Chapter 174: Ji Family Seeks Help
Behind them were Jiang Li and Fang Wan, both trembling, seemingly afraid of the men following them. Every now and then, they cast furtive glances, and behind these familiar people, there were over ten unfamiliar men who walked confidently, looking more like they were escorting the group rather than being companions.
Zhuang Mingxu observed more carefully and realized he didn’t see Ji Zhong, wondering if he had been caught in the flood.
“Is anyone inside? We’re looking for someone!” shouted a man in black overalls who looked like a mechanic, standing at the door, prompting Ji Heng’s group to quickly scan the area.
“Don’t be silly, the zombies around Longmen neighborhood were already cleared,” one man scoffed.
“Who are you looking for?” Zhuang Mingxu opened the window on the second floor and called down to the people below.
“Zhuang Mingxu! Zhuang Mingxu, let us in! I’m looking for Weiyi, I need to see my son!” Ji Heng shouted, his emotions somewhat agitated.
This was the first time in many years that Zhuang Mingxu had heard Ji Heng refer to Lu Weiyi as his son. He gave Ji Heng a sarcastic look but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to the mechanic, “Is there something you need?”
“They owe us supplies. They said their son is here, so we’ve come to collect,” the man shrugged. “Are you going to pay for them?”
“Heh…” Zhuang Mingxu shook his head, already suspecting nothing good would come from this.
However, he wouldn’t make decisions for Lu Weiyi. “The person they’re looking for isn’t here. You can come back after six tonight,” he said, as Lu Weiyi was rarely home for lunch, usually out gathering more crystal cores.
“No, I’ll wait here. I want to wait for Lu Weiyi to come back,” Ji Heng seemed unstable, his emotions fluctuating. “I’m his father. He wouldn’t ignore me. Open the door now, I’m his father! If you make me wait out here, he won’t forgive you!”
“Ji Zong, you…” Zhuang Mingxu was about to refuse when a figure ran out of the house, quickly reaching the newly repaired door. She turned to Zhuang Mingxu, indignantly saying, “Zhuang Mingxu, you’re disgusting! You’re clinging to Weiyi, and now that he’s not home, you’re treating his parents like this. Aren’t you afraid he’ll find out? You all live off of Weiyi, and yet you’re letting him be humiliated behind his back like this?”
“Lu Lu, Sister-in-law, please open the door! There are zombies everywhere, it’s so scary!” Ji Lin, ever so tactful, called out, hitting a soft spot with Yun Lu.
“Lin Lin, Uncle, Aunt, don’t worry, I’ll let you in right now,” Yun Lu said with a righteous air, which made the others feel a bit uncomfortable. It seemed like her actions made the others look like the villains.
“If you want to claim kinship so badly, then stay with them,” Zhuang Mingxu shot Yun Lu a cold glance and ordered, “Throw her out with the others.”
Lin Yimu, upon hearing this, jumped down from the second floor and appeared at the door instantly. By this time, the main door had already been opened.
The people outside, just about to push their way in, were startled by a gunshot. “Bang!” The sound made the members of the Ji family crouch in a corner, covering their heads and screaming. The ten or so men following them were less panicked, but they still took a few steps back, watching the second-floor windows. Six windows each had a person standing by, each holding a gun aimed at them.
The leader of the repairmen raised his hands and gestured for the others to retreat a few more steps. “Bro, let’s talk it out. I just want my payment.”
“I advise you not to force your way in. Even though our ability users aren’t here, it’s enough to deal with you,” Zhuang Mingxu said calmly as he put his pistol aside and addressed the group below. “If you have business, come at the time I’ve designated. Also, take your trash with you.”
“Fine, we’ll see you later,” the man replied, signaling for the others to drag the Ji family members out.
“I won’t leave! I don’t want to leave! Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, help me…” Ji Lin cried, throwing herself at the dazed Yun Lu and crying out.
“Miss Yun, please,” Lin Yimu said, appropriately speaking to Yun Lu.
“You… you can’t…” Yun Lu looked toward Zhuang Mingxu’s direction, but couldn’t finish her sentence. She knew he could, just like when he had forced her out of Green Land Community. “I…”
“Lu Lu…” The noise had caught the attention of Guan Tong, who was helping in the kitchen. She peeked outside and saw her daughter once again provoking Zhuang Mingxu. Ji Lin had run into the yard and knelt before Zhuang Mingxu once more.
The scene was exactly the same as it had been a few days ago. Guan Tong, feeling exhausted and helpless, was too ashamed to speak. But standing behind her was her daughter. “Mr. Zhuang, there are zombies everywhere outside. Lu Lu will die… I’m sorry. I apologize for her… I’m sorry…”
The sound of kneeling echoed repeatedly. Yun Lu didn’t know how to respond, and could only sob while holding her mother, calling out, “Mom…”
“You can’t control your daughter, so you won’t be staying here either. You should leave together,” Zhuang Mingxu said. He had no more patience for Yun Lu, and didn’t care why Lu Weiyi had brought them back. He tossed ten crystal cores outside and said, “This is payment for treating Ai Yi. Leave.”
“Mr. Zhuang…” Guan Tong, clearer-headed than Yun Lu, understood the situation outside. Without abilities, they would either die from zombies or be used by others, a fate worse than death. “Please, I beg you, I’m sorry…”
Zhuang Mingxu pushed his wheelchair back into the house.
“Let’s go,” Lin Yimu said, forcefully helping Guan Tong up. He also shoved the ten crystal cores into her hands and pushed the mother and daughter outside the door, locking it behind them.
At this point, Ji Lin realized that Yun Lu was useless, so she stopped clinging to her and retreated to hide behind Jiang Fu, avoiding the men.
“Little sister, you’re looking good. The people inside don’t want you. How about you come with me?” A slick man stepped forward and reached to touch Yun Lu’s face. Compared to Ji Lin, who had suffered recently, Yun Lu had been well-fed and clothed in the villa, looking much better.
“Get away!” Yun Lu took a step back, pressing herself against the door, watching the group of men warily. It seemed like she finally realized what could happen to her once she left the villa.
“Mom?” Yun Lu cried helplessly.
Guan Tong, blood still dripping from her forehead, tightly clutched the ten crystal cores in her hands. She looked up at Yun Lu with disappointment before turning to the repairman leader and asking, “Are you sure you want to cause trouble here? We’ve been kicked out, but we used to be part of this place. If something happens here, they won’t just stand by and watch.”
The repairman raised an eyebrow, sizing Guan Tong up, his gaze lingering on the crystal cores in her hands.
Guan Tong threw all the crystal cores at him. The man scolded the little thug who had been eyeing Yun Lu. The thug stopped approaching Yun Lu but still glared at her.
*
Around 7 PM, Lu Weiyi and his team returned to the villa in a hurry.
The roads were muddy and pockmarked from the earthquake, worsened by the flood. Every step felt like sinking into a pit of mud. The group was tired, each one covered in black blood and dirt.
The repairmen, who had been waiting at the door for over an hour, began to grow impatient. However, when they saw the murderous aura of Lu Weiyi and his team, their anger subsided.
From a distance, Lu Weiyi saw the team standing at his villa’s door. But before he could ask anything, a somewhat unfamiliar voice called out to him.
“Yi Yi, Yi Yi, you’re finally back. Your grandfather… your grandfather is gone,” Ji Heng said, knowing that he had never been important to Lu Weiyi, so he mentioned the most favorable person to him, hoping to soften him up. But Lu Weiyi just glanced at him coldly and asked, “Who are you?”
“…I… I’m your father,” Ji Heng stammered, caught off guard.
“I don’t know you,” Lu Weiyi said before turning to the others. “What are you doing in front of my house?”
Exhausted from the day, not just Lu Weiyi but the others as well, all they wanted was to wash up and eat something warm. The appearance of this group clearly displeased everyone. Antonio was the first to respond, summoning several throwing knives, each aimed at the group while calling inside, “Dean?”
“David~” Dean’s ever-cheerful voice came from inside, followed by his quick run to open the door. He immediately jumped into Antonio’s arms, causing the others to glance at them with distaste before silently turning their attention back to the group outside.
“Are you alright? What are they doing here?” Antonio, not caring about the dirt, kissed Dean’s pale face, leaving a visible lip print.
“We have guns, we’re fine. They… they came for payment,” Dean stammered.
“We? Owe money?” Antonio thought he had just heard a joke. Probably the entire base wasn’t as wealthy as their small team, and now someone was saying they owed money.
“It’s like this,” the repairman explained proactively. “This gentleman owes us some supplies. The time is up, and he can’t pay. He says his son is here and can pay for him…”
“You’ve got the wrong person,” Lu Weiyi said as he prepared to leave.
“Lu Weiyi, I’m your father,” Ji Heng knew very well that he couldn’t hold onto Lu Weiyi this time, facing what was coming from their entire family.
Lu Weiyi, who had already turned around, paused for a moment, looked back at the disheveled Ji Heng with a puzzled expression. “Can’t we just pretend we don’t know each other and go our separate ways? I’ve made an effort not to take revenge on your family, but you still insist on trying to get close. Since that’s the case…”
He looked at Ji Heng like one would at an insignificant insect. “Then I’ll grant your wish.”
“You… What do you want to do? I… I’m your real father!” Ji Heng, shaken and fearful from Lu Weiyi’s words, could only repeatedly emphasize their blood relation.
“When you and your mistress pushed my mom down the stairs, did you ever remember that you were my real father?” Lu Weiyi coldly revealed the most taboo subject between them.
