A Good-for-Nothing

313. Spin-Off (1): A Thing or Two About a Double-Dealer

Translator: Dragon Rider

All those who knew He Zheng had long since come to find out that he was a bad-tempered guy, that he was very easily provoked, and when he was in a temper, nobody could placate him.

He had done quite some careful thinking about the previous events. At that time Li Zong had been on the verge of death, so he naturally had brushed his grievances aside, but now that the two of them had both survived, there was no way He Zheng would let Li Zong’s acts go unpunished.

Li Zong and He Zheng were in the same ward, and He Zheng had come around before Li Zong. Zu Zhichong, when going to the ward to check on them with a basket of fruits in his hand, saw He Zheng repeatedly ringing for the nurse. When the nurse showed up, He Zheng directly said, “I want to switch to another ward!”

His voice was so firm and sonorous that Zu Zhichong was taken aback, mistakenly believing that He Zheng was soft in the head, but moments later, He Zheng, by means of his “charming personality”, successfully convinced the doctor to switch him to another private ward.

Actually it was not really that complicated. He just told the nurse that he did not know the patient in the bed next to him, that he was a neat freak and found it unbearable to share a room with a stranger.

The nurse, rather confused, said, “But, you two were sent here together, and the one who brought you two here said you two must stay in the same ward, so … ”

Making this double ward available had been quite an effort.

He Zheng said impassively, “They would do anything to save money.”

Zu Zhichong, ” … ”

Zu Zhichong could tell from He Zheng’s tone that he was not suffering from memory loss, which further bewildered Zu Zhichong. He could not understand what was going on. Normally he would have walked in and asked He Zheng what it was about, but this time Zu Zhichong gave it some thought and then decided to wait some time and see if he could figure out what He Zheng was up to.

Staff members of this large hospital tended to do things with efficiency. After only a short while, He Zheng was told that he was free to go to the single ward next door. Following in the nurse’s wake, he sneaked a glance at the face of Li Zong lying in bed and asked, “I feel a little dizzy. Is there something wrong with my brain?”

“That’s nothing serious. You just suffered some soft tissue damage and a minor concussion. You’ll recover after a few days’ rest.” The nurse glanced at him and, after a moment’s hesitation, added, “Actually it’s okay if you leave and rest at home.”

“I can’t do that!” He Zheng demurred in severe and categorical terms. “I still feel quite uncomfortable.”

Then he made an attempt to worm some information out of her. “Why is the guy delivered here with me still not awake? Did something serious happen to him? Would he be a vegetable or something?”

He Zheng affected an air of indifference, but his eyes kept traveling to the nurse, and his hands had balled into fists on his sides, which unmistakably showed that he was very nervous.

The nurse smiled, “Well, you overthink it. His condition is similar to yours. I think he’ll come to in a day or two.”

At first the nurse had felt that He Zheng was a patient hard to deal with, given the patronizing air about him, but unexpectedly He Zheng turned out to be pretty easy to get along, so she was emboldened somewhat and joked with a giggle, “Mr. He, you said you don’t know him, but as far as I could tell, you care about him pretty much.”

“I don’t give a shit about him. More of that and I’ll file a complaint against you.” He Zheng’s face went cold and with that he turned on his heel and walked off.

A snicker came from the dark. Zu Zhichong was greatly amused. Why had he not found out sooner that He Zheng was so thin-skinned?

Zu Zhichong smiled a toothy smile, pivoted around and went into He Zheng’s ward.

He Zheng was lying in bed, playing with his cellphone. He did not so much as lift his eyes when hearing Zu Zhichong walk inside.

“Thank God, you’ve come around. You and Chief were unconscious for days. We’re terribly worried. Xiao Chen is a good boy, and he almost cried himself to unconsciousness that day.”

He Zheng was amused by the news. “That narcissist really cried?”

Zu Zhichong produced a big imported orange from the basket, sliced it and, handing He Zheng a slice, replied, “He did. He was on his knees and weeping hard. The rest of us were infected and almost reduced to tears as well.”

“I didn’t cry! There’s law in this country, and slander is a crime!” Chen Qianlin’s angry voice came from outside the door.

“He’s using anger to conceal his embarrassment,” Zu Zhichong said quietly to He Zheng, leaning closer.

Before long, a large group of people entered, among whom were Chen Qianlin and Jin Qianlai.

Chen Qianlin glared at Zu Zhichong and demanded, “Zu Zhichong! What on earth were you telling him just now?!”

Zu Zhichong said, “Alas, take it easy. I was just joking. Nobody cried. Not a single one of us cried that day! I’ll go and check on Chief. You guys have a nice chat!”

With that he trotted out of the ward.

Chen Qianlin, arms folded over his chest, still appeared rather patronizing. Seeing that He Zheng was fine, he snorted, “I thought you’d lose a limb or two, but it turns out you’re okay. You lucky dog.”

“Tell me about it. I’m hard to kill.” He Zheng, though having put it casually, was actually a little baffled as to what had really happened. There was no doubt that on that day he had cast a lightning spell, and Li Zong had conjured Karma Flames, but how come both of them were almost unharmed?

As though having sensed his puzzlement, Chen Kai, sitting beside the end of the bed, held up a finger and, shaking it, said with the air of a psychic explaining something supernatural, “You two are really lucky. I’ve asked my grandfather about it. Firstly, Mount Xiwu is in the far east, and the yang Qi there is very thick, which weakens demonic Qi; secondly, Mount Xiwu is facing the capital city and also the origin of a Dragon Vein. It’s bathed in Force of Dragon and also benefits from the good fortune of our country. You’re a lucky dog. Supt. Li’s fortunes are connected with those of our country, which sheltered you guys from the disaster. On top of that, your little phoenix has developed a substantial form.”

His little phoenix? Dan Zhu?

It was only then that He Zheng recalled that matter. He closed his eyes and inwardly summoned it. A little bird flew out of his forehead, which still looked like a small grayish chick.

He Zheng confusedly twisted his head around and, looking at them, said, “He hasn’t developed a substantial form. I mean, he looks the same as it did before.”

Dan Zhu was a Soul Beast. Chen Kai, Chen Qianlin and the others should not be able to see him, but at this time, they all saw that on He Zheng’s shoulder stood an iridescent … big bird?

“He Zheng, your bird is so big … ”

“What’s the problem with you? How big my bird is doesn’t concern you! Are you coveting my bird?! You can forget about it. The answer is no!” He Zheng glowered at him, holding his crotch.

Chen Qianlin was pissed off and flared, “There’s a big bird behind you!”

While Chen Qianlin was speaking, He Zheng felt something fluffy rub itself against his neck. “Stop it!”

He Zheng, feeling uncomfortable, pushed that thing and with that a silvery phoenix cry emanated from beside his ear.

He Zheng, as though having perceived something, turned his head aside and met Dan Zhu’s beady, black eyes. At the sight of him looking at him, Dan Zhu affectionately rubbed his head against He Zheng’s cheek again.

“D–Dan Zhu?”

The phoenix, more delighted, squawked again. The sparrows outside the window also started twittering, sounding very happy.

He Zheng felt a headache, patted Dan Zhu’s head and said, “Turn back into your original form. You’re too big. Although you have no weight, I feel uncomfortable with you standing on my shoulder.”

Dan Zhu chirped for a moment, transformed itself back into a little gray chick and then returned to He Zheng’s forehead.

“How come this thing became tangible without warning … ” He Zheng muttered, stroking his forehead.

The others watched, open-mouthed. So that was the phoenix, and it turned out to be He Zheng’s Soul Beast.

They were all astonished. Tao Wujiu, who had been silent all along, scratched his head, glanced around him and asked, “Eek, where’s Supt. Li?! Why is he not here?!”

Zu Zhichong’s devil-may-care voice came from the doorway. “Here. Chief approaches. Make way, you underlings.”

He Zheng looked in that direction and saw that the visitor standing in the doorway was none other than Li Zong.

Li Zong was wearing a strait jacket the same as He Zheng’s. Standing there, he looked like a fashion model. His face was faintly pale, but because of that, he had some kind of morbid beauty about him.

But the sight of Li Zong gave He Zheng headaches. He lay down, pulled his quilt over his head and said, “I don’t want to see any of you guys. Get out, all of you. I’m having a headache. I need to sleep.”

“Double-dealer,” Zu Zhichong mouthed at Li Zong before he walked out, snickering.

Li Zong maintained a non-committal silence. The others wanted to greet Li Zong, but after seeing the look in Li Zong’s eyes, they all took the hint and soon left.

Chen Qianlin’s EQ was always low. At the sight of Li Zong, he hastened to say, “Supt. Li! Glad to see you! How are you doing?”

“Stop being talky and just go,” Tao Wujiu sniffed, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the ward.

Li Zong and He Zheng were now the only ones left in the ward. He Zheng felt anger surging inside him every time he recalled that Li Zong had had someone modify his memory, planning to sacrifice his own life to save the world. He also felt terribly hard done by. Why had Li Zong done that? They would really have been separated by death had he not recovered those memories by himself.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and the more unwilling he was to speak to Li Zong. He acted as though Li Zong were not present. No, he went further than that. In the presence of Li Zong, he called Qin Huai, his bosom buddy, and deliberately said aloud, “Qin Huai, let’s go to a bar to hang out tonight. What? You’re abroad? I don’t care where you are! If you don’t show up tonight, we’ll no longer be bosom friends! I suggest you think it through!”

On the other end of the phone, Qin Huai’s face crumpled up. Unaware of what had pissed off his short-tempered friend, he was just about to say something when He Zheng felt an itch in the back of his ear, and with that He Zheng’s cellphone was snatched away. Li Zong said blandly into the phone, “Qin Huai, it’s me.”

“Brother-in-law!” Qin Huai exclaimed in wonderment after a silence.

Li Zong glanced at He Zheng whose eyebrows were knitted in anger. “Give me my cellphone back!” He Zheng demanded.

“He Zheng’s not going anywhere tonight. You may stick to your own plan.” After saying this, Li Zong hung up the phone and returned it to He Zheng.

He Zheng snorted and rolled over in bed, his back to Li Zong.

However, while throwing a tantrum, He Zheng was nervously paying attention to the one behind him. Li Zong had been through some terrible things that day. Was it okay for him to get out of bed? What if he fainted again? This was so annoying. Why did Li Zong come here? Wouldn’t it be better to just stay in bed and rest?

Thinking about this, He Zheng was just about to turn his head around when he felt a weight on his waist. A big hand had been placed on it. And then he was drawn into an embrace, pressed against a broad chest. Neither of them spoke.

At first He Zheng’s muscles tensed, and then he was momentarily surprised. His hand closed around a fistful of quilt tightly as he called quietly, “Li Zong?”

There was no reply. He Zheng’s back was numb. How he reacted so quick he did not know, but he abruptly twisted his head around and gave Li Zong a push. “Li Zong! You’re scaring me!”

His face instantly blanched. He jabbed at the bell madly while pushing Li Zong repeatedly, but Li Zong did not even stir.

Fortunately Zu Zhichong and the others had not gone far away. At the sight of a nurse hastening towards He Zheng’s ward, they were all startled and hurriedly followed her.

They pushed the door open to see Li Zong lying on He Zheng’s bed. He Zheng was sitting beside him, drenched with sweat, his forelocks sticking to his forehead in strands, looking much the worse for wear, but his face was flushed. At the sight of Zu Zhichong and the others, He Zheng promptly averted his eyes.

The nurse smiled, “He hasn’t slept for too long and is exhausted. He just fell asleep. You’re overreacting.”

He Zheng’s ear lobes were a little red. In an effort to conceal his embarrassment, he demurred, “I’m not worried! Say that again and I’ll make a complaint!”

The others naturally came to realize what had happened, and they all snickered.

He Zheng, further annoyed, was just about to leave when he felt a pull at his hand.

Li Zong, though still asleep, refused to let go of him.

He Zheng noticed Li Zong’s lips twitch. He cocked an eye at them and found that Li Zong was mouthing “Steamed Bun”.

He Zheng’s eyes instantly reddened. No longer in the mood for sulking about Li Zong, he sniffed and meekly sat down at the end of the bed, willingly leaving his hand in Li Zong’s, not saying anything.

Moments later he sniffed again and lay down beside Li Zong.

Li Zong unconsciously reached out an arm and took He Zheng into his embrace. He Zheng’s restlessness gradually ebbed away.

He thought that it was so lucky of him to have had things go this way.

Recalling how the two of them had survived still gave him the willies.