While Su Jie was asleep, Xu Jiahong and the burly man returned to their car.
The big man remained silent, a red slap mark still visible on his face. Xu Jiahong’s entire body trembled slightly—whether from anger or fear was unclear.
“Ah Ding, who the hell is that kid? Your combat skills are already…” Xu Jiahong forced out the words.
“Skilled,” Ah Ding touched his face. “I never expected to run into such a formidable fighter here. It’s hard to believe.”
Xu Jiahong knew that Ah Ding’s fighting ability was among the best in the country. His training wasn’t in ring-based combat but in real-life bodyguard takedown techniques. He was a top-tier operative from the international security firm “Honey Badger”, having trained extensively in Israeli camps and mastered multiple martial arts—especially Krav Maga.
Xu Jiahong had personally witnessed Ah Ding take down seven or eight armed assailants single-handedly while protecting his father abroad, breaking their limbs with ruthless efficiency. Even professional MMA fighters lasted less than three seconds against him.
“What rank would that kid have in Honey Badger? Could he really compare to your elite operatives?” Xu Jiahong swallowed hard.
Honey Badger was a highly secretive foreign security corporation, its operatives all elite military-trained professionals serving the ultra-wealthy and even foreign governments. They operated in war zones, more shadowy than even Blackwater.
“His technique is still immature, lacking real combat experience—but his spirit is fierce, like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger.” Ah Ding’s eyes gleamed sharply. “If this weren’t a public place, I could’ve killed him with a dozen different methods. The top operatives in Honey Badger are leagues beyond him.”
Being knocked down by Su Jie’s Hoe Strike left Ah Ding deeply resentful.
“Next time we see that brat, don’t hold back!” Xu Jiahong said viciously. “No mercy.”
“I know my job,” Ah Ding narrowed his eyes. “In our line of work, as long as the target isn’t dead, the fight isn’t over.”
Xu Jiahong understood why the company was named Honey Badger. In the African savanna, the most fearless, aggressive, and relentless creature wasn’t the lion, the cheetah, or the hyena—it was the honey badger.
There were stories of a honey badger in a zoo that, after being roared at by a lion, spent days digging under the fence to fight it—and won. Another had taken on six lions and walked away unscathed. They treated venomous black mambas like snacks, casually munching on them.
Honey Badger operatives were similarly ruthless—utterly loyal to their employers and skilled in handling “delicate” tasks.
“My main mission is protecting you and helping you expand into S City’s market while securing the inheritance,” Ah Ding said. “Once that’s done, I’ll settle today’s score with that kid.”
“I don’t know what the old man was thinking, including that disgraceful woman in his will—the one who abandoned the family and eloped. And now she gets company shares? My father tracked her down and demanded she sign away her claim, but she refused!” Xu Jiahong’s eyes burned with murderous intent.
Ah Ding stayed silent. This was a classic inheritance feud.
The Xu family’s empire spanned manufacturing, finance, real estate, tech, and infrastructure—a sprawling dynasty with many heirs. The patriarch, now ill, had divided his estate, even allotting shares to his long-lost daughter. The current heirs were furious but couldn’t openly defy the will—so they resorted to pressuring her into relinquishing her rights.
“Ah Ding, how do I make this partnership with Haoyu Group work? I need a foothold in S City,” Xu Jiahong asked. “The younger generation’s competition is brutal. The old man didn’t leave us anything—we have to fight for ourselves. Damn it!”
“Feng Yuxuan knows this, which is why he’s keeping you at arm’s length,” Ah Ding mused. “You got close to Li Xiaozhen, but she’s not an easy target.”
“That b!tch! I spent so much money and effort on her, and she still won’t let me into her apartment—claims she has ‘psychological trauma’ and hates people invading her space. Always says she’s working late—probably servicing Feng Yuxuan in his office. I only slapped her after holding back for months, and then she goes out drinking and lets some random guy take her home?!” Xu Jiahong’s voice dripped with venom.
“You lost your temper. Everyone knows Feng Yuxuan’s reputation—his female assistants are never clean. But Li Xiaozhen is different. She’s his top aide, sharp in business. Her past boyfriends left her over rumors about Feng Yuxuan, but in reality, they’ve never crossed that line. Her father is friends with Feng Shoucheng. Feng Yuxuan wants her but won’t force it—losing her would hurt his operations, and his brothers would report him to their father.” Ah Ding advised, “You should apologize. She’s valuable—many of Haoyu’s business plans come from her.”
Grudgingly, Xu Jiahong dialed Li Xiaozhen’s number.
In Li Xiaozhen’s Apartment
Her phone rang as she took hangover pills, surveying the disaster of her home. Seeing the caller ID, she cursed and blocked the number.
“I thought Xu Jiahong was different, but he’s just like the rest,” she muttered. “My boss’s reputation ruins everything. But that boy earlier… why didn’t I mind him being here?”
Li Xiaozhen had severe psychological barriers—she loathed people entering her space, yet she never cleaned, leaving her luxury-filled apartment a dump. Yet with Su Jie, she’d felt no resistance.
Maybe it was the alcohol—or maybe it was his presence. Unbeknownst to her, Su Jie’s meditation and Great Corpse State training had honed his aura to a tranquil, commanding calm. His mental discipline neared mastery, rivaling even elite mentors like Odell.
“Ugh, this place is a pigsty.” She half-heartedly gathered trash before collapsing into bed. As sleep took her, she mumbled, “That kid… I’ll make him clean for me.”
Back in the Land Rover.
Xu Jiahong hurled his phone. “She blocked me!”
“Apologize in person. Swallow your pride—she’s worth it,” Ah Ding said. “Once you secure the inheritance, Feng Yuxuan will take you seriously. Haoyu Group dominates the market now.”
“Once the old man dies, the family will fracture. I need to grab what I can before my brothers take everything,” Xu Jiahong said coldly. “That kid earlier—he’s not involved with Li Xiaozhen. Probably just a decoy. No way he’s connected if he took the metro.”
“Sharp observation,” Ah Ding nodded. As both bodyguard and mentor, he approved.
“If Xu Ying won’t cooperate, we’ll force her. She left the family years ago—her fault the Zhangs cut ties with us, stalling our overseas expansion.” Xu Jiahong’s eyes darkened. “I heard a Zhang girl—Zhang Manman—is in S City. I’ll reach out.”
“Do it,” Ah Ding agreed. “The Zhangs have massive influence abroad. If your aunt Xu Ying hadn’t jilted Zhang Hongyuan, your families could’ve ruled together. Now, Zhang Hongyuan handles their finances, but the real power is Zhang Manman’s father—Zhang Hongqing. You might not know him, but I do. He’s one of Honey Badger’s two chief instructors. My Hung Gar? Learned from him.” (G: Hung Gar, also known as Hung Kuen or Hongjiaquan, is a prominent Southern Shaolin Kung Fu style.)
“Zhang Hongqing? How do you compare to him?” Xu Jiahong asked.
“Me?” Ah Ding laughed bitterly. “He could kill me before I even blink.”