"Heh heh heh… I never lose!"
Liu Yilong charged at Cao Yang again. This time, his steps were clumsy, far less threatening than before.
He was overconfident, assuming Cao Yang wouldn't fight back and would simply let him win. After all, everyone in the underground circuit knew of his brother's reputation.
But he ignored one thing—Cao Yang was an outsider. Even if he were an insider, he wouldn't care.
Seeing Liu Yilong's fist crashing toward him, Cao Yang's eyes darkened. He focused all his strength into his right fist and struck Liu Yilong square in the chest.
CRACK!
Liu Yilong's sternum shattered, bone fragments piercing his heart. He was blasted across the octagonal cage, slamming into the rail, landing hard on the ground—unable to move.
"Get up! Yilong, get up and finish him!" the crowd shouted, unwilling to lose their bets.
But they didn't know Liu Yilong wouldn't rise again—this time, not in this lifetime. Only those close enough could see the deep dent in his chest. He was beyond saving.
The female referee rushed to call for medical staff, who lifted the severely injured Liu Yilong to get emergency treatment.
Once he was removed, the referee raised Cao Yang's wrist high and declared him the winner.
The audience erupted into shouts and curses, except for those who had bet on Cao Yang—they laughed joyously.
Cao Yang went backstage to change. Suddenly, a group of men stormed in, eyes locked on him with hostility.
"What do you want?" Iron Bear and Jim entered alongside him.
"Can't take losing, Henan gang?" one leader sneered.
He stepped forward, warning, "Kid, if Yilong suffers… you won't live either!"
Cao Yang remained silent, his gaze icy.
"Damn it! Who are you trying to scare? Life and death in the cage are fate. If you can't take losing, don't step up!" Iron Bear swore, while Jim nodded in agreement.
The Henan gang men ignored them, moving to seize Cao Yang.
Just as a clash seemed imminent, another man appeared—the arena manager. His warnings and persuasion prevented a brawl.
Iron Bear led Cao Yang out of the underground arena, his men carrying two large bags of cash—today had been very profitable.
"Cao Yang, you're incredible!" Iron Bear clapped him on the shoulder in excitement. "After these two matches, your reputation's sky-high. Next time, everyone will bet on you. Another win and we'll rake in a fortune!"
Cao Yang, however, had no interest in hearing about profits.
"Get my sister out," he reminded Iron Bear.
"Don't worry, I keep my word," Iron Bear said, signaling the driver to head to Qinghe Police Station.
At the station, Iron Bear asked, "Once your sister is out, you're not leaving Guan City, right?"
"No."
"Good," Iron Bear said and strode inside. Cao Yang stayed outside, waiting.
Soon, Li Yan was released. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw Cao Yang—if not for the onlookers, she might have clutched him and cried openly.
"Let's go, I'll drive you home," Iron Bear offered with a smile, curious about their new address.
Cao Yang declined, letting Iron Bear leave first.
"She's not bad," Li Yan remarked, surprised it was Iron Bear who rescued her.
"Why didn't you think he put you in there?" Cao Yang scolded, smacking her rear lightly.
"Ah? He's that cunning?" Li Yan thought carefully and realized it made sense.
"Let's pack up," Cao Yang said.
"For what?"
"We're leaving this city."
"But we just bought a house!"
"Temporary leave. We'll return."
Li Yan packed her belongings, glancing at the new home with reluctance.
"Ticket's ready. Go back home first, send some money to my mom," Cao Yang instructed.
"What? You're not coming with me?"
"I have business. You'll come back later." His eyes flickered with lethal intent. With Li Yan by his side, he had a weakness—she needed to leave first before he could act freely.
"No! I'm going with you!" Li Yan pouted.
Cao Yang glared, ordering her to board quickly. Eventually, he escorted her to the train station, where she entered, glancing back repeatedly with reluctance.
Outside the station, a black Honda held Mountain Eagle reporting to Iron Bear: "Brother Bear, Cao Yang's boarding the train already."
"Block him!" Iron Bear barked.
"I can't. I'm no match for him alone," Mountain Eagle complained.
Just as he finished, Cao Yang knocked on the car window. Startled, Mountain Eagle rolled it down.
"Yang Ge," he called.
Cao Yang ignored him, snatched the phone, and said, "I'm not leaving. We need to discuss something about the fights."
"Brother, I didn't mean to tail you…" Iron Bear sounded unusually embarrassed over the phone.
"See you in person," Cao Yang said, hopping into Mountain Eagle's car and heading to Mingzhu Night Club.
Iron Bear hung up, scratching his nose, quickly regaining composure. He guessed Cao Yang was probably dissatisfied about fighting for free and would demand payment—he could accommodate that.
Suddenly, another call came.
"Brother Bear, Liu Yilong's dead."
"Dead?"
"Yes, really dead."
Iron Bear's mood shifted. He hadn't expected Cao Yang to actually kill Liu Yilong.
Though life and death in the cage were normal, that rule applied mostly to fighters with no backing. Liu Yilong's brother was the Henan gang boss. They would not forgive this lightly.
Iron Bear, a Hunan gang member, wasn't afraid of the Henan gang, but risking Cao Yang's life could draw retaliation. Without approval from the top, his men couldn't possibly win a gang war.
Before he could decide, the phone rang again—this time, Hunan gang boss She Zhishan. Iron Bear answered respectfully.
"Boss."
"You know Liu Zhenhu's brother is dead?"
"I just found out."
"Your men killed him?"
"Not really my men. Just a fighter."
"Liu Zhenhu said he wants both your lives!"
"Fight him?"
"Are you crazy? What year is this? Stop all this killing! Enjoy life!"
"But he wants me dead!"
"Relax. He's just venting anger over his brother. You're under my protection. He wants your life, he must ask me first!"
"You can let that fighter handle it—let him vent."
"Alright." Iron Bear reluctantly agreed. Cao Yang was a lucrative asset, but he couldn't protect him forever.
He called Liu Zhenhu: "Brother Hu, that Yilong incident was an accident. Not my fault. The fighter ignored me when I said he was your brother—he attacked anyway."
"Don't worry. My elder told me to hand him to you. I'll be at my shop soon—come and take him," Liu Zhenhu replied.