"Oh?" Long Aotian chuckled. "Everyone who's ever said that to my face is now grinning in their graves."
"Sorry, I don't know those people," Lu Chengwen replied.
He stepped forward slowly, the rhythmic clack of his leather shoes echoing in the factory.
Not a trace of panic in his stride.
Hua Xuening grew increasingly uneasy. Lu Chengwen was radiating a dangerous, almost lethal aura unlike anything she'd felt from him before.
All three—Long Aotian, Hua Xuening, and Lu Chengwen—knew he'd come here prepared to face death.
Either he had a surefire plan to win, or he was ready to die trying.
His steps were steady, powerful, devoid of fear or hesitation.
This was not the same Lu Chengwen who'd gone weak-kneed at the sight of Long Aotian, always smiling to defuse tension. This was a different man entirely.
Hua Xuening slowly drew her longsword.
Long Aotian glanced back, surprised. "What's got you so nervous? He's got no skills."
Then he laughed. "You think he's here to beat me to death?"
He stood, hands in pockets. "Impressive vibe you've got going, but to me, you're just here to get yourself killed."
Lu Chengwen stopped ten meters away.
"Iron King, get out here and do your job!" he called.
Hua Xuening tensed, scanning the surroundings.
After a moment, a figure dropped from above, landing with a thud between Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian.
At the same time, four towering, muscular men slowly entered through the iron gate.
Long Aotian rubbed his forehead, exasperated. "These idiots…"
Lu Chengwen commanded, "Take them down."
Iron King glanced at Long Aotian, then at Lu Chengwen, lips twitching but unmoving.
Long Aotian tilted his head. "You moron, didn't the strategist tell you to go back?"
"But I told them to stay," Lu Chengwen said coldly.
"You're nothing!" Long Aotian snapped, furious. "You idiots still don't get who your master is? Take him out, and I'll call it even!"
"No need to yell," Lu Chengwen said. "Your tricks are already exposed."
Casually, almost carelessly, he lowered his head to light a cigarette, his voice calm. "Do it."
Iron King's eyes reddened, teeth clenched. "Which one of you… is the Young Master?"
Long Aotian's eyes widened. "Are you seriously asking me that? Still!? I'm your damn Young Master! You brainless mules—dumber than donkeys!"
Iron King turned to Lu Chengwen. "You've been lying to me this whole time?"
Lu Chengwen smiled.
This was a do-or-die gamble.
Long Aotian, Hua Xuening, Iron King, and his four men—any one of them could kill him with ease.
He had no godlike cultivation.
No martial artist beauty as a guard.
No loyal Iron King or his goons at his beck and call.
But he had his wits.
The courage to risk it all.
The resolve to face death head-on.
Iron King was his final trump card. One last deception—if it worked, he could turn the tables and claim the world.
Lu Chengwen looked at Iron King, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Iron King, why do you think I called you here, giving you one last chance? Do this right, and your past screw-ups are forgiven. Mess it up…"
He tilted his head back. "This world won't have a place for you."
Iron King's anger gave way to confusion.
Suddenly, he dropped to his knees, sobbing.
"What the hell is this!? What are you two doing!? Just tell me who's who, please!
"You're killing me with this back-and-forth!
"I've already made a colossal mistake—I can't even go back to headquarters!
"One more screw-up, and I'm done for good!
"You both have such strong auras—it's so confusing!
"And with the face-swapping, did you start with swapped faces or switch later?
"Who's using whose identity?
"Who's the Young Master? Just tell me the truth!"
Lu Chengwen looked at the weeping Iron King, thinking:
[Sorry, buddy, it's gotta be this way. I know you're suffering, but I'm out of options. Bear with it.]
Hua Xuening stared at Lu Chengwen, poised to strike.
Iron King looked up at him, a sudden realization hitting.
This guy's aura—he's got no martial skills!
That's it!
That alone is a death sentence!
Iron King stood abruptly. "You say you're my Young Master—prove it! Do you know martial arts? And after I beat you senseless, why give me another chance?"
Lu Chengwen smiled. "Gold King's on his way."
Iron King froze.
"If you don't act, he'll deal with you. If you do, he'll probably still deal with you." Lu Chengwen smirked. "And you're still asking why I'm giving you a chance?"
"You… you…" Iron King stammered. "I broke over seventy of your bones—how'd you recover so fast?"
"Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill."
Lu Chengwen walked up to Long Aotian, ignoring his venomous glare, and poured two glasses of whiskey, handing one to him. He clinked glasses and took a sip.
He strolled back, hand in pocket. "Heard of it?"
Iron King nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! Only the Young Master could refine such a rare pill!"
Long Aotian burst out laughing. "I told him that! He didn't even know the pill's name until yesterday!"
Iron King hesitated, knowing this was his final shot to pick the right side.
Choose wrong, and he was dead.
Choose right, and he might survive.
"Then you tell me," he said to Long Aotian. "I broke over seventy of your bones—why are you fine?"
Long Aotian was floored.
What the hell!? This guy's brain!
"Didn't he just say it? Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill! You idiot!"
Lu Chengwen stared at his glass, unfazed.
This was a life-or-death bet.
If that call went through, he was done for.
But luck was on his side—the call didn't connect.
Long Aotian fumed. "Damn it, no one's picking up!"
Iron King turned to Lu Chengwen. "You! Call the strategist!"
Lu Chengwen looked at him, a slow smile spreading. "And then what? Tell the strategist you screwed up again? That you'll only believe me if I make the call? Or you'll attack me again? Oh, fine, I'll call…"
"No, no, no!" Iron King panicked. "No need! I can figure it out, really—I won't get it wrong this time, please don't call…"
Long Aotian jumped up, livid. "You're explaining to him? His call won't even go through!"
Iron King pointed at Long Aotian. "You shut up! Sit down! You're looking real suspicious right now, you know that?"
Long Aotian glanced at the four burly men, assessing the situation.
His fighting strength was severely depleted. Hua Xuening alone might not protect him.
Damn it!
The outcome—my life or death—depends on this big idiot and his four little idiots!
God help me!
Iron King turned to Lu Chengwen. "So… why didn't you fight back when I hit you?"
Lu Chengwen said, "Because I used the Face-Swapping Technique, so I had no inner strength for a while. Got it?"
Iron King nodded. "Hold on, let me ask him."
Long Aotian stomped his foot. "He's so damn polite!"
"Your turn!" Iron King asked Long Aotian. "Why didn't you fight back when I hit you?"
Long Aotian's face twitched, teeth gritted. "Because I used the Face-Swapping Technique, so I had no qi! You moron!"
Iron King sneered. "That's what he just said! You keep repeating him—think that's clever?"
Long Aotian clutched his chest. "You idiot! I could rip you apart!"
Hua Xuening spoke up. "Young Master, Iron King's brain's fried, Lu Chengwen's up to no good, and your old injuries haven't healed—you've got no fighting strength. Let me get you out of here!"
Long Aotian glared at her. "Could you say that any louder?"
Hua Xuening cleared her throat and announced, "Our Young Master has no fighting strength right now!"
Long Aotian rubbed his temples, head bowed.
Why are my people so stupid? Does Iron King think I'll just walk away? He's hell-bent on settling who's real today!
He looked at Iron King. "One thing: even with my strength low, I've got a foundation. But this Lu Chengwen—open your eyes! Does he know any martial arts?"
Iron King turned to Lu Chengwen. "Yeah! Do you know martial arts?"
Lu Chengwen said, "Let's test it. I won't hit you. Use your strongest move on me—let's see."
One of Iron King's men leaned in. "Rumor has it the Young Master's Fudo Myo-o Technique is at the fourth layer. If he's the real deal, he'll block your attack."
Iron King nodded. "Alright, to find the true Young Master, each of you takes one punch from me. Deal?"
Lu Chengwen frowned. "You dare hit me?"
Long Aotian leapt up, pointing. "See!? He's scared! Hah! You know no martial arts, just running your mouth! Lu Chengwen, I saw through you ages ago. Think you can fool us with your lies? You're exposed!"
Lu Chengwen smiled faintly. "Fine. Start with him."
"No problem!"
Hua Xuening rushed in. "Young Master, you just used the Bone-Restoring Vitality Pill to heal your wounds, but your inner qi's weak. Forcing the Fudo Myo-o now could cause internal injuries!"
Long Aotian nearly cried, glaring at her. "Louder, why don't you!?"
Hua Xuening nodded. "My Young Master's qi is weak—taking a punch could cause severe internal damage, beyond what the Bone-Restoring Pill can fix…"
"Shut up, you idiot!"
Long Aotian tore off his jacket, furious. "I'm done with this! Iron King, hit me—let's show him what Fudo Myo-o looks like!"
Iron King nodded, clasping his fists. "No offense!"
He channeled his qi, his feet stirring the air as he lunged, smashing a fist into Long Aotian's chest.
At the last second, Long Aotian roared, "Fudo Myo-o! Activate!"
Boom!
His body stood rigid, unmoving.
Hua Xuening saw his frame tremble slightly.
Iron King gasped. "It's really the Fudo Myo-o Technique! Even injured, he took my punch!"
Long Aotian grinned, blood trickling from his nose and mouth, dripping onto Iron King's hand.
Struggling, he said, "Now… you know… who I am…"
Iron King nodded. "Sorry."
He turned to Lu Chengwen, fuming. "Your turn!"
Lu Chengwen nodded. "You held back, didn't you? Use your full strength—I want to see how heavy your fist really is."
Playing the part, sipping his drink, Lu Chengwen quietly activated his one-time-use Fudo Myo-o Experience Card.
In his mind, he thought:
[This is it! Everything rides on this!]
_
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