“Yeah, at least we still have money!” Only then did Zhang Lei notice that Xiao Bailang didn’t actually like to smile; it was just that his face made it seem like he was always smiling.
Episode 3: The Bloody Road to Growth, Chapter 55: Fatty Xiao Bailang (Part 2)
The two of them were the only ones talking in the cabin, and no one else could really get a word in edgewise. However, Zhang Lei looked around and noticed that Liu Yun's expression was a little off. It seemed that even if they didn't know him, they had at least heard of him.
"Brother Liu Yun, do you know him too?" Zhang Lei leaned closer and asked in a low voice.
"No, that's not it. I've just heard about it, but it's a long story, and besides, knowing won't do you any good, so don't ask." Liu Yun's expression was a little awkward and indignant.
"Oh!" Zhang Lei was a little curious, but he also knew that this was something he shouldn't know. Curiosity can kill more than just cats.
"There seem to be quite a few capable people in this room. There are even two self-examinations. Linghu, did you really give them another mission this time? It's been five or six years since you last worked for them!" Xiao Bailang looked around. Some superhumans have a habit: in their eyes, those who are considered capable are those with superpowers. Ordinary people without superpowers are still considered weak.
"Yes!" Linghu nodded. "This mission is the one that's truly worthwhile. Those two little girls are the people we're rescuing and protecting!"
"Japanese?" Xiao Bailang frowned.
"Hmm, but he's a former Japanese!" Linghu seemed to have forgotten about the principle of secrecy, and he carefully explained the main points of the entire mission to the fat man.
Linghu Zaichong was, after all, the nominal leader. The people from the Guoyi Bureau wouldn't boss him around, nor would the Silver Sword people. He was only being polite; he had given Li Zaixing actual command without a second thought. If Li Zaixing were to come out and talk about secrecy at this point, it would be tantamount to being shameless.
Moreover, since Linghu told him, he must trust him. Others also don't know the identity of this fat man who is sure to be in the Guinness World Records if he signs up.
"This is what a real mission is all about! If it were all missions like this, why the hell would I have quit!" Xiao Bailang slapped his thigh, the crisp sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing throughout the cabin. Zhang Lei even felt like his ears were ringing from the impact.
As if to confirm Zhang Lei's suspicions, the wine glasses that had been holding the red wine also collapsed with a crisp sound.
The entire cabin seemed to tremble a few times along with the quivering of the fat on his legs; the fleshy ripples on his thighs... could definitely be used to demonstrate vibration to middle school students.
"Hehe, I didn't realize! You guys are eating quite well, huh? Did the Bureau of Foreign Affairs improve your benefits again?" The fat man stretched out his upper body, peering at the table. Zhang Lei then noticed that the fat man actually had a neck, though it was hidden by four or five layers of chin. "Little brother, bring me the red wine, let me try it!"
"Yes, we're eating now. Brother Xiao, you should join us too. I'll call and order a few more portions!" Zhang Lei is treating today. That's just Zhang Lei's personality. He's very calculating when he doesn't have enough money, but once he has some, he's very generous.
"I don't care about that Japanese guy, just ask for more red wine, and more of the cooked stuff!" This guy wasn't being polite at all.
"Okay, no problem!" The best way to treat someone to a meal is to have a generous guest. It's fine if the guest is hesitant and reluctant to eat this or that, but it's a real headache when they refuse to eat this or that after you've ordered.
Zhang Lei went to the side to make a phone call, while Linghu and Xiao Bailang were still catching up.
"Brother Linghu, how much do you make a month now that you can afford to eat this kind of food here? When we were on missions, we were always eager to break every penny!" the fat man asked.
"It's not much. I only make a little over 20,000 a month now, in RMB, not USD. The main thing is, this kid made some extra money, so he's treating us!" Linghu gestured towards Zhang Lei.
"Hehe, although it's a lot more, it still can't compare to mine. Hey, little brother over there, is your extra money enough? Fatty's got a big appetite. If it's not enough, just say so. Don't be polite with Fatty. I, Fatty Xiao, don't like that kind of person!"
"It's alright, don't worry, there won't be any problems!" Zhang Lei put down the phone and made a V-sign.
"Let's get serious. You just said some Japanese guys boarded the ship? Let me tell you, I have to get involved in this!" A glint of light suddenly flashed in Xiao Bailang's narrowed eyes. "It's been so long since I've seen blood, I feel like I'm rusting!"
"Since you're willing to tell me, of course you'll get a share. Even if you don't want to, I won't! We're waiting for intelligence now. Once we get the intelligence, we'll take action. We were worried about not having enough manpower and wanted to try some tricks!" It seems that Linghu didn't really think much of Zhang Lei's plan. He clearly preferred a direct and forceful approach.
Zhang Lei understands this because his fighting style is also developing in that direction. Self-examination of combat styles may lead to that kind of style. However, Zhang Lei is different from him. Zhang Lei likes to charge headlong into battle, but that doesn't mean that Zhang Lei also engages in head-on collisions in strategy.
"No problem, who cares how many Japanese devils there are, just watch me!" Xiao Bailang patted his chest lightly. Fortunately, this time it was a light pat, only a ripple, without that strong sound.
"Let me formally introduce you. This is your elder brother, right? He's also a superhuman, and he works as a bodyguard now!" Linghu said, his expression turning somewhat somber. "His superhuman abilities... you'll see for yourselves when you see them. Let me give you a heads-up: if he's prepared, even I would give him a wide berth if I saw him!"
This explains why Linghu was completely unconcerned about the number of Japanese soldiers or their strength. What kind of superhuman could make even a self-aware individual like Linghu back down? Linghu, unlike Zhang Lei, wasn't a self-aware individual who hadn't yet fully unleashed their power.
"Hehe, you're praising me again!" Xiao Bailang didn't seem embarrassed at all, and seemed to accept Linghu's praise completely.
"Why isn't the food here yet? You need to be well-fed to work properly, especially me. Hehe, you can only see how powerful I am when I'm full!" Xiao Bailang casually poured a bottle of red wine into his stomach. No one was worried that he would get drunk. It would be a joke if such a behemoth were to be drunk by a small amount of red wine, which was nothing to him.
Episode 3: The Bloody Path to Adulthood, Chapter 56: Fried Dough Sticks (Part 1)
"There's no one here who can eliminate superpowers, so it looks like things will be much easier to take action!" Those people were hiding in a cargo hold in a corner of the deck; they must have used something to interfere with the monitors.
"Hmph, so what if he does? I'm not afraid of his ability to eliminate it. How about I take the first hit?" Xiao Bailang really mingled with the people from the National Bureau of Extraordinary Abilities, while the Silver Swordsmen stood guard outside. Apart from Xiao Peng, he, who also had an ability, was also grouped with the people from the National Bureau of Extraordinary Abilities. His Ice Ring was also a very useful ability in the melee.
Many superpowers are like this: they are not very strong in one-on-one situations, but their effectiveness in multi-target attacks becomes apparent in chaotic battles.
For example, if Liu Yun's flamethrower is mostly a single-target attack, even if Xiao Peng were to fight him, even if Liu Yun's ability index and internal energy were reduced to the same level as his, Xiao Peng would still be no match for him.
However, if it were ten Liu Yuns against ten Xiao Pengs, the outcome would be hard to predict. This is already Liu Yuns who don't need to be downgraded. If it were twenty Liu Yuns against twenty Xiao Pengs in a chaotic battle, then the Liu Yuns would only have the option of running away.
Therefore, in most cases, there is no absolutely strong or absolutely weak superpower; it all depends on the application and the environment.
However, Xiao Bailang must possess some kind of super-powerful superpower, because even Linghu had to admit that he was no match for Xiao Bailang in his full condition.
I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but this fat man seems to have gotten even fatter than when I first saw him during the day. Maybe that explains where those five dozen bottles of strong liquor went. This is the first time Zhang Lei has ever seen someone drink strong liquor by the dozen.
"No problem, just watch. But after I go down, don't come near me for at least half a minute. I don't distinguish between friend and foe!" Linghu knew Xiao Bailang's characteristics, but Zhang Lei and the others didn't. This fat man had already said these words before, but he couldn't help but repeat them again.
“Eight, and one more is outside. We can’t wait any longer, things could get complicated. Let’s make our move, Bai Lang!” Linghu gently nudged the fat man.
The fat man seemed to be pushed away by the force of the impact, and Xiao Bailang swung through the air like a giant kite as the entire bridge shook violently.
These Japanese may have been afraid of attracting attention with too much activity, or they may have been afraid that their sentries would be detected by surveillance devices. It is easy to provide a static fake image in a deserted place, but it is much more likely to be exposed when providing a moving fake image in a crowded place.
More likely, their mindset hasn't changed yet. In their minds, they are the pursuers, so how can the rabbit being chased turn around and bite? But today, the rabbit has turned around, and it has transformed from a grass-eating white rabbit into a bloodthirsty white wolf.
At this moment, no fluctuations of supernatural power were felt from Xiao Bailang. It seemed that this leap had nothing to do with his supernatural power and was done purely by using his body and internal energy.
This is quite astonishing. You have to understand that even Zhang Lei, who is at least ten times smaller than him, couldn't have done it like him, leaping across the nearly twenty-meter distance between the bridge and the warehouse in one bound. He only used his feet to step on the ground slightly in between. That feeling must have been really difficult.
It's like seeing an elephant that's as agile as a little rabbit, and can even dance ballet on tiptoe.
The cabin door seemed to be nonexistent in front of Xiao Bailang. He didn't even seem to change his posture, and he simply passed through the door as if it were air.
"Quick, follow me!" Linghu waved his hand, and the other five people followed behind, rushing into the warehouse.