The Next Day
As soon as everyone arrived at the studio, I walked straight into Yang Lianting's office uninvited.
He seemed very busy recently, always arriving half an hour early to type away on his latest Apple laptop. I had no idea what he was planning.
Seeing me enter, he closed his laptop. "What are you doing here?"
"Manager Yang, I have a question for you." I closed the door, walked to his desk, and lowered my voice. "Did Patong have any close friends here?"
Yang Lianting was taken aback. "You come in early just to ask me about a dead man?"
I raised an eyebrow. "What else? Do you think I'm here to ask when you can leave the park?"
"Alright, I don't know much about it since he was Liu Shiyi's bodyguard," Yang Lianting stood up and gestured for me to sit on the sofa.
"Fine, tell me everything you know. Otherwise, if they make a move first, I won't be able to clear the path for you."
I sat on the leather sofa, picked up a Brazilian cigar from the coffee table, and twirled it skillfully between my fingers.
"What's this? Hiding something from me?"
Yang Lianting gave a sly smile, sat down opposite me, and started boiling water to make tea.
"I don't drink tea in the morning, it hurts my stomach. Just tell me straight, don't beat around the bush. It's not good if Liu Shiyi sees us."
I put the cigar in my mouth and lit it, having no interest in sharing tea and idle chatter with him.
"Tea in the morning refreshes, quenches thirst, and reduces heat!"
Yang Lianting took out a delicate red tin box, grabbed some tea leaves, and put them in a purple clay teapot.
… Damn, I was speechless.
Once the water boiled, he brewed the tea and poured me a cup.
"What's wrong? Afraid Liu Shiyi will get jealous? Just try this top-grade Da Hong Pao!"
Jealous of what?
I twitched my lips, blew out a smoke ring, picked up the porcelain teacup, and blew on it. "Talk business, stop fooling around."
"Patong is Thai. I heard he trained under the brutal bodyguard school of Killer, and just dealing with that underground black boxing organization is enough trouble for you, not to mention his friends and brothers!
You killed him, and his people will definitely not let you off. That's why Professor Ace sold you into black boxing in advance, then used the video of you killing Patong to multiply the stakes by hundreds of times!"
"Get to the point. Do they have ways to come to Myawaddy to seek revenge on me?"
Yang Lianting sipped his tea and smiled. "Naive! Patong being Liu Shiyi's bodyguard proves that Killer's bodyguard school has an interest chain connected to the military advisor here."
I put down the teacup. "You mean Killer's Thai bodyguard team has people here protecting the military advisor?"
"Of course, there's definitely more than one. Others didn't avenge him because they don't want to offend Liu Shiyi or Professor Ace. After all, you're their hottest money-maker now.
Do you really think Professor Ace will take you away after the match? Dream on! He'll take you to Thailand and sell you to Killer for a huge sum of cash. Then your end..."
Even without Yang Lianting spelling it out, I could guess my fate.
That bastard Ace would definitely do everything to make me win the match, making him a fortune. Then, pretending to recommend me as a bodyguard for the military advisor, he'd trick me into Thailand for Patong's school to avenge.
Of course, this is all my speculation, but it's close to the truth. My current situation is dangerous, with the possibility of being killed anytime.
For instance, Professor Ace's rivals would definitely try to eliminate me, his bargaining chip. It's just a matter of time.
"Do you know Killer's underground organization? On the surface, they're a legitimate bodyguard school, but secretly, their mercenaries, thugs, gray bodyguards, and black boxing tools are spread all over Southeast Asia.
Some even serve in Europe and America. Although China doesn't allow such gray industries, it doesn't mean some bigwigs don't have such bodyguards.
For example, Mr. Ning!" Yang Lianting lit a cigar and continued.
I had never heard of Killer's underground organization, which shows how out of the loop I am.
It wouldn't be surprising if Mr. Ning had Killer's people in his private armed forces, given that Liu Shiyi is his lackey. So, Liu Shiyi kept it from me.
Patong's brothers didn't act yet, likely due to pressure from Mr. Ning, but it doesn't mean they won't strike forever!
"How many Killer bodyguards are in KK Park? I've only seen two black men around Mr. Ning, never any Thais."
I put down the cigar and drank two more cups of tea. He was right; tea in the morning does quench thirst and clear the mind!
Just not sure if the tea water was from the Mekong River…
"How could Mr. Ning tell you? There should be no Killer members in the park; the military advisor would prevent others from serving as bodyguards to avoid trouble.
There should be some in the military; Mr. Ning's armed forces must have a few. Including Professor Ace's bodyguard team, there must be Killer members. They only serve wealthy and powerful bigwigs and not the same bigwig in the same park."
Yang Lianting only knew this much because his former boss wanted to hire Killer bodyguards but was rejected.
The reason was that only one bigwig in KK Park could hire them unless Patong was fired or died.
So, this mysterious underground organization made a fortune with a good reputation and credibility.
Their people, serving as bodyguards for bigwigs, charged high prices and enjoyed special treatment.
This was evident from Patong, though he was just the tip of the iceberg.
Mr. Ning didn't have any Thais with him that day, likely to avoid clashing with me and affecting his overall plan.
Truly a shrewd businessman!
Every step he takes is calculated.
After thinking it over, I decided to tell him, "Mao Dinglun secretly contacted Killer. They should come to Myawaddy in the next two days to settle accounts with me!"
"What?" Yang Lianting was stunned. "They're coming so soon, and it coincides with the arrival of the offshore medical ship..."
He put down his teacup and frowned, pondering something.
"Right, could someone be deliberately causing trouble or targeting me?"
"Probably aiming at Professor Ace, wanting to kill you first to cause him great economic loss, then collectively force him out. He has always been too high-profile, offending many people in private, including local warlords and wealthy men."
Wasn't he planning to flee with the money?
Killing me wouldn't affect him much, or he had anticipated this step!
I couldn't help but take a cold breath. Terrifying, being led by the nose all along, and I thought I could escape their clutches.
How ridiculous!