Chapter 9

"Alright, Mr. Chi, you're a man of your word, let's settle this matter this way."

Upon hearing the words of Brother Hao, the Sun brothers were overjoyed. In their eyes, the Qin siblings were merely a pair of orphans. Even if they went missing, no one would pay attention, and no one would report it to the police. The two thousand yuan was like free money.

"Mr. Chi, we can bring the people over tomorrow, but what about the money..."

Sun Laoer's eyes were fixed on the stack of money beside Brother Hao. He stammered, "Mr. Chi, if you trust us, could you give us some deposit first?"

The previous drinking session hadn't been enough, and Sun Laoer wanted to celebrate with his brother again. However, he was short of money, so he had the idea to get it from Brother Hao.

"No problem, this thousand yuan can be the deposit. Brother Sun, please take it."

Brother Hao laughed heartily, split the stack of money in half, and handed it to Sun Lao. However, he didn't let go of the money, saying, "Brother Sun, we want to go with you to see those two kids tomorrow. Is that okay?"

After hearing Sun Laoer's introduction, Brother Hao knew that the siblings lived alone in a remote area, which made him want to go there directly.

After all, they were staying in a guesthouse with many people around. If the Sun brothers lured those two people there, something unexpected might happen.

"Sure, let's go around noon tomorrow. Usually, the two kids are there at that time."

Just by talking, Sun Lao had earned two thousand yuan, and he was more than happy. He originally planned to lure the siblings with the pretext of selling scrap, but since Mr. Chi wanted to go personally, it would save them the trouble.

"Brother, isn't two thousand a bit too much?"

After the Sun brothers left, Qi Baoyu said somewhat discontentedly. Given the brothers' nature, even a thousand yuan would make them jump for joy.

"Not too much, Brother, we need to think long-term."

Brother Hao shook his head and said, "This place is far from our area, and it's hard to find lost children. We might need these two people in the future, so let's give them a taste of the sweet deal."

In recent years, Brother Hao had gradually taken control of the begging business in his city and the surrounding areas. The number of small beggars under his control was dwindling, and to continue developing, he needed to control more children.

Marx once said: Capital, if it can make a fifty percent profit, will take risks; if it can make a hundred percent profit, it will trample all laws; if it can make a three hundred percent profit, it will dare to commit any crime, even risking the gallows.

Brother Hao didn't know about Marx's words, but he knew that two thousand yuan was insignificant compared to the benefits a beggar could create.

In good locations, a beggar could earn one or two hundred yuan a day. If they were disabled, this number could double. So, Brother Hao was willing to pay this amount.

"Brother, you don't need to go tomorrow. Buy the tickets for our return trip and wait for us at the station."

After thinking for a moment, Brother Hao looked at the person next to Qi Baoyu and said, "Brother Seven, if the Sun brothers play any tricks, then..."

As he spoke, Brother Hao made a throat-cutting gesture. The young man who had been drinking silently raised his head, nodded, and then lowered it again.

Brother Hao was actually from Northeast China. In the early 1980s, he went south with the wave of migrant workers. After working for two years, he met an old man who completely changed the course of his life.

The old man was a genuine member of the underworld, controlling a beggar gang before the liberation. When the reform and opening-up began in the south, he immediately sensed the opportunity and came to the coastal city to restart his business.

However, the old man was old and found it hard to manage many things, so he took a disciple and passed on all the underworld knowledge to Brother Hao.

What the old man didn't expect was that Brother Hao was far more ruthless. He thought the money beggars with intact bodies earned was too little, so he broke the legs of several children, leading to a conflict between the two.

In the end, Brother Hao drugged his master with a sleeping potion and suffocated him to death with a pillow while he was asleep. Ironically, the formula for the sleeping potion was given to Brother Hao by the old man himself.

After the old man's death, Brother Hao took full control of the beggars and began his criminal empire.

The person Brother Hao instructed, Brother Seven, was named Zhang Junlong, Brother Hao's nephew. Due to his poor family background, Zhang Junlong joined his uncle at the age of eighteen.

Over the years, the ruthless and skilled Zhang Junlong became Brother Hao's most trusted enforcer.

Most of the disabled beggars under Brother Hao's control had been injured by Zhang Junlong. Just hearing his name would make them tremble in fear.

"Yes, Boss, you can count on me."

No one, including Liu Lao and Qi Baoyu, knew the relationship between Zhang Junlong and Brother Hao, so he always addressed him as "Boss" in public.

After making the arrangements, everyone went about their business. Taking two children onto the train was a tricky matter, but Brother Hao already had a plan. He intended to find a pharmacy to prepare the sleeping potion he had learned from his master.

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"Zimo, take care on your journey. I'll miss you!"

Today was the day the Liu family was leaving for Taiwan. In the Liu family courtyard, Qin Feng was bidding farewell to his only friend in the world.

"Ah Feng, take care of yourself. Grandpa doesn't easily read people's fortunes, and what he says is usually accurate."

Liu Zimo looked at Qin Feng with a worried expression. He knew that despite Qin Feng's quiet and gentle appearance, he harbored a devil inside.

Liu Zimo had once seen Qin Feng, after being insulted by a group of students about his parents, break the right leg of a boy three or four years older than him. He also intimidated the boy into not revealing the truth, telling him he had fallen and broken his leg.

"Zimo, don't worry. What could happen to me? Come back soon, and we'll go catch crickets together."

Qin Feng laughed. He never believed in ghosts or gods. Although he respected Liu Grandpa, he considered his words as nonsense.

"You little brat, sigh, wait a moment."

Seeing Qin Feng's indifferent attitude, Liu Zimo stomped his foot, pulled Qin Feng into his room, and pulled out a flat wooden box from under the bed.

"Ah Feng, take this. Don't cause trouble, but if something happens, use it to defend yourself." Liu Zimo touched the box with a hint of reluctance but finally handed it to Qin Feng.

"What is this? Wow, it's so heavy!"

The box was only ten centimeters wide and about forty centimeters long, looking light, but when Qin Feng took it, it felt heavy, almost falling to the ground.

"This is a spearhead that Grandpa made, modeled after the divine spear of our ancestor. It's made of the best materials, and there are only three of them. This one was passed down to me by Grandpa."

Liu Zimo opened the box, revealing a spearhead about thirty centimeters long, gleaming with a cold, sharp light. The spearhead was diamond-shaped, like a long dagger, with a high spine, thin blade, and sharp tip. A blood groove ran down the middle, and even without a spear shaft, the spearhead exuded a dangerous aura.

At the base of the spearhead was a red horsehair tassel, which could confuse the opponent during combat and prevent their blood from sliding down the shaft to the hand.

To honor his master, Liu Yunjiao spared no effort in making these three spearheads. It took him two years and nearly 300,000 yuan to create them.

The spearheads were made of three-layer steel, an expensive Japanese laminated steel. The high-carbon inner layer served as the core, while the outer layers were tempered for toughness and elasticity. The final blade combined the best features of both steels, capable of cutting through a steel bar as thick as a finger in one strike.

"Zimo, I can't take this. It was passed down to you by Liu Grandpa."

Qin Feng didn't know the cost of the spearhead, but he could tell it was very valuable, especially since it was a family heirloom.

"I can't take it back. Keep it for self-defense, and I'll take it back when I return."

Liu Zimo was genuinely afraid that his grandfather's prediction might come true. Without waiting for Qin Feng to refuse, he closed the box and forced it into Qin Feng's hands. Although the spearhead was precious, it was less important than his friend's life.

"Alright, I'll keep it for you."

Qin Feng suddenly remembered an incident from a few years ago. If he had practiced martial arts and had this spearhead, his parents might not have suffered such a tragedy.

"That's better. Hey, they're calling me. It's time to go."

Liu Zimo's father's voice echoed from the courtyard. Liu Zimo quickly said, "Hide this in your clothes. Don't let my uncle or anyone else see it, or I'll be in trouble."

Liu Zimo knew the significance of the spearhead to the Liu family. If the elders saw it, he would likely get a severe beating, and Qin Feng wouldn't be able to take the spearhead out of the Liu family.

Fortunately, it was cold, and Qin Feng was wearing a military green coat. After putting the box in his coat, it wasn't noticeable from the outside.

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