"It’s got nothing to do with you?"

Zhuo Bao’s face twisted into a vicious expression. "You say it’s got nothing to do with you and that’s that? If we don’t settle this today, you’re not going anywhere." He pointed at him with the hand holding a cigarette. "If we can’t find the killer, then you’ll take the fall."

Chen Chuan looked up at him. "So you’re not going to be reasonable?"

Zhuo Bao sneered, his arrogance showing he couldn’t care less. "When has the Blood Mark Gang ever needed to be reasonable?"

Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgment. "Actually, I think this attitude of yours is exactly what I’d expect from a gang member."

Zhuo Bao was pissed. Chen Chuan’s casual and calm demeanor made him feel like his threats and intimidation were having no effect. The more it was like this, the more he wanted to force Chen Chuan to submit to his will.

"You think I’m all talk, don’t you? Forget it..."

He brought the cigarette to his lips and took a long, hard drag. The remaining half of the cigarette flared red, burning up before scattering into sparks and ash. He looked up at Chen Chuan, his eyes filled with boundless malice. "You’re the killer!"

The brawny gang leader’s face filled with terror. ’Crap, the boss is having one of his episodes again!’

Zhuo Bao was also known in the gang as Mad Leopard. He seemed quiet most of the time, but you never knew when he would suddenly lose control of his emotions. When he went berserk, he wouldn’t recognize friend or foe. If he weren’t such an exceptional fighter, no one in the gang would be able to stand him.

The moment he finished speaking, he lunged forward, charging violently at Chen Chuan. He moved so fast that the surrounding lackeys saw only a blur, their eyes completely unable to follow his speed.

Immediately after, they heard a muffled THUD of impact. As the sound registered, they finally caught sight of Zhuo Bao’s figure again. He was mid-air, frozen in a forward-lunge, one hand pressing forward.

But his hand, which carried the full force of his body and his charge, was caught by Chen Chuan, who also used just one hand. The latter stood firm, not moving an inch. Even as more force surged forward, it was not enough to push him back.

Veins bulged on Zhuo Bao’s cheeks. This was his body’s Mutated Organization activating its power. He pressed his hand forward with all his might, trying to topple the man opposite him.

But it was as if he had run into a solid, high wall. He couldn’t budge it an inch. His elbow gradually bent, and his whole body began to tremble from the exertion.

Chen Chuan’s calm gaze met his. Zhuo Bao bared his teeth in a grin, but then his vision suddenly blurred. The lackeys only heard a loud BANG as Zhuo Bao was sent flying sideways. The sofas and decorations in his path were sent flying as if hit by a gale, knocked aside by his body.

Only then did Chen Chuan slowly lower the leg he had used to kick.

The force sent Zhuo Bao crashing into the wall. With a dull thud, his body stuck there for a moment before being seemingly pushed back. He involuntarily took two steps forward.

But he just shrugged his shoulders, straightened up, and stared at Chen Chuan. He placed a hand on his neck and twisted it. He looked mostly unharmed, but his eyes grew even more dangerous, and the blood mark on his chest turned a brilliant, striking red.

After kicking Zhuo Bao away, Chen Chuan also took a few quick breaths. After reaching the Second Limit, one could activate the power of their mutated organs and bones simultaneously. However, as he was still in the early stages of its development, he couldn’t summon all his strength in an instant; he needed a moment to gather and channel it.

Using his breathing was still the most efficient way to do this.

After a few breaths, the Mutated Organization throughout his body became active as if awakened. This time, he didn’t wait for Zhuo Bao to come to him; he took the initiative and walked toward his opponent.

As one of the Blood Mark Gang’s top fighters, one of the Five Claws, Zhuo Bao had also clearly reached the Second Limit. In fact, most top fighters were at this level.

However, this only meant that their bodies’ mutation had reached a certain stage; it couldn’t be used as a measure of actual strength. This was especially true since most people’s mutations only strengthened a single internal organ, far from being as comprehensive as his.

The Snow Monarch Blade in his hand was still sheathed, held in his left hand. As he approached Zhuo Bao, the latter lowered his stance, spreading his hands to his sides and staring intently at him. His body rose and fell slightly with his breathing, as if buoyed by some force. It felt like with just a slight intake of breath, he could leap into the air.

Chen Chuan’s body remained still. He just flicked his wrist, bringing the Snow Monarch Blade up in a diagonal slash. Even though it was still sheathed, empowered by his strength, a direct hit would be enough to break bones.

Zhuo Bao was already prepared. He hopped back, and immediately the sword stance changed, turning into a downward chop mid-swing. He hadn’t landed yet, but he lightly lifted his feet and planted them one after another on the wall behind him. At the same time, his body curled backward, as if sticking to the wall, and he squinted as the Snow Monarch Blade slashed down past his cheek.

Just then, he suddenly brought the five fingers of his right hand together, forming what looked like a blade. He pushed off the wall with his legs, lunging out just as Chen Chuan’s forward chop missed.

In that instant, with the tips of his toes against the wall behind him, his body fully extended, and his arm stretched out as far as it could. He looked just like a leopard leaping through the air.

You could see something bulging and moving under his skin, starting from his heel, traveling up his leg and spine, all the way to the back of his hand. At the same time, the flesh there turned red and searing hot. The tip of his hand-blade even generated wisps of white vapor that drifted to the sides, as if the very air was being torn apart.

Chen Chuan calmly watched his move. He shifted his center of gravity back, retracting the foot that had stepped forward. The momentum carried his left hand, bringing the Snow Monarch Blade up to the right to block.

Using the momentum from the earlier chop and this block, the blade slid partway out of its sheath. Just as Zhuo Bao’s fingers were about to jab into his chest, a flash of brilliant light from the blade reflected across the living room, and a section of muscular forearm was sliced clean off by the edge!

Despite having a part of his arm severed, Zhuo Bao’s expression showed no change. He didn’t even blink. He maintained his forward lunge, his legs about to leave the wall. In that final instant before they did, he pushed off with his toes for one last burst of power.

As his body continued to accelerate forward, a breath seemed to rise from his abdomen, causing his entire chest to expand, and his mouth opened slightly.

This burst of air was the Power from his mutated lungs. At close range, if this exhalation hit an opponent’s face, it could pulp their features, concuss their brain, and end the fight instantly.

But before he could exhale, a fist flew in and smashed into his face. With the sound of cracking teeth and bone, not only did his entire face deform, but the breath was also trapped inside him. The force sent him tumbling backward through the air.

His body traced a parabolic arc, flying from near the room’s entrance all the way to a distant corner before landing with a heavy thud.

This time, a powerful force had been driven straight into his brain, causing him to lose consciousness instantly. Now, the whites of his eyes were showing. His upper body was face down while his lower body was flipped over, with one foot caught on an overturned sofa. His entire body was twisted into an unnatural position.

’This Zhuo Bao must have something wrong with his head. He saw me holding a blade, yet he still dared to fight me bare-handed.’

Fighting with a weapon and without one are two completely different things. Even if someone was a cut above him in strength, if they fought him empty-handed, he could still finish them in a few moves.

He sheathed the Snow Monarch Blade, turned, and walked to the door. He placed his hand on the doorknob, turned it gently, and opened the door. However, before he could step out, the gang members seemed to snap back to their senses. They instinctively drew their guns and aimed them at his back.

Chen Chuan paused, his gaze sweeping over them. ’Since they’ve drawn guns, there’s nothing more to say.’ He pushed his hand forward, shutting the door with a CLICK.

At that same moment, outside the arena, sharp whistles blew. A large number of armored vehicles from the Patrol Bureau surrounded the Blood Mark Gang members in the plaza. Datuo-style rifles were pointed at everyone, herding them one by one into the center of the square and forcing them to drop their weapons.

The crowd parted, and Wei Oldhu emerged. His pistol was already raised as he roared, "I want to see who dares to move! Listen up, anyone who even thinks about baring their teeth gets put down!"

"Yes, sir!"

A unified response came from behind him.

Seeing this, the leaders among the Blood Mark Gang members hurriedly ordered their men to lower their weapons.

Normally, they might have dared to clash with the Patrol Bureau, relying on their numbers. But they had lost several leaders in the past few days and had just been in a major brawl with the Iron Chain Gang. They didn’t want to start a fight with the Patrol Bureau at a time like this; there was simply no benefit in it for them.

Wei Oldhu glanced around, then handed things over to a deputy captain. He led a team of his own and charged into the arena. Once inside, everyone quickly fanned out, securing all entrances, exits, and observation points. He then took a few men upstairs. Looking at the closed door, he ordered his men to guard both sides while he moved to the front, gun raised.

But before he could kick the door down, it opened from the inside. Chen Chuan walked out casually, holding his Snow Monarch Blade, his clothes neat and tidy.

Wei Oldhu immediately lowered his gun. He looked him over and said, "Xiaochuan, you okay?"

Chen Chuan smiled. "Uncle Wei, I’m fine." As he spoke, he stepped aside.

Wei Oldhu walked to the doorway and glanced inside. Seeing the scattered bullet casings on the floor and the bullet holes in the walls, his face suddenly darkened. "These sons of bitches used guns?"

Chen Chuan nodded. "Yes."

"Then there’s nothing more to say. It wouldn’t matter if you killed them all." Wei Oldhu looked at the dozen or so downed Blood Mark Gang members, his eyes icy.

According to the laws of Dashun, anyone who dared to use a gun in the city without a Weapon Permit could be killed on the spot without consequence. This law applied to everyone; even an ordinary citizen would be absolved of guilt, let alone a Wuyi A-class student like Chen Chuan who possessed a Weapon Permit.

"By the way, where’s Zhuo Bao?"

Wei Oldhu had received word when he was on his way that Zhuo Bao was also here. Combined with the call he got from Chen Chuan, he took today’s matter very seriously and had requested a large contingent from the bureau.

Chen Chuan gestured. "He’s lying in the corner."

Wei Oldhu turned his head to look. After a moment of scrutiny, he realized it really was Zhuo Bao. He was stunned. This was one of the Blood Mark Gang’s Five Claws, famous for his arrogance and for being a handful. And now he was in this sorry state.

"Xiaochuan, you did this? Damn, you even took down Zhuo Bao. Is he dead?"

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. "He’s probably still breathing."

"Nice one, Xiaochuan!" Wei Oldhu came up and clapped him on the shoulder. "That bastard Zhuo Bao has always been arrogant. Every time he gets into trouble, some Litigation Master gets him out." He chuckled coldly. "This time, I’ll make sure to skin him alive!"

Chen Chuan said, "Uncle Wei, if there’s nothing else here, I’ll head back first."

"Go on!" Wei Oldhu waved him off. Then, he looked down at the men on the floor and began to roll up his sleeves. "Go home and get some rest. Leave the rest to your Uncle Wei."

...

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