Dongrong Villa.
According to rumors, it was built by a former boss of an underground force.
It was private property.
And at this moment,
outside Dongrong Villa, over a dozen men stood guard with serious expressions. Inside the villa grounds, by a European-style mansion, there was a swimming pool.
More than a dozen girls in swimsuits, all with excellent figures and looks, were talking, laughing, and playing in the water.
It was a stunning sight.
Anyone who saw it would likely find their gaze lingering on the scenery in the pool.
After all, no one would miss the sight of 'balloons' bobbing on the water.
By the poolside,
two men in beach shorts sat on lounge chairs, sipping red wine, their moods shifting between laughter and seriousness.
"Brother, I truly didn't expect a full ten years to pass in a flash," sighed the man on the lounge chair, his body covered in knife scars and even the pitted marks of bullet wounds.
He was already fifty years old, but the aura of menace around him was palpable.
Yang Tianhao.
Jiangcheng's number one underground force boss.
Also the man who once caused hundreds of deaths across Jiangcheng in a single night.
"Killing without blinking," "demon"—these were all labels he once wore.
Yang Tianhao smiled at the young man beside him. "These ten years, your big brother has built something here. Now that you're back, I can offer you some protection."
"In Jiangcheng, if you run into any trouble you can't handle, you must call me."
"I still carry a bit of weight."
He wasn't boasting. To have laundered a past with such a terrifying body count, he indeed had the capability.
The young man next to Yang Tianhao had a close-cropped, military-style haircut. His features were sharp and carried an air of calm composure.
The protagonist: 'Flat-top Brother' Ye Fan.
Ye Fan smiled. "Big brother, I didn't come back this time to kill anyone."
"I'm just here to see the country."
In the original story, Ye Fan had once saved Yang Tianhao on a Middle Eastern battlefield.
Back then, Yang Tianhao had gone abroad to the Middle East to lay low from heat in China, choosing a place where he wouldn't be easily tracked down.
But as luck would have it,
the region he was in happened to erupt into war.
Thus, Yang Tianhao found himself caught in the crossfire.
He was even shot three times.
In the end, if he hadn't run into Ye Fan, who was there on a contract, his life would have ended right there in the Middle East.
So, Yang Tianhao, a man who valued loyalty and brotherhood, kowtowed and swore brotherhood with the then 16-year-old Ye Fan, becoming unlikely sworn brothers.
At the time, Ye Fan was already making a name for himself in the mercenary group founded by his master.
With his exceptional martial arts skills, he quickly rose to become the leader of that mercenary group.
It was on the battlefield that Ye Fan began his journey onto the world stage.
Yang Tianhao stayed with his mercenary group for nearly two years, only returning to China after the heat had died down.
But upon his return, his first wife absconded with his entire fortune, worth hundreds of millions.
Forced to start from scratch,
over the next eight years, Yang Tianhao successfully went legitimate, securing a significant share in Jiangcheng's entertainment and real estate industries.
In the book, Yang Tianhao played a substantial role.
Whenever Ye Fan encountered significant problems he couldn't handle personally, he would leave them for Yang Tianhao to deal with.
Moreover, Yang Tianhao's influence was not to be underestimated.
He laid an unshakable foundation for Ye Fan's vast future empire.
Only...
when enemies eventually came seeking revenge, Yang Tianhao was killed. The young wife and mistress he left behind were both 'taken care of' very well by Ye Fan.
Even his daughter fell in love with her 'good uncle.'
All under the noble pretext of letting his big brother rest in peace while he looked after the family.
"Brother Yang, this time I'm back, I want to try starting a business. After all, I am from the Dragon Kingdom. I can't drift abroad forever," Ye Fan said seriously.
Hearing this, Yang Tianhao laughed heartily. "Hahaha!"
"What 'starting a business'? I should give you half of everything I have. Just take what's already here."
Yang Tianhao felt no attachment to these worldly possessions.
Of course, this generosity was limited to his good brother Ye Fan.
Anyone else wouldn't get a single cent from him.
Ye Fan chuckled and shook his head. "That's your empire, Brother Yang. I need to build something of my own."
"These are your things. How could I covet them?"
His attitude earned a thumbs-up from Yang Tianhao.
"Brother, say no more. Just for saving my life, giving you half is no big deal."
"No," Ye Fan refused firmly.
Seeing his resolve, Yang Tianhao didn't press further.
But inwardly, his respect for Ye Fan grew.
Truly worthy of being my sworn brother.
I must find a way to repay him properly.
"Brother Ye, where are you staying in Jiangcheng now? Want to move in with your big brother?" Yang Tianhao asked.
He felt completely at ease with Ye Fan.
The man was capable, loyal, and righteous. Having him live here alone was far more reliable than hiring twenty bodyguards.
Ye Fan smiled. "I'm staying with the Bai family, studying under my master's arrangements."
He had no reason to hide it.
After all, this big brother was reliable and knew how to keep secrets.
Yang Tianhao pondered. "The Bai family... Tsk, the Jiangcheng Bai family?"
"Impressive."
"Really didn't expect you to have that kind of connection."
Yang Tianhao sighed. "That's true. Being with the Bai family is much better than being here with me."
Although he didn't know who Ye Fan's master was, he was well aware of just how formidable his brother's skills were.
Just the abilities he was aware of were enough to strike fear into the hearts of the world's wealthiest.
It was beyond comparison with a local force like his own.
Setting aside his thoughts, Yang Tianhao glanced at the women in the pool and grinned suggestively. "Brother Ye, let's take a swim first."
"Your sister-in-law and niece won't be back until tomorrow. Let's have some fun."
"I specially gathered these for you."
The 'beautiful skeletons' filling this pool were all top-tier talents from the entertainment businesses under his name.
Each one scored at least an 8 in looks.
Looking at the pool full of women, a flicker passed through Ye Fan's eyes. "Big brother, this... isn't really appropriate, is it?"
He cultivated the Pure Yang Technique, which tended to stoke his internal fire.
Sometimes he did choose to 'release the fire.'
However, his usual partners were international supermodels or starlets.
Yang Tianhao waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing inappropriate about it! Have fun!"
"Then let's swim together, brother. We can talk business tomorrow."
"Hahaha, good!"
2:10 AM.
In a mid-to-low-end residential complex.
Bang bang bang!
"Open up in there! This is a room check!"