NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34: Bai Tiger Tribe
Yu Lu led the way to her house. According to her, they had to walk for a bit before getting there. But before they got to her place, Yu Lu decided to stop by a convenience store to get a few things.
“Here, to replenish your energy.”
She offered Zhi Luan a drink.
Zhi Luan accepted and took a sip of the drink just to be sure of its taste. However, his eyes widened when a sweet taste assaulted his taste buds. He took a big gulp of the bubbly drink, the fizz tickling his nose as he savored the sweet taste. Yu Lu laughed joyfully at Zhi Luan’s expression, and the latter didn’t mind at all. Yu Lu was all smiles when she exited the store. She was now a lot more relaxed than before. However, Zhi Luan couldn’t shake off a nagging feeling, as he looked in a certain direction.
Back at the subway station, two cars pulled up haphazardly by the entrance, as a group of men got down and scoured the area. Among them was the young man with a tattoo on his forearm, Bai Shun. They were ten minutes late after the train made its final stop at Jishan.
“We are late… they’re long gone by now…” said Bai Shun with an unsightly expression.
But his phone suddenly rang,
“Hakon, tell me you have something…”
“I do. I followed your description and found them. They just exited a convenience store down at Anju Avenue. They’re on the move already.”
“I’ll be right there. Just keep tailing them.”
Bai Shun replied and led his gang members to Anju Avenue.
The person who had called Bai Shun was someone from his gang who lived in the Jishan district. He was currently a distance away from Zhi Luan and Yu Lu. But he quickly hid behind a wall when Zhi Luan suddenly turned toward his direction.
‘Crap! I hope he didn’t see me.’
Zhi Luan and Yu Lu walked for some time before Zhi Luan came to a stop.
“What’s wrong?”
Yu Lu asked.
“How much farther to your house from here?”
“Just a little more than five minutes. It’s at the turn ahead.”
“That’s fine,” Zhi Luan nodded.
“We’ll be saying our farewells here then.”
Yu Lu was surprised.
“Why? It’s late already and the trains aren’t running till 4 in the morning…”
“I had no intention to take you home... stopping here is-,”
“No, I refuse. You came out here to make sure I was safe. You have nowhere else to go so the least I can do is let you rest at my place. You can’t leave now…”
Just as Yu Lu protested, she had a sudden realization.
“A-Are we… being followed again?”
Zhi Luan sighed and didn’t deny it.
“I didn’t want to alarm you but I’m afraid so…”
He then looked sternly at Yu Lu,
“You have to trust me. Keep going and don’t stop no matter what.”
He didn’t wait to hear whatever Yu Lu had to say and turned around and walked away.
It was evident that Yu Lu was scared given that her body trembled. She dipped her head in a bow and spoke up,
“Thank you again for today,” before she turned around and took long strides home.
Zhi Luan heard Yu Lu’s voice but didn’t turn around or reply. He came to a certain place and stopped. Regardless of the street lights that illuminated the area, this place was lonely and quiet with some bushes at one side of the road and a stone wall at the other side. They had passed by this place on their way, and though it was lonely, Zhi Luan had no misgivings about this place until now.
Zhi Luan’s expression was stern as he regarded his environment. With a cold tone, he spoke up,
“I know you’re out here… there’s no point hiding.”
Shortly after he spoke up, an unnatural rustling could be heard from the bushes nearby, and Hakon walked out. From the looks of it, he was about to say something smug when Zhi Luan cut him off,
“I have no interest in what you have to say. Where is your boss?”
“My boss? He’ll be here soon. If you know what’s good for you, submit quietly.”
Zhi Luan didn’t bother to reply and remained where he was.
Little time passed and two cars appeared in the distance, approaching fast.
“My boss is here as you requested.”
Hakon sneered.
The cars parked a distance away from Zhi Luan as their headlights beamed at full capacity at him. Everyone got down, and among them was their leader, Bai Shun, and he was not looking happy. He swung around his bat as he put up a tough act.
“You… I told you I’d make you pay for what you did. Acting like a hero is fun until you deal with the consequences.”
Zhi Luan only stood there unmoving with a languid expression and replied,
“How exactly will you make me pay… with this number of yours?”
Bai Shun sneered,
“Still acting tough, huh? Well, let me introduce you to the Bai Tiger Tribe!”
Bai Shun rushed out, swinging his bat like a madman as he charged at Zhi Luan.
Zhi Luan’s brows creased as he regarded Bai Shun seriously. He stepped forward with a trod and his feet pushed off the ground as he likewise rushed at Bai Shun. In just a single leap, he arrived in front of Bai Shun, placing himself below him. Bai Shun’s bat came swinging down at Zhi Luan with immense force that could leave one heavily wounded and incapacitated. Zhi Luan frowned when he sensed the strength in Bai Shun’s strike and reacted with a counter. As the bat was inches away from his head, he deflected it to the side and struck out his fist aimed at Bai Shun’s abdomen.