Kong Zixiong's screams echoed through the building, loud enough to be heard by Yang Ce in his office on the forty-ninth floor.
"Was that Kong Zixiong's scream just now? What's going on?" Yang Ce asked, looking at the six-fingered man in black standing to his right, a look of alarm on his face.
The six-fingered man, having also heard the Kong brothers' cries, wore an expression of surprise similar to Yang Ce's. However, knowing Yang Ce detested the word "don't know," he stepped forward and offered, "Your Highness, I'll go see what the situation is."
"Alright—" Yang Ce suppressed his annoyance and nodded, gesturing for the man to go.
However, before the six-fingered man could leave the office, Yang Ce spoke again, "Never mind, I'll go myself." Yang Ce was puzzled why the receptionist hadn't brought his son up yet and decided to wait a bit longer. But Kong Zixiong was a young master from the Kong family in Longdu, a person of considerable importance. If anything were to happen to him at the Baima Club, Yang Ce would find himself in a predicament akin to Xu Qian in the Three Kingdoms period, who tried to curry favor with Cao Cao by leveraging Cao Song, only to become a laughingstock as the man died and the city changed hands.
Five minutes later, Yang Ce, accompanied by the six-fingered man and over a dozen subordinates, arrived at Kong Zixiong's room on the twenty-eighth floor of the hotel. Upon entering, they found that Shen Lang and Yu Xiao had already departed at some point, leaving only Kong Zixiong lying on the floor.
"Young Master Kong, what happened?" Yang Ce's expression changed drastically as he saw Kong Zixiong on the ground.
However, Kong Zixiong had already fainted and could not answer.
"Your Highness, Young Master Kong's eyes are bloodshot, and he's bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It appears he has consumed an excessive amount of aphrodisiacs," the six-fingered man stated gravely after examining Kong Zixiong.
"What? Overdosed on aphrodisiacs?" Yang Ce was taken aback. It wasn't unusual for Kong Zixiong, a notorious lecher whose body had been weakened by his indulgences, to need aphrodisiacs for stimulation. But how could such an experienced individual end up in this state from an overdose?
At this moment, the six-fingered man spoke again, his voice filled with surprise, "Your Highness, there's a new discovery. Young Master Kong not only took aphrodisiacs but also a potent love potion." A love potion, a drug meant to incite female desire. Hearing this, Yang Ce's face turned ashen. He believed that no matter how foolish or lustful Kong Zixiong was, he wouldn't consume a love potion meant for women.
As Yang Ce was racking his brain for an explanation, his phone rang. It was the female receptionist. "Mr. Yang... just now... the person who claimed to be your son... he was impersonating someone... he knocked me out in the elevator and went to the hotel on the twenty-eighth floor to find Young Master Kong."
It all made sense now. Yang Ce finally understood. The person had come to rescue that girl, Yu Xiao. However, instead of calling the police or storming in, they had employed a cunning tactic: impersonating Yang Ce's son, convincing the receptionist to call Yang Ce, and gaining his permission to enter the building unimpeded. Once in the elevator, the individual had knocked out the receptionist and proceeded directly to the twenty-eighth floor to find Kong Zixiong.
As Yang Ce pieced together the events, he felt no relief, only a prickle of fear that made the hairs on his back stand on end. Yang Ce had never brought his son, Yang Junlin, to public events, nor had he ever told anyone about having a son. Yet, this person had discovered Yang Junlin's existence and, by impersonating him, had successfully tricked the receptionist and Yang Ce himself into allowing them into the building. As for how they easily found Kong Zixiong's room, it was not difficult to surmise. If they could uncover the existence of Yang Junlin, finding out where Kong Zixiong was staying would be trivial.
Terrifying. Utterly terrifying. Large beads of sweat formed on Yang Ce's forehead, and his face was a mask of distress. He realized that a formidable individual had emerged in Nanling, someone he had never detected. However, Yang Ce couldn't comprehend how Yu Lao Gou, a mere gambler, and his ordinary high school daughter could be connected to such a person.
Before he could ponder further, the six-fingered man spoke with a grave expression, "Your Highness, Young Master Kong's condition is critical. He must be taken to the hospital immediately." He paused, then added, "There's something you need to be prepared for: he simultaneously consumed a potent aphrodisiac and a love potion. Even if he survives without succumbing to a ruptured vessel and bleeding from all seven orifices, his reproductive organs may need to be removed."
"What?" The words sent a wave of dizziness through Yang Ce. He had tried to snatch a chicken but ended up losing the rice, getting into serious trouble.
Yang Ce forcibly suppressed his anger and said, "Send him to the hospital, quickly! At least save his life."
"Yes—" Hearing Yang Ce's command, the six-fingered man immediately waved his hand. Several subordinates hurried forward, lifted Kong Zixiong, and began to carry him towards the door. The six-fingered man intended to follow, but Yang Ce stopped him. "Six-fingered, you go and review the surveillance footage. We must find the culprit. The Kong family's wrath must be quenched with his blood."
"Understood—" The six-fingered man nodded and, with a few subordinates, left the room.
After everyone else had departed, Yang Ce looked out the window, his eyes filled with dread. Fifteen years ago, he was a petty hoodlum with only seven or eight followers, making a meager living by exploiting a group of disabled children to beg. One day, he encountered a fortune teller who gave him a prophecy: "Fifteen years of dominance, death and an end to your lineage." The fortune teller told him that for fifteen years, no matter what he did, he would succeed. He would build his own empire and become a fearsome overlord. But after fifteen years, he would not only die but also have no descendants.
Initially, Yang Ce dismissed the prediction. But over time, he truly found his luck to be extraordinary. Anything he set his mind to, he achieved with ease; anything he desired, he obtained without effort. His life unfolded like a cheat code, smooth and unstoppable, a meteoric rise from a small-time hoodlum with a handful of men to the feared King of Nanling, commanding respect in both legitimate and illegitimate circles. Yet, the more successful he became, the more fearful and uneasy Yang Ce grew. The fortune teller's words from years ago became more deeply etched in his memory. Especially with today's events, the exposure of his long-hidden son, Yang Junlin, Yang Ce was becoming convinced that the fortune teller's prophecy would come true.
"No, it won't happen. That fortune teller was a fraud. His words will never come true." Yang Ce's face contorted from his usual refined demeanor to a savage snarl as he roared, "I am now the King of Nanling, feared by both sides of the law. With strong forces and vast wealth, who can kill me? Who can ensure my lineage ends?" However, as Yang Ce spoke, his hands and feet trembled violently, a fact he likely didn't even notice.