Chapter 449: Chapter 179: Clash
The location chosen for this duel was in a border area under the de facto control of both sides, near the entrance to a tunnel.
The next day, Lu Tong Logistics dispatched over twenty small and medium-sized vehicles and a hundred two-wheeled motorbikes from their camp, which roared toward the dueling site.
Even though there were already light sources on the road sufficient to see the surface, they still turned on their bright headlights.
The vast majority of the members present were from Lu Tong Logistics’ original security team, so their combat strength was not to be underestimated.
In fact, thanks to this core security force, they didn’t fall behind in ordinary firefights. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to hold out this long. However, they were utterly powerless against a Third Limit Fighter, which was why Poison Ant Express had been able to gradually corner and consume them.
If Old Bian had been willing to put in even a little effort, this wouldn’t have been the outcome. This was also what people were most dissatisfied with about Old Bian. When they learned he had been kicked out and a new Fighter had been hired, most of them cheered in support, although a few were secretly worried.
Setting aside everything else, the new hire had challenged Poison Ant Express to a duel right from the start, without a hint of backing down. Regardless of his actual strength, this act alone won him the goodwill of the vast majority of the members.
Lan Xinnan had specifically made sure everyone was prepared with guns and ammunition this time. She also arranged for people to provide support and act as lookouts at key intersections, to prevent Poison Ant Express from using the duel as a cover to encircle or ambush them.
The convoy arrived well ahead of schedule. When they reached the dueling site, they saw that some members of Poison Ant Express had also arrived and were starting to set up barricades and barriers.
Lan Xinnan paid them no mind and had her people unload sandbags and obstacles, also beginning to set up their own simple blockades and fortifications.
Neither side paid any attention to the other; both were preoccupied with their own tasks.
Old Cao got out of a vehicle, silently watching the other side.
Xiaoding came to his side and also looked across. "What’s wrong, Old Cao?" he asked, puzzled. "What are you looking at?"
Old Cao said, "Some of the people on the other side are our former brothers. I recognize a few of their faces."
Xiaoding was dismissive. "The brothers who are left are the real brothers," he said. "Those guys ran when things got tough. You may see them as brothers, Old Cao, but did they see you as one?"
Old Cao said, "I’m not pitying them. I was just thinking about the past, back when Boss Li was here. Lu Tong Logistics was so prosperous then, but now..." He shook his head.
Xiaoding said, "Business was good back when Boss Li was around, but the men under him didn’t get much of a cut. Otherwise, why would so many people have clamored to break away the moment trouble started? Boss Li himself has disappeared. I bet he ran off to the Upper City District to enjoy a comfortable life."
Although this Boss Li didn’t have citizenship, he was rich. And there were plenty of citizens who had no money. He could just hire a few of them, and that would be enough for him to live a life of leisure.
But Old Cao just sighed and shook his head. "It’s probably not that simple." The Iron Fist Association’s power in the Lower City District was almost on par with the Moss Gang’s, yet they suddenly fell apart. The series of events that befell Lu Tong Logistics afterward were no coincidence, either. The situation behind the scenes was actually very complex.
In an RV at the rear, Chen Chuan was sitting in the front passenger seat, slowly sipping a hot drink. He watched the people from Poison Ant Express, waiting for today’s opponent.
To the average person, the Lower City District was chaotic and lawless, so it seemed like a master who fought their way up from here would be stronger.
But in reality, most people who came to the Lower City District were failures from the competition above. Not to mention, the resources in the Lower City District were far inferior to the Upper City District’s. Furthermore, the caliber of one’s opponents determined the level of one’s own skill.
Spending all day in the Lower City District fighting weak opponents, or not fighting at all, would only make one weaker and weaker.
Therefore, the Fighters in the Lower City District were, as a whole, inferior to those in the Upper City District. But when it came to the top-tier existences, one couldn’t be so arbitrary. This was because quite a few people came here with special purposes, and they couldn’t be judged by common sense.
Just then, a person from the opposite side walked over and said a few words to the people from Lu Tong Logistics.
Lan Xinnan’s voice rang out from his Realm Token: "Brother Chen, the man from Poison Ant Express says Gai Er will be arriving late."
Chen Chuan said calmly, "Then we’ll wait."
’This is just a deliberate attempt to make me wait and wear down my spirit. Such petty tricks are meaningless in a real fight.’
’I was waiting at the camp, and I’m waiting here. Besides, controlling my emotions is something I mastered long ago. I can even use this time to regulate my condition with my Breathing Technique.’
Lan Xinnan remained vigilant. She was afraid Poison Ant Express was up to something, so she said, "Brother Chen, I’m going to check the perimeter."
Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment. He then picked up a file on the Lower City District that Lu Tong Logistics had found for him and began to read, while also preparing another hot drink to sip slowly.
After he had been reading for a while, a vehicle finally drove over from the other side. It was a modified armored car, with the face of a ferocious tiger, its fangs bared, spray-painted on the front.
Following this car was a convertible, in which sat several people with their hair dyed in a myriad of colors. A single glance was enough to identify them as members of the Moss Gang.
Furthermore, judging by their clothes and expressions, these were not ordinary gang members, but high-ranking leaders. As soon as they arrived, members of Poison Ant Express immediately went up to greet them.
Lan Xinnan’s voice came through the Realm Token again. "Brother Chen, Gai Er has arrived."
Chen Chuan closed the file in his hands and looked ahead. He saw the armored car drive all the way to the front before stopping. The door opened, and a powerful, well-built figure stepped out. He was dressed almost exactly as he was in the photo: a dark red Martial Arts Uniform, a thick black belt, and a folded Three-Section Staff held in his hand.
As he walked forward, it became clear that he had several scars on his chin. His gaze was sharp and fierce, and his expression held a trace of untamable arrogance.
Seeing that his opponent had arrived, Chen Chuan set his hot drink aside, grabbed his Snow Monarch Blade, pushed the door open, and got out of the car. He then started walking toward the other side.
The two men slowly approached each other under the watchful eyes of their respective sides.
In the empty space left between them, there happened to be a toppled Sun Vine. The light it emitted was bright but uneven, scattering everywhere. When the wind blew from the tunnel entrance, the swaying vine caused the shimmering points of light and the tangled shadows of its tendrils to dance together.
And now, their two figures were added to this scene.
The leader from the Moss Gang sat watching Chen Chuan, scanning him with a Realm Token and transmitting the data somewhere. After a moment, he received a reply and sat up a little straighter.
"Right, yes... Call him back?"
He quickly glanced ahead and said, "But Gai Er is already up there... Okay, okay... I’ll keep an eye on it..."
Besides him, Old Bian was also paying close attention to this duel. He had ordered the few spies he had planted within the Lu Tong Logistics team to keep an eye on the situation.
’The functions of these Realm Tokens aren’t powerful enough to clearly capture a battle of this level, but that doesn’t matter. I just need to confirm the final result in a timely manner.’
At this moment, the two men in the center of the field had walked forward to face each other and stopped.
Gai Er slung his Three-Section Staff over his shoulder and spoke in a tone that was both mocking and threatening. "Someone actually helping this Lu Tong bunch who are about to go under. How rare."
"You must have gotten into trouble to end up in the Lower City District, right? I’m telling you, you finally made it down here, so why waste your life?"
"Brother, take my advice: it’s not too late to back out now. Once we really start fighting, I can’t guarantee I’ll hold back. I’m giving you a chance to walk away. Otherwise, you’re going to die here today."
After hearing him out, Chen Chuan realized this man didn’t seem to know who he was. ’Didn’t they do a background check before this fight?’
Gai Er indeed did not know, because Poison Ant Express hadn’t bothered to do one. They had eagerly accepted the duel as soon as Lu Tong Logistics issued the challenge.
It wasn’t that they had so much faith in Gai Er, but rather that they didn’t believe Lu Tong Logistics could possibly hire anyone formidable at this point. If they had that kind of capability, they would have brought someone in long ago. Why would they have needed to rely on Old Bian?
’Besides, would a true master really be willing to come to the Lower City District to fight for a small outfit like theirs? That’s completely impossible. He can only be a newcomer who just fled from above and doesn’t understand the situation. There’s no need to waste resources on a greenhorn like that. Plus, with the Moss Gang backing us up, what’s there to worry about?’
Chen Chuan actually welcomed this approach. Since his opponent was unaware of his background, Gai Er was effectively transparent to him, which would be advantageous in the coming battle.
At that moment, he tried to feel out Gai Er’s Domain. It was contracted around his body, and though it was concealed, it was obviously the work of someone without proper training. ’This is normal. Knowledge and techniques related to the Domain are considered high-level but are often overlooked. Not even everyone from Wuyi necessarily learns them.’
’This man is relying solely on his extensive fighting experience to instinctively retract it. This tactic might work against an ordinary opponent, but it’s utterly useless against me.’
The moment he made contact, he gleaned a great deal of useful information from the man’s Domain.
’This person’s Domain is sharp and ferocious, agile and sinister. He seems to have a strong desire to attack, prefers shortcuts, and enjoys taking risks. At the same time, however, he’s vigilant and sharp, like a lone wolf. If his bite doesn’t land, he’ll immediately retreat and, depending on the situation, either look for another opportunity or withdraw completely.’
’He’s a completely self-serving person. Preserving himself and satisfying his own desires are his top priorities. Other people don’t even factor into his considerations.’
Under Chen Chuan’s profound gaze, Gai Er suddenly felt a sense of unease. He didn’t know where the problem was, but he took a reflexive step back, his eyes turning fierce and wary. He took the Three-Section Staff from his shoulder and pointed it forward. At the same time, his fingers loosened slightly, and with a CLATTER, he let it drop to the ground.
At that moment, hidden from Chen Chuan’s line of sight, he subtly lifted the top of his foot.
And with just that simple exertion of force, the end section of the staff shot up from the ground. It pulled the entire Three-Section Staff taut in a flash, turning it into a straight line that stabbed directly at Chen Chuan!
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