C10 Chapter 10, the Killer of the Endless Hell

Thrilled!

Zhang Tinglei's heart was practically leaping from his chest.

The rush of blood made the sores on his scalp itch unbearably.

But he paid it no mind.

He hadn't expected his mother's words to be so prophetic.

Lord Worm had come to Cloud Hospital because of him!

Zhang Zhenbang remained composed, quickly saying, "Lord Worm, I apologize for my negligence in caring for Tinglei. He has suffered under my watch. Rest assured, I will handle this miscreant decisively!"

Times had changed.

Tinglei was his only son, his pride and joy.

Despite his son's wild ways and troubles caused, Zhang Zhenbang had always indulged him.

But now, his son had somehow become involved with Lord Worm.

As a father, he had to show a certain decorum towards his son in Lord Worm's presence.

"Tinglei, it's my fault you've been wronged," Zhang Zhenbang said earnestly, gripping his son's hand.

Zhang Tinglei looked at his father, surprised and touched. When had his father ever treated him with such courtesy?

Moved and even more excited, he responded, "Dad, you're not to blame for this."

"Bravo! Such deep father-son affection!"

Luo Yun couldn't help but applaud the scene, though a sarcastic smile lingered on his face.

"Is it your place to speak?!"

Mrs. Zhang, prompted by her husband's remark, came to a realization.

Was Luo Yun's petty issue even worth Lord Worm's intervention?

It would be disastrous if Lord Worm's relationship with Tinglei soured over such a triviality.

She knew what mattered more.

"Throw this boy out! Luo Yun, you'll live another day thanks to Lord Worm's grace! Tomorrow, you'll see how the Zhang family deals with you!"

Her icy expression quickly softened into a smile as she turned to Worm, "Sir, you've just arrived in Yunhai City today, so it's best not to stir any misfortune. We'll take care of this tomorrow, if that suits you?"

Mrs. Zhang was confident in her handling of the situation.

Who in power wouldn't appreciate such deference?

Revenge was trivial; it was all about maintaining appearances for the lord!

Lord Worm, however, looked at the boss with a sly smile and quipped, "Well, as the saying goes, 'Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.' I'm not one for formalities. Let's settle today's business today!"

"Ah, this..." Mrs. Zhang was taken aback, her well-prepared excuses suddenly useless, unsure of how to respond.

Luo Yun sneaked a glance at Lord Worm, who seemed to relish stirring the pot as much as any trickster.

"Lord Worm has spoken, so we'll resolve this today," Zhang Zhenbang declared, his tone grave as he addressed Luo Yun. "Everyone in Yunhai City knows you're simple-minded, Luo Yun. I'd rather not stoop to quarrel with someone of your... limited capacity, but you've harmed Tinglei, and we can't just let that go."

He shed his earlier belligerence and bluster.

Now he was all business, the picture of fairness and integrity.

One must be meticulous when conducting affairs before a superior, mustn't one?

It's never good to be caught up in gossip.

Handle the situation well, and the superior might just take note of one's competence!

Zhang Zhenbang stood tall, "For the safety and well-being of Yunhai City's residents, I've decided to perform a craniotomy on you to remove your..."

He hesitated before stealing a glance.

The doctor in the white coat was quick on the uptake, adding promptly, "We're talking about the frontal lobe, Director Zhang. Normally, if a mental patient is too aggressive, a frontal lobotomy can make them more docile. Sure, they might become a bit more dull-witted, but he's already a fool. A little more won't hurt."

"Exactly, let's remove your frontal lobe."

"Dad, if he's running around causing trouble, that's bad too, right? Maybe we should just cut his Achilles tendons?" Zhang Tinglei suggested with venom in his voice.

He turned his gaze to Luo Yun, who seemed to be someone with a few screws loose. How could he not fear death when it was staring him in the face?

The thought of being shamed and insulted by this idiot made Zhang Tinglei's rage swell uncontrollably.

"Luo Yun, rest assured, once you're a fool, I'll bring Tang Xueqi to visit you every day. Oh, and I'll make sure she's well-trained to be an excellent mistress. Go on, get your surgery done."

The nerve of this guy!

Zhang Tinglei was smug, but even the worms were squirming in disgust.

Were the lands we cleansed with blood in the Southern Territory meant to protect such scum?

Absolutely not!

His expression darkened.

Zhang Zhenbang had been observing the whole time and, mistaking Lord Worm's silence for fury, hurriedly said, "Fine, Tinglei, we'll do as you suggest. You all..."

"Buzz buzz."

A sudden vibration interrupted. Zhang Zhenbang was taken aback.

He checked his phone, intending to dismiss the ill-timed call, but the caller ID made him pause and his face shifted.

"Sir, should I..."

"Answer it," Lord Worm commanded coolly.

He glanced at Luo Yun, finding it hard to believe that his boss remained unfazed.

Could anyone actually say such things?

Yet the boss was unbothered, truly fitting of his title.

He muttered under his breath.

Zhang Zhenbang hurried to a window, speaking softly into the phone, "Mr. He, I've met with Lord Worm. All is well!"

"Good to hear. I did some digging for you. The person Lord Worm visited at Cloud Hospital has been identified."

At that, Zhang Zhenbang couldn't help but smirk. "Mr. He, why the mystery? He's from Yunhai City, right?"

"Yes."

"And his background is quite significant, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"Haha, so this person is none other than me..." Zhang Zhenbang began to boast.

The voice on the line interjected, "It's Luo Yun!"

"!!!"

Zhang Zhenbang was petrified.

His throat constricted, and he felt a numbness unlike any other.

His heart was in pieces!

He stuttered, "Who... Who?!"

"Luo Yun," Mr. He reiterated, surprised, "Luo as in Luo Cheng, Yun as in white cloud. Do you know him?"

Zhang Zhenbang shakily turned to face Luo Yun, who stood calmly in the ward.

By a stroke of bad luck, he caught Luo Yun's icy stare.

Suddenly, the ward transformed into an endless hell before his eyes.

Demons howled in his ears.

The damned souls shrieked in terror.

They seemed to be both a reminder and an explanation.

Luo Yun was the architect of this boundless hell.

At that moment, the murderer's eyes locked onto him.

Zhang Zhenbang felt his blood turn to ice.

"Dad, dad..."

"Huh?"

The sound of the call snapped him back to reality.

Zhang Tinglei frowned and said, "Dad, what are you doing? Finish the phone call and get on with handling the matter!"

He was acutely aware that he had now forged a connection with Lord Worm, which meant his status within the vast Zhang family network was on the rise.

So what if Zhang Zhenbang was Director Zhang?

Without the ties of blood, would he even be in that position come tomorrow?

The hesitation to act was frustrating.

Zhang Tinglei's face showed his discontent.