Chapter 88: The Duel—Unflinching in the Face of Peril

Liang Meng’s voice carried a weight of heaviness and helplessness. He gazed at Li Chao’s resolute figure and spoke again, his words thick with warning:

“Their strength is formidable! If you go up there, you’re only throwing your life away!”

His tone revealed his lack of confidence in Li Chao’s endeavor, even a deep, abiding worry. In his eyes, there was both admiration for Li Chao’s courage and a weary acceptance of the cruel reality.

Li Chao heard this, but did not move. He merely shook his head gently, a gesture laden with unspeakable meaning. He did not rebut with words; his actions spoke louder, demonstrating unwavering resolve. He took two steps forward, placing himself squarely in the eye of the storm, alone but steadfast, blocking danger from Liu Lele.

To Liu Lele, this moment seemed magnified beyond measure. She watched Li Chao’s slightly frail back, her heart churning with complex emotions. That silhouette, in this instant, was tragically heroic—like a warrior stepping onto a path of no return.

She could not help but wonder:

“Will he die?”

The question struck her heart like a hammer, filling her with unprecedented anxiety and unease. Yet, alongside her worry and fear of the coming unknown, a faint, subtle feeling stirred deep within her—a flutter that surprised her, but she could not deny. In this moment of life and death, Li Chao’s presence brought warmth and solace she had never felt before.

...

On the other side, the Butcher and his two companions watched Li Chao’s determination with even greater malicious glee. They pressed forward, murderous intent swirling about them like three hungry beasts stalking prey.

The blonde woman laughed wickedly, her whip flickering through the air like a serpent, its hiss sharp as it lashed toward Li Chao’s head. The whip seemed to carry a chilling, sinister aura, enough to make anyone’s skin crawl.

“Watch out!” Liu Lele cried out, her voice cutting through the air with barely concealed concern and nervousness.

But her worry was misplaced. Li Chao’s reflexes were astonishing. He sidestepped, fluid as a fish gliding through water, easily dodging the whip’s venomous strike. His movements were graceful, seamless, leaving everyone present momentarily stunned.

Li Chao did not pause. Using the momentum, he sprang forward like a hunting leopard, his sudden speed dazzling to the eye.

The blonde woman’s surprise was fleeting, replaced quickly by a cold smirk. She was confident in her strength, convinced Li Chao had only escaped by luck. With a flick of her wrist, the whip danced through the air, weaving dazzling arcs as it swept toward Li Chao again.

This time, Li Chao ignored the whip entirely. His gaze was locked, fierce and unwavering, on the woman’s chest. In the next moment, he formed a fist, gathering what seemed a thousand pounds of force, and slammed it toward her chest.

A dull, thunderous explosion echoed. The punch landed like a sledgehammer, its power astonishing. The blonde woman’s body was struck by an invisible force, sent hurtling backward, her whip flying from her grasp and landing on the ground.

The sudden turn left everyone dumbstruck. Eyes wide, they stared in disbelief.

The blonde woman’s face was pale as death, her eyes wide, fixed on Li Chao with terror and incredulity. She could feel the agony in her chest, as if shards of bone were piercing her heart, the pain suffocating.

“You…”

Her voice was weak and fractured; only a single word escaped her lips before she could speak no more. Blood poured from her mouth like a spring gone wild, staining her clothes and the air around her.

Her body collapsed helplessly, eyes open but unfocused, the flame of life extinguished in an instant, leaving only silence.

This scene struck like thunder, stunning everyone present. Liu Lele’s lips parted in shock, her expression filled with disbelief; she had never witnessed anything so soul-shaking. Liang Meng, too, was baffled. He knew his own strength, knew the difficulty of facing the blonde woman, yet Li Chao had dispatched her in a single move—far beyond his imagination.

Shame and self-reproach mingled with excitement in his heart. He began to doubt his own judgment—had he misread Li Chao, missed a hidden master? This realization made him both embarrassed and full of anticipation.

...

Yet the Butcher and the flat-headed man in the mask felt none of this. The three had survived countless perils together, bonded like siblings, their trust and tacit understanding unbreakable. To witness their companion killed before their eyes was like a volcano erupting within them, rage and grief boiling over.

“You’re asking for death!” The Butcher roared, eyes red as if aflame. He gripped his cleaver tightly and charged at Li Chao, each stride causing the ground to tremble.

The masked man followed closely, his weapon gleaming with murderous intent, clearly prepared to fight to the death. He wielded a sharp dagger, his eyes ablaze with vengeance, lunging at Li Chao, every glint of steel speaking of his hatred for Chen Shan.

Li Chao, however, remained calm, his gaze cool and resolute. As the masked man drew near, two flashes of light suddenly appeared in Li Chao’s hands: spring knives, the very weapons the masked man had dropped during his failed assassination in Li Chao’s home. Now, they became Li Chao’s instruments of retaliation.

One blade streaked through the air like lightning toward the Butcher, forcing him to halt and raise his cleaver in defense. The other, silent as a specter, aimed directly for the masked man’s vitals.

The masked man reacted swiftly, swinging his dagger to intercept the incoming spring knife, the clash ringing out clear and sharp.

This was only the beginning.

As the spring knife was knocked aside, a destructive aura erupted from Li Chao, freezing the very air. The masked man looked up—Li Chao’s fist was already inches away, carrying overwhelming power and speed, set to obliterate anything in its path.

He tried to react, but it was too late.

A deafening bang echoed as Li Chao’s fist slammed into the masked man. The force shattered all his defenses, sending agony through his chest, his body flung uncontrollably through the air.

He soared like a broken kite, tracing a long arc before crashing hard onto a distant SUV.

The vehicle groaned under the impact, shuddering from the sudden blow. The masked man lay motionless atop the crumpled hood, bloodied, face pale as death, his breath nearly imperceptible.

His eyes were filled with unwillingness and despair, but even more with terror and awe at Li Chao’s strength.

Liu Lele and Liang Meng stood by, overwhelmed by disbelief. In just two moves, the outcome was devastating: one dead, one severely wounded. Such strength was beyond their imagination. They exchanged glances, their eyes full of awe and reverence for Liang Meng’s power.

The Butcher was equally shaken. He gripped his cleaver tightly, eyes locked on Liang Meng, torn between shock and anger. As their leader, he knew his duty and purpose—now, only revenge remained.

“Die!” The Butcher roared, his voice brimming with endless rage and murderous intent. He lunged at Li Chao, cleaver slicing through the air in a fierce arc, targeting Chen Shan’s vitals.

In that moment, he became a furious beast, determined to bring Liang Meng down.

Yet, facing the Butcher’s ferocity, Li Chao was remarkably composed. He moved like a phantom, dodging the cleaver’s strike.

At the same time, his hands formed seals with lightning speed, powerful energy surging within him.

The Butcher’s roar echoed like thunder through the night, filled with boundless rage and killing intent. He stepped forward, each stride striking the hearts of those present, causing involuntary anxiety.

His military knife gleamed coldly, like the scythe of death, slicing unhesitatingly toward Li Chao’s neck.

The strike was swift as lightning, precise as a hawk, savage as a wolf.

In the darkness, it was like a crescent moon slashing through the void, its hiss sharp and menacing, aimed directly at Chen Shan.

Clearly, the Butcher’s strength far surpassed the masked man and the blonde woman; each move brimmed with astonishing power and skill.

Li Chao dared not underestimate him.

...

He knew this was not just a battle for survival but a stern test of his own abilities. Taking a deep breath, he summoned all his strength, and a faint golden glow began to shimmer over his skin, as if he had donned a suit of golden armor, sacred and inviolable.

Liang Meng, watching from afar, was dumbfounded. He had never witnessed such a soul-stirring scene, nor seen anyone project their energy so powerfully. Even he could not reach such a realm, and genuine awe and fear for Li Chao rose within him.

Recalling the boastful words he once uttered in Kaiyuan County, Liang Meng felt a flush of shame. He had claimed he could take on a hundred men alone, but now realized it was mere bravado. Facing a master like Li Chao, he would not withstand even a single move. With this thought, his face reddened as if slapped.

On the battlefield, Li Chao and the Butcher were locked in fierce combat. Their movements were swift as lightning, colliding and intertwining in the night. Each clash resounded with thunderous noise and flying sparks, dazzling and terrifying.

As Li Chao unleashed his full power, the atmosphere grew tense and intense. Dust swirled under the force of their blows, obscuring the figures, chaotic and uncertain.

The constant crackle of impacts was deafening, highlighting the ferocity and brutality of the duel.

Liang Meng watched from a distance, eyes fixed on the two fighters, his heart filled with shock and awe.

“This is what a true battle of masters looks like!” he sighed, shaking his head, regretful for his previous narrow-mindedness and amazed at the spectacle before him.

He realized he had been ignorant, and this fight revealed what real martial prowess meant.

Liu Lele, a businesswoman unfamiliar with the world of martial arts, could sense the extraordinary intensity of the battle. She looked at Liang Meng with curiosity and confusion:

“Is Xiao Chao really that strong?”

Her voice trembled, obviously shaken by the scene.

Liang Meng nodded solemnly. “Leaving aside his medical skills, just his martial arts alone rank him in the top three of Huaxi City.”

His tone was full of admiration and recognition. As a man of high standards, he rarely praised anyone so directly, but Li Chao’s strength had won him over.

Liu Lele was startled by this revelation, surprised at Li Chao’s power. She watched him on the battlefield, her eyes shining with a new, intense interest in the young master.

As they spoke, the situation in the arena shifted.

Li Chao, with keen insight, spotted a flaw in the Butcher’s defense and hammered it with a punch.

The Butcher grunted, his military knife dropping from his grasp, obviously wounded.

Li Chao pressed the attack, delivering a powerful kick aimed at the Butcher’s vital point.

The series of blows flowed like water, displaying Li Chao’s astonishing combat talent and skill.

The Butcher’s expression twisted under the onslaught. He hastily tried to defend, but Li Chao’s forceful strike could not be stopped.

With a thunderous crash, dust erupted beneath the Butcher’s feet. His body reeled back seven or eight steps, nearly falling.

When he regained his footing, his arms trembled violently, clearly suffering heavy internal injuries.

Blood spilled from his lips, his face pale as death, his eyes wide with disbelief and despair.

He knew, today he would not escape.

Li Chao gave him no respite. He quickly snatched up the fallen military knife, his figure leaping forward like a leopard, pursuing the Butcher.

He understood well: “Strike while the iron is hot.” The Butcher was now helpless, at Li Chao’s mercy.

The Butcher raised his arms for a last defense, but his fists stalled in midair.

A cold blade had already pierced his throat, like the scythe of death.

Blood erupted, staining his clothes and the air around him.

Silence reigned. Everyone held their breath, eyes wide in disbelief.

Li Chao’s speed, precision, and ferocity stunned them all.

They knew: from this day forth, Li Chao’s name would echo through Huaxi City and the entire martial world.