The streetlights flickered, three figures gathered together, cigarette butts littered the ground, and the pungent smell of alcohol pervaded the air.
Seeing such a scene in front of his own shop, Fang Zheng instinctively felt displeased, shook his head helplessly, took out the key, and stepped closer.
"He's here!"
Da Wei looked up, got up, and casually threw his cigarette butt to the ground, crushing it with a cold and indifferent tone:
"Boss Fang, you really are a busy man, making us brothers wait like this."
"Is there something you need?" Fang Zheng waved his hand:
"Let me through first, I'm opening the door."
A little over a month ago, faced with such hooligans, he would have felt panic and wouldn't know how to respond, but now he only felt annoyance.
That sense of fear had disappeared unknowingly.
Though it's been more than a month, counting the time in the Otherworld which is double that of modern society, it's been over two months for Fang Zheng.
One ox heart a day, consumed sixty-three of them.
"Of course, we have business." Da Wei stepped aside, leaning against a nearby utility pole, taking out another cigarette, and placing it in his mouth:
"Boss Fang, you haven't forgotten the money your uncle owes us, right?"
"I haven't forgotten." Fang Zheng lifted the rolling shutter door, replying:
"I thought you had forgotten, said you'd come that day but disappeared for so long, where have you been busy all this time?"
"That's none of your business." When mentioning this, Da Wei's eyes flickered, his expression twisted, he slapped the utility pole and shouted:
"Pay up!"
"Humph." Fang Zheng snorted lightly:
"Where's the IOU?"
"IOU?" Seeing his calm demeanor, Da Wei was a bit surprised, saying:
"Twenty thousand, you've managed to gather it?"
"Luckily." Fang Zheng nodded:
"In today's society, twenty thousand isn't too difficult."
"You talk big." Da Wei squinted:
"But it's not just twenty thousand now, there's the interest too. Since you have the money, why not pay the interest from this period as well."
"..." Fang Zheng frowned, then shook his head:
"Bring the IOU first."
"I don't have the IOU with me." Da Wei said:
"I'll bring it to you in a couple of days."
"Then we'll talk in a couple of days." Fang Zheng turned around:
"Make way, I'm closing the door."
"You..." Da Wei's expression changed, but he couldn't say much, just watched as the rolling shutter door separated the inside and outside.
"Brother."
Someone asked in a low voice:
"What now?"
"What else can we do?" Da Wei glared at him:
"Go back!"
"Consult Second Boss and then decide."
"Yes, yes." The other two responded quickly.
Second Boss Qi Yuan was in a black business car at the end of the street, listening to Da Wei's report, he couldn't help but tilt his head and rub his forehead, looking helpless.
"He has money now?"
"Yes." Da Wei bowed his head, saying:
"That Fang guy seems tough, probably has more than twenty thousand, might even be able to pay the interest, in which case the porcelain will be hard to acquire."
"Someone is very interested in Fang Family's porcelain." Qi Yuan pursed his lips:
"Do you have any ideas?"
"This..." Da Wei looked troubled:
"I specifically inquired, Fang Family indeed has an ancestral porcelain, but Fang Jian wouldn't sell it even if starved."
"Now Fang Zheng is likely the same."
Without money, they wouldn't sell, with money, they surely won't.
"That's not what I asked." Qi Yuan's face darkened:
"I must acquire the Fang Family porcelain, do you understand?"
"Then..." Da Wei's eyes flickered, he said:
"Do it by force?"
"Oh!" Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow:
"Looks like you've grown balls after your trip to the mountains."
"I dare not." Da Wei smiled awkwardly.
"Using force isn't good, it doesn't fit the rules, and if Fang decides to destroy the porcelain, it would be a waste." Qi Yuan waved his hand:
"Find a pickpocket!"
"Right." Da Wei's eyes lit up:
"Stealing is also an option, we can demand that twenty thousand again."
"Brother." A crisp female voice came from inside the car:
"Let me handle it."
"With Sister Lianlian involved, that's reassuring." Da Wei said urgently:
"I'll assist."
"You..." Qi Yuan pursed his lips:
"Alright, be careful, don't play around."
"Don't worry." A graceful figure leaned from the back seat, her soft and delicate body sticking to Qi Yuan, lightly kissing his face:
"You can trust me with this."
*
*
*
Late 9 p.m.
Around eleven at night.
Fang Zheng stopped practicing the Transportation Technique, exhaling a breath of turbid air.
"Even with the Heaven-Reaching Sect's method, the rate of strength increase is slowing down, it seems the Great Medicine won't last a hundred days."
"It seems the Hundred Days Foundation Establishment is in its late phase."
Now he takes medicine baths once every five days, and the stimulation of the Great Medicine on his body is noticeably weakening, probably developing resistance.
However, the Bone Strengthening Pill is stable in effect, truly worthy of the Pure Yang Palace Bone-Refining Treasure Medicine.
Standing in front of the mirror, Fang Zheng's eyes slightly flashed.
Compared to two months ago, his muscles have become firm and powerful, a sense of vigor emanating from his eyes, and his skin has improved considerably.
Even,
He's grown significantly taller.
Currently barefooted, he's one meter eighty-seven, wearing shoes he's about one meter ninety, coupled with a straight posture from martial arts training, he seems like a different person.
Touching his hair that has grown past his shoulders, Fang Zheng showed a troubled expression.
It's rare for a man to have hair this long, and long hair isn't convenient for martial arts, he's been nagged by Master Guo about it.
But in the Otherworld, there's still the tradition that the body and hair are gifts from parents, any fallen hair must be collected and burned, short hair is unusual.
Because of this, he's explained it more than once.
"Forget it!"
Shaking his head, Fang Zheng muttered to himself:
"Having long hair here is at most a peculiar hobby, people mistake it as being artistic, it's the lack of long hair in the Otherworld that's the real issue."
"I'll keep it!"
Not only keeping long hair, now his clothes are often traditional, firstly convenient for traversing, secondly, quite comfortable once accustomed.
Turn off the lights.
Lie on the bed.
Take out the phone.
The three essential steps for modern people.
"Hmm?"
Fang Zheng raised an eyebrow, his intention to scroll through short videos halted, it was a message from the newly acquainted 'senior brother' Zhou Ping.
The message pertains to Uncle Fang Jian.
Some things not disclosed by the Public Security Bureau when claiming the body, like clues on the murder weapon...
As a victim's family member, Fang Zheng has the right to know, plus the director is his senior brother, so this information can be shared.
The strange text, the carvings on the weapon...
The text is from the Otherworld, people here naturally don't recognize it, assuming it's special markings, but Fang Zheng recognizes it.
"Cyan Wolf Gang!"
As expected.
Uncle was killed by Cyan Wolf Gang bandits.
There's not only the Cyan Wolf Gang's emblem on the weapon but also the owner's name.
"Hu Yanting!"
There's also a small, unobtrusive character.
Seven!
Fang Zheng squinted.
He remembers the Cyan Wolf Gang has strict internal hierarchy, the gang leader is also called the head chief, followed by over a dozen brothers with different family names.
Seven,
Might be the seventh chief?
This can be easily verified, Gu'an County's wanted list includes names of the Cyan Wolf Gang's chiefs; check if Hu Yanting is listed.
If the target is dead, so be it; if alive, Uncle's murder must be avenged.
"The Cyan Wolf Gang leaders are Qi Blood Martial Artists, including not just Qi Blood Second Transformation but Third Transformation too, I'm far from being able to challenge them now."
"Maybe this Hu Yanting isn't the seventh chief and I'm overthinking."
With thoughts turning, Fang Zheng lost interest in watching videos and drifted to sleep.
Not knowing when.
"Hmm?"
Fang Zheng abruptly opened his eyes:
"Someone came in!"