Chapter Nine: Xu Feng

Tang Yajie’s school was located in the heart of the provincial capital, an area where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold. The streets were lined with luxuriously decorated shops, teeming with fashionable men and women.

While traveling to the school, Tang Zhen couldn't help but feel a sense of reflection as he watched the bustling scenes and busy crowds passing by. Since returning from his otherworldly transport, his mindset had shifted; he felt less lost and far more confident than before.

By the time he reached the university, his younger sister, Tang Yajie, had already been waiting at the gate for some time. She was just as excited as he was for their reunion. Since childhood, her brother had been her hero; in her eyes, there was nothing he couldn't handle.

When she was bullied, he would stand up for her, willing to take a beating until he was bruised and battered just to ensure the bullies were taught a lesson. When she struggled with schoolwork, her brother, who had always excelled academically, would help her review and solve problems. Yet, due to family circumstances, he never even attended university, leaving high school early to enter the workforce and support the family.

Having a brother who had protected her from childhood to adulthood made Tang Yajie feel truly blessed. Although she had long known they shared no blood relation, the bond between them was far deeper than any biological connection, and they regarded each other as the most important people in their lives.

Standing one meter seventy-two, Tang Yajie wore light-colored jeans that accentuated her graceful and slender figure, drawing many admiring glances from passersby. With her beauty, sharp mind, and cheerful personality, she was the dream girlfriend for countless boys. Yet, at this moment, the girl who was the object of so many dreams had her eyes fixed entirely on the young man walking toward her, a sweet smile blooming on her serene face.

"Brother, over here!"

Tang Yajie waved, then skipped over to Tang Zhen and playfully hooked her arm through his. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, she asked, "Brother, did you know? I’m really confused. You’re usually so busy you wish you could clone yourself—how do you have the free time to come see me today?"

Tang Zhen chuckled, looking into his sister’s lively eyes. "It’s only natural for a brother to visit his sister. You conspiracy theorist, you always assume there’s an ulterior motive behind everything!"

Tang Yajie pinched his waist, huffing, "What kind of brother calls his own sister a conspirator? You deserve a hit!"

Tang Zhen laughed heartily, feigning fear as he dodged, raising his hands in mock surrender. However, Tang Yajie was secretly surprised by his physical condition; she felt that the muscles around his waist seemed much firmer than before.

Her expression dimmed for a moment. In her view, this change was likely the result of grueling manual labor. She caught his hand and noticed the thick calluses on his palms, which only confirmed her suspicion.

Tang Yajie was mistaken, though. Even Tang Zhen hadn't realized that his physique was gradually becoming stronger. If one were to trace the cause, it might be the result of killing monsters and leveling up. According to his personal status prompts, he only needed to take down a few more monsters to reach Level 1, which would grant him the formidable strength of a fully-developed adult.

Tang Zhen sensed the shift in his sister’s mood, but he chose not to explain. He sat silently on a bench under a tree and handed her a bank card.

"There’s three hundred thousand yuan on this card. The password is your birthday."

Looking at the card pressed into her hand, Tang Yajie’s flawless, slender brows furrowed slightly. She looked at him with utmost seriousness: "Brother, what is this? I need a reasonable explanation."

Having anticipated that his sharp-minded sister would ask, Tang Zhen replied firmly, "The origin of this money is perfectly legitimate, and I haven't done anything illegal or immoral. You don’t need to worry or guess; just focus on your studies."

Tang Yajie fell silent for a moment before nodding slowly, her tone tinged with sadness. "Brother, you don't have to work this hard. I’ve almost saved enough for my tuition, and the website I built will be profitable soon. If you just give me a little more time... I know you have your principles, but I will help you pay off the debts Dad left behind. Please, don't do anything foolish—I would be heartbroken."

Tang Yajie knew what kind of work Tang Zhen was doing—nothing more than manual labor. But to pay off debts while also giving her so much spending money was clearly beyond his normal income. Her worry was justified.

However, she also knew Tang Zhen’s character. Once he made up his mind, he would see it through to the end. Since he had never lied to her once in their lives, she had no reason to doubt his solemn promise. Yet, a lingering sense of unease kept her from finding peace.

Seeing her heavy-hearted expression, Tang Zhen felt a sudden, inexplicable pang of grief. Some things were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't bring himself to say them. He pursed his lips, brushed his hand over her hair, and flicked her forehead. When she pouted in anger, he burst into laughter.

Tang Yajie gave a resentful pout and pinched him hard, a single, unnoticed tear sliding from the corner of her eye.

Ten minutes later, Tang Zhen left the school. As they parted, Tang Yajie didn't ask about the money again. Instead, she said with great solemnity, "Brother, no matter what happens, I hope you remember you have a sister who wants you to stay safe, happy, and well..."

Tang Zhen fought back the sorrow in his heart, took one last look at her, and waved goodbye with a smile.

Exploring the other world wasn't a game. The potential rewards were vast, but the risks were equally immense; he could die at any moment. He didn't know if they would ever have the chance to meet again. But regardless of life or death, his heart was at peace. With this deep, cherished bond of family, he had no more regrets.

After returning home by taxi, Tang Zhen took out his phone. After a brief moment of hesitation, he scrolled through his contacts and dialed a number.

The contact name read: "Chairman of Infidelity."

The call connected, then was hung up. He dialed again, only to be hung up on once more.

Tang Zhen’s stubborn side kicked in. He kept dialing, thinking, *Let’s see if you dare not pick up.*

Suddenly, the call went through, but a strange, muffled sound of a woman groaning came through clearly. Then, a man’s voice, hoarse with irritation, roared, "Damn it, Tang Zhen! What the hell is so urgent that you can't wait until I'm finished?"

Hearing the sounds from the receiver, Tang Zhen didn't need to ask what the man was doing. He curled his lip and spat, "Is all you do all day seduce married women? Calling you the 'Chairman of Infidelity' is truly an understatement."

The man on the other end replied proudly, "I enjoy it! You’re just envious and jealous!"

Tang Zhen chuckled. "I think you misunderstood. I meant that calling you the 'Chairman of Infidelity' is an insult to your talent—you should be called the 'Prince of Infidelity'! How about that, sounds fitting, right?"

Unexpectedly, the man laughed instead of getting angry. "Only you know me, Tang Zhen! You haven't called me in years—what are you looking for this time?"

"Can't I call just to say hello?"

"Cut the crap, I know you..."

Before Tang Zhen could finish, he heard ragged breathing on the other end, followed by a woman's wild scream. Frowning, he was about to hang up when the voice returned: "Let's meet at the South City Plaza in an hour. Done."

"Damn this bastard!"

Tang Zhen cursed at the phone, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

The man he called the "Prince of Infidelity" was Xu Feng, another orphan who had grown up relying on the kindness of neighbors. Perhaps because they were both orphans, they had been inseparable since childhood, with a bond as solid as iron. Later, when Tang Zhen dropped out to work and Xu Feng began navigating the criminal underworld, they drifted apart, eventually losing contact for years.

Tang Zhen had assumed they were on different paths and would never cross again. But it seemed nothing in this world was absolute; there was only self-deception born of wishful thinking.

An hour later, at South City Plaza.

Tang Zhen arrived early and looked around, bored.

An off-road vehicle pulled up sharply in front of him. The window rolled down, and a handsome man with silver hair and sunglasses leaned out. He waved lazily at Tang Zhen, and when Tang Zhen intentionally ignored him, the man grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the passenger seat and hurled it at him.

"Damn!"

Tang Zhen turned, feigning surprise. "Wow, I haven't seen you in years. You haven't died in a woman's bed yet, and you look even more energetic than before. Heaven really has no eyes."

The handsome man curled his lip in disdain, hopped out of the car, and looked Tang Zhen up and down. He chuckled, "Heh, I heard your foster father ran off with the money. How’s that? Not fun playing debt collector for others, right?"

Tang Zhen’s expression dimmed, and he shook his head slightly.

Xu Feng punched him on the shoulder and comforted him, "It's no big deal. Why don't you come work with me? I guarantee you'll pay off those debts within three years, with plenty left over!"

"Forget it. I can't do what you do."

"Suit yourself! How about I introduce you to a top-tier girl? Don't worry, she's clean—it'll stop you from obsessing over that calculating bitch Fang Yujia."

Tang Zhen curled his lip in disdain. "Thanks, but I'm not like you—I'm not into that. As for Fang Yujia... I've already let it go."

Xu Feng sneered, tilting his head. "You know I'm not interested in those green, unripe melons... Fine, as long as you've let it go. Let's not talk about depressing things. Tell me, what do you need me for?"

Tang Zhen dropped his flippant attitude. He glanced around before saying in a low voice, "Help me get a handgun, and some ammunition."

Xu Feng froze, a flicker of shock crossing his eyes. His narrow, peach-blossom eyes widened. "What do you need that for? You're not planning to kill Fang Yujia’s lover, are you? Listen to me, stay away from that kind of insanity. Forget it—I can't help you with this."