Bare-knuckle fights don’t use gloves.

No attack restrictions either—only one truth: one stands, one falls. Lin Ran remembered the rules clearly. He stayed focused, cautious.

His first punch aimed for the opponent’s face when he wasn’t looking.

Blocked. A left hook followed. Lin Ran dodged. Both retreated, hunting for the next opening.

The crowd roared below, but Lin Ran’s mind stayed sharp. His opponent was far more fired up—a rookie. His punches lacked viciousness but carried raw power. When the chance came, he swung hard.

The blow knocked the man off-balance for a split second. Lin Ran seized it, driving an uppercut straight up. The man didn’t react in time. One-sided beating followed until he crumpled. Lin Ran stopped.

Cheers shook the entire floor. Yet Lin Ran stood quiet, unmoved. He waited as Xu Zhi counted. At seven, Blood Tiger staggered up. The moment Xu Zhi yelled "Start!", a roar tore through the air:

"I’ll fucking kill you!"

But Blood Tiger had little left. Rage and impatience made his stance wobble. Lin Ran sidestepped, hammering his head. Another brutal flurry. Blood Tiger wouldn’t rise again.

Just flesh wounds. Maybe a mild concussion. Better off than his brother’s last two opponents. Lin Ran had held back—he didn’t want trouble.

The fight ended. Xu Zhi’s count hit ten. Referees meant nothing here. She was just a vase: long, slender legs drawing every eye, heating the room like beauty beside beasts.

Lin Ran met her gaze. For a heartbeat, it felt like a boy standing before a rose.

"I put three grand on you tonight. Made three hundred profit. Dinner’s on me," Xu Zhi whispered in his ear. Lin Ran nodded, stepping down from the ring—only to see someone beat the medics to him.

Blood Wolf.

Blood Tiger’s brother. Their faces told the story.

Lin Ran caught Blood Wolf’s hostile glare. Instinctively, he shifted, shielding Xu Zhi behind him. "Bro, wins and losses are the rules. No fixing fights here."

"I know." Blood Wolf stepped forward. His brother was already on a stretcher.

The crowd held its breath. Thrill-seekers’ eyes gleamed.

Blood Wolf made a taunting gesture. "Fight me."

"Big brother, you’re joking… I can’t beat you." Lin Ran’s tone turned placating. He was here for cash, not glory. He knew that.

"Heard you’ve won fifty-seven straight here?"

"Just luck. I only fight regular guys. The desperate fear the crazy; the crazy fear those with nothing to lose. I just need money." Lin Ran kept his head low.

Up in the stands, rich young masters watched with amused interest.

At the very top, someone’s brow furrowed slightly.

"Beat me. I’ll give you a hundred thousand." Blood Wolf’s voice was flat. His fists clenched.

Lin Ran fell silent.

Xu Zhi exhaled. She knew his nature—he valued life too much to be stupid. A refusal would end this. The boss wouldn’t allow Blood Wolf’s recklessness.

But Lin Ran didn’t answer for two, three seconds. Hesitating.

Xu Zhi yanked his sleeve hard. "What are you hesitating for?!"

Before Lin Ran could speak, the crowd erupted:

"Fight him! Fight him!"

The chants surged like a tidal wave.

Lin Ran still hesitated. Xu Zhi’s face twisted with panic. She stomped on his foot. "Are you trying to die?!"

Lin Ran scanned the crowd. His eyes met Qin You’s. Qin You’s gaze burned with wild excitement. He saw Lin Ran looking—and shouted over the roar:

"Lin Ran! Fight him! Win, and I’ll give you another hundred thousand!"

Two hundred thousand total.

Lin Ran glanced at Xu Zhi’s frantic face. His confusion cleared. He turned, pulling her behind him.

"Fine. No referee. One stands, one falls. Winner takes all."

Cheers crashed like an ocean.

Xu Zhi stared, wide-eyed, disbelieving. She opened her mouth—but Lin Ran took her hand, guiding her to the stairs. Her words drowned in the noise. The moment he agreed, retreat became impossible. Even if he regretted it now, they’d force him back to fight.

He pushed her down the steps. Turning, he faced his opponent calmly. No excitement. He glanced up at the live betting odds on the casino screen.

Blood Wolf: 1.1 to 1.

Himself: 8 to 1.

"Hey," he called to Xu Zhi, grinning. "Bet everything on me. If I lose, I’ll sell my kidney to pay you back."

Xu Zhi just stared back, eyes red-rimmed, teeth clenched tight. No words came.

On the stands, Qin You went wild. His hundred-thousand bet on Lin Ran shifted the odds slightly—until his rival, Young Master Lin, dumped five hundred thousand on Blood Wolf. The odds swung back. Betting time wasn’t over yet.

Xu Zhi locked eyes with Lin Ran, silent. Not disbelief. Her mind was blank. Panic swallowed her whole. She couldn’t move.

*Why did he agree?! Because of what I said last night? Hey! Hey!*

*You idiot!!!!*

Lin Ran watched the odds board. He clenched his fists, focused every nerve, breathed deep. His opponent’s eyes glowed faintly red—the telltale sign of activated abilities.

Lin Ran just smiled.

"I won’t lose. Ready?" His voice dripped with arrogance. Blood Wolf’s expression twisted. His ability made him volatile; his grin turned monstrous.

"I hope you last longer than a few broken bones."

Betting closed. Lin Ran and Blood Wolf took their stances. The arena fell dead silent. No cheers. Not even a pin drop.

………………………………

"Your ex-boyfriend?" Xu Weiyu lightly tapped Su Nisheng’s shoulder. They sat in the farthest corner of the stands. Her eyes held confusion. "No energy signature on him. The detector’s fine. Is he suicidal?"

"Because of the two hundred thousand," Su Nisheng replied coldly.

"But he can’t win… He’ll be killed." Xu Weiyu frowned. "If he dies outright, even I can’t revive him, Nisheng."

"I know!" Su Nisheng’s voice was sharp, restless. Was Lin Ran really throwing his life away? Or had he seen her here and grown reckless? If she intervened too late… A C-rank ability user against a man who could wrestle Siberian tigers? Was he truly that desperate?

Her breathing quickened.

………………………………

On the screen:

Lin Ran took the first punch on his shoulder. He stumbled back five, six steps. He seemed fine—but beside Su Nisheng, her best friend murmured flatly, "Shattered."

"Shattered?"

"His bones are shattered. Oh god… He can still lift his arm? Hiss. That must hurt like hell." Xu Weiyu’s eyes widened as Lin Ran charged again, swinging. His fist slammed into Blood Wolf’s elbow. Blood Wolf barely budged. Counterpunches rained down. Lin Ran covered his head, blocking desperately, searching for an opening to strike back.

*Idiot!*

Su Nisheng cursed silently. Xu Weiyu glanced up—and caught a flicker of pale gold in Su Nisheng’s eyes.

On stage, Blood Wolf froze for half a heartbeat. In that instant, Lin Ran lunged, driving a fist into his face. Blood Wolf’s nose snapped. Lin Ran pressed the attack without pause. Blood Wolf couldn’t comprehend the sudden speed, the power—he didn’t realize his own senses had slowed.

Lin Ran kept hammering. His right arm hung useless; only his left fist swung. Each punch drew thunderous roars from below. After a dozen blows, an elbow strike cracked into Blood Wolf’s ribs. Blood Wolf paled, sweat drenching his body. The final uppercut sent him crashing down.

Lin Ran spat out an orange peel, then coughed up blood. He wiped his mouth, grinning fiercely at the crowd—a look Su Nisheng had never seen on his face.

"Who won?!" he yelled.

Qin You leapt from his seat. Xu Zhi’s ashen face warmed slightly, but tears still streamed down. Blood Wolf lay unconscious. The ten-second count ended. Xu Zhi rushed onto the stage.

The world went quiet.

Though the noise hadn’t changed at all.

Xu Zhi bit her lip hard, eyes fixed on Lin Ran. Then she raised her hand—and slapped him hard across the face.

"I’d rather sell myself tonight! To Young Master Qin, Young Master Lin—anyone! I don’t want a single cent from you, Lin Ran!"

The crowd couldn’t hear her words, but the slap sparked murmurs. More laughter followed. After all, they’d only come for entertainment.

Lin Ran lifted his head slowly, smiling helplessly.

"Let’s talk later. Calm down first."

Xu Zhi just stared at him. Silent. Tears fell without sound.