Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Uncertain Factors Chapter 192: Chapter 192: Uncertain Factors Ye Hao’s conflicted feelings eased a bit when a child about ten years old passed by. Among all the people who passed by, only that child pointed out the key fact that “those on the ground are Game Coins.”

What truly set Ye Hao’s mind at ease, however, was the phone call he received that night. Ye Hao had provided a number in that braille letter, and while he was reviewing a report that evening, he received a call from a stranger. That person must have been one of Mr. Kun’s men, as the time and place were given without inflection in tone, and Ye Hao couldn’t discern the caller’s attitude. Still, getting a response and agreeing to a visit was a positive sign.

The meeting time agreed upon by both parties was two days later in the afternoon. Ye Hao cleared his schedule for that day, choosing not to go out, and discussed the upcoming meeting with several of his confidants. They didn’t dare go unprepared, thinking, what if they went and couldn’t come back? The other party was no pushover.

The day after delivering the letter, Zheng Tan continued his routine from the previous period, wandering around the campus in the morning and heading over to the overpass in the afternoon. He remained curious about the old man who even Ye Hao was wary of.

The main reason Zheng Tan still had the guts to come here after learning of the old man’s identity was that Mr. Kun hadn’t shown any malice. Sometimes, Zheng Tan couldn’t help but wonder if his own presence as a lowly minion was just too insignificant? Or perhaps the other party simply disdained to take him seriously, letting him make a fuss as he pleased?

People used to say that in a large forest there are all sorts of birds; a beautiful girl will have all sorts of suitors; a person in power will have all sorts of people seeking their favor; and a person of stature will have all sorts of people around them. Hence, a major characteristic of a significant person is the ability to accommodate all kinds of people.

Indeed, it is hard to guess the thoughts of significant people.

Half a day passed, and the atmosphere between the old man and the Cat remained the same as before, unchanged. With no one throwing money or Game Coins, Zheng Tan lay down next to them and slept through the afternoon.

As the sun set in the west, Zheng Tan left the overpass to return to Chuhua University, and the old man sitting on the overpass, as usual, gathered his belongings, picked up the shabby-looking wooden box, and left with his guide cane.

Continuing along this street and past familiar storefronts, some of the staff there had come to recognize the old man, who could be seen passing by this time every day.

In the evening, the old man walked on the sidewalk, keeping to the edge.

A black sedan slowly drove by, veering closer to the sidewalk, so that the distance between the black sedan and the old man was only about a meter.

The black sedan drove at a very slow pace, even stopping for a while ahead after passing the old man, waiting for him to catch up before moving on.

The rear passenger window rolled down, and the person inside looked at the blind old man walking on the sidewalk, seemingly contemplating what to say in silence.

The person sitting in the back seat was also elderly, but in contrast to Mr. Kun, this man clearly lived a life of material abundance. To onlookers, these two old men lived entirely different class levels, worlds apart from one another.

As the elderly person inside the car gazed out the window, there lay a Cat next to him visibly larger than an ordinary one. The Cat, however, was very well-behaved. Despite curiously looking outside, it showed no desire to leap out or make any noise.

After maintaining this for ten minutes, the person in the car finally spoke, “Off work now, eh, Old Huang?” The tone was thick with sarcasm and mockery.

Mr. Kun’s surname was Huang, and his moniker as a local tyrant also stemmed partly from his surname.

Hearing the words from the man in the car, Mr. Kun’s expression didn’t change at all, as if he already knew this person would say such things. He didn’t respond, continuing to walk at his previous pace.

This kind of exchange between the two old men was not their first. Anticipating the reaction, the man in the car withdrew his gaze from the window. The driver accelerated the car, quickly leaving Mr. Kun behind.

“Who knows why he makes himself such a spectacle. It’d be much better to enjoy life, with such resources and not using them!” said the elderly man in the car with a sneer.

As Tang Qi had once said, there weren’t many left today from that bygone era. The few old men who remained in Chuhua City never ceased their overt and covert skirmishes, yet no one would specifically trouble Huang Kun, at most throwing verbal jabs or engaging in minor, painless scuffles for amusement, without ever getting serious. Even Tang Qi was no exception. When Tang Qi had retreated behind the scenes, he had instructed Ye Hao on how to treat Mr. Kun.

“Not everyone can enjoy the pleasures of life like you do, Master Nai,” said the driver in the front.

Nie Shijiu loved when others commended him for enjoying life, and his style indeed matched that description. To many, Nie Shijiu always appeared dignified and impressive, often accompanied by young women even at an old age, which many envied. “Sprightly in old age” was a phrase frequently associated with him.

However, Nie Shijiu felt angered whenever he thought about Huang Kun’s utter disregard for him. Darn old coot, acting all high and mighty!

The driver glanced at Master Nai in the rearview mirror and continued, “Master Nai, seeing Mr. Kun today, he seemed aged and frail. Could his health be in trouble?”

Nie Shijiu smirked sardonically, “That guy is tough as nails. Back when the fights were fiercest, everyone thought he was a goner, that he’d be the last person anyone would let off the hook. But look at him now, alive and kicking!”

Hearing the tone of Nie Shijiu, the driver felt his boss wasn’t mad at him. Knowing his boss well, he probably had the same thoughts and was just saying those things out loud.

Therefore, the driver continued, “Even though he’s alive, look at him now, blind for so many years. I remember he’s about the same age as you, right? But looking at him today, where is the mighty demeanor of Mr. Kun, once the local tyrant who ruled the land? And now, isn’t it Mr. Kun’s adoptive son who’s in charge of that area? If you think about it, Mr. Kun is just a figurehead without any real power.”

From the driver’s perspective, in this circle, even blood relatives could turn on each other—let alone those without blood ties. They were even less reliable.

“No real power at hand? Hmm…”

Nie Shijiu snorted with laughter but did not elaborate. The driver ahead felt a chill down his spine, knowing the boss was truly angered this time. He quickly shut his mouth and said no more.

After a while, Nie Shijiu teased the cat lying beside him, slipping his finger into the cat’s mouth.

The cat clung to Nie Shijiu’s finger and playfully bit it. Its fangs, which even dogs had tasted, lightly grazed Nie Shijiu’s finger, but it never really bit down. It didn’t dare.

“This cat, when it’s raised to be obedient, won’t dare to really bite even if you stick your finger in its mouth.”

Although Nie Shijiu’s words seemed calm, the driver’s scalp tingled, and he didn’t dare utter half a word. Perhaps, if Mr. Kun had fallen back then, the boss would be more at ease now? Mr. Kun’s existence was like a thorn in the boss’s throat, one that couldn’t—and didn’t dare to—be pulled out.

Zheng Tan had no knowledge of the meeting between Ye Hao and Mr. Kun, as Wei Leng and Ye Hao had not mentioned it to him, nor did Zheng Tan want to get involved. After all, those were big shots dealing with significant matters. As for himself, a mere cat, he might as well think about how to pass the time.

So, on the afternoon when Ye Hao was meeting with Mr. Kun, Zheng Tan arrived at the overpass as usual, just in time to see the old man packing up. He found it odd that the old man was finishing up so early today, but as the old man passed by Zheng Tan, he said, “If you’re curious, you’re welcome to come along and have some fun.”

Zheng Tan stood there thinking, how did the old man know he was here? Today he hadn’t had the chance to fish coins out of the box, and his footsteps were very soft, yet the old man could still accurately detect his position.

Seeing the old man had already descended from the overpass, Zheng Tan stopped pondering this question and then wondered whether the old man meant for him to come over and have a look. Following him might reveal the old man’s secrets. It was a rare invitation from this VIP, or at least, it seemed like an invitation to Zheng Tan, so he hurriedly followed, belatedly realizing that this was probably the first time he heard the old man speak.

Following the old man, they walked through the bustling streets and into a narrow alley. They continued for a while, stopping in front of a house.

Without needing to knock, the door was opened from the inside.

Zheng Tan saw a young man with a very serious face. He was respectful to the old man, but when his gaze swept over Zheng Tan, he showed no surprise at seeing a cat there, only pausing slightly before following the old man inside.

Zheng Tan looked around and followed them in.

The house looked dilapidated from the outside, but the inside was better than expected, although just that—better. Some wealthy, high-status old men prefer a classic, antique style, others a more modern one, but Zheng Tan couldn’t tell which category this place fell into. The overall decor was simple. Clearly, the homeowner did not care about superficial shows of material wealth. Considering the old man was blind, Zheng Tan came to terms with it.

Moreover, just by watching him from behind, Zheng Tan couldn’t tell at all that the old man was blind. Without assistance, the old man didn’t stumble or bump into anything; his steps were steady, and he precisely placed items like his wooden box and large black umbrella in their proper spots without letting anyone else help.

They walked further in, coming to a modest-sized living room where Ye Hao, Long Qi, and others were gathered.

Upon Mr. Kun’s arrival, Ye Hao quickly stood up, but was abruptly choked off by the Black Cat following Mr. Kun.

It wasn’t just Ye Hao; a whole flock of Alpacas was galloping through Long Qi and Baozi’s minds.

Long Qi looked at Baozi, signaling with his eyes: Boss didn’t inform us about this cat, did he?

Baozi: Definitely not!

Today’s plan was indeed well thought out, covering many situations and deeply analyzing various psychological tactics, but no one had taken this cat into account!

In Long Qi’s view, cats are, by nature, an unpredictable factor, let alone this one. Who knew what would happen with this creature present! What exactly was Mr. Kun implying?

Zheng Tan looked at the expressions on Ye Hao and the others, tugged at his ear, and moved to the side. What’s there to fuss about; as if I care!

They could talk all they wanted. Zheng Tan wouldn’t bother joining in, opting instead to find a place to lie down, feeling somewhat tired from the journey.

Upon arrival, Zheng Tan had contemplated many possibilities, but once there, he felt none of the oppression he had anticipated, nor any malice or danger around. Although one couldn’t let one’s guard down completely, at least mentally he felt much more relaxed.

Zheng Tan’s eyes settled on a wooden table by the window, over three meters away from the others and with a vase full of lucky bamboo—perfect for taking a nap.

So, he got up and jumped!

As he leapt up, the table wobbled, and the vase swayed with it, almost to the point where it might have fallen off the table if moved any more. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you’re welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep