A Good-for-Nothing

176. Departure for Hang City (2)

Translator: Dragon Rider

“What’s the point of the so-called training?” Qin Huai, his warm-hearted bosom friend, made a remark of complaint and then started spilling out words, giving He Zheng a blow-by-blow account of how Li Zong had gone to the He family to help him get his revenge, how the Zhu family retaliated against the He family, as well as how He Changchun had eventually been reduced to begging Old Master Zhu on his knees. He made these events sound like a heart-rending story with intriguing ups and downs.

“Alas. I don’t want to sound mean, but it’s really surprising that you’ve got yourself such a good partner. I really envy you.”

“It’s no good envying me.” Qin Huai’s admiring tone made He Zheng feel even more smug, his eyes crinkling in a happy smile.

On the other end of the phone, Qin Huai curled his lip.

He Zheng asked, “How’s Qiao Peiyu doing?”

“Well, it’s rumored that she moved into another house. I think her life isn’t too difficult. After all, she’s born He Changchun three children. Also, the Qiao family have been basking in your old man’s reflected glory and made quite some money during the past few years. She lost no more than her identity as mistress of the He family,” said Qin Huai.

He Zheng sneered.

Qin Huai suggested excitedly, “Do you want me to take advantage of this opportunity and make some trouble for her?”

“That won’t be necessary. She’s a vicious woman and you might end up getting yourself in trouble. Things would be tricky if she tells on you to your elder sister.” The corners of He Zheng’s mouth curled. “As Qiao Peiyu no longer has the geriatric at her back, her life is definitely not as comfortable as before. I think she probably couldn’t eat even without me making trouble for her.”

He Zheng did some calculation and found that there was two month before He Yu took the recruitment examination of SMB. He must gain a foothold in the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB) before that, and when that day arrived, he would be able to inflict a great humiliation on He Yu.

“Alas, it was such a pity. I thought that I’d have a part to play in this drama of family strife.”

“You’re not a member of my family, yet you have the fond hope of getting involved? What a nerve.” He Zheng rolled his eyes upwards, got out of bed and had a few more moments’ chit-chat with Qin Huai. Feeling a little hungry, He Zheng ignored Qin Huai’s intention of chatting with him for another fifty minutes, and hung up the phone.

Standing barefoot on the floor, He Zheng thought back to what Qin Huai had just told him about Li Zong’s deeds, the corners of his mouth curling up in spite of himself, picturing specifically how Li Zong had said those words to He Changchun as well as the look on Li Zong’s face when he’d made threats against him.

He walked into the dinning room. On the dinner table placed a lidded cup of milk and a sandwich.

A few days ago, Li Zong spared some time and taught He Zheng, who had grown up in a rich family and didn’t have a clue how to use cooking equipment, to use microwave oven, which was a handy tool and simple to use.

He Zheng managed to heat the sandwich, though not very skillfully. It was when he’d finished his breakfast that he made a phone call to Li Zong who had gone to work very early in the morning.

The line was busy.

Frowning, He Zheng put the smartphone down onto the dinner table and planned to get some water to drink.

His smartphone suddenly started playing an urgent tune. Believing that the call was from Li Zong, He Zheng didn’t look at the caller ID and answered it without a second thought.

“Urgent task. Trainee 008, He Zheng, you’re to pack your suitcase and reach Entrance A of Coastal Railway Station in thirty minutes. A designated staff member will give you further instructions there. Please be quick. Lateness will not be tolerated.”

On finishing the last word, the caller hung up on him.

He Zheng was thrown into perplexity. “An urgent task?? Pack my suitcase??”

He Zheng had never done any household chores before. Did he know how to pack? No.

As a result, He Zheng merely brought his cinnabar box, Fu paper (Fu is a piece of rectangular paper on which magical figures are drawn by Chinese Taoist priests to invoke or expel spirits and bring good or ill fortune), Li Zong’s Thermos bottle, some cash, and the Shadow Sword, which was quite a smart move, and then set off.

Fortunately for him, Century Town was not far away from the railway station. After thinking for a brief moment, He Zheng, instead of going to the garage to drive his car, took a cab to the destination.

The railway station was swarming with people. He Zheng had never been to a railway station before. Lucky for him, the cab driver directly drove him to Entrance A. He had just got out of the cab when he caught sight of Zu Zhichong, who was standing at the entrance amid a group of drivers of unlicensed cabs who were calling looking for fares. Zu Zhichong, exceptionally obtrusive, was waving a small flag. “My dear, cute trainees! Here, here! Come here! The rendezvous is here!”

He Zheng’s face was etched with embarrassment.

“Brother He!” A familiar came from beside He Zheng. It was Jin Qianlai, whose face was wreathed in smiles. “I’m so glad destiny had us cross paths again! It seems that we’ll be in the same group!”

Next to him stood a tall, well-featured man, but He Zheng didn’t know who he was.

The part that He Zheng found the most amazing was that Chen Qianlin was standing not far away from them, his face full of impatience as well.

“What do you mean by ‘we’ll be in the same group’? Aren’t all of us dealing with this task together?” asked He Zheng.

Zu Zhichong shouted in a rather harsh voice, “Hurry up, trainees! If you miss this training session, you’ll have to wait three years for another chance! Someone will take care of your baggage! Chop, chop! Just shove them in, Han! Forget it. Shove them in!”

Chen Qianlin said, “Get on the train first!”

He Zheng had an urge to roll his eyes upwards at the sight of Chen Qianlin.

Zu Zhichong grabbed their arms. “Hurry up, guys. Get on the train right now. Soon the conductor will start punching tickets! Get your ID cards ready.”

They were pushed onto the train along with other trainees.

“Oh! Why are you carrying a sword?!” Zu Zhichong let out an exclamation of astonishment in spite of himself and with that the whole hall fell silent. Some staff members of the railway station instantly looked in their direction with piercing eyes.

Zu Zhichong hurriedly made an attempt to gloss it over. “Haha… You do know you’re way past the age for playing with plastic swords, do you? Move, move. Follow this big brother, you Peter Pans.”

A couple of trainees’ weapons used swords and sabers as weapons and they definitely wouldn’t be able to pass the security check, so Zu Zhichong pushed them aside and, what with the excessive strength he used, He Zheng was accidentally bumped against Chen Qianlin.

He Zheng’s face which a moment ago had been sulky went sepulchral.

Jostling with the crowd, willing or unwilling, all trainees got on the train.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yihao, after being informed that they were going to Hang City, went to the escaped wasp of the Demon King’s soul in great haste to ask for further instructions.