Chapter 37: Lushan International Spa

Li Yan stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed, only to find the room empty. Cao Yang had left while she was showering.

"Cao Yang! You bastard!" she shouted angrily.

Her phone beeped, and she glanced at the message—it was from Cao Yang.

“Sister Yan, I’m going to check out what’s going on. Don’t worry about me; if I can’t handle it, I’ll run.”

“If I’m not back by dawn, take the money and go back to my hometown. Give it to my mom. Thank you.”

Reading the last line, which sounded like a farewell, Li Yan fumed and cursed loudly before typing a reply.

“Go to hell! Die out there! When you’re dead, I’ll keep all your money and won’t give a cent to your mother. Let her suffer in old age with no children and no money! Let you show off! Let you play the hero and throw your life away for that despicable woman! All consequences will fall on your mother!”

Still unsatisfied, she called him again, but the line was busy. She had no idea who he was calling.

...

Cao Yang never saw Li Yan’s message, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have cared—he knew it was just her being angry.

Li Yan was stingy and greedy, and if someone else entrusted her with a large sum of money, she probably would have run off with it. But Cao Yang trusted that she wouldn’t do that to him.

Besides, their hometown was close-knit; there was nowhere she could really escape to.

...

Cao Yang returned to the convenience store to get a chip and was now calling Tie Xiong.

Knowing the other side had many people and firearms, he wanted some backup.

Tie Xiong wasn’t exactly a friend, but he owed Cao Yang favors and often boasted about how he could help. Now was the time to borrow some men—or at least a couple of guns.

“Hey, little brother Cao,” Tie Xiong answered cheerfully.

“Brother Xiong, my friend’s been kidnapped. I’m going to rescue her and want to borrow some people,” Cao Yang got straight to the point.

Tie Xiong was furious. “Damn it! That blind bastard dared to kidnap my little brother’s friend!”

“Come over, little brother. I’ll lead the team and chop those bastards up myself. Let them know the Hunan Gang isn’t to be messed with!”

“Okay, Brother Xiong, I’m on my way. Let’s go together.” Cao Yang smiled. “They have guns, so let’s bring some guns too—for safety.”

“Pfft! Guns? Like we don’t have them!” Tie Xiong scoffed. “Who are they?”

“They’re from the Yi He Society.”

“Hey, say something! I asked who they are.”

“I said they’re from the Yi He Society!”

...

“Hello... hello... no sound? Dropped the call?” Tie Xiong muttered before hanging up.

Cao Yang was stunned—no signal at such a critical moment? He suspected Tie Xiong was faking.

He called back but no one answered.

“Damn it! Always acting tough but never there when it counts!”

...

Lushan International Water Club—luxuriously decorated, dazzling gold and jade. Seven floors, each covering over ten thousand square meters.

It was already 2 a.m., yet Lushan International still blazed with lights, with luxury cars coming and going—a true city that never sleeps.

Cao Yang had thought it was a half-finished building, a perfect place to kill and bury bodies. He never expected such extravagance.

A water club—an entertainment venue themed around water culture: hot springs, saunas, foot massages, fire and water therapies, dining, lodging, and all sorts of leisure.

This one was clearly unofficial; the legitimate ones didn’t have such thriving business or scale.

Cao Yang strode into the lobby, greeted by a line of long-legged hostesses in cheongsams bowing politely.

“Welcome to Lushan International. Enjoy your leisure time,” one said.

A female manager in a business suit approached with a warm smile. “Sir, alone?”

“I... I’m looking for someone.” Cao Yang scanned the area but didn’t see the buzz-cut man.

“Who are you looking for? Do you have a room number?” the manager asked politely.

“I...” Cao Yang hesitated—not about to say he was looking for the buzz-cut man.

He took out his phone and called Lei Yu.

The call was answered quickly by the buzz-cut man.

“I’m at the lobby.”

“Give the phone to the staff.”

Cao Yang handed his phone to the manager, who whispered a few words and nodded repeatedly.

“Sir, please follow me.”

They took the elevator to the seventh floor. When the doors opened, Cao Yang saw the buzz-cut man surrounded by at least thirty others.

Cao Yang threw the chip onto the floor. “Release her.”

The buzz-cut man’s wrist was bandaged and in a cast, but he looked coldly at Cao Yang and ignored the chip.

“Ah Le, this kid fought ten of you alone?” another shorter man sneered.

Despite his height, everyone around treated him with respect—it was clear he was the leader.

“Release her,” Cao Yang said again when no one responded.

Sun Xiao smiled mockingly. “No. What are you gonna do about it?”

Cao Yang knew it wouldn’t be easy. His hand slid to his waist, where he kept the watermelon knife Li Yan used.

Seeing his move, several men reached for their waists. In an instant, multiple guns were pressed against Cao Yang’s forehead.

Recognizing the situation, Cao Yang didn’t struggle. Without being told, he placed his hands on his head and crouched in the corner.

With so many guns pointed at him, even the Monkey King would lose his fur—let alone a mere mortal like Cao Yang.

Sun Xiao laughed heartily. “Good kid, you know how to behave.”

He crouched down and pulled out the watermelon knife from Cao Yang’s waist. The group laughed derisively.

“Just this rusty piece and you dare come to Lushan International? That’s brave!”

“Alright, get up.” Sun Xiao kicked Cao Yang. “Go wait in the office. Whether you get out depends on how you act.”

Cao Yang was puzzled but complied, picking up the chip and escorted by the group into the seventh-floor office.

The office was large and lavish but empty.

As soon as Cao Yang entered, the door shut behind him.

He sat on the sofa, waiting. After ten minutes with no one coming, he stood and lit a cigarette, looking around.

Since he was here, he might as well make himself comfortable. What was there to fear?

He walked to the window, glanced down, and wondered about the odds of surviving a jump from the seventh floor. If the chances were good, maybe he’d just jump and run.

As he hesitated, the office door opened again, and a figure stepped inside.

When Cao Yang saw her, it felt as if the sun broke through the clouds and the world brightened—there seemed to be no one more beautiful than her.