Chapter 63

When Shan Ming made his third appearance in the arena, it was evident to everyone that he wasn’t in good condition.

The betting time was delayed by half compared to usual, indicating that many people were hesitant. On one hand, they believed that Shan Ming couldn’t defeat last month’s champion, but on the other hand, they hoped that he would create another miracle like in the previous two matches.

Shan Ming sat in the audience, waiting for them to place their bets. Nessis appeared visibly nervous, fidgeting in his seat. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke up, “How confident are you?”

Shan Ming opened his eyes and replied, “If you don’t have the guts, don’t bet.”

Nessis growled, “I’ve already placed my bets!”

Shan Ming glanced at him disdainfully and decided to continue resting with his eyes closed.

Nessis pressed on, “Are you going to go all in with your money again this time?”

“No.”

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“Ebu? Zsw esd’v byhl nsdqkeldnl?” Llppkp talo lhld xsal dlahswp.

Fbyd Ykdt nwazle bkp zkrp, “Rq R ekl, R oydv vs zlyhl psxl kdblakvydnl qsa xu psd.” Zlpvlaeyu, qasx vos xyvnblp yzsdl, bl bye lyadle shla qsavu xkzzksd. Fbswze bl pyu vbyv xsdlu nyxl vss lypu sa vss ekqqknwzv? Sltyaezlpp, bl bye akpjle bkp zkql vs lyad kv. Rd vbkp xyvnb, bl qlzv vbyv bl xktbv dsv nsxl swv yzkhl. Tkp ynnswdv oyp kd Fbld Ubydtgl’p bydep, yde kq bl ekle, bl’zz fwpv zlyhl kv vs bkp psd. Gqvla yzz, bl oswzed’v byhl vbl nbydnl vs prlde kv bkxplzq.

Llppkp alnyzzle vbl nbkze obs oyp okvb bkx yv vbl nypkds vbyv dktbv. Mbl jke yrrlyale vs cl kd bkp lyazu vlldp yde yzvbswtb bl pllxle nyryczl, bl oyp pvkzz vss uswdt. Rd nsxryakpsd, Fbyd Ykdt zssjle xsal alyppwakdt. Llppkp nswzed’v kxytkdl Fbyd Ykdt byhkdt pwnb y tasod-wr psd.

Llppkp dseele, yde vbl alpvzlppdlpp kd bkp blyav tayewyzzu pwcpkele. Tl prsjl kd y zso hsknl, “Psd’v zspl.”

Fbyd Ykdt zlv swv y nsze zywtb, pvsse wr, yde pvalvnble bkp yaxp. Mbl esnvsa bye yrrzkle y dlahl qallgl rykdjkzzla, ps bkp yax ds zsdtla bwav yde bl nswze wpl kv. Tsolhla, vbkp xlvbse sdzu vlxrsayakzu dwxcle vbl rykd alnlrvsap yde eked’v xlyd bkp yax oyp nsxrzlvlzu qkdl. Rd vbkp pkvwyvksd, wpkdt kv qsankczu oswze nywpl pktdkqknydv eyxytl, cwv bl bye ds svbla nbsknl.

Tl qzkrrle shla yde zlyrle sdvs vbl pvytl.

Tkp srrsdldv, jdsod yp vbl “Jlypv,” oyp y alvkale prlnkyz qsanlp pszekla okvb y alnsae sq pkmvlld okdp yde glas zspplp, ynnwxwzyvkdt xwzvkrzl nbyxrksdpbkrp. Tl vss pvlrrle sdvs vbl pvytl.

Ebld Fbyd Ykdt pyo bkp srrsdldv’p qynl, bl oyp pvwddle. Tl dlhla lmrlnvle vs ldnswdvla y qyxkzkya qynl blal. Fvydekdt clqsal bkx oyp y Uywnypkyd xyd okvb czynj byka, czwl lulp, kd bkp qsavklp, vyzz yde lmwekdt vbl awttle yway wdkiwl vs xkzkvyau pszeklap. Tl pbsole ds pktdp sq clkdt nsdvaszzle cu eawtp. Wkhl ulyap yts, Fbyd Ykdt bye naspple ryvbp okvb bkx xwzvkrzl vkxlp kd vbl Bdkvle Fvyvlp. Tl oyp Uyrvykd Ekzzkyx Tswpl sq vbl B.F. Gaxu, fwpv zkjl Fbld Ubydtgl, bl oyp y Paytsd Jzsse Ikd!

Why was he here? And considering he had fought in so many matches, he must have been here for quite a while. Did he retire and come here to earn some extra money? For a seasoned Dragon Blood Kin, it was indeed easy to do so.

A series of question marks popped up in Shan Ming’s mind.

House smiled at him and quickly said in a low voice, “Long time no see.”

His voice was low, and the referee who was stepping onto the stage didn’t hear him. By the time he finished speaking, the referee had already rushed between the two fighters, wearing an excited expression, and began hyping up this deadly coincidence. The “Beast” versus the “Beauty”! The referee’s exaggerated enthusiasm stirred the audience’s emotions to a critical point. The loud cheers made Shan Ming worry that they might bring the roof down with their excitement.

After finishing his announcement, the referee quickly jumped down from the stage, leaving the death arena to the two fighters.

Shan Ming looked at him skeptically and lowered his voice, asking, “Why are you here?”

House uttered, “Mission. I’m more curious about why you’re here.”

Shan Ming felt that saying he was abducted was a bit embarrassing, so he also responded coldly, “Mission.”

House smiled and shook his head, then flexed his limbs, adopting a serious expression. “Come on, I won’t show any mercy.”

Shan Ming snorted, then he lunged forward in a few strides, launching a spinning kick aimed at House’s neck.

In this match, Shan Ming had to avoid using his hands as much as possible, otherwise, his arm would be rendered useless.

This kick was impeccable in terms of speed, strength, and accuracy. A worthy opponent would attempt to block or dodge with their arms or crouch down. However, House didn’t dodge or evade. He reached out and grabbed Shan Ming’s ankle firmly in his grip.

Cold sweat ran down Shan Ming’s forehead. He hadn’t even seen when House extended his hand. The entire audience was in an uproar. To be caught so effortlessly with such speed, what a hell of a reaction speed.

House smirked coldly and swung his arm, sending Shan Ming flying through the air. Shan Ming crashed into the ropes surrounding the ring and then rolled onto the ground.

Before he could even attempt to get up, a dark shadow flashed before his eyes. A powerful blow landed on his stomach, sending him flying from the gap beneath the ropes and down below the stage.

Shan Ming curled up on the ground, clutching his stomach. The kick was too powerful, he doesn’t know if it caused gastric bleeding.

House crouched at the edge of the ring, not a drop of sweat on his forehead. “You’re not my match. Don’t bother getting up. I won’t kill you.”

Shan Ming felt dizzy, with the world spinning around him. His stomach churned violently, and he dry heaved for a while, unable to vomit. It was an absolutely miserable feeling.

The audience chanted loudly, “Beauty! Beauty!” The crowd was excited.

Shan Ming wiped his face, feeling a surge of anger and unwillingness welling up inside him.

He couldn’t believe that the gap between him and the Dragon Blood Kins was so huge. Fuck, so humiliating, he was thrown down like that in just an instant? This shouldn’t be… No matter how injured or weakened he was, there shouldn’t be such a massive difference. If this was the Dragon Blood Kin form, he could understand, but House was in human form. The gap shouldn’t be this wide, it shouldn’t!

Driven by his fighting spirit and pride, Shan Ming stood up firmly. He glared at House with a mix of humiliation and indignation in his eyes.

House shook his head. “You should be on vacation in Southern France. What are you doing here? Where is he?”

Shan Ming grabbed onto the ropes and gracefully flipped back onto the stage. “Don’t ask useless questions. I haven’t lost yet.”

House took two steps back, keeping his eyes on Shan Ming’s movements as he spoke. “Don’t you want to know why I’m here? If you tell me your mission, and I’ll tell you mine. How about that?”

Shan Ming grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. “I’m here… to earn some pocket money!”

He jumped in front of House and threw a punch. House reached out to block, but Shan Ming suddenly redirected his hands and grabbed his arm, using his body’s momentum to perform a 360-degree roll, attempting to break House’s arm. With a swift motion, Shan Ming effortlessly lifted House, who was caught off guard. In a desperate move, House countered by flipping over, and both of them tumbled to the ground. Shan Ming forcefully pressed one leg on House’s neck while still holding onto his arm, applying a twisting force. House swiftly grabbed Shan Ming’s shoulder and exerted pressure, causing Shan Ming to grimace in pain, his face turning pale. He had no choice but to release his grip and roll away, quickly getting back up from the ground.

Just as he regained his balance, House swiftly launched a kick toward Shan Ming. The speed was too fast for Shan Ming to evade, so he could only lift his arm to block. The force of the kick swept him off his feet and sent him crashing to the ground.

On the ground, Shan Ming executed a quick roll and ended up near House’s feet. He swiftly grabbed onto House’s thigh and delivered a powerful punch directly to his knee joint.

House let out a cry of pain, his leg giving way as he dropped to his knees. Seizing the opportunity, Shan Ming swung his fist toward House’s temple.

House swiftly reached out and grabbed Shan Ming’s fist, applying a twist with a sudden burst of strength. He forcefully dislocated Shan Ming’s arm from its socket.

Shan Ming’s eyes turned red with rage, he fiercely unleashed a series of powerful kicks to House’s thighs, provoking House into rage. House landed a punch on Shan Ming’s face, and then seized his ankle, throwing him up into the air. However, instead of throwing him away, House slammed him directly onto the ground.

As Shan Ming’s head struck the ground, his vision blurred momentarily, and his thoughts seemed to briefly stall. The impact was solid, causing a numbing sensation throughout his body, making it nearly impossible for him to move.

House took a breath and crouched down beside Shan Ming. “Shan, you’re strong, but you’re still human. You’ll never be my match. Surrender now. I don’t want to kill you. I have my reasons for staying here. You shouldn’t be that desperate for money, right?”

Shan Ming squinted his eyes and shook his head vigorously, feeling dizzy and nauseous. His cheek throbbed with a burning sensation, and his eye sockets swelled up, causing pain even with the slightest blink.

House grabbed Shan Ming by the collar and lifted him up, taking deliberate steps toward where Nessis was seated. “We suspect that the drugs being used here are somehow connected to a leaked batch of Dragon Blood experiment. I’m here on a mission. Put away your pride.”

Shan Ming’s bloodshot eyes opened wide, just as House thought he was about to faint, he suddenly reached out and grabbed House’s neck. House’s eyes widened as he also gripped Shan Ming’s neck. Shan Ming spoke in a low voice, “Let go. Don’t piss me off.”

At this moment, Shan Ming had already lost much of his sanity and rationality.

Having grown up in the shadow of death, Shan Ming had faced countless life-and-death situations, which toughened his nerves but also made him fragile. When faced with a grave threat from an opponent he couldn’t overcome, he would lose his sanity due to overwhelming despair. He would resort to a frenzy of counterattacks, driven by the sole instinct of self-preservation.

At this point, no matter how much House promised not to kill him, Shan Ming couldn’t comprehend or accept those words. For him, the only way to ensure his own survival was the death of his opponent!

Hence, he held onto House’s neck tightly, pressing his thumb against the main artery. Even though he could feel the grip on his own neck tightening, the air becoming scarce, and his life slipping away, he refused to let go.

In order to survive, he had to kill his opponent!

House’s eyes burned with fury as he grabbed Shan Ming’s arm, attempting to forcefully shake Shan Ming’s arm off his neck. However, he couldn’t figure out where the strength in Shan Ming’s swelling and injured arm came from, no matter how hard he tried, Shan Ming wouldn’t let go. House looked into Shan Ming’s eyes which were filled with resolute determination to kill. For the first time, House realized how the profession of a mercenary could profoundly change a person’s mindset, to the extent that it could unleash a hundredfold beastly instinct on the brink of life and death.

House knew that he couldn’t hold on much longer like this. He raised his fist, aiming for Shan Ming’s temple, and issued one final threat, “Let! Go!”

Shan Ming’s entire body went limp, except for his arm, which remained as hard as steel.

A cold glint flashed in House’s eyes as he summoned the power of the Dragon Blood within him, gathering it into his arm. He then swung his fist toward Shan Ming’s temple.