Liang Jiankong remained utterly unfazed, despite the impending sense of death and overpowering stench of blood. Meanwhile, Xu Qingyan was barely holding on.

“You should let the young lady catch her breath,” he remarked.

Ryuzaki reluctantly loosened his grip a bit, but he still kept Xu Qingyan under his control.

Xu Qingyan seized a brief moment to erupt into a fit of coughing. Her face reddened from a mix of oxygen deprivation and newfound vigor.

Liang Jiankong stated coldly, “Firstly, this young lady is not affiliated with us.”

Ryuzaki grinned slyly. “Is that so? I heard she’s your personal physician.”

Wang Jue raised an intrigued eyebrow as her gaze shifted to Xu Qingyan, her thoughts deepening.

Liang Jiankong chuckled softly. “Personal physician? No one who’s been that close to me has appeared.”

Ryuzaki wiped the smile off his face and took out a handful of photos from his pocket, scattering them in front of Liang Jiankong. 

Liang Jiankong, lounging casually with his long legs, glanced at the pictures. They were snapshots from their chance encounter at the night market. In these photos, they appeared to be standing unusually close and engaging in a lively conversation.

“Is this your evidence?” Liang Jiankong regarded him with a look that questioned his judgment. “This can only imply that she might be romantically involved with me, but it doesn’t confirm her affiliation with us.”

“Is there a difference?”

When Ryuzaki made this statement, a chorus of “Are you an idiot?” glances from those around him followed suit.

It was common knowledge that Liang Jiankong was an extraordinarily, exceptionally cautious and cunning individual. There were very few women even rumored to be romantically involved with him. Trying to dig up dirt in this regard was impossible. Even if there were one or two baseless speculations, they wouldn’t stand a chance of infiltrating the organization.

A woman who is chosen by Liang Jiankong to stay by his side and holds a significant position within the organization? Well…if the boss of the Woodland Gang, Li Tong, were to find out, he’d probably exclaim, “Why don’t you bring her here? My younger brother’s life could use a bit of excitement.”

The Japanese had clearly come prepared for this moment.

 “If she isn’t your woman, then why didn’t you get rid of her after she got close to you?” Ryuzaki asked with a cruel smile.

Liang Jiankong had a terrifying rule that made everyone shudder: no one was allowed to get too close to him. Consequently, he never had a regular personal physician.

A figure like him naturally didn’t lack female admirers. Initially, there were women with improper intentions who aimed to use their allure to seduce the formidable second young master of the Li family. However, after the first and second women inexplicably vanished, no one dared to employ their feminine wiles in front of Liang Jiankong ever again.

So, the fact that Xu Qingyan was still alive was nothing short of a miracle. Even Ah Bao was curious about this matter.

“Got close to me?”

“Lord Liang, you nearly lost your life not long ago, and isn’t it this lady who saved you?”

Liang Jiankong didn’t respond immediately. His momentary silence seemed like an acknowledgment, but Ah Bao sensed the gravity behind it, making his palms sweat.

Liang Jiankong’s expression remained stoic. Ryuzaki had expected some hint of surprise or anger in response to his statement, but there was none.

However, this statement had everyone in the Woodland Gang utterly astonished, especially with outsiders present.

Wang Jue and the members of the Wang faction had their own thoughts. The expressions on everyone’s faces varied. But one question weighed on everyone’s minds—who exactly was Xu Qingyan?

“Saved me? Where did you hear that?”

Indeed, the incident of Liang Jiankong being attacked in Nepal had been kept tightly under wraps, known by only a select few. So, when the Japanese man made such a statement, was he attempting to reveal his identity?

“There are no secrets in this world.” 

Ryuzaki then unveiled some surprising photos. These images showed Liang Jiankong being escorted from a small guesthouse in Nepal by Ah Bao. While the pictures weren’t crystal clear, Xu Qingyan’s silhouette standing beside Liang Jiankong could still be discerned.

After reviewing the photos, Liang Jiankong raised an eyebrow. “Can we really jump to conclusions just because she coincidentally appeared in the same picture as me? How does that link her to being close to me?”

Ryuzaki replied, “She is a doctor.”

It was obvious that, under those circumstances, Ah Bao could not be the one who performed surgery on Liang Jiankong.

Liang Jiankong paused, puzzled, and asked, “So, are you suggesting that I should have killed her?”

“Isn’t that the case?” Ryuzaki retorted.

“When did I, Liang Jiankong, need someone like you meddling in my affairs?” Liang Jiankong countered icily.

“Indeed, it was solely his choice to kill or spare. In the past, those who came too close to him either met their doom or vanished. It had become an unspoken norm that was universally acknowledged. 

Nevertheless, Liang Jiankong had never explicitly stated that anyone who approached him closely must face death. Otherwise, his personal bodyguards would be wiped out, rendering any new hires unnecessary. 

This boundary rested solely in Liang Jiankong’s hands, and no one else had the right to utter a word about it.

Ryuzaki hadn’t expected Liang Jiankong to be so ‘unconventional.’ He was momentarily surprised but pressed on, “So, you’re admitting she’s different.”

Ever since the day Liang Jiankong spared Xu Qingyan, she had become different. At least, Ah Bao had perceived it discreetly.

Yet, knowing something in secret and exposing it to the world were two entirely different matters. Ah Bao began to wonder if Liang Jiankong had contemplated ending Xu Qingyan’s life, particularly considering his ambiguous attitude towards her. His certainty began to waver.

“Then let’s hear what Dr. Xu has to say about whether I have any connection with her,” Liang Jiankong redirected the question toward Xu Qingyan.

This shifted everyone’s focus to the once seemingly insignificant hostage.

Initially, the brothers of the Woodland Gang were baffled. They couldn’t understand why this Japanese man was willing to go to such lengths for a seemingly unrelated woman. What was her importance to their gang? But now, it appeared that there might be some connection after all, and everyone’s demeanor had shifted accordingly.”

Xu Qingyan hesitated before speaking. She yearned to decipher something from the depths of Liang Jiankong’s eyes, but this man was an impenetrable fortress that never revealed his thoughts. 

Given her current situation and Liang Jiankong’s response, it was clear he did not wish to be affiliated with her. It was evident from the start when her fingers were about to be severed, not a single muscle in his face had twitched.

If she were irrelevant, then she might be nothing more than a disposable pawn in Ryuzaki’s hands, and Liang Jiankong wouldn’t bat an eye. But if she did matter…she feared that, even before Ryuzaki made a move, Liang Jiankong might opt to kill her.

n a matter of seconds, Xu Qingyan’s mind raced through countless possiblities. However, to everyone else, she appeared as nothing more than a frightened woman who had temporarily lost her ability to speak.

Liang Jiankong kindly reassured her, “Dr. Xu, don’t be afraid. You can speak up. If the worst happens, I’ll make sure your remains are taken care of.”

Xu Qingyan: “……”

Ah Bao: “……”

Wang Jue: “……”

Everyone else: “……”

Did Liang Jiankong really not care about Xu Qingyan’s life or death as he claimed?

Xu Qingyan didn’t have the audacity to think she held any special place in Liang Jiankong’s heart. She attempted to speak, but her throat throbbed in pain with every word.

In a hoarse voice, she uttered, “Mr Ryuzaki, let’s give up. We don’t stand any chance against them.”

Her statement left everyone, who had been speculating about various scenarios, utterly dumbfounded.

Xu Qingyan continued, “Your scheme has been exposed, and the assets have already been transferred. Liang Jiankong won’t be swayed by my predicament.”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Ryuzaki’s stoic facade finally crumbled. He seized Xu Qingyan by her hair, pulling her closer and glaring at her with narrowed eyes. He voice turned menacing, “You treacherous woman, how dare you accuse me of theft after stealing from me.”

He was speaking in Japanese, but everyone could figure it out. The situation took an unexpected turn. Liang Jiankong couldn’t help but let out a low whistle. Even Ah Bao had a “What the heck?” expression.

Xu Qingyan, upon seeing Liang Jiankong’s smile, knew she had made the right gamble.

So, she pressed on, “You had me play this role just to gain fame, but I don’t want to die here.”

“I won’t let you die,” Liang Jiankong finally stood up from his chair, looking rather pleased. “You’re an important witness for me.”

Ryuzaki’s expression had grown quite menacing. If it weren’t for his gun falling off during the brawl, he would have already taken Xu Qingyan’s life with a single shot.

Cheng Ran had once described Xu Qingyan as a crucial chess piece, or rather, a pawn who remained blissfully ignorant. She kept a low profile and remained oblivious to their operations. If she were suddenly apprehended, she’d probably put up a fight. If she claimed innocence and sought help from Liang Jiankong, no matter how many times he explained, it might not be enough.

Furthermore, there was no need for them to gather detailed evidence. Even a small weakness could prompt the Ryuzaki family to launch a brazen attack on the Woodland Gang, and the Cheng family’s forces would undoubtedly not stand idle.

Although they had been involved in various covert operations, nothing compared to the thrill of a full-blown confrontation.

Right now, Ryuzaki was in turmoil. He even began to suspect whether Xu Qingyan could be connected to Liang Jiankong.

Just then, Ah Bao received a phone call. After a brief conversation, he handed the phot to Liang Jiankong. Liang Jiankong, however, didn’t even glance at it and instead passed it on to Ryuzaki.

“Isn’t this a trivial matter? There’s no need to make it a big deal,” Liang Jiankong remarked. “I believe Lord Ryuzaki wouldn’t want you to be distressed here.”

Ryuzaki glanced at the caller ID, which displayed his father’s name. After a brief internal struggle, he reluctantly answered the call. The voice on the other end was not hushed. Lord Ryuzaki’s carried enough volume for those nearby to catch snippets of the conversation. As the call progressed, Ryuzaki’s expression shifted from initial grimness to a deathly pallor.

Incredulously, he lifted his gaze to meet Liang Jiankong’s eyes. This man, who had always been shrouded in a formidable darkness, now stared at Liang Jiankong as if he had encountered a demon. His eyes widened with disbelief.

“You can go now. I’ll spare your life,” Liang Jiankong stated flatly. 

After Ryuzaki dejectedly hung up the phone, Liang Jiankong nodded to Ah Bao, signalling him to intervene. Ah Bao promptly approached and whisked Xu Qingyan aside.

“Miss, I’ll be taking you back. There are plenty of questions we need to ask you,” 

“How did you find out?” Ryuzaki couldn’t believe it, even until the very end. He wondered when Liang Jiankong had taken control of everything.

Liang Jiankong didn’t hide a thing. “It all started two years ago when you approached me for a partnership. You played dirty, so don’t blame me for doing the same. Trying to have it both ways won’t work with me. I don’t know what promises Cheng Ran made to you, but if you try any tricks with me, I can assure you I have the means to spare your life just to make you pay for your actions.”

Two years ago… If, indeed, two years ago when Cheng Ran found them and started planning, Liang Jiankong had already seen through it all, then this man is truly terrifying.

“You never trust anyone,” Ryuzaki rsaid coldly upon realization, or perhaps he was saying this for the benefit of those present. “Who else would dare to work for you? At any moment, you might kill the person by your side, so who would dare to be loyal to you?” 

Just as the translator was about to speak, Liang Jiankong stopped him, “No need to translate this.”

Ryuzaki was taken aback, “You understand Japanese.”

Liang Jiankong just smiled enigmatically and then raised his hand, motioning for his men to clear a path.

Suddenly, Ryuzaki burst into laughter, conceding defeat this time.

As Ryuzaki walked away from the warehouse, Wang Jue, who had remained silent throughout the encounter, couldn’t resist asking, “I must say, you’re quite different from your usual self today.”

Liang Jiankong didn’t say much, replying casually, “I apologize for the disturbance today. Tomorrow, I’ll send a gift as an apology. I hope you’ll accept it.”

With that, he bid farewell to Wang Jue with a gentlemanly yet resolute demeanor before departing with his men. 

Wang Jue not only didn’t seem displeased but also accepted his apology quite cheerfully. However, as she watched Xu Qingyan’s retreating figure, her smile gradually faded.