EBE Chapter 98 Finding You a Father
Chapter 98 Finding You a Father
After listening to the chief's words, Meng Fuqing and Xie Jin took their leave.
Xie Jin stood up. "We don't know our companions very well. Perhaps we can find some clues by asking around when we get back."
Upon hearing this, the chief put down his teacup and looked at the two men. "It's getting late. Why don't you two stay the night at my Black Tiger Stronghold? I'll send someone to accompany you back tomorrow."
Both of them could tell that this leader was a man of his word and did not consult with them, so they agreed.
There are benefits to them staying here.
The group of five stayed at Black Tiger Stronghold under the leader's arrangement.
Meanwhile, the Black Tiger Stronghold brothers in the main hall also went back to rest after their leader and his men left.
The man who had slammed his fist on the table earlier returned to his room, sat alone for a moment, took out paper and pen, and wrote a line on the paper.
He got up and went to the window, summoned a carrier pigeon, put the note he had written at the pigeon's feet, and watched intently as the pigeon flew towards the horizon.
On the other side, Meng Fuqing and his four companions were led by the bandits to their resting place. After watching the bandits leave, Meng Fuqing called out to Qi Liang, who was about to go to rest.
Qi Liang turned around and saw Meng Fuqing and Xie Jin looking him over at the same time. Confused, he touched the back of his neck and asked, "Is there something you need?"
After Xie Jin gestured for his two subordinates to leave and close the door, Meng Fuqing finally spoke: "How old are you this year?"
As she spoke, she carefully observed Qi Liang's eyebrows and eyes, and whether it was her imagination or not, she actually saw a resemblance to Du Zhong.
"I don't remember," Qi Liang replied casually. "Why are you asking?"
"Let's see if we can find you a father." Meng Fuqing sat at the table and gestured for Qi Liang to sit down as well.
Qi Liang narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Are you kidding me?"
"The leader of Black Tiger Stronghold is looking for his son. You and he are both naturally strong and have some resemblance in your eyes and brows. Didn't you say before that you had no family? Perhaps this leader is your father, so I've come to ask for more details."
Qi Liang hesitated for a moment, then walked over and sat opposite Meng Fuqing, unceremoniously poured himself a cup of tea and drank it all in one gulp.
As he put down his cup, he said, "I think you're wasting your time. I've lived in several villages since I can remember, all over a hundred miles away from Qingzhou. How could he have anything to do with me?"
Where are your biological parents?
Qi Liang's expression was cold and hard. "How would I know? They'd love to get rid of me, this burden."
"So you were given away by your parents when you were young, and then lived with several different families?"
"So what if it is?" Qi Liang frowned. "Have you finished asking?"
Ignoring his obvious irritability, Meng Fuqing continued, "One last question: do you have a birthmark on your right shoulder?"
Qi Liang's expression froze, and he remained silent.
Judging from his expression, Meng Fuqing knew that they had probably just gotten lucky and gotten it right.
It's also Qi Liang's fault; he looks a bit weathered, otherwise he wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble.
She couldn't help but clap her hands. "Good news, you've found your father; bad news, we're going to kill your father."
"You can make that judgment based on just these facts?" Qi Liang found it hard to accept and frowned as he explained, "It's true that I have a burn on my shoulder, but I don't know if I had a birthmark before I was burned."
“What a coincidence!” Meng Fuqing spread his hands. “Even if you’re not the person he’s looking for, as long as you tidy yourself up and look younger, you can be someone else.”
Qi Liang was speechless for a moment.
Xie Jin, who had been listening in, walked to Meng Fuqing's side and said, "No matter what you choose, you will always be our first choice."
Why take the risk when there's a shortcut?
The two worked in unison, leaving Qi Liang with absolutely no choice.
He wanted to make one last attempt, "What if he recognizes that I'm not his son?"
A cold glint flashed in Xie Jin's eyes. "Proceed as planned, risk a battle."
This matter also concerned Qi Liang's own safety, so although he was somewhat unwilling, he reluctantly agreed.
The five rested in the bandit's den for one night. Early the next morning, Meng Fuqing and Xie Jin brought the well-prepared Qi Liang to the bandit leader, Du Zhong.
Upon seeing Qi Liang, Du Zhong was momentarily stunned. He hadn't paid attention to Meng Fuqing's subordinates last night, but today he found them somewhat familiar. He asked Xie Jin and Meng Fuqing, "What do you two mean by this?"
Meng Fuqing stepped forward and said, “Last night, when I saw the chief, I felt as if I had seen him before. After thinking about it carefully, I realized that you and my subordinate have similar features.”
"Upon further questioning, it was discovered that apart from the burn on his shoulder, which made it impossible to discern whether he had a birthmark, everything else matched what the leader had said."
As soon as he finished speaking, Du Zhong strode over and looked Qi Liang up and down. The more he looked, the more excited he became, but he remained expressionless on his face.
“A subordinate that Miss Meng casually brought is exactly the person I’m looking for, while I’ve been searching for years without any results. It’s truly unbelievable.”
Sensing the other party's suspicion, Meng Fuqing was not worried. He simply asked, "Why does the chief think I brought him here?"
Du Chong glanced at Qi Liang again, "Why?"
"Since we decided to come to Black Tiger Stronghold, we naturally wouldn't come unprepared. My subordinate is just as naturally strong as the chief, capable of taking on ten men at once."
Du Zhong looked surprised and asked Qi Liang, "Really?"
Qi Liang's tone was somewhat aggressive, "Does the chief want to have a match with me?"
Du Zhong was taken aback, and then he actually laughed.
"I never expected such a coincidence in the world. May I ask, young lady, if I may speak with your subordinate alone for a moment? There are some things I would like to ask him."
Meng Fuqing glanced at Qi Liang, and seeing him nod at her with a straight face, she said, "Of course."
Qi Liang was taken away by Du Zhong, while Meng Fuqing and the other three stayed behind to wait.
About 15 minutes later, the two reappeared in front of the people.
Du Zhong smiled broadly, though his eyes were slightly red at the corners. Qi Liang still looked like someone owed him eight hundred taels of silver. Seeing this, Meng Fuqing knew that the matter was probably settled.
"To be honest, Qi Liang is most likely my son. I was just being petty and naive before. I hope you won't take offense!"
Meng Fuqing and Xie Jin did not expect Du Zhong to admit it so readily, but since Qi Liang did not refute it and it was a private matter for others, they had no reason to interfere.
They all clasped their hands in a salute and said, "Congratulations, Boss, on achieving your wish."
Behind them, the bandits shouted in unison, "Congratulations, Chief, on achieving your wish!"
Having finally found his son, Du Zhong became even more enthusiastic towards Meng Fuqing and the others, ordering fine wine and food to be served to them, and even inquiring about how Qi Liang had become Meng Fuqing's subordinate.
Meng Fuqing naturally wouldn't tell the truth, only saying that he had rescued Qi Liang, who was trapped among the refugees. He looked at Qi Liang, who just nodded awkwardly.
After filling his stomach and drinking his wine, Du Zhong temporarily handed over all the affairs of the stronghold to the second-in-command of Black Tiger Stronghold, looking as if he had something to say to Meng Fuqing and his group.