Chapter 5: Brothers from the Past
After enduring a shift in the nurses' station, Fang Yu went to the dormitory arranged by the hospital.
The dorm wasn't large, just a bedroom, a living room, and a bath, just enough for one person, which counted as special consideration from Director Wu. After all, he was an old friend of his master; without at least this sort of treatment, why bother seeking him out?
After tidying up the room, Fang Yu stepped out onto the balcony.
Gazing at the starry sky, the night was adorned with twinkling constellations, an incomparably beautiful sight.
Fang Yu instinctively reached towards his waist, only to find nothing there and chuckled at himself in self-mockery.
"The old habit of smoking, still can't kick it... always talking about quitting, how can I still smoke?"
Eight years ago, as a delinquent youth, he indeed had many bad habits.
He didn't find cigarettes, but Fang Yu pulled out a slip of paper from his chest pocket.
It bore three clear characters: Ye Wenjun.
Obviously, this was a woman's name.
Fang Yu fell into contemplation—
Ye Wenjun became his fiancée eight years ago... Eight years have passed, he didn't know if she'd married someone else, where she was now, still in Jiangzhou, or perhaps in Yanjing...
In reality, Fang Yu had never met Ye Wenjun.
Back when the Fang Family was at its zenith, he was too haughty and proud to ever take a fancy to any woman. Only later did he learn about the engagement. His master had said that this woman was very beautiful and believed that they would honor the agreement. If there was ever a chance to return to Jiangzhou, he must find her.
"Ye Wenjun, oh Ye Wenjun, where exactly are you?" Fang Yu murmured.
Staring at the pitch-black night, suddenly he thought of something, turned around, went back into the room, dug out an old flip phone from his bag.
The phone was quite worn, with most of the keypad colors faded.
At the same time, a string of phone numbers surfaced in his mind.
He wondered if that guy had changed his number.
Eight years ago, they were sworn brothers, sharing life and death, adversity together. After the Fang Family's decline, the only person Fang Yu trusted was him.
Di di di...
He dialed the number skillfully.
Miraculously, it connected.
A familiar voice came from the other end—
"Hello, who's this?"
"Speak up, who is it?"
"Damn, which jerk-off has been giving my number to chicks again!?"
"Babe, if you don't talk, I'm hanging up now!"
As crude and cheeky as before.
Fang Yu cracked a slight smile, and only said two words: "It's me—"
Clatter.
It sounded like a teacup had shattered on the other end. After a long moment, an excited voice followed:
"Bro Yu? Is it really you, Bro Yu?"
"It's been eight years!"
"I've been waiting for you for eight years!"
"I just knew you were still around, damn it!"
"Bro Yu! I've missed you so much! To wait for you, I didn't dare change my phone number! Waited for eight years, heavens have mercy, you finally called me!"
"Bro Yu, where are you now? I'm coming to find you right away!"
For the first part, Fang Yu only heard the first sentence and moved the phone far away from his ear, not until the latter part did he bring it back close. Clearly, he knew this guy very well.
"No need, I've just returned to Jiangzhou, need your help with something." Fang Yu said indifferently.
"Bro Yu, whatever it is just say the word, even if it means scaling a mountain of swords or plunging into a vat of oil, I, Fan Tong, wouldn't hesitate; I'd go through fire and blades for you, even offer up the woman I love!" Fan Tong offered generously over the phone.
"Help me look up someone."
"Who?"
"Ye Wenjun."
"Got it, I'll call you back in an hour. Boss, it's been eight years since I saw you, I've missed you to death, what about we catch up?"
Fang Yu shivered all over, here it comes again.
"There's nothing to catch up on, there'll be chances to meet in the future."
"Boss, you just got back to Jiangzhou, why don't you come work with me? My turf, I'll hand it over to you, together as brothers, we're sure to shine gloriously once more!"
"No need, I've found a promising job for myself." Fang Yu declined tactfully.
Now is not the time to reconnect with old friends. He knows that in Jiangzhou or Yanjing there are many powerful enemies, any one of whom could bring about a catastrophe for Fan Tong.
Eight years have passed, and the fact that Fan Tong has remained silent without changing his original intentions is the greatest gesture of friendship; Fang Yu isn't expecting anything more.
"Bro Yu, with your skills, the job you found must be really cool. Are you the boss of a gang, or maybe the head of some organization?" Fan Tong asked curiously.
"It's nothing that remarkable, just quite promising, that's all."
"What exactly is the job? Come on, Bro Yu, spill it, let your little bro widen his horizons."
"Just a nurse, not as exaggerated as you describe it," Fang Yu replied indifferently.
"——"
Roaring started from the other end of the phone —
"What the heck?"
"A nurse?"
"No, I don't believe it!"
Fang Yu quickly raised his voice: "Cut the crap, you've been rambling for ten minutes, hurry up and find the whereabouts of Ye Wenjun. Also, keep my return a secret for now, don't let a third person know, or you'll regret it!"
Towards the end, Fang Yu's voice became stern.
At this moment, Fan Tong at the other end of the call, despite being battle-hardened, couldn't help but shiver, feeling a chill all over.
...
An hour later.
Fan Tong took the initiative to call.
"Bro Yu, I've checked... There's no one by the name of Ye Wenjun in Jiangzhou!"
"Bro Yu, who is this person? The name sounds like a woman."
"Bro Yu, could it be your sister-in-law?"
Fang Yu interrupted him, "Are you sure that person doesn't exist?"
"Bro Yu, who am I? Nicknamed 'Information Hub,' there's no one in Jiangzhou I can't find! I've got connections in the public security system!"
Hearing this.
Fang Yu frowned. It's strange, if Ye Wenjun isn't in Jiangzhou, could she be in Yanjing?
"Fan Tong, keep searching for this person, she definitely exists."
There was almost no hesitation from the other end of the phone before the reply came: "Okay."
"Also keep an eye out for anyone in Yanjing."
"At your command!"
"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up, we'll grab a drink some other day," Fang Yu said, about to end the call.
"Bro Yu, wait a sec."
"Out with it!"
"Bro Yu, I really miss the old days. Now that you're back, I hope you won't leave again, okay? Brother will stand by you, fighting side by side in Jiangzhou, to live and die together, conquering all directions!"
Fang Yu was startled; the scenes from eight years ago seemed to replay before his eyes.
That youth, those struggles, those fights...
It's rare to see Fan Tong being so earnest.
After a long silence, Fang Yu came back to himself and simply responded with one word: "Okay!"
If Ye Wenjun isn't in Jiangzhou, she could very well be in Yanjing. But Yanjing is so vast, with myriad forces. With his current strength, he wouldn't be able to cope there.
For now, he'd just have to inquire about Yanjing. Before that, he had to settle all matters in Jiangzhou!
...
After hanging up the phone.
Fang Yu returned to bed and sat cross-legged.
In just a few minutes, wisps of white smoke began to rise above Fang Yu's head, followed by a faint golden glow enveloping his body.
As time passed.
His body miraculously started to levitate, not high above the bed, but enough to defy physics and terrify anyone who might witness it.
An hour later.
Fang Yu's body remained suspended above the bed.
Suddenly, the golden light vanished.
Bang!
He crashed onto the bed.
Fang Yu was immediately drenched in sweat, gasping for air.