Chapter Eighty-six: This Move Is Ruthless

As soon as the two entered the modification chamber, Ye Chong sensed their presence. He was not one to underestimate anyone, so he swiftly stood up, his gaze sharpening. One of the women entering was familiar to him, but the other was a stranger. Yet it was this unfamiliar woman who triggered in Ye Chong a powerful sense of danger.

Ye Chong’s sharp eyes noticed that her steps were astonishingly steady, each stride exactly the same length, as if measured by a ruler. At that moment, Shang abandoned his usual teasing and said solemnly, “Ye, you’ve met a master.”

Rui Bing’s upper body was motionless as stone, while her footsteps flowed with a rhythmic beauty, graceful and fluid. Ye Chong narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her, his feet unconsciously adjusting; his figure became like a wraith, flickering and elusive.

For the first time, Ye Chong truly felt threatened. His beast-like intuition, sensitive beyond belief, was something he had always trusted. His body responded instinctively, shifting slightly, his left hand raised to his chest, his right poised but not striking.

Apart from clear signs of rigorous training on her hands, Ye Chong found nothing unusual about the woman. Yet from this seemingly ordinary person, he detected a hidden danger—an extreme danger.

Ye Chong’s hawk-like gaze made Rui Su’s heart go cold, causing her to stumble. Rui Bing’s eyes flashed, clearly intrigued by Ye Chong. As she observed his ghostly form, even her steely resolve wavered for a moment. Almost as if in silent agreement, Rui Bing altered her steps, each long stride forming a sweeping arc, filled with unique tension.

The two stood facing one another.

Rui Su lingered at a distance, suddenly regretting her actions, feeling perhaps she had gone too far this time. But she quickly comforted herself: when Bing Bing wins, a little lesson will suffice!

Ye Chong and Rui Bing exchanged not a single word.

Rui Bing believed herself to be here to cause trouble; excuses were irrelevant. As for Ye Chong, he never wasted words. To him, a fight needed no reason—much like hunting the hundred-bite mice. Besides, launching a surprise attack improved his odds.

They remained locked in standoff, Ye Chong’s gaze growing colder, as if the temperature in the chamber plummeted. He stood like an ice sculpture, exuding a chilling aura. Rui Bing’s long hair floated behind her, her training robe billowing without wind. Her normally cool eyes now burned fiercely, battle intent unmistakable.

A flicker of murderous intent flashed through Ye Chong’s narrowed eyes. The opponent’s hostility was clear; intense danger awakened Ye Chong’s survival instincts, obliterating any leftover social restraints he might have held.

Ye Chong’s slight expression did not escape either woman’s notice. Rui Su, quick-witted as ever, turned pale as snow; she realized she had caused a disaster. Panic welled up within her.

Rui Bing, even more sensitive, sensed Ye Chong’s killing intent, but felt no fear. Her confidence in her own strength was absolute, forged through the countless trials of a fighter.

Ye Chong gave a cold snort, his toe tapping the ground as he lunged at Rui Bing, trailing countless afterimages. The belief that striking first gives advantage was deeply ingrained in him, unaffected by the fact his opponent was a woman.

Ye Chong’s speed exceeded Rui Bing’s expectations, causing Rui Su to cry out in alarm.

Ye Chong held nothing back this time, unleashing his full strength. His inhuman speed stunned both women.

Rui Bing only managed to deflect Ye Chong’s right hand when it was mere centimeters from her throat; his speed had caught her off guard, forcing her into a defensive position.

After his right hand was pushed aside, Ye Chong’s left fist shot toward Rui Bing’s chest like a meteor. He believed that if this punch landed, even a twenty-centimeter-thick alloy door would shatter.

Rui Bing reacted quickly, rotating her right arm outward and spreading her fingers to block Ye Chong’s powerful punch with her palm. There was a heavy thud; the expected scene of flesh and bone separating did not occur, surprising Ye Chong.

Ye Chong’s strength was immense. Even though Rui Bing had prepared herself mentally, the punch forced her to retreat. Yet her method was unique: her feet remained unmoving, her whole body gliding backward like an ice skater, her posture graceful.

What tremendous power! Rui Bing was secretly shocked. Her right hand was now numb, Ye Chong’s strength far exceeded her expectations; in just a few moves, her right hand was almost useless. This man was a monster!

Ye Chong paused only briefly, then charged forward, his figure light as smoke, drifting toward Rui Bing.

Seeing Ye Chong’s approaching silhouette, Rui Bing showed no panic, though her right hand was temporarily incapacitated. Her face remained calm.

A strange light flickered in Rui Bing’s eyes. Her left hand formed a knife shape, slowly rising.

Suddenly, an unexpected change stunned Ye Chong.

Rui Bing’s expression was solemn, her right palm lifting slowly.

Ye Chong’s mind was irresistibly drawn to that palm; it seemed to become the center of the world. As it rose, everything around shifted.

Brilliant as the sun!

Everything seemed to slow; Ye Chong felt as if he were wading through thick liquid, his movements sluggish yet sharply clear. His mind was captivated by the slowly rising, dazzling jade palm, drawn in despite himself. His body slipped further out of his control; every small movement was a struggle. He drifted toward that palm like a moth to flame.

Yet the sense of danger lingered, tightening its grip. Ye Chong felt like a fish ensnared, losing command of his body.

Desperate to survive, a sliver of reason drove Ye Chong’s last struggle.

Suddenly he bit through his tongue, the sharp pain jolting him awake. The salty taste ignited his fighting spirit. With a roar, the restraints around him rippled.

Ye Chong wasted no time, thrashing like a fish, gradually regaining control of his body.

At that moment, Ye Chong realized he had already entered his opponent’s attack range. The jade palm, now raised to its highest point, slashed downward. The delicate, sculpted hand made a razor-sharp whistling sound like a blade tearing through air.

Without time to think, Ye Chong met her palm with his right fist.

He felt as if his fist had struck a blade; his four fingers throbbed with pain, a pale mark clearly visible along them. Ye Chong gasped sharply, wondering if his fingers were broken.

Rui Bing fared little better. The direct clash was a heavy loss for her; her face turned pale, then flushed as if intoxicated, a bloom of red spreading across her cold features, making her stunningly beautiful for a moment.

But any beauty now could hardly distract Ye Chong.

Having gained a small advantage, Ye Chong knew to pursue victory. His left hand spread wide, stabbing toward Rui Bing’s chest like lightning. If this blow landed, with Ye Chong’s strength, it would leave five deep, bloody holes—Rui Bing would likely not survive the day.

Rui Su, witnessing this, cried out, “No!” Regret overwhelmed her, tears falling like pearls onto the floor.

Ye Chong ignored her completely. He was determined to kill the woman who had nearly ended his life—he could not leave such a threat behind. Her strange move had shaken him deeply; he could not guarantee victory if they met again. Had he not bitten his tongue at the last moment, he might already be dead.

In truth, Ye Chong misunderstood Rui Bing. She harbored fighting intent but no intent to kill; the rules of this world bound her far more than they did Ye Chong. Judging others by his own standards, Ye Chong was gravely mistaken.

Sensing Ye Chong’s intense, almost tangible killing intent, Rui Bing’s own survival instinct surged, elevating her abilities beyond their usual limits.

Her right hand finally regained some feeling. As she retreated swiftly, she lifted her right arm to block Ye Chong’s left hand, but instead of blocking, she grasped his arm.

Rui Bing could think of nothing else, desperately clinging to Ye Chong’s left arm, her body propelled backward by his force.

Ye Chong was also at his limit; his fierce struggle had drained him, and the direct clash left his right hand weak and numb.

His hand barely pressed into Rui Bing’s chest before he could push no further; Rui Bing held his left arm in a death grip.

Seeing his strength spent, Ye Chong switched from stabbing to grabbing.

What he touched was soft and full—how could someone so skilled have such soft chest muscles? It defied reason! The thought flashed through Ye Chong’s mind. He even squeezed twice to confirm it wasn’t a hallucination.

Strange—she had blocked his full-force punch earlier; her body should be far tougher than normal.

Rui Bing’s body stiffened.

Ye Chong grabbed her firmly, ignoring her startled cry, spun around, and flung her aside.