Chapter 11 Professional Treatment for Corns

The car stopped at the back door of a dilapidated tenement building that looked like it was about to collapse.

The environment was messy and smelly, making it a good place to hide.

Ah Gui got out of the car first, cautiously scanned his surroundings, and then opened the back door.

"Brother Li, we've arrived." He said respectfully.

Li Hanzhou opened his eyes, a brief look of weakness flashing across them before his sharpness returned.

He tried to get out of the car by himself, but the movement aggravated his abdominal wound, causing him to groan and stop moving.

"Brother Li! Let me help you!" Upon seeing this, Fang Che immediately jumped out of the passenger seat, went around to the other side, and skillfully put Li Hanzhou's arm on his shoulder.

Ah Gui's outstretched hand froze in mid-air again. His eyes were filled with mixed emotions as he watched Fang Che's thin frame being visibly weighed down by Li Hanzhou. His ankles were probably hurting even more, and his little face was all scrunched up like a bun, but he was still stubbornly holding on: "It's okay, Brother Li! I can handle it! We're real men, this little bit of weight is nothing!"

Li Hanzhou looked down at the boy's cute cowlick and his neck, which was red from exertion, and didn't push him away again. He just whispered, "Slow down."

"Alright!" Fang Che was even more motivated, and almost with all his might, he dragged Li Hanzhou into the building.

Ah Gui led the way with a dark expression, his mind racing: This pretty boy has definitely bewitched Brother Li! Absolutely!!

The new outpost is better than the previous warehouse; at least there's a broken sofa and a cot.

Fang Che carefully settled Li Hanzhou on the cot. He was already panting heavily from exhaustion, his sweat-dampened bangs sticking to his forehead. Combined with his pretty face, he had a somewhat broken look, like a "battle-worn beauty."

Of course, he was completely unaware of it; he just felt like his lungs were about to explode, and his ankle hurt so much that he wanted to curse.

"Brother Li, how are you feeling? Does your wound hurt? Are you thirsty?" Fang Che caught his breath and began to express his "brotherly affection" again.

Li Hanzhou didn't say anything, but A Gui couldn't hold back any longer and shoved a plastic bag into Fang Che's arms: "Go buy food and disinfectant! Don't cause any more trouble!"

Fang Che looked at the change and the dark street outside, feeling a chill, but he still puffed out his chest: "Leave it to me! What do you want to eat, Brother Li? Wonton noodles, okay?"

Li Hanzhou kept his eyes closed and ignored him.

Ah Gui waved his hand impatiently: "Go now!"

Fang Che limped out.

The corridor of the tenement building was dark and damp, and the stairs creaked. He carefully watched his step while mentally encouraging himself: Wang Tiezhu, you can do it! This is the boss's test for you! Buying food is just a piece of cake!

However, he underestimated the complexity of Kowloon Walled City at night and overestimated his own status as an "ordinary passerby".

Even in ill-fitting old clothes and with messy hair, his face was still too conspicuous in the dim light.

He hadn't gone far when he was spotted by a group of thugs squatting by the roadside smoking.

"Hey, where did this handsome guy come from? New here?" The long-haired thug came up and tried to touch his face.

Fang Che felt a chill run down his spine and jumped back, his ankle throbbing with pain as he gasped, "What are you doing! I'm working for Brother Li!"

Several gangsters laughed loudly.

"Brother Li? Which Brother Li? Li Hanzhou from Temple Street?" The long-haired thug sneered. "He can't even protect himself! Kid, why don't you come with me?"

Fang Che's face turned red with anger: "You're talking nonsense! My brother Li is wise and mighty! You guys are the cowards!"

He tried to kill the other person with his eyes, but it had no effect whatsoever.

"Tsk, you've got a stubborn temper! I like your type!" The long-haired thug grinned lewdly and stepped forward to grab his arm.

Seeing that his "brotherly bond" was about to be broken before it could even come to fruition, Fang Che was filled with grief and indignation, his Northeastern spirit burning fiercely—Damn it, he'd fight to the death!

He spotted a steaming pot of wontons at a nearby stall, gritted his teeth, and prepared to put on a show of "pouring boiling water on a scoundrel"!

Just then—

"Chezi! What are you doing standing here?"

A familiar, loud shout in Cantonese with a heavy Northeastern accent came from behind.

It was Cheng Tieniu! He was carrying a cloth bag, clearly having come looking for them after hearing about their relocation.

Cheng Tieniu's burly build and fierce face were quite intimidating. He strode over, grabbed Fang Che behind him, and glared at the group of thugs: "What are you doing? Bullying my fellow villager? Want to have some fun?"

When the gangsters saw Cheng Tieniu's physique and demeanor, they weighed the pros and cons and decided it wasn't worth getting into trouble with such a tough guy for a pretty boy, so they left cursing and swearing.

"Tiezi!" Fang Che excitedly grabbed Cheng Tieniu's arm. "You came just in time!"

Looking at his disheveled appearance, Cheng Tieniu sighed, "You look like a porcelain doll, what are you doing running around at night? Come on, I'll go with you!"

With Cheng Tieniu accompanying them, the procurement went smoothly.

Back at the base, Ah Gui nodded to Cheng Tie Niu.

Li Hanzhou kept his eyes closed to rest, but his taut jawline seemed to have relaxed a little.

Fang Che handed the wonton noodles and medicine to A Gui like a treasure, while he himself took the liniment that Cheng Tieniu had bought for him, grimaced, and sat down on the broken sofa, preparing to treat his ankle that was swollen like a steamed bun.

He clumsily poured some medicinal wine and began to rub it vigorously.

"Hiss—ouch..." The pain made him groan involuntarily, his face scrunched up.

The commotion finally alerted Li Hanzhou, who was on the bed.

He opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Fang Che's swollen ankle, his brows furrowing slightly.

Fang Che was deeply engrossed in the massage, muttering to himself in Northeastern dialect to encourage himself: "Go, Wang Tiezhu! This little pain is nothing! Think of the Red Army's Long March... Ouch!"

Suddenly, a large, well-defined hand reached out and snatched the bottle of medicinal wine from his hand without saying a word.

Fang Che was taken aback. He looked up and saw that Li Hanzhou had sat up at some point and was looking down at his... feet.

The air seemed to freeze.

Li Hanzhou's eyes were deep and unfathomable, like two bottomless pools.

He had just recovered from his fever, and his face was still pale with weakness, but the sharpness in his phoenix eyes had not diminished in the slightest, and was now firmly locked on Fang Che's swollen ankle.

"Brother Li?" Fang Che felt uneasy under his gaze and instinctively tried to pull his foot back. "I can do it myself, it's just a minor injury..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Hanzhou had already unscrewed the bottle of medicinal wine, and the strong medicinal smell filled the small space.

He didn't speak, but gestured with his eyes for Fang Che to stretch out his foot.

Fang Che swallowed.

The big boss is going to personally massage his feet?

Isn't this treatment a bit too much?

He's determined to be a right-hand man, not a delicate parasitic vine!

But Li Hanzhou's gaze was too intimidating, and Fang Che chickened out, slowly moving his swollen foot forward.

What happened next made Fang Che and all the brothers who were secretly watching almost pop their eyes out—

Li Hanzhou, the cold and ruthless head of the Heyi Hall, actually lifted Fang Che's foot lightly and then... placed it on his firm thigh!

Fang Che: "!!!"

Ah Gui and his brothers: "!!!"

Fang Che's mind went blank, and he completely lost control.

The sensation coming from his ankle was the hard touch of Li Hanzhou's thigh muscles, and the heat of the other's body passing through the thin fabric, so hot that it made his heart tremble.

This...this pose...isn't it a bit too suggestive?! Two grown men like this, isn't it inappropriate?!

He stole a glance at Li Hanzhou, only to see that the other man had his eyes downcast, his expression focused as if he were polishing his beloved weapon.

Li Hanzhou poured the medicinal wine into his palm, rubbed it to warm it, and then precisely placed his large hand on the man's swollen and painful ankle.

"Hiss—" The simultaneous action of the icy medicinal wine and the warm palm made Fang Che gasp.

Li Hanzhou's technique was unexpectedly professional.

The pressure was just right; my fingertips occasionally brushed against the skin on the instep, sending a tingling sensation through me.

Fang Che froze, not daring to move.

He looked at Li Hanzhou's lowered profile, his features sharp and smooth.

I have to admit, this guy is really good-looking!

Even with a bad complexion, she still possesses a battle-worn beauty.

Especially now, the way he's carefully massaging his feet is a stark contrast to his usual decisive and ruthless image, making Fang Che's heart skip a beat.

The other brothers in the room, including Ah Gui, were all looking at them with extremely subtle expressions.

Ah Gui's face changed color, from shock to confusion, then to bewilderment as if wondering, "Am I seeing things?", before finally settling on a bizarre expression of "the alpha wolf starting to pet the cat."

The group exchanged glances, silently communicating through lip reading:

"Boss, what's going on...?"

"I don't understand it, I really don't understand it."

"Just who is this guy from Northeast China?"

The atmosphere gradually thickened as Li Hanzhou continued his gentle movements.

Fang Che felt he should say something to break the strange atmosphere, but seeing Li Hanzhou's focused expression, he swallowed his words.

Just as this ambiguous tug-of-war reached its peak—

"Hmm..." Perhaps it was because the pressure hit a sore spot, or perhaps it was because of the unbearable numbness, Fang Che let out a very soft hum with a sob-like sound.

Li Hanzhou's kneading motion suddenly stopped!

He raised his head, his gaze suddenly becoming deep and unfathomable.

Fang Che's heart leaped into his throat. His straightforward, thoughtless nature as a Northeasterner completely erupted, and he blurted out:

"Hey Li, who taught you this technique? It's pretty professional! Did you train at that bathhouse back in our backyard? You specialize in treating all kinds of athlete's foot and corns, huh?"