Leaving aside Zhao Xiaodao’s business, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan slept until they woke naturally. After replying to Zhao Xiaodao’s messages, Lu Zheng received a call from Zhang Tiexia.
Zhang Tiexia asked over the phone, “Little brother Lu, are you free? Fancy meeting up?”
Lu Zheng asked, “Are you at the hospital or back home?”
“I’m home,” Zhang Tiexia said. “The injuries aren’t that serious. I can still get out and about.”
“No way. Stay put,” Lu Zheng replied. “You make your living with martial arts. It would be terrible if you ended up with hidden damage. Send me your location. I’ll come and check on you.”
“That works too. Care to stay for lunch at home?”
“Of course. I’ll be imposing on you, then.”
“Don’t be silly! Come quickly. My wife’s cooking isn’t bad.”
“Got it!”
Lu Zheng hung up and immediately received the location Zhang Tiexia sent.
Lin Wan glanced at it. “Not far. Half an hour by car.”
“Right. Let’s stop at the supermarket first and buy some tonics.”
Lin Wan couldn’t help laughing. “Why bother? Just give him a few more acupuncture sessions and nourish him with your true qi.”
Lu Zheng was speechless. “You’re getting cheekier by the day.”
Lin Wan sniggered. “I wonder who was the one releasing true qi first last night.”
“Zhang Tiexia meant well. I couldn’t just let him suffer long-term effects.”
Lin Wan wrapped her arm round his, planted a kiss on his cheek, and said, “I’m only teasing. I love how righteous you are.”
Lu Zheng put his hands on his hips, looking immensely pleased with himself. Then the two of them headed out, stopped at the supermarket, and bought some ginseng slices, lingzhi pills, and similar supplements.
Lu Zheng was an expert. He didn’t go for the most expensive items; instead, he picked the ones with the best actual efficacy among what was available.
“Will these do?” Lin Wan asked.
“They’ll do fine. The medicinal potency is from three-year stock or better, with plenty of active factors. They’ll definitely work. Plus, I already infused him with a strand of true qi yesterday, so his internal injuries aren’t serious and won’t leave after-effects.”
“That’s good.”
…
They paid their visit, presented the gifts, and exchanged pleasantries.
Zhang Tiexia wasn’t bedridden. The three of them sat in the living room, drinking tea and chatting.
Ever since the full-armour fighting competition the year before last, Zhang Tiexia had stayed in Haicheng. He had even brought his wife over. Apart from club activities, he had joined a media company owned by another rich second-generation member and become a kung fu internet celebrity.
Normally he just filmed videos and streamed. He earned good money and lived comfortably. He was already planning to buy a place and settle down in Haicheng.
Yet, as a traditional martial artist, he had not lost his original purpose.
“Little brother Lu, you’ve developed qi sensation?” Zhang Tiexia asked in a low voice, still sounding incredulous. “And you can use qi to protect your organs, even extend it to protect someone else’s organs?”
Having obvious qi sensation already made someone a master in traditional martial arts. Being able to use qi to help others… Zhang Tiexia had never even heard of that!
“Just messing around with practice and somehow it happened,” Lu Zheng said with a completely straight face.
Zhang Tiexia: “…”
We’re both in the game. Who are you trying to fool? “Just messing around” until you develop qi sensation? Why don’t you just “mess around” until you ascend to immortality?
But since Lu Zheng didn’t want to explain, Zhang Tiexia naturally wouldn’t pry. In ancient times this would have been the deepest secret of a sect: passed to sons but not daughters, to direct disciples but not collateral ones. Keeping silent was normal.
Still, it was the twenty-first century now. Not asking for details was fine, but gossip was fair game.
“So how strong are you exactly?” Zhang Tiexia asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “With qi assistance, how many kilograms of force in a punch? Can you lighten your body and walk on roofs? Can your qi strike across distance?”
You’re built like a bear. Is this level of gossip really appropriate?
Facts proved that everyone loves gossip; they just need the right topic.
“I’ve never measured the kilograms, but probably a bit stronger than Tyson,” Lu Zheng blinked, then added with feigned innocence, “As for roof-walking and distant strikes, aren’t those basic martial artist skills?”
Zhang Tiexia: “…”
“I never realised you were this good at showing off.”
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”
Zhang Tiexia recalled their first meeting, when Lu Zheng had toyed with him while looking utterly relaxed.
“Fine. You’re awesome!”
…
They had lunch, chatted some more, and Lu Zheng reminded Zhang Tiexia to rest properly before the couple took their leave.
“We only have the afternoon left. Will there be enough time?”
“Plenty. His file is complete. All his travel records are in Interpol’s database.”
“Why?”
“Because his business partner is our current primary target.”
“What a coincidence.”
“Exactly. I don’t even need to investigate him separately. I can just glance at him while working the main case.”
“Brilliant! So where is he now?”
“Haicheng!”
“What?” Lu Zheng stared at Lin Wan, dumbfounded. “He’s in Haicheng?”
Lin Wan nodded. “Uemura Hideo, chairman of Meichuang Group. He’s attending the opening ceremony of a subsidiary today in Haicheng, has a dinner this evening, and leaves tomorrow.”
“Well, that saves us a trip,” Lu Zheng nodded. “The clothes at home should last us another week.”
Lin Wan nearly floored it into the greenery. “We’re talking serious business!”
“You’re sure this is serious?”
“Of course it’s serious,” Lin Wan nodded solemnly. “The Blood Interception Technique isn’t explicitly prohibited by law.”
Lu Zheng: “…”
“You make a compelling point. I can’t even argue.”
Lin Wan turned the wheel sharply and headed straight for their target.
…
Business finished, Lu Zheng and Lin Wan still had time for a Chuan-Yu hotpot dinner and a comedy film in the evening. When they got home, they had plenty of energy left for another round of role-playing.
The next day, two hours after Uemura Hideo’s flight departed Haicheng, he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage due to pressure changes upon landing in Japan. Despite emergency treatment, he was eventually declared dead.
…
The following morning, Lin Wan went to work for only two hours before returning home.
She looked around and saw no sign of Lu Zheng. Messages went unanswered.
She shook her head (normal behaviour) then packed a few changes of clothes, sent Lu Zheng a text saying she was going on a business trip, grabbed her suitcase, and left again.
…
Meanwhile, Lu Zheng had already crossed over to the Great Jing dynasty. In the season between spring and summer, dressed in fine brocade, gently waving a folding fan, looking every inch the spoiled young master of a wealthy landlord family, he strode out of the gate with an arrogant swagger that acknowledged no relatives.
