Demonic King of the Metropolis - Chapter 42 - Treating Uncle Zhao Part 1
Tang Jie smiled at Uncle Zhao’s words, though in Uncle Zhao’s eyes, it was a sign of helplessness.
Just as the glimmer of hope in his heart was about to be extinguished, Tang Jie slowly said, “Uncle Zhao, your ailment can be treated, but I’m currently missing a few things. Gathering them will take some time.”
“Wha… what?” Uncle Zhao looked astonished after hearing this. It can be treated? Really? Over the years, he had sought renowned doctors across the country, yet none could heal the injury on his shoulder. Of course, this was apart from those mysterious people hidden in the shadows.
“I said this illness can be cured!” Tang Jie smiled confidently.
“Re-really?” Uncle Zhao’s eyes showed a fervent gleam. By modern medical standards, the injury on his left shoulder shouldn’t be difficult to heal.
However, the challenge lay in the fact that his injury wasn’t ordinary; it was inflicted by a martial artist’s true qi1. Moreover, the opponent’s strength far exceeded his own, causing the true qi to enter his body and block his meridians.
“Yes!” Tang Jie nodded, “Three days, Uncle Zhao. In three days, I can heal your injury.”
Upon hearing this, Uncle Zhao was once again taken aback and said with a trembling voice, “Three days…”
Tang Jie nodded and smiled, “To heal your injury, I need some auxiliary tools, and making these tools will take three days.”
“Okay, okay, even if it’s three months, I can wait.” Remembering that the heart illness that had troubled him for years could be resolved, Uncle Zhao’s excitement was palpable.
Not long after, Uncle Zhao had driven the extended Lincoln into a luxury apartment complex, parked the car, and got out.
Uncle Zhao’s attitude towards Tang Jie had undergone a significant change-more than anything else, he felt gratitude. If things went as Tang Jie promised and his injury was indeed healed in three days, then it would be time to execute the plan he’d been suppressing in his heart for years.
“This apartment is a property of the Chen Group. Tang, you can stay here for now, and no outsiders will disturb you,” Uncle Zhao said as he opened the apartment door and led Tang Jie inside.
Looking around, Tang Jie noticed the apartment was fully furnished and had a unique style. He placed his backpack on the sofa and said, “Thank you, Uncle Zhao.”
“Tang, there’s no need to stand on ceremony with me. Let me know if you need anything!” Uncle Zhao waved his hand, then took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Tang Jie.
“Uncle Zhao, I heard Mr. Chen say earlier that he has already notified Miss Chen. Since that’s the case, I’d like to rest a bit in the afternoon and then find her. Where can I meet her?” Tang Jie asked as he took the card.
A competent bodyguard must be well-acquainted with some basic details about their employer. However, Tang Jie realized that aside from being familiar with Miss Chen’s appearance, he knew nothing about her. Although Chen Jiankai had called to notify Miss Chen, he hadn’t informed Tang Jie where to find her.
“She’s at school during the day and likely to go to Passion Bar at night.”
Uncle Zhao thought for a moment and then shared some of Miss Chen’s usual habits with Tang Jie.
“Oh, which school is that? What time does school end?” Tang Jie asked, deciding to officially start his work in the afternoon.
“At the municipal key high school, No. 2 High School. School lets out at 5:20 PM,” Uncle Zhao answered Tang Jie’s questions before leaving a while later.
After resting his eyes on the sofa for a bit, Tang Jie opened his eyes, checking the time. It was almost the end of the school day. Remembering Uncle Zhao’s words, he got up and headed out. Once outside the apartment, he hailed a taxi.
“No. 2 High School,” Tang Jie told the driver his destination after getting in, then glanced down to check the time. With ten minutes to spare, he should arrive just in time for school dismissal.
When the taxi reached the entrance of No. 2 High School, Tang Jie got out and saw the school gate was still closed. He waited by the gate for a short while. In less than a minute, a cacophony erupted from within the teaching building, followed by a stream of students in school uniforms pouring out of the gate. An old man, probably in his fifties, emerged from the guardroom next to the gate and opened the school entrance.
Tang Jie scanned the students coming out, looking for Chen Shuran. After a while, a tall figure that closely resembled the one in the photo emerged from the teaching building. She had a natural, cold elegance on her face and was accompanied by another girl.
“Shuran-Jie2, I saw Wang Shiwen staring at you again during the break today, his face turned green. Did you tear up another love letter he sent?” The girl beside Chen Shuran, called Xiao Ran, teased as they walked out together.
“Whether his face is red or green has nothing to do with me,” Chen Shuran replied coldly, her expression indifferent to the situation. Her exquisite features and flawless skin, combined with her aloof demeanor, made her stand out as an ice princess amidst the crowd.
“Exactly, but I still find it strange how persistent he is,” Xiao Ran continued. The two of them reached the gate and stepped outside in a few strides.
At this point, Tang Jie was certain that the ice princess he had spotted was indeed Chen Shuran. He watched her and walked toward her as she stepped out.
“You must be Miss Chen Shuran,” Tang Jie said. Hearing this, Chen Shuran glanced up at the somewhat refined face before her. She gave him a cold look and was about to leave without a word when Tang Jie quickly stepped in front of her.
“Step aside,” Chen Shuran said coldly, a clear disdain on her face as she mistook Tang Jie’s approach for a romantic advance.
Realizing her misunderstanding, Tang Jie smiled faintly, a hint of playfulness in his voice. “I think you might have the wrong idea.”
Misunderstanding? Chen Shuran looked at Tang Jie, momentarily perplexed, but then turned her head away and refused to look at him.
“I’m here on your father’s request to protect you. Let me accompany you home,” Tang Jie explained, intending to take her backpack. As a bodyguard, he was more than willing to carry the beautiful master’s bag, but Chen Shuran refused.
“You? Protect me?” She turned her head in surprise, looking at Tang Jie with a cold sneer. She glanced up and down, not seeing him as a bodyguard but rather as a suspicious gigolo.
At that moment, Chen Shuran remembered that her father had called her that afternoon, saying he had arranged for someone to protect her. But looking at Tang Jie, she couldn’t help but wonder if her father had been fooled by him or if he was just confused.
Footnote:
- True Qi (真气): True Qi refers to a form of vital energy or life force believed to flow through the body’s meridians. Martial artists in these stories cultivate and harness true qi to perform extraordinary physical feats, heal themselves, or even attack others.
- -Jie(-姐): In Chinese culture, using “xx姐” (pronounced as “xx jie”) to address someone is quite common, especially in Mainland China and other Chinese-speaking communities. The term “jie” means “older sister” and, when used in this context, typically carries a sense of affection and friendliness. It indicates respect and amiability towards the person, similar to calling someone “sis” or “big sister” in English.
