Chapter 46: The Enraged Mouse

On the stage, Lin Zheng and Wang Zhenhu continued their fierce struggle. As the seconds ticked by, Wang Zhenhu grew increasingly frustrated at Lin Zheng’s nimble evasions, darting away from his blows like a monkey, and began shouting in rage.

“Coward! All you do is run! If you have any guts, stand still and fight me!”

Lin Zheng shot him a look of utter disdain. “Weren’t you just saying if I dodged three of your attacks, I’d win? How many have you thrown at me now?”

Wang Zhenhu’s eyes reddened like a beast enraged, and he exploded with even greater speed, his fists raining down on Lin Zheng in a storm.

Suddenly, Lin Zheng found himself in even more danger. He was anxious—unable to take Wang Zhenhu head-on, yet desperate to find a chance to win. As he dodged, he kept searching for an opening.

Minutes passed amid the roar of the crowd, and at last Lin Zheng spotted his opportunity. As Wang Zhenhu unleashed a double-fisted strike, his waist hesitated for a split second.

Lin Zheng’s eyes lit up. He twisted aside, avoiding the blow, and with a surge of power from his waist, drove his knee ferociously toward Wang Zhenhu’s midsection.

“I’ve been waiting for you!” Wang Zhenhu grinned, a look of cunning satisfaction on his face. Ignoring the danger of Lin Zheng’s flying knee, he bellowed and threw himself forward instead of retreating.

Lin Zheng cursed inwardly—he’d already committed, there was no turning back.

His knee landed squarely on Wang Zhenhu’s waist, but in the same instant, Wang Zhenhu’s enraged fist crashed into Lin Zheng’s face.

Lin Zheng grunted, half his face numb, and his body flew two meters through the air, landing with a smack on the ground like a frog.

Wang Zhenhu absorbed the force of Lin Zheng’s kick, pain churning in his waist, but the sight of Lin Zheng felled by his fist filled him with excitement. He threw back his head and roared in triumph.

The spectators echoed with a chorus of approving shouts.

Lin Zheng, his vision spinning from the blow to his head, struggled to regain his senses as Wang Zhenhu advanced with great strides.

Dazed, he gritted his teeth and raised his arms to defend, only to be struck again by a mighty force to the chest. He collapsed onto the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood, and knew he’d suffered internal injuries.

He struggled up, half-kneeling with one arm limp before his chest.

“You’re a tough one!” Wang Zhenhu sneered, standing before the battered Lin Zheng, “You’ve given me a real fight—thanks for that!” He raised his boot, preparing to stomp Lin Zheng’s head.

“I concede!” a thunderous voice rang out.

But Wang Zhenhu ignored it, putting even more force into his kick toward Lin Zheng’s head.

If that kick landed, Lin Zheng would be lucky to escape with his life.

Wang Ji, seeing this, was consumed by fury. Without hesitation, he moved like a phantom, vaulting from the sidelines to the stage, blocking Wang Zhenhu’s kick with a single upraised hand.

A gasp swept through the crowd.

“Was that lightfoot kung fu?”

“He’s so fast—how did he do that?”

Wang Ji gently pushed Wang Zhenhu aside and helped Lin Zheng to his feet.

“I said he concedes. Didn’t you hear me?” he said calmly.

Sensing Wang Ji’s unfathomable strength, Wang Zhenhu’s face changed. He retreated a few steps and lowered his head in silence.

Cao Muhua, unwilling to let the matter go, stood and called out, “Commander Chen! Look at Wang Ji interfering in the match—shouldn’t that mean their side loses?”

Chen Yukai’s eyes narrowed as he replied, “Captain Wang already conceded, so it’s not a violation. This bout goes to Second Company! The score is now one to one!”

Cao Muhua snorted under his breath and sat down.

Wang Ji quickly checked Lin Zheng’s injuries. Seeing they weren’t fatal, he relaxed and discreetly slipped a nanobot repair capsule into Lin Zheng’s mouth.

“Well done. Go get some rest now.” Wang Ji supported Lin Zheng as they walked off the stage.

Lin Zheng, his face pale and harsh, turned to everyone and said, “Sorry, everyone.”

“Don’t worry about it! Let me show him how it’s done!” Haozi, now seething with fury and dangerous intent, glared at Wang Zhenhu on the stage and shouted, “Hey, big oaf! If you’ve got the guts, don’t leave—let’s fight next!”

He made a threatening gesture.

Wang Zhenhu, enraged, was about to reply when Cao Muhua interrupted. “We’re switching fighters for this round. You rest.”

Wang Zhenhu had no choice but to step down. Haozi shot him a fierce glare and strode onto the stage, launching into his taunts before Chen Yukai could even announce the next round.

“Running away? Weren’t you supposed to be tough?”

“Didn’t you call us chickens earlier? Come on, I’ll show you a real chick!”

Haozi, swaggering and stripped to the waist, revealed his wiry frame. With his short stature and cocky attitude, most spectators thought he was making a fool of himself, just asking to be beaten.

But facing Haozi’s provocation, Cao Muhua’s eyes narrowed with murderous intent.

“Get up there—kill him! Twist his head off!”

A burly soldier behind Cao Muhua nodded and strode onto the stage.

“Is Wang Ji really that strong?” Cao Muhua had been one of the few who could follow Wang Ji’s movements. He was both shocked and puzzled.

Wang Zhenhu, stepping off the stage with a wary expression, answered quietly, “Very strong. Much stronger than me.”

Cao Muhua closed his eyes and thought for a moment. “Impossible. The inspector said as long as we cooperate with him, he can’t get his hands on the gene enhancement serum in the south.”

Wang Zhenhu hesitated, “I’m not sure, but I’m certain his strength is at least S-level.”

Cao Muhua’s pupils contracted. After seeing Wang Zhenhu’s serious expression, he said, “All right. I’ll handle it. We’ll need to speed up our collection to trade for higher-grade serums.”

Wang Zhenhu nodded.

On the stage, Haozi and the burly man were already locked in combat.

With a roar, Haozi unleashed a barrage of fierce attacks, overwhelming his opponent. His speed, strength, and focus put him in a completely different league.

In just two minutes, Haozi had landed several heavy punches on the man.

The soldier looked like a trapped beast, screaming in agony as he managed to leave two light footprints on Haozi’s shoulder—nothing more than a tickle.

With a final cry, Haozi drove his elbow into the man’s temple. The man faltered, staggering back, blood pouring from his nose and mouth.

Haozi took a running start, then launched a knee strike straight into his opponent’s chest.

The man vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of his internal organs, his eyes bulging like a goldfish, and flew over ten meters, crashing lifelessly in front of the crowd.

A hush fell over the crowd. No one dared meet the eyes of the wiry, short man on stage, fearing the killing intent that radiated from him.

“Third round—Independent Company wins! That’s two victories for Independent Company!” Chen Yukai declared decisively.

Haozi, facing Cao Muhua’s side, ran his hand through his golden hair and made a taunting thumbs-down gesture.

Wang Ji and his comrades erupted in joyous celebration, marveling at Haozi’s strength.

“I can’t believe he did that!”

Wang Zhenhu hadn’t expected Haozi to be so formidable, dispatching one of their best fighters while he and Cao Muhua were still talking.

Cao Muhua narrowed his eyes dangerously. “You’ll fight the next round. Kill him, and the rest of Wang Ji’s men won’t be a problem.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make him regret ever being born,” Wang Zhenhu replied, moving to step onto the stage.

Cao Muhua stopped him and discreetly handed him a small vial.

Wang Zhenhu hesitated for a moment, then nodded and strode confidently onto the stage.

“Lieutenant Zhao! Are you sure you don’t want to rest before the next round?” Chen Yukai looked at Haozi with appreciation.

Haozi shook his head and smiled. “I can finish this without breaking a sweat. No need to rest.”

“Wait!” Wang Ji, having noticed Cao Muhua’s secret move, slipped quietly onto the stage and pressed a Red Dragon capsule into Haozi’s hand.

“If anything feels wrong, take this,” he whispered.

Then Wang Ji stepped off the stage and said calmly, “Commander, I’m ready.”

“Very well. The fourth round begins!”

As soon as the words were spoken, Wang Zhenhu lunged at Haozi, bellowing, “Only blood can earn my forgiveness!”

Haozi licked his lips with excitement—no one knew what kind of savage soul lurked beneath his slight frame.

“Just what I wanted!”

The two human beasts collided, and the thundering blows left the crowd stunned.

“Are they even human?” a gambler exclaimed, gaping at the deep dents left by their fists and kicks on the stage.

“They’re as strong as wild beasts!”

“This is incredible—so bloody!”

The crowd was in a frenzy as Haozi and Wang Zhenhu fought, their strength nearly equal, but Haozi’s agility giving him a slight edge.

Each blow splattered blood, sending shivers through the onlookers.

“Uncle Chen, they’re terrifying!” Lin Hanya, seated at the judges’ table, finally understood the true brutality of a fight to the death.

Chen Yukai watched the two figures on stage with a trace of regret. “They’re both fine men, but fate...”

Haozi and Wang Zhenhu exchanged heavy blows. Haozi drove his knee into Wang Zhenhu’s lower abdomen, but Wang Zhenhu retaliated with a vicious elbow to the back of Haozi’s ear.

Haozi let out a shriek, and, even more ferocious, pinned Wang Zhenhu’s incoming fist, chopping down on his joint with a dull crack.

Wang Zhenhu roared, stomping hard and twisting Haozi’s ankle. The two immediately separated.

Wang Zhenhu clutched his injured left arm, blood streaming from his eyes. “I underestimated you! But now you’d better watch out!”

With that, Wang Zhenhu downed the vial Cao Muhua had given him.

Haozi rubbed his aching ankle and gritted his teeth. “I can play that game too!” He pulled out his own capsule and swallowed it in one gulp.