Chapter 79: Welcome to Retaliation!

Aunt Fen went over and opened the door.

A burly young man swaggered in, kicked off his shoes, and flopped onto the sofa. “Is dinner ready? I’m starving! Haven’t eaten all day!”

“You little brat, you still remember to come home!” Aunt Fen scolded him. “Dinner’s cooking! Didn’t you notice we have a guest? Come say hello—this is your father’s distant nephew!”

The young man glanced at Ling Qiu and snorted. “Don’t keep calling him my dad. He’s long dead! Don’t try to tie me to every random guy who shows up.”

“You—!” Aunt Fen raised her hand, ready to teach him a lesson.

But before she could, Ling Qiu stepped forward and gently stopped her. “Aunt Fen, there’s no need to get upset. He’s young, a bit rebellious—it’s only natural.”

“Oh?” The young man sneered at Ling Qiu. “Well, sounds like you’re a bit smarter than that so-called father of mine.”

Ling Qiu smiled. “My name is Ling Qiu. And you’re Lu Zhengkun, right?—A pleasure to meet you.”

Yes… Lu Zhengkun. That was his name.

And it wasn’t just someone with the same name.

This unruly, headstrong young man before him… was the very same Lu Zhengkun who, back in the underworld, had been both disciple and friend—his comrade through life and death!

The very one who had died for him.

Ling Qiu’s heart was filled with conflicting emotions. He hadn’t expected… to see him again.

Just as he’d said before his soul was scattered: “If only I could meet you before I died…”

Pretending to be something you’re not. Lu Zhengkun shot Ling Qiu a look, frowning. “I don’t feel lucky to meet you at all. Don’t bother me—I’m busy on my phone.”

Ling Qiu chuckled. This kid really was, just as he’d said… a total good-for-nothing when alive.

Well then. Since fate works in such strange ways…

In this life, no matter what, Ling Qiu would never let Lu Zhengkun die in the street again!

“Well, Uncle Ling, I’ve got something to do. I’ll be in touch tomorrow.” Ling Qiu made up his mind and headed out the door.

Aunt Fen called after him, “Hey, child, don’t go yet, dinner’s almost ready!”

But Ling Qiu had already closed the door and walked away.

“You brat!” Aunt Fen snatched Lu Zhengkun’s phone away. “How can you be so rude? I told you we had a guest—what’s with your attitude?”

Lu Zhengkun yawned. “He’s not some VIP, just your new husband’s distant relative. So what if I greet him? Is he going to pay off my debts?”

At his words, Aunt Fen and Ling Jianguo exchanged glances, both looking at Lu Zhengkun.

Lu Zhengkun was taken aback. “Why are you looking at me like that? So weird!”

After leaving Uncle Ling’s house, Ling Qiu called Xu Wanxi and explained the situation.

“As I thought! Uncle Ling is too clever—he must be pretending!” Xu Wanxi took a deep breath on the other end of the line. “Well, what do you think? This time… you won’t be able to escape being head of the Ling family.”

“Arrange a time with Deng Ruyan. Next month, I want to meet her.”

“All right!”

The next day.

Ling Qiu arrived at the entrance to a billiard hall on the outskirts of the city, backpack slung over his shoulders.

After waiting ten minutes, a hulking figure stepped out of a taxi—it was Lu Zhengkun.

He stopped in front of Ling Qiu, silent for a while, before suddenly asking, “You… can you really pay off that debt for me?”

Ling Qiu replied lightly, “You’ll find out soon enough—just come with me.”

Lu Zhengkun eyed the backpack. “Is that money in there?”

Ling Qiu ignored him and headed straight into the billiard hall.

Lu Zhengkun followed, grumbling, “Hey! I’m talking to you! What’s with the attitude?! Did I say I needed your help?”

Suddenly, Ling Qiu stopped and turned to look at Lu Zhengkun. “Someone once asked me, if I ever met you, to either teach you well or knock some sense into you. So—which do you prefer: a gentle lesson or a beating?”

Lu Zhengkun blinked in confusion. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Before he could ask more, Ling Qiu had already gone upstairs.

Lu Zhengkun gritted his teeth. “Hey! Come back! You don’t even know what kind of people you’re dealing with! Even if you pay the money, they won’t just let it go! Give me the bag—I’ll handle it myself! I don’t need you risking yourself for my sake! I’ll pay you back, just go!”

But Ling Qiu acted as though he hadn’t heard, already reaching the second floor.

The moment Ling Qiu and Lu Zhengkun appeared upstairs, they drew nearly everyone’s attention.

There were seventeen or eighteen people in total.

Most were playing pool, while two or three sat at the bar drinking.

Among them, a man in a leather vest ran a hand over his Mohawk, took a drag from his cigarette, and grinned. “Well, if it isn’t Big Kun, the legend who can take on ten men at once!”

Lu Zhengkun frowned and whispered to Ling Qiu, “Brother… Thanks for coming, but… this isn’t just about my gambling debts! You should leave, give me the bag—I’ll handle it. I’ll pay you back, just go!”

Oh? Ling Qiu glanced at Lu Zhengkun.

Not bad—this kid wasn’t as worthless as he seemed.

At the very least, he had a good heart.

Indeed… No matter how a person changes, their nature doesn’t.

Even if Lu Zhengkun hadn’t lived a straight life, deep down he was surely a kind and upright man.

Ling Qiu smiled, ignoring him, and looked at the man with the Mohawk. “You’re the leader here?”

The Mohawk shrugged. “Who are you, kid?”

Just then, a few people emerged from the crowd. “Boss, that’s him!”

“Yeah, when we went to Lu Zhengkun’s house to collect the debt yesterday, this kid took us on!”

“Oh?” The Mohawk’s eyes narrowed as he sized up Ling Qiu. “Really? Hard to believe—a skinny guy like you could take you all down?”

“It’s true! He’s ruthless!”

The Mohawk clapped his hands twice.

At the signal, a group of men grabbed pool cues and started to surround Ling Qiu and Lu Zhengkun.

Lu Zhengkun quickly stepped in front of Ling Qiu. “I’ll say it one last time, go! Leave this to me!”

“You once stood in front of me—that was the first and last time. Step aside.”

Ling Qiu spoke slowly.

Lu Zhengkun was left utterly bewildered. What was with this guy? Why did he talk so strangely?

Suddenly—

Ling Qiu stepped forward, unzipped his backpack, and bundles of cash spilled out onto the floor.

Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight.

Even the Mohawk arched an eyebrow.

Well, well—

So the kid wasn’t bluffing.

He really was… here to pay the debt.