468: Chapter 112 Zhang Chulan, the Unyielding Scoundrel

Seeing Feng Baobao toss a bowl-thick, prickly wooden club to Ma Xianhong, Zhang Chulan's pupils visibly shook.

That thick? Sister Baoer, I haven't made you angry recently, have I?

Muttering inwardly, he didn't dare say much. Gritting his teeth, he maintained his full prostration posture, turned 180 degrees to face his rear toward Ma Xianhong, and simultaneously began flattering and begging for mercy: "Brother, for the sake of our elders, please spare my life."

"Brother, if you could pull out the thorns on that stick, this little brother would be even more grateful."

Ma Xianhong looked at Zhang Chulan's shameless demeanor, his eye socket twitching fiercely. He desperately wanted to grab the club and beat him to death, but ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Because he felt he still had some self-respect.

Thus, he could only say through gritted teeth: "Turn around!"

"Got it!" Zhang Chulan agreed, shifting his position while still in the prostrate posture.

Ma Xianhong clenched his fists: "I told you to turn around and stand up! Don't think I'll let you off just because you're being a shameless rogue. Get up!"

However, Zhang Chulan replied: "When correcting an error, one must overcorrect. I no longer know what method I can use to make you believe I have no ill intentions toward you. If you are even slightly calmer than a moment ago, I hope you think carefully about which of us is more qualified to talk about letting someone go."

"Look at this first."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and displayed the video previously recorded with the help of Xiao Zizai, Wang Zhenqiu, and the others, handing it to Ma Xianhong.

Ma Xianhong took it and clicked play.

In the video, Wang Zhenqiu spoke first: "How about we make a bet? I bet he won't show up."

Black Pipe shook his head: "I'm not betting."

Then, Xiao Zizai coughed lightly to signal silence, and then spoke to the camera: "Ma Xianhong, if you do come, the rest of us will already be gone. We can't afford to wait. This time wasn't meant to capture you anyway; Zhang Chulan just wanted to see you."

"Only Zhang Chulan and his group are left here. You might want to settle scores with Zhang Chulan."

"Actually, we don't really care for this guy either, so if you want to beat him up and vent some anger, that's fine."

"When you beat him, remember to have Sister Baoer record it so we can have a laugh too."

"However, this kid actually owes you nothing, morally or legally. If you really strike hard, if you really strike hard..."

"Forget it, pretend I didn't say anything. I'm not very good at threatening people."

The video ended there.

Ma Xianhong returned the phone to Zhang Chulan and asked with a cold face: "Zhang Chulan, why go to such great lengths just to see me? What do you want?"

Zhang Chulan replied with a serious expression: "To bare our hearts to each other."

Ma Xianhong saw he was still lying down and his mouth twitched: "Get up."

Zhang Chulan remained unmoved.

Ma Xianhong's face darkened, and he reached for the wooden club on the ground, looking menacing: "They said if I just beat you up, they wouldn't interfere, and they even asked Feng Baobao to record a video for their amusement. If you keep clinging to the ground like this, don't blame me for hitting you hard."

Saying that, he was about to swing the club at Zhang Chulan.

"Brother, I'm getting up! Getting up!" Zhang Chulan instantly chickened out and swiftly scrambled up from the ground to stand properly.

Ma Xianhong stopped his hand just in time, thinking to himself, 'Shameless beyond measure.'

Soon after, the two sat cross-legged on the ground.

Ma Xianhong said: "Speak. What do you want to discuss?"

Zhang Chulan sorted out his thoughts internally and said very seriously: "Before we talk, I have to ask you one question, and you must answer me truthfully."

"What question?" Ma Xianhong asked.

"During the process where the people behind you ambushed the Everywhere Connect vehicle you were in, did you take any action?" Zhang Chulan asked.

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed tightly on Ma Xianhong.

Ma Xianhong replied without hesitation: "No. At that time, the outcome was decided by a duel. I accepted the loss of the bet, and I genuinely intended to meet the company's higher-ups. I never planned to escape. You saw it before getting on the vehicle—I was struck with the Bi Yuan Needle and was completely unable to circulate Qi."

"Later, when I saw them coming to hijack the vehicle, I was equally surprised. I told them to leave, but instead, I was knocked unconscious."

"By the time I woke up, the situation was already irreversible."

Through observation, Zhang Chulan confirmed Ma Xianhong was not lying and immediately breathed a silent sigh of relief.

If Ma Xianhong hadn't acted, there was still room for maneuver.

Noticing Zhang Chulan's expression, Ma Xianhong asked curiously: "Is there a problem?"

Zhang Chulan avoided the question and changed the subject: "Our exchange in the village last time wasn't finished. I told you about my past; now I want to hear about yours."

Ma Xianhong instantly became alert: "Are you trying to trick me?"

Zhang Chulan shook his head: "I just want to hear about your past with your family, and about the memory loss you mentioned. Anything else is up to you."

"I found out later through other channels that before my grandfather died, he said he was the main culprit of the Jia Shen Rebellion."

"In my limited memory, he never complained about his situation."

This statement startled Ma Xianhong for a moment.

Zhang Chulan smiled: "Interesting, isn't it? Hiding everywhere, being hunted down for so many years, yet he didn't consider himself a victim; he thought it was what he deserved."

"Hmph," Ma Xianhong scoffed, then sighed with emotion: "I truly envy you. At least you had a few years of time spent with that Old Master Zhang."

Immediately after, he began recounting his past: "I never met my great-grandfather, but I often heard my grandfather talk about him."

"Speaking of which, I heard that my great-grandfather also said some strange things before he passed away."

"Back then, I was still a child. For a while, I often sat at the head of the village observing the Devouring Pouch in my hand, which drew ridicule from my peers."

"But one day..."