Impossible for Him to Be Fang Mo

Fang Mo entered a room to rest and wait for the match to begin.

Meanwhile, Guan Lu and Chi Jing also appeared at the entrance to the Iron Stone Boxing Gym stands.

Chi Jing craned her neck, searching all around. Seemingly having found them, she spotted a woman waving at her from a booth near the middle.

"Senior Sister, hurry over—they're already here!"

Chi Jing pulled Guan Lu through the crowd toward the booth.

There were three people in the booth, two men and one woman. They looked somewhat younger, all around seventeen or eighteen.

"Senior Sister Guan, Senior Sister Chi, you're finally here! It's about to start!"

The girl sprang happily to her feet when she saw them, hurried forward, and linked her arm through Guan Lu's as she spoke excitedly.

The girl had fair skin, large eyes, and a pure, innocent look. Her black hair was tied behind her head in a ponytail, making her look bright and youthful. She was Chu Silin, who had practiced martial arts with Fang Mo in the front courtyard.

The other two were Chen Song and Liu Shiwu, both Martial Hall students.

The two also stood up and said cheerfully, "Senior Sister Guan, Senior Sister Chi, please sit! We've already ordered food and drinks!"

After Guan Lu and Chi Jing sat down, Chu Silin hugged Guan Lu's arm and said excitedly, "Senior Sister, there's a Mingjin Martial Artist match today! Iron Stone's most famous fighter, Violent Wolf, will be competing. I heard his opponent is a Mingjin Martial Artist from the Eagle Claw Sect—it'll definitely be thrilling. You and Senior Sister Chi absolutely won't regret coming!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

Chen Song and Liu Shiwu also said enthusiastically, "That Violent Wolf is incredibly strong, one of the best among Mingjin Martial Artists. He's already won twenty matches in a row!"

Guan Lu smiled faintly.

"I've heard of Violent Wolf too, but I've never watched him fight. Since we're here today, we may as well take a look!"

She did not actually have much of an impression of underground arenas.

In her view, the martial artists who fought in underground arenas were likely those without any real lineage, coming to box only to make money. No matter how strong they were, they could not be all that strong.

Still, at Chu Silin's invitation, she wanted to come and broaden her horizons.

Chu Silin had excellent Bone Structure. According to her father, she was the best among all the disciples he had taught, and he had even considered taking her in as a personal disciple. Thus, Guan Lu found it hard to refuse Chu Silin's overtures too bluntly.

Chen Song and Liu Shiwu had also performed well. They should both break through to Mingjin soon and become Formal Disciples.

Chi Jing said blandly, "What experts could possibly be on the Iron Stone Arena? That Violent Wolf was probably just hyped up!"

Among them, Chi Jing had the best family background and was also a Late Manifesting Strength martial artist, so she naturally carried a measure of pride.

She likewise looked down on martial artists who fought in underground bouts.

Guan Lu nudged Chi Jing. This Junior Sister was good in every way, except that she could be a little too cutting.

Chu Silin and the other two looked slightly embarrassed.

Just then, the music lowered, the lights began to flash, and several beams intertwined above the ring.

"It's starting!"

Chu Silin hurriedly changed the subject.

Fang Mo had not expected to be up in the very first bout. Amid the rousing music, he walked into the venue.

"Iron Mask!"

"Iron Mask!"

Many men and women in the stands cheered excitedly.

"Iron Mask, I love you!"

Some women leaned forward excitedly, waving and screaming as though they could not wait to pounce on him.

Guan Lu frowned as she watched the frenzied women, uncomfortable with the atmosphere.

Fang Mo walked calmly toward the iron cage. He gave no response to the cheers, like a lone wolf walking across the wilderness.

"Iron Mask, a Strength Training Realm martial artist, Tiger Subduing Fist?"

Guan Lu frowned slightly as she looked at the information for the two fighters displayed on the big screen.

"Tiger Subduing Fist? Could this Iron Mask be from our Martial Hall?"

Chen Song asked in surprise.

"Doesn't look like it. If he were from our Martial Hall, we should be able to recognize him from his build."

Liu Shiwu said, staring at Fang Mo's back.

Chi Jing raised her brows slightly. "The first thirty-three forms of Tiger Subduing Fist are widely spread. It's not only people from our Martial Hall who know them!"

Guan Lu narrowed her eyes, her gaze fixed tightly on Fang Mo's back. It felt somewhat familiar, seeming like Fang Mo's figure. When she had gone out earlier, she had seen Fang Mo from behind, and he really did resemble this Iron Mask.

"It can't be Fang Mo. With his strength, how could he possibly come into the ring to fight?"

Guan Lu shook her head as well. "He probably isn't from our Martial Hall!"

Fang Mo had no idea there were people from martial arts schools in the ring. He stepped into the iron cage.

The man opposite him stepped in as well.

He was slightly taller than Fang Mo, dressed in fitted combat clothes. The tendons and muscles in his arms stood out sharply; one look told anyone they were immensely powerful. He was much sturdier than Fang Mo.

Through the bronze eye mask, he stared at Fang Mo with cold, ferocious provocation in his gaze.

Fang Mo stood calmly and quietly, as though he had fallen asleep.

The plump host walked to the center of the ring, his voice stirring and impassioned.

"Everyone, every match tonight will be incredibly exciting! And for our first bout, we're serving you a fine appetizer!

"Iron Mask versus Mountain Breaking Claw!"

The crowd in the boxing gym erupted into shrill cheers once more, and the atmosphere instantly grew feverish.

The host continued his introduction in a highly infectious voice.

"Old friends are already very familiar with Iron Mask. He's won eight matches in a row, and his Tiger Subduing Fist is ever-changing and impossible to predict, defeating one expert after another!"

"And the opponent he faces today, Mountain Breaking Claw, may be a newcomer, but he comes from the recently renowned Xiongying Martial Arts School. His Eagle Claw Technique is exceptionally formidable!"

"Who will win, and who will lose today?"

A wave of discussion broke out in the stands.

"I'm picking Mountain Breaking Claw. I still have faith in the Eagle Claw Technique!"

"Same here, I'm picking Mountain Breaking Claw too. Xiongying Martial Arts School has swept through more than a dozen martial arts schools lately. I watched their televised matches—the Eagle Claw Technique is truly overbearing!"

"Iron Mask isn't bad either, but he's still a little too weak. I'm picking Mountain Breaking Claw as well!"

Six or seven young men sat in the most luxurious private room.

This time, there were not only Qin Yuanping, Chen Yeming, and the others from before, but also several unfamiliar faces—all prominent young masters of Yunyang.

"1 to 1.3. Looks like most people are still backing Mountain Breaking Claw!"

Holding a wineglass, Qin Yuanping smiled as he looked at the betting figures.

Young Master Chen smiled faintly and looked at Qin Yuanping.

"Young Master Qin, how are you planning to play today? How much are you putting down this time?"

Qin Yuanping held up one finger and looked at Chen Yeming with a smile.

"Ten million. Young Master Chen, do you dare take it?"

"I'll take it. Why wouldn't I?"

Chen Yeming smiled as well. "Young Master Qin gave away ten million last time. Even if I lose this time, I'll still have money to pay up!"

The smile on Qin Yuanping's face stiffened slightly before he gave a cold laugh.

"Then we'll see whether Young Master Chen has that kind of luck this time!"

"My luck has always been good!"

Chen Guangming refused to yield, raising his wineglass.

The others said nothing, but exchanged looks.

The two were already openly competing, and they were all watching to see how things developed.

"I'm quite interested in this Iron Mask. I think he'll win. I'm betting three million!"

Zhou Shaojiang said with a genial smile.

The smile on Qin Yuanping's face faded slightly. He then looked at Zhou Shaojiang. "As long as Young Master Zhou isn't afraid of losing!"

"It's not certain who'll lose yet."

Zhou Shaojiang replied with a faint smile.

No one else placed a bet. Even Shen Songqi did not bet, as though they were all waiting and watching.

Chen Yeming and Zhou Shaojiang exchanged a look. Their gazes darkened slightly, but neither spoke. Both turned their attention to the ring.

By then, betting had ended, and the fight was about to begin.