Chapter 13 — Fake Lover Turns Out to Be Fiancee

The thick file fell onto the glass table, breaking the silence of the office on the top floor. Three days after receiving the investigation order, Luong Khac Binh's assistant returned with a face showing confusion and surprise, his hands still shaking a bit because he couldn't believe what he was about to report.

"Sir, we have searched everywhere, but the man who accompanied Ms. Duong Gia Khue left almost no traces in the system. No household registration, no previously registered citizen identification card, no bank account, no social network, completely like a person who just appeared from nowhere." The assistant reported, his voice somewhat reserved because he knew this was not what Luong Khac Binh wanted to hear.

Luong Khac Binh frowned, tapping his fingers on the tabletop in a thoughtful rhythm. "An adult living in this era without leaving any administrative trace, it is almost impossible, unless..."

"Unless that person has never lived in normal society before." The assistant continued, then pulled out another piece of paper from the file. "Sir, I asked an old acquaintance, who was active in the underground martial arts world many years ago, to look at the video recording of the battle at the warehouse. This person confirmed that the moves the other man used, especially the way of acupuncture points and movement techniques, were identical to an ancient sect that the underground martial arts world still spreads about, called Tieu Dao Coc."

"Tieu Dao Coc?" Luong Khac Binh repeated the strange name, never heard of it in his entire business life.

"It is a small sect, hidden on a remote mountain, that has almost disappeared from the sight of modern gangsters for many years. My acquaintance said, about twenty-five years ago, this sect had a big battle with another organization called the Black Wind Gang, and Tieu Dao Coc won, causing the Black Wind Gang to suffer heavy losses and almost disband." The assistant explained, his voice a bit hesitant because he also found this story unbelievable.

Luong Khac Binh stood up, walked to the window, and began to think in his mind. As a successful businessman, he did not believe in myths about martial arts, but the actual evidence of Bach Dang's extraordinary fighting ability forced him to seriously consider this possibility.

"The Black Wind Gang, if they had lost such a humiliating battle, they would still hold grudges to this day." Luong Khac Binh muttered, an idea gradually forming in his mind. "Find out if the organization still exists, and if so, who is in charge."

"I'll have someone find out right away, sir. But sir, what do you plan to do with this information?" The assistant asked, his voice cautious.

"The enemy of my enemy is sometimes the best ally." Luong Khac Binh replied, the corner of his mouth curled up into a cold, calculating smile. "If the Black Wind Gang still holds a grudge against Tieu Dao Coc, and that man is the only descendant of that sect, perhaps I don't need to personally deal with him. Just revive the old feud and let them resolve it among themselves."

The assistant nodded, quickly wrote down the instructions, then retreated from the room to begin the search for the remnants of the Black Wind Gang, an organization that seemed to have sunk into oblivion but now has a chance to rise again thanks to the cold calculation of a businessman willing to do anything to protect his interests.

Meanwhile, not far away, not a single clue about the plans just outlined on the opponent's side reached their ears, Bach Dang and Gia Khue were still busy with plans to build a new herbal supply chain. That afternoon, while reviewing the test results of the first herbal sample from Vo Danh Mountain together, Tang Bao Tran hurriedly ran into the office, his face clearly showing worry.

"Miss Khue, I just received a strange call. A male voice said he wanted to meet Mr. Bach Dang, saying there was something important related to his past." Bao Tran reported, her voice trembling. "That person spoke very strangely, used many archaic words, and addressed him in unusual ways."

Bach Dang and Gia Khue looked at each other, both feeling a vague premonition of insecurity spreading. "Did that person leave a phone number or location?" Bach Dang asked, his voice becoming more serious.

"Yes, that person said he would wait in the central park tomorrow night, alone, not to call the police or bring anyone else." Bao Tran replied, her hands still shaking because of the threatening way the caller spoke.

Bach Dang pondered for a long time, premonitions about a danger related to the sect's past gradually forming clearly in his mind. Since childhood, his master had told him about the old feud with an organization called the Black Wind Gang, although he never went into detail, only told him to always be vigilant if one day he encountered remnants of that organization.

"Perhaps, this is what my master warned me about before going down the mountain." He said, his voice low and serious.

Gia Khue held his hand tightly, her eyes filled with worry. "You're not going there alone, are you? That sounds like a trap."

"I have to go." Bach Dang replied, his voice resolute. "If this is truly related to the sect's old feud, I cannot hide. But don't worry, I will be careful."

Gia Khue looked at him, her fingers tightening on the handle of her bag until they turned white. The story between them, she felt very clearly, was about to enter a completely different chapter, much more complicated and dangerous than what she had imagined when she first pulled this strange man in to pretend to be her boyfriend in front of a luxury restaurant.

That evening, Bach Dang called Mr. Duong Khac Nguyen to report the news, recounting the entire incident of the strange and menacing call. After listening, his voice became unusually serious.

"Black Wind Gang..." He repeated that name, his voice full of nostalgia and anxiety. "I've only heard brother Huyen Van mention this organization once, a long time ago, when he was not yet the sect leader. He said it was a brutal organization, specializing in using nefarious tricks to achieve its goals, and had caused many evil things in the martial arts world before being defeated by Tieu Dao Coc."

"Do you know why there was a battle between the two sects then?" Bach Dang asked, wanting to learn more about the root of the feud he was about to face.

"I've only heard about that story, not very detailed. It seems that the Black Phong Bang at that time intended to forcibly take over a village at the foot of Mount Vo Danh as a place to grow and trade illegal medicinal herbs. Huyen Van brothers stood up to prevent it to protect the villagers, leading to a major conflict." Mr. Khac Nguyen replied. "Be careful, don't go alone if it's not absolutely necessary. Let me let someone from the company quietly support you from afar."

"Thank you, but I think this is a sect matter, I need to face it myself first." Bach Dang replied, his voice determined. "If you ask outsiders to intervene, I'm afraid it will make the situation more complicated."

Hanging up the phone, Bach Dang sat quietly in the room, his hand gently touching the piece of jade pendant he always carried with him, remembering the evenings when his master sat and told stories of wandering around the campfire. His voice was warm but always contained a deep sense of caution whenever mentioning old feuds that had not been completely resolved.

Gia Khue knocked on the door, walked in, holding a cup of hot tea, and sat down next to him. "Are you worried?"

"Not really worrying about yourself." Bach Dang replied, looking at the steaming cup of tea. "I'm just afraid that the events from the sect's past will bring trouble to you, to your family, people who have nothing to do with the grudges of the gang."

"We've been through a lot together, this is the same." Gia Khue held his hand, her eyes determined. "You don't have to face it alone."

Bach Dang looked at her, his hand holding the cup of tea warmed slightly with the heat rising from the water's surface, and that warmth penetrated his chest amidst the accumulated worries. Tomorrow, if he has to face any dangers from the past, he thinks, as long as he has this steadfast gaze on his side, he will have enough courage to overcome everything.

That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, memories from his years in the mountains appearing one after another in his head. He remembered one time, when he was a child, he asked his master why there was a deep cut on the wall of his ancestor's temple, old but still clearly visible. The master was silent for a long time, then replied with a short, meaningful sentence: "That is the mark of a battle that I hope you will never have to experience again." At that time, he was too young to fully understand the profound meaning of those words, but now, sitting in the middle of a strange city, preparing to face the remnants of the same feud that left that slash, he can fully understand the anxiety that his master has silently carried with him for so many years.

He stood up, walked out to the balcony and looked at the sparkling city lights, telling himself that no matter what he faced tomorrow, he would not let the hatred of the past harm the people he cherished in the present.