"Peng Lin!"
"Captain!"
The first to react were Chen Hao, Gao Chenfei, and the others.
At this moment, Peng Lin appeared at the entrance like a god of war, his posture tall and his presence extraordinary, his gaze sharp as lightning, making him unapproachable.
"Look quickly, it's Peng Lin who defeated the top fighter in Yufang City in the exhibition match yesterday!"
"That's right! But his injury couldn't possibly have healed in just one day!"
"Perhaps he hasn't fully recovered, but this match is too important for Aishen City, so..."
"So he's enduring the injury to carry Aishen City to the finals?"
At this thought, the audience rose in silence, their applause turning into a tide that echoed throughout the martial arts hall!
Aishen City, the team's soul, had returned!
At this moment, a sharp glint shot from his snake-like eyes, and Pang Qiang trembled uncontrollably as if electrified. His face was flushed, his teeth bared halfway, ferocious and unrestrained, almost demonic.
"He's arrived just in time. However, because Peng Lin was heavily injured yesterday, the会长 (Huì zhǎng - President/Chairman) will personally diagnose him. If the injury is within a controllable range, he will be the contestant for the fourth match, facing Pang Qiang, the representative of Yufang City. This match is of utmost importance. Please the audience wait a moment, the peak battle is about to begin!"
Yue Ran's words reignited the excitement of the entire venue. Peng Lin returned to the Aishen City team area with the speed of wind. The three of them came forward one after another, asking about his condition.
"Captain, no way, are you really okay?" Chen Hao's eyes sparkled as he scanned Peng Lin with a gaze like he was examining a monster.
Peng Lin clenched his fist, his internal energy flowing like a surging spring. His face was ruddy, and he exuded an aura of absolute confidence. "Of course, I'm fine. I'm just itching for a fight!"
"You freak, you're not a monster, are you? Let me take a look at this injury?"
Gao Chenfei circled him suspiciously several times and then gently touched his arm. The bruises and swelling had completely disappeared, and not even a hint of injury could be seen!
"I think you should get yourself checked out. You might really be a freak. Oh, right, let me examine your neck."
"Examine my neck for what?"
"To see if you were bitten by a spider~"
"Get lost."
The two bickered as usual, while the Taekwondo会长 slowly approached. He also walked around Peng Lin several times, his brow furrowed before relaxing.
"You kid, your bones are remarkably resilient. Alright, go up on stage."
As soon as he finished speaking, Peng Lin cupped his hands slightly towards the two seniors and calmly strode onto the stage, standing tall as if he had been reborn.
Leng Ziyu's face turned pale. Having already suffered two consecutive defeats, her state of mind was vastly different from before. Now, she only had Pang Qiang to rely on. But this Pang Qiang...
A sinister shadow flickered in her eyes, like a poisonous snake lurking in the grass, waiting for its chance to strike. She thought to herself that she had likely fallen into their trap, that they had outmaneuvered her with a strategy akin to Tian Ji's horse race. Now, she stood at the edge of an abyss, with a chilling wind swirling around her, surrounded by wolves. She had no other choice.
"Pang Qiang, don't disappoint me again."
Her words, each one like a knife, were etched into Pang Qiang's heart, and he could only respond with his bloodshot pupils.
This was the match he had always dreamed of, an opportunity to avenge his past humiliation. He looked up at the wildly excited audience, a slight smile curling his lips. "The higher they are lifted, the harder they fall. Peng Lin, this time, I will make you experience what it's like to fall into an abyss!"
Pang Qiang clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot, almost mad. Just then, Leng Ziyu carefully handed him a pill.
He knew that this cold pill signified Leng Ziyu's resolve – failure meant ruin and disgrace, and he had to wager his future, his reputation, and even his insignificant destiny.
"Pang Qiang, what are you still considering? Don't forget who brought you out of the orphanage, gave you a life of luxury and comfort, who made you feel like you had a home, who gave you a goal to strive for? It was me! And now, it's time for you to repay me."
Leng Ziyu gripped his shoulder tightly, her sharp fingernails digging into his flesh like claws. The pain immediately reminded him of his childhood at the orphanage, when he was scolded and reprimanded by the caretakers for his mischievousness.
The pain of his childhood returned so vividly, further intensifying his ferocity!
"What? Do you want to fight me?"
Leng Ziyu stared intently into his eyes, which seemed on the verge of bleeding. She assumed he was recalling his childhood fears and a slight smile played on her lips, her face filled with amusement.
Pang Qiang met her gaze for a few seconds, then shook off her hands from his shoulders. Without hesitation, he swallowed the seemingly inconspicuous pill and, like a Spartan warrior resolved to die, stepped onto the stage with heavy steps.
At this moment, the atmosphere on the stage was frozen as if covered in frost. Invisible cold energy spread wildly. All the spectators instinctively leaned forward, yet not a single person dared to take a deep breath or speak. Even the referee on the stage had completely forgotten the words "Bow to each other, the match begins."
"Tsk tsk, judging by your panda eyes, you didn't sleep well last night. You just lost one match, do you need to torture yourself like this?"
Peng Lin's taunt this time was entirely different from yesterday's. This was because he had absolute confidence and could win legitimately without provoking his opponent.
"No need for nonsense. Today, only one of us can walk off this stage safely!"
Pang Qiang's taut body was like a drawn bow, and his voice was as cold as if it had emerged from a nine-layered abyss.
"Alright! That's exactly what I want!"
Startled by their words, the referee finally remembered his duty. He immediately signaled them to approach, bow to each other, and then announced loudly, "The match begins!"
As soon as the words fell, their fists and feet moved like rapidly spreading clouds. The moment their terrifying punches collided, they exploded with a sound like crashing waves against a shore. What was even more frightening was that the speed of their attacks increased, and for a time, it was impossible to tell who had the upper hand!
"Such speed!"
"At this rate, their stamina won't last long."
"Could it be that both of them intend to defeat the other in the first round?"
"Who knows? This match is getting more and more interesting!"
Almost no one in the audience was seated; they all leaned forward, trying to catch a glimpse of their full-force blows.
The two became flickering, overlapping silhouettes on the stage, clashing and colliding. Each exchange brought a sound like waves crashing against reefs. As the battle reached the middle of the first round, the two, who had been unable to determine a victor, each took a punch from the other, staggered back three or four steps, and barely managed to regain their footing.