Chapter 77

The two people walked out of the hospital and headed towards the parking area. Xiao Bing asked, "Do you mean the people sent by the Northern Heavenly King?"

"Uh-huh," Ye Zi said seriously, "They don't need to take your life, just to injure you so that you can't perform at your best on the day of the match. Then they win. They can then let the blind man kill you on the stage!"

The two of them got into the car, and the bodyguards split into two groups. Three of them got into the car with Ye Zi, while the rest sat in another car and led the way.

Xiao Bing nodded and smiled, "This is indeed the most likely scenario. It seems the blind man is very important to her; otherwise, she wouldn't use such despicable means to attack me in secret, which would damage the reputation of the Peony Fairy."

Ye Zi said, "The most important thing now is not to think about these things, but what you will do on that day. Brother Bing, the doctor said your right arm can't bear any weight for a while, so you should cancel the match three days from now."

"How should I say it?" Xiao Bing asked with a smile, "Should I say that I was ambushed tonight and can't fight? I'm not afraid of becoming a laughingstock in the underground world of Jiangcheng. I'm not a gangster, but this would be like me conceding defeat. How can I face the Northern Heavenly King in the future?"

Ye Zi sighed, "Many people avoid such conflicts, but you choose to be the one to challenge the Northern Heavenly King."

"Once someone does something wrong, they must pay the price..."

Ye Zi worriedly said, "I'm afraid you're too stubborn, and in the end, you'll be the one who pays the price. Is it worth risking your life for two strangers?"

Xiao Bing looked at Ye Zi with confidence and smiled, "I have never lost in my entire life."

Ye Zi took a deep breath, leaned against Xiao Bing, and sighed, "I can't persuade you."

"Naive girl."

"On that night, I will be there... I want to see you win, to see you walk off the stage alive. You brought me freedom and taught me love; I will give you loyalty." Ye Zi smiled sweetly, "If anything happens to you, I'll be with you..."

Xiao Bing held Ye Zi tighter.

After dropping Ye Zi off at home, Xiao Bing returned to his own place. He tiptoed back to his room. Su Xiaoxiao knew that Xiao Bing was going to Ye Zi's place tonight, so she had already gone to bed, not wanting to wait up and interrogate him like a nagging wife. After all, she knew who Xiao Bing's true girlfriend was, and her ability to manage him was just a threat to report him to Ye Zi, a case of borrowing someone else's power.

The next day, Xiao Bing found the relevant authorities and spent the whole day running errands. He bought the shop that Julia had purchased before her death from the government, then officially gave all the employees a holiday. Through Li Chunlan, who was still in the hospital, he found a reliable renovation team to connect the two shops and start the renovation.

During the renovation, Erhuo couldn't continue living there. However, Xiao Bing couldn't bring him to the Ye family, so he rented a one-bedroom apartment near the shop for him to stay in. From the start of the renovation, Erhuo received another task: to learn martial arts.

Erhuo's strength was already considerable, being invincible at the Mingjing stage, like an iron-clad warrior. Unless he encountered a Dianjing expert, it would be hard to injure him even if you hit him.

But in this critical period, after arriving in Jiangcheng, Xiao Bing had offended several enemies. The truth about Su Peiya's death was still unknown. Apart from Xiao Bei, who was secretly protecting Su Xiaoxiao, Xiao Bing had no one else. Even with his own strength, he was still outnumbered. Moreover, Xiao Bing was interested in Erhuo's sincerity and potential in martial arts, and was eager to help him improve.

After calling Erhuo to the forest on the outskirts, Xiao Bing pointed to a huge rock nearby and asked with a smile, "Erhuo, what is this?"

Erhuo widened his eyes and said unhappily, "Brother Bing, I'm not stupid. This kind of rock is everywhere in our place."

Xiao Bing asked, "Can you break it?"

Erhuo walked around the rock, looking at it from all sides. The rock was huge, almost as big as Erhuo himself. He tapped it with his hand and found it very solid. "It might take some effort."

Xiao Bing walked up and lightly slapped the rock. Erhuo laughed foolishly, "Brother Bing, you're really silly. Such a hard rock, how can you break it with such a light slap? Do you think it's tofu?"

Suddenly, a muffled sound came from inside the rock, startling Erhuo. He widened his eyes, almost popping them out, and saw the rock suddenly shatter into pieces, exploding from the middle.

"I... I... I must not have slept well, or my eyes must be blind."

Xiao Bing smiled, "If your eyes were blind, could you see this?"

Xiao Bing looked at Erhuo and asked with a smile, "Do you want to learn?"

Erhuo looked dazed and said, "What? What did you say?"

"I'm asking if you want to learn martial arts from me."

"Can... Can I break such a big rock like you?"

Xiao Bing raised an eyebrow, "No problem."

"Are you going to take me as your disciple?"

Xiao Bing smiled, "Friends can teach each other martial arts."

"I'll learn, I want to learn... Brother Bing, you're too good. I want to learn martial arts from you."

Xiao Bing said, "I only teach smart people, not fools."

"I'm not a fool!"

Erhuo wasn't lying. After teaching Erhuo, Xiao Bing realized how talented he was in martial arts. However, the principles of Dianjing and Mingjing were very different. Even with great talent, it wasn't something that could be achieved in a day or two. According to Xiao Bing's estimate, it would take about ten to fifteen days for Erhuo to勉强 reach the initial stage of Dianjing.

Having a Dianjing expert by his side made Xiao Bing feel much more secure. He let Erhuo continue practicing on his own and went to the hospital to talk to Li Chunlan, updating her on the progress of the shop. Li Chunlan had been in a good mood since the expansion, always smiling. The noodle shop was her lifelong dream, and she was delighted to see it flourish even though she was sick. Moreover, Xiao Bing might not just be someone else to her...

For three consecutive days, Xiao Bing noticed that his right hand was almost useless, and his entire arm needed a few more days to recover. But time didn't wait for anyone, and the day of the death match finally arrived.

Xiao Bing didn't tell Su Xiaoxiao about the death match; she didn't need to know. On that night, the underground arena in the north of the city was packed with people. Almost half of the influential figures in the underground world of Jiangcheng were there. The true masters of the place were the Northern Heavenly King, the Peony Fairy, and the master of the underground world of Jiangcheng, Lord Hou.

Lord Hou, the Ye family, and the Northern Heavenly King were all seated on the high platform. Behind Lord Hou stood a tall, stern man like a javelin. Behind the Peony Fairy stood a short, fat man and a young woman in a green dress in her early twenties. Ye Bancheng was accompanied by a few bodyguards, as well as Ye Xinyi and Ye Tianming.

In addition to Lord Hou, the Ye family, and the Northern Heavenly King, there was a man wearing a Peking Opera mask and a costume sitting there. Because of the mask, no one could see his face, only the unsettling, effeminate gaze in his eyes.

The Peony Fairy said with some disgust, "Flower Face, can you stop being so effeminate and strange? Every time I look at you, I feel like there are thorns in my back."

Flower Face laughed, and his laugh gave a feeling like that of an actor. He even pinched his fingers in a delicate gesture as he spoke, "Peony Fairy... We four Heavenly Kings are like one. Look... such a big event, and today only I, Flower Face, am here. Shouldn't you thank me?"

Lord Hou still had his gentle, kind appearance. He looked calmly at the Peony Fairy and Flower Face on either side and smiled, "Flower Face, don't sow discord. The four Heavenly Kings are like one. The other two Heavenly Kings are busy with other matters. With the Northern Heavenly King and the Eastern Heavenly King here today, the show will be exciting enough."

Lord Hou looked at Ye Bancheng and smiled, "I wonder who you hope will win today, Old Ye?"

Ye Bancheng showed no signs of weakness and smiled faintly, "I'm just here to watch the show. The Peony Fairy is someone I have long admired, and Xiao Bing is my junior. I must remain impartial. Sometimes misunderstandings can be resolved in better ways. Why must it come to a life-or-death struggle? It would be better to stop at a point."

The Peony Fairy smiled dismissively, "Old Ye may not understand. This is a life-or-death match. Once it's announced, it can't be changed. The most taboo thing in the underworld is breaking one's word."

Ye Bancheng frowned slightly and fell silent. Ye Xinyi, sitting beside him, had a hint of excitement in her eyes. She couldn't help but look forward to the man being killed on the stage.

At that moment, Zhu Mingyu was already standing on the platform. Flower Face laughed, "Why hasn't the man come yet? Is he afraid?"

Ye Xinyi looked at Flower Face and smiled, "The Eastern Heavenly King may not know, but Xiao Bing is a strong-willed person. He probably doesn't know the meaning of fear."

Flower Face and Ye Xinyi's eyes met, and then they both turned their attention to the stage, their expressions becoming somewhat strange.

"He's here."

No one knew who said it, but everyone saw Xiao Bing and Ye Zi holding hands, walking in confidently from the entrance. The entire arena erupted in excitement!