Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Han Zhang had eyes and ears inside the Dingbei Bo mansion and had been keeping tabs on Kang Zhanxun, so he naturally had a pretty good idea of what the man was up to.

Thus, when he saw Kang Zhanxun approach him at the Imperial Academy the next day, he wasn't surprised in the least.

Only Shen Huaizhi and the others tensed up like they were facing an enemy: "Kang Zhanxun, you... what are you doing here? We haven't done anything to you lately."

You really couldn't blame them for being scared—they now knew that Kang Zhanxun wasn't actually bad-tempered by nature, but was suffering from a severe poison.

His emotions were completely out of his control, and if he got upset, he could genuinely beat someone to death. Who wouldn't be scared of a crazy bastard like that?

Kang Zhanxun, however, couldn't be bothered with them right now, and merely waved his hand impatiently:

"Enough, cut the chatter. I'm here today to talk business with Brother Han, which has nothing to do with you guys."

His gaze swept over them, and he sneered: "Look at you all, cowering like scared rabbits. I'm not some monster—do you really think I'm gonna eat you?"

"Who's cowering? You might not eat people, but you don't know your own damn strength!"

Shen Huaizhi was the most irritated by Kang Zhanxun's look of treating them like weaklings. Though his actions were cowardly, his mouth remained stubborn—a classic case of someone whose mouth is tougher than his fists.

Seeing that they were about to argue again, Han Zhang quickly stepped in and interjected helplessly: "Brother Kang, what brings you to me today?"

"It's indeed something important," Kang Zhanxun gave Han Zhang a proper bow, his aggression held in check, showing a rare sincerity. "Could we talk somewhere private, Brother Han?"

Han Zhang already knew why he had come, and after a brief moment of thought, nodded in agreement. "Alright."

Shen Huaizhi and the others immediately grew anxious: "No way! Brother Han, don't go alone! Why can't he just say it in front of everyone? If he's gotta hide it from everyone, it must be something shady!"

"Exactly! What good could Kang Zhanxun possibly have in store? What if he loses his temper and starts swinging? What are you gonna do then?"

They had a point, but shouting it out like that was seriously rude.

Kang Zhanxun's eyes blazed with fury: "Shen Huaizhi, are you guys just determined to pick a fight with me?"

"Who's picking a fight? We're just telling the truth!"

Shen Huaizhi and the others glared back just as fiercely, determined to protect their golden ticket at all costs.

Ever since Brother Han started tutoring them, their grades had shot through the roof. Their teachers sang their praises at school, and their husbands doted on them at home—life couldn't be better.

There was no way they were gonna let Kang Zhanxun ruin their good life.

The two groups had never seen eye to eye, and Kang Zhanxun wasn't one to tolerate much. Moreover, with the poison still in his system and his emotions unstable, getting provoked was enough to set him off.

"Fine, so you dare talk back to me..."

Kang Zhanxun rolled up his sleeves and charged over, ready to throw down.

Shen Huaizhi and the others knew when to fold—if they couldn't win, they'd back down fast, quickly hiding behind Han Zhang while still yelling: "See! He starts throwing punches after just a few words! And you still say he's not a wild beast!"

That only made Kang Zhanxun angrier, and he looked like a fire-breathing dragon: "Shen Huaizhi! Pan Taining! Zhao Yongchang! Wu Xuelin!"

It was truly a case of enemies crossing paths.

After another round of noisy bickering, Han Zhang had to step in again before both sides finally backed off.

Under the worried and resentful stares of Shen Huaizhi and the others, Han Zhang and Kang Zhanxun walked to a corner.

To avoid Shen Huaizhi and the others getting anxious and barging in after too long, Kang Zhanxun cut the small talk and got straight to the point.

"Brother Han, I know that miracle acupuncture of yours isn't something you can just use casually, but I truly cannot die. The Dingbei Hou mansion has already been reduced to the Dingbei Bo mansion—already on its last legs. If I die young, leaving behind a widow and kids, they won't even be able to survive, let alone keep the family estate."

"Back then, the marquis title drove my second uncle to turn on his own family. Now, with the earl's title, I'm afraid it'll attract the same greedy wolves. I'm begging you, Brother Han, to help me out and treat me. From this day forth, everything I own—money, connections, power—is yours for the taking."

Kang Zhanxun bowed deeply, his hands clasped in earnest supplication.

He'd actually thought about getting on his knees, but worried it might seem like he was forcing Han Zhang's hand, so he abandoned the idea and instead did his best to describe his family's dire situation, hoping to tug at Han Zhang's heartstrings.

He remembered how much Han Zhang cherished his husband, so he figured Han Zhang was a soft-hearted man.

And sure enough.

When the matter of wife and children came up, a flicker of sympathy showed on Han Zhang's face.

Seeing this, Kang Zhanxun's heart jumped with hope, and he pressed on with his plea: "Brother Han, though my house has begun to show signs of decline, the family's years of accumulated wealth won't just disappear overnight. I'm sure there'll come a day when Brother Han finds me useful."

"I'm not some coward who's scared of dying, but... my wife and kids have no one on her side of the family to rely on. Without my protection, they'd truly struggle to survive..."

His voice choked up with grief.

Part of it was an act, but it was also the truth.

Han Zhang was silent for a moment, then finally let out a soft sigh and reached out to help him up: "Very well, I agree."

Before the other man could even start celebrating, he continued: "But aside from that, I have one condition."

"Brother Han, name it!"

Kang Zhanxun was overjoyed.

"I've long heard of Brother Kang's unparalleled archery and horsemanship. With the Imperial Academy's riding and archery exam approaching, I'd like to have a friendly contest with Brother Kang."

"If Brother Kang wins, I'll treat you with everything I've got, free of charge. But if I happen to win... then I'd ask that Brother Kang start calling Brother Shen and the others 'elder brother' from now on—deal?"

"What? You want me to call Shen Huaizhi and the others 'elder brother'?" That would mean bowing and scraping to them!

Kang Zhanxun was completely stunned.

Both because Han Zhang had come up with such an off-the-wall bet, and because he was willing to give up the Bo mansion's wealth and connections just to make Shen Huaizhi and the others happy, in exchange for such a request.

Seeing this, Han Zhang's lips curled slightly: "Brother Kang need not be surprised. As the Liezi says: 'No principle is always right, and no matter is always wrong.' This bet might seem ridiculous to you, Brother Kang, but to me, it's dead serious."

"I became friends with Brother Shen and the others back when we had nothing, and our bond is worth more than any money or power. One of Brother Shen's biggest dreams has always been to get one over on you."

"Unfortunately, when it comes to martial skill and big-heartedness, they just can't measure up to you, Brother Kang. Since I'm not that talented, I had to find another way to help them win this little rivalry..."

"At the end of the day, it's just men being competitive. I hope Brother Kang won't laugh at me."

By the end, Han Zhang looked a little embarrassed, with a shy smile on his face.

But this speech left Shen Huaizhi and the others, who'd been eavesdropping from the corner, so choked up they were practically in tears!

Shen Huaizhi's eyes suddenly welled up: "Brother Han... he actually took our wishes that seriously..."

Pan Taining started crying on the spot: "I never knew I meant that much to Brother Han..."

Zhao Yongchang was crying his eyes out: "I figured Brother Han only looked out for us 'cause of Brother Shen, but it turns out Brother Han truly treats me as a brother..."

Wu Xuelin wiped the corner of his eye: "What did I ever do to deserve Brother Han's kindness like this..."

And Kang Zhanxun's heart was churning even harder!

He had now reached the age of thirty, having seen and been through more than he could count, and had just found out the ugly truth that his own uncle killed family to get his hands on the inheritance—he knew all too well how rotten people could be.

He scoffed at all those big-name gentlemen of the capital, even great scholars and famous teachers, figuring they were a bunch of total phonies.

But right now, Han Zhang was showing him what real brotherhood looked like, what it meant to be straight-up noble and clean, what it meant to be ride-or-die friends!

"Those guys are seriously lucky... Well, since it's Brother Han's wish, how could I say no? At the end of the day, I'm the one coming out ahead here."

Kang Zhanxun felt a twinge of envy, but it quickly turned into a hearty laugh.

He flicked his sleeves, clasped his hands, and said with gusto: "Then, Brother Han, let's settle this on the training field!"

Sure, he'd lost to Han Zhang in their last fistfight, but he'd been busting his butt practicing archery since he was a kid—he didn't believe he could lose to Han Zhang.

If Han Zhang really could beat him, then he'd have no problem calling Shen Huaizhi and the rest "big brother" and bowing his head.

Kang Zhanxun could take a loss.

With that, he turned and swaggered off.

Han Zhang watched him go with a smile, then turned and returned to the study.

When he got back, he found Shen Huaizhi and the others with puffy, red eyes. His face fell with worry as he rushed over:

"Second Brother, Brother Pan, Brother Zhao, Brother Wu, what's wrong? Did somebody mess with you guys?"

His face made it clear that if they told him who did it, he'd find a way to have their backs.

With brotherly love that open and real, how could Shen Huaizhi and these simple-minded guys hold it together?

In no time, they lost it completely. They swarmed him, some latching onto his legs, some grabbing his arms, bawling their eyes out.

"Brother Han, what you said to that Kang Zhanxun—we heard it all... Boo-hoo, Brother Han, why are you so good to us? What did we ever do to deserve this... what did we ever do..."

Even their own parents had never been like Brother Han—never looking down on their flaws, but instead putting up with everything about them and going out of his way to help them get better.

In truth, they knew well that Brother Han's praises in the past were just to comfort them.

They themselves held no hope for themselves.

It was Brother Han who kept encouraging them, helping them discover their strengths, and patiently drilling things into their thick skulls over and over...

And now, a wish they'd casually mentioned, Brother Han had silently kept in his heart and fulfilled at any cost.

This brotherly bond was deeper than a thousand feet of Peach Blossom Lake—nothing could match how much Brother Han cared for them!

"Brother Han, from this day forward, you are our closest kin. Let us all strive together, bound by the nine clans."

Shen Huaizhi and the others wiped away their tears and made their solemn vow.

Their eyes were as resolute as if they were joining the Party.

Han Zhang was deeply moved as well, and sighed with emotion: "Fourth Brother's great affection—that I, Zhang, may journey through this life with you brothers, I would die without regret!"

Nothing in this world is more moving than brothers bowing their heads for one another.

Shen Huaizhi and the others felt not the slightest embarrassment—they only felt that their Brother Han's words came from the bottom of his heart, loving them deeply.

"Brother Han loves us too, and we would die without regret!"

They all responded in unison, wishing they could swear by their nine clans' heads on the spot to prove their sincerity.

The nine clans of Shen, Pan, Zhao, and Wu: ...

Grandsons, he's just performing for you, performing for you!