Chapter 824: Chapter 829: Hongmen Master (1)
Wu Zhaofeng.
Hongmen Master!
Looking at the spirited old man, Ling Chen immediately recognized the other’s identity. Before coming, Ling Chen had already learned about the Hongmen Master from Qin Genglong.
Wu Zhaofeng walked to the front of the crowd, looking Ling Chen up and down, and said indifferently: "A few days ago, I heard that a young man defeated Luo Haicheng. I didn’t really believe it. Although Luo Haicheng’s strength isn’t very formidable, he’s still passable. For you to defeat him at such a young age shows that you have some skill. However, having skill is one thing, but you lack judgment. To dare to come onto my Hongmen’s territory and cause trouble, do you really think no one in Hongmen can handle you? Young man, let me give you a piece of advice: Confidence is good, but too much confidence is arrogance and will eventually be your downfall."
Ling Chen slightly curled his lips in a smile, maintaining his expression, and said: "Mr. Wu is right. However, staying in this prison is too boring, so I wanted to find something to do. We’re all martial artists here, and it would be best if we could spar in martial arts. Unfortunately, Mr. Wu’s standards are too high to consider me worth noticing. I originally wanted to pay a visit, but you refused me. Since that’s the case, I could only come in this way."
As he said this, Ling Chen paused, then continued: "Mr. Wu, I’ve heard of Hongmen’s reputation. It’s a long-established force in the Martial Arts world. This visit to Yan City Prison was unexpected, but to encounter Hongmen is a delightful surprise. It’s just that..."
"Just what? Speak plainly and don’t hem and haw." Wu Zhaofeng said coldly.
Ling Chen grinned: "I’m just not sure whether Mr. Wu truly has the credentials to uphold the name of ’Hongmen’."
Upon hearing this, Wu Zhaofeng’s old face darkened, and he eyed Ling Chen gloomily, saying coldly: "You mean... I’m not worthy of the ’Hongmen’ title?"
"I can’t say just yet, but after we cross hands, we’ll see if you’re worthy or not. Mr. Wu, would you care to instruct me?" Ling Chen raised his hand with a ’please’ gesture.
"Humph!" Wu Zhaofeng disdainfully averted his gaze, saying, "I am the Master of Hongmen. What right do you, a junior, have to challenge me? Hongmen is all about rules. According to the rules of the Martial Arts world, you come to challenge, and I am obliged to respond. Likewise, if you wish to challenge me, you must first defeat my disciples as per the rules, to qualify as my opponent. If you can’t, then you’d better leave here quickly and stop disgracing yourself on my Hongmen’s turf."
"Old Man Wu, aren’t you being a bit overbearing, pitting one against dozens of yours, there’s no fairness in that." Qin Genglong said discontentedly.
"He’s the one challenging, I’m not forcing him. If he lacks the guts, he should stop playing the hero in front of me." Wu Zhaofeng said with arms behind his back, glancing sideways at the ceiling as if waiting for Ling Chen’s decision.
Under everyone’s gaze, Ling Chen smiled, fearless, and said: "Since I dared to challenge, I’m naturally brave enough to keep going. But Mr. Wu, don’t blame me for not warning you in advance. You can go by your rules, but I won’t hold back. If your subordinates get hurt later, don’t blame me for being ruthless."
Wu Zhaofeng sneered: "Is that a threat?"
"Don’t joke, how would I dare threaten you? Just a friendly reminder. If you’re concerned about your men, you might as well accept my challenge."
"Dream on!" Wu Zhaofeng waved his hand, lightly commanding: "If you want to challenge me, let’s see if you have the skill." With a pause, Wu Zhaofeng turned his words: "Ling Chen, don’t say I didn’t warn you. My men won’t show any mercy, so you’d better take care of yourself and not end up leaving your life here."
"If that’s the case, then it’s simply my lack of skill." With that, Ling Chen gestured to Qin Genglong, signaling him to step back.
Subsequently, Ling Chen casually walked to the center of the arena. Looking at the row of standing Hongmen members, he clasped his hands with a smile and said: "Gentlemen, please grant me your guidance!"
"Go, kill him!"
At the command, more than a dozen men in the front row rushed up, surrounding Ling Chen. Immediately, one of the middle-aged men stepped forward, pressuring Ling Chen, both of his palms aiming straight for Ling Chen’s chest.
Seeing the middle-aged man make a move, Ling Chen dared not to be careless. Earlier, when Wu Zhaofeng showed up, he had already taken notice. Two middle-aged men were with Wu Zhaofeng, their expressions stern, their presence steady, their eyes revealing a sharp glint—clearly not ordinary experts.
At this moment, Wu Zhaofeng had only dispatched one of them, likely to gauge Ling Chen’s abilities.
With a quick turn of thought, Ling Chen’s foot slid, instantly executing the Nine Yang Qiankun Step. In an instant, the middle-aged man felt only a blur as Ling Chen disappeared before his eyes.
Simultaneously, cries of pain echoed around him. The middle-aged man turned to see that of the more than ten men who had joined the fray, nearly half were down, faces pale, moaning incessantly. Judging by this, they were mostly incapacitated.
Seeing this scene, both Wu Zhaofeng and the other middle-aged man’s expressions turned a bit grim. Especially Wu Zhaofeng, who was closely observing Ling Chen’s movement technique, trying to follow his steps. However, believing himself capable by virtue of his strength and experience to accurately anticipate Ling Chen’s movement technique, after several attempts, he found it was no simple task.
Ling Chen’s footwork was unpredictable; suddenly left, then right, sometimes fast, then slow, without finding any pattern within it.
For a moment, Wu Zhaofeng’s gaze grew increasingly serious.
Watching more and more subordinates fall to the ground, Wu Zhaofeng could no longer hold his patience, saying to the middle-aged man beside him: "Go help, be sure to watch out for his movement technique."
The middle-aged man nodded, said nothing more, tapped lightly with his toes, and instantly sped up, joining the fray.
By this time, Ling Chen had already dealt with Hongmen’s small fry that had been sent out, leaving only two middle-aged men in the arena.
Two Earthly List experts!
Ling Chen’s lips curled slightly, his eyes sweeping over the opponent, Mo Che-like pupils revealing a sharp edge.
Although Ling Chen had often fought with experts before, facing off against two Earthly List experts at the same time was a first. As he pondered, the two middle-aged men exchanged glances, then stepped to the side of the weapon rack, drawing a steel saber and a long spear from it.
Having chosen their weapons, one middle-aged man pointed to the weapon rack and said: "You can choose the weapon you’re best at, don’t blame us for bullying you later."
"Can I use weapons?" Ling Chen’s eyes brightened, and the smile on his face grew even more radiant.