Upon hearing this, Zhou Shang forced a cold smile on his face and patted the other's shoulder, his tone slightly stiff.
"Very good! Younger Brother Zheng, I owe you a favor! If there's anything you need in the future, just speak up."
Hearing this, Zheng Di was overjoyed.
Why were those words just spoken?
Exactly for this moment.
To say the least, being able to thereby establish some connection with a newly ascended Fourth Grade Martial Artist was indeed incredibly worthwhile.
As for the sacrificial lamb Lin Ping'an, who cares?
Even though that's the case, Zheng Di displayed a different stance outwardly.
"Brother Zhou, what you said is too formal, we're practically family!"
"Xiaoqiang is your real nephew, so he's practically my real nephew too!"
"That kid Lin Ping'an, daring to do such a thing, is simply seeking death."
"Avenging Xiaoqiang is what I should do. Rest assured, regarding today's affair, heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know, it will never be leaked."
As he spoke, he hurriedly left to take action.
For Zheng Di, this was a golden opportunity; after establishing a connection, he could naturally gain many benefits from Zhou Shang.
Who knows, he might have the chance to advance to the Third Grade in the future.
With limited potential, it's incredibly difficult to advance, only by obtaining more resources can one have a chance.
And resources require hard work, simply currying favor with a martial artist stronger than oneself is far easier.
Fourth Grade entering the Middle Tier Martial Artist stage is completely different from the Lower Third Grades.
Just a bit of leftover resources from his hand would be enough for him, a Second Grade Martial Artist, to feast on.
Regarding the newly emerged miraculous Yellow Level Technique "Painful Demon Body", Zheng Di has also practiced it but couldn't bear the pain and chose to give it up.
In his view, obtaining cultivation progress through this method is either for those with a masochistic streak or just utter madness.
If you can comfortably advance, why choose to suffer?
On the other side, Zhou Shang returned to the medical room outside, once more looking at his comatose nephew lying on the bed, clenching his fist tightly, gritting his teeth, uttering words of hatred with clenched lips.
"Lin… Ping…'an!!"
In the depths of his eyes, a scarlet shadow flickered faintly, as if a fierce tiger was roaring.
After that, he turned and left, with threads of killing intent trailing him.
More than an hour later.
Zheng Di returned to No.1 School, pretended to be indifferent, sneakily entered the archive room, found Lin Ping'an's data information, and acquired his home address.
Following this, he waited a few hours until nightfall before preparing to contact Zhou Shang.
To avoid leaving traces, he didn't use the internet to pass on relevant information but chose a subtle location for a face-to-face meeting.
Although eager to cozy up, it's clear Zheng Di didn't want to be entrapped by this.
The act of murder could only be done secretly. If exposed, he would also be willing to betray and sell the other out without hesitation.
...
Celestial Yang City, outskirts, a semi-abandoned construction site.
Upon meeting again as agreed, Zheng Di greeted with a smile as Zhou Shang appeared, proactively walking over.
"Brother Zhou, after my arduous search and exertion, I finally succeeded in finding that brat's information and address."
In fact, not much effort was needed, with his teacher status, unnoticed by others completely.
After all, also counted as an insider relatively speaking, accessing student addresses is quite easy.
But Zheng Di didn't reveal that, instead, he portrayed it as challenging.
A grain of kindness, a bucket of enmity, if too easy, the other party might not necessarily acknowledge this favor.
This also explains why he didn't contact immediately upon finding out but rather waited several hours before scheduling a meeting.
Zhou Shang didn't mind this at all, nodded, straightforwardly asked.
"Where is that brat's home?"
Zheng Di smiled, stopped beating around the bush, divulged the information found.
"Celestial Yang City, Nanguan District, Fandou Street, Fan Dou Garden, Building 2, Room 201, it's a rundown community, mainly ordinary people live there without tight security. As long as you go, finding him would be exact."
"The action is simple, fast, and without any hindrance."
"Moreover, here is Lin Ping'an's photo, Brother Zhou, make sure not to mistake the person and let that brat escape."
As he said this, he handed over a previously printed photograph, which was Lin Ping'an's enrollment photo.
Sourced from a few years ago, appearing somewhat youthful but the eyes similarly possessing a profound sense, particularly stable.
At a glance, it gave off a distinctive impression.
Upon hearing, Zhou Shang memorized the information while reaching for the photo, deeply imprinting it in his mind.
Thereafter, a somewhat rigid smile emerged on his face, as he patted the other's shoulder and spoke with a false smile.
"Thank you, Younger Brother Zheng, you really are my benefactor."
"Such well-arranged matters, really at a loss on how to repay?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Di felt inwardly delighted, his face blossomed into flattering smiles, and began a chain of polite words.
"No need for courtesy, we are practically brothers."
"This is what I should do; talk of repayment is truly being too estranged…"
The next instant, before his words ended.
An eerie and chilling voice echoed in his ears.
"Since that's the case, let's give you a sense of participation too! Younger Brother Zheng, contribute your strength and merge with me!"
As he spoke, Zhou Shang instantaneously erupted with Qi Blood, his large hand swiped horizontally, twisting Zheng Di's neck in a flash.
Afterward, his head transformed hideously, his mouth protruded outward, bursting with giant teeth, biting into the corpse's neck, continuously sucking blood.
As the moonlight swayed, illuminating this desolate place, shadows on the wall depicted a horrifying scene.
At this moment, within the abandoned factory, the air was pungent with an ever-present stench of blood.
Long after, Zhou Shang's form reverted, his body covered in blotches of blood.
Gazing at the broken limbs and scarlet stains on the ground, feeling the newly manifesting spectral shadow trailing him, a sinister grin appeared on his face.
"Fool, in this world, only the dead can keep secrets."
"Originally planned to solve later, but with the location chosen so secluded and timing so opportune."
"Not killing you would waste this good opportunity."
...
Celestial Yang City, inside the hotel.
After another day of effort, Lin Ping'an's stomach started growling, he went downstairs to the restaurant and began to devour food recklessly.
Each dish, once served, was quickly devoured, rice was downed bowl after bowl.
To this sight, neither the waiter nor other customers were surprised.
Martial Artists cultivate Qi Blood, although their combat power is non-human, energy consumption is high, each can be called a voracious eater.
Of course, it's the recoil from normal food, these foods having low energy content necessitate such consumption.
If replacing with Entering Grade Exotic Beast flesh, consumption wouldn't be as great.