Ouyang Rui turned to Lin Jie. "You dodged my punch just now? So you’re not just strong."

This time, Lin Jie didn’t reply. He simply raised his spike mace.

"You intend to fight me to the end?" Ouyang Rui declared proudly. "But with my current power, you couldn’t even scratch me if you tried."

"Oh? You’re too confident," Lin Jie said.

"My defense is top-tier even among S Rankers. I admit you’re a formidable A Rank warrior—but to me, you couldn’t harm a single hair on my head."

"How would you know unless I try?" Lin Jie swung his spike mace like a baseball bat.

Ouyang Rui didn’t flinch. A golden aura gathered around him, his smile unwavering.

"Let me show you—" His words cut off as he flew backward.

The moment Lin Jie’s spike mace touched Ouyang Rui’s aura, it shattered like tofu. The blow slammed into Ouyang Rui’s body without losing force.

His face twisted mid-air. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed into a peach tree dozens of meters away.

"You okay?" Lin Jie asked Winter Xueer, walking over.

She stared at him, silent. Finally: "You had this strength all along... Why didn’t you use it sooner?"

"I told you—I could’ve taken him out immediately," Lin Jie said. "But you kept refusing."

"...How was I supposed to know you were this strong?" Winter Xueer muttered.

As they spoke, Ouyang Rui struggled up, coughing blood.

"Your power far exceeds A Rank—even among S Rankers, you’re exceptional. Why settle as an E Rank Hero? With your strength, you should be at least A Rank."

"Can you stop talking while spitting blood? It’s disgusting," Lin Jie grimaced.

"Hmph. Your strength means nothing now," Ouyang Rui spat.

"Weren’t you just bragging I couldn’t touch your hair? Look at you now—vomiting like a fountain."

"Do you know why Winter Xueer trapped me?" Ouyang Rui wiped his mouth. "I mastered an ancient martial step technique."

"So what?"

"I’d only reached the eighth layer before—no A Ranker could land a hit. But with T-3 Evolution Serum, I’ve unlocked the tenth layer." He smirked. "Now? You couldn’t even graze my sleeve if you tried."

"Ugh, more pretentious nonsense." Lin Jie hefted his spike mace. "Let’s go."

He vanished. Reappeared beside Ouyang Rui. Swung.

*Crack.*

Ouyang Rui’s body shattered—but it was only an afterimage.

"Now it gets interesting," Lin Jie murmured.

Ouyang Rui materialized behind him, fist blazing with power—only to strike another afterimage.

"What?!" Ouyang Rui recoiled. His eyes could track bullets. What speed left *this* kind of phantom?

Before his shock faded, a brutal force sent him flying again.

"You—you’re S Rank!" he choked. "How did you bypass the Hero Association’s energy scans?!"

"Energy scans? What’s that?" Lin Jie tilted his head.

"Damn you!" Ouyang Rui charged, footwork blurring his form. Fists flew like hailstones.

Lin Jie weaved through the barrage, occasionally swinging his mace to disrupt the shockwaves. *Can’t let him wreck this pretty Peach Grove.*

"Boring. I thought you’d use actual ancient martial arts." Lin Jie yawned, then caught Ouyang Rui’s fist mid-swing. "Time’s up."

He hurled Ouyang Rui skyward. Vanished. Reappeared in his trajectory.

*THWACK.*

Sent him flying backward. Vanished again.

*THWACK.*

Back the other way.

Ten times. Fifteen. Ouyang Rui’s body went limp before the twentieth strike.

Lin Jie eyed the crumpled form. Wounds were already knitting closed—but consciousness wouldn’t return before the serum’s effects faded.

"Done." He turned to Winter Xueer. She was staring, wide-eyed.

"Mesmerized? By my dashing victory?" Lin Jie struck a pose.

"I feel like an idiot," she sighed, deflating. "All my careful plans... You’re definitely S Rank, aren’t you?"

"Honestly? I’ve never been properly tested," Lin Jie shrugged.

A gust of wind sliced toward his back.

"Hidden weapons!" He spun, mace swinging—

*Thud. Thud.*

Two bodies tangled in peach branches. White Gold and Black Gold. Unconscious.

"Seriously? Interrupting my date?" Lin Jie glared at the newcomer. Kaito of Evolution Corporation.

"Those who disrupt the company’s plans face punishment," Kaito intoned, voice gravelly.

A force field erupted around Lin Jie. He vanished with Winter Xueer in his arms.

"Stay put. I’ll handle this minnow."

Lin Jie charged. Mace descended.

"No physical attack works in my field," Kaito sneered. Repulsive energy surged—

The mace hesitated for a split second. Then crashed through like paper.

"What?!" Kaito’s eyes widened. Too late.

*CRUNCH.*

He convulsed on the ground.

"Minnow handled." Lin Jie grinned at Winter Xueer’s horrified face. "Back to our chat?"

"I said... all who disrupt the plan... must be punished." Kaito rose. Jammed a syringe into his neck.

"Ugh. Everyone’s popping pills when they lose now?" Lin Jie groaned.

Crimson veins spread across Kaito’s skin. The ground cracked. Space warped. He floated, radiating apocalyptic power.

"Accept your punishment." A shockwave tore toward Lin Jie, twisting reality in its wake.

Lin Jie swung his mace.

*POOF.*

The shockwave dissolved. He lunged into the distortion field.

*WHAM.*

Kaito’s aura shattered.

"Showing off!" *Stomp.* "Selling prettier than me!" *Stomp.* "Firing shockwaves!" *Stomp.* "Destroying public property!" *Stomp.* "Popping pills!" *Stomp.* "Dyeing your hair!" *Stomp.* "Living recklessly—"

"STOP! I SURRENDER!" Kaito sobbed underfoot after five minutes. "Please!"

"Since when do you talk normally?!" *Stomp.* "Dropping that fake demon-voice act?"

"I’M SORRY! I’LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!"

"Better." Lin Jie paused. "I hate guys prettier than me."

"BROTHER! YOU’RE THE HANDSOMEST IN THE WORLD! NO ONE COMPARES!"

"Questioning me?!" *Stomp.*

"YOU’RE THE HANDSOMEST! PERIOD!" Kaito wailed.

Dignity abandoned, he groveled.

Winter Xueer watched silently. Her gaze lingered on Lin Jie—complex, unreadable.