Chapter Ninety-Four: The Confrontation

"What should we do then!" Wang Ying watched Yang Jiekai, and seeing that he did not seem to be joking, she grew tense as well.

"Go up and stop them immediately. Stall them for at least five minutes!"

"And what about you?" Wang Ying asked.

Yang Jiekai rubbed his nose, a flash of coldness in his eyes. "I'll head up first. You all charge in after five minutes."

"But..."

"If you don't want anyone else to be crushed to death by a knee, do exactly as I say!"

After dropping this line, Yang Jiekai jumped out of the car. He didn't even take the elevator, instead rushing up the stairwell toward the third floor.

Wang Ying felt deeply conflicted. She wasn't sure if she should report this to her superiors, but eventually, she gritted her teeth and chose to trust Yang Jiekai. She jumped out of the car and hurried toward the investigation team, who were currently inquiring at the front desk.

Third floor.

Yang Jiekai followed the corridor until he reached the door of room 302. He knocked lightly.

After a long moment, a man's voice with a heavy Thai accent came from inside: "Who is it?"

Facing a master like Lan Sang, Yang Jiekai did not waste words, yet he dared not be careless. "Lan Sang, open the door."

Lan Sang threw the door open, his eagle-like eyes fixed on Yang Jiekai. "Who are you!"

Yang Jiekai smiled. "Who I am doesn't matter. The Chinese police will be here in five minutes. These five minutes will decide which of us ends up on the floor first."

Although they hadn't moved yet, there was an unspoken understanding between masters. From just a glance and a few brief sentences, Lan Sang realized this man was no simple opponent. A fierce battle was inevitable.

Lan Sang stepped aside and gently closed the door, even asking, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Yang Jiekai shook his head slightly. "Let's begin."

Whoosh!

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yang Jiekai felt a gust of wind, laden with terrifying power, sweep toward him!

Lan Sang leapt high, pushed off with one foot, and his knee struck out like a cannonball toward Yang Jiekai. Yang Jiekai dared not be careless; knowing the power of Lan Sang's knee, he didn't dare to block it head-on, choosing instead to pivot and dodge.

Boom!

Lan Sang’s heavy knee smashed into the wall, shaking dust from the ceiling, leaving a hole in the plaster!

Yang Jiekai lunged forward, delivering a fierce palm strike aimed at Lan Sang’s neck. Lan Sang ducked to dodge, immediately following up with an iron elbow strike toward Yang Jiekai’s chest.

Muay Thai emphasizes steel knees and iron elbows. Although Lan Sang’s reputation was built on his heavy knees, his elbow power was not to be underestimated—it was enough to shatter granite.

Yang Jiekai’s style, however, leaned more toward the traditional. His mentor, Yang Chen, was Chinese and possessed a deep mastery of ancient Chinese martial arts, synthesizing various schools into a single, highly practical combat system.

In that brief, lightning-fast instant, Lan Sang had unleashed a knee and an elbow, while Yang Jiekai had employed the Wudang push, the Emei palm strike, and the footwork of the Kongtong sect.

If an outsider were present, they would have seen only a common brawl. But only the two of them knew the lethal danger involved; in that flash of time, the slightest mistake would have meant total destruction.

Next, Lan Sang launched a barrage of elbow strikes, followed by heavy knees that struck like a viper’s tongue, attacking Yang Jiekai frantically.

Yang Jiekai dared not slacken for a second. He dodged and weaved, seizing gaps to launch his own lethal counters. Both sides were locked in an inextricable struggle.

By now, three minutes had passed. Dense beads of sweat began to seep from Yang Jiekai’s brow. Since his return to China, this was the first time he had encountered a true master.

Slap!

Under Lan Sang’s relentless offensive, a tiny opening finally appeared. Yang Jiekai seized the chance and slammed a heavy palm into Lan Sang’s chest.

Lan Sang stumbled back several steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood with a cry. In a battle between experts, one mistake is fatal. Although Lan Sang could still stand and fight, the blow to his chest had sealed his fate.

"Who are you!" Lan Sang glared at Yang Jiekai and asked.

Yang Jiekai looked at him and slowly spat out two words: "Night Owl!"

"Night Owl!"

Lan Sang’s eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "You weren't already..."

Yang Jiekai shook his head. "The Night Owl of the past is indeed dead. Now, I am Yang Jiekai, just an ordinary citizen of China."

"Spare me. I will give you the commission from these recent missions, and I will leave China immediately!"

Blood seeped from the corner of Lan Sang’s mouth. Though his voice remained strong, he knew that after taking that palm strike to the chest, his reaction time and power would drop. Against a true master, the slightest loss in strength was fatal. He knew he had lost.

Yang Jiekai shook his head gently. "Since I’ve told you I am Night Owl, do you really think I would let you leave here alive?"

A look of despair flashed across Lan Sang’s eyes. "Why are you targeting me?"

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Lan Sang, accept your fate!"

After saying this, Yang Jiekai struck with both fists—the right swift, the left slow. One static, one dynamic, merging hard and soft into one.

Lan Sang attempted to block with a heavy knee, but his speed and reactions were slowed by his injury. Yang Jiekai smashed a fist into his neck, while his other hand transformed from a fist into a palm, hacking deeply into Lan Sang’s armpit.

Immediately after, he clamped a hand around Lan Sang’s throat and gave a sharp twist. With a *crack*, Lan Sang collapsed to the ground, lifeless. His eyes were wide open, filled with deep resentment.

Yang Jiekai crouched down and gently wiped Lan Sang’s eyelids shut.

The reason he didn't tell Lan Sang why he was targeting him was that even if he had, Lan Sang truly wouldn't have understood.

Everything he did was for Wang Ying. The guilt he felt deep in his heart toward her was a knot Yang Jiekai could never untie.

Lan Sang would never understand this. People in their world knew only profit, not emotion; it was a cold, indifferent world.

Just then, the door was kicked open, and Wang Ying rushed in with the investigation team.

"Don't move! Hands on your heads!"

Upon seeing the scene, the investigators leveled their guns at Yang Jiekai.

Yang Jiekai stood up and calmly lit a cigarette. "The killer is dead. You can go back and report your success."

With the Lan Sang case closed and the truth revealed, the police gave Yang Jiekai a symbolic bonus of five thousand yuan.

Yet, Yang Jiekai couldn't find any joy in it. He didn't know why, but he felt a heavy weight in his chest. In the past, on the mercenary battlefield, he could kill without batting an eyelid. But this time, he felt stifled, for reasons he couldn't grasp.

When he returned home, Mother Wang had prepared a table full of food. Because he had so much on his mind, Yang Jiekai ate in silence.

This unusual behavior even struck Han Ning as strange. This guy was usually chattering away during meals; what was wrong with him today?

Han Wei was away on a business trip abroad, so only Yang Jiekai, Han Ning, and Mother Wang were at home.

"Hey, what nerve of yours got crossed today? Why have you gone mute?" Han Ning asked, watching Yang Jiekai shovel rice into his mouth in silence.

Yang Jiekai felt a stifling sensation and didn't answer. After finishing his meal in a few bites, he told Mother Wang he was full and retreated to his room to lie on the bed.

Why was he feeling so depressed?

Yang Jiekai forced a bitter smile. He didn't know why his mood had suddenly soured. Perhaps after the duel with Lan Sang, he had been reminded of those days on the battlefield where he never knew if he would see tomorrow—reminded of his own past, and of the brothers and comrades who had died.

Han Ning went upstairs to review documents after dinner. Under her and Han Wei's efforts, Ziyu Company was growing at an incredible speed, leaving the two sisters overwhelmed.

But for some reason, she couldn't focus on her work today; her mind kept drifting to Yang Jiekai’s behavior at dinner.

What was wrong with this guy?

In Han Ning’s eyes, Yang Jiekai was a man with nerves of steel. It felt like even if the sky were to fall, he would still be grinning. She had never seen him in such a low mood.

The next day at the company, Yang Jiekai sent Gongsun Tiedan to find "Blind Wu" to collect the money. According to their prior agreement, if the matter was resolved, the revenge fund was to be split down the middle.

But before long, Gongsun Tiedan returned, looking battered and bruised.

"You iron rooster, what happened? Did you get the money?" Qin Feng had been bored and had just finished 'tossing around' Chen Shishi in the small room. He was still fastening his belt when he saw Gongsun Tiedan’s state and immediately asked.

Gongsun Tiedan wore a mournful expression. "Damn Blind Wu! Not only did he refuse to pay, but he beat me up! Brothers, you have to avenge me!"

"Screw his grandmother!" Qin Feng, having the hottest temper, blew up instantly. "Let's go! Time to settle the score with Blind Wu!"

He started to head out.

"Wait."

Sitting to the side and resting with his eyes closed, Yang Jiekai suddenly opened them. He took out his phone, found Blind Wu’s number, and dialed.

"Blind Wu, what’s the meaning of this?"

Blind Wu spoke bluntly on the other end: "No meaning. There’s no money. If you’re not satisfied, come and get it yourself."

"Blind Wu, you are courting death!"

Yang Jiekai was already in a foul mood. After hanging up, he turned to Qin Feng and the others. "Let’s go. Grab your gear. It’s time to have a real talk with Blind Wu!"

Yang Jiekai wasn't afraid of Blind Wu; he just hated trouble. Up to this point, he hadn't intended to step into China’s underworld. This time, he didn't plan on killing him either—he just wanted to teach him a lesson so he would learn to behave.

On the surface, Blind Wu ran an investment company, but in private, he operated a high-interest loan shark business. That was his primary source of income and the location of his headquarters.