When Have You Ever Seen Me Afraid?

Back at his home in Riverside Town, Zuo Yi casually made something to eat for dinner.

Lying in a recliner in the small courtyard and gazing up at the sky, he watched night slowly descend and stars appear one by one. His heart was peaceful and content.

Thinking back on every little moment of seeing Bao'er again today, Zuo Yi could not help but smile.

In that little girl's presence, he seemed to see all the beauty in the world!

How wonderful.

But the sudden roar of motorcycle engines from outside instantly ruined Zuo Yi's mood!

Were they never going to stop?

Even with Zuo Yi's deep self-restraint, anger rose in his heart.

The night before last, he had just sent away a bunch of Ghostfire punks who had tried to break into his old family home and cause trouble. Yet tonight, several more uninvited guests had arrived. Did they really think he did not dare to get ruthless?

As a paladin who believed in the Eight Virtues, Zuo Yi belonged to the lawful good camp. But his kindness and mercy would never be bestowed upon evil people who destroyed order—enemies of his camp!

Setting down the half-eaten meat skewer, Zuo Yi abruptly rose to his feet, strode to the courtyard gate, and reached out to open it.

Three motorcycles had just pulled up in front of his gate. A man wearing a thin black jacket stepped down, meeting Zuo Yi's gaze directly.

Zuo Yi's eyes flickered, and the killing intent hidden deep within them vanished.

The visitor was an acquaintance.

The man in the black jacket was around thirty, leanly built with high cheekbones, close-cropped hair, and rather deep-set eyes. A long scar ran across his left cheek, giving him a vicious, sinister air.

He walked straight up to Zuo Yi and said in a low voice, "I heard yesterday that you were back, so I came to take a look."

Zuo Yi nodded and asked, "When did you get out?"

This man was named Ding Xu. He was a local of Riverside Town and two years older than Zuo Yi.

When Zuo Yi's mother taught at Riverside Town Middle School, Ding Xu had been one of her students—and a troublesome one at that.

Ding Xu's background was unfortunate. His mother had died when he was very young, while his father was a gambling addict and drunkard. Whenever he lost money gambling outside and came home drunk, he would beat Ding Xu.

That sort of upbringing made Ding Xu extremely twisted. Back in middle school, he had begun hanging around with the town's hooligans, doing everything from fighting and extortion to racketeering. Because he was ruthless and dared to risk his life, he eventually became one of Riverside Town's biggest bullies.

But anyone who drifted through the underworld was bound to stumble eventually. With no powerful backing, Ding Xu soon fell hard. Involved in an assault case, he was arrested and sentenced to seven years. When Zuo Yi crossed over, he was still behind bars.

"I got out the year before last."

Ding Xu took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tapped one out, and handed it to Zuo Yi. "I'm working with some people in the city now."

Zuo Yi did not refuse. Taking it and looking it over, he said, "You're smoking Imperial City now. Looks like you're doing pretty well."

He did not mean it sarcastically.

Imperial City was one of the most famous domestic cigarette brands, and it was quite expensive. Ordinary families would only put a few packs on the table at weddings or funerals to keep up appearances. Anyone who smoked Imperial City cigarettes regularly was undoubtedly wealthy and well-connected.

Of course, some people put on airs they could not afford, but Ding Xu was clearly not one of them.

Ding Xu lit Zuo Yi's cigarette, then his own. Taking a hard drag, he said, "I'm just scraping by, reading people's faces and being their dog. But at least I've got someone to lean on. When people beat a dog, they still have to consider its owner."

He compared himself to a dog as though it were nothing.

Zuo Yi knew that Ding Xu had been sentenced to seven years because someone had betrayed him—a gang leader without any backing was still just a thug.

Ding Xu continued, "After I got out, you weren't in Riverside Town. I told Tietou and the others in town to keep their underlings from causing trouble at your house. That Skinny Monkey brat had just come back and didn't know any better. I've already had someone teach them a lesson."

Zuo Yi finally understood why his home had remained safe and sound during the three years he was gone. It had not merely been luck; more importantly, Ding Xu had put the word out. Otherwise, what he returned to might well have been a house ruined beyond recognition.

"Thanks!"

He said, "Come in and sit for a while."

"No need. I'll say a few more things and head back. I've got something to do tonight."

Ding Xu waved his hand. "You don't need to thank me either. Teacher Zuo treated me well. I couldn't let anyone desecrate her home."

After a pause, he continued, "Come to think of it, I should thank you for taking care of that old beast's funeral."

The "old beast" Ding Xu spoke of was naturally his gambling-addict father.

He was undoubtedly both hateful and pitiable. When Ding Xu's mother had still been alive, he had actually been fairly normal. Later, he became the kind of scum and rascal everyone in town despised. When he drank himself to death in a ruined house four years ago, no one had been willing to handle his funeral.

In the end, Zuo Yi had paid for the cremation and burial, ensuring that he would not die without a resting place.

Zuo Yi had done so because the Zuo Family and the Ding family had some old ties. Ding Xu's father had never caused trouble for the Zuo Family, and Zuo Yi and Ding Xu could be considered acquaintances.

Zuo Yi sighed, not knowing what to say.

The man had been dead for years, yet Ding Xu still called his father an old beast. But Zuo Yi could hear the deeply buried sorrow in his words.

Zuo Yi would not urge Ding Xu to turn over a new leaf or become a better man, because his personality had already determined the life he had chosen.

No one could change that. For example, Zuo Yi's mother, Zuo Qingyun, had always wanted to help Ding Xu return to the right path.

Yet Ding Xu had ended up in prison.

"A son's debt is his to repay. Paying back what you owe is only right."

Ding Xu pointed at his motorcycle and said, "This Harley was given to me by someone else. It's legitimate merchandise, not stolen goods or a gray-market import. I have another vehicle myself, so I have no use for it. Can I use it to settle my debt with you?"

The debt he meant was naturally the funeral expenses Zuo Yi had paid.

Zuo Yi did not stand on ceremony. "All right."

He knew there was no need to be polite with Ding Xu. Even if he refused now, Ding Xu would still leave it at his doorstep later. It was better to accept it outright.

"The purchase invoice is in the storage compartment."

Ding Xu said, "I've already spoken with the town police station. Just take it over to transfer the registration."

"Oh, right."

His expression turned serious as he asked, "Do you know Riverside Town is about to be demolished and redeveloped?"

Zuo Yi nodded. "I know. I ran into Uncle Zhong yesterday. He told me about it and warned me not to let anyone fool me."

Ding Xu asked again, "Then what are you planning to do?"

"I have no plans."

Zuo Yi said calmly, "I won't sell even an inch of land. They can demolish whatever they want, so long as they don't come bother me."

"I'm afraid it won't be that simple..."

Ding Xu said, "I heard they're going to build Jiangnan New City here, a project worth hundreds of billions, maybe even trillions. The people behind it have enormous influence. Even my boss's boss isn't qualified to get involved. How could they possibly overlook your prime dragon-head land by the river?"

When the Zuo Family had bought land and built their home in Riverside Town a century ago, they had spent heavily to hire a master to inspect the feng shui.

The plot the master selected was said to sit atop the head of a hidden dragon along the river. A hidden dragon in the abyss could soar into the heavens—a true feng shui treasure land.

This story had always circulated throughout Riverside Town, and basically all the older generation knew about it.

Though technology was now highly advanced, feng shui had remained enduringly popular. It had even been placed in classrooms as an academic subject.

If Riverside Town was to be demolished and redeveloped, no one could possibly overlook the Zuo Family's feng shui treasure land. Moreover, its location held tremendous commercial value.

Ding Xu was warning Zuo Yi that he could not withstand others coveting it.

Yet Zuo Yi merely smiled. "When have you ever seen me afraid?"

What an overbearing answer!

Ding Xu had no response.

Zuo Yi truly had a personality that feared neither heaven nor earth, but Ding Xu had already made it clear that the other side's power was simply impossible to contend with.

Whether he was afraid was another matter. An ant not knowing to fear an elephant was perfectly normal too, because it could not imagine the latter's sheer scale.

He only hoped Zuo Yi would see reality clearly.

"Then take care of yourself."

Ding Xu had no interest in nagging and persuading him. "If you run into trouble, give me a call. Don't try to tough it out alone."

Zuo Yi said, "You take care too."

Ding Xu waved in farewell, turned and mounted another motorcycle, then sped away with two subordinates.

Zuo Yi watched the taillights disappear around the corner, then walked over to the Harley that now belonged to him.

This Harley was very new and had probably not been ridden much. It had the most classic American style, with two rows of thick exhaust pipes on either side gleaming brightly enough that even the night could not conceal them. It was exceptionally eye-catching.

The bike had not yet been registered. Zuo Yi found the purchase invoice and documents in the onboard storage compartment, along with one of Ding Xu's business cards.

Printed on it was Ding Xu's title—manager of the Golden Splendor Entertainment Complex.

Below that were Ding Xu's phone number and WeChat ID.

Zuo Yi casually tucked the card into his pocket and swung himself onto the Harley.

Zuo Yi had once owned an off-road vehicle, though he later sold it. He actually liked motorcycles too, and had even gotten a motorcycle license for that reason.

And this Harley was the first motorcycle he had truly owned.

The third update is here. Please give your support in every way!