Chapter 200: The Dutiful Grandson
At 2 PM, Zhang Yi, fully equipped, stood by the window, waiting for Xu Chunlei to arrive for their negotiation. From this vantage point, he could spot anyone stepping onto the river ice, well within the 1500-meter range of his sniper rifle.
Zhang Yi removed his Rolex and placed it on the table, checking the time. If Xu Chunlei showed up, it would give Zhang Yi full control. Even if negotiations failed, he could kill Xu Chunlei instantly. Should the talks collapse, Zhang Yi wouldn't massacre Xu Dong Village but would regularly patrol the riverbank, sniping any villagers who ventured out to fish—an essential food source they couldn’t afford to give up.
After waiting a while, a shadow emerged from the chaotic snow and trees on the other side of the river. Zhang Yi raised his sniper rifle and looked through the scope. He clearly saw a plump figure in a black down jacket, legs resembling two square blocks, and a comical furry hat. "It's him!" Zhang Yi recognized the figure, having seen the same silhouette through his tactical visor the previous night.
As Xu Chunlei stepped onto the ice, he immediately slipped and fell hard on his backside. Zhang Yi couldn’t help but burst into laughter. "Is this the ice and snow ability user I was so cautious about? The one with limitless potential?" he chuckled but quickly reminded himself not to judge by appearances.
Xu Chunlei’s next clumsy attempt to stand up ended with another face-first fall into the snow. Zhang Yi struggled to contain his laughter, finding it hard to take Xu Chunlei seriously. After a few more embarrassing slips and falls, Xu Chunlei cautiously got back on his feet and started his precarious journey across the ice.
Zhang Yi watched closely, making sure there were no signs of an ambush. After several minutes of Xu Chunlei’s awkward trek, it was clear he was alone. Zhang Yi relaxed slightly. "Looks like I've really scared them."
Satisfied that it wasn’t a trap, Zhang Yi put away his sniper rifle and prepared to meet this interesting ability user. Xu Chunlei finally reached the shore, his breathing labored, and called Zhang Yi from his iPhone. "Hello, I'm at the shore. How do I get to you? I'm afraid of the traps around your place."
"No need. I'm already here," came Zhang Yi's cold voice from ahead. Xu Chunlei looked up to see Zhang Yi's piercing gaze. One was heavily armed, the other bundled up and breathless. Zhang Yi found the scene somewhat amusing, far from his envisioned dramatic encounter.
Zhang Yi nodded, "And you must be Xu Chunlei?"
"Yes, that's me," Xu Chunlei replied, mustering his courage. "I came to negotiate peace. Continuing this fight benefits no one. It's pointless."
Zhang Yi sneered, "Whether it has meaning isn’t for you to decide. As the aggressors, you should be ashamed."
Xu Chunlei scratched his head awkwardly. "I understand. It was our fault. What will it take for you to agree to peace?"
Xu Chunlei’s humble approach caught Zhang Yi off guard. He had expected a more confrontational stance. Instead, the plump, clumsy man before him was far from a shrewd negotiator. Zhang Yi felt like he was hitting a soft target.
Not showing his thoughts, Zhang Yi crossed his arms and sternly asked, "What are you willing to sacrifice for my forgiveness?"
Xu Chunlei blinked and quickly responded, "Anything but the lives of our villagers. Whatever you want, we'll do our best to meet your demands."
The situation was peculiar. Zhang Yi lacked nothing, while Xu Dong Village had nothing to offer. Yet Zhang Yi needed to assert his dominance. "Who ordered the attack on my shelter? That person must die for us to talk."
Unexpectedly, Xu Chunlei answered eagerly, "That's easy! It was Grandpa who decided. He died from fright when he got back. So, you should be satisfied now, right?" His genuine smile made Zhang Yi's eye twitch.
"You're pleased about this, aren’t you?" Zhang Yi thought, impressed by Xu Chunlei's apparent sincerity. "You’re quite the dutiful grandson," he muttered sarcastically.
Xu Chunlei scratched his chubby face. "The dead are gone. The living must move forward. And this was our fault to begin with, so we can't blame you."
Seeing Xu Chunlei’s earnest attitude, Zhang Yi contemplated his next move. It would be highly beneficial if he could turn this powerful ability user into an ally. Otherwise, Xu Chunlei would remain a significant threat. "Alright," Zhang Yi finally said. "I have some conditions. Let's see if you can meet them."