Return Of The Legendary Overlord

Too close for comfort

Zi Han looked around as he realized something was wrong, but he had no idea what was happening.

“Who are the Sand Scorpions? And why are they following us?” he asked.

Zhen Lee gave the driver a set of quick instructions before turning to Zi Han. “The Sand Scorpions are a gang of cutthroats and low-life thugs who can do anything for money. They weren’t a threat even a few months ago, but someone’s been feeding them weapons and cash. Now they are always trying to step on our tail and disrupt our businesses.”

This was the first time Zi Han had heard of the Sand Scorpions, and he was surprised to see Zhen Lee so bothered by their presence. “I thought the Black Dragons were the most powerful gang in Argos. What are you afraid of?”

Zhen Lee bowed his head in shame and replied in a muffled whisper, “Forgive us, Supreme Dragon, but we have fallen off the old ways. Our influence has weakened over the years, and without you to guide us, the vultures have started pecking at us.”

“These bastards even attacked one of our trucks last week,” Suzuki added, taking a peek out the window. “I bet they are trying to tail us and learn our routes.”

“Don’t worry, we will deal with them soon now that our leader is back!” Zhen Lee declared boldly.

But Zi Han wasn’t feeling too confident about taking on a rival gang. After all, he was still a college student with no experience in such matters.

“Drive faster, and don’t stop for the lights!” Zhen Lee instructed the driver before pulling out his cell phone and calling Dongxiang.

"How are things out there? Did you get master his new clothes?” Dong asked.

“We have a bit of a problem on our hands, Elder Dragon. The Sand Scorpions are on our tail. Two bikers in striped yellow helmets. They have been following us since the last intersection,” Zhen Lee blurted out hurriedly.

“Get out of there immediately. Don’t engage them. Master Zhao is still too weak. You need to keep him safe!” Dongxiang instructed with a sense of urgency in his voice.

Overhearing the conversation, Zi Han realized that it wasn’t some minor gang squabble but a far serious matter. His cool façade started cracking as his heart raced inside his chest. He hadn’t signed up for this when he decided to accept his lot.

For a moment, Zi Han felt like he had made a huge mistake by joining the Black Dragons, but suddenly a blurry old memory flashed in his mind, distracting him from his present thoughts.

***

In his vision, Zi Han is seated across an old man with a flowing white beard and a gurgling waterfall in the backdrop.

“You will often feel lost and anxious in life. But if you wish to find where you belong, just dive into your heart, and you will have all your answers,” the old man spoke in a calm voice.

The scene quickly blurred and shifted. Zi Han saw a beautiful moon staring down at him while he was standing on a stone bridge. In front of him was an elegant young woman wearing a violet silk gown, and a lacy red veil covered her pretty face.

“What if you lose me someday?” she asked, blushing like a dew-kissed rose.

“Then I will seek you out in the darkest depths of the ocean and the highest peaks of the frozen mountains. I will wander every desert and trudge across the densest forests until I find you again,” a strangely familiar voice replied.

***

As the vision suddenly blurred, Zi Han returned to the present. His heart had stopped racing, and his face had a profound tranquillity. He was no longer afraid of the gangsters tailing their car.

“I need to find you again,” he mumbled, trying to piece his memories together.

It was as if someone was calling out to him from the darkest depths of his mind, and his soul was yearning to see that familiar face again.

“Come on. Hit the gas! Drive like you mean it!” Zhen Lee yelled at the driver and reached for his gun. He was getting ready to throw down with the two bikers, but Zi Han stopped him.

“Wait. There’s no need to shoot!” he ordered and looked out the window. “It’s just two bikers. We can deal with this without making a mess. Tell our lead car to change lanes at the next turn. That should throw them off.”

Zhen Lee did as advised, and soon the first SUV took a sharp left, splitting off from Zi Han’s car at the intersection.

The two bikers took the bait and separated, one going after each of the SUVs.

“Now it’s just one idiot,” Zi Han said, rolling up his window. “Go as fast as you can. Hit the accelerator and don’t stop.”

The driver put his foot down and changed gears, taking the speed to seventy miles an hour.

The biker, however, kept following like a bee on a scent trail.

“There will be traffic ahead, boss. If we keep going this fast, we are going to crash!” the driver cried out nervously.

But Zi Han held onto his nerves. “Keep going until I give the signal.”

Sweaty and tingling all over with nervousness, the driver held onto the wheel with trembling hands, waiting for the inevitable collision. He knew it was suicide to maintain this speed after the Haneman intersection, but there was no way in hell he could refuse an order from the Supreme Dragon himself.

Zi Han put on his seatbelt and waited. As soon as he heard the bike’s roaring engine getting closer, he yelled at the driver. “Hit the brakes!”

The driver responded at once, lifting his right foot and pressing the left one down as hard as possible.

Wham!

The sudden braking caught the biker by surprise, and he slammed straight into the Range Rover’s tailgate. The impact threw him off his ride, and he landed on the hard asphalt, bruising his back.

Everyone else inside the SUV breathed a sigh of relief, and Suzuki pumped his fist exultantly. “That showed the little bastard! I bet he will never be able to ride a bike again!”

"Let's grab him now and give him the beating of a lifetime." Zhen Lee had his hand on the door and was ready to get down from the car when Zi Han stopped him. 

"Don't forget that we are in public now. There are traffic cameras everywhere!" he cautioned. "Stay inside the car. We don't need cops on our tail."

Although Zhen Lee wasn't afraid of the law, he realized it was not the best idea to nab a guy in the middle of the road, that too in broad daylight. 

"We can't just let this roach get away, boss," Suzuki spoke from the front seat. 

"As long as he doesn't leave the city, we will find him. Just note the number on his bike and get going," Zi Han advised as he unclasped his seat belt. 

The accident had already stopped the traffic and curious onlookers were crowding the road from all sides. 

Hearing the distant sirens of a cop car, Suzuki looked out the window and spotted a patrol cruiser driving across the street. 

"Oh, hell. Those pigs are coming this way!"

"Drive!" Zi Han yelled.