CHAPTER 460: CHAPTER 460: TRULY RUINED

When Yuan Shang heard this, he drew in a sharp breath. "So that’s how it is."

After a moment of thought, he gave a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"

Having spouted nonsense with a perfectly straight face, Xu Ke didn’t notice Yuan Shang’s praise. He glanced at a spot not far away.

Qin Jinghuan wore an expression of sudden realization, but the moment he caught Xu Ke’s gaze, he immediately turned his head as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Xu Ke’s face darkened, and he lowered his voice. "Crap, Qin Jinghuan heard us!"

Yuan Shang’s expression changed. He followed Xu Ke’s gaze and looked just as surprised, then helped Xu Ke to his feet. "Let’s go somewhere else."

These confidential matters could not be overheard.

Xu Ke nodded in agreement.

Seeing them leave, Qin Jinghuan broke into a triumphant smile.

They say you, Xu Ke, are cautious? If you can let slip a secret like that, I don’t think you’re so impressive after all!

***

When Xu Ke returned to the rest area, Wang Qiya immediately rushed over and looked him up and down. "Are you alright, Brother-in-law?"

"Nothing can happen to you, or my sister will become a widow!"

"Don’t say such unlucky things!" Xu Ke glared. The words had an ominous ring to them.

Wang Qiya stuck out her tongue playfully before turning to Yuan Shang. "Vice Alliance Leader Yuan, my brother-in-law is alright, isn’t he?"

"Um..." Yuan Shang was stunned for a moment before replying, "You’d better ask him yourself. He’s a doctor, so he should have a precise grasp of his own physical condition."

Yuan Shang wasn’t sure what state Xu Ke was in, but he could tell that Xu Ke’s Dantian definitely hadn’t been destroyed. Otherwise, he would have felt the void of power within Xu Ke’s body when he helped him up.

Still, he felt that Xu Ke was probably genuinely hurt. Otherwise, how could one explain the blood at the corner of his mouth?

"Oh..." Wang Qiya looked somewhat puzzled by Yuan Shang’s answer.

Just then, a commanding voice shouted from a short distance away, "Yuan Shang, come clean up the ring! Otherwise, Qian Jun and Sikong Mao won’t be able to fight!"

It was Jin Hankang. He was furious that Li Ming had failed to cripple Xu Ke and was now venting all his frustration on Yuan Shang.

Yuan Shang clenched his teeth. "Can’t you get someone else to do it? Li Ming’s hidden weapon techniques are formidable, and his projectiles are embedded in the ring. You’re powerful. If you and the other elders cleaned it up, wouldn’t it be faster?"

Jin Hankang sneered.

Seeing this, Yuan Shang took a deep breath. He wanted to erupt in anger but ultimately held back for a specific reason. He looked at Xu Ke and said, "I’ll go first. I’ll collect all the hidden weapons for you."

"That old dog..." Xu Ke found it both funny and exasperating, but he nodded. He hadn’t expected that after all that, he would still get his hands on Li Ming’s hidden weapons.

Yuan Shang turned and walked away, thinking to himself—

Since you’re making me clean up the darts, I’ll just confiscate them all for myself.

***

As Yuan Shang got on the stage, several other Family Heads also went up to help. There was no other choice. Although Li Ming was only at the mid-Innate Stage, he was still an elite chosen by Wong Ting. Combined with his high-quality hidden weapons, cleaning the ring was impossible without the help of several powerful martial artists.

It was only then that Wang Qiya asked Xu Ke again, this time seriously, "Brother-in-law, are you really alright?"

Tang Yingchang also looked on with concern. He could see that the blood on Xu Ke’s lips was real; it wasn’t something that could be faked.

Seeing their expressions, Xu Ke wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and smiled. "Don’t worry, I’m really fine."

"Then this blood..."

"I forced it out by reversing the flow of my True Qi," Xu Ke explained.

Tang Yingchang’s eyes widened in understanding. So that was it.

But Wang Qiya was still worried. "Really? I’m not very skilled in martial arts, so don’t lie to me. Otherwise, I’ll tell my sister you were spitting up blood during the match."

Xu Ke suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. "The medical book I gave you describes how reversing the flow of True Qi can cause one to vomit blood. Haven’t you read it? Be honest, have you been studying at all lately?"

Wang Qiya fell silent.

She quickly turned away, stood up, and started walking off. "I’m just going to the restroom..."

***

In the competitors’ area, Qian Jun stood expressionlessly beside the steps. Not far to his left was Sikong Mao.

Just then, Zhao Xiangping approached and whispered, "Boss, Qin Jinghuan just reported that Xu Ke only managed to injure Li Ming because he used a hidden weapon technique of his own, catching Li Ming off guard. Xu Ke’s condition is now extremely unstable. I don’t think the match this afternoon will be a concern."

Hearing this, a faint smile finally touched Qian Jun’s lips. "Really?"

For him, Li Ming being crippled didn’t matter; after all, Wong Ting was the one who should be heartbroken. He was upset because Xu Ke had won and seemed to be fine. The news from Qin Jinghuan was a great relief.

Zhao Xiangping nodded. "Qin Jinghuan said he accidentally overheard Xu Ke whispering with Yuan Shang. Xu Ke was furious about it and insisted on leaving, despite being severely injured... We can be sure that Xu Ke just got lucky this time. He’s no longer a threat!"

"I see," Qian Jun nodded with a cold smile.

As they spoke, Koo Zuo, who was standing behind them, glanced at Li Ming still lying unconscious on the ground and at Wong Qiang sitting silently in the back row. He was secretly thrilled.

Go on, act all tough. How’s that working out for you now? The ones who got crippled are you two, not me! Xu Ke is the boss’s rival, no matter what. Did you dimwits really think you could compare to him? I’m the one who’s smart enough to adapt!

At that moment, Koo Zuo was ecstatic. He felt completely vindicated, avenging the humiliation of that morning’s taunts. If the men who’d been crippled weren’t technically his comrades, he would have burst out laughing...

***

"Are you sure Xu Ke has been crippled?" Ye Chong asked with a gloomy expression as he listened to Ye Liang report the news from Qin Jinghuan to Ye Yunfeng.

"I’m sure, Young Master Chong!" Ye Liang bowed.

Ye Chong’s mood finally brightened, and his expression softened considerably. "I knew it. That piece of trash couldn’t stay lucky forever!"

***

In the Huang Family’s area, Huang Zhendong was still silent after listening to the intelligence gathered by his men.

Shi Hongda stood up and let out a cold chuckle. "Excellent. This is the outcome our Huang Family wanted."

Huang Zhendong deeply agreed. "Wong Ting has had two of its promising future experts crippled, and Xu Ke was crippled in the fight. That makes us the ones who benefit from the conflict!"

He was very satisfied with this outcome. If Wong Ting’s subordinates were too strong, the Huang Family would lose its value as an ally, and Wong Ting would eventually abandon them. But if Wong Ting’s subordinates were dead or disabled, the Huang Family’s value would naturally soar.

At the same time, Huang Zhendong thought—

The outcome of this afternoon’s match is already decided!

***

While the match between Qian Jun and Sikong Mao was getting underway in the stadium, a plane from Long Capital landed at Tianhai Airport.