57. Settling Things with Zhao Dabao

“What is it now? What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? Aren’t you supposed to be so capable? Don’t you have plenty of friends?” The man in the traditional Tang suit showed no sign of fatherly affection; his words were nothing but reproach.

“I haven’t caused any trouble, Dad. I was leading a team on a mission today, and this guy beat us up without any reason. Dad, you have to stand up for me,” Zhao Si continued to plead for sympathy, looking utterly pitiful.

The man in the Tang suit still showed little interest, only asking, “Is that true?”

“It’s true. If you don’t believe me, just look over there!” Zhao Si pointed in Ye Feng’s direction.

Following Zhao Si’s gesture, the man in the Tang suit squinted into the distance, his aging eyes unable to make out the young man’s features, only seeing someone standing there. He began striding toward Ye Feng.

Zhao Dabao didn’t bother with pleasantries. He simply signaled the two men in black to clear the room. In no time, everyone irrelevant had been escorted out.

Once the room was empty, Zhao Dabao addressed Ye Feng with coarse words, “So you’re the bastard who bullied my son? You dare lay hands on someone under my protection—do you have a death wish?” Clearly, he didn’t take the young man before him seriously; after all, Ye Feng was just an outsider. Zhao Dabao figured he could deal with him any way he pleased.

Being called a bastard once again, Ye Feng could hardly endure it. He gave Zhao Dabao a cold look and said indifferently, “Zhao Dabao, who are you calling a bastard? Looking for death?”

Hearing Ye Feng address him by name, Zhao Dabao didn’t think much of it. He was used to acting with impunity in Seabreeze City, convinced that no one in the country could touch him. So, without hesitation, he raised his hand to slap Ye Feng.

But Ye Feng would hardly let him succeed. Without warning, he lifted his leg and sent Zhao Dabao crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.

Zhao Dabao landed flat on his back, arms and legs flailing in a most embarrassing state. Ye Feng showed no mercy, following up with another vicious kick that sent Zhao Dabao sprawling back toward his son.

His two bodyguards, seeing their employer so brutally beaten, hurried forward to help him up.

Realizing Ye Feng was no pushover, the two bodyguards immediately drew their pistols, aiming them at Ye Feng’s head.

With guns pointed at him yet again, Ye Feng remained unfazed. He couldn’t help but think how alike these people all were, whether they wore black or white—it was as if the law no longer existed.

Ye Feng sneered, “Well, Mayor Zhao, you certainly wield your authority with impressive force.”

At this point, Zhao Dabao, supported by Zhao Si, struggled to his feet. As soon as he was up, he barked a vicious order, “Shoot him! I’ll take full responsibility if he dies.”

But before his order could be carried out, a voice called from behind, “Wait a moment.”

“Who is it?” Zhao Dabao turned to look, only to see Huang Quanlu approaching at a leisurely pace.

“It’s me, Uncle Zhao,” Huang Quanlu said with a smile, his intentions unreadable.

“Oh, it’s little Huang. Stand aside for now. I’ll deal with this punk first,” Zhao Dabao replied. Then, he barked another order, “What are you waiting for? Shoot!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than another commanding voice interrupted, “Who dares?”

Turning toward the voice, they saw Xu Wen arriving with a large contingent. Spotting Ye Feng with guns aimed at him, Xu Wen immediately dispatched two riot police bearing shields to protect Ye Feng, while his men surrounded Zhao Dabao and his group. As it happened, after learning Zhao Si was Zhao Dabao’s son, Ye Feng had already anticipated Zhao Dabao’s arrival and had “Bad Bad” place a call to Xu Wen.

“What the hell are you? Don’t you know who I am? How dare you meddle in my affairs!” Zhao Dabao was furious at being surrounded by police. As Seabreeze’s top official, being seen in this situation would ruin his reputation.

“I suspect you of illegal possession of firearms and attempted murder,” Xu Wen replied coldly, unmoved by Zhao Dabao’s bluster. He now held a position equal to Zhao Dabao's, and besides, Ye Feng was his superior. Xu Wen maintained an official tone, “Men, have them put down their weapons. If they resist, shoot them on the spot.”

Seeing Xu Wen unyielding, Zhao Dabao began to panic. He quickly played his last card, “My uncle is a member of the Central Standing Committee. Who dares touch me?”

“Put down your weapons, or you’ll be shot on the spot,” Xu Wen repeated, unfazed. He wouldn’t have hesitated even if the Premier himself was involved, as long as Ye Feng gave the word. He began to count down, “Three. Two—”

Before he could finish, Zhao Dabao hurriedly ordered his subordinates, “Put them down! Now!”

Zhao Dabao had always been a risk-taker—how else could he have risen so far? But after so long as mayor, self-preservation had become second nature. He simply didn’t dare gamble with his life.

Seeing Zhao Dabao back down, Xu Wen immediately gave the order to arrest him, “Men, cuff this criminal suspected of illegal firearms possession and attempted murder.”

At Xu Wen’s command, several riot police swarmed in, tightly restraining the group and loading them into police vehicles. Before leaving, Xu Wen cast a glance at Ye Feng, who, catching his eye, followed him to the car.

Xu Wen’s actions shocked Huang Quanlu, who stood to the side. Xu Wen’s arrival was surprise enough, but his deferential glance at Ye Feng spoke volumes—Xu Wen, now a provincial director, was clearly taking orders from Ye Feng. This Ye Feng was evidently far more formidable than he appeared.

According to Ye Feng’s instructions, Xu Wen had both him and Zhao Dabao put into the same vehicle.

Inside the car, Zhao Dabao glared at Ye Feng with hatred. “You think you’ve won? Just you wait—you’re a dead man!”

Ye Feng only chuckled. “Mayor Zhao, do you really think what’s in the safe behind your television will save you?”

He had just had “Bad Bad” scan Zhao Dabao’s memory, discovering his secret insurance plan—no wonder Zhao Dabao had always acted so brazenly.

Ye Feng’s words made Zhao Dabao’s eyes go wide with terror. He stammered, “How… how do you know…?”

“If you wanted no one to find out, you shouldn’t have done it. Do you really think a few Central officials can protect you?” Ye Feng continued to mock him.

“What… do you want?” By now, Zhao Dabao had completely lost his air of authority, looking every bit the prisoner he was.

Ye Feng hadn’t yet decided what to do with him—removing him could be useful, but there wasn’t much benefit in it. Suddenly, “Bad Bad” suggested: why not make him a servant? The idea instantly appealed to Ye Feng—it was brilliant.

“I want your loyalty,” Ye Feng said, a sinister smile on his lips.

The compartment was sealed, leaving only Ye Feng and Zhao Dabao inside. Without needing a word from Ye Feng, “Bad Bad” knocked Zhao Dabao unconscious with a jolt of electricity. Ye Feng retrieved a Loyalty Pill from his spatial ring and stuffed it into Zhao Dabao’s mouth. Lacking water, he used his inner energy to stimulate a few of Zhao Dabao’s acupoints, dissolving the pill in seconds.

A minute later, Zhao Dabao awoke and immediately addressed Ye Feng as “Master.” Hearing that word, Ye Feng felt a surge of satisfaction.

With Zhao Dabao now utterly loyal, the rest would be simple. To Zhao Dabao, Ye Feng had become more important than anything in the world. If Ye Feng asked him to die, he wouldn’t hesitate. After all, in the future, the Loyalty Pill would be used to cultivate deathsworn; its effects were simply unparalleled.