Chapter 104: Every Creature Has Its Match

Yang Jiekai first asked Long Xiaoman to head back while he stayed behind to handle the aftermath, promising to meet her at the Dragon Palace Bar that evening. Only then did she agree to leave.

After seeing her off, Yang Jiekai went to the clinic to check on Lin Sha’s parents. Fortunately, they had only suffered superficial injuries and were fine after being bandaged.

The subsequent turn of events caught Yang Jiekai completely off guard. Before long, the Wang brothers showed up at the clinic. However, they were no longer the menacing thugs he had encountered earlier; instead, they knelt on the ground to apologize. They promised to move out for the time being, allowing the elderly couple to stay in their house until a new one could be built, and pledged to compensate the Lin family for all their losses.

Watching the Wang brothers’ submissive attitude, Yang Jiekai was utterly bewildered. What on earth had that girl Long Xiaoman done to make these two brothers so terrified?

"Jiekai."

While Yang Jiekai was lost in thought, Lin Sha called out softly from beside him. "Can we go for a walk?"

"Oh, of course." Yang Jiekai snapped back to reality.

The air in the countryside was refreshing, and taking a deep breath felt invigorating—far better than the smog of the big city. They strolled along a small rural path.

"I never would have guessed that you came from the countryside," Yang Jiekai remarked. He quickly added, "I didn't mean it that way. I just thought you had a powerful background. Now I realize you've reached where you are today entirely through your own hard work. That’s truly impressive!"

This was a heartfelt sentiment. Han Ning was also capable, but she had started from a very high vantage point, practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth. For someone like Lin Sha, who had neither background nor a head start, rising from the countryside to become a success in the big city was truly admirable.

Lin Sha smiled and sighed softly. "Actually, I’m an orphan. They are just my foster parents."

"What? You’re an orphan?" Yang Jiekai asked, surprised.

Lin Sha nodded gently. "I was abandoned at birth, and my foster parents took me in. I don’t intend to find my biological parents, though. Since they didn’t want me, I don’t need them. My foster parents are my real parents in this life."

She continued, "I found out about my origins when I was very young, and the villagers would point fingers at me. That made me very mature from a young age; I worked much harder than others at everything, whether it was studying or working. Kids like us from the countryside have no support system; we have to rely on ourselves to fight for everything."

Yang Jiekai nodded. "So, once you became successful, you started taking care of children in orphanages."

Lin Sha sighed deeply and gave a bitter smile. "I know the feeling of being abandoned by one's parents all too well. I’m just doing what I can, but no matter what I do, I can never give them the warmth they truly crave."

After a long silence, Lin Sha bit her lip and suddenly asked, "Jiekai, is it true what you said before about being married?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

Yang Jiekai was busy admiring the scenery and didn't notice Lin Sha's expression. Upon hearing his response, a flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just asking. I’m sure your wife is very happy."

"Why do you say that?" Yang Jiekai asked, chewing on a blade of grass and breathing in the fresh air.

"Because you're a good man. I think any woman who marries you would definitely be happy."

Yang Jiekai could only offer a wry smile. He didn't know what to say; if Lin Sha knew the circumstances of his marriage, her jaw would surely drop.

***

After returning to Anhai City, Yang Jiekai dropped Lin Sha off at home and headed to the Dragon Palace Bar, where Long Xiaoman had been waiting in a private room for some time.

"You're an hour faster than I expected," Long Xiaoman said, checking the time. "It's eight o'clock; I thought you wouldn't be here until nine."

"I missed you!" Yang Jiekai sat down in front of her and peeled a banana to eat.

"You came here with a belly full of questions, didn't you?" Having spent years in the underworld, Long Xiaoman saw right through him. "You want to ask why I was able to make the Wang brothers submit after beating them, even though you did the same, right?"

Yang Jiekai nodded like a chicken pecking at rice and asked humbly, "I just can't figure it out. Was I too soft with them?"

Long Xiaoman shook her head and let out a long breath. "It’s a matter of status."

"Status? What status?" Yang Jiekai asked, puzzled.

Long Xiaoman took a sip of her drink. "The Wang brothers are thugs. To deal with them, you need a bigger thug, and that’s what I am. You're an ordinary person, so they naturally didn't fear you. But they know exactly who I am. That’s the root of the problem."

Yang Jiekai nodded thoughtfully. She was right. Big fish eat little fish; small-time thugs fear the powerful ones. It was the natural order of things.

"Well? Have you made up your mind?" Long Xiaoman asked, looking at him.

Yang Jiekai knew she was referring to joining the Dragon Hall. He had actually already made his decision. He was no longer alone, and he could no longer afford to be cold or indifferent. Since returning to China, he had felt a warmth he had never known before. He might be fearless, but there were many people around him who needed his protection. Qin Feng and the others had committed themselves to him, and he had to be responsible for them. His private investigation agency had to keep running, and it needed to grow—to become the best in the country, even the world!

"I've decided!" Yang Jiekai stretched his neck and said, "I won't join the Dragon Hall, but we can cooperate."

"Cooperate? How so?" Long Xiaoman asked, confused.

Yang Jiekai replied, "Isn't 'Blind Wu' the patron behind those other investigation agencies? If they have a patron, why can't I find one too?"

"You mean... me?" Long Xiaoman pointed at herself, then shook her head. "That won't work. It’s not that I don't want to, but I know my own limits. If we go to war with Blind Wu, with my current resources, we have zero chance of winning."

"I understand that!" Yang Jiekai tossed the banana peel aside, already having a plan in mind. "You’re no match for Blind Wu right now, but we can grow slowly and then swallow him in one bite."

"Grow?" Long Xiaoman gave a bitter laugh. "Easier said than done. Do you think I don't want to grow? The underworld in Anhai City is far more complex than you imagine. I’ve reached this point by being a small fry, and every step has been a gamble. It’s a miracle I can hold onto my own turf, let alone expand."

Yang Jiekai pondered for a moment. "Have you ever heard the old Chinese saying: 'Build high walls, store grain, and delay becoming king'?"

"Don't give me that fancy talk; I'm not an intellectual," Long Xiaoman said, getting a headache from the archaic language.

Yang Jiekai explained, "It means we can take it slow. We find an inconspicuous foothold, retreat from the underworld’s spotlight, and secretly build up our strength."

"A foothold? Isn't the Dragon Palace Bar one?" Long Xiaoman asked.

Yang Jiekai shook his head. "The Dragon Palace Bar is in the city center; it’s too crowded with different factions. Any move we make will alert others. I’m talking about the outskirts where the city meets the countryside."

"The outskirts?" Long Xiaoman burst out laughing. "What profit is there in those poor, remote places?"

"Profit is secondary. The key is that the people we need are there." Yang Jiekai didn't understand the underworld, but he understood the art of war. He knew that to achieve great things, talent was the primary pillar, not money. The outskirts were the perfect place to develop. As Long Xiaoman said, there was no profit there, so the major city factions had no interest in it—which made it the ideal place for him to establish himself.

Seeing that she was still hesitant, Yang Jiekai stood up. "I'll give you until tomorrow morning to think about it. I won't force you. Just say yes or no. Either way, I'm moving my agency out of the city tomorrow."

Without waiting for her reply, he walked out of the Dragon Palace Bar. He didn't go home; instead, he called Qin Feng and the others, telling them to assemble at the office immediately.

Once they arrived, Yang Jiekai laid out his plan. Qin Feng and the others didn't want to overthink it; they were happy to follow his lead. Zhang Hua, however, who had also risen from the countryside, offered a few insights:

First, moving the company to the outskirts was feasible.
Second, they had to find a local power to collaborate with as soon as possible.
Third, they would likely face a fierce battle, and they had to win the first fight at all costs.

Yang Jiekai smiled at Zhang Hua. "You're right, but the second point is flawed."

Before Zhang Hua could speak, Yang Jiekai added, "As outsiders, we are here to take a piece of the pie. No local gang will cooperate with us when we have nothing and no background. So, our first battle will be a head-on clash with the local thugs!"

"But with just the few of us, I'm afraid..." Zhang Hua was meticulous and immediately spotted the flaw. A fight was inevitable, but with only a handful of them, how could they win?

Yang Jiekai smiled at him. "Of course it won't just be us. We’re going to recruit a 'heavenly army' to help us."

"A heavenly army?" Everyone was stunned.

Just then, Long Xiaoman called. Once connected, she said directly, "I've decided. I’ve already accepted that you’re my man, so do whatever you want. I’ll pull out of the Dragon Palace Bar tonight. I have about fifty people under me; the command is yours now. Do what you have to do!"