Return Of The Legendary Overlord

Blind obedience

The driver obeyed at once and changed gears. Stepping on the accelerator, he switched lanes and took a sharp turn that veered the car straight into oncoming traffic.

“What the hell are you doing? Watch it!” Zhen Lee thundered from behind as the SUV screeched across the road, narrowly missing the paint on a white sedan. “Keep your eyes on the road, you idiot!”

The driver steered sharply to his right and took the exit lane on the west, disappearing on the other side of a large grey truck carrying bottled soda.

Soon, the blaring sirens faded into distant whistles as the cop cruisers were left far behind.

“We are sorry, boss. It was our mistake,” Suzuki apologized, bowing to Zi Han. “I should never have questioned your wisdom.”

Zi Han shook his head and took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. “It’s alright. Just listen to me next time.”

Even though Zi Han was trying his best to act tough on the outside, he had already imagined the worst-case scenarios. Luckily, for now, they had lost the cops and crossed into Black Dragon territory again.

Both the SUVs reached Qianlong Square within the next fifteen minutes, but Zhen Lee instructed his men to secure the area before Zi Han could disembark.

Qianlong Square had become the shopping hub for the city’s elites over the last few years since it was chock-full of clothing, shoe, and jewelry stores that only the rich could afford to buy from.

The steep prices and arrogant store owners usually kept the middle-income group at bay, making the place a perfect shopping destination for those who wanted to avoid the public eye.

However, Qianlong’s wealth often attracted quite a few unsavory characters like burglars and arsonists, leaving the store owners with no choice but to hire armed guards to protect their stores.

The tight security coupled with its business connections also meant that Qianlong Square was neutral territory, and no gang could conduct its business within this area without getting arrested by the authorities or shot down on the streets.

As Zi Han finally stepped out of the car, he was surprised by the decorum around him. There were no hagglers fighting for lower prices and no long queues full of annoying kids and their overbearing moms.

Qianlong Square had everything starting from traditional clothing stores to the more modern ones selling western wear and high-fashion apparel. The place even had an entire section dedicated to posh cafes and pet stores.

Since it was Zi Han’s first time here, he wanted to visit most of the stores, but remembering that close encounter with the Sand Scorpions, he decided it would be best not to prolong his visit.

“This way, master,” Zhen Lee said, gesturing Zi Han to follow him to one of the premium clothing stores at the corner. “The Elder Dragon said it would be best if we stay away from the public eye for now. And Martin sells some really good clothes.”

Zi Han nodded and replied, “Dong is smart. My powers are weak, and I don’t remember much of my past. I think we all should keep a low profile for now and avoid attracting too much attention.”

Although Zi Han wanted to do things quietly without causing a ruckus, he knew it would be difficult to accomplish with a whole entourage of armed men in black suits escorting him to every location.

Zhen Lee led the way to the clothing store named ‘Martin and Lee’ and greeted the two guards standing at the entrance with a few friendly words. They smiled politely and stood aside, allowing him to enter.

Despite being known for their criminal dealings, the Black Dragons were still respected here due to their several influential connections, and any man with the dragon tattoo was always welcome in Qianlong Square.

Zhen Lee and his henchmen were allowed to pass without question, but as Zi Han tried to get in, the guards stepped forward and blocked his way.

“This place isn’t for you. Go shop somewhere else, boy,” one of the ponytailed guards sniped, casting a condescending eye on Zi Han.

“Yeah, just beat it unless you want to end up in the dumpster,” the other guard threatened.

Unfortunately for them, Zhen Lee heard those insulting remarks and stopped at the entrance. “How dare you insult our master!” he thundered, pulling out his Colt Python and pointing it at the guard to his left.

Immediately, Suzuki and the other gang members followed suit and pulled out their own pieces.

The two unprepared guards raised their arms, quivering at the sight of the weapons pointed at them.

“What did we do?” one of them mumbled, staring straight at the barrel of a Remington six-shooter.

“You just signed your death warrant!” Zhen Lee glowered, pressing his revolver to the guard’s head. “Apologize to him now, or I will pull the trigger without hesitation.”

“That’s enough!” Zi Han cut in before the situation could spiral out of control. “It was an honest mistake. Lower your weapons.”

Zhen Lee reluctantly lowered his gun, and the others followed soon after.

The two witless guards looked at Zi Han like clueless dogs and gulped hard.

“I am with them. Let’s just forget about this, shall we?” Zi Han asked, smiling meekly.

The guards nodded eagerly, happy to get out of this mess. They immediately changed their tone and moved aside, welcoming Zi Han to the store.

“We are so sorry. We had no idea.”

“Yes, please forgive us.”

“Apology accepted,” Zi Han muttered as he entered the store, followed by his companions.

Once Zi Han and the others were inside the store, Zhen Lee straightened his coattails and tucked his gun away. “You shouldn’t have stopped me, master. Those two little rodents needed a lesson!”

“I think I am tired of telling you that I need to keep a low profile. We don’t need the extra attention or a pack of new enemies to deal with,” Zi Han reprimanded him in a low voice. “And don’t call me your master unless I tell you to. No one needs to know I have returned.”

Zhen Lee nodded in assent, but he still felt like it would be best to beat up the guards for their insolence.

“Wait at the door. I don’t need a crowd following me inside a store,” Zi Han said to the others.

Suzuki obeyed at once and asked the other henchmen to wait near the gate while Zhen Lee accompanied Zi Han to the front counter where they were promptly received by a genial old man with black-rimmed glasses.

“Welcome, Mr. Lee. Is he with you?” the store owner asked.

“Yes, he is my distant cousin,” Zi Han replied on Zhen’s behalf. “I am just here to check out some new clothes.”

“Then you have come to the right place. My name is Gilbert Martin. We have some excellent fresh styles for youngsters,” Martin replied, rubbing his hands together.

Zi Han spent an hour browsing through the different clothes. There was everything here, ranging from graphic printed tees to sophisticated buttoned shirts and a variety of jackets.

After checking everything out, he purchased three jackets and six tees and paired them up with three pairs of jeans.

His bill came to seventy thousand, but Zi Han was still unsatisfied. He looked at Zhen and asked, “How about you buy something nice for yourself as well?”

Zhen Lee instinctively bowed. “I couldn’t possibly—”

“It’s a gift,” Zi Han cut in sharply. “You are my cousin after all. Just pick anything you like and buy something for the rest of your cronies too.”

Zhen Lee realized he was about to reveal Zi Han’s identity and immediately straightened up. “Yes, cousin Han. That sounds nice. I will pick something for everyone. Thank you,” he replied before quickly selecting twelve buttoned white shirts.

“It is an honor to receive gifts from you, master,” he whispered, making a half bow before heading to the cashier to make the final bill.

Zi Han sighed and shook his head. Even though he was trying his best to make Zhen Lee act normal, his blind obedience prevented him from mixing too freely with him.

“Just plain white shirts. Must be great gifts indeed,” he mumbled to himself before picking out two pairs of sneakers to go with the rest of his clothes.

As Zi Han left the store with the rest of the Black Dragons, he wondered if he would ever be able to become the Overlord these men deserved or if he was destined to pretend to be someone else all his life.

The funny thing was that this new life was starting to grow on Zi Han. He had already spent three hundred thousand on shopping, and it didn’t hurt his wallet even the slightest.

“I guess I need to fake it till I make it,” he said, admiring his brand-new sports watch.

Spending almost a million yuan in a day was something straight out of a dream for a boy like Zi Han. He was used to being broke and spending his nights scraping the bottom of his shoes to make ends meet. But now, fate had given him a second chance, changing his life in an instant.

“Where to next, boss?” Zhen Lee asked.

Zi Han had half a mind to visit the car dealership, but he wanted to know more about the Sand Scorpions, so he instructed him to return to the clan house.

“I need to have a talk with Dong. Everything else can wait.”

As the car sped off, Zi Han received a text on his new phone. It was from his only college friend, Kwang, and read as follows:

Don’t come back to college, bro.

Tanaka and his thugs are looking for you.

He’s even hired some of those junkies from the railyard.

Be careful, man!