Silence.
Hearing Lei Bao's arrogant words, the members of the Azure character gang remained silent.
Under the lights, their faces were filled with anger, their fists clenched tightly, their bodies trembling, yet not a single one stepped forward to fight!
It wasn't due to fear, but a lack of capability!
At this moment, they felt an unprecedented humiliation!
Not just them, even Chu Wansong fell silent. At the same time, he noticed Lei Bao's gaze fixed on Jiang Wuming, his eyes filled with provocation.
That's right…
It was provocation!
After Lei Bao defeated Wu Long, Huang Xiaoxie's third task was successfully completed.
And… according to Huang Xiaoxie's plan, he wanted Lei Bao to cripple Jiang Wuming within a reasonable range, take his parts, and bring them back to Nanzhou!
Now, Jiang Wuming was standing below the stage. How could Lei Bao let this opportunity slip by?
Jiang Wuming naturally sensed the provocation in Lei Bao's gaze, but he didn't react, merely frowning slightly as he pondered the underlying reasons.
"Uncle Chu, I heard that Jiang Wuming slapped Huangfu Yingjun at Huangfu Manor. To quell the disturbance, you transferred one-third of the Southwest Lithium Mine shares to the Huangfu family."
As everyone remained silent, Huang Xiaoxie suddenly spoke.
Huh?
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wuming couldn't help but look at Chu Wansong.
He knew Chu Wansong had almost fallen out with the Huangfu family to help him, but he was unaware of the hidden details.
"Kid, take your people and leave!"
Chu Wansong stared at Huang Xiaoxie with a dark expression, avoiding the question.
"Uncle Chu, you went to such great lengths to protect him, you must want to recruit him, right? As far as I know, although he's only an eight-star martial artist, he once killed a Martial Grandmaster at Longlan Restaurant, creating a myth in the Dragon Kingdom's martial arts world and being hailed as one of its most outstanding prodigies."
Huang Xiaoxie smiled sinisterly and proposed, "How about letting him represent the Azure character gang?"
"Wuming is my nephew, not a member of the Azure character gang," Chu Wansong's expression changed instantly as he understood Huang Xiaoxie's intentions and immediately refused.
Although Jiang Wuming had killed Lin Pingzhi at Longlan Restaurant, his earlier assessment was the same as Wu Long's: Jiang Wuming's strength was inferior to Wu Long's.
Just now, Wu Long was thoroughly defeated by Lei Bao. Jiang Wuming would have no chance of defeating Lei Bao if he went on stage!
"Is that so? I thought he was going to join the Azure character gang. It seems my intelligence was flawed."
Huang Xiaoxie feigned understanding and then said with a sinister smile to Jiang Wuming, "Jiang Wuming, the Azure character gang has lost seven matches today, and even the Double Flower Red Stick, Wu Long, has been defeated. If this news gets out, Uncle Chu and the Azure character gang will lose face.
Even though you're not part of the Azure character gang, Uncle Chu helped you so much. Don't you want to fight for Uncle Chu?"
"Kid, stop the nonsense and take your people and scram!"
Seeing Huang Xiaoxie provoking Jiang Wuming to act, Chu Wansong's face darkened. He let out a cold shout, radiating the powerful aura of a one-star War God.
This time, Huang Xiaoxie didn't speak, but instead turned and gave Lei Bao a meaningful glance.
"Jiang Wuming, I've heard about you killing a Martial Grandmaster at Longlan Restaurant. The outside world has built you up into a mythical figure. I want to shatter that myth today!"
On the stage, Lei Bao saw Huang Xiaoxie's gaze and understood. Following their pre-arranged plan, he said arrogantly:
"Jiang Wuming, I, Lei Bao, challenge you to a martial arts contest—do you dare to accept?"
"Wuming, don't accept!"
As soon as Lei Bao's words fell, Chu Wansong immediately spoke to stop him.
He had heard of some of Jiang Wuming's deeds and knew that Jiang Wuming was a loyal and righteous person, as well as someone who acted decisively. He was afraid that Jiang Wuming would impulsively accept the challenge.
If Jiang Wuming accepted the challenge and he then intervened, both of them would lose face!
"Uncle Chu, Jiang Zhan was once a generation's War God of the Dragon Kingdom, hailed as the pride of the Dragon Kingdom's military and martial arts world!
As the saying goes, a tiger father sires no dog. I believe Jiang Zhan's son wouldn't be a coward—right, Jiang Wuming?"
Huang Xiaoxie spoke again, provoking Jiang Wuming, even mentioning Jiang Zhan.
"Shut up!"
Chu Wansong was thoroughly enraged. He issued an ultimatum, "I'll give you thirty seconds. If you don't take your people and leave, don't blame me for not showing your father any respect!"
"Alright, Uncle Chu, I'll listen to you and leave with my people now. After all, this trash doesn't dare to accept."
Huang Xiaoxie made a gesture as if to leave, but then cast a disdainful glance at Jiang Wuming, "Alas… what a disgrace to Jiang Zhan!"
This was because, according to the intelligence he had gathered, Jiang Wuming rarely left the Donghai Martial Arts Academy. Tonight was a golden opportunity for him, and he didn't want to give up just like that!
As for Chu Wansong…
He saw that Chu Wansong was angry, but not yet at the breaking point. After the Azure character gang's seven fighters were defeated, he wouldn't make a move against him, otherwise, he would gain a reputation for bullying the younger and weaker, and the Azure character gang would completely become a laughingstock of the Dragon Kingdom and even the global underground world!
"When you saw me for the first time, I saw excitement in your eyes.
Before, when Wu Long stepped onto the stage, you were still observing me, only looking away when the match between the two sides began.
After Wu Long's defeat, your people were shouting on stage, seemingly provoking the Azure character gang, but their gazes were fixed on me, actually provoking me.
Just now, you provoked me multiple times with your words, and I ignored you. Then your subordinate directly challenged me!
All of this proves that you had this planned for a long time!"
Jiang Wuming cleared his thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and stared at Huang Xiaoxie. Before Huang Xiaoxie could speak, he continued, "Your father and my father were classmates at the Donghai Martial Arts Academy. Back then, they had a martial arts spar during a martial arts class. After your father was defeated in the spar, he sneakily attacked my father, had a leg broken by my father, and was expelled from the Donghai Martial Arts Academy!
You've meticulously plotted to lure me into action, wanting to cripple me and avenge your father!"
Huh?
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words in surprise, Chu Wansong was stunned.
Earlier, due to the consecutive defeats of Wu Long and the others, he was in a bad mood and hadn't thought much of it. Now, hearing Jiang Wuming say this, he suddenly realized.
Swish!
Huang Xiaoxie and Lei Bao's expressions changed simultaneously. Neither of them had expected Jiang Wuming to have seen through their intentions and their plan in such a short period of time!
"Heh… I underestimated you."
After a brief moment of surprise, Huang Xiaoxie didn't evade or conceal, but instead chuckled disdainfully, "Your guess is completely correct, so what? Aren't you still going to be a coward?"
"Originally, if you wanted to settle the feud between our fathers, you should have acted yourself.
Now, since you've sent your subordinate to challenge me, I can accept, but with two conditions," Jiang Wuming said coldly.
"Wuming…" Chu Wansong's expression changed, and he tried to stop Jiang Wuming again.
"Uncle Chu, please rest assured." Jiang Wuming interrupted Chu Wansong, both stating his stance and signaling Chu Wansong not to worry.
"What conditions?" Huang Xiaoxie's heart leaped with joy, and he quickly asked, seemingly afraid that Jiang Wuming would go back on his word.
"First, if you want your subordinate to avenge your father, you must bear the consequences yourself!" Jiang Wuming said coldly.
"What consequences?" Huang Xiaoxie raised an eyebrow.
"In this battle, I will fight both for myself, to settle the father-son feud, and for Uncle Chu and the Azure character gang!
If I win, you will kneel at Uncle Chu's feet and, on behalf of the Hong character gang, kowtow and apologize to the Azure character gang!"
"Agreed!"
Jiang Wuming's proposed conditions greatly angered Huang Xiaoxie, but thinking that Lei Bao could defeat Jiang Wuming as easily as playing house, he readily agreed and then asked, "What's the second condition?"
"The martial arts challenge is to be changed to a fight to the death, with no quarter given!" Jiang Wuming spoke again, his voice like thunder, shocking the entire audience!