Chapter 005: Xiang Tao

Boom!

Without a word, Zhao Feng extended his right hand and seized Zhao Xiao by the throat.

Boom!

With a single motion, Zhao Feng lifted Zhao Xiao off the ground.

At this moment, Zhao Xiao's face was flushed, his neck bulging with veins, and no matter how he stretched, the tips of his toes couldn't touch the earth.

"Mmm! Mmm!"

"You... let me go."

Zhao Xiao's arms flailed wildly, his legs kicking in desperation. Just as he seemed on the verge of suffocation, an elder from the village stepped forward.

"Xiaofeng, don't be rash! You have a bright future ahead of you, there's no need to stoop to the level of this scoundrel!"

Zhao Feng glanced at the old man—it was Elder Zhao, the head of Little River Village.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Feng asked, "Uncle Zhao, what on earth happened this past year?"

Uncle Zhao looked at Zhao Xiao, then replied, "Here's what happened."

"After you disappeared, your parents searched everywhere for you, combing the whole county and even reaching the city! But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't find you!"

"You know, your father used to run a processing plant—tea leaves! He gave everyone in the village work and a stable income!"

"But after you left, your father's plant started to struggle. Eventually, he couldn't even pay his workers."

"At that point—"

Uncle Zhao paused, then continued, "At that point, an investor came from the city. He said he could invest in your father's factory, but wanted a share in the company."

Zhao Feng frowned. "There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

Alas! Uncle Zhao sighed. "That was where the trouble began!"

Zhao Feng's frown deepened. "What trouble?"

Uncle Zhao shook his head. "I don't know all the details. All I know is that man used your father's factory as collateral to borrow a lot of money, and even sold off your father's business."

Zhao Feng nodded. "I see."

Uncle Zhao blinked. "Xiaofeng, what do you see?"

Zhao Feng gazed up at the sky. "Looks like someone has it in for our family."

Uncle Zhao was taken aback. "Surely not?"

Zhao Feng shook his head. "I've always trusted my instincts."

Uncle Zhao was left speechless.

"Enough, Uncle Zhao, let's deal with the matter at hand first." Zhao Feng turned his attention to Zhao Xiao.

Zhao Xiao managed a smile uglier than if he had cried. "Xiaofeng, I'm your little brother, remember?"

"Hmph!" Zhao Feng sneered. "You're nobody's little brother."

Tears welled up in Zhao Xiao's eyes.

He sobbed, "Xiaofeng, please loosen your grip a bit!"

With a snort, Zhao Feng let go of his right hand.

"Ow!"

Zhao Xiao collapsed onto the ground.

Zhao Feng dusted off his hands, then put his right foot down squarely on Zhao Xiao's chest.

"Ugh!"

Zhao Xiao instantly found it hard to breathe.

"Who sent you?"

Zhao Xiao frantically shook his head. "No one sent me!"

Zhao Feng snorted in derision.

Shaking his head, Zhao Feng said, "So you won't give up till you hit rock bottom, huh?"

Zhao Xiao shook his head even more urgently.

Zhao Feng didn't bother to argue further. He simply raised his right foot and kicked Zhao Xiao hard between the legs.

"Ow!"

Zhao Xiao howled in agony.

Crouching down, Zhao Feng patted Zhao Xiao's face. "Now, will you tell me who it was?"

Zhao Xiao was in so much pain that snot and tears streamed down his face.

He pleaded, "Xiaofeng, Xiaofeng, I swear, no one put me up to this! You have to believe me!"

Zhao Feng ignored his pleas, and landed another savage kick.

"Ow!"

Zhao Xiao shrieked again in pain.

"Now—immediately—tell me who it is!"

"Brother Dahua! It was Brother Dahua!"

"Brother Dahua?"

"Yes!"

"Who is Brother Dahua?" Zhao Feng pressed.

Zhao Xiao had just opened his mouth to answer when a sudden voice cut through the air.

"Damn it, I'm Brother Dahua! Let's see who dares to meddle!"

Zhao Feng smiled.

The corners of his mouth lifted in a faint, knowing grin. The voice was all too familiar—he'd just exchanged greetings with its owner moments ago.

Liu Dahua forced his way through the crowd, only to freeze when he saw Zhao Feng's gaze fixed on him.

Panic swept over Liu Dahua.

He wore a look of utter misery. "Could my luck be any worse?"

Zhao Feng slowly straightened.

Clapping his hands, he asked, "So you were the one pulling the strings?"

Liu Dahua shook his head frantically. "No, no!"

"Oh? Then who was it?"

Liu Dahua kept shaking his head. "I don't know, I really don't know!"

Expressionless, Zhao Feng stared at Liu Dahua. "Then you can die."

He seized Liu Dahua by the throat, as if ready to snap his neck.

Liu Dahua flailed in terror, his limbs scrambling as he neared suffocation. Suddenly, a fierce look flashed across his face.

From somewhere, Liu Dahua drew a pistol and leveled it at Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng's brow furrowed.

With a slow exhale, Zhao Feng released his grip, and Liu Dahua tumbled to the ground.

Liu Dahua burst out laughing, wild and triumphant.

He crowed, "Weren't you arrogant just now? Let's see how arrogant you are now!"

Zhao Feng stood unmoving, his face unreadable. Liu Dahua leveled the gun at Zhao Feng, aiming straight at his forehead.

Zhao Feng stood perfectly still, as if paralyzed with fear.

Meanwhile, Zhao Jun, Chen Lan, and all the villagers of Little River Village watched in anxious silence.

Zhao Feng drew a deep breath. "Do you really think this is enough to kill me?"

Liu Dahua cackled as though he'd just heard the world's funniest joke.

He struck Zhao Feng on the head with the butt of the gun. "Still so cocky, are you?"

Yet Zhao Feng didn't even flinch—there wasn't a mark on his skin, as if nothing had happened. In fact, it was Liu Dahua whose hand stung from the blow.

Liu Dahua shook his hand out. "Let me tell you, kid, so you can die knowing: all of this was orchestrated by Young Master Xiang! Everything that's happened is by his design!"

Boom!

Zhao Feng's anger erupted.

Through gritted teeth, he spat, "Xiang Tao, so it was you!"

Liu Dahua grinned slyly.

He sneered, "Listen up, boy, you have two choices! Either pay back the one million, or end up like your father—with a broken leg!"

Zhao Feng stood tall, chest out, and took a deep breath. "And what if I refuse?"

A chorus of derisive laughter erupted.

"If you don't pay? We have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

Zhao Feng narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

Liu Dahua clapped his hands. "So, have you made up your mind?"

After a moment, Zhao Feng replied, "I can pay back the million, but you have to tell me who broke my father's leg."

Liu Dahua snorted. "You're in no position to bargain with me!"

"That's right!"

"Exactly!"

"You have no right to negotiate with us!"

The thugs around them chimed in, one after another.

Zhao Feng clasped his hands behind his back and straightened his spine. "Then tell me—what do you want?"