She stared at the calm, undisturbed lake surface and spoke softly, "Hiding in the water is the safest."

"Hide in the water?" Hearing Xu Xingguang’s analysis, Cheng Shiguang and a few of his brothers found it incredible. "A person can’t possibly hide in the water for several hours."

They would’ve suffocated long ago.

While the logic seemed correct, Xu Xingguang felt strongly that the possibility of someone hiding underwater was greater. "Search underwater first, then search the reeds."

Xu Xingguang gave a firm order, and Cheng Shiguang and his team couldn’t defy it.

With skeptical minds, they paddled the inflatable raft to deeper waters, then plunged into the lake to investigate.

Eight men worked together, searching underwater for over half an hour.

Just when Cheng Shiguang thought Xu Xingguang’s judgment was wrong, a brother suddenly exclaimed, "There really is someone at the bottom!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Shiguang quickly swam toward that direction.

Approaching the area, he finally discovered a huge piece of driftwood on the lake slope, and behind it, a man was hiding!

The man clasped the driftwood with both hands, positioning himself face down underneath it.

His eyes were closed, his body motionless, appearing as though he was dead.

But Cheng Shiguang noticed the man’s chest occasionally moved!

Cheng Shiguang was stunned.

What kind of bizarre person was this?

How could he hide underwater for so long?

Sensing someone approaching, the young man opened his eyes, revealing an undeniable murderous intent.

Cheng Shiguang immediately stopped his brothers from getting closer and said, "Everyone be cautious, he’s one of us."

The decisive aura emanating from the man mirrored theirs. Clearly, he was someone who licked blood off the knife edge.

Cheng Shiguang and his team planned to approach the man when they heard Xu Xingguang’s voice. "Let me have a look."

"Boss? Why did you come over?" Turning around, Cheng Shiguang and his men saw Xu Xingguang alone, paddling the inflatable raft closer.

Quickly gathering around Xu Xingguang, Cheng Shiguang’s men encircle her for protection against any sudden attack.

Xu Xingguang stared at the hands tightly gripping the driftwood and said, "I am Lady S."

Upon hearing the name Lady S, the young man hiding under the driftwood finally released his grip and surfaced with difficulty.

He lay on the driftwood, pale-faced, staring at Xu Xingguang.

Though he had never seen Lady S’s true appearance, he remembered her voice.

After a moment of silence, Song Chi suddenly said to Xu Xingguang, "People who work in the Underground Beast Fighting Arena, they only save two kinds of people."

Song Chi asked Xu Xingguang, "Which two kinds of people?"

Xu Xingguang curled her lips and replied, "Those who are profitable and those who are enemies."

Upon hearing this, Song Chi’s eyes suddenly brightened. "It’s you."

Song Chi tried to say more, but a dizzy spell struck him, and he instantly fainted.

Once Cheng Shiguang confirmed Song Chi was truly unconscious, he and his brothers carried him ashore.

After landing, Xu Xingguang asked Cheng Shiguang to examine Song Chi’s body.

Cheng Shiguang informed Xu Xingguang, "Four bullets hit his back, the most serious one near the right lung, but it’s unclear if it perforated the lung."

"Also, he has many scars." Cheng Shiguang frowned slightly and hesitated as he said, "There are old scars and new injuries. Judging by the scars, this person has suffered knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and whip wounds."

"This person’s identity isn’t simple. Boss, we should call the police."

Xu Xingguang shook her head and said, "Let’s bring him back first, save him, and then discuss."

"...Okay."

*

Song Chi woke again and found himself lying on a shabby wooden bed.

The room housed many clay figurines, aside from that, there were no other decorations.

Song Chi instinctively tried to sit up, but exerting force pulled his back wound, causing him to softly gasp in pain.

Just then, a tall, burly woman stormed into the room, scanned Song Chi once at the door, then turned and left again.

Struggling to sit up, leaning against the bedhead, Song Chi waited for a while. Soon he heard two sets of footsteps approaching his room.

One light, one heavy and firm.

"Awake?"

Song Chi looked up, seeing Xu Xingguang and Sister Linlin.

In a daze for a moment, Song Chi realized Xu Xingguang was Lady S, who had saved him. "Thank you."

Song Chi feebly smiled, saying, "I came to Cangshan Town hoping for a chance and didn’t expect you really lived here."

Turning around, Xu Xingguang told Sister Linlin, "Sister Lin, get a cup of water."

"Okay."

After Sister Linlin left, Xu Xingguang walked over and stood by Song Chi’s bed.

"Did you escape?" Xu Xingguang asked Song Chi.

Song Chi said, "Yes."

"Couldn’t bear it anymore?"

Song Chi shook his head and said, "Sort of. I heard them say the Beast Fighting Arena planned to host a battle feast, making people and beasts fight together."

Frowning tightly, Song Chi shook his head and said, "I don’t want to live like that."

Xu Xingguang nodded, roughly understanding Song Chi’s thoughts.

"How did you escape?"

Song Chi said weakly, "I stole a guest’s suit, sneaked in and disguised myself to escape. After the guest finished soaking in the hot spring and noticed something was wrong, the Beast Fighting Arena sent people after me."

Song Chi detailed the events of those days. "I drove the guest’s car, escaping over a hundred kilometers before they caught up with me."

"After that, I hid all the way, taking time to reach Yujiang City. But I was discovered again and had no choice but to jump into the lake."

Xu Xingguang didn’t express belief or disbelief in Song Chi’s statement.

She looked at the bandages on Song Chi and asked again, "You now have no identity, no memory, and nowhere to go. I asked you to find me in Cangshan Town so I wouldn’t ignore you."

"If you want to stay in Cangshan Town, you can’t freeload."

"I’m not generous; I never keep strangers close or offer them a grain."

After speaking, Xu Xingguang pulled a chair and sat down, staring sharply at Song Chi, firmly asking, "How much do you remember? Tell me everything you recall."

Not waiting for Song Chi to speak, Xu Xingguang warned him again, "Do not try to deceive me; you can’t trick me."

Having witnessed Xu Xingguang’s ruthless methods in the Underground Beast Fighting Arena, Song Chi knew she wasn’t easily fooled.

Sincerely seeking refuge in Cangshan Town with Xu Xingguang, he never intended to deceive her.

To earn Xu Xingguang’s trust, he must show his sincerity.

After a moment of hesitation, Song Chi said, "My name is Song Chi. I have no memory of events before age six or seven. From then on, I recall little. I vaguely remember growing up in snowy mountains with many orphans."

"We grew up and trained together, but our number of friends kept dwindling. Later, a major event occurred where I lived, and those who raised us died, it seems only I survived."

By this point, mystery filled Song Chi’s eyes again. Unsure, he said, "I’m uncertain if those were dreams or real events, but I’m sure that place wasn’t a good environment."

Using his description, Xu Xingguang imagined and guessed his identity. "I reckon either you were trained as a spy by a country or a killer by an organization."

Song Chi nodded, "I guess so too."

"I’ll have someone investigate your identity. Until your identity is verified, you’ll have to stay in this room."

"Heal well."