Creak.
The door opened.
With dark circles under his eyes, Wang Yiyang stepped outside and saw Grandfather already training in the yard.
Grandfather practiced the Moon Sky Fist. His footwork and punches moved like a storm.
No matter how often Yiyang watched, the strikes always came from unexpected angles.
When the set ended, Grandfather exhaled a long stream of white breath. The housekeeper handed him a towel to wipe sweat.
"How about it? Want to try a set?" he called.
"No thanks. I'm not into it." Yiyang smiled and shook his head.
"A pity. Only with strong qi and blood can you stay sharp, keep the upper hand, and crush people at key moments." Grandfather's booming voice echoed across the yard.
"Master is right. Essence, energy, and spirit make a person. Essence shapes the world. Spirit influences others. Both are useful." Zhong Can had appeared at the edge of the yard, speaking calmly.
Yiyang glanced at him and felt a faint chill.
"Zhong Can is right," he said, humoring him.
Zhong Can's gaze drifted past him into the distance, hollow.
"In any fight, victory hurts both sides. Even when you crush someone, you might get hurt. I aim to win without fighting."
"Win without battle?" Yiyang mused.
"Yes. Those textbook campaigns that ride momentum—I can't do that. They draw on nature itself." Zhong Can's tone stayed even. "And I don't seek that."
"Then what do you seek?" Yiyang seized the chance.
"I want to shatter foes with spirit alone, crush their will with fear, and then—" He stopped when Grandfather barked.
"Enough!"
Grandfather's shout made the yard hum. The housekeeper went pale and almost dropped the towel.
"You still cling to that crooked path?!" Grandfather glared. His broad frame radiated the force of a bear.
Yiyang sensed the tension.
Clearly Grandfather disagreed with Zhong Can's martial path.
Zhong Can fell silent. For ten minutes he did not speak.
Yiyang and the now calmer Grandfather steered the talk elsewhere, though Yiyang kept sneaking glances at Zhong Can.
No one knew what lurked inside the man's mind.
When morning training ended, disciples trickled in.
Men and women alike, most over thirty, many running their own schools elsewhere.
They returned out of respect and old habit.
Gathering here also served as networking.
Yiyang hardly knew them, so he had little chance to speak with Grandfather.
Zhong Can grew busy as the others pulled him aside to discuss fighting.
With the attention on him, he stopped watching Yiyang, who felt relieved.
Seeing the crowd, Yiyang slipped out to stroll by the river on the right.
As a child he loved coming here to skip stones.
When he grew older and feared teasing, he simply walked.
Later he took to watching the ripples.
Ripples from different directions were like two nations at war.
He would guess which one would last longer.
If his pick lost, he kicked more stones in to help.
"What are you doing alone?" a voice asked behind him.
He stiffened and turned slowly.
Zhong Can stood there.
He smelled faintly of alcohol. His hands hung loose. He looked as if he had simply gone for a walk.
Yiyang steadied himself.
"Just walking after lunch. I've liked this place since I was a kid."
"You enjoy silence?" Zhong Can nudged a stone into the water with his foot.
"Sometimes. Helps me think," Yiyang said as calmly as he could. The man's approach raised gooseflesh on his arms.
He noticed Zhong Can's right hand slowly flexing.
"When do you leave? I'll see you off." Zhong Can spoke softly.
"No need. Stay with Grandfather. He's getting old," Yiyang replied gently.
Looking at this once mysterious senior brother, suspected of killing everyone in the previous life, he had a sudden thought.
"Zhong Can, have you considered that martial arts has limits? Only tech is endless."
Zhong Can frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I can tell you're troubled," Yiyang said steadily. "If no one understands your path, maybe—"
"What are you two talking about?" Grandfather returned, cutting him off.
"You leave tomorrow. Drink with me!" Grandfather gripped his shoulder and dragged him to the front hall.
Zhong Can stood alone, staring after him in silence.
After Grandfather set up another table, Zhong Can returned to his room, pulled out his phone, and sent a message.
"Come tomorrow." —Black Silkworm.
"Okay." —Da Da.
Grandfather poured Yiyang plenty of wine before letting him rest.
He stayed sober the whole time, wary of an attack.
Even so, Zhong Can made no move that night.
Just like in the previous life, he held back.
That gave Yiyang time.
At dawn Jain Safet reported that the entire squad was in place.
After breakfast Grandfather and Zhong Can accompanied him to the bus station.
He did not sense any intent to strike.
"Call me when you arrive," Grandfather told him at the bus door.
"Sure. It's only two hours." Yiyang waved from his seat.
Grandfather nagged a bit more before he and Zhong Can squeezed out with the crowd.
Once they left, Yiyang finally relaxed. Being near someone who could crush him barehanded was nerve-wracking.
Even with insurance, the distance had been too close.
Now they were far apart.
He exhaled and scanned the bus.
Passengers smoked, played on phones, or ate sliced fruit.
Kids begged for snacks from hawkers outside.
The driver wiped sweat with a faded white towel.
Only a third of the seats were filled.
He was lucky to get a window seat in the middle.
Two young women sat beside him playing a matching game on their phones.
Behind them a family of three fed their son some porridge-like food.
In front sat a fat man and two thin men. The fat one talked on the phone while the others played games.
He checked the time. Ten-oh-six.
Even number.
"You from Qiushang Industrial Park too?" one of the girls asked when she saw his park badge hanging from his mobile phone.
"Yeah. You too?" He looked at her, surprised.
She was in her early twenties.
She wore a white blouse and black business skirt with flesh-colored stockings. Her legs were pressed together from habit. Clearly she had just finished etiquette training.
On a ten-point scale she would score around seven.
Her features were fine, her nose high, her brows slim. Her skin was a bit rough, likely from a drier climate.
A white key fob dangled from her phone as well.
"Funny to meet a park mate on a random bus. Hi, which company?" she asked with a warm smile.
"Xinda Network. Small firm," he answered.
"We're right above you. I'm from Baiqiao Cosmetics. I'm Su Ling." She offered a handshake.
She was sick of gaming with her friend. Meeting someone from the same building felt like fate. She embraced the chance to chat.
She had come with her friend for a holiday.
They had heard Guixi Town's hot springs were great and had taken rare leave days.
After two days her company called her back for urgent business.
Though her supervisor promised compensation, being dragged from vacation still annoyed her.
"I'm Wang Yiyang. What brought you all here?" he asked.
"Hot springs and rest," she replied.
"The springs here are nice. Maple Leaf Hot Spring, White Crystal Hot Spring, Peak Mountain Hot Spring—all good."
He listed a few spots, comparing them casually.
Their chat drifted from Guixi Town to local products, then to Grandfather's dojo.
The moment they heard about the Moon Sky Martial Hall, Su Ling and the other girl lit up and asked for details.
In this era dojos were exotic.
Every answer he gave drew little gasps. The other girl pocketed her phone to join in.
Soon the three felt familiar.
The second girl, Yuan Shasha, had a baby face and petite figure. Without the business outfit she'd look like a high schooler.
She lived in Guixi Town. She returned to handle renovation paperwork for her family's old house.
While they chatted, a crisp ring came from his pocket.
He pulled out his mobile phone and checked the message.
"Director, a suspicious person is approaching you." —Jain Safet.
He noted the bus time. It would depart at ten-twenty. Four minutes left.
"Someone calling you?" Su Ling asked when she saw him checking the screen.
"No." He looked up with a calm face, suppressing his racing pulse.
So Zhong Can's allies were on him already.
He planned a quick reply.
Jain Safet's next message arrived.
"Do you want him eliminated?" —Jain Safet.
Eliminated?!
His heart thudded.
The cheat identity had felt abstract until now.
Jain Safet tossed out taking a life as if it weighed nothing.
"A suspicious target is within fifty meters. Should we use official channels or act covertly?" —Jain Safet.
Yiyang took a deep breath and leaned back.
"Capture him alive," he sent. "Keep it quiet. This is the Mien Federation, not the Maria Archipelago."
"Understood." —Jain Safet.
"Balance: 22,177,935 yuan."
He counted the digits. Tens, hundreds, thousands... over twenty million.
His hand trembled.
His entire company earned barely six million a year.
He alone had over twenty million in just this one account.
"And this is the smallest account... incredible."
His annual salary was a few tens of thousands. Seeing over twenty million made his breathing heavy.
He quickly logged into the other bank apps tied to the identity.
Every number was staggering.
Combined, the liquid assets topped two hundred million.
"And that's not counting stock or property..."
It felt like a gold mountain had hit him on the head.
He almost glowed.
"No. Calm down. Grandfather's case isn't solved. In one month this identity may bring huge trouble."
He remembered the system's warning.
Gains and risk came together.
"First, guard Grandfather. Keep watch on the Moon Sky Martial Hall. If anything happens, we act at once."
He sent orders for a protection team and more investigators to monitor Zhong Can.
Any suspicious move, and they would restrain him.
He had pushed this identity's resources to the limit for now.
If things went south again, he would be helpless.
He transferred one million into his personal account for daily use.
It was 3:15 p.m.
He had skipped lunch, so he went downstairs to the noodle shop for meat sauce noodles and ate quickly.
After paying he called a taxi to Qiushang Industrial Park.
On the way he told Jain Safet's squad to interrogate Da Da.
The professionals could handle it better than he could.
He also dispatched another team to guard the Moon Sky Martial Hall and others to dig into Zhong Can.
If anything changed, they would seize him first.
With these steps, he felt he had used the identity's power as much as possible.
If new problems arose, he could only improvise.
The taxi pulled up at the park gate.
He paid by phone and stepped out, looking at the office buildings with a strange feeling.
It had been only days, but now he was neck-deep in danger, rich beyond belief, the boss of elites.
It felt like a dream.
He shut the taxi door and walked toward his company like any other office worker.
Morning commuters carried bread or hot drinks.
Some read documents while chewing.
Phones rang nonstop.
Others sprinted to avoid being late.
He suddenly felt out of place.
Everyone rushed. Only he strolled like the janitor sweeping leaves.
He entered Building 5, where Xinda Network stood, and joined others in the elevator.
"Which floor?" a young man asked near the buttons.
"Five, thanks."
"Four!"
"Eight, please."
Voices called out.
The elevator hit the second floor and stopped for more riders.
Two women in business skirts rushed in with stacks of printouts.
One of them, with long brown hair, pale skin, and light makeup, spotted Yiyang.
She recognized him from her department but said nothing beyond a nod.
He nodded back.
She was An Yuxi, a long-time coworker. They were not close.
In the company she was one of the two prettiest women.
Many men secretly admired her.
Yiyang had once felt the same, but now he had no headspace for romance.
Ding. The elevator reached the fifth floor.
He and An Yuxi stepped out with two others while new riders filled the space.
He glanced back at the crowded car, feeling a twinge of nostalgia.
The workday routine he once disliked now felt bittersweet.
He swiped his badge at the check-in kiosk.
The wooden plaque by the door read: "Xinda Internet Co., Ltd."
No one greeted him. The receptionist, whom he knew from company dinners, yawned while touching up her makeup.
He followed the hall past two other small companies to the last door.
Inside, rows of cramped cubicles filled the open office. Keyboards clacked everywhere.
"You're back? Your vacation isn't over. Why return?" Someone patted his shoulder.
He turned to see Wang Dongning with a cup of milk tea and a folder.
"Go in. Why stand out here?" Dongning walked to his desk.
Yiyang followed. Their desks were next to each other. Along with Xie Xiaodan, they were the only close friends here.
He started packing his personal items without even turning on his computer.
He stuffed trinkets, a thermos, electric foot warmers, his own mouse, and a few comics into a plastic bag.
It took moments to clear the desk.
"I'm resigning. Let's grab lunch later? You and Xiaodan free?" he asked.
"Resigning?" Dongning stared. "You're doing well. Why quit? Your product is almost done!"
"Family issues. Can't help it."
"...You're walking away when success is near?" said a tall woman speaking with An Yuxi. She was Xie Xiaodan, their friend.
She had joined fresh out of grad school. Back then she handled odd errands and made many mistakes. Yiyang and Dongning had guided her through the probation period.
She was bold and loyal. With makeup and good fashion she had become one of the company's eye-catching women.
"You helped me so much back then. If you need anything, just say so," she said earnestly.
Yiyang smiled. "You were clumsy. If I'd sat further away, someone else would have helped."
Dongning's girlfriend, Zhou Haimei, worked at another company. He often saw them being lovey-dovey after work.
After inviting a few teammates to lunch as an apology for leaving the project, he headed to the supervisor's office to submit his resignation.
The supervisor accepted without argument, even handing him a non-compete agreement along with double compensation.
He returned to the hall, looking around the workspace.
He spent the rest of the morning finalizing handover documents while monitoring updates from Jain Safet.
The protection team reported all-clear, and the analysts sent him the first packets of info on Zhong Can and the Moon Sky Martial Hall.
Most of the data on Zhong Can was scant.
The dojo, however, had plenty of public records.
Grandfather was not low profile. He and his disciples competed often, giving the Moon Sky Martial Hall prestige in the fighting circle.
After reading everything, it was nearly noon.
He walked to the break area for some water, then waited in the hall.
The company bell chimed to mark lunch hour.
Soon, Xiaodan, Dongning, An Yuxi, and others gathered. In total, twelve people agreed to lunch.
Some were there for the food, others for the pretty coworkers.
He booked a private room at a restaurant called Zhu Lan and sent the details to a chat group Xiaodan created.
"Lunch on Yiyang! Let's order big," Dongning joked.
Yiyang waved. "Don't go overboard. Order freely."
"Why are you quitting? I saw the non-compete. Are you leaving the internet field?" a new hire asked.
"Not for now. Need time off," he said.
He poured red wine—428 yuan a bottle—to keep things polite. Since they had to work in the afternoon he chose something mild.
"Got anything you need help with?" Dongning asked once everyone had a drink. "If we can help, we will."
He lifted his glass.
"Nothing serious. You two get married soon and give us a baby to play with," Yiyang laughed, clinking glasses.
Dongning and his girlfriend stood, downed their drinks, and sat.
Xiaodan also raised her glass.
"I'm from Yingxing City. Call me if you need anything. I remember how you helped me back then," she said.
He clinked glasses with her too. "If another newbie breaks things all day and sits beside you, you'd help too."
The others laughed, easing the mood.
Yet Xiaodan's eyes were a little red. She clearly hated to see him leave; it was her first time saying goodbye to a coworker who mattered.
"Stay in touch," she insisted.
"I will. And by the way, I'm a local too," he added with a grin. "If you run into trouble, call me. Within this city, it's easy to fix most things."
His tone was calm yet steady, making it strangely believable.
"Look at our Yiyang sounding confident for once," she joked, wiping her eyes.
Nearby, Xia Ying—the wealthy coworker who drove a fifty-thousand car—glanced at him, thoughtful. An Yuxi also checked her phone, perhaps noting the same.
Before long, dishes arrived with elaborate names like "Soaring Dragon" and "Snowy Phoenix." They looked fancy despite simple ingredients.
Halfway through the meal, his phone blared a harsh alarm.
Even on silent the alert pierced the room until he dismissed it.
He excused himself and glanced out the round window.
A silver bulletproof sedan stopped outside. The rear window lowered, revealing a middle-aged man with a white beard in a gray suit and black tie.
The eagle-eyed man met Yiyang's gaze directly.
He recognized him at once from the implanted memories—Kesa Tiren, a rival executive from the Mister Pharmaceutical Group.
He silenced the alarm and headed for the door.
Bang!
The door swung open.
A blond man with slicked-back hair and sunglasses strode in, suit immaculate, muscles obvious beneath the fabric.
"Director Wang, Mr. Tiren requests your presence," the man said in Ereshan, Mister Pharmaceutical's main tongue.
No one else in the room understood the words.
Dongning eyed the stranger. "Friend of yours?"
"Yeah. Keep eating. I'll be back," Yiyang assured him, patting his shoulder.
He followed the man out while the other diners stared, stunned by the sudden appearance of a foreigner in a high-end suit.
"Was that an Ereshan dialect?" one colleague whispered.
"Looked like a tailor-made Korci suit," Xia Ying murmured. "The cheapest set is over fifty thousand."
An Yuxi's eyes widened. She lowered her gaze and sipped her drink, mind racing.