Chapter 503: Chapter 183: Hot-Blooded, the Combat Assessment Begins!
Cheng Ye agreed with a smile, but inside, his thoughts were as clear as a mirror.
Ding Yishan had paved the way so smoothly—ostensibly to protect him, but in reality, also putting him in the hot seat.
However, if he wanted to bear the flag, this was how it should be.
The difficult path to becoming a king required boldness and determination, cutting through mountains and crossing rivers.
Following Yang Xingwen’s cue, Cheng Ye glanced sideways.
Not far away, in the group of Westerners, four inspectors were gathered, whispering among themselves, including Garcia.
Beside him stood a blond man with a sharp gaze and high nose bridge, whose eyes never left this side.
The moment their gazes met, they understood the emotions in each other’s eyes.
In Cheng Ye’s eyes, Inspector Luokuke indeed had a bit of a resemblance to Garcia, revealing a sickly stubborn look, the kind that once fixated on you, would endlessly tear into you like a mad dog.
But in Luokuke’s eyes, Cheng Ye’s gaze was indifferent, as if looking at something irrelevant, even carrying a hint of the coldness one would have towards a dead person.
Interesting.
Luokuke straightforwardly walked over, immediately drawing the attention of over fifty other inspectors present.
"Hello, Cheng Ye."
He extended his hand, a polite smile on his face, "I didn’t expect both of us to choose Dapo Town. What a coincidence."
"Hello, Inspector Luo."
Cheng Ye extended his hand without any humility, and the two shook hands.
Oh?
As soon as their hands touched, Cheng Ye could feel a deliberate force from the other’s hand, and when he looked up, he met Luokuke’s playful eyes.
Having been in Happiness City for so long, he was used to seeing calculating, smart people and had never encountered someone who wanted to go head-to-head right away.
What?
Finally, an unthinking villain jumped out?
Cheng Ye couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth, increasing the force in his hand suddenly, and there was a faint cracking sound, the continuous friction of bones.
A moment ago, Luokuke’s face, which held a slight smile, suddenly changed darkly, and the force from his hand surged instantly.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and everyone’s gaze was focused on the hands of the two.
The two hands turned red visibly, veins faintly popping.
About five seconds later, both seemed to have a tacit understanding, releasing their hands simultaneously.
To the amazement of the crowd, the back of Cheng Ye’s hand only reddened for a moment as he released, and with a slight shake, the color quickly faded, returning to its normal blue-white color.
But Luokuke’s right hand was frighteningly red, with deep finger marks distinctly visible on the back, as if it had been caught by an iron clamp.
A Third-stage Inspector trying to give an Intern Inspector a show of strength, and failing?
Many observers had astonishment flicker in their eyes, even the Fourth-stage Inspectors who had been watching from afar, their eyes now carried a subtle, hard-to-read surprise.
From leaving the Inner City until now, Cheng Ye had only been practicing martial arts for just over four months, while Luokuke had been an inspector at the checkpoint for over ten years. How could he lose in strength to a newcomer?
"Inspector Cheng, quite some strength you have." Luokuke said with a forced tone, the words squeezing out through clenched teeth.
"You’re too kind."
Cheng Ye shook his head, slightly raising his chin, with a hint of chill in his eyes, "What I’m best at isn’t strength—it’s mortal combat. Would Inspector Luokuke like to try?"
Mortal combat?
The Western inspectors gathered around suddenly changed their expressions.
Especially Garcia, a trace of undisguised malice flashing across his face, evidently recalling the humiliation of being beaten by Liu Bi.
"Mortal combat?" Luokuke took half a step back, as if he heard a joke, "Inspector Cheng, young people shouldn’t be too aggressive."
"Then I’ll return the favor: old man, don’t count on age to sell authority."
Cheng Ye stepped forward half a step, their noses almost touching, the sparks in their eyes crackling.
The Eastern and Westerners hadn’t gotten along for years, so a scene like this wasn’t unexpected. Inspectors from both sides often climbed into the ring, seeing their opponents as enemies to be beaten.
But a Third-stage Inspector being pushed to this extent by an intern was a first.
Immediately, the Eastern inspectors who were watching the commotion stopped smiling, each quietly stepping into formation, either beside Cheng Ye or behind him, silently forming a line.
The Westerners, seeing this, quickly ceased their chatter and hurried to stand behind Luokuke, the two groups distinctly separated, the air thick with tension, ready to explode.
Cheng Ye shook his neck, the joints making a light cracking sound, just about to step forward again.
But someone walked out from the operations building, voice slightly deep, shouting:
"Prepare for the assessment!"
It was Harlem.
Harlem, in his drab gray coat, strode out from the building, his sharp gaze sweeping the scene, lingering on Luokuke for a few seconds before pausing on Cheng Ye’s face.
Noticing Luokuke’s vividly red hand, with clear finger marks, Harlem’s face darkened, but he said nothing, turning back into the building.
Yet his shout was like a bucket of cold water, quenching the tense atmosphere in the scene.
Everyone acted as if they suddenly forgot about the confrontation and turned to walk towards the operations building, feet hurried, as if nothing had happened.
In just seconds, the courtyard was left with only two groups.
Luokuke’s small group of four, and Cheng Ye’s, with Wang Kang, Yang Xingwen, and Gu Xinjing also staying behind.
Wang Kang, young and proud, took half a step forward stubbornly, only to be quietly pulled back by Yang Xingwen.
