Chapter 7: The Qian Family Makes an Appearance

"Ze, you didn't really get yourself into deadly trouble, did you?"
As soon as they met, Fat Liu hurriedly blurted out the question.
Zhang Ze stifled a laugh at his side, offering no reply.
"Fatty, from now on, you won't have to go out and sell anymore..."
With a look of satisfaction, it took Zhang Ze half a minute to finally speak.
...
As it turned out,
Zhang Ze had used the pills he got from Fat Liu to drug the middle-aged man, knocking him out and stealing all the elixirs from his body.
It could be said that the tables had turned, and the oppressed sang their own song of freedom.
...
"You mean you robbed a second-tier martial artist?"
After hearing Zhang Ze's explanation, Fatty's face was full of disbelief.
Thud—
With a muffled sound, the two-hundred-pound man collapsed to the ground.
"It's over, it's all over—"
Seeing the look of utter despair on his face, Zhang Ze didn't bother to explain further.
After all, in this world, martial artists were the absolute upper class.
And with their formidable bodies, it was all too easy for them to kill a man with a single punch.
"Look at you, so gutless."
As he spoke, Zhang Ze tossed the shoulder bag he was holding down next to Fat Liu.
"This..."
"You, you..."
When Fatty caught sight of what was inside the bag, he was so stunned he couldn't form a complete sentence.
Zhang Ze, mocking the other, furrowed his brows as well.
"But even though that guy ended up in the hands of the Anqing Martial Bureau, we should still lay low for a while."
"Back to the old house in the suburbs?"
Clutching the shoulder bag, Fatty no longer cared about the trouble it might bring.
...
On the outskirts of Mengyang County.
"Uncle Wen, how's the car? Can it still be fixed?"
A sedan was parked by the side of the main road leading into the city.
A girl of about eighteen or nineteen stepped out and asked the middle-aged man ahead in a gentle voice.
The middle-aged man, Uncle Wen, was looking quite anxious himself.
"Xiaoyun, just wait in the car for a bit. I've already called someone to come pick us up."
As he spoke, he pulled out his phone to make a call.
At that moment,
Two young men were approaching from the other direction, entering the girl's line of sight.
Though the feeling was hard to explain, in Xiaoyun's heart, she somehow sensed that these two were different.
"Look over there..."
Muttering, Fat Liu nudged Zhang Ze with his elbow.
They were all boys in their late teens or early twenties; who didn't know who in a small town like this?

With Fat Liu's hint, Zhang Ze's gaze also landed on Xiaoyun.
It had to be said that Qian Xiaoyun's looks were truly outstanding.
Her figure was full and alluring, her features delicate and charming.
Unlike Fat Liu's lecherous thoughts, Zhang Ze was reminded of a certain problem with his own system.
"Fatty, I have to admit, I've always admired you."
As they drew closer to Qian Xiaoyun and her companion, Zhang Ze lowered his voice.
"Like yesterday—you strutted over to me with a girl on each arm.
Can't say I wasn't impressed."
Fat Liu heard every word clearly.
Anyone hearing such flattery would probably feel a little pleased with themselves.
So, after Zhang Ze finished, Fat Liu looked tempted.
"Well?"
"Brother Liu, wanna give it a try?"
Zhang Ze nudged him back, signaling him to go ahead.
Fat Liu, who had always been a ladies' man, had more than enough experience—if not with a thousand women, then at least hundreds.
Even without Zhang Ze's encouragement, he was inclined to demonstrate his skills.
Handing the shoulder bag to Zhang Ze, he gave his hair a stylish toss.
"Ze, you're not a kid anymore. Watch how your big brother courts a woman."
With that, and Zhang Ze grinning obsequiously, over two hundred pounds of fat began to swagger toward the car parked by the roadside.
...
"Block—"
Moments later.
Just as Zhang Ze expected, as Fat Liu made his move, the system issued another prompt.
Skill: Block (Proficiency: 11%)
As Zhang Ze's system panel changed, Fat Liu was sent flying five or six meters by a single kick from Uncle Wen.
...
Ten minutes later.
On the road out of town,
Fat Liu, limping and over two hundred pounds, hobbled behind Zhang Ze.
"Bah—"
Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Fat Liu couldn't help but grumble.
"This is so odd—nothing's gone right for me these past two days."
"Ze, when we get back, I'm going to have that old man back home read my fortune."
"..."
Zhang Ze remained silent, unwilling to reveal the truth.
It was worth noting that the old man Fat Liu referred to was the director of the orphanage where they grew up.
And their current destination was none other than the orphanage on the outskirts where they'd spent their childhood.
"So, what are you going to do with all this?"
"Still planning to look for your fat cousin?"
Even while limping, Fat Liu clung tightly to the shoulder bag.
"Are you looking to die?"

No longer silent, Zhang Ze scolded him directly.
"The business of fencing this stuff was introduced to me by that woman.
Go to her now? She'd probably call two big goons to deal with you on the spot."
Used to Zhang Ze's sharp tongue, and hugging his newfound fortune, Fatty didn't seem to mind.
Zhang Ze had clearly considered the risks before robbing the man.
"Don't worry. I know a good contact, a big brother with ways to move this stuff."
Glancing at Fatty's ingratiating grin, Zhang Ze could only sigh.
"We'll lay low for a while, and you—shed some of that fat and break through to martial artist as soon as possible."
The two continued their sporadic conversation as they made their way to the outskirts.
...
At the same time,
Inside a car speeding toward Mengyang County,
"That fat guy didn't hurt you just now, did he?"
Uncle Wen, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned to ask the girl, Qian Xiaoyun, in the back.
She smoothed her hair and replied, "I'm fine, Uncle Wen."
Yet as she spoke, Xiaoyun couldn't help but recall the young man from earlier.
Despite Fat Liu's unappealing figure, he did have a certain charm.
But for Qian Xiaoyun, that wasn't what lingered in her mind.
After thinking it over and coming to no conclusion, she cast the matter aside.
"Uncle Wen, any news from home?"
"Anything new about the elixirs?"
At her question, Uncle Wen raised his brows slightly.
"There's not much progress on the elixir front here in Mengyang County.
And the rural market will likely take a hit as well."
...
By evening,
After walking ten or so miles on foot, the two finally arrived at the old courtyard on the edge of town.
"This godforsaken place is as miserable as ever—"
Still grumbling, Fat Liu stepped inside.
For Zhang Ze, who had been in this world a little over two hundred days, the courtyard existed only in memory.
"At least there aren't any brats running around. It's a place to lie down, that'll do."
Fat Liu, already inside, sounded a little wistful.
"Who's there?"
The moment they entered, an old man emerged from the house, leaning on a cane.
In Zhang Ze's memory, he felt nothing but aversion toward this elder.
After all, the old man and Fat Liu were like kindred spirits, thick as thieves.
Both incorrigible flirts, seasoned veterans of the game.
As soon as they met, a flurry of nostalgic banter ensued.