“Deal!”
Li Zhonglou smiled and nodded. The money was insignificant to him; it only made him more curious about the man’s identity and experiences.
“Then let me introduce myself first.”
The man was straightforward. After confirming the transaction, he stated his name.
Luo Feng, thirty-eight years old this year, was a high-ranking member of the Xi Gang. However, he hadn’t undertaken any Xi Gang missions for three years, so many people had likely forgotten his existence.
The man suddenly stopped speaking.
“What? Keep talking.”
What Li Zhonglou wanted to know wasn’t this information but his experiences, why he was with Sen Lang, and why, as a high-ranking member of the Xi Gang, he remained indifferent while being beaten by a loan shark with no affiliation.
To his surprise, Luo Feng blinked.
“The ten thousand I mentioned is just for my name and basic information. To know my experiences, you’ll have to pay more.”
Damn it!
Even Yue Hai, standing beside him, couldn’t help but curse.
This wasn’t a transaction; it was clearly a rip-off!
What puzzled Yue Hai was that Li Zhonglou merely smiled calmly.
“It’s alright, just tell me how much.”
Luo Feng looked at him with some surprise.
“Another twenty thousand?”
Li Zhonglou nodded without hesitation, “No problem, go ahead.”
“Looks like you’re truly a wealthy man,”
Luo Feng chuckled. This time, he finally stopped playing games.
“The Xi Gang had thirteen high-ranking members. Of course, that was before I retired. I don’t know how many there are now. The reason I ended up in this state is that I owe a mountain of debt.”
Speaking of which, Luo Feng smiled candidly, as if he had long since come to terms with these matters.
“The Sen Lang brothers were quite decent. They lent me thirty million and didn’t rush to kill me. However, I’ll likely need several lifetimes to repay this debt.”
So that’s how it was.
Li Zhonglou and Yue Hai suddenly understood. No wonder a high-ranking member of the Xi Gang would endure such humiliation and beating without resistance. This thirty million must have been borrowed from their entire fortune!
Li Zhonglou also immediately understood why Sen Bao reacted the way he did later.
“Where did all this money go?”
Li Zhonglou suddenly felt curious. Then, remembering what Luo Feng had just said about retiring, he asked again, “When you say retired, do you mean you’ve left the Xi Gang?”
Luo Feng shook his head and explained, “Not really. It’s just that the boss and others don’t manage me anymore, and I don’t get involved in the gang’s affairs. You could say I still hold the title.”
Li Zhonglou nodded silently, then turned and left the hospital room.
Yue Hai naturally followed closely.
As soon as they were outside, Yue Hai couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Li, you’re just giving him tens of thousands of yuan like that?”
Li Zhonglou glanced back at the hospital room and suddenly grinned, “Only if he can find us. Let’s go.”
Saying that, Li Zhonglou walked towards the exit. Yue Hai was stunned.
“Brother Li, we’re leaving already?”
Yue Hai looked bewildered. So, all his hard work in carrying the man to the hospital was just to give him money and listen to him talk?
Li Zhonglou smiled and said, “I had originally intended to contact the fighter through him. But he doesn’t have that intention, so there’s no need for us to pursue it further.”
What do you mean by ‘doesn’t have that intention’…
Yue Hai scratched his head, “Brother Li, can you speak more directly? You know I don’t understand these things.”
“If you don’t understand, then think more and learn more.”
Li Zhonglou rolled his eyes at him but still explained, “This person knows my purpose. So, when he said he retired, he was hinting at this. He doesn’t want to be involved with the Xi Gang anymore.”
Yue Hai immediately understood.
“I see. But Brother Li, do all of you speak so circuitously? Can’t you just say what you mean?”
Li Zhonglou chuckled, “You should learn more. Speaking is an art. The more you beat around the bush, the more trouble you can avoid. Conversely, the more direct you are, the easier it is to offend people. Society has always been this way.”
“It’s so complicated,”
Yue Hai sighed.
Li Zhonglou didn’t say much about it. Such things couldn’t be learned in a day or two. In this impatient modern society, many people are accustomed to hinting rather than stating directly. He believed that as long as Yue Hai experienced more, he would quickly catch on.
Before taking Yue Hai away from the hospital, Li Zhonglou paid Luo Feng’s hospitalization fees. Although this guy seemed unreliable, he had his merits.
Judging by the fact that he was beaten, his strength was at least not inferior to the Sen Lang brothers!
Furthermore, as one of the high-ranking members of the Xi Gang, anyone who reached this position couldn't be ordinary! Therefore, Li Zhonglou hadn't completely cut off contact with him.
In fact, if it weren’t for the need to deal with Lao Er’s son, Ping Hu, first, he might have delved deeper into Luo Feng. Luo Feng avoided talking about why he was in debt when he mentioned it, which surely indicated a significant hidden story.
Now was a time when he needed people. If he could recruit such a master, it would also be of great help to Li Zhonglou’s plan.
However, these were all future considerations; he couldn’t rush them for now.
After leaving the hospital, Li Zhonglou and Yue Hai headed directly to the address provided by Sen Lang.
This fighter’s name was Xiao Jin. His boss was also one of the high-ranking members of the Xi Gang. However, according to the information provided by Sen Lang, Xiao Jin rarely stayed by his boss’s side and usually appeared in entertainment venues.
The address given by Sen Lang was actually the location of a nightclub.
When the two arrived at their destination, it was only past 7 PM. The nightclub wouldn’t open for several more hours, so Li Zhonglou took Yue Hai to find a place to have dinner.
Because he wanted Yue Hai to experience more of society’s facets, Li Zhonglou chose a commoner’s barbecue stall.
Although it was still early, the barbecue stall was quite busy. Seven or eight tables were set up along the roadside outside the stall, and they were almost all occupied. As soon as the two sat down, a strong sense of local life washed over them.
The smell of smoke, alcohol, and food, along with laughter and shouts, discussions of grand ideals for life, and complaints about real-life frustrations. Listening, smelling, and watching all of this, Li Zhonglou suddenly felt a sense of peace.
Although the surrounding environment was a bit noisy, his heart was clear. For a moment, Li Zhonglou even understood why the old saying goes, "The truly hidden reside in the marketplace."
To be able to maintain inner peace in such an environment was indeed a form of cultivation.
However, Yue Hai, who was beside him, wasn’t quite accustomed to it.
The mixed smell of smoke and alcohol made him constantly rub his nose, and the noisy environment made him restless.
Li Zhonglou quickly noticed his discomfort and smiled faintly, “Relax. You need to learn to blend into this environment first. That way, when you encounter similar situations in the future, you can maintain a sense of calm.”