Cao Yang stepped into the octagon. His opponent, Liang Feng, was already standing in the center, eyes locked on him. Both men sized each other up.
From physique alone, Cao Yang was half a head taller and much broader. In a regulated match, they wouldn't even be in the same weight class.
But in an underground fight with no rules, none of that mattered. The only rule was: make the other guy unable to stand.
A voluptuous ring girl in a barely-there bikini strutted into the cage, holding two boards—one with Cao Yang's name, one with Liang Feng's. She twisted her hips while circling the ring, displaying the fighters' profiles for the gamblers.
Cao Yang's profile was simple—just a name, height, and weight. Record: 0 fights. A total newbie.
Liang Feng's read: 99 fights, 92 wins, 7 losses. Tonight was his 100th fight.
Rumor had it those seven losses were all "commercial"—he threw them on purpose. Never once had he been knocked out. Everyone knew he fixed fights, and countless gamblers had been burned.
Tie Xiong and Jim were among those victims:Bet on Liang Feng to win—he'd lose.Bet on him to lose—he'd win.No acting, no hesitation, just pure robbery.
They knew they were being played, but could do nothing.In the ring, making someone purposely lose was easy.
Many bosses had tried to bring in their own fighters and bet on Liang Feng's loss, only to be cleaned out. They were all sliced like vegetables.
"Cao Yang! Go! Beat that bastard to death!" Tie Xiong yelled wildly from below. From how excited he looked, he'd clearly bet big on Cao Yang.
Jim sat calmly beside him, smoking and sipping his drink, waiting for the show to start.
Around them, the crowd frantically placed bets. Almost everyone bet on Liang Feng. With his history, why wouldn't they?
As for Cao Yang, sure he looked tall and muscular. But the bosses didn't care. They'd seen a two-meter Russian giant, built like a bear, get almost killed by Liang Feng.
A bell chimed. Betting closed. The crowd fell silent.
The ring girl stood between the two fighters and shouted:
"Begin!"
The instant her voice dropped, Cao Yang felt danger streak toward him.
Instinctively, he tilted his head left.Liang Feng's fist grazed past his cheek.
So that's the "signal light" they meant?These people played dirtier than TV shows.
But he had no time to think—Liang Feng's attack kept coming.
The punch missed, but a vicious kick followed—straight toward Cao Yang's groin.A direct hit would end his future generations.
Cao Yang quickly covered himself with one hand and stepped back, simultaneously kicking out with his right leg. His knee struck Liang Feng's ankle, forcing him to retreat two steps.
A faint smirk appeared on Liang Feng's lips—approval.
He gave Cao Yang no time to breathe. With a sudden spring of his legs, he leapt high and came crashing down.Both knees aimed at Cao Yang's chest.His elbow angled for Cao Yang's forehead.
A ruthless move—attacking high and low simultaneously. For most fighters, this was a guaranteed finisher.
But Cao Yang wasn't "most fighters."
His reaction was lightning-fast. As the elbow was about to hit, Cao Yang spun like a top, narrowly slipping out of danger.
At the same time, he clenched his fist and slammed it into Liang Feng's knee.
From the stands came roars:"Liang Feng! Kill him!""Break him!"
Only Tie Xiong and a few gamblers who bet small for a big payout screamed for Cao Yang.
One of Sida's bodyguards—standing behind the Guangxi boss—smirked when he saw Cao Yang punch the incoming knee.
Idiot, he thought. This kid is finished.
But the outcome wasn't what he expected.
When fist met knee, Liang Feng felt like he'd hit a steel plate. A shock of pain shot through him, and he staggered backward several steps, staring at Cao Yang in disbelief.
He was certain he should've shattered the kid's hand.
Leg strength dwarfed arm strength. A knee bone was harder than fist bones. Add body weight and momentum—no human fist could take that head-on.
In his mind, Cao Yang should've been crippled.
But Cao Yang simply shook his hand loose and smiled.
"Not bad."
It was genuine praise—Liang Feng was the first person in his life who'd actually made him feel pain.
But to Liang Feng, the words sounded like mockery.He was furious, yet hesitant now—cautious, even confused.
This young man was strong—strong enough to force him back.But why would someone with such power use such a stupid move as punching a knee?
He couldn't figure Cao Yang out.
Both men stood still, staring each other down.Three whole minutes passed without a single move.
The audience erupted in curses, demanding blood.
Especially Tie Xiong, whose voice boomed above everyone else. He practically needed a megaphone.
Cao Yang frowned at him. Tie Xiong had told him Liang Feng was some Southern Shaolin Buddhist Fist master. But this guy's moves? Nothing Buddhist about them.
If anything, they were pure Muay Thai—just like the movies.
As Cao Yang's attention wandered, Liang Feng seized the moment.
He leapt again—this time both knees forward, left elbow swinging out, right fist punching down.A four-limb triple assault.
Cao Yang bent down instantly, his body blurring like an afterimage as he slid under the attack. At the same time, he copied Liang Feng's style and sent a sharp elbow strike smashing into Liang Feng's ribs.