really, there’s no need. The county isn’t far—I’ll run over. Besides, if we turn back, the car will just get stuck in a rut again.”

“Right, right, it’ll get stuck again!” Li Ping quickly echoed.

Chen Ying frowned.

As Zhao Feng’s mother, Chen Lan immediately saw he had something else to attend to—something he couldn’t say openly.

She patted Chen Ying’s shoulder. “Yingying, let Xiao Feng handle it. Let’s go ahead.”

“Alright then. Since Auntie says so, we’ll leave first.”

“Haha, wonderful!” Li Ping said, excitement in his voice.

Chen Ying glared at him. “What are you talking about? What’s so wonderful?”

Li Ping shook his head hurriedly. “Nothing, nothing!”

“Hmph.”

Chen Ying and Chen Lan got in the car. Li Ping opened the door, and the vehicle sped away in a cloud of dust.

Once the black Audi had gone, Zhao Feng’s expression turned icy.

He stared at the woods and called out, “Come out!”

But all around was silence—not a soul in sight.

“So, you’re not coming out?” He sneered.

Still, there was no response, no movement.

A cold laugh escaped him. “A bunch of cowards hiding in their shells?”

“You're wrong! Your Grandpa Dahua is no coward!” someone shouted.

With that, twenty or thirty people emerged from the trees, Liu Dahua at their head.

At this moment, Liu Dahua looked utterly disheveled—one arm wrapped in bandages and hanging from his neck. He glared viciously at Zhao Feng. “Zhao Feng, is it? Today is the day you die!”

Zhao Feng snorted with derision and shook his head. “Liu Dahua, I didn’t think you’d crawl out so soon.”

“Hmph! There’s a lot you didn’t anticipate,” Liu Dahua retorted, his tone defiant.

Zhao Feng laughed quietly. “Liu Dahua, you even drew a handgun last time. I suppose Xiang Tao had to go through quite a few hoops for that?”

“That’s none of your business!” Liu Dahua’s eyes were dark and menacing. Just mentioning that name cast a shadow over him, for only Liu Dahua understood how terrifying Xiang Tao was.

In all of Chenzhou City, Xiang Tao had a notorious reputation. The Xiang family held sway over everything.

Arms crossed, Zhao Feng regarded Liu Dahua with a cold gaze.

“If I were you, I’d hide away quietly and never show my face again.”

Liu Dahua’s face darkened. In reality, he was in a dire predicament—caught between a rock and a hard place. In front was this mysterious Zhao Feng; behind, the immensely powerful Xiang Tao. Offending either spelled disaster.

He took a deep breath. “Zhao Feng, let’s be direct. Either you pay back the one million, or you hand over your family’s heirloom!”

Zhao Feng curled his lip. “If I were you, I’d leave right now.”

“Hmph! Still so stubborn!”

Zhao Feng shook his head, amused. “Liu Dahua, do you really think Xiang Tao can cover the sky with one hand?”

“Why not?” Liu Dahua snorted.

Zhao Feng couldn’t be bothered with further argument. He shook his head and turned to leave.

Suddenly, Liu Dahua said, “If I were you, I’d go home and check on your father.”

A surge of fury exploded within Zhao Feng.

His fists clenched, knuckles cracking audibly. He glared at Liu Dahua with a look that could devour.

Liu Dahua was startled by Zhao Feng’s expression. “Wh-what do you want?”

Suppressing his rage, Zhao Feng growled, “If anything happens to my father—I’ll make you wish you were dead!”

With a leap, Zhao Feng sprang three meters into the air, landing atop a tall tree.

From there, he bounded from tree to tree, racing toward Xiaohe Village.

Witnessing this, Liu Dahua was stunned senseless. He collapsed to the ground. “Not human… He’s not human!”

Zhao Feng sped toward Xiaohe Village.

At that moment, in Zhao Feng’s home, Zhao Jun stood grimly before two men—both foreigners, blond-haired, blue-eyed, clad in black tactical gear and holding pistols.

One of them spoke in clumsy Chinese, “Mr. Zhao, please come with us.”

Zhao Jun’s face was dark. “Mercenaries?!”

“So, the Xiang family’s resorted to hiring mercenaries to deal with us…”

He drew a long breath. “I’ll go with you—but you can’t harm my family.”

The two mercenaries laughed.

“You’re in no position to bargain with us.”

“That’s right. Our target is the heirloom.”

“Hand it over.”

Zhao Jun forced himself to remain calm and forced a smile. “Fine, as long as you don’t hurt my family, I’ll give it to you.”

“Hahaha! That’s best.”

“Yes, there’s an old saying in your country: ‘A wise man submits to circumstances.’ You’ve made the right choice.”

Limping, Zhao Jun retreated two steps toward the back. “Alright, come get it.”

Seeing his crippled leg, the two men lowered their guard somewhat.

Step by step, Zhao Jun backed toward the kitchen, the mercenaries following close behind.

“Where’s the heirloom?” one of them demanded impatiently.