Faced with Yu Xiaoduo’s use of “magic,” Gu Wan’er was left speechless. Fine, you win.
That said, Yu Xiaoduo was still quite curious about Ye Xiang’s actual strength. That burly frame of his couldn’t just be for show, right?
At that moment, the scar-faced man stood beside the animal cage and said, “Mr. Ye, this round is just for entertainment.”
“Give my thanks to Mr. Bai.”
“Don’t mention it.”
As the scar-faced man walked away, Ye Xiang tucked the coin in his palm into his pants, loosened his shoulders, and curled his finger at Marja in a taunting gesture.
Facing the two-meter-tall giant before him, Marja didn’t dare take him lightly. He wanted to test the waters first.
But Ye Xiang just stood there perfectly straight, signaling Marja to hurry up and not waste everyone’s time.
Marja was amused and annoyed by Ye Xiang’s arrogant demeanor. He slammed his right leg straight into Ye Xiang’s thigh—yet Ye Xiang didn’t budge an inch, as if a child had just kicked him.
“Keep going. Put some muscle into it. Didn’t you have breakfast?” Ye Xiang growled in a low voice.
Although Marja couldn’t understand the words, he could feel the insult. As a tenth-dan Muay Thai champion, he’d never been disrespected like this. Without hesitation, he threw a high roundhouse kick.
A dull thud landed squarely on Ye Xiang’s jaw. Mostly because Ye Xiang was so tall—Marja was at most 1.74 meters.
Even Yu Xiaoduo was taken aback. This guy was practically a humanoid tank built for brutality. His damage resistance was insane.
Marja couldn’t help but step back. Taking a high kick to the face and walking away unscathed? How was that possible? This man was a monster.
Ye Xiang rubbed his chin and let out a sinister grin.
Watching Ye Xiang close in step by step, Marja felt as if a fearsome demon was about to devour him. Fear instantly ignited in his heart, and he bolted for the iron gate—but the thick chain on it was padlocked.
Marja’s panic only fueled the excitement of the men around them. The Ye family men were terrifying indeed—they could scare someone to death without even trying. Meanwhile, Marja’s boss turned pale with anger but dared not say a word. He could only curse under his breath, calling his own fighter an idiot for running his mouth.
Seeing there was no escape, Marja steeled himself and swung his leg again in a sweeping kick.
But this time, Ye Xiang caught his ankle. His massive right fist came crashing down on Marja’s kneecap.
Crack.
A piercing scream of agony tore through the arena, and the big shots in the audience jumped to their feet in wild cheers. Ye Xiang let out a cold snort, raised his right foot, and stomped it against Marja’s standing knee.
Another crack. Marja’s legs were broken in an instant. Even if he recovered, he’d never fight again.
Ye Xiang hoisted Marja up like a chick, and his terrifying fist slammed into the man’s abdomen. Marja’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. He coughed painfully, even spitting up blood.
But the crowd only grew more frenzied. Their roaring cheers nearly lifted the ceiling above. Even the scar-faced man watched Ye Xiang’s brutal performance with nothing but awe.
“Shishi, your fourth brother’s just shown you how it’s done.” Ye Xiang grinned at his sister. Grabbing Marja by the ankle, he flung him out like a ragdoll—the motion really was like tossing a chicken—and the man slammed hard into the iron cage before crumpling to the ground, completely still.
Ye Xiang’s gaze shifted to a young man standing near the animal cage, phone in hand, recording the whole thing. Ye Xiang drew his thumb across his throat in a slicing motion.
At that moment, Gu Yuanli watched Ye Xiang’s provocative gesture and knew exactly what he meant. What the hell did this bastard eat growing up? He was built like a bull.
Gu Mingqin remarked flatly, “That fourth son of the Ye family is no ordinary man. Don’t let him cripple you.”
“Hmph. Who throws punches anymore in this day and age?” Gu Yuanli scoffed.
On the floor, Ye Xiang locked his eyes onto Yu Xiaoduo. Even Gu Wan’er flinched at his bloodthirsty stare. Why are you looking at me? Yu Xiaoduo’s the one next to me!
Ye Xiang let out a disdainful snort. One glare from me and he’s already scared. And he wants to take advantage of my sister? I wonder if he can take even one of my punches.
The staff opened the iron cage, casting fearful glances at Ye Xiang. They’d been working the door here for years and were used to the stench of blood inside. But a victory like Ye Xiang’s was rare—absolutely terrifying. That Marja had been far too arrogant; he’d brought it upon himself.
Ye Xiang walked out, flipping the coin in his hand, without even breaking a sweat. The local tycoons burst into applause—though the clapping was perhaps a little too eager, smacking of brown-nosing.
“Get your manager out here!” A sudden shout rang out. The wealthy boss who’d brought Marja stormed down, flanked by two bodyguards.
Scenes like this were common enough, so the crowd simply watched for the drama.
The scar-faced man stepped forward and said coolly, “I’m the manager.”
The tycoon pointed at Marja, who was being loaded onto a stretcher, and barked, “If he’d been beaten like this in a proper match, I’d have nothing to say. But that just now wasn’t a match! You people are responsible!”
“I’m the one who beat him. Tell me how you want me to take responsibility, and I’ll play along.” Ye Xiang said calmly, looking down at the tycoon from a nearly literal height. The oppressive presence made the tycoon tense up.
The scar-faced man chuckled. “Mr. Ye, just go rest. I’ll handle this.”
“Hahaha! Why trouble one of Mr. Bai’s top men over a nobody like this? That’s using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.” Ye Xiang laughed heartily, his contemptuous words making the tycoon’s face turn even uglier.
The tycoon’s face reddened gradually, clearly steaming with rage. “You Longhai people think you can push us around, huh? Can’t win in a fair fight, so you play dirty!”
“I’m from Longhai. If you’ve got a problem, come find me—Ye Xiang. I’m game for anything!”
The tycoon pointed at the two of them, trembling with fury. “Fine! Just you wait—both of you. You haven’t seen the last of me! Let’s go!”
As the tycoon slunk away in humiliation, the local businessmen saw him off with jeers. What a sore loser. And he had the nerve to come out and demand justice? He’d better watch his step leaving here.
“Mr. Ye, Mr. Bai suggested it’d be best to sit down and talk things out calmly.” After the tycoon left, the scar-faced man said softly.
Ye Xiang shrugged helplessly. “You know my sister’s temper. I can’t talk her out of anything.”
“Sigh.” The scar-faced man had only been trying. Since it wasn’t going to work, then let them fight. A winner had to be decided sooner or later.
Just then, the referee’s voice rang out again: “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just received word that there’ll be one more exhibition match. The eldest daughter of the Gu family from Jingzhou challenges the top young fighter—Ye Shishi!”
The big shots who’d been about to leave all stopped in their tracks. The eldest daughter of the Jingzhou Gu Consortium? She actually wants to throw down with Ye Shishi one-on-one?
Is that how girls play these days? Young people sure are full of energy. Gotta admire it.
“Sister-in-law, the changing room’s over there. Everything’s ready.” Lu Zhengzhi hurried over to remind her.
Yu Xiaoduo nodded and shot Gu Wan’er a confident look. After all, Ye Shishi had picked events that played right into her own strengths. If she’d chosen calligraphy, chess, painting, or music, Yu Xiaoduo would’ve been done for.
But then again—if she’d picked those, they’d be Gu Wan’er’s strengths instead. No matter how you sliced it, Gu Wan’er seemed doomed either way. What a tragic fate.
