Chapter 379: The Holy Madman, Ruthless Filial Piety

Li Shang's remaining reason very much wanted to refuse Feng Mu, but his entire soul did not allow him to say no.

Feng Mu had given too much; his sincerity toward friendship truly should not be profaned by himself.

Even if Feng Mu might be a madman, then he was a... holy madman!!!

"Feng Mu, your attitude toward friendship commands my admiration; I very much want to become friends with you, only..."

Li Shang spoke with difficulty, his tone measured and tactful:

"Only your father is Feng Ju, and my relationship with your father is not very agreeable."

Feng Mu showed not a trace of surprise; his gaze was clear, calm, and profound, like a deep pool that could contain all waves.

"Mm, I know."

Feng Mu nodded slightly, a faint smile still hanging on his face,

"You and my father are rivals competing for the next Patrol Bureau Chief position."

Li Shang couldn't help but tense his nerves, but Feng Mu's next words made him exceedingly surprised.

"However, Captain Li, rest assured,"

Feng Mu smiled faintly, his tone candid:

"My intentions are incomparably pure; I absolutely have no intention of asking Captain Li to withdraw from the competition."

He paused, as if deliberately leaving a gap for thought, then his tone turned meaningful:

"Quite the contrary, compared to my father, I hope Captain Li can take that position."

Li Shang was stunned, looking at Feng Mu in incomprehension.

Feng Mu's black-and-white pupils locked directly onto Li Shang's eyes dyed golden, and he smiled:

"Bloodline is fate imposed upon one, but friends are one's own choice; therefore, in my eyes, friendship is far more precious than kinship."

Li Shang's mouth opened into an O shape, as if a gold coin had been stuffed into it. He savored the words carefully, and had to admit they contained some twisted truth.

Of course, a few words were not enough to dispel Li Shang's inner doubts.

Feng Mu seemed to see his hesitation, changed tone, and continued:

"So, tomorrow when I go home to eat, I will persuade my father to give up the idea of continuing to compete for Patrol Bureau Chief."

Li Shang stared at Feng Mu like a wooden chicken, for a moment almost doubting his ears had a problem.

Without waiting for him to ask, Feng Mu let out a meaningful sigh:

"I know my father; he has no talent, but very high aspirations, often thinking of achieving success in one step, so he always likes to take risks and do crazy things."

Li Shang's eyes flickered as he stared at Feng Mu, awaiting his next words.

Feng Mu narrowed his eyes, seeming to fall into some bad memories, and smiled bitterly:

"Previously he took risks, almost died on the spot, finally luckily saved his life, and ended up disabled."

Feng Mu's voice carried some restrained emotion, as if trying to suppress his complex feelings.

"I do feel regret for him,"

Feng Mu continued, his tone carrying some helplessness,

"But to be honest, deep down I feel this might not be a bad thing."

"Losing an arm should be able to extinguish my father's unrealistic aspirations, at least letting him settle down, stay home honestly, and live out his life in peace."

Feng Mu paused, shook his head slightly, and the bitter smile on his face deepened:

"But who would have thought my father actually got a mechanical arm, and even got promoted to Captain."

Li Shang frowned slightly, his mind drawn by Feng Mu's words.

Feng Mu's voice became lower, his tone carrying a trace of calm sorrow:

"Such a change rekindled the flame in my father's heart."

"No, not just rekindled, but burned brighter and more fiercely; he was no longer satisfied with the status quo, and even began to covet the Patrol Bureau Chief position."

Feng Mu raised his eyes to look at Li Shang, that gaze calm yet carrying an indescribable heaviness:

"My father has been blinded by ambition, confused by profit. He is completely immersed in mad ambition, forgetting the lesson of his broken arm."

Feng Mu paused, as if weighing how to express his thoughts in the most accurate words.

After a moment, he said softly:

"But I know, the more tempting a thing is, the more dangerous it is; the favor of great men is the most dangerous gift in the world."

"The more one gains, the more one will lose in the future; the higher one climbs, the worse the fall."

Feng Mu's voice grew ever calmer, but every word seemed to strike heavily on Li Shang's heart,

"Last time, he lost an arm. But if there is a next time... he probably won't save his life."

Feng Mu's eyes lowered slightly, his gaze carrying complex emotions:

"Not only that, he might drag the whole family into an abyss of no return."

Feng Mu's fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop, his words carrying a decisive calm:

"So, whether he blames me or not, even whether he hates me or not, I will stop him. I will cut off his path of advancement and thoroughly extinguish the fire in his heart."

Feng Mu raised his head, his gaze meeting Li Shang's again.

His gaze was clear, ruthless, and firm, without any room for wavering in every word:

"And, Captain Li, you are different; you are a person of extraordinary talent, the Patrol Bureau Chief position belongs to no one but you; this is good for you, good for me, good for our whole family, and good for Feng Ju!"

Feng Mu's voice grew ever more sincere, his eyes carrying a nearly obsessive decisiveness:

"Whether you believe it or not, these words are my heartfelt sincerity from the bottom of my lungs."

Li Shang listened with his mouth agape; he looked at the ruthlessness on Feng Mu's face, his heart suddenly shuddered, and he felt deep... admiration for his filial piety toward Feng Ju:

"Pity Feng Ju probably cannot understand your filial piety; alas, you have truly suffered."

Feng Mu took a deep breath, a compassionate smile appearing on his face:

"It doesn't matter, I don't need his understanding; everything I do is only so my family can live safely."

Feng Mu paused for a moment, then extended his right hand in friendship toward Li Shang:

"So, please, Captain Li, you must take the position of Patrol Bureau Director."

Li Shang looked at that outstretched hand, complex emotions surging ceaselessly in his heart.

In the end, he took a deep breath, reached out, and gripped Feng Mu's hand tightly, promising deeply: "Good!"

Thud—thud—thud—

Heavy knocking sounded inopportunely, interrupting the solemn and sacred moment the two were establishing friendship.

Li Shang's expression changed slightly; he guessed it was Chang Erbing bringing people over.

Li Shang's cheeks twitched slightly; he forced out an awkward smile: "You sit for a bit, I'll go open the door."

Feng Mu glanced at him, nodded slightly, and didn't say anything more.

Having spoken, Li Shang quickly covered the box tightly, strode to the door, pulled it open, but what met his eyes was not Chang Erbing, but rather.....

(End of Chapter)