Trafford's Trading Club

750: Chapter 163: Car 750: Chapter 163: Car Zhuifeng was incredibly happy to hear that he could stay in the underground training ground at the hospital and train with Mo Xiaofei.

Although he had awakened the Greedy Wolf Star, no one had ever told him about its origins.

Even though he considered the Greedy Wolf Star to be extraordinary, comparing it to receiving guidance from the Godly Land’s true dragon made it difficult to say which one was better.

After all, he was young, and he grew up listening to various legends of the Godly Land’s true dragon, so naturally, he leaned more towards receiving personal guidance from the true dragon.

However, Zhuifeng was displeased when the Little Dragon Lord instructed him not to get too close to Zi Xing.

A sense of latent pride within him made Zhuifeng feel deeply repressed, dissipating the expectation of receiving guidance from the true dragon.

As if she saw through Zhuifeng’s thoughts, Long Xiruo calmly said, “Don’t be dissatisfied with my prohibition on your contact with the Greedy Wolf Clan’s young leader.

The Greedy Wolf Clan’s inheritance can be traced back to ancient times.

This clan is a core ancient vein within the Demon Veins, and the young leader of the Greedy Wolf Clan holds almost the highest position within the clan.

As for you…”

Long Xiruo squinted her eyes and spoke in a playful tone, “As for you, frankly speaking, you are merely a wandering little monster.

In terms of identity and status, or even strength, do you think you compare to the young leader of the Greedy Wolf Clan?”

Zhuifeng quietly clenched his fists.

He felt that if his Greedy Wolf Star inheritance were revealed…

Long Xiruo abruptly said, “I know you have some secrets, and you might think they can help you out of this predicament.

But the Wolf Clan is proud.

Only by truly becoming strong yourself can you genuinely conquer the Wolf Clan, especially the Greedy Wolf Clan.

If you rely only on external objects and not on yourself to convince the Wolf Clan now…

is it useful?”

Zhuifeng was taken aback.

Longxi finally said lightly, “No matter how high the status, it’s not as practical as having strong power.

Future things are ultimately future things; what matters now is the present.

Monks in China strive every moment, and the demon tribes do the same.

Your potential is good, but potential is always just potential.

Until potential transforms into your own abilities, just follow the rules.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuifeng released his tightly clenched fist.

He suddenly remembered the jade pendant Zi Xing gave him, saying that if he ever faced difficulty, he could use it to enter the Siberian plateau and receive the Greedy Wolf Tribe’s protection.

He realized that what the Little Dragon Lord said was correct.

One day, when he could actually show up as powerful before Zi Xing, not relying on so-called inheritance or identity… that is what he truly wanted.

“I understand.” Zhuifeng took a deep breath, then bid farewell to Long Xiruo, stating his plan to return home and pack before moving into the underground training ground.

He vowed not to leave unless his training yielded results!

Seeing Zhuifeng’s firm gaze, Long Xiruo lifted a hand to interrupt and say something, but ultimately did not stop him.

She watched as Zhuifeng finally opened the door and left, closing it respectfully behind him before she weakly lowered her hand.

I didn’t say you could move in!

“Oh well, keeping this guy under my nose is better than him wandering outside…” Long Xiruo muttered to herself, “Why did Zhuifeng’s Greedy Wolf Star suddenly awaken?

Strange…”

…

…

They were having hot pot.

Ren Ziling ordered a table full of fatty beef and lamb, like a starving ghost who had just reincarnated.

She said that eating hot pot like this is the way to truly experience the local culture.

Of course, Lizi ate even more, but she ate with much more elegance—though she never stopped, continuously putting food into her mouth.

It wasn’t a fancy restaurant; the hot pot place was bustling with people, noisy beyond measure, with tables filled with swirling white smoke, the continuous chatter making it sound like a lively market.

Luo Qiu hadn’t sat at a meal table with Lizi for some time.

The last time must have been before Golden Week.

That time was to welcome Lv Yiyun, who had come from a far-off seaside village to study.

Halfway through eating, Lizi suddenly stopped, seemingly remembering something.

She dug three beautifully wrapped gifts from her backpack and placed them in front of Luo Qiu, You Ye, and Ren Ziling.

Her reason was simple: fitting the occasion.

Ren Ziling didn’t expect to receive a gift from Lizi at such a place and time, and when chopsticks poised to put a piece of beef into her mouth, she hurriedly paused, wiped her mouth, and curiously opened the gift on the spot.

It was a necklace with a small droplet-shaped crystal pendant, like a water droplet, resembling a diamond—though Ren Ziling certainly didn’t think that with Lizi’s meager salary, she could afford to buy diamonds—that little pay was probably barely enough for her daily meals and drinks.

But the moment the pendant touched her hand, it felt cool, providing a refreshing sensation.

Especially in the hot pot restaurant, where the air was murky and stifling, this comfortable feeling was greatly enhanced.

It was probably no ordinary item.

Ren Ziling considered herself knowledgeable, yet for a moment couldn’t identify what it was, marveling about it.

Luo Qiu and You Ye also opened their gifts, which turned out to be similarly crafted jewelry from the water droplet crystals.

You Ye received a small bracelet, while Luo Qiu got a pocket watch with a water droplet embedded in it.

“Lizi, these gifts aren’t cheap, are they?”

Clearly, these objects weren’t cheap, and Ren Ziling was somewhat unwilling to accept them.

Lizi was her assistant; she only mentored her without expecting anything in return.

Moreover, with over half a year of close work, their relationship deepened, making Ren Ziling even more reluctant to let her spend extravagantly.

“These things?

Actually, they’re worthless.” Lizi said with a laugh, resuming her chopsticks action.

“I dug them up at my old home.

When I was little, I went up the mountains, and there were lots of these things.

I dug out a big one before, but then the largest one was given away.”

Ren Ziling was stunned, evidently dissatisfied with this explanation.

The water-droplet-shaped crystal pendant, resembling jade yet not quite jade, had the smoothness of jade and the brilliance of diamonds.

Her curiosity grew, so she turned to Luo Qiu and You Ye.

“Do you two recognize what this is?”

The maid shook her head, saying she didn’t recognize it but was very grateful for Lizi’s gift.

Luo Qiu knew what it was but shook his head.

“Where exactly is your hometown, Lizi?

How come there are so many strange things?” Ren Ziling actually found the necklace somewhat captivating.

While choosing sauce, she made it too spicy, causing her body to feel hot.

Holding the necklace, her burning sensation lessened considerably, deepening her impression of its magic—along with those divine medicines that rejuvenated Officer Ma and brought success in conceiving children.

“Oh, just a small village in the north.” Lizi said casually, “Besides the frequent snow, there’s nothing special about it.”

Ren Ziling recalled that Lizi’s resume mentioned her origin, indeed a city in the northeast.

But she always felt that was not Lizi’s true birthplace.

Still, Lizi didn’t seem willing to talk more about the specific place, so Ren Ziling refrained from further probing.

This was at the dinner table, eating with close friends and family, not dealing with an interview subject in the workplace.

She always knew how to differentiate between business and personal matters.

“If there’s a chance, take us out for some fun.” Ren Ziling said longingly, “I’ve grown up all this time and have never seen heavy snow.”

“Eh?

Really?” Lizi responded curiously.

Luo Qiu suddenly said, “She’s afraid of the cold, especially afraid of it.

During winter, if she doesn’t have to work, she can stay in bed all day, not even eating.”

“Afraid of the cold,” Lizi mused, “I see…”

Ren Ziling glared at Luo Qiu with dissatisfaction, instantly turning into Miss Ren, “So what if I haven’t seen snow!

You have!

And the farthest you’ve been is just back to your hometown!

Sigh, those good sons take their mothers on trips from Singapore to the northeast, and even tours in Europe.

Do you?

No!”

Luo Qiu just smiled.

This was the mode of interaction between Ren Ziling and him over the years.

Faced with Ren Ziling’s dissatisfaction and self-blame, Luo Qiu silently put a freshly scalded piece of beef from the pot into Ren Ziling’s bowl.

Ren Ziling smacked her lips but started eating.

The following time passed quietly amidst casual conversation.

At this table with four seats, three were not occupied by ordinary people, yet nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Nor was it necessary for anything extraordinary to happen.

In fact, being able to have a harmonious gathering, to enjoy a meal happily amidst the busyness of life, was already an unusual occurrence.

Gathering time naturally became precious.

By the time it was almost nine in the evening, Ren Ziling settled the bill, suggesting going to the central square for a stroll since there was a stage set up with some stars and events.

It was quite lively.

The road to the central square wasn’t far, but it was crowded inside, men and women everywhere.

Before long, Ren Ziling and Luo Qiu got separated.

…

…

Several police cars whizzed by, the sound of sirens echoing, drawing attention.

No one knew what had happened on this Christmas Eve to make these officers so anxious.

Liu Zixing watched the disappearing police cars without much thought.

Since meeting his wife at the tea house, he had been wandering the streets alone.

He suddenly felt he had nowhere to go…

no place to belong.

He suddenly remembered things that happened while studying abroad.

Many classmates from China seemed unable to be happy during festivals.

He recalled a part-time student who was doing well academically.

The professors had already lined up a future job for him, but he refused, saying he planned to return to his home country after graduation.

He said one’s roots are ultimately where their home is, and his roots were his home, which was in his motherland.

At that time, Liu Zixing didn’t think much of these words.

Where your home is, that’s where your roots are.

After struggling abroad, bringing your parents over would also make a home, even with better conditions, wouldn’t it?

Roots and home, which comes first, Liu Zixing couldn’t figure it out.

He felt like he had entered a dead end, no road ahead, tall walls on both sides.

The only exit was behind him, but the surroundings were so fitting that he hesitated to turn back, staying put instead.

Liu Zixing suddenly felt dizzy, the wound on his ear throbbing more painfully, as if burning.

Two more police cars sped by, but Liu Zixing didn’t care.

He sat alone on a bench at a bus stop, sitting there for over an hour.

In front of the bus stop sign, many people waited for the bus.

Some caught it and boarded, while others missed it and had to wait for the next one, faces full of frustration.

Some boarded the wrong bus and regretted it.

Life is roughly like this, waiting for the right bus…

but mistakes happen.

“Where’s my bus…”

His gaze gradually blurred around him, focusing only on the one yuan coin lying quietly in his palm.

Suddenly, Liu Zixing took a deep breath and tossed the coin up again.

He guessed heads.

But it came up tails—this was the sixty-first time.

He didn’t know how long his bad luck would last, only able to verify it repeatedly by tossing the coin—though he knew only two days had passed since his streak of good fortune ended, so his luck returning wouldn’t be soon.

Shaking his head, Liu Zixing sighed.

As he was about to leave, his body was jostled by someone rushing to catch the bus.

Startled, he lost his grip, and the coin fell to the ground.

The round one yuan coin rolled on the ground like a wheel, heading off into the distance.

Liu Zixing suddenly felt fear, as if his life had been knocked away.

Without thinking, he quickly chased after the rolling coin.

It didn’t roll far or fall into the sewer grate, stopping after a short distance.

Liu Zixing quickly picked it up, instinctively breathing a sigh of relief.

But then a strong light shone, and Liu Zixing looked around blankly.

He was standing in the middle of the road, with a car speeding towards him.

The headlights were too bright, too blinding, turning the world pure white.

No screams were heard because there were too many cars around, and the honks drowned everything out.

When you’re down on your luck, even drinking water might choke you…

so being hit by a car on the road wasn’t unimaginable.

Besides, to retrieve that coin, he had voluntarily rushed onto the road.