Chapter 109: Young Master Yang II Wants to Return to Being an Artistic Soul

Swish!
Thud!

The thrown grappling hook wrapped securely around the railing. Li Jie tightened the rope and gave it a few sharp tugs; it snapped and twanged like the strings of a three-stringed lute. He wondered if it would serve well as instrument material.

“Phew…”

Li Jie shook his arm, and a throwing knife slid from the inside of his wrist. As it flew out, a thin thread trailed behind it, slicing silently into the concrete wall. With a graceful leap, he dangled in midair, swinging twice before the thread’s end detached, allowing him to swing outward smoothly.

Thump.

He landed on the rooftop of another building, wearing a hood as he surveyed the height and distance below with great satisfaction.

Like Luzhou, Xuzhou’s urban area was filled with numerous self-built and cooperative housing units, spaced just right for unconventional escape methods like this.

After a week of training, Li Jie had grown accustomed to his new gear. His bulletproof vest was lightweight, and to acquire these materials, he had spent millions purchasing scraps from a local polymer factory.

Though they claimed the materials were for motorcycle body modifications, in truth, they were processing supermolecular substances. The secondhand equipment alone cost over forty million, financed by Boss Li through loans—eight million as a down payment, with the remaining thirty-two million paid in installments.

The factory came with the equipment, located by the canal in Jiyang County on the outskirts of Pingjiang. Boss Li planned to relocate everything to the neighboring Danyang mountain area after he broke Young Master Yang’s arm.

The local Taoist priests were quite polite. Having a quiet, refined businessman nearby their “Blessed Land of the Caves” was welcomed.

After all, Boss Li had introduced himself as a student from Jianye Academy of Arts when meeting the Taoists.

What harm could a student have?

They were all here to cultivate immortality together.

While Boss Li busied himself strengthening Young Master Yang, who had long suffered from insomnia, Yang Ying grew more and more paranoid by the day, constantly fearing treacherous enemies.

“Get lost! Go away!”

“Who’s there? Who’s there—”

“Han Zitong! Han Zitong! Why aren’t you protecting me?!”

“Mom, mom, I want to go home!”

In the dead of night at the Kaixiang Sanatorium in Xuzhou, a villa was repeatedly disturbed by howls, bringing chaos to the household day and night.

“Fifth Master.”

“Fifth Master.”

“Fifth Master.”

That evening, a massive military off-road vehicle pulled up outside the villa. After Yang Shiren stepped down, the security guards on duty greeted him respectfully.

“Still howling?”

“Yes, Young Master just woke up.”

“All right, I’ll go see him.”

Yang Shiren’s build was well-proportioned but exuded immense strength. His gait suggested steel bones and iron muscles. Tonight, he wore a stand-collared cotton coat and shiny black leather shoes that clicked rhythmically on the floor.

Taking the elevator to the third floor, the internal guards stood at attention upon seeing him but did not obstruct his passage. Yang Shiren entered the room and slapped Yang Ying, who was lying in bed.

Smack!

Before Yang Ying could lose control, another slap followed. Then Yang Shiren lazily lowered his eyelids and said slowly, “The Ji family doesn’t despise you as a loser—they arranged a matchmaking meeting with Ji Shengnan for you. I want you to show your true talent. Your ‘Spring River Ballad’ should finally have a use.”

“Fifth Uncle, I…”

“Without the Yang family, you are nothing. You’re a loser in this chaotic province of Sanjiang, unable to integrate even cultural industry resources. What else can you do? Act cute and spoiled in front of your sister-in-law like a thirty-something baby?”

“…”

“My communication with Li Jie failed, so…”

“Fifth Uncle! Kill him! Kill that mutt! He…”

Smack!

Another slap. Yang Shiren looked down at Yang Ying.

“When adults are speaking, children don’t interrupt. Such bad manners.”

“…”

“First, Li Jie will definitely die; second, it’s nearly impossible for firearms to enter Sanjiang Province undetected; third, I assigned Han Zitong to lead the team, equipped with the ‘Single Soldier 500’; finally, if the local gang in Sanjiang discovers the Ministry of Defense’s special soldier equipment, you better prepare for a quiet retirement.”

“Retirement?”

“Simply put, once Sanjiang obtains incriminating evidence against us, you’ll be reduced to nothing more than a breeding machine for the Yang family—birthing sons and daughters to make amends.”

“Fifth Uncle! Help me! Help me! You must help me!”

“Second brother, what more do you want from us?”

Yang Shiren’s cold tone chilled Yang Ying to the bone. His reckless actions had clearly crossed the family’s risk threshold. Singling out one family in chaotic Sanjiang was meaningless.

Though Sanjiang was in turmoil, when everything was mixed together, their capacity to cause trouble was formidable.

What’s always irked the older generation of the Yang family about Yang Ying wasn’t offending some orphanage or being hung up by migrant workers—it was that idiot’s stubbornness in forcing resources meant for the Yang family’s integration to be unified by others instead.

What was that?

Charity?

He hadn’t even secured a single audiovisual license for the district and county TV stations in Sanjiang, yet had lost creative capacity rights to fourteen others. Whose credit was that?

Young Master Yang sacrificed two legs just to let the “innate orphan saint” step into the family, elevating him to a “humble origins” status?

From orphan Li Jie of the “Red Star Welfare Institute” to Boss Li, the “Creative Capability” owner, only a few months had passed.

Boss Li now had status and pedigree.

The Yang family’s strategy was now severely compromised and infuriating.

This entire mess was clearly the work of the ambitious but talentless Young Master Yang—today’s visitor was Yang Shiren, but had it been Yang Renshou, there might have been more than just a few slaps.

Because the Kaixiang Group’s cultural copyright agency business in Korea had lost one-fifth of its renewal contracts this year to Yongle Media, and another fifth was poached away by Shenyao Entertainment through headhunting.

The loss wasn’t in copyright revenue but in a significant financial channel.

More absurdly, Yang Ying’s order for Li Lingbo to teach Park Inyong a lesson was leaked by “Little Sunflower.” Although no one dared offend Korea openly, even dogs preferred not to be beaten. So while they dared not voice complaints, their feet could still cast votes.

Li Jie, the “bug,” had completely disgusted the Yang family. Though rivals stoked the flames, if not for the two foolish youths, Yang Ying and Li Jie, none of this turmoil would exist.

“Fifth Uncle, please, please help me!”

Yang Ying, who had always been close to Yang Laowu, had no other thoughts now but to maintain the status quo. He refused to be a breeding machine!

He still dreamed of standing on his own and becoming a prominent figure in the Yang family!

“Do you know what it means for one man to take down fifty skilled fighters? Even if it wasn’t Li Jie himself, someone behind him must be supporting him. If you could drag the entire Du family down, that would be ideal. Unfortunately, only Du Sheng died…”

Yang Shiren sighed regretfully. If Du’s wishes had been fulfilled and more descendants perished, the Yang family could have absorbed all the Yunzhonghui’s assets and supported sister-in-law in taking control.

In the end, Yang Ying was simply too useless.

“Fifth Uncle, then… am I finished?”

“Do you even know how much money you’ve lost the family?”

Crossing his legs, Yang Shiren intertwined his fingers and calmly said, “Big brother still has to deal with uncles and cousins, second brother.”

As Yang Ying’s gaze dimmed and hope faded, Yang Shiren added, “But as long as you please the Ji family’s lady, you still have a chance to rise again. That will require borrowing some of the Ji family’s influence.”

“How so?!”

“Do you know what Ji Shengnan looks like?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t know a damn thing.”

Yang Shiren pulled out his phone, opened a Weibo photo, and handed it to Yang Ying.

“Wang Shiyin? What about her?”

Yang Shiren said nothing. Yang Ying’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wang Shiyin?!”

Seeing his reaction, Yang Shiren pocketed the phone and stood, saying, “She’s gentle and virtuous, fond of talented men. Show your advantages, fool each other a bit, and that’s enough. She’ll be in Xuzhou in a few days. Practice a little—just enough to save face.”

With that, Yang Shiren left the room.

“Fifth Master, General Han and his team have arrived in Jianye.”

“Just have them keep watch for now. No disturbances.”

“Yes.”

Yang Shiren returned to the vehicle, exhaled deeply, and called Yang Renshou.

“Big brother, I’ve persuaded him.”

“Laowu, it still depends on you.”

“Brother Ying just needs a setback. This delayed test might be a good thing.” Yang Shiren continued, “Big brother, is now a good time to talk?”

“I’m alone.”

“This is an opportunity to swallow the entire Du family. With the Ji family’s help, those Du descendants can be arrested or sentenced—no chance of recovery.”

“My father-in-law won’t fall for it. He’d rather lose eighty million and lose face in North China than avenge his grandson and brothers.”

“Stirring the pot tests patience. After marrying into the Ji family, we can leak information bit by bit. In the northern capital, everything can be lost except face—otherwise, no meals to eat. Also, big brother, some moves aren’t feasible in East China but work well in the northern frontier—either grasslands or deserts.”

“The matchmaking event is set for the third day of the third month. I’ll personally talk to the Ji family then.”

“Agreed.”

Meanwhile, Li Laoye, fresh from a night of training, slung his laptop onto Gan Xingduo’s back to work.

“A bit hot, meow~”

Smack!

Li Jie slapped her, leaving a palm print, and commanded, “Don’t move!”

“Got it, meow~”

Gan Xingduo blushed deeply, biting her lip and holding on before tilting her head back, shouting, “I can’t hold on, meow~~”

Just as she was about to move, Li Laoye pressed her down, keeping her still. They were chatting with “Hot and Spicy Soup” at the moment.

“Crab brother, guess what? We got a notice during the day—we need to prepare for the matchmaking banquet on the third day of the third month!”

“What does that mean?”

“You know what it means! Young Master Yang has to find a wife!”

“Do you even know what you’re saying?”

“Same thing, alliance marriage, definitely alliance marriage!”

“Old Hu, listen to me—just leave quickly.”

“Crab brother, you have to come on the third day of the third month!”

“I’ll feed you a big banana!”

“…”

Old Hu sent Li Laoye a “disdain” emoji and said, “I can’t stay either. No more part-timers here; tomorrow they’re all replaced by their own people. Damn it, can’t even watch the fun. I was thinking of having Crab brother play ‘the guilty husband’ while Young Master Yang lies immobilized.”

“Old Hu, how come this illness hasn’t beaten you?”

“Get lost! It hasn’t relapsed for five years, huh!”

“Your mom, get lost!”

After exchanging insults, they ended their chat. Li Laoye closed his laptop abruptly, grabbed Gan Xingduo’s waist with both hands, and began their human replenishment plan.

No other choice—Yaoyao’s period hadn’t arrived, the hospital confirmed she had already completed the basic elements for a new human. The next nine months were all about nourishing the new life.

The “Innate Rice Worm Saint Body” little aunt, Gan Xingzhu, was now eager to conceive again under Gan Xingduo’s name.

That way, she could laze about, binge-watch videos, shop online, and let the day pass easily, meow~

“Love my master the most, meow~~”

“You little glutton, do you like your master’s cat toy?”

“Love it the most, meow~~”

(End of chapter)