C19 Come and Kill Me!

Lu Hai walked away without a backward glance. His sole reason for being here was Sun Xiaoya. With Xiaoya gone, he'd have to deal with Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng, the last two people he wanted to see.

Watching Lu Hai's retreating figure, Chen Xiaomeng commented, "Hai really doesn't fit in with us."

Zhao Zhe laughed. "Fitting in doesn't matter. But if I find out he's the one who snitched to Xu, we're not going to let it slide."

Chen Xiaomeng, ever the peacemaker, said, "Vice Principal Xu didn't really do anything to you. Even if Hai did report your truancy, let's just let it go. We're all classmates; it'll be awkward if things get tense."

"Cutie, you're too nice for your own good," Zhao Zhe said. "What if he's the one who took those photos of us buying underwear and sanitary pads?"

Chen Xiaomeng's face turned beet red. "Damn, I'd give him a piece of my mind! My parents found out about it. I'm so embarrassed... Zhe, this is all your fault... Wait, that's not right. Why were you buying bras and sanitary pads, anyway? Were they for Xiaoxue?"

Zhao Zhe drained his cup of tea and savored a pastry, saying contentedly, "They're delicious. Of course, they were for her. What else would we do with them?"

After a moment's thought, Chen Xiaomeng asked, "Zhe, are you really off to save the world? Is Xiaoxue someone you rescued along the way? Are all those things you're getting part of your world-saving mission?"

Zhao Zhe, his voice hushed and face alight with secrecy, replied, "Absolutely. What else would you think? This stays between us. We need to keep it under wraps and not tell anyone else, especially not Lu Hai!"

Chen Xiaomeng nodded. "Zhe, can I join you on your world-saving quest? Maybe I can rescue a girl too?"

"I've already included you," Zhao Zhe said. "You're in charge of supplies."

Unsatisfied, Chen Xiaomeng protested, "I don't want to just handle supplies. I want to be a hero. I'll give you back the 200,000. You handle the supplies, and I'll go save the damsel in distress."

Taking Chen Xiaomeng to the world of ice and snow? That's ludicrous. Let's set aside the fact that there's no energy shield to protect him from harm during teleportation; I, Zhao Zhe, already feel like a burden in that realm. With Chen Xiaomeng in tow, would I even be able to complete the mission?

"Cutie, that's an irresponsible thing to say. We're both fighting for the cause, just in different roles. There will be a time for heroics and damsels in distress, but you're not ready yet. You lack the skills to protect yourself in the face of danger. For now, you need to handle logistics and gain experience. It's my responsibility to ensure you're prepared. Once you're capable of holding your own, then you can play the hero. Besides, the ladies are still young; they need time to grow."

Chen Xiaomeng pondered and realized the truth in those words. If he couldn't handle a fight, he might end up sacrificing his life, and what would become of his parents then?

"Zhe, where did you get the 200,000 yuan? It wasn't stolen, was it? I'm worried the police might come knocking if we spend it."

Zhao Zhe, frustrated, responded, "Cutie, would I ever put you in harm's way? I've already explained that Xu gave it to me after I sold him two family heirloom cat's eye cabochons."

Chen Xiaomeng looked up to him with respect, "Zhe, you're incredible, sacrificing your family treasures to save the world. And the payoff isn't too shabby either—Xiaoxue is adorable and beautiful. I really like her..."

Zhao Zhe retorted sharply, "Don't even think about Xiaoxue; she's not going to fall for you."

Chen Xiaomeng protested, "Zhe, you can't have them all to yourself. Keep Xiaoya, but let me have Xiaoxue."

Zhao Zhe gave Chen Xiaomeng a knock on the head, "They're not objects to be kept or given away. And for the last time, Xiaoxue isn't interested in you. Drop the idea. As for Xiaoya, how many times do I have to tell you? She and I are just classmates and friends. You're the one making a fuss over nothing."

Chen Xiaomeng sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, admitting to himself that he had orchestrated the whole confession to Sun Xiaoya. Reflecting on it now, it seemed that Xiaoya had simply seen the incident as a joke and hadn't dwelled on it much.

"Zhe, the coal will be delivered this afternoon. I plan to have it stacked in the open space between our buildings. It's summer now; why are you buying so much coal? And about that gun you mentioned..." Chen Xiaomeng whispered, making a gun shape with his hands.

"It's tricky to get ahold of. You're likely to encounter scammers online; at best, they might send you a toy pistol or a crossbow. I've ordered a few from a sporting goods store through an online platform, so there's no worry about being cheated."

Zhao Zhe stressed, "Did you make it clear to them? We need something powerful enough to take down a bear. Otherwise, it's useless and could even backfire on us."

Chen Xiaomeng replied, "I told them. They promised to craft a batch of special crossbow bolts with anesthetic properties. Also, the military rations and thermal clothing we ordered last time have arrived—they're all stacked up in my room. The ordinary crossbows we ordered are here too. You can pick them up later."

Zhao Zhe had previously ordered a batch of crossbows before encountering the formidable snow rats. He hadn't anticipated their strength, prompting him to order a new batch of more sophisticated and deadly crossbows. Without sufficient power, he risked not only failing to kill the snow rats but also endangering himself. This was not a matter to be taken lightly.

Zhao Zhe had always seen Chen Xiaomeng as part of his inner circle. Even though Chen Xiaomeng had been skeptical about his claims of saving the world, the continuous arrival of supplies must have sparked some realization in him.

Zhao Zhe wasn't concerned about Chen Xiaomeng spreading word to others; he had never concealed his actions, but no one had believed him anyway.

Together, they moved the supplies from Chen Xiaomeng's place to Zhao Zhe's room. Zhao Zhe needed to transport them in stages to the world of ice and snow. The military rations were initially intended for emergencies, but if they couldn't obtain thermal weapons on Earth, they would have to consider trading the rations for weapons in the underground city.

The coal delivery man hadn't been gone long when Zhao Zhe began to unload the truck, eyeing the mountain of coal with concern. He wondered how many trips it would take to transport it all to the world of ice and snow if he had to carry it by himself. A portable storage space would have been ideal, but he hadn't yet activated the Goldfinger. And what use would a bicycle be in this situation?

Exhausted from the day's work, Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng settled down on the rooftop to drink tea and rest. They discussed purchasing superior cold weapons on Earth, oblivious to the sun beating down on them. Their conversation was cut short by the commotion below.

"Old man, I swear I'll tear down your shop today, or I'll take your surname! Brothers, grab your weapons!" The clamor escalated into the sound of destruction, culminating in the crash of a large glass door shattering.

Chen Xiaomeng, seated near the edge, peered down and exclaimed, "Oh no, Zhang Chu's shop is being vandalized!"

Zhao Zhe cursed, "That's my glass door!"

Zhang Chu rented his shop space from Zhao Zhe's family, and that glass door was part of their property. Now smashed, how would they be compensated? Anxious, Zhao Zhe bolted downstairs with Chen Xiaomeng right behind him.

They encountered over a dozen thugs, each wielding a steel bar as thick as a thumb, one swinging a hammer. Zhang Chu from the health club was pinned to the ground, and Zhao Zhe's grandmother, who had tried to intervene, lay pushed aside on the pavement.

Zhao Zhe grabbed a brick and charged into the fray. Though no stranger to a fight, he was outmatched in strength and numbers. Armed with only a brick against their long weapons, he was at a disadvantage before the fight even began.

Chen Xiaomeng attempted to step in but was swiftly knocked down by a blow from an iron rod. He hit the ground hard, unable to rise. The assailants were merciless, and high school students Zhao Zhe and Chen Xiaomeng stood no chance against them.

Upon seeing her grandson at a disadvantage, Zhao Zhe's grandmother, Jiang Guihua, moved to intervene but was restrained. Her mahjong partners, all either elderly or frail, stood no chance against these aggressors. Zhang, from the health club, had already been beaten down, gasping for air with difficulty.

Zhao Zhe watched as his grandmother struggled fiercely, only to be struck in the back of the head with a rod. The blow nearly killed him, leaving him seeing stars and collapsing weakly to the ground.

"You're trying to stick your nose where it doesn't belong, huh?" sneered a thug with yellow hair, pinning Zhao Zhe down with his foot and prodding his head with a steel bar. "I've heard you're quite the busybody at school. Consider this a warning. Don't mess with things that aren't your business, or you'll bring trouble down on yourself that could cost you your life!"

Despite the throbbing in his head, Zhao Zhe grasped the gist of yellow hair's words. It seemed they knew him, and the attack on Zhang's health club might have been a ruse. Their true intent was to draw him out, to teach him a lesson, to warn him against meddling in school affairs.

"Release my grandson!" Jiang Guihua bit the arm of the man holding her, forcing him to let go. At sixty-two, her rush of anger gave her strength, but as she moved to rescue Zhao Zhe, she stumbled and fell.

"Grandma!" Zhao Zhe's eyes blazed with fury as he saw her fall, but he was pinned down by yellow hair, unable to move an inch.

"Kid, you want to save your grandma? Worry about yourself first," the thug taunted. "I'll have you know, I rule this place. Calling the cops is pointless; they're in my pocket. They won't show up until I'm long gone. You know what this is called? Power! I suggest you don't bite off more than you can chew. Next time, it won't just be a smashed shop and a few bruises to calm me down. I'll break your arms and legs!"

Zhao Zhe's lips were raw from biting; he had never before faced such humiliation. In school, he might have been bold enough to take on any classmate in a fight, but out here, in the real world, he was up against people with extensive influence and tangled social ties. How could he possibly stand a chance on his own? Even as a space-time warrior, without the Goldfinger, he remained just an ordinary person.

"Either you kill me, or I swear I'll kill you one day!" Zhao Zhe spat out the words at Yellow Hair with venom.

Yellow Hair, standing on Zhao Zhe's back, taunted, "Come on then, try to kill me. I'm giving you the chance. Even if I just stood here and let you do it, would you dare? Would my brothers even allow it? If you're so capable, get up and try to kill me!"

Yellow Hair then lifted his foot to stomp down on Zhao Zhe's head. He had been given a task to make an example of Zhao Zhe, to dish out enough humiliation to teach him a lesson about the untouchable things in life.

"Release my master!" A tender voice echoed from a distance.