Chapter 149: Reunion

“Of course. She’s such a cute little girl. I believe that she doesn’t know anything.” The old man nodded and spoke to Zhang Xuan with a smile, “Cute little princess, I have to talk to your brother for a while. Why don’t you go inside and have some ice cream? Your brother won’t be mad at you.”

Zhang Xingxing’s face turned numb, but he still nodded earnestly and forced a smile. “Yes, big brother won’t be mad. Be a good girl, Xuan Xuan.”

“Ok,” the girl said, nodding unhappily. A lady in a red suit led the girl inside.

“Relax. You follow the rules, and I’ll follow the rules,” the old man said while mildly blowing at the tea leaves. “However, if you don’t follow the rules…then don’t blame me for using any means necessary.”

The words “any means necessary” sounded particularly clear, however, in Zhang Xingxing’s mind; it was like thunder roaring through his ears.

“I…I haven’t done anything. I only talked to him for a little bit.”

“That’s why you’re still here. Talking to me.” The old man raised his teacup and took a sip. He then raised his head, smiled, and said, “My name is Ji Hanwu. What do you say you work for me?”

“You…” Zhang Xingxing was stunned. In his line of work, with his vast information network, it was impossible not to have heard of Ji Hanwu. But he never would have imagined that Ji Hanwu would choose to use him instead. “You’re not going to kill me?”

“There are three religions and nine schools of thoughts. As long you are a person, you have value,” Ji Hanwu said calmly. “Killing is the easiest method, but at the same time, it’s also the most wasteful method.”

Zhang Xingxing held himself back from asking dumb questions like whether Ji Hanwu was afraid that he would betray him. For a person like him to join Ji Hanwu’s ranks, it was a given that there would be methods to restrain him. It might be a type of drug, or perhaps a kind of locust.

Everyone was smart, and everyone knew it.

…

“So, that’s what happened…Boss.” Zhang Xingxing did not know how to address Ji Hanwu, but his pause had gone on way too long, so he had awkwardly blurted out the word “boss.”

“In the future, you can call me Chairman Ji like everyone else,” Ji Hanwu said casually.

“Yes, Chairman Ji.”

“The mayor of the city base of Jinling, Han Yuanming.” Ji Hanwu repeated it a few times. Finally, an eerie smile appeared on his face. When he received information stating that someone was investigating Gao Peng, he always assumed it was something big. He never would have thought that it would be for such a reason.

If it were before the Cataclysm, no matter how large his group was, he would be helpless against the mayor of a city base.

But the Cataclysm had changed everything.

The rules of the game that governed the world had changed completely, and those changes were still constantly evolving—into something much worse.

From a certain perspective, the strongest batch of monster trainers were gradually turning into the rule makers of the new world.

“Chairman Ji, do you want to get rid of Han Yuanming?”

“No.” Ji Hanwu shook his head. “Leave Han Yuanming for Little Peng to handle himself. This incident occurred because of him, so he’ll be the one to end it. It will give him a sense of accomplishment.”

“Yes.” Zhang Xingxing nodded.

“However, there is one thing that I agree with. Little Peng taking part in this competition is really a waste of his time,” Ji Hanwu said mildly.

“Huh?” Zhang Xingxing seemed confused.

“I will look for an opportunity to talk to him about it,” Ji Hanwu said, looking outside the window.

It had been four years since they last met.

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The cafe turned silent for a brief moment.

…

After returning to the hotel, Gao Peng let Dumby return to the backyard of the hotel to rest before heading inside.

Gao Peng’s footsteps slowed as walked into the hotel. Around 70 or 80 people were gathered in front of the hotel reception area. He assumed it was some group’s or company’s dinner or gathering, so he ignored it and continued to the elevator.

After returning to his room, Gao Peng rested his head on the pillow before gradually falling asleep.

The next day, as Gao Peng was still asleep, a sudden knock came from the door.

Knock. Knock, knock. Knock. Knock, knock.

It had a regular pattern, rhythmic.

But Gao Peng was sound asleep, and the knocking did not wake him for some time. Finally, the persistent rhythm roused him from his dreams.

He rolled around on his bed and tried to get up, but he was pulled back by the soft and comfortable blankets. Gao Peng groaned weakly, saying, “I don’t need any housekeeping.”

“It’s not nice for a young man to constantly oversleep,” came a powerful voice from outside the door.

Gao Peng’s eyes opened instantly, and his heart raced.

He jumped out of his bed, turned his head, and stared blankly toward the direction of the door in disbelief. He was shocked, worried that what he had just heard was an illusion.

Knock. Knock, knock.

Gao Peng ran to the door without bothering to put on his slippers and looked through the peephole.

A muscular old man wearing baggy white Han traditional clothing stood outside the door, his neat white hair slicked back. He looked into the peephole, locked eyes with Gao Peng as if he had noticed Gao Peng’s gaze, and smiled.

Upon confirming the face of the old man, Gao Peng lips curled upward into a smile almost instantaneously. He immediately opened the door, yelling, “Grandpa!”

Gao Peng rushed outside and hugged Ji Hanwu.

Ji Hanwu laughed heartily and patted Gao Peng’s back. As he looked down and saw that Gao Peng had not even bother to put on his slippers, he couldn’t help but lecture him, saying, “You’re still a barefooted boy after all these years? Next time, wear your slippers before coming out.”

Gao Peng didn’t answer. He just hummed, his eyes remaining tightly shut, his nose beginning to run as emotions overwhelmed him.

No one knew how a child who had lost both parents survived after the Cataclysm. Uncle Liu had only moved in next to him a year after the Cataclysm, and Gao Peng never really made any friends. He had been so lonely for so long.

“Okay, okay. Grandpa is back now,” Ji Hanwu consoled Gao Peng with a soft voice. “As long as Grandpa is still around, no one can bully you!”

No matter how mature a person was when in front of a blood-related elder, one was still a kid.

A few people stood at the end of the corridor, but they quietly averted their gaze from the scene in front of them. It was the first time they had seen such a gentle chairman. They weren’t sure of the consequences for witnessing such a scene, so it was best for them to not see it all.

Gao Peng and Ji Hanwu walked into the room and closed the door.

Ji Hanwu sat on the wicker chair beside the window and cheerfully said to Gao Peng, “Grandpa also saw your performance during the competition. You did great! You were smart and courageous.”

Gao Peng knew himself better than anyone. Normally he would dismiss such praise after cheekily admitting to it, but hearing his grandpa praise him made him somewhat embarrassed.

“To preserve yourself is the best success,” Ji Hanwu said and smiled. “There is nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re just like your grandpa. When I first started the Southern Sky Group, I also took a step back in many matters.

“You have to remember, the reason you pull back your fist is so that you can throw out a stronger punch later!”