Xiao Yang vs. Buddha's Son!

A friendly match?

Xiao Yang's eyebrows lifted slightly.

He looked at Liao Chen, somewhat confused.

"A friendly match?"

"Master Liao Chen, there's no enmity between us. Besides, I'm fighting Dong Sheng Yi tomorrow. You're asking for a friendly match at a time like this—isn't that a little inappropriate?"

He'd put it very politely, but the meaning was clear enough.

Are you out of your mind?

Haven't you heard I'm fighting in the finals tomorrow? And now you come asking me to spar?

What if it affects my condition tomorrow? Are you prepared to take responsibility?

Liao Chen naturally understood what Xiao Yang meant. A rueful smile appeared on his handsome face.

"Benefactor Xiao, you've misunderstood."

"I know that coming here at this time is indeed rather abrupt."

"It's just... I have no choice."

No choice?

Xiao Yang's gaze narrowed slightly.

If even the Buddha's Son of Ten Thousand Buddha Temple was saying he had "no choice," then there was more to this than met the eye.

"I'd like to hear the details," Xiao Yang said calmly.

Liao Chen took a deep breath, as if he'd made up his mind. At last, he stopped holding back.

"To be frank, my Ten Thousand Buddha Temple once incurred an enormous debt of gratitude to Eastern Emperor Hall."

"Not long ago, Eastern Emperor Hall sent an edict, ordering me to fight Benefactor Xiao... with all my strength today."

Liao Chen had spoken calmly, but his words struck Xiao Yang like a thunderclap.

An edict from Eastern Emperor Hall?

They'd ordered Liao Chen to come pick a fight with him on the eve of the final?

Xiao Yang's expression darkened instantly.

At last, he understood why Liao Chen looked so helpless and apologetic.

How was this a friendly match?

It was a war of attrition!