Chapter 008: Fighting Dirty

“A token?”
“Yes!”
Zhao Feng frowned. “A token? What kind of token?”
Zhao Jun shook his head. “That, I don’t know.”
“All right.” Zhao Feng stroked his chin thoughtfully. “Dad, bring out the censer.”
“This...” Zhao Jun hesitated.
Zhao Feng patted Zhao Jun’s shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Dad. No one can take it from us.”
Zhao Jun nodded, then turned and walked toward the courtyard. Entering the house, he went to his room and pulled a large iron chest from under his bed. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he took a key from his trouser pocket. The key slid into the lock and, with a click, the black iron chest opened.
Inside lay a bundle wrapped in red cloth. Zhao Jun carefully lifted it out, cradling it protectively in his arms, and hurried outside.
At the gate, Zhao Feng was waiting. “Xiaofeng, here it is.”
Zhao Jun handed the red-wrapped bundle to Zhao Feng, who received it with care. With a nod, Zhao Jun signaled for him to open it.
Exhaling slowly, Zhao Feng began to unwrap the cloth, layer by layer, until finally a censer with two ears and three legs was revealed.
The moment it appeared, Zhao Feng froze. No one else sensed anything unusual, but he could feel a dense spiritual energy radiating from it.
Astonished, Zhao Feng muttered, “It actually contains spiritual energy?!”
“This is a spiritual artifact?!”
He stared as though he had seen a ghost.
Steadying himself, Zhao Feng examined the censer closely, turning it over—and was shocked anew.
On the censer’s base were engraved three words: “Supreme Alchemy Sect.”
“What?” Zhao Feng looked as if he’d seen an apparition. “This censer is connected to the Supreme Alchemy Sect?”
He took a deep breath, struggling to contain his excitement. First, because this censer was indeed a spiritual artifact; second, because of its connection to the Supreme Alchemy Sect.
Calming himself, Zhao Feng murmured, “If my guess is right, this censer should be an alchemical cauldron.”
“Yes, that’s it! An alchemical cauldron!”
“But how did our family come to possess a cauldron from the Supreme Alchemy Sect? And I can’t even tell its grade.” Zhao Feng was utterly baffled.
Suddenly, a crisp metallic click sounded—and Zhao Feng’s brow furrowed instantly.
He realized that, at some point, Liu Dahua had raised a gun, pointing it at his temple.
Zhao Feng took a deep breath and slowly placed the cauldron into his satchel.
Liu Dahua stared coldly at him, extending his right hand. “Hand it over.”
Zhao Feng turned to face him, silent.
Liu Dahua bellowed, “I’ll say it again—hand it—”
Before Liu Dahua could finish, Zhao Feng slapped him hard across the face.
“You—”
Dazed, Liu Dahua tried to speak, but Zhao Feng slapped him again.
“I—”
Another slap.
Liu Dahua reeled, still trying to speak, but Zhao Feng landed yet another blow.
“Stop! Stop, stop!” Liu Dahua shouted, shielding his face.
Zhao Feng withdrew his hand, crossing his arms behind his back and fixing Liu Dahua with an icy stare.
Liu Dahua shook his head, his vision swimming with stars. One side of his face was already swollen and red.
Finally, he looked toward Chen Ying. “You have no sense of honor!”
“Hey! I’m over here,” Zhao Feng said.
Liu Dahua quickly turned around, rubbing his eyes to focus on Zhao Feng. Furious, he snapped, “You have no sense of honor!”
Zhao Feng laughed coldly. “And why is that?”
“You—I—” Liu Dahua was at a loss for words.
The smile faded from Zhao Feng’s face. “Now, take your people and get out. If you wait another moment, you’ll all die.”
“Hmph! We live under the rule of law—” Liu Dahua’s voice trailed off as Zhao Feng’s cold gaze bored into him, making Liu Dahua genuinely believe Zhao Feng might kill him.
Yet, he was reluctant to leave. The reason: Young Master Xiang was far more terrifying than Zhao Feng—at least, that was what Liu Dahua believed.
He steadied his nerves, searching for a way out. Suddenly, with a leap, he lunged at Chen Ying in the crowd, taking her hostage before anyone could react.
Pressing his gun to Chen Ying’s head, Liu Dahua shouted, “Now, give me the censer and let me go!”
Off to the side, Zhao Xiao cried out anxiously, “Brother Dahua, what about me?”
“Shut up!”
Zhao Xiao quickly clapped her hand over her mouth.
All this had happened in a flash—so fast that even Zhao Feng hadn’t reacted in time. By the time he did, the situation was already as it was.
Frowning, Zhao Feng said, “Liu Dahua, I despise you.”
“Hmph! I don’t need your approval,” Liu Dahua retorted.
Zhao Feng relaxed his brow. “You accused me of lacking honor, yet now you do the same.”
Liu Dahua laughed aloud. “I never claimed to have any! I’m a bad man, you’re the good guy—so you have to play by the rules!”
“Oh?” Zhao Feng’s interest was piqued. “And how do you know I’m the good guy?”
“Pfft!” Liu Dahua replied, “You look like you’re seventeen or eighteen—still in high school, aren’t you?”
Zhao Feng shook his head helplessly. “And what does my education have to do with it?”
“I don’t care. I say you’re a good person, so you are!”
“All right, all right! I’m the good guy, fine?”
At that, Zhao Feng seemed to concede.
Liu Dahua brightened immediately. “That’s more like it! Now, hand over the censer!”
“We can’t give it to him!” Zhao Jun shouted anxiously.
Zhao Feng patted his father on the shoulder, reassuring him. “Trust me, Dad. He won’t get it.”
Zhao Jun nodded. “All right, I believe in you, son.”
Zhao Feng nodded, then slowly took out the censer and held it out to Liu Dahua. “Here you go—the censer.”
Liu Dahua burst out laughing, as if already envisioning a life of luxury and success.
He reached to take it, but suddenly, Chen Ying, whom he held hostage, fiercely elbowed him.
But Liu Dahua was tall and burly, and her attack was negligible.
With a roar, he wrapped his arm around her neck, choking her.
Chen Ying coughed, struggling to breathe.
Liu Dahua sneered, “Heh, I was prepared for that.”
He pressed the gun against her head. “Zhao Feng, right? Throw the censer over here, or she dies!”