Chapter Fifty-Two: Disciplining the Child

Thank you, Old Brother 69, and Brother Irrigated Scalp for your generous rewards, and thanks as well to all the brothers for your appreciation and support. I, the Half-Immortal, will do my best to write a good story.

“Ah—can’t you be a little gentler?” Anthony howled in pain, then complained to Qiu Fengyu, “I’ve been shot, not butchered like a cow.”

“Alcohol is the best anesthetic I can get around here,” Qiu Fengyu replied, again without warning as he poured more liquor over the wound and used pliers to extract the bullet. With a metallic clink, it dropped into the dish.

“Why was there a sniper behind you?” Qiu Fengyu asked.

“I was betrayed,” Anthony sighed. “All we can do now is wait for the trial.”

Qiu Fengyu sneered but said nothing. Instead, he turned to Tim. “Bandage his wound.”

“Yes, sir,” Tim replied, eager to help.

Anthony’s left arm was injured. Qiu Fengyu had no choice but to extract the bullet this way, then staunch the bleeding and prevent infection with sugar, paired with some basic anti-inflammatory medicines to keep the wound from festering.

“All right, the handover is complete,” Qiu Fengyu said with relief. “I’ll send my account number to this phone number, April!” He deliberately called out to the dazed April standing nearby.

“I understand, but about Jenny’s money…”

“I’ll handle that,” Anthony nodded at Qiu Fengyu. “We can’t stay here; we’ve been exposed. We’ll head to Los Angeles in the next day or two…”

“Safe travels,” Qiu Fengyu said solemnly.

“Aren’t you afraid someone will silence us on the road?” Anthony looked at Qiu Fengyu. “I just can’t figure out…why, at such a critical moment, you’re suddenly washing your hands of it, especially when a million dollars is at stake…”

“You have to live to spend it,” Qiu Fengyu said, not deigning to look at him. “If I keep getting involved, I’ll be exposed to all your enemies. So…goodbye, gentlemen!”

In fact, they didn’t even wait for the next day—Anthony couldn’t wait and left with April that very night. As she was leaving, the look April gave Qiu Fengyu was somewhat odd.

Before the official trial, neither Anthony nor April would show themselves. As for how Anthony would ensure April made it to court safely, as an old hand, he surely had his methods.

“You just let her go like that?”

“What?” Qiu Fengyu turned to look at the boy. “Did you really want me to protect her to the trial? No, Tim, remember this: survival comes first. Only if we survive do we have the chance to do what we want.”

“Even revenge?”

“Yes. Ten years from now…perhaps you’ll fulfill your wish.”

“I can’t wait ten years…”

“That’s up to you. When you feel capable and calm enough, go for it. How long it takes depends on whether you have the resolve to prepare.”

With that, Qiu Fengyu walked into the house.

The next morning, Qiu Fengyu dismantled all the alarm systems and cameras in the place—he’d need them later. Throughout the time he protected April, he never revealed his identity. Unless Anthony and April betrayed him, no one would know.

It took only a day to get back to Texas from here. He didn’t care if April ended up in court, feeling he’d done his part. But if, because of this, he exposed himself to all those bigshots, the only outcome would be a constant threat of sudden death.

Along the way, Tim O’de began to smile more. After all, he was still a child, curious about everything new.

They stopped at a roadside diner for food.

An old man groped a waitress, prompting a round of raucous laughter.

With a loud slap, the waitress hit the brute.

“You filthy—how dare you hit me?” The brute slapped the waitress across the face and pulled out his handgun. The few people in the diner all fled immediately; no one wanted trouble.

“Don’t be rash, kid!” Qiu Fengyu grabbed Tim O’de’s hand and whispered, “If you want to do something, think about the consequences. The most important rule is: never do something stupid out of impulse. Understand?”

They got back in the car and set off again. Tim remained mostly silent the rest of the way.

“Because of what just happened?” Qiu Fengyu asked, glancing sideways.

Tim nodded. “Why is it that the wicked go unpunished?” He still remembered his parents had been killed for no reason.

“Because you’re not a judge,” Qiu Fengyu said coldly. “We can’t declare someone guilty just because we say so, nor can we decide to kill someone and simply do it. We’re ordinary people—never think of yourself as a savior.”

Tim fell silent.

The car sped down the road, and in the distance, the small town of Abilene came into view. After more than a month away, nothing had changed. As soon as he drove into town, a police siren wailed.

He saw a police car approaching in the rearview mirror, so he pulled over and got out of the car, grinning as Sheriff Coffin stepped out of the cruiser.

“Hey, long time no see,” Qiu Fengyu greeted her with a smile.

“Damn bastard…” Coffin couldn’t help but curse. “You finally came back? Someone reported their car missing, and, coincidentally, you’re driving it—so…you’ll have to come to the station.”

“You should ask the owner—I found the car for him. That’s all. Need to call Breaking?” Qiu Fengyu grinned at Coffin. The woman was as fiery as ever, but he liked that. Seeing her always felt familiar.

Back at the noodle shop, Qiu Fengyu realized the attic was no longer suitable for both him and Tim. The only solution was to move into Saoirse’s house.

He hadn’t planned on it, but things seldom go as expected. The small house next door that had been destroyed was now completely leveled. From the remaining stones and lumber, one could still see traces of what had happened.

Saoirse’s house had been uninhabited for a long time. Qiu Fengyu, too lazy to clean, hired a cleaning company, and once the place was tidy, he installed the cameras and alarms he’d taken from the forest cabin all around the property.

The noodle shop also needed a thorough cleaning.

But as soon as Qiu Fengyu returned, Harry Davis showed up. Looking at Qiu Fengyu, he grinned. “Boss, I thought you’d never come back.”

“When did I become your boss?” Qiu Fengyu was sensitive to the term.

“You’re my boss,” Davis replied cheerfully.

Davis didn’t ask where Qiu Fengyu had been—that was smart of him. Some questions are better left unasked.

“Get to work,” Qiu Fengyu said, not wasting words.

As the two worked, Tim came in to help.

“Hey, kid, what’s your name?” Davis asked.

Tim shot him a lazy glance and started wiping tables. “Tim O’de.”

“Did you run away from home? Aren’t your parents looking for you? Or did the boss pick you up somewhere?” Davis grinned, thinking himself clever.

“Shut up—” Tim O’de glared at him.

“Aha—so you’re feisty. I like kids with spirit…”

Thud—

“Damn, you hit my nose. Christ… It’s bleeding… You’re dead, kid…”

Thud—

A body crashed to the floor, limbs splayed, raising a cloud of dust.

“You little brat, you dare hit me?” Davis scrambled up, looking a mess. Infuriated, he yelled at Tim, “You’re dead, kid! I may have to teach you a lesson. Come on, let’s step outside and have some fun, if you’ve got the guts.”

“Get outside, Tim, Davis! No more fighting in the shop, or I’ll beat you both to a pulp!” Qiu Fengyu shouted while wiping windows.

“Come here, kid, I’ll make you call me daddy!” Davis taunted as he strode toward the door, beckoning Tim.

“I don’t want trouble, man—I don’t even know who you are…” Tim snorted. “But if you really want a lesson, I don’t mind.” With that, he walked out into the street.

A fight always draws a crowd, and soon many gathered. Some spotted Qiu Fengyu inside the shop and called out, but he only responded from within, showing no interest in the brawl between the two.

“Hey—Davis, you can’t bully a kid—” Officer Coffin arrived, shouting at Davis.

“Officer Coffin, we’re just keeping up with Texas tradition… Don’t butt in,” Davis waved her off. “I promise I’ll go easy. I just want him to know…not to go around breaking people’s noses…”

His words drew another round of laughter from the crowd.

Texas cowboys settle things their own way, and as long as no one gets hurt, the police tend not to interfere.