Swallowed Star

by Alexander Buchanez

  That was a place where fighters and monsters fight, a place with no laws! The fighters all walked on the border between life and death, so cases where fighters kill each other over their conflicts are common.

  All the large dojos, the government, etc. don't want to see this kind of thing happen.

  Fighters, are the wealth of humans!

  They're the only thing they have that can fight against monsters; they don't want the fighters to have any internal feuds. So from this came the 'Internal Negotiations' which 'settled' the arguments. People have grudges, okay, let's settle them at the table to end them. It's another saying if there is absolutely no way to resolve them.

  "Luo Feng, you're still a rookie that just entered the circle of fighters. It's best to not make any enemies" smiled chief instructor Wu Tong as he said, "You also need money right when you start"

  "Okay"

  Luo Feng nodded. If they can resolve it, then so be it, "Uncle Wu, I can't let Zhang Hao Bai off easily! If I was weak, then my legs and arms would've been broken"

  "But of course" nodded Wu Tong as he said, "if we don't let them bleed, they might think my Dojo of Limits is afraid of them"

  "Uncle Wu, what price do you think I should offer?" asked Luo Feng. He didn't know the rules, so he thought it would be better to get some advice.

  After pondering, Wu Tong said, "If it was just a regular person who messed with you, then you shouldn't go past 50 million Chinese dollars! And Luo Feng, you are an elite of our Dojo of Limits, so you shouldn't go too low either. No lower than 10 million Chinese dollars! Between 10 to 50 million, you can just randomly pick a number"

  "Okay" Luo Feng nodded his head as he considered his choices.

  "If you agree, then I'll tell them to come over tonight to meet us" laughed Wu Tong.

  "Okay, thanks uncle Wu" laughed Luo Feng as he nodded.

  ���

  Luo Feng first returned home to put his��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��scroll away��and then entered the internal network 'Home of Limits' to try and find some information on private negotiations between fighters.

  "Oh..... so it's like this"

  "Reputation also ties in with this payment money"

  Luo Feng consecutively read many posts and finally felt that he had an idea about what tonight's negotiations would be like.

  "Feng, it's time to eat" mother Gong Xin Lan's voice came from downstairs.

  "Coming, mom"

  Luo Feng turned off the power and then headed downstairs.

  In the living room downstairs, his father and mother were carrying the plates and bowls around while the maid cooked.

  "Where's Luo Hua?" asked Luo Feng doubtfully, "he still hasn't returned?". Right now, there are two hired maids, both around 40 years old. One of them was hired just to take care of Luo Hua, since it would be more convenient for Luo Feng: with someone looking over his brother, he can go outside more.

  "Your brother is at the lotus flower lake park, he just called to tell us he'll be here soon" said father Luo Hong Guo as he smiled.

  "How come brother has been going to that park all the time these days?" asked Luo Feng.

  Mother Gong Xin Lan laughed softly on the side: "Feng, your brother has a girlfriend"

  "Girlfriend?" Luo Feng was surprised. Even though there were many handicapped people in society these days, for example the soldiers who fought in the army and came back crippled from fighting monsters...... although handicapped people can also get into relationships, marry, and have children, but Luo Hua hasn't even been here for over a month yet.

  In such a short time, in a relationship?

  "Feng, don't listen to your mother. Your brother is spending time with a girl, but they aren't at that point yet" laughed Luo Hong Guo.

  "Who cares, it's good if he can get into a relationship" Luo Feng was happy inside. No matter what the result of this relationship is, it's an experience of life. This experience is good for him.

  ���

  Yang Zhou city's Yi-An* region, sky garden sector.

  *TL note: If any of you actually still remember from vol. 1 ch. 14~15, I wrongfully wrote Zhi-An sector for the location of the sky garden sector (it's supposed to be Yi-An. sorry about that)

  "Uncle" Zhang Hao Bai looked at his uncle Zhang Ze Hu. Zhang Hao Bai went through these recent days in a state of fear and nervousness. He was even afraid that someone from the security agency will come and snatch him away.

  "Hu, as long as we can keep Hao Bai, it's ok if we go through some pain" Zhang Ze Long couldn't help but to say.

  "Bro, rest assured!" Zhang Ze Hu was very large and muscular and he gave off a feeling of an unrivaled, ferocious beast. Zhang Ze Hu grinned and showed his snow white teeth, "That little rabbit Luo Feng, just a rookie fighter! All he did was fight the weakest monsters raised by the military to become a fighter, he should know the rules! Those who shouldn't have caused trouble, actually caused trouble..... hmph, messing with the Mountain Tiger* is asking for death!"

  *TL note: This is basically his nickname which will be mentioned again later.

  Seeing how his uncle was so confident, Zhang Ze Long and Zhang Hao Bai let out a sigh of relief.

  "Alright, leave it to me, I'll be going"

  After waving, Zhang Ze Hu headed out.

  Outside was a heavy, six-wheeled, remodeled hummer. There was even someone inside waving out and smiling as he shouted: "Brother Hu, ready?"

  "Yup, go and pick up old Li and then we'll head to the Dojo of Limits" Zhang Ze Hu got on the car and waved as he said.

  "ALRIGHT!"

  The hummer let out a low, powerful noise and swiftly left the sky garden sector.

  Around evening, in Yang Zhou city's Ming-Yue sector's Limit Hall's 2nd floor's lobby, Luo Feng and his group were there.

  "Feng, what a coincidence. Your uncle Kong and big brother Chen are here" laughed Wu Tong loudly. Luo Feng also greeted the two people beside Wu Tong. One of them seemed extremely skinny and had a scar on his face that looked like it cut his face in half. Just looking at him strikes fear in you.

  The other man was a burly man who you could tell was enthusiastic just by looking at him.

  "Brother Chen, uncle Kong" yelled Luo Feng.

  These two people weren't ordinary people. In the Limit Hall here in Yang-Zhou city, there were three warlord level fighters: Chief Instructor Wu Tong, 'Fire Cannon' Chen Gu, and 'Hawk Blade' Kong Quan. Wu Tong already retired from monster hunting, while 'Fire Cannon' Chen Gu and 'Hawk Blade' Kong Quan frequently leave the city to hunt monsters.

  These two people were the leading figures in the circle of fighters in the Ming-Yue sector.

  "Feng, we already know about the situation. Rest assured, we'll stick out for you in this case!" laughed Fire Cannon Chen Gu, "Damn, no matter how cocky these Thunder Dojo people get, they won't mess with us"

  "Yes" Hawk Blade Kong Quan slightly nodded.

  After a moment -

  The people from the Dojo of Limits and the Thunder Dojo sat on their respective sides in the lobby. There were at least 20 people on the Dojo of Limits' side while there were just 8 people on the Thunder Dojo's.

  "Wu Tong, in this case, it is indeed Hu's nephew's fault" a large brute laughed loudly as he said, "but that nephew is just a small child? What does he understand, and he's just an ordinary person, not even a fighter, so no need to argue over such trivial things"

  "Old Li, don't bring in those pointless things" laughed Wu Tong as he shaked his head, "No matter how uncertain we are about this case, you guys came here to negotiate right? Mountain Tiger, say something"

  Zhang Ze Hu, who is called "Mountain Tiger" in the circle of fighters, uses a gigantic two handed machete*.

  *TL note: The first two characters for machete is�_ɽ and his nickname is�_ɽ��. Since there's a character for mountain in it I just decided to call him Mountain Tiger (but now you see where his nickname comes from)

  "Chief Instructor Wu" smiled Zhang Ze Hu as his gaze la
nded upon Luo Feng, "For this case, we should let little Luo explain it himself. Little Luo, how should we go about solving this case in a way that satisfies you?"

  "Shut up"

  'Hawk Blade' Kong Quan snapped, "Luo Feng is a good brother in our Dojo of Limits, Little Luo? He is qualified for you to call him by his name too"

  Zhang Ze Hu panicked, Hawk Blade Kong Quan was a ruthless man in the circle of fighters, so even Zhang Ze Hu doesn't want to anger him.

  "Mr. Zhang Ze Hu" Luo Feng stood up and smiled, "This case made many of my brothers stand up for me, so I'm a bit embarrassed. But for my own thoughts..... hmph, that Zhang Hao Bai trying to break my arms and legs is a small matter, but he actually attacked my dad, and that is asking death!"

  Luo Feng shouted as he glared.

  Zhang Ze Hu was shocked and the fighters on the side of the Dojo of Limits laughed. This 'Mountain Tiger' Zhang Ze Hu was a senior fighter and is an advanced warrior, just one step away from the warlord level. Luo Feng actually dared to glare at him with such an attitude, which let the fighters on the side of the Dojo of Limits understand his courage!

  "Hmph, Luo Feng, so what do you want to do? Speak!" Zhang Ze Hu wasn't amused and had a bad face on.

  Zhang Ze Hu's anger? He really didn't care about it. Just speaking about the present, Luo Feng's body fitness level is already high for an intermediate warrior, so he's nearing the 'advanced warrior' level. And with his spiritual force added in there, he's already at least a 'beginner warlord' level.

  "One phrase, 50 million Chinese dollars. I, Luo Feng, will give you some face, and we can call this case off" smiled Luo Feng.

  "You sure have a huge mouth, 50 million!" glared Zhang Ze Hu.

  "This price is high" frowned the Thunder Dojo's chief instructor Li.

  Luo Feng just smiled and said nothing.

  "The price isn't high" smiled the Dojo of Limits' chief instructor Wu Tong.

  "Luo Feng, I'll give you a price, 5 milion! I'll give you 5 million and we'll call off this case and it'll still leave me some face. Or else you aren't giving me, Zhang Ze Hu, any face!" Zhang Ze Hu stared at Luo Feng.

  5 million?

  The people on the side of the Dojo of Limits frowned, even if you are trying to give some face to 'Fire Cannon' Chen Gu and 'Hawk Blade' Kong Quan, you shouldn't offer such a low price. If the price is too low, you aren't giving any face!

  "Or else I'm not giving you any face?" Luo Feng glared, "Zhang Ze Hu, let me say something also. 50 million, no less. If you're even one dollar off, then prepare to meet your nephew in the security agency!"

  Chapter 38: Fire hammer squad

  Zhang Ze Hu was enraged, he didn't think that this rookie Luo Feng wouldn't leave him any face at all.

  "50 million, no less?" Zhang Ze Hu glared like he was about to eat someone.

  But Luo Feng didn't care.

  He read many posts on the 'Limit Home' about this and knew that whoever lowers their head first is admitting defeat! And in this kind of situation, technically, if two people are of equal position, the side that made the mistake should apologize.

  And yet Zhang Ze Hu was assertive, clearly taking advantage of Luo Feng's status of a rookie.

  However..... Luo Feng wasn't affected.

  "Okay, listen to me" the Dojo of Limits' chief instructor Wu Tong spoke, "Luo Feng and Mountain Tiger, both of you back off. 30 million Chinese dollars! Zhang Ze Hu, 30 million isn't that much to you, bring out that amount and we'll call it off. Luo Feng, you don't have any objections right"

  Luo Feng nodded: "We'll do as uncle Wu says"

  "Mountain Tiger, you?" Wu Tong looked towards Zhang Ze Hu.

  Everyone's gazes landed upon Zhang Ze Hu, and he angrily stood up and laughed as he said: "Making me lower my head to a tiny rabbit? In your dreams! Lao Li, brothers, let's go!"

  "If you don't want to resolve this, then you'll have to pay 100 million to protect your nephew" Wu Tong laughed softly.

  "I'd rather give the country 100 million than to give 30 million to resolve this!!!" Zhang Ze Hu looked coldly towards Luo Feng and mocked, "Kiddo, being a fighter isn't that easy! After you leave the city you'll see how scary monsters are. All of the scariest situations come without warning. And the monsters in the military camp don't even come close at all. Those monsters are raised by the military and are the weakest type. I hope you don't die too quickly, or else how would you come back to play with me? Right, let me remind you, I'm not too far off from the warlord level. How long will it take for you to reach the warlord level? And, can you even survive for that long?"

  Luo Feng laughed: "Thank you Mr. Zhang Ze Hu for your care. However, you should think about how you're going to prepare 100 million to give to the country to protect your nephew"

  "Hmph" Zhang Ze Hu's face sank, "Let's go!"

  "One hundred million man, one hundred million" Fire Cannon Chen Gu purposefully shouted twice in a weird voice.

  Zhang Ze Hu's group spoke no further and left.

  Seeing how that group left, the people from the Dojo of Limits started getting rowdy.

  "This Zhang Ze Hu's temper is just as the rumors said: so bad it's indescribable. It's clearly his nephew's fault and he still refused to lower his head" Wu Tong laughed as he shook his head, "He would rather donate 100 million than pay 30 million to resolve it!"

  The Dojo has contribution points, and the country has contribution points too!

  Those who have contributed to the country receive contribution points depending on what they have done. 10,000 points is the one star rank. 100,000 points is the two star rank..... which is the same as the Dojo of Limits' system. The year where one man, Dong Nan Bao, saved thousands of civilians by slaying the Tiger head dragon was given a four star hero medal.

  Just like how you can donate to the Dojo to earn contribution points, you can also donate to the country to earn contribution points.

  10 thousand Chinese dollars is one contribution point.

  100 million Chinese dollars is 10,000 contribution points, which is the one star rank!

  If Zhang Ze Hu doesn't want to negotiate with Luo Feng, then the only solution left is to donate 100 million to the country for his nephew and let his nephew get the 1 star rank. As a one star ranked civilian, Zhang Hao Bai is granted special rights. He can't go to jail for too long just because of the conflict between him and Luo Feng.

  "Even if he gives the country 100 million to make his nephew a one star civilian, a one star civilian will still have to go to jail for 3 to 5 months for going against a fighter and suffer a bit!" said Fire Cannon Chen Gu as he shook his head.

  "If he doesn't want to lower his head, then who can we blame?"

  "Guess he doesn't care because he has money"

  The fighters of the Dojo of Limits laughed loudly.

  "Luo Feng" chief instructor Wu Tong laughed, "According to chief Zhu Ge's commands, we'll have to make arrangements for you to enter a warlord level fighter squad. This way you can train yourself more easily outside the city. It's also safer this way! I talked for you and made the preparations for you to enter the 'Fire hammer squad'".

  "Fire hammer squad?" Luo Feng nodded.

  That chief Zhu Ge Tong really values him, from the start, he let him join a warlord level fighter squad.

  The squads that leave the cities and enter the wilderness to hunt monsters don't have an even skill level. Usually if a team consists of just one warlord level fighter, then that squad counts as a warlord level squad.

  "Luo Feng" Fire Cannon Chen Gu patted Luo Feng's shoulder and laughed loudly, "I'm the vice captain of the fire hammer squad! I'll protect you when you're with me, but Luo Feng, I have to put out the ugly words first. Us members of the fire hammer squad will definitely give you chances to train so you can get used to hunting monsters, but you have to work hard too and can't just keep hoping for help from the other members. If you can't adapt after the first mission..... then we can only kick you out the squad"

  "Brother Chen, I unders
tand" Luo Feng laughed and nodded.

  A fighter squad lives on the border of life and death. If the squad has a burden, then the effect will be huge.

  "If you understand then I can relax. Also....." Fire Cannon Chen Gu laughed as he said, "Have you bought all of your weapons and equipment?"

  "Not yet, I'm preparing to buy some of the higher quality weapons and equipment. But for those, I need a one star contribution rank to buy them for half price" Luo Feng shook his head hopelessly.

  Fire Cannon Chen Gu suddenly started laughing: "This is simple. Tell me what you want to buy and I'll buy them for you! You don't have enough contribution points, but I do! I'm not far from the two star contribution rank right now. I can buy them all for half price and you can transfer the money to my account later right?"

  "Yes" chief instructor Wu Tong nodded on the side, "Equipment like cold or heated weapons can be bought by others without a problem. Of course, things like scrolls can't be bought by others for you".

  Luo Feng nodded.

  This he knew, for example the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��that he bought will appear in the databases of the Dojo of Limits, Underground Alliance, the Thunder Dojo, etc. as--Luo Feng has purchased the first three stages of the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��. That way, Luo Feng can use the Nine Stage Thunder Blade without a problem.

  However, if Yang Wu could use the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��, then once he gets caught, he'll be arrested, since that counts as copying and spreading the��Nine Stage Thunder Blade��scroll,which violates the rights Thunder God has for this scroll.

  If you don't buy it, you don't have the right to practice it!

  If you let someone else buy something for you, the database will display that. Since there isn't any information on you buying the scroll, you can't practice it even if you get it. However, weapons and equipment don't have this kind of copyright restriction.

  "Luo Feng, write down all the weapons and equipment you need and I'll buy them for you when I get back" said Chen Gu.