Fleeing when outmatched was not a lesson Song Qiao learned with his life.
More accurately, it was Sheng Xiong.
Sheng Xiong managed to stay alive for so long because his ability to run was far superior to his combat prowess.
In Song Qiao's opinion, he was a rather peculiar person.
Whenever the situation turned unfavorable, he could always vanish in a puff of smoke.
Yesterday, Mo Ling had cut off all his escape routes, and thus Sheng Xiong died.
Therefore, Song Qiao wasn't foolish. Knowing he couldn't defeat Guo Can, he turned and fled.
What was equally strange was that his speed in escaping was not inferior either.
In a mere moment, he had leaped out of his doorstep and onto the street.
Just as he was congratulating himself, he suddenly glanced back.
His expression turned as sour as if he had eaten feces.
"What the hell! What kind of strength does this woman have? She's too fast!"
Song Qiao had thought he was fast enough to escape, but he hadn't expected Guo Can to be even faster!
Not long after he had taken off, she had already caught up.
The distance between them was less than twenty meters!
This was a distance a martial artist could quickly close after a burst of speed.
Simply put, Guo Can could attack Song Qiao at any moment!
Sensing this, Song Qiao licked his lips and couldn't help but spit viciously to the side.
"Stupid woman! Can't you stop chasing me!"
"If I weren't injured, I guarantee you wouldn't even smell my backside!"
"You court death!" Guo Can's face instantly darkened.
*Crack!*
The ground beneath Guo Can's feet rapidly sank.
The solid asphalt road was directly dented by her, creating two pits!
As the ground caved in, she leaped forward like a cannonball.
Simultaneously, she extended a hand, aiming for Song Qiao's shoulder!
Feeling the biting coldness behind him, Song Qiao cursed inwardly.
His footwork didn't slow at all, but his body tilted slightly.
*Riiiiip!*
The fabric on his shoulder couldn't hold on for a moment and was instantly torn to shreds like paper.
On Song Qiao's thick shoulder, a bloody claw mark was shockingly visible!
Also torn was a large tree that flashed and receded as the two figures sped forward!
Seeing her strike miss, Guo Can gritted her teeth fiercely.
She applied a slight pressure to her right hand, and the bark she held in her grip rapidly shrank under compression.
Green sap, like fresh blood, gushed out, spurting through her fingers!
"Oh, my heavens, that's terrifying!"
Feeling the killing intent surging from behind, Song Qiao's crotch tightened instinctively.
His throat churned violently, and he swallowed hard.
At this moment, all he could do was keep running for his life.
"Don't even mention being injured; even at full strength, I'd lose a layer of skin!"
"No!"
Suddenly, Song Qiao's pupils contracted sharply, and his footwork became extremely erratic.
Running at full speed in this state was already a significant drain on his stamina.
Even more dangerous was that it further aggravated his injury from yesterday!
Waves of sharp pain surged within him, making him feel lightheaded and almost fall to the ground!
He barely managed to regain his balance, and Guo Can was already upon him.
*Puff!*
A muffled grunt escaped Song Qiao's throat as he was struck hard on the back!
His foot stumbled, and he crashed heavily into the flowerbed in front of him!
"Cough, cough..." Song Qiao rolled over, coughing painfully.
Then he felt a sweetness in his throat, and the mouthful of fresh blood he had been holding back since yesterday finally erupted!
"I surrender, I surrender..."
At this moment, Song Qiao's face was deathly pale, and he was in no condition to fight any longer.
He casually wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and could only raise his hands towards the pursuing Guo Can, saying:
"If I surrender now, can I have my life?"
Seeing that Guo Can remained silent, only walking towards him with a grim expression, Song Qiao felt a sense of foreboding. He quickly continued to negotiate:
"Don't be so stingy, if it really doesn't work, I'll let you be on top from now on, how about that?"
Hearing this, Guo Can's expression grew even more somber. She strode forward and grabbed Song Qiao by his collar.
Staring into his eyes, she roared furiously: "You will die!!"
As she spoke, Guo Can raised her other hand, intending to strike Song Qiao's face viciously!
Cold sweat trickled down Song Qiao's spine. He clenched his right fist, ready to exert force.
Just then, a clear shout rang out from not far away.
"Stop!"
Hearing the voice, the hand that was less than an inch from Song Qiao's face halted abruptly.
Both of them turned their heads and saw that it was Madam Shen who had arrived.
"It's over, another old flame..." Song Qiao mumbled bitterly with a wry smile.
Guo Can tightened her grip on Song Qiao's collar, applying more force.
Clenching her teeth, she hissed word by word: "Again? Do you want to die?"
"Calm down, calm down... Listen to what she has to say first!"
Song Qiao quickly waved his hands in supplication, then looked helplessly at Madam Shen.
Madam Shen frowned, clearly having heard Song Qiao's earlier mutter.
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters.
It wasn't just because of Xia Yuqing's threat.
Zhang Longsheng had not yet been defeated, and the plaque his father had lost to him had not been retrieved.
Therefore, for Madam Shen, Song Qiao absolutely could not die!
She strode forward, standing beside Guo Can and speaking softly:
"My condition is that you let him go this time!"
Hearing Madam Shen's condition, Guo Can suddenly remembered many things.
The hand that gripped Song Qiao's collar loosened slightly, then clenched tightly again.
Guo Can glanced at Madam Shen and said with a frown.
"Ask for a different condition."
"The favor I owe you was hard-earned. You can cherish it more, and you should cherish it!"
Guo Can had been confident that she would surely kill Song Qiao this time.
It wasn't that she underestimated Song Qiao; she knew very well that the process wouldn't be as easy as it had just unfolded.
Song Qiao would undoubtedly unleash terrifying strength when facing death.
But she had her own confidence.
However, Madam Shen suddenly intervened and made such a condition.
How could she calmly give up?
But Madam Shen's attitude was very firm. She shook her head forcefully and refused, saying:
"Not for a thousand pieces of gold!"
*Heh.*
Guo Can took a deep breath, and a clear look of dissatisfaction crossed her face.
However, Song Qiao still felt the hand gripping his collar slowly releasing.
A moment later, he felt immense relief, lying on the ground and gasping for breath.
"Oh my god, I'm finally saved..."
Guo Can withdrew her hand, lowered her head, and shot Song Qiao a disgusted glance.
She snorted and said, "Don't get cocky too soon!"
Madam Shen exclaimed in alarm upon hearing this and quickly stood in front of Song Qiao, questioning:
"What? You're going back on your word?"
Guo Can clasped her hands behind her back and replied calmly:
"I always keep my word and never go back on what I've promised."
"But this is not how you should use the favor I owe you!"
Both Song Qiao and Madam Shen could see that Guo Can was very angry now!
But they also understood her character and knew she was a person of integrity.
No matter how angry she was, she wouldn't do something as cheap in her eyes as breaking her word.
Therefore, Song Qiao still had the mood to lie on the ground and rest.
He even crossed his legs and asked impolitely:
"Then what exactly do you want?"
"I can let you go," Guo Can stated directly.
"What's the condition?" Song Qiao, of course, knew there was more to come, so he inquired.
"Since you are injured, there should be no problem playing chess, right?"
Guo Can glanced down at Song Qiao and continued:
"If you want to live, you have to win me at chess!"