The night fell, and the neon lights of Danan City gradually lit up, painting the legendary city in a dazzling array of colors.
In front of the Heaven Club, two security guards lazily smoked cigarettes, chatting idly.
"I heard Brother Pao and his crew have a tough fight tonight. They asked the boss for nearly two hundred men to deal with some guys who popped up out of nowhere."
"Then tonight’s gonna be a show. Anyone who messes with Brother Pao won’t end up well."
"I heard it’s some group called the Ten Thousand Dragons Society. Sounds intimidating, huh?"
"Intimidating my ass! I’ve never even heard of them. Probably just some punks making up a name to scare people."
"Honestly, those guys are digging their own graves. They didn’t even bother checking our boss’s reputation. Last time some idiot caused trouble here, he got his legs broken and thrown into the river."
"Tsk, tonight’s gonna be bloody. Too bad we’re stuck here guarding the place. Would’ve loved to tag along and watch."
"Yeah, standing guard is boring as hell."
"..."
"Hey, what if those guys actually have connections and can fight?"
"Fight? With two hundred men swarming them, even a dragon would have to coil, and a tiger would have to crouch!"
"Besides, who’s backing Brother Pao? None other than our boss, Master Jiu! In all of Danan City, who dares to challenge Master Jiu?"
"True. Probably just some reckless idiots who’ll learn what regret means after tonight."
"..."
"With only a few of us left at the club, you think anything’ll happen?"
"What could happen? Who’d dare cause trouble at the Heaven Club? Must have a death wish!"
Just then, a large black SUV screeched to a halt by the roadside.
The doors swung open.
Ma Da, Hua Muying, Ji Yu, and the others stepped out one by one.
Zhang Tao wasn’t with them—his father was still in the hospital and needed someone to care for him. It wouldn’t have been right to drag him along.
Besides, their plan was to grab the person they came for and then make a quick escape, driving straight back to Bright Pearl City overnight.
This wasn’t their turf, and they weren’t familiar with the area. Staying too long would only put them at a disadvantage.
But back in Bright Pearl City? That was a different story.
That was their home ground. If these guys dared to come looking for revenge, they’d be walking straight into a death trap!
As soon as Ma Da and his group stepped out of the car, the two security guards at the entrance tossed their cigarette butts aside, crushed them underfoot, and swaggered over.
"Hey, buddy, you can’t park here. There’s a lot up ahead," one of them said, pointing forward.
Ma Da narrowed his eyes. "No need. We’ll just be a minute—picking someone up and leaving."
The two guards, seeing they refused to move, immediately cursed. "You deaf or what? No parking here! Move your damn car now!"
Ji Yu took a step forward. His towering, two-meter-tall frame loomed over them like a wall, instantly radiating overwhelming intimidation.
The guards visibly flinched but still mustered a threat. "You know whose territory this is? If you don’t leave, we’ll make sure you’re carried out horizontally!"
"See? We tried being polite. Now you’ve forced us to be arrogant."
Ma Da sighed. "Ji Yu!"
Ji Yu grabbed both guards by their collars, lifting them off the ground with one hand each.
The two flailed helplessly, faces twisted in terror.
Ma Da patted their cheeks. "So… can we park here now?"
The guards nodded frantically. "Y-yes! Park wherever you want, boss!"
"Watch our car. Or we’ll break all three of your legs," Ma Da growled.
Then, with an air of sheer audacity, Ma Da led his two underlings and Hua Muying into the nightclub.
Only then did Ji Yu drop the two nearly petrified guards onto the ground.
After a brief hesitation, he decided against violence—for now—and merely rumbled, "I’ll come back and polish your heads later."
With that, he followed Ma Da inside.
The moment they stepped into the club’s main hall, deafening music blasted into their ears.
Hua Muying leaned close to Ma Da and shouted, "Ma Da, I’ll go look for Lan Die first!"
Ma Da nodded, then casually stopped a passing waiter, flashing a friendly smile. "Hey, buddy, mind lending me your walkie-talkie?"
Before the waiter could refuse, Ma Da snatched it from his hands and shoved him aside.
Ji Yu’s eyes lit up. He reached out, placed a massive hand on the waiter’s head, and gave it a vigorous rub.
Swish, swish, swish!
The waiter felt something like white smoke rise from his scalp, followed by a chilling breeze.
Instinctively, he touched his head—only to feel smooth, cold skin.
His heart turned even colder.
"Holy shit! Where’s my hair?!"
Ji Yu, however, grinned and clapped his hands. "First one polished."
Up ahead, Ma Da walked while speaking into the walkie-talkie. "Attention all personnel! There’s trouble at the boss’s office—urgent backup needed!"
Before long, the remaining staff and a few thugs in the club rushed toward the boss’s office in a panic.
Ma Da and his crew swaggered right behind them.
General Manager’s Office.
Master Jiu was having a private conversation with a woman in her twenties.
"That white-haired guy—do you know him?"
"No."
"Lan Die, I’ll ask you one last time. Who is that white-haired punk? My men say he’s been scoping this place out for a while, and it’s clear he’s here for you!"
"Master Jiu, I really don’t know him. Believe me or not, that’s up to you."
"Fine, I’ll take your word for it—for now. But Lan Die, you know I’ve never kept any woman around before. You’re the exception. Agree to be with me, and I’ll hand this club over to you. Everything here could be yours." Master Jiu laid out his offer.
"Master Jiu, I appreciate the offer," Lan Die replied indifferently.
"Not satisfied? Then what do you want? Money? Power?" Master Jiu pressed.
"Master Jiu, are you trying to force me?" Lan Die’s gaze was icy.
Master Jiu dropped the act, gripping her wrist tightly. "Don’t push your luck! When Tu Jiu wants a woman, he always gets her!"
From the moment he first saw Lan Die, he had been captivated by her unique aura.
She was nothing like the cheap, flashy women in his club.
Cold, aloof, and far from weak—she was ruthlessly fierce.
He had never met a woman like her. So he spent a fortune to acquire her.
Yet no matter what he did, she remained unmoved—almost as if she looked straight through him.
Slowly, Master Jiu’s patience wore thin.
He forcefully pushed her down onto the office desk, but Lan Die simply stared back at him, unblinking. She didn’t struggle or resist, lying there like a lifeless doll, her gaze fixed calmly on Master Jiu, her eyes eerily still.
Though a shiver of unease ran down Master Jiu’s spine, he was too far gone to stop now.
"Look at me!" he growled, tightening his grip.
"Stop giving me that damn dead-eyed stare! If I tell you to laugh, you laugh! If I want you to cry, you cry!"
With one rough hand, he grabbed the collar of Lan Die’s shirt, ready to tear it open.
Lan Die remained motionless, offering no resistance.
Just as Master Jiu was about to have his way—
Suddenly!
The office door burst open, and seven or eight people—staff and security from the club—rushed in.
"Boss! We’re here to save you—"
"Uh…"
Their shouts died in their throats as they froze in shock.
