Chapter 80: The Despicable Rogue Thief

Longhai Garden, Villa No. 03.

Villa No. 03 sprawled over thirty acres of land. If you were to erect some walls around its perimeter, it would be nothing short of a fortress.

One had to admit, Lin Guang’s vision for Longhai Garden was truly unique and irresistibly attractive. Although it sat at some distance from the center of Tianhai City and the area surrounding Longhai Garden was somewhat desolate, the prospect of possessing such a vast private domain, still within the bounds of Tianhai, was enough to drive countless people mad with desire.

He Tian drove his car into Longhai Garden.

He had barely exited the garage when Lan Ji was already waiting for him.

"Everything all right?" He Tian got out of the car and looked at Lan Ji.

"All is well. I spent the day accompanying Xinrou to school, and then we checked in on the company as it’s being renovated," Lan Ji replied with a smile. "It’s just that I’m still not quite used to this kind of life."

"You’ll get used to it in time," He Tian reassured her, patting her shoulder. "There will be more people arriving soon, all like you... I need more helping hands."

"He, the King of Soldiers... I want to know who you really are," Lan Ji hesitated slightly before speaking in a soft voice.

"Is that so important to you?" He Tian looked at her with some surprise.

"Curiosity, that’s all," Lan Ji bit her lip.

"Lan Ji," He Tian placed both hands on her shoulders, fixing his gaze on her. "Are we at the point where we can trust each other with our backs?"

"Yes," Lan Ji replied without a trace of hesitation.

"Then isn’t that enough? There’s no need to know too much. All you need to know is that I trust you with my life... Ours is a bond forged in life and death," He Tian said with a smile. "Everything else is unimportant."

"All right, I take back my question," Lan Ji shrugged.

"Lan Ji!" He Tian called after her as she turned to leave. "It’s not that I don’t want to tell you—it’s just that it wouldn’t do you any good to know. Surely you understand."

"King of Soldiers... I understand," she replied, smiling.

"And remember," He Tian's face took on a stern look as he glared at her. "Don’t call me that again."

"Got it!" Lan Ji stuck out her tongue, unexpectedly revealing a girlish side. "I’ll go see how Chen Long and the others are doing."

He Tian was momentarily stunned.

He recalled how, in the past, when Lan Ji expressed her feelings for him, she had been brash and direct—declaring her affection without reservation. Back then, she had been a mercenary living on the edge, not a woman in the traditional sense. But now...

"Can the environment really change a person so quickly?" He Tian had never doubted the environment’s power to change people, but seeing someone like Lan Ji transform so rapidly was a surprise even to him.

"You’re finally back!" Wang Xinrou was in the living room, watching the television that spanned the wall like a cinema screen.

The moment she saw He Tian, Wang Xinrou leapt up and ran to his side.

"What’s this? We were only apart for a day and you missed me so much already?" He Tian teased her with a smile.

"Oh, please, don’t flatter yourself! It’s just that I went a whole day without martial arts practice..." Wang Xinrou rolled her eyes, grabbed He Tian’s hand, and pulled him outside. "There are a few things I don’t get. They feel awkward—come take a look!"

"So studious? All right, show me your routine," He Tian approved of her enthusiasm.

From the third floor, Wang Xinmeng and Uncle Hu watched the scene below. Wang Xinmeng sighed, "Uncle Hu, look at my little sister—she’s getting addicted!"

"Miss, the second young lady really is gifted in this area. It’s a pity I have little left to teach her. But He Tian is different... What he’s teaching her now is truly exquisite—even I am interested," Uncle Hu said with a gentle smile.

"You’re interested too? Uncle Hu, are you saying you’re no match for He Tian?" Wang Xinmeng looked at him in surprise.

She had seen Uncle Hu in action—over the past three years, he had protected her from countless troubles. She had always thought of him as a true master.

Although He Tian’s ability to alter his appearance at will already hinted at his extraordinary skill, Wang Xinmeng had never considered that He Tian might surpass even Uncle Hu.

"I’m an old man—my abilities are waning, while He Tian’s are still on the rise. We’re simply not on the same level," Uncle Hu replied, not directly answering her question, but rather, sighing with emotion.

Uncle Hu was an old hand from the Dragon Group.

His entire life, with all its storms and hardships, had been dedicated to the Dragon Group. Now, as he voiced such sentiments, the flood of memories brought a wave of nostalgia.

"Uncle Hu, you’re not old at all! Can't you stay?" Wang Xinmeng already knew that Uncle Hu was leaving.

After three years together, the prospect of separation filled her with deep reluctance. Over these years, Uncle Hu had come to be like family to her.

"With He Tian here, you can rest easy. As for me, I have another mission. I won’t give up investigating your father’s original workplace, nor will I give up the search," Uncle Hu said gravely. "You must remember: my departure is only for the sake of further investigation."

Wang Xinmeng gazed out at the distant sea, listening to the ceaseless sound of the waves. After a long while, she turned to Uncle Hu and said, "I will choose to forget selectively, and leave everything in your hands. But... I hope you can find a clue as soon as possible."

"Miss, we will all do our best! I believe that no matter who it is, no one can hide their tracks forever," Uncle Hu said in a low voice. "In this world, nothing can remain a secret forever."

Wang Xinmeng nodded, her eyes turning to the night sky. The stars glittered above, and she searched for the one that belonged to her father.

———

He Tian stood at the window, gazing out at the distant sea.

Night had fallen.

All was silent.

Yet He Tian frowned slightly.

A sound came from the computer.

He Tian strode over and sat down.

A new email.

He Tian opened it, memorizing the set of coordinates within.

Quickly, he entered the coordinates into the computer and a series of images appeared on the screen.

With a gaze sharp as a hawk’s, He Tian scanned the images.

At last, he replied to the email.

Three days.

In his inbox, there were five other messages.

These were replies to the five summons he had sent.

They would arrive in Tianhai within three days.

Given the timing, today was already the second day.

They would be here soon.

But of the six people, only five would make it safely.

The last one had run into trouble.

"Damn it!" He Tian cursed fiercely as he realized the predicament.

Myanmar.

Yes, Myanmar is a small nation.

But it is blessed with abundant jade resources.

And unlike China, its power is fragmented—each faction tied to the government in its own way.

That bastard—yes, that rogue codenamed Kamikaze—had done the unthinkable. He had stolen the prized jade treasure from the country’s most powerful warlord.

All right, Kamikaze had said that the enormous, high-grade jade gem was worth no less than five hundred million US dollars.

He Tian understood that such a prize would be irresistibly tempting to a professional thief like Kamikaze.

So, his actions were not entirely unjustified.

But to have been surrounded in the jungles of northern Myanmar after the theft—now, that was unforgivable.

And, to make matters worse, he was injured.

What truly exasperated He Tian was this: if not for the timely summons email, that scoundrel, who was a genius in communications technology and could maintain contact from even the depths of the jungle, wouldn’t even have thought to ask He Tian for help.

To He Tian, that was an original sin—unforgivable.

Yet, He Tian could not stand by and do nothing.

This was a thief with whom he had shared life-and-death experiences—a most intriguing companion.

He Tian could not abandon him.

But at the same time, he could not simply leave Tianhai behind.

So, he gave Kamikaze three days to hold out.

He Tian did not doubt that Kamikaze could last three days—thirty, even, and still not be caught.

Yet, being hunted through the primeval forest was no pleasure.

He wanted Kamikaze to calm down over those three days—and learn his lesson.

Only when the rest of his summoned people arrived in Tianhai could He Tian set out.

They did not know each other, and He Tian did not wish to see them running wild and unchecked in Tianhai.

Heaven help him—if left unsupervised, the chaos they would cause would be unimaginable.

Seated at his computer, He Tian sent out an urgent summons. He needed them to hurry.

———

Myanmar, primeval forest.

Myanmar, with its mountainous terrain, is covered in ancient forests.

Even in modern times, some forests remain untouched, full of danger and unpredictability.

A young man.

Yes, a young man—though he was already thirty, he looked no older than fifteen or sixteen.

He had the face of a delicate, almost doll-like youth.

It seemed the passage of time could not touch his features.

There was something innately appealing and pure about him.

But if you were fooled by his appearance—well, congratulations. You’d best not have any valuables on you, because if you did, soon enough, they’d be his.

His name was Kamikaze—a thief known only by his code name.

He moved through the jungle like a ghost, evading one danger after another.

Even the deep of night posed him little trouble; he was like a spirit of the darkness.

Hiding behind a massive boulder, armed with a specially designed satellite communicator linked to a major nation’s relay, Kamikaze saw He Tian’s reply.

"My dear boss... three days."