Chapter 025: Taking in a Little Brother

Chapter 25: Recruiting a Little Brother

In truth, Ye Feng simply intended to make a show of force, to let Wu Tianlin know his own capabilities, and to deter any thoughts of revenge. As the saying goes, an eye for an eye never ends. Of course, Ye Feng had only used half of his strength, and the result left him quite satisfied. “I wonder, Manager Wu, do you believe me now? Are you convinced that I have the ability not to fear your retaliation?”

“I do, I believe you now. Brother—no, Hero—Wu Tianlin will never dare to trouble you again. Absolutely not!” Wu Tianlin felt a chill run down his spine. What rotten luck tonight! He’d encountered such a formidable freak; if only he hadn’t acted so rashly. Wu Tianlin was inwardly lamenting his misfortune.

“Good, that’s settled. Now it’s your turn, Ma Long—Brother Long, right?” Ye Feng spoke politely. This man seemed steady and reliable, not the sort to be a villain. He was likely a worthy friend, especially after witnessing his willingness to risk his life for his brothers just now; that kind of loyalty was no small thing.

“Haha, little brother, you’re too polite. Just call me Ma Long. What should I call you?” Ma Long replied courteously. This young man wasn’t lazy at all—not only was his martial skill impressive, but his character was admirable. Ma Long felt an even deeper respect for him.

“I’ll stick with Brother Long. I’m Ye Feng. What do you think we should do about this situation?” After all, it was best to listen to others’ opinions. Ye Feng had already meddled enough and wasn’t one to interfere without reason, but he was certainly someone who would draw his blade for justice.

“Well, this…” Ma Long felt troubled. He and Wu Tianlin had some brotherly ties, and though Wu Tianlin had betrayed him, Ma Long found it difficult to steel his heart and punish him harshly. Yet if he let Wu Tianlin go without any lesson, he’d be dissatisfied. The situation truly put Ma Long in a bind.

“Brother Long, I—I was wrong. Greed clouded my judgment, and I couldn’t help myself… I have elders and children to care for, so I was desperate. I hope you can be magnanimous and forgive me.” Wu Tianlin thought to himself, ‘You, Ma Long, are usually fond of being hypocritical; I’ll seize on that weakness and avoid discussing money.’

“Alright, let’s leave it at that, Brother Feng. I think Wu Tianlin has realized his mistake, so let’s let it go. But Wu Tianlin, let me tell you, tonight you are responsible for all my brothers’ medical expenses. As for our brotherhood, it ends here—you walk your own path, and I’ll walk mine!” Ma Long spoke through gritted teeth. He wasn’t heartless or disloyal, always willing to help his brothers, but Wu Tianlin had truly disappointed him.

“Brother Long, we can’t just let this scoundrel walk away!” The brothers beside Ma Long protested, feeling indignant for him. They remembered how hard Brother Long had worked to build his business, only for Wu Tianlin to nearly destroy it, and now Wu Tianlin was living it up without a care!

“Brothers, let it go. The less trouble, the better. Tonight, Wu Tianlin has already received his punishment, so let’s leave it at that. I’m sorry to let you down, brothers!” Ma Long said angrily. Though he hated Wu Tianlin, he couldn’t bear to go further.

“We don’t blame you, Brother Long. We’ll follow your lead!” The brothers agreed, accepting Ma Long’s decision.

Soon enough, Wu Tianlin wrote a check for a hundred thousand for Ma Long. Ye Feng called Huang Wei, asking her and her companions to come out so they could leave together. Unexpectedly, as they stepped out of the bar, Ma Long suddenly turned, dropped to his knees, and declared, “Today, I, Ma Long, thank Brother Feng for saving my life. From now on, I am willing to follow you!”

After the events just now, everyone had witnessed Ye Feng’s strength. People admire the strong, and with Ye Feng being such a formidable figure, he had become an idol in their eyes. Ma Long and his brothers discussed it and hoped to follow Ye Feng, seeking to make something of themselves.

Hearing Ma Long’s words, Ye Feng was momentarily stunned—it was a good thing. From what had just transpired, he could tell Ma Long was a talented and loyal man, and during the fight, Ye Feng noticed Ma Long seemed to have military training.

“Haha, Brother Long, you’re too courteous—there’s no need for this. I am hardly worthy. By the way, Brother Long, have you trained in martial arts?” Ye Feng had observed some clues; Ma Long’s moves bore the mark of military combat techniques.

“Yes, I practiced a bit in the army before, but since leaving, I haven’t kept up, so that’s why I seemed so out of shape.” Ma Long replied, somewhat embarrassed. In the army, he’d been quite a good hand.

“Oh, that explains it. I’ve just been discharged from the army myself.” Ye Feng smiled. The two leaned against Ma Long’s van, chatting. The brothers had been sent to the hospital, and since Ma Long wasn’t injured, he stayed behind.

“Wow, so Brother Feng is from the army too! But your skills are extraordinary—compared to you, I feel utterly inadequate!” Thinking of Ye Feng’s moves, Ma Long’s eyes brimmed with admiration and respect. For someone as powerful as Ye Feng, Ma Long could only look up to him, wondering how Ye Feng had honed such abilities at his young age—barely in his early twenties.

“Haha, Brother Long, you’re exaggerating. By the way, how’s your bar doing? How much would it take to reopen?” Considering he had some money on hand, Ye Feng thought it better to support Ma Long—after all, any funds invested could be recovered.

“Hmm, about three hundred thousand, I suppose,” Ma Long considered. The bar hadn’t lost much, but without operating capital, things were tough. Hearing Ye Feng’s offer, Ma Long’s eyes lit up.

“Well, I’ll give you five hundred thousand. But for now, don’t rush to reopen. Spend some time training; open after a month. I think that will help you develop better.” Since someone else was covering the brothers’ medical bills, Ye Feng wasn’t worried about that side.

“Really? Brother Feng!” Ma Long was almost incredulous. The money from Wu Tianlin couldn’t be used; it had to go entirely to the brothers. He was about to sell the bar and recover a bit to start anew elsewhere, but never expected Ye Feng would so generously offer half a million.

“Of course. We’re brothers now; it’s only right I help you. Find a suitable place for training during this time. I’ll personally teach you some combat skills. I also have my own affairs, so I’ll leave everything about the bar to you. I hope you can make something great out of it!” Ye Feng looked at Ma Long with confidence. For some reason, Ye Feng felt Ma Long was not ordinary and could accomplish something remarkable.

“Alright, everything will follow Brother Feng’s arrangements. My life is yours now, Brother Feng. But, Brother Feng, can you call me Ah Long or Ma Long? Don’t call me Brother Long—I feel embarrassed.” Ma Long replied shyly.