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When He Zongguan shook hands with Qin Fang, he already started having some subtle thoughts, and the look in his eyes toward Qin Fang became playful.

Although Qin Fang couldn't guess what was in his mind, he noticed that He Zongguan's gaze seemed a bit off, making him feel a layer of goosebumps involuntarily rise on his skin.

Qin Fang wasn't particularly repulsed by people with certain special preferences, but it was clear he personally had no such inclinations.

When he first met He Zongguan, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Who would have expected such behavior now? Naturally, this made Qin Fang feel a bit uneasy.

"Mr. He, your high praise is too much for me to accept…"

Wearing a polite smile, Qin Fang laughed it off as he withdrew his hand, seemingly only feeling more at ease this way.

"Uh... haha, Master Qu, Mr. Qin, please, come inside. I won't be accompanying you!"

Noticing the peculiar look Qin Fang gave him, He Zongguan's expression turned slightly unnatural. However, he didn't dwell on it, laughing as he invited the two of them to proceed inside.

Qin Fang and Qu Yuancheng naturally didn't want to delay He Zongguan since he had other matters to attend to. They were here to watch the match, not to linger and chat unnecessarily, so they didn't stick around either.

After briefly bidding goodbye to He Zongguan, Qin Fang and Qu Yuancheng immediately headed inside.

He Zongguan, on the other hand, remained standing at the same spot, watching the two disappear behind the arena entrance. His eyes flickered with an unusual glow, his thoughts unknown.

"What's your take on him?"

Finally, He Zongguan slightly tilted his head, addressing a question to his followers behind him.

"A promising talent…"

One of the two followers, a slightly thinner man, replied simply, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"A formidable strength!"

The other, a sturdier man, gave a concise assessment.

"Indeed, quite a promising talent… If I'm not mistaken, his strength should surpass both of you."

Nodding slightly to acknowledge their responses, He Zongguan spoke in a peculiar tone as he gazed toward the direction where Qin Fang had disappeared.

"Hmm?"

The strong and thin men both stiffened slightly, showing a hint of surprise in their eyes as if caught off guard by his remark.

They exchanged glances silently.

Although they could tell Qin Fang was capable, that came from years of experience teetering on the brink of death in underground deathmatches, giving them a natural sense for powerful martial artists.

They couldn't see through Qin Fang's strength directly but relied on instincts sharpened by countless battles.

Still, they found it hard to believe. Qin Fang lacked the intense killing aura they had, and his much younger age made it hard to accept such a claim of extraordinary skill.

"Not convinced?"

He Zongguan appeared unsurprised. Those who worked for him weren't weaklings; he had handpicked these two from numerous candidates. Anyone less competent wouldn't even make it this far with him.

Perhaps precisely because of their abilities, these two had grown somewhat arrogant, dismissing the refined and scholarly-looking Qin Fang.

"If there's a chance, perhaps you could spar with him..."

He Zongguan's peculiar gaze lingered in that direction as he spoke, pondering on something only he knew.

...

"The Black Fist Alliance is really no joke..."

Recalling the people he had just encountered, Qin Fang couldn't help but sigh.

The two followers by He Zongguan's side had long caught Qin Fang's attention, but he judged their strength to be insignificant. Both were Level 5, comparable to Qin Fang.

However, Qin Fang's actual prowess had long exceeded his level constraints. When he was Level 3, he could easily crush weak Level 5 experts.

By Level 4, he could dominate top-tier Level 5 experts.

Now that he was Level 5, he was practically unmatched among his peers and could easily toy with weaker Grandmaster-level experts.

Those two followers, survivors of countless deathmatches, had strength comparable to Level 5 Peak fighters. If they risked everything, their abilities might even match Song Qingshan's power before reaching Grandmaster level.

Yet even so, Qin Fang didn't take them seriously. If he had to deal with them, he could easily take them both out single-handedly. Such was the vast gap in strength...

He dismissed those two outright but paid closer attention to He Zongguan himself. Despite He Zongguan being in his thirties or forties, his cultivation was solid enough that Qin Fang wasn't sure he could necessarily win against him...

He Zongguan was at least at Mid-Master Level or even later stages, with formidable real-world combat strength backed by substantial forces beneath him.

However, He Zongguan was merely one of the managers of this boxing ring, akin to a local sub-leader in a gang — only at the entry level within the broader power structure.

...

Inside the arena.

Qin Fang and Qu Yuancheng found good seats and sat down.

In this boxing ring, there were no distinctions like ordinary seats or VIP booths. Everyone sat in bleachers surrounding the arena.

The ring appeared to be a standard boxing ring, except the perimeter wasn't roped off like usual. Instead, a cage of steel wires encased the area.

Enclosed by heavy-duty steel bars, the cage had two small doors for entry and exit, with no other way in or out.

It was in this brutal steel cage that fighters battled. No referees, no escape routes — the only way out was to kill your opponent!

This was the harsh nature of underground deathmatches!

There was no room for failure!

Because failure meant death!

To survive, you had to eliminate your opponent!

Mercy and compassion? They were nonexistent here. Only madness and slaughter defined this arena's rhythm. Otherwise, being killed was the only outcome!

"Master Qu, I didn't expect to see you here today. So, tell me, who are you rooting for? The African Lion or the Nordic Giant?"

Before Qu Yuancheng could even explain the scene to Qin Fang, someone eagerly approached with an excited grin directed toward Qu Yuancheng.

The man looked to be in his thirties, dressed in luxurious attire that clearly suggested significant wealth.

Moreover, his tone was casual when speaking to Qu Yuancheng, lacking servility, suggesting his status wasn't ordinary.

"The African Lion... He's my bet."

Qu Yuancheng immediately made his preference clear, indicating confidence in the African Lion.

"Oh? Then it seems we're on opposite sides this time. I'm putting my money on the Nordic Giant. Care to place a bet?"

The man chuckled, eyes lighting up, and half-teased with his suggestion.

"Bet? Sure, why not? Think I'm scared of you?"

Qu Yuancheng responded decisively, matching the man's tone.

"Alright, let's bet on this round."

The man didn't back down, readily agreeing.

Clap!

The two sealed their wager with a brief handshake, solidifying the bet.

As for the stakes, they didn't specify. Perhaps they'd bet so often that words weren't necessary!

"Master Qu, and this is?"

After settling their bet, the man finally noticed Qin Fang and curiously inquired, seeing he had arrived alongside Qu Yuancheng.

"My cousin, Qin Fang… Qin Fang, this here is the Kong Family's second young master. Call him Brother Kong Er or just Kong Er!"

Possibly still irritated by their disagreement over the bet, Qu Yuancheng introduced them somewhat brusquely.

"Brother Kong Er..."

Qin Fang politely addressed him, despite the age gap large enough to make "uncle" a more fitting term. Calling him "Brother" felt like Qin Fang playing the senior.

Yet Qin Fang recognized him instantly. The Kong Family ranked among Hong Kong Island's Top Ten Wealthy Families. Kong Er's name was familiar to Qin Fang, mainly because of his wife — a former actress Qin Fang had once adored as a child.

Back then, young Qin Fang had bitterly cursed this man for stealing his goddess from the screen. Who'd have thought they'd meet in person one day?

Of course, such childish resentment had long since faded...

"You're Master Qu's cousin and call me Second Brother, so I won't hold back. From now on, you're my Brother Qin too..."

Kong Er didn't probe deeper into Qin Fang's background. Among Hong Kong's elite families, word of the Qu Family's Third Young Miss's return had spread quickly. Hearing Qu Yuancheng's introduction, Kong Er easily deduced Qin Fang's standing. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian.com to cast your votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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