25: Chapter 25: The King’s Return 25: Chapter 25: The King’s Return It was 9:30 PM in a small bar on the outskirts of Zhonghai City, right in the middle of the bar’s busiest hours.
“Leaf, how has the bar’s revenue been lately?
Behind the bar, a bar babe dressed provocatively was wiggling her hips seductively.
A middle-aged man with a lecherous grin slapped her lifted buttocks hard, then looked on with a sleazy expression.
The act provoked giggles from the woman.
With a coquettish reprimand she said, “Master Five, you’re really terrible!
This month’s revenue has improved a bit from last month, but the rent for the bar is just too high, and storage takes up too much space.
After paying rent and other costs, it seems month’s revenue isn’t too impressive after all.”
Lao Five’s smile slowly faded as he rubbed his bald head and downed a shot of strong liquor.
This rent is too fucking high!
Even though it’s near downtown, the rent is pretty much the same as downtown!”
Lao Five looked sullen.
The underling beside him eagerly suggested with a sly smile, “Brother Five, how about we demolish that old bungalow tomorrow and turn it into a storage room?
It would save us the rent every month!
The family hasn’t returned in five years, so they probably won’t come back, I guess.”
I’d like to, but I have some old ties with that house’s owner; we can’t just demolish it so easily,” Lao Five replied, somewhat melancholic.
Although he had long planned to demolish Lin Zifeng’s run-down house, he feared the sudden return of Lin Zifeng, which would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul.
“Brother Five, it’s been five years since that family came back.
The place is just sitting there idle.
Why don’t I just bring some guys tomorrow and take the damn house down?
Nowadays, who wouldn’t want to make money?
Moreover, a few bosses in the next district have started producing and selling ‘ice’.
Lots of customers want that stuff and end up going there.
We can’t fall behind, can we?
You’ve been in the business for so many years, surely you’re not afraid of him?
Even if he comes back, what can he do?
Five years have passed, the world has drastically changed, could he possibly challenge us now?
As soon as you give the order, we’d stake our lives to protect you, Boss!”
The sidekick, likely drunk and overexcited from fooling around with women, boasted wildly, “Brother Five, what era are we in now?
If you want to make a mark here, you need power and money.
If I were you, I’d demolish it tomorrow, then I’d pull some strings, get some people, and we’d get some ‘ice’ rolling.
Since it’s far from us, even if the cops show up, they won’t have anything on us!
What do you think, Brother Five?”
Lao Five pondered for a moment, knocked back another shot of strong liquor, and said firmly, “Demolish it!
I don’t believe he’ll come back!
Even if he does, I’d still demolish it as planned!
What can he possibly do to me?
It’s not his era anymore, this territory belongs to me now, Brother Five, why would I be afraid of him?
Brother Five, you’re absolutely right.
For our future prospects, it should’ve been demolished long ago.
Once we tear down that shabby bungalow and turn it into a warehouse, open a few more bars, we won’t have to worry about lacking space!
I heard the big shot in the Xiaodao district has begun using ‘ice’.
We can’t be left behind!
It’s the 21st century now, if our bar doesn’t offer something new, who’d come here, right?”
Lin Dong, you’re spot on!
Society today isn’t like before when loyalty mattered most.
If we want to make big bucks, our bar must find a better warehouse, then we can get some people to play with ‘ice’, it’ll definitely be a hit!”
Thinking of owning a warehouse to produce ‘ice’ in the future made Lao Five extremely excited.
Such stuff was exceedingly profitable right now!
However, due to strict law enforcement by customs and police, and because Lao Five wasn’t particularly bold, they had set their sights on Lin Zifeng’s small house to produce ‘ice’—otherwise, who would care about that wreck of a house?
I initially thought you guys were considering my family’s little bungalow as a storage warehouse, but it seems you have other schemes in mind!”
Suddenly, a voice not heard for many years resounded from outside the bar!
Lao Five’s hand shook, spilling his drink all over his trousers.
There at the door stood Lin Zifeng, wearing a gentle smile.
His demeanor was indifferent, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.
Suddenly, Liu Lao Wu stared at Lin Zifeng with wide eyes!
His entire dark face showed a look of surprising complexity.
“What’s the matter, Old Five?
Can’t you pour a drink for an old friend?”
Lin Zifeng leisurely ignored everyone else and, without any ceremony, poured himself a glass of white wine and downed it in one gulp.
Lin Zifeng smacked his lips in praise.
At that moment, Liu Lao Wu was stunned.
He had just been discussing with his brother how to demolish Lin Zifeng’s small bungalow, and now, unexpectedly, Lin Zifeng had appeared before him like a ghost!
At that moment, Liu Lao Wu didn’t know whether he was more scared or shocked.
“I don’t know which path this friend is from?” On the side, Ma Zi Lin Dong obviously didn’t recognize Lin Zifeng and stood up with a hostile look on his face.
“Old Five, how have you been these past five years?” Lin Zifeng didn’t even acknowledge Ma Zi Lin Dong, but instead smiled warmly at Liu Lao Wu.
At that moment, Liu Lao Wu’s arm, holding the glass, began to tremble.
He stuttered unclearly, “Zi…
Zifeng, long time no see!”
At that moment, Liu Lao Wu couldn’t even understand what he was trying to say.
Suddenly, it felt as if he had been hit on the head with a stick, and his whole head buzzed.
His eyes revealed a mix of complicated emotions: shock, confusion, bewilderment, fear.
Various complex feelings emerged spontaneously.
Even his bald head began to sweat.
Thinking back to what Lin Zifeng had done five years ago and his consistent style, Liu Lao Wu felt a chilling dread.
Back then, Lin Zifeng was one of the toughest men in Siping Village, known for his harsh methods!
After not seeing him for five years, now that he had come back and sought him out directly, Liu Lao Wu couldn’t help but recall the past, instantly becoming even more frightened.
Seeing that Lin Zifeng didn’t even glance at him, Ma Zi Lin Dong suddenly became angry.
After all, he was considered a significant figure in the bar, respected as “Brother Dong” wherever he went.
Yet now, even a person in a security uniform was looking down on him, making the normally proud and fiery Lin Dong feel even more heated.
Moreover, he could see that this unwelcome guest, Liu Lao Wu, didn’t seem to like him much either!
So he decided to go all out.
Without another word, he grabbed a champagne bottle and smashed it onto the crystal table.
“Motherfucker, you piece of shit…!”
Ma Zi Lin Dong’s furious words were not yet finished.
Lin Zifeng appeared before him like a ghost.
As their eyes met, Lin Zifeng’s sunny smile slowly spread before Lin Dong.
Lin Dong instinctively stepped back, but Lin Zifeng had no intention of letting him go.