Life and Death Match

Life and Death Match: "Close the cage!"

With a shout, the iron gate slammed shut.

The atmosphere instantly turned tense, and the driving music surged forward, stirring the crowd's emotions.

Fang Mo shifted slightly, stepping forward with his right foot and assuming the Tiger Subduing stance.

His body rose and fell faintly in sync with his breathing, like a fierce tiger poised to hunt.

Guan Lu's eyes suddenly lit up. Having received the true teachings of Tiger Subduing Fist, she could tell at a glance that Fang Mo's Tiger Subduing Fist was orthodox.

It was absolutely unlike the watered-down version of Tiger Subduing Fist taught outside.

Mountain Breaking Claw rose onto one knee, spread his arms, hooked his claws outward, and assumed the Soaring Eagle stance, like an eagle about to take flight.

The two locked eyes, their gazes sharp enough to strike sparks. Everyone held their breath as they watched.

Suddenly, Mountain Breaking Claw let out a piercing screech. Its shrillness drowned out the music and stabbed into everyone's eardrums.

He stomped down, and his body truly soared like a flying eagle, pouncing straight at Fang Mo with both claws aimed at his face.

Fang Mo moved at the same time. He stepped out and executed Erlang Carries the Mountain, swinging both palms to knock aside the opponent's eagle claws. The immense force, like striking steel, numbed Fang Mo's arms. Ignoring the pain, he flicked his hand, White Snake Shoots Its Tongue, and stabbed straight for the other man's throat.

The opponent's claws flipped down sharply and latched onto Fang Mo's arm. Those fingers were like steel talons—if they caught hold, his arm might be crippled.

Fang Mo had no choice but to withdraw his move and shake the opponent's arms away.

Riiip!

His sleeve was still torn open, several claw marks appearing on his arm.

Fang Mo kicked upward from below with a Heaven-Rising Kick. Mountain Breaking Claw pressed down with both claws, blocking the kick, then retreated backward. Fang Mo also backed away several steps, opening up the distance.

Both his arms burned with pain. If he had been even a moment slower, it would not have been merely his skin that was injured.

"Again!"

Mountain Breaking Claw gave a savage grin, spread his arms, and swept in again, his twin claws flashing like lightning.

Without a word, Fang Mo met him head-on, countering move for move. Palm, claw, fist, finger—chopping, striking, grabbing, stabbing—he displayed the subtleties of Tiger Subduing Fist to the fullest.

Meanwhile, his opponent clawed, buckled, pinched, seized, flipped, smashed, hooked, and hauled, every move aimed straight for Fang Mo's vital points, never straying from his throat, heart, ribs, or groin.

At times, he even tried to split Fang Mo's tendons and dislocate his bones, intent on twisting his arms apart.

This was the hardest battle Fang Mo had faced since he began fighting, even more difficult than the one against War Bear.

Whether in martial skill or speed, his opponent surpassed him. Fang Mo fought bitterly, completely suppressed.

Fang Mo's clothes had been torn in many places, and both arms were covered in wounds.

Blood had already stained them. If not for the experience from his previous life and the deflecting techniques of Tai Chi and Xingyi, his arms would surely have been crippled by now.

"Iron Mask, go! Beat him!"

"Iron Mask, I put a hundred grand on you! If you lose, I'll find someone to hack you to death!"

"Mountain Breaking Claw, put some strength into it! Beat him, and I'll tip a thousand!"

The spectators in the stands shouted excitedly. Some cheered for Fang Mo, while others rooted for Mountain Breaking Claw. Money and liquor bottles were thrown down from time to time, smashing against the iron cage.

"Senior Sister Guan, do you think Iron Mask can hold on?"

Chu Silin asked anxiously. After all, the other man also practiced Tiger Subduing Fist, so they still hoped Iron Mask could win.

"Difficult."

Guan Lu shook her head solemnly. "This Iron Mask is much weaker than his opponent. Eagle Claw Skill truly is overbearing. His defeat is only a matter of time!"

Her eyes remained fixed on Fang Mo. For some reason, Iron Mask seemed more and more like Fang Mo to her.

"Don't you think this Iron Mask looks a little like someone from our Martial Hall?"

At that moment, Chen Song suddenly said with a frown.

Guan Lu's expression shifted slightly at his words, and she abruptly looked toward Chen Song, but she did not ask him anything.

"Someone from our Martial Hall?"

"Who?"

"How come I didn't notice?"

Liu Shiwu asked in surprise, one question after another.

"Don't you think he looks like that sullen mule Fang Mo?"

Chen Song said, frowning.

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Guan Lu's eyes lit up as well. She had not expected someone else to feel the same way. Could this person really be Fang Mo?

"Now that you mention it, he really does look a bit like him!"

Liu Shiwu stared at Fang Mo on the stage, then shook his head and laughed.

"It probably isn't him. How could Fang Mo's strength possibly compare to this Iron Mask's? The gap is far too great!"

"It couldn't be him. Fang Mo doesn't even dare to spar—how could it possibly be him?!"

Chu Silin said with equal certainty.

Hearing this, Guan Lu's eyes flickered as well. The images of Iron Mask and Fang Mo simply didn't match!

Could it really have been her illusion? More than anything, she still believed Iron Mask couldn't possibly be Fang Mo.

How could someone with no natural talent possess such combat strength so quickly?

"Iron Mask is about to lose!"

Just then, Chi Jing suddenly said calmly.

Everyone hurriedly looked over, and their expressions changed at once.

"Eagle Soaring Over Sea of Clouds!"

In the arena, Mountain Breaking Claw seemed to have been enraged. He let out a piercing howl, charged forward, spun, and swept out with his claw toward Fang Mo's vital points.

Fang Mo could only retreat again and again as he defended himself. With one slip, his chest was torn open by the eagle claw. His clothes shattered across his chest, leaving five bloody gashes. Before Fang Mo could react, the opponent's other claw went straight for his throat.

Fang Mo reached out and seized the other man's wrist, only for his own wrist to be caught by a turning palm.

"Fall!"

Mountain Breaking Claw roared as his claw suddenly clenched.

His fingers were like steel and iron, enough to crush Fang Mo's tendons.

Fang Mo hurriedly used a Tai Chi Cloud Hand, turning and deflecting to dissolve the opponent's claw. But the other man had apparently already become familiar with it and pressed down along with the motion, refusing to let him break free.

"Piercing Kick!"

Fang Mo lifted his leg and kicked out. Mountain Breaking Claw kicked as well, and both struck the other in the abdomen. The tremendous force sent them flying apart and staggering backward.

Fang Mo only stopped after slamming into the iron cage!

The back of his hand burned with pain. It was covered in blood, marked by five deep claw wounds.

Fang Mo opened his mouth and spat out bitter fluid streaked with blood. He felt as though his intestines had been kicked apart.

His heart sank.

He had already used every bit of his strength.

Yet he still wasn't his opponent. Today, he was going to fall here.

"Young Master Chen, winning this ten million was rather easy!"

Inside the private room, Qin Yuanping laughed smugly. The last time, he had been made to lose ten million. At last, he had won back some face.

"The winner has yet to be decided."

Chen Yeming smiled faintly, but his eyes were dark and gloomy, and the hand gripping his glass unconsciously tightened.

"Young Master Chen, there's no shame in admitting defeat!"

Qin Yuanping looked utterly pleased with himself as he gently swirled the red wine in his hand. "Mountain Breaking Claw has trained in the Iron Cloth Shirt. That kick couldn't hurt him at all. And this Iron Mask can barely stand now—how could he not lose?"

Chen Yeming said calmly:

"Until the moment of surrender, anything is possible!"

Qin Yuanping's gaze turned slightly cold. "Then let's see the result!"

At that moment, in another room, Xu Manqing's expression was complicated. Fang Mo's predicament this time had been caused by her. She activated her communicator.

"Supervisor Fu, be ready to stop the match. Don't let anyone die!"

The host, a plump middle-aged man, looked up toward Xu Manli's position, then turned on his intercom and said:

"Manager Xu, this match can't be stopped. It's a death match. Young Master Chen has already arranged it—only one side's death can bring it to an end!"

Xu Manli's face changed instantly as she said in a low voice:

"Why did no one tell me?"

Supervisor Fu smiled faintly.

"Manager Xu should ask Young Master Chen about that!"

Xu Manli froze at his words. She switched off the communicator and looked at Fang Mo inside the iron cage. A trace of reluctance flashed through her eyes as she murmured, "I hope you won't blame me!"