“Chen, Rasfa and I have a party in two days. Want to come? There’ll be a lot of pretty girls.” Ever since Steven recovered his abilities, he became less and less of a respected elder.
“No, I have a steady relationship right now. I don’t want to cause any problems.”
“What a pity. You’ll regret it.”
“I won’t regret it,” Chen Zhao said, unconvinced. “Be careful. I don’t want to have to treat your STDs later.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”
“Don’t overdo it either. You two are both strong now, but you’re still old.”
Just then, Chen Zhao heard loud singing. A woman with a hat and sunglasses was playing the guitar by the roadside. She had a microphone before her.
Chen Zhao parked the car and leaned against the window to listen to her sing. No one stopped when she finished the song, but she didn’t care. She began the next song.
Chen Zhao pulled some change out of his pocket. Rolling up the cash, he tossed it before the woman.
“Hey…you’re good at singing. Bye.”
The woman picked up the cash and looked at the SUV driving away.
“He gave me money. Did he think I’m a busker?”
Her phone rang just then. Her manager’s voice sounded on the other end. “Dear, where are you right now?”
“Busking.”
“What?”
“Nothing. What’s wrong?”
“The Baroness has a fashion show today. Going?”
“Get me an invitation.”
“No problem.”
…
Chen Zhao’s phone rang, but it was an unfamiliar number. “Hello, who is it?”
“Hey, Chen. Are you busy?” Morgery’s phone streamed out.
“Morgery, you changed your number?”
“I’m in trouble. I need help.”
“Where are you right now?”
“Is anyone next to you?” Morgery sounded nervous.
“No.”
“I can trust you, right?”
“Keep up the nonsense and I’ll hang up.”
“Fine, fine… I’m in that forest cabin from last time.”
“Okay, I’ll head over.”
Chen Zhao had thought that Morgery and his boss had settled down, but he was clearly wrong. Gangsters would never settle down.
However, they were friends, so he couldn’t not do anything.
Chen Zhao turned the steering wheel and drove toward the suburbs. Halfway there, he saw a big tree blocking the street. He couldn’t get through, so he had to get out of the car and try to move the tree.
Just then, he heard a whistle. Following the sound, he saw Morgery hiding by the roadside.
“Morgery, didn’t you say you’ll wait in the cabin? How come you’re here?”
“It’s not safe there anymore.”
“Were you purposely lying to me on the phone?”
“Ignore those details. Follow me.”
“What about my car?”
“No one’s going to steal your crappy car.”
Chen Zhao walked over to Morgery who came out of the grass. His body was covered in blood. He had a gunshot wound in his thigh too.
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“Morgery, did you just get back from Afghanistan?”
“Don’t mention it,” Morgery said dejectedly. “Boss is dead, the guys are scattered. Only I escaped.”
Chen Zhao was surprised to hear that Morgery’s boss was dead. “I’m not interested in your gang problems. Don’t tell me about them either. Find a place for me to treat you.”
“Uh…”
“Haven’t seen in a few days and you’ve gotten all slow.”
“I don’t have money right now.”
“So you owe me. I’m already here, so I’ll at least take an IOU back if I can’t get money.” Chen Zhao could see that Morgery had really fallen this time. It was different from before.
He hadn’t made excuses about the fee the last time they’d had to escape.
“Where are you living now?”
“A cave?”
“A cave?” Chen Zhao’s eyes widened. “No way. It’s that bad?”
“I don’t know who I can trust now, other than you.”
“I have some money. You can take it.”
“No need,” Morgery said. “I’m too scared to buy things even if I have money.”
“Did you offend the CIA or something? You look so scared.”
“Whatever. Let’s stop talking. I’ll take you to where I’m hiding.”
“I’ll carry you.”
Chen Zhao watched how Morgery limped down the rugged forest road. He walked with difficulty. Thankfully, he was physically strong. Otherwise, he’d already be on the ground.
Morgery was forcing himself to stay up too.
Chen Zhao picked him up.
“Oh, when did you start shaving your head? You had me help you grow hair before. Didn’t you say hair grew out?”
“I suddenly think that being bald suits me better,” Morgery answered.
“How much further?”
“That hill up above.”
“Are you planning on becoming a caveman?”
“I need to hide and then decide.”
Chen Zhao carried Morgery to the cave’s entrance but heard something inside. It was heavy breathing, like someone was robbing Morgery.
When they reached the entrance and looked in, they saw a huge black shadow in the cave. Morgery’s suitcase was ripped open. All his clothes were scattered. His food, sausages, crackers, and clean water were destroyed too.
“F*ck!”
“F*ck!”
It was an unimaginably large brown bear! Its burly figure gave off a repressive aura. Its thick limbs could rip apart anything.
Chen Zhao estimated that it was more than 500 kilograms and three meters tall. This bear was definitely the king of this forest.
When he and Morgery discovered the bear, it also discovered them.
Roar!
The bear let out a roar and rushed out of the cave.
“Run!” Morgery yelled.
Chen Zhao grabbed Morgery and sprinted. But Morgery let out a strangled cry. His ankle was in the bear’s mouth. Chen Zhao ran too quickly, which made Morgery get dragged off of his back.
Chen Zhao looked back to see the bear pounce on Morgery.
When he was in the heat of things, he would sometimes turn impulsive when he was extremely afraid. This was what happened.
Without thinking, Chen Zhao pounced at the bear.
The bear lifted its claw and left four gashes on his chest. His shirt was torn and blood started seeping from his injuries.
Chen Zhao immediately returned a punch to the bear, but the bear didn’t react at all when his fist landed.