Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Melee
For a moment, the three of them were locked in a standoff in the central control room.
Just then, Farina spoke softly to Padoka.
"Padoka, our partnership isn’t over. No need to be wary of me. We can deal with Qian Luobing first, then settle the score between us."
Padoka glanced down at his subordinates brawling below. Even though they were working with Farina’s people, the situation was growing increasingly dire. If this kept up, chances were they’d be the ones to lose.
At this thought, he responded in a deep voice.
"Fine!"
Having reached an agreement, Farina and Padoka both turned to face Qian Luobing.
Seeing that the two were about to team up against her, a glint appeared in Qian Luobing’s eyes. She then spoke, her voice icy.
"Not dead yet? Then get up!"
At Qian Luobing’s words, Farina and Padoka immediately whipped their heads around to look at the fallen Long Ming.
Just then, Long Ming slowly pushed himself up from the ground.
’He couldn’t help but feel a surge of resignation. ’That woman... she’s damn smart, shifting all their attention onto me.’’
Seeing this, Pilates began to commentate excitedly.
"Quick, look! Red Ghost is back on his feet! We’re heading for an all-out brawl!"
"What’s going on? Aren’t the three of them going to take out Red Ghost first?"
"Are you an idiot? There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. If they take out Red Ghost first, whoever’s left will be facing a two-on-one."
"Holy hell, it’s four people with eight hundred schemes between them!"
...
Countless comments flooded the livestream’s screen.
As Farina and Padoka watched Long Ming get back on his feet, their expressions turned grim.
They didn’t underestimate Long Ming just because he was a freelancer.
Long Ming let out a deep breath, then spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Padoka’s mine."
"Fine!"
Qian Luobing replied, her voice cold.
"Hmph. Looks like I’m being underestimated. In that case, show me what you’ve got."
Padoka turned to face Long Ming and let out a roar. Muscles rippled and swelled across his entire body, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Seeing that Padoka wasn’t drawing his tactical dagger, Long Ming cracked his neck and raised his fists in a fighting stance.
"You’ve got guts. It’s been a while since anyone dared to take me on like this. I like it!"
Padoka grew excited at the prospect of a bare-knuckle brawl with Long Ming.
He cracked his neck, then stomped the ground and charged at Long Ming like a cheetah. His right fist cut through the air with a whistle as he threw the punch.
"Steel Fist!"
Long Ming’s expression flickered. He ducked his head to the side, dodging the punch.
The force of the passing punch made his ear sting.
Long Ming instantly countered with an uppercut to the chest, landing a heavy blow on Padoka.
THUD~
Padoka absorbed the blow without budging.
The impact sent Long Ming stumbling back several steps, his face a mask of disbelief.
Meanwhile, Farina lunged at Qian Luobing with her tactical dagger, striking like a venomous snake.
Qian Luobing deftly drew an exquisite blue tactical dagger from her belt and met the attack, her movements a blur.
They crossed paths.
CLANG!
The two daggers clashed, scraping against each other with a shower of sparks.
They immediately spun around.
But Qian Luobing was clearly faster.
By the time Farina had turned, Qian Luobing’s dagger was already slashing toward her neck.
Farina raised her own dagger to parry, then retreated to create distance.
Qian Luobing lunged forward with a quick thrust.
Farina twisted aside but couldn’t dodge completely. The blade opened a cut across her fair cheek, and crimson blood began to well from the wound.
She immediately slashed back at Qian Luobing.
But Qian Luobing simply pushed off the balls of her feet, leaping back nimbly to evade the attack.
Farina didn’t give chase. Instead, she took a deep breath, her clear eyes fixed on Qian Luobing.
Though their exchange had seemed simple, Farina had already judged that she was a step slower than Qian Luobing.
At this thought, Farina switched to a reverse grip on her dagger.
When Qian Luobing saw Farina’s reverse grip, she instantly knew her opponent wanted to fight up close and personal—a battle to the death.
Qian Luobing began to circle Farina with light steps, silently closing the distance like a hunter stalking her prey.
...
Meanwhile, the battle between Long Ming and Padoka grew even more intense.
Padoka was like a raging beast, hammering Long Ming with a relentless barrage of heavy punches.
Long Ming blocked left and right, his arms growing numb from the assault.
Then, Padoka landed a vicious kick square in Long Ming’s chest.
BAM~
Long Ming was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. He clutched his chest, groaning in pain, unable to even crawl.
Watching this, Pilates’s commentary took on a helpless tone.
"Ah, Red Ghost is down! The moment they clashed head-on, the power gap was obvious. Red Ghost is completely outmatched by Padoka."
"Of course not! How could he possibly beat Padoka?"
"Why not?"
"Padoka is the Deputy Legion Commander of Sinful City’s Fourth Legion! He’s known as the ’Mad Beast.’ Who can possibly beat him?"
"Holy shit, for real?"
....
Countless viewers spammed the chat with comments.
At that moment, Padoka gestured arrogantly at Long Ming, beckoning him with a finger.
"Get up. Is that all you’ve got?"
Fighting through the pain, Long Ming slowly got to his feet, his expression shifting as he looked at Padoka.
’It’s obvious I can’t beat this guy with Mountain City Mountain’s military combat techniques. After all, Padoka knows them inside and out.’
’Looks like I’ll have to try *that* fighting style.’
With that thought, Long Ming clenched his fists and started bouncing lightly on the balls of his feet.
"Oh? And what’s this flashy new dance?"
Padoka scoffed.
Then, Long Ming lunged at Padoka like a tiger pouncing on its prey, instantly erupting with a right elbow strike.
Padoka immediately raised his left arm to block it.
Long Ming followed up with a left elbow, aiming straight for his face.
But Padoka blocked it with his right hand, a testament to his incredible reaction speed.
In that same instant, however, Long Ming spun around him and viciously slammed an elbow into the back of his neck.
"ARGH!"
Padoka cried out and staggered forward a few steps, clutching the back of his neck with a look of utter disbelief.
Just then, Long Ming pressed his advantage, launching a high side kick.
Padoka twisted aside to dodge.
Long Ming followed with a reverse hook kick.
Padoka ducked under it.
Long Ming landed a rising kick right to Padoka’s head.
The kick dazed Padoka, sending him stumbling backward. ’What kind of kicks are these?’
Snapping out of it, he roared in fury and charged, throwing a wild punch at Long Ming.
Long Ming met his charge with a diving motion. His right hand shot past Padoka’s fist, grabbed his head, and slammed it viciously onto the ground.
CRACK!
"Ahhh~"
The back of Padoka’s head hit the ground first, and he cried out in pain.
Long Ming then raised his right elbow and brought it down with all his might, slamming it into Padoka’s gut.
PUFF~
Gritting his teeth through the pain, Padoka swung a fist at Long Ming.
