145: Grudges

The atmosphere on the final night of the fighting arena was completely different.

The air seemed thick with a dangerous static, suffocating yet exhilarating enough to make one's scalp tingle.

If the underground fighting tournament were compared to an elaborate banquet, the point-based matches of the first five days were merely an appetizer with a hint of blood; the Grudge Match over the next two days would be the true main course of life and death, where destinies were decided and debts were settled.

The underground forces in Dongguan were deeply intertwined, with years of friction accumulating too many irreconcilable grudges.

Disputes over territory, cutthroat business competition, the loss of subordinates, and even feuds over women... every tournament was a moment when these festering sores erupted and were thoroughly settled.

Li Zhan leaned lazily against the booth sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, his gaze sweeping calmly across the entire venue.

Yang Yuying clung tightly to his side; she could clearly feel that tonight was different, and the oppressive feeling of an impending storm made her instinctively lean closer to Li Zhan.

Inside the octagon cage, the hired dancers were vigorously gyrating their waists, and the music was deafening, attempting to push the audience's emotions to a higher peak, but the eyes of many bosses off-stage no longer lingered on the beauty, filled instead with cold calculations and suppressed anger.

Finally, the host jumped onto the ring, and the music stopped abruptly.

He held the microphone, his voice no longer playful as it had been in previous days, but carrying a murderous air:

"Gentlemen! Brothers! Dessert time is over! Next—it is time to see the real deal and settle the Grudge Match..."

"The old rules! In a Grudge Match, life and death are left to fate! Old grudges and new hatreds are to be settled in the ring! Anyone who dares to seek revenge off-stage will be an enemy to everyone here!"

"Is there any brave soul—who dares to fire the first shot?!"

Before the host could even finish speaking!

"Roar—!" A violent roar exploded from one of the booths!

A burly man with a full beard and bloodshot eyes rushed out like a mad tiger, crashing through the cage door in a few steps and jumping inside!

He pointed at a thin middle-aged man in the opposite booth, his voice raspy and distorted from extreme rage, "Huang Mazi! You piece of trash! Your people crippled my own brother last time! Today I'm going to take your life! Get up here!"

Huang Mazi, who was called out, changed his expression, his eyes flickering.

The entire venue's gaze instantly focused on him.

The host immediately looked at him, "Brother Ma! A brother from Town is challenging you! According to the rules, you can choose to accept or refuse!"

"Boo—!" A huge, disdainful chorus of boos immediately erupted from the audience!

In this kind of setting, refusing a challenge was almost equivalent to cutting oneself off from the underworld; one would never be able to hold their head up again.

Huang Mazi's face turned pale and then green; he slammed his wine glass onto the floor and stood up with a grim smile, "Bear! Do you really think I'm afraid of you?! Today I'll send you down to join your brother..."

After speaking, he took off his coat, revealing his lean upper body and a back full of tattoos, and strode toward the octagon cage.

The expressions of all the bosses present lost the composure they had in the previous days and became solemn.

The point-based matches were mostly fights between underlings, but the Grudge Match meant it was truly possible for them to end up in the ring themselves...

Although it was rare for a spokesperson to be directly challenged, once named, there was no turning back...

The cage door closed.

Without any unnecessary chatter, the two men with long-standing grudges lunged at each other like wild beasts and began to fight.

There were no rules, no referees, only the most primitive and cruel combat...

The Grudge Match had kicked off in the most direct and bloody way.

The atmosphere of the entire venue was instantly ignited to a boil!

Everyone's eyes were drawn to it, all knowing that the real bloody feast had begun...

Inside the octagon cage, those two men with long-standing grudges had already killed until their eyes were red.

Techniques and defenses were all thrown to the back of their minds...

They were like crazed beasts, completely abandoning blocking and dodging, with every strike aimed at the other's vital points.

The muffled sound of fists smashing into faces, the crisp sound of elbows shattering ribs, the deep thud of knees driving into abdomens...

Blood splattered, teeth fell out, and both men quickly became bloodied, yet they still roared and grappled together, as if they would never stop until they tore the other apart!

The audience off-stage was also completely ignited by this extreme violence, roaring wildly, and their respective supporters were screaming at the top of their lungs: "Bear! Kill him! Avenge your brother!" "Brother Ma! Rip his heart out! Cripple him!"

The bosses in the various booths reacted differently.

Su Jingtang and Gold Tooth Bing from Hong Kong and Macau were relatively calm; they had intervened in Dongguan affairs later and had no deep grudges with the local forces. This trip was more about observing and looking for cooperation opportunities, and they did not intend to get involved in these local grudges that were to the death, just calmly watching from the sidelines.

As for Young Master Liu's side, it was a completely different scene.

He had no heart for watching the bloodshed on stage and was whispering with a few trusted aides, his gaze occasionally sweeping coldly toward Li Zhan's booth.

A moment later, he beckoned to AHao from Chashan, who was beside him, rubbing his hands together and looking eager to try.

A Hao leaned in, and Young Master Liu quickly and covertly shoved a small, sealed glass bottle containing a colorless liquid into his hand, whispering a few words rapidly in a low voice.

When A Hao touched the cold bottle, his body stiffened abruptly, the arrogant air on his face disappeared without a trace, replaced by a huge sense of panic and hesitation...

Fine cold sweat instantly seeped out on his forehead, and his voice trembled slightly, "Young... Young Master Liu... this... this is the banned 'Ghost Juice'... if it's discovered... I will be hunted by the entire venue... and a bounty will be placed on me..."

The underground tournament strictly forbade the use of any stimulants or drugs that stimulate potential. Once discovered, the punishment was extremely severe, not simply disqualification; it meant becoming a public enemy of the entire Dongguan and even the surrounding underground world!

Seeing him act like a coward, Young Master Liu frowned, his tone becoming cold and oppressive, "What are you afraid of? As long as you kill Li Zhan on stage, who would dare to investigate you? And who would care what means were used on a dead man? Do you want to be beaten to death on stage by his subordinate just like Thana was, or do you want to take a gamble and trade it for a lifetime of wealth and glory?"

He paused, his tone softening, carrying a hint of temptation, "Don't worry, as long as you get it done, I guarantee you'll be safe in Dongguan. A bounty? That's just to scare cowards! Besides, for that piece of prime land in Tea Mountain I promised you, I'll add another ten percent of the shares! You know better than I do how profitable that place is..."

A Hao's expression fluctuated, his heart struggling violently. On one side was the immense fear of becoming a public enemy, and on the other was the huge profit within reach and the opportunity to escape his current predicament.

His breathing became heavy, his eyes struggling.

Ultimately, his greed for wealth and fear of Young Master Liu overwhelmed his fear.

He gritted his teeth, a flash of desperate madness in his eyes, "Fine! Young Master Liu, I'll do it! But you must not go back on what you promised me!"

"Rest assured, I, Liu Shijie, keep my word!"

Young Master Liu patted his shoulder.

A Hao gripped the bottle that could bring power and also bring destruction, and with his head down, he walked quickly toward the restroom.

This scene did not completely escape the eyes of some people.

In the booth of the organizer, Bai Shaqiang, he and Prince Hui were talking in low voices when a subordinate hurriedly walked over, bowed, and whispered a few words rapidly in his ear.

Bai Shaqiang's expression instantly became solemn; he turned his head sharply, his sharp gaze shooting toward Young Master Liu's booth like a falcon's, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable.

Prince Hui, who was next to him, noticed the change in his aura and asked suspiciously, "Brother Qiang, what is it?"

Bai Shaqiang was silent for a moment before saying, word by word, in a low voice, "That reckless thing, Young Master Liu... prepared 'Ghost Juice' for his dog, wanting to ambush Li Zhan in the Grudge Match."

Prince Hui was also shocked upon hearing this and sat up straight, looking at Young Master Liu's direction in shock, "Using drugs? Is he crazy?! What do you plan to do? Stop him immediately?"

Bai Shaqiang slowly shook his head, a mysterious arc curling at the corner of his mouth, "Stop him? Why should I stop him? Perhaps... only in this way can we force out Li Zhan's true trump card and let us see exactly how much weight he has."

He turned his gaze back to the ring, his tone carrying a cold expectation, "It depends on whether Li Zhan himself can pass this test. As long as he can pass it... then we will..."

Just then, the winner was decided inside the octagon cage!

The burly man named Bear, at the cost of having one arm crippled, forcefully shattered his opponent's Adam's apple with a headbutt...

Huang Mazi stared with wide eyes, clutching his spurting throat as he collapsed to the ground, twitching before he died.

The whole venue erupted in thunderous cheers and curses.

The host hadn't even had time to get on stage to announce the result.

Suddenly— "Li Zhan!!!" A roar like a thunderclap overwhelmed the noise of the entire venue!

AHao from Chashan had appeared at the edge of the octagon cage, his face flushed, his eyes filled with an unnatural excitement and madness. He suddenly raised his hand and pointed at Li Zhan's booth, roaring in a raspy voice: "You surnamed Li! Get your ass down here! AHao from Chashan is going to settle the score with you in this Grudge Match today. Not only will we decide who is better, but we will also decide who lives and who dies..."

Everyone's gaze, instantly like a spotlight, suddenly focused on Li Zhan, who was still leaning lazily on the sofa, smoking a cigarette...