Chapter 254: You’re on Your Own

Chapter 254: You're on Your Own

The blatant insinuations Zhang Heita had dropped a few days earlier echoed in his ears again like specters.

"...If Brother Cheng Ge could learn to adapt... he would surely live a much more comfortable life... and then he could also help you out, brother..."

Before, he had considered this a bitter humiliation, a betrayal of his brother.

But now, after being brazenly humiliated by Zhao Mang and seeing Zhang Heita's blatant favoritism.

A ruthlessly pragmatic thought slithered into his mind like a venomous snake.

Dignity? Brotherly loyalty? They mean nothing to these bootlicking bullies!

If he, Lei Biao, wanted to take revenge, to stomp that disgusting face of Zhao Mang's into the ground, and to reclaim everything that was rightfully his.

Relying solely on himself to bow and scrape and swallow his pride in this Blackcloud Stockade was nothing but a pipe dream.

He needed power. He needed Zhang Heita's support. He needed the resources to stage his comeback.

And for all of this... Zhang Heita had already set his price.

Lei Biao's gaze wandered over Cheng Ge's face, seeing the clear, worried look in his eyes, and a pang of guilt passed through his heart.

But in an instant, that pang was devoured by a burning desire for power and revenge.

Yes... he had to make a comeback. For that... he was willing to pay any price.

Even if it meant sacrificing this "brother" who had once taken a knife for him.

Lei Biao took a deep breath. When he raised his head again, the madness and struggle in his eyes had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a chilling calm.

He didn't take the hangover soup but said to Cheng Ge:

"Fourth Brother... go out for now. Let your big brother... have some quiet time alone."

Cheng Ge's face remained docile. "Well... then you rest well, big brother. Call me if you need anything."

He set down the soup, quietly withdrew, and gently closed the door behind him.

Lei Biao sat still in the room, staring at the messy shards on the floor, recalling Zhao Mang's arrogant face and Zhang Heita's blatant favoritism. The last trace of hesitation in his eyes was replaced by ruthlessness.

He smoothed his rumpled clothes, took a deep breath, and strode out the door, heading toward the main building where Zhang Heita lived.

Zhang Heita's personal guards were stationed at the tower entrance. They saw Lei Biao but didn't stop him; they just glanced at him and let him pass.

From inside the courtyard came faint sounds of a woman's giggles and Zhang Heita's gruff voice.

Lei Biao, his expression dark, went straight up the stairs and knocked on the door.

The noise inside paused for a moment, followed by Zhang Heita's impatient voice: "Who is it?"

"It's me, Lei Biao."

There was a brief silence inside, then the rustling of clothes and a woman's low complaints.

After a while, the door creaked open from inside.

Zhang Heita had thrown on a robe carelessly, his chest bare, his face still flushed with drink and irritation at being disturbed.

Seeing Lei Biao at the door, a hint of amusement even flickered in his eyes.

"Yo, Brother Lei? Late for a visit, what's up?" Zhang Heita leaned against the doorframe, asking lazily, his tone revealing little warmth.

Lei Biao looked at him and spoke dryly: "About what you mentioned the other day... I accept."

Zhang Heita's eyebrows shot up, his annoyance instantly replaced by smugness. He leaned in, lowering his voice: "Oh? Brother Cheng... has he agreed?"

Lei Biao avoided his gaze, his throat tight, and said with difficulty: "You don't need to worry about that. But I have a condition."

"Out with it!" Zhang Heita waved his hand magnanimously, appearing very agreeable.

"I want men, supplies, and weapons! You must help me rebuild Axe Ridge!" Lei Biao lifted his head, naked ambition in his eyes.

"Haha! Good! No problem!" Zhang Heita laughed, thoroughly pleased with himself, and clapped Lei Biao on the shoulder heavily.

"Brother Lei truly knows how to make the hard choices. Don't worry, as long as you send Brother Cheng over, I'll back you up with everything you need."

He paused, looked at Lei Biao's still gloomy face, and offered hypocritical comfort: "Brother Lei, don't feel too bad for Brother Cheng. Can following me really be a bad deal for him? From now on, in this Blackcloud Stockade, he'll be second only to me, enjoying endless luxury! You brothers are close; surely he will understand your... predicament and ambition, haha!"

This false laughter pierced Lei Biao's heart like needles, but he only nodded stiffly without retorting.

...

The night deepened. Dark clouds obscured the moonlight, shrouding Blackcloud Stockade in gloom.

Lei Biao carried a bowl of freshly brewed ginseng soup and walked slowly to Cheng Ge's door.

He stood there, taking several deep breaths, before raising his hand and knocking: "Fourth Brother, are you asleep? It's me."

Footsteps quickly sounded inside, and the door opened.

Cheng Ge was dressed in plain white underclothes, with a robe casually thrown over his shoulders. His face was somewhat indistinct in the dim light.

"Big brother? So late, why have you come?" Cheng Ge's voice carried a hint of just-woken drowsiness and puzzlement.

Lei Biao tried to make his voice sound natural. He extended the bowl forward.

"Thinking that your injuries haven't fully healed, I... I had someone specially brew this ginseng soup for you, to nourish your body. Drink it while it's hot, and then rest well."

Cheng Ge's gaze fell on the bowl of soup, and he was silent for a moment.

Inside the room, candlelight flickered, casting his shadow on the wall behind him.

The shadow was stretched and distorted, and for a moment it didn't look like a man at all.

Instead, it seemed more like a lurking beast, crouching in the darkness, silently watching everything before it.

Then Cheng Ge raised his head, a faint smile appearing on his face.

He reached out and took the bowl, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against Lei Biao's hand, the touch startlingly cold.

"Thank you for your concern, big brother." Cheng Ge's voice was soft, carrying a hint of laughter.

Without any hesitation, he raised the bowl and drained the ginseng soup in one gulp.

Not long after the soup went down, Cheng Ge’s gaze became dazed and unfocused, his body swaying slightly.

He gripped the edge of the table, struggling to stand, but it seemed futile.

He looked up at Lei Biao, an eerie smile still playing on his lips, his voice so low it was barely audible.

“Brother… you… you’d better watch yourself…”

As his words trailed off, his body went limp and he collapsed onto the table, the porcelain bowl slipping from his hand.

A sharp clatter rang out, piercing the silence of the night; he had completely lost consciousness.

Lei Biao looked at Cheng Ge lying motionless on the table, then looked down at the broken bowl on the floor.

Those words, “you’d better watch yourself,” echoed in his ears like a curse, sending an inexplicable chill through his heart.

But he quickly shook off the unease, leaving only a near-numb resolve on his face.

He stepped forward, bent down, and effortlessly hoisted the unconscious Cheng Ge onto his shoulder.

Cheng Ge’s body was light, lying limp and unconscious on his shoulder.

Lei Biao carried him out of the room and walked deliberately toward Zhang Heita’s attic.