Huo Zhengkui

Instead of answering, Lu Jing asked, "Do you know who Jingguo's grandfather was?" Tao Siming shook his head. He had joined the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance only twenty years ago, and twenty years ago, Deng Jingguo's father had already returned to the Spirit Realm. The Anti-Black-and-White Alliance was fundamentally the Deng family's foundation. He was at most a rising star who had become a shareholder thanks to his outstanding ability. Of course, Tao Siming and Deng Jingguo were kindred brothers of one mind, so he was by no means an outsider. That was why he was able to sit here for tonight's conversation. "My grandfather?" Deng Jingguo frowned as well. "Growing up, I never heard my father mention him." Lu Jing nodded. "Of course he didn't dare say anything. If he had, he might not have lived to adulthood. Your grandfather's name was Huo Zhengkui." The name Huo Zhengkui set off turbulent waves in Deng Jingguo and Tao Siming's hearts. The two Dominators, who had weathered great storms, both froze in astonishment. Among the Chinese-descent walkers of New York County, practically no one didn't know Huo Zhengkui. Well, the young kids of the new generation might not know, but middle-aged and older folks like them knew very well who he was. He was the founder of the Spirit Realm walker organization—a syndicate—in New York County's Chinatown, a Spirit Realm walker active during the previous century. Ever since immigrating to New York County, Chinese people had faced unjust treatment, capitalist oppression, and racial discrimination. The early overseas Chinese worked in mines, on farms, in cigar factories, lumber mills, and other dirty, grueling jobs white people were unwilling to do. During the Free Federation's economic crises, white workers were laid off en masse, whereas the Chinese doing the dirty, grueling jobs managed to feed themselves. As a result, they became the government's scapegoat to deflect societal tension. The white public condemned and denounced them, and the government rode the wave by enacting Chinese Exclusion Acts and the like, making life extremely difficult for the Chinese. Against this backdrop, a Spirit Realm walker organization—a syndicate—came into being: the Brotherhood. Connecting the impoverished masses below and the affluent class above, it collaborated and played power games with the government while resisting exploitation by the capitalist class, even resorting to armed resistance when necessary. At the Brotherhood's peak, nine out of ten Chinese were members of the organization. Yet its massive, sprawling membership structure also led to internal instability. While Huo Zhengkui was alive, everyone respected and yielded to him, and the Brotherhood stumbled along and held together. After Huo Zhengkui returned to the Spirit Realm, aided by the fueling flames of the New York County government, the Brotherhood fractured into three major organizations—the very same famous Chinese Spirit Realm walker organizations of today: Black Dragon Hall, Baolin Hall, and the Hong Gang. "My father was Huo Zhengkui's illegitimate son?" Deng Jingguo muttered to himself. Lu Jing nodded, his tone laden with the vicissitudes of time. "When Old Master Huo returned to the Spirit Realm, your father was still a nobody. With the Brotherhood fracturing, he didn't dare expose his identity. He brought me along to strike out on his own. As our levels grew higher and higher, we founded the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance. The reason for choosing that name was partly to carry on Old Master Huo's legacy, and partly... well, who hustling in the Free Federation hasn't been squeezed dry by those bastards?" The gaunt old man picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, then continued: "Old Master Huo was an exceptionally gifted Spirit Realm walker. In his youth, he traveled Europe and worked as a bounty hunter for a time, where he met the Pope. Exactly how they met, I'm not clear; your father never said, and perhaps he didn't know either. "Over a century ago in Europe, an unimaginable upheaval reportedly took place. As the most powerful Spirit Realm walker organization in the world, the Holy See fell. "Before he died, the Pope entrusted an item to Old Master Huo. Perhaps it was because Old Master Huo was of Chinese descent. Back then, he still wore a Qing-era queue, looking thoroughly out of place in Europe. No one would have suspected that the Pope would hand over a precious relic to a yellow man with a queue. "And so, carrying the Pope's relic, Old Master Huo left Europe and came to New York County, where he founded the Brotherhood. In his later years, he passed that relic down to his illegitimate son—Jingguo's father. "This was because an illegitimate son's identity was far more covert. For the very same reason, my brother also passed the Pope's relic down to his illegitimate son, Jia Feizhang." "So that's how it is..." Tao Siming said, enlightened. He glanced at Deng Jingguo and remarked, "But what was the reason for doing so? If the Pope's relic was so precious, Old Master Huo should have claimed it himself, because only a powerful Spirit Realm walker can wield a mighty and precious item. "Even if Old Master Huo couldn't claim it for some reason, he should have passed it on to a powerful descendant for future generations to complete. At the very least, trading it to Heaven's Punishment would have been better than leaving it to an illegitimate son." Deng Jingguo snorted coldly. "My father was an illegitimate son, but he was also a Spirit Realm walker—a Spirit Realm walker stronger than both of us." Tao Siming, who had a scholarly air about him, smiled wryly. "Then your father's actions make even less sense. Why did he give it to Jia Feizhang instead of you? Did Uncle Deng think Jia Feizhang could become a Spirit Realm walker as well?" "None of that matters anymore," Lu Jing said in a deep voice. "The Pope's relic cannot fall into other hands. Now that Jia Feizhang is dead, Jingguo must keep it safe. We must reclaim the Pope's relic." Deng Jingguo knit his thick brows tightly. "Uncle Jing, we don't even know who the enemy is. How can we take it back? And we might not have the strength to take it back either." Lu Jing, with his head of silver hair, displayed remarkable firmness and said immediately, "Then report it to Heaven's Punishment and let Heaven's Punishment take it back. That way, we can at least demand a finder's fee from them." Deng Jingguo and Tao Siming exchanged a glance, neither objecting. "Then it's settled." Lu Jing took out his phone, intending to contact the higher-ups of Heaven's Punishment's New York County branch. "I've dealt with Winnie Bertram a few times. She's an upright Lightning Mage, even if she's a bit cold and aloof." Just then, the phone beside Tao Siming chimed. He pulled out his phone, looked at the screen, and his expression suddenly shifted. "Wait!" Lu Jing and Deng Jingguo looked over at the sound. Tao Siming wore a peculiar expression as he held up his phone and turned the screen toward the two of them. "The commission we posted in the Hunter Guild... has been completed!" *** The next day, 8:00 a.m. Zhang Yuanqing got out of bed, freshened up, and walked into the living room to find that Annie had already set out breakfast. She had even considerately torn the youtiao into pieces and soaked them in savory soy milk. Her own breakfast consisted of fried eggs, toast, bacon, and sweet soy milk. "Why are you having sweet soy milk?" "I'm not used to savory soy milk." "Promise me you won't drink sweet soy milk in the future." "..." After finishing breakfast, Zhang Yuanqing slipped his phone into his pocket, turned the doorknob, and stepped out of the apartment, just in time to see Cao Qianxiu emerging with her younger brother by the hand. Tear streaks still lingered on Cao Chao's face, and he held a popsicle in his hand, looking as though he had just been beaten either by his mother or his sister. Coming face-to-face, Cao Qianxiu stopped dead in her tracks. Her eyes lit up slightly, yet she stood stiffly in place, too constrained to speak. Zhang Yuanqing took the initiative to step forward, patted Cao Chao on the head, and asked with a chuckle, "What happened?" Cao Chao wailed loudly and clung to Zhang Yuanqing's leg. Wiping tears and snot all over his trousers, he cried, "I wanted two popsicles, but Mommy wouldn't let me! She called me a *pou gai jai*!" "Go back right now and shout at your mom: 'Please call me *leng zai*!'" Zhang Yuanqing said. "Then she'll let you have two popsicles." "Really?" The little boy opened his innocent eyes wide. "That's how I yelled at my mom when I was a kid. It's guaranteed to work!" Zhang Yuanqing offered courage and encouragement. Cao Chao thought it over. Driven by his longing for popsicles and his trust in his neighbor big brother, he pulled open the security door with soaring morale and rushed into the living room to confront the landlady. Only then did Zhang Yuanqing turn toward the girl next door and speak up: "Sorry about concealing my true level." Cao Qianxiu forced a smile. "Our foundation of trust wasn't strong enough back then anyway. Who would tell a stranger their real level?" *Didn't you do just that?* Zhang Yuanqing roasted inwardly, but didn't say it out loud, not wanting to embarrass the proud young girl. Cao Qianxiu hesitated a moment, testing the waters: "Then... about joining the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance..." "I think it's pretty interesting. Until I return home, I'm a member of Team 6 of the Anti-Black-and-White Alliance. Remember to call on me if anything comes up, and no withholding my salary." Zhang Yuanqing gave a definite answer. Cao Qianxiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Then, what about regular team gatherings...?" "If I have time, I'll attend." Zhang Yuanqing nodded. A smile appeared on the young girl's face. Right then, pig-slaughtering shrieks echoed from inside the apartment. Cao Chao came bawling out, tears pouring down like rain. Looking at Zhang Yuanqing in utter heartbreak, his wails served as an accusation. Even the single popsicle in his hand was gone now. "It didn't work?" Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a moment, then said, "Next time, try: 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—do not bully a youth just because he is poor!'" Cao Chao cried even louder. "Alright, alright. Go knock on Room 403 right now. Auntie Annie will compensate you with a pack of snacks." Cao Chao instantly stopped crying. "Really?" "When have I ever lied to you?" Zhang Yuanqing countered. "Mm!" Cao Chao skipped over happily to knock on the door. Watching her brother's silly antics, Cao Qianxiu wore a somewhat conflicted expression. "Sometimes I wonder if you really are a Scout. As far as I know, Scouts are like soldiers—serious and proper." "That's because you don't know the Second District well. Every group has its outliers. Being serious and proper is a collective trait, not an individual one; there will always be people who aren't serious or proper enough." Zhang Yuanqing gave her the rundown: "I know a Fire Specialist who's wiser than a Scholar. I also know a Scholar who's more bombastic than a Fire Specialist. And there's a powerful Scout who loves hearing people suck up to him and watching them bow down in reverence..." Cao Qianxiu listened attentively. At 9:30 a.m., Zhang Yuanqing, dressed in casual clothes and disguised as the balding, middle-aged Jia Feizhang, stepped into the Meisheng Bank building. He walked straight to the reception desk and said to the tall, brown-haired, brown-eyed white woman, "Hello, I'm looking for Will George. He's my account manager." "Please wait a moment!" The receptionist looked down and tapped on her computer. A moment later, she looked up and said, "Will George resigned many years ago." *Resigned? Hm, that means Jia Feizhang hasn't opened the safety deposit box for decades...* Zhang Yuanqing said, "I'm here to access a safe deposit box. The box number is 0042." The receptionist said, "Please show me valid identification..." A transparent vortex surfaced in Zhang Yuanqing's eyes. "You have already seen my valid identification." The receptionist was dazed for an instant, then broke into a warm smile. "Please, please follow me!" She led Zhang Yuanqing into the bank's interior and knocked on the manager's office door. "Manager, this gentleman is here to open a safe deposit box."