Chapter 112: The Carrot and the Stick

As for Wang Sankui’s side, the progress went just as smoothly as anticipated. The northern suburbs resembled an empty city, with only about a dozen people left to guard the place. Wang Sankui and his team smashed both the people and the territory to pieces.

Three days later, Yuan Datou sent a message through someone, admitting defeat and expressing willingness to relinquish all his territory in the northern suburbs.

Upon hearing this, Yang Jiekai smiled. This time, Yuan Datou was truly subdued by the Old Stick.

The Old Stick’s prestige within the Dragon Hall reached an unprecedented height after this incident. Except for Long Xiaoman, everyone in the Dragon Hall shuddered at the mere sight of him, as if encountering a venomous snake.

Yuan Datou was ruthless, but the Old Stick was no mere human—he was a demon crawling out of hell.

With the battle over, Yang Jiekai and his comrades achieved a decisive victory, completely pacifying the northern suburbs.

Afterwards, Zhang Hua did an excellent job handling the aftermath. He assigned people to attend to Yuan Datou in the hospital daily and treated the terrified northern gang members to drinks and meals. He also applied to Yang Jiekai for a million yuan to distribute among them.

The principle of carrot and stick always works. Zhang Hua, the management genius, didn’t kick out the northern gang members but instead kept them guarding the northern suburbs, treating them the same way he managed the eastern suburbs.

The northern gang members, thoroughly frightened, soon realized their lives had improved since the change. Not a single one harbored ill will anymore; they had completely submitted to the Dragon Hall.

After this event, Yang Jiekai couldn’t shake the feeling that the Old Stick’s methods were excessively ruthless and feared trouble might arise later.

He once talked to the Old Stick about this, but the Old Stick was indifferent. When Yang Jiekai asked what he would have done if Yuan Datou hadn’t submitted, the Old Stick’s answer was blunt: “Buried alive.”

At the time, Yang Jiekai didn’t think much of it, merely considering the Old Stick’s methods a bit extreme. Little did he realize that this incident had indirectly planted a ticking time bomb beneath the entire underworld of Greater China.

Having pacified two suburban districts in succession, the Dragon Hall’s reputation soared. The gangs from the southern and western suburbs actively sent representatives to establish connections.

Long Xiaoman wanted to strike while the iron was hot and swallow those two districts in one go, but Yang Jiekai disagreed, believing the timing wasn’t right.

The age-old truth that overconfident soldiers inevitably fail still held. The Dragon Hall urgently needed time to regroup and manage the aftermath, a task entrusted to the management genius Zhang Hua.

Life soon returned to calm. Yang Jiekai lived leisurely, spending his days eating, sleeping, and playfully bickering with Han Wei, the spirited young lady. Occasionally, he’d have a big drink with Qin Feng and others. His days were as carefree as could be.

One day, as Yang Jiekai lounged on the sofa watching TV, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he looked surprised.

“Oh, it’s the big star! What brings you to call me all of a sudden? Something up?”

He teased as he answered. The call was from Liu Yan, the famous actress he had met on a plane.

On the other end, Liu Yan laughed, “What, can’t I call you just because there’s nothing going on?”

“No, no, it’s not that. I’m just a bit flattered,” Yang Jiekai quickly explained.

“Don’t be so easily flattered. I’m arriving in Anhai tonight on a late flight. If you’re free, come pick me up and we can grab some midnight snacks.”

“Sure thing, no problem!”

After hanging up, Yang Jiekai felt a bit secretly pleased. Although not a fanboy, he was a young man in his early twenties. The thought of dining with a big star that evening made him quite happy.

Around nine in the evening, Liu Yan stepped gracefully out of the airport in a beautiful western dress. Though she wore large sunglasses, some recognized her immediately.

In no time, fans swarmed her, clamoring for autographs and photos, forming an impenetrable circle around her.

Liu Yan didn’t put on airs but smiled warmly, accommodating all their requests one by one. It looked like she wouldn’t be free anytime soon. She glanced helplessly at Yang Jiekai, who stood not far away.

Yang Jiekai shrugged and smiled at her, signaling she could focus on her fans and ignore him for the moment.

Seeing the scene, he guessed it would take a while, so he stepped outside the airport for a smoke while waiting.

But just as he turned, he sensed something amiss. Scanning the crowd carefully, he rubbed his nose and then followed closely.

“Big Sister Liu Yan, may I take a photo with you?”

As most fans left satisfied with their autographs, a little girl with a chubby, rosy face suddenly approached, blinking her big watery eyes at Liu Yan.

“Sure, little one, come on,” Liu Yan said warmly.

She was especially affectionate toward fans and never acted superior. As long as the requests weren’t excessive, she always obliged.

Just then, a lazy male voice came from nearby, “Big star, how about a photo with me too?”

Liu Yan turned and saw Yang Jiekai beside her, smiling, “Don’t crowd me. I’m busy right now.”

She prepared to continue the photo with the chubby girl.

But Yang Jiekai suddenly stepped forward, blocking Liu Yan and said to the girl, “Little one, if you don’t mind, can I join your photo?”

The chubby girl giggled, “No way! Liu Yan is my idol. I only want a photo with her alone.”

Yang Jiekai narrowed his eyes, smirking playfully, “I think it’s better not to take that photo, or you’ll regret it later.”

“Jiekai!”

Liu Yan felt his words were a bit much and quickly interrupted, “Wait for me here. I’ll be right over after the photo.”

“Okay, fine.”

Yang Jiekai nodded and took a half-step aside. Then he grinned at the chubby girl, “We can take the photo, but I think you should hand over your props first. Taking photos is fun, but if there are props involved, it spoils the mood. Don’t you think?”

The girl’s expression flickered briefly but quickly resumed its innocent smile. She looked at Yang Jiekai cluelessly, “Big brother, what props are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Yang Jiekai stretched lazily, “What I mean is, you shouldn’t be carrying that handgun on your waist. Who hides a gun when taking pictures?”

At this, Liu Yan suddenly froze.

The chubby girl also paused, then her expression changed sharply. In a flash, she drew the gun from her back waist and aimed it at Liu Yan, ready to pull the trigger.

Yang Jiekai acted like lightning. He grabbed the girl’s wrist, twisted hard, then pulled back, easily wresting the gun away.

Bang!

Without giving the chubby assassin a chance to react, Yang Jiekai delivered a fierce punch to her nose. The girl instantly collapsed.

All this happened in the blink of an eye.

Liu Yan stood stunned for several seconds before fear washed over her, and she quickly took refuge behind Yang Jiekai’s outstretched arm.

Yang Jiekai flipped the gun-holding wrist, then began dismantling the pistol into a pile of metal parts. He strode over, grabbed the collar of the fallen chubby girl, and lifted her up with a stern voice, “Tell me—who sent you?”

The girl, her nasal bone shattered by Yang Jiekai’s punch, snorted coldly, “Since you know who I am, you should understand the rules of our trade.”

After saying this, her cheeks puffed out and black blood spurted from her mouth. Within seconds, she was dead.

“Damn it, careless!” Yang Jiekai cursed, tossing her lifeless body aside, frustrated at his own negligence.

In the assassin world, some take high-paying jobs but vary greatly in skill. There is a rule: if the mission fails, they must end their own lives to avoid revealing their employer’s identity.

Yang Jiekai originally wanted to keep her alive to find out who was behind this, but she belonged to that category.

A death at the airport was no small matter. Both Yang Jiekai and Liu Yan were taken to the police station for questioning.

However, since it was self-defense and considering Liu Yan’s special status, after some formalities, they were released.

“I’m so unlucky!” Liu Yan began complaining as soon as they left the station. “Every time I meet you, danger follows. You really are a jinx!”

Yang Jiekai shrugged innocently. “Hey now, I saved your life twice. I’m practically your savior’s savior. And you say that to me?”

Liu Yan burst out laughing. She had been joking; Yang Jiekai had indeed saved her twice, and she was grateful, not angry.

“Alright, I’m kidding. Savior, to repay you, I’ll treat you to midnight snacks. You pick the place, and I’ll pay. That’s fair, right?”

Yang Jiekai nodded happily and drove Liu Yan to his favorite riverside food stall.

“The place is a bit humble, but the taste is good. Don’t mind the surroundings,” he said, knowing Liu Yan’s usual life was filled with luxury and banquets.

Liu Yan smiled, “You’re mistaken. Between all the social events, I eat at fancy hotels every day, but I actually love street food the most. Sometimes when I crave it, I sneak out for a feast.”

Yang Jiekai ordered several signature dishes, and the two ate while chatting.

“By the way, what brings you to Anhai this time?” Yang Jiekai asked, peeling a bright red crayfish.

“All work-related,” Liu Yan replied, not caring about appearances as she eagerly enjoyed a plate of snails, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “There’s a ‘Great Chinese Song’ talent show being held in Anhai, and I’m here as a judge.”