Chapter 73: Zhang Peng

The burly man had a buzz cut, and he looked very strong with a lot of muscles. But what puzzled me the most was that after glancing at me, he immediately went to Liu Zhanqian and said, “Uncle Liu, I failed to manage my subordinates properly. I’m sorry!” He then bowed to Liu Zhanqian.

Liu Zhanqian took a couple of puffs on his cigarette and smiled, “It’s alright. Everyone has moments of youthful recklessness. But Da Peng, about this young brother’s matter, just…”

Before Liu Zhanqian could finish, Da Peng shook his head and said, “Uncle, it’s not that I, Da Peng, don’t want to give you face, but one of my subordinates nearly got his hand crippled. If I don’t do something about it, I’ll be a laughingstock in the underworld.”

“Wouldn’t ganging up on a kid be more laughable?” Liu Zhanqian chuckled at Da Peng’s words.

Da Peng’s expression soured a bit at that, as Liu Zhanqian was speaking the truth. Liu Zhanqian put down what he was working on, flicked away the cigarette butt that was almost burned out, and looked at Da Peng, “The fault lies with your guys; they were relieving themselves in public and even tried to take advantage of a little girl. Then you want to gang up on the kid—this isn’t right.”

“That’s not what I meant!” Da Peng laughed and looked at me, “Kid, I won’t rely on numbers to bully you. Let’s fight one-on-one. If you lose, leave an arm. If you win, I, Da Peng, won’t trouble you again. How about it?”

A one-on-one fight? Damn! Judging by his build, if I hadn’t stepped into the world of cultivation, I’d be crippled by him.

Then Da Peng, not waiting for my answer, looked at Liu Zhanqian and said, “Uncle Liu, you were known as the king of one-on-ones in the underworld. Now, what I’m doing should be fair, right?”

“Do as you please…” Liu Zhanqian’s emotions noticeably fluctuated at the mention of the ‘one-on-one king,’ but he quickly calmed down.

“Kid, let’s go!” Da Peng glanced at me and, not waiting for my response, walked straight out.

I smiled. If all of them had jumped in, I could’ve at most taken down a few and then run. But a one-on-one… Heh, Da Peng’s really doing me a favor.

Following Da Peng, we walked into a small alley. His subordinates blocked the entrance, leaving just the two of us inside.

“Hmph!” Da Peng turned around with a cold snort and charged straight at me without saying a word.

Under my mental control, Da Peng’s movements had already slowed, but my current physical strength couldn’t keep up with my reactions. Luckily, Da Peng’s speed wasn’t very fast, far from Zhao Ziqiang’s level.

Da Peng aimed an elbow strike at my face, a truly ruthless move typical of someone from the underworld.

I took a few steps back, turned around, and kicked, but Da Peng dodged.

I was no longer a rookie. After fighting with Wang Hu and Zhao Ziqiang, I had gained a lot of experience.

Initially, I thought of playing some techniques with Da Peng, but it was getting late, and there was no need to waste more time.

After missing my strike, I didn’t retreat but instead moved forward, throwing another kick. Da Peng clearly hadn’t expected me to make such a move and couldn’t react in time, taking a punch.

I seized the opportunity and attempted a knee strike, but Da Peng blocked it. His face grew serious as he grabbed my shoulders, trying to throw me down.

Grabbing Da Peng by the neck, we wrestled, but his strength was clearly not as great as mine, and he was soon defeated.

“What’s your name?” Da Peng panted, sitting on the ground.

I smiled, “Lei Feng!” Then I turned to leave, but the guys blocking the alley approached.

Turning to Da Peng, I said, “Brother Da Peng, you’re in the underworld; you wouldn’t go back on your word, right?”

“Tell me your name, and I’ll let you go!” Da Peng smiled at me.

What the hell! This was blatant intimidation! But what’s the harm in giving a name?

“Xia Tian!” I said, a bit impatiently.

Hearing my name, Da Peng paused and then said to his subordinates at the alley entrance, “You guys go ahead; I need to talk to this young brother.”

“Brother Peng, just let him go like that?” One of the guys pointed at me.

Da Peng glared at him, “Why have I, Da Peng, reached my current status? Because I keep my word and don’t go back on it! Now, go on!”

Upon hearing this, his subordinates dispersed.

I was about to leave when suddenly Da Peng spoke, “My name is Zhang Peng…”

Zhang Peng? Zhang Yu’s brother! I had heard this name many times but had never met him. I didn’t expect this Brother Da Peng to be Zhang Peng.

“You probably know that, right?” Zhang Peng continued.

I stopped, looked back at Zhang Peng, and said, “I know; you’re Zhang Yu’s brother.”

“That’s good!” Zhang Peng sighed in relief and smiled, “Can you do me a favor?”

“What favor?” Since he was Zhang Yu’s brother, he was also my brother. No matter why Zhang Yu had a strained relationship with his brother, Zhang Peng was still his brother.

“Six years ago, my dad died in an accident on a construction site. You know about that, right?” Zhang Peng didn’t directly ask for the favor but started talking about the past. 

I nodded, saying nothing—if he wanted to talk, there must be a reason.

“Our family had no influence, so the construction site didn’t compensate us at all, not even with a word of comfort!” Zhang Peng clenched his fists tightly. “At that time, Zhang Yu was still young, and my mom was just a single woman, so I had to support the family! To earn money and avoid being bullied again, I took a wrong path… dropped out of school, and joined the underworld…”

“Every time I collected protection money, I gave it all to my mother except for what I distributed to my subordinates. I didn’t tell my mother since it wasn’t a legitimate job, but the truth can’t be hidden forever. Eventually, she found out…” Zhang Peng lit a cigarette and continued, “She asked me to quit, but I couldn’t, and I didn’t want to because the construction site owner was never punished by law! So, I had to take matters into my own hands! But the result was that I was kicked out of the house…”

“Every time I sent money home, it was all returned. Maybe my mom felt the money was dirty, and under her influence, Zhang Yu didn’t think much of me as his brother either.” Zhang Peng sighed, his eyes slightly reddening, “Now my mom is sick and still has to support Zhang Yu’s studies. They don’t have enough money, but they still won’t accept mine. I know my money isn’t clean, but I don’t want them to suffer so much either!”

“So I hope you can help me get this money to Zhang Yu!” Zhang Peng wiped away his tears and handed me a bank card. “You and Zhang Yu are close; he’ll definitely accept it. The password is his birthday.”

From start to finish, I hadn’t said a word. Family ties are indeed the greatest force, making a tough guy like Zhang Peng shed tears.

I took the bank card and nodded, “I’ll personally deliver it to Zhang Yu.”

“Thanks. Earlier, my subordinate was wrong. I apologize!” Zhang Peng said and bowed to me. This caught me off guard, and I quickly responded, “You’re Zhang Yu’s brother, which makes you my brother too. You don’t need to do that!”

Zhang Peng looked at me intently, “Alright! I, Zhang Peng, recognize you as my younger brother!”

After chatting with Zhang Peng for a bit, we went our separate ways. I suddenly remembered something—damn! If I suddenly give Zhang Yu all this money, he won’t accept it!

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HELP: 

During the recent unrest in the country I am from, our family hardware store was broken into and looted by thugs. I don’t know why they did it, since my family has always been minding our own business, without bothering anyone else. I’m guessing some people are taking advantage of the current lawless and chaotic state of the country. 

Anyways, the incident now leaves me as the only earning member of my family. Long time readers know that I was already dealing with a mountain of trouble (that I inherited from my father), and was already struggling. I had created a plan of action, and was steadily moving forward. But this incident destroyed whatever plans I had, again. I don’t know why bad things keep happening to me again and again. I might as well be cursed or something.

So here I am, after much hesitation, once again asking for your support. If you are reading this, please help if you are able to, I repeat, help only if you are able to. I am not asking something for free, you can become a Patron at Patreon to gain access to more chapters, or sponsor as many chapters you can from any of the novels you enjoy on Goblinslate here at BuymeaCoffee. Or if you just want to help, you can donate any amount at the Wishlist at BuymeaCoffee.

Thank you.