My Ares Son-in-Law

"Today, who dares to touch my Western Martial Arts Army's chief instructor?" Zhuang Yuan's voice suddenly rose, carrying a do-or-die, iron-blooded determination.

"That would mean making enemies of all the soldiers of my Western Martial Arts Army! That would mean making enemies of the top figures who appointed Mr. Xiao! I, Zhuang Yuan, am the first to object!"

Really impressive!

The only echo in the hall was Zhuang Yuan's voice, mixed with the faint but deadly buzzing of the "Flame of Ash" energy gun in Li Can's hand, making it hard to breathe.

Duanmu Jue's chest heaved violently, his face turned from blue to white, then from white to red, and the veins on his forehead bulged out, almost bursting through his skin.

He stared intently at Zhuang Yuan, then suddenly turned his gaze towards Xiao Chen, his eyes blazing with anger and resentment like a volcano about to erupt, threatening to scorch everything.

why? !

The Western Martial Arts Army would actually risk a complete break with the Dragon Group for this kid of unknown origin?! What earth-shattering secret does this kid hold?!

However, the authority of the appointment at the top level is a real deterrent. With this backing, unless Duanmu Jue is tired of living, there is absolutely no way he would dare to touch Xiao Chen in the slightest today.

"Good! Good! Good!" Duanmu Jue said "good" three times in a row, his anger turning into a mocking laugh. His laughter was so hoarse that it seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, devoid of any warmth, only filled with biting sarcasm. "Zhuang Yuan, you have guts! Your Western Martial Arts Army has some guts!"

He suddenly waved his left hand, and the wood chips that were suspended in the air, poised to strike, scattered to the ground with a "whoosh." His murderous intent completely subsided, but he was left with endless frustration.

"let's go!"

These three words were practically choked out from between his teeth. He turned around, intending to lead his remaining troops to escape this place that had caused him such humiliation and unbearable frustration.

However, just as his foot was about to step over the broken threshold,
A calm, utterly undisturbed voice rang out from behind him. The voice wasn't loud, yet it pierced through all the noise like an icy line, precisely targeting everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable authority.

Did I give you permission to leave?

Duanmu Jue's body suddenly froze, as if frozen by invisible ice, unable to even move his fingertips.

He slowly, inch by inch, turned his body, his neck making a soft "click, click" sound, like a rusty machine.

Those eyes, now brimming with renewed fury, were fixed on the source of the sound, Xiao Chen.

Zhuang Yuan was also startled, his expression changing slightly. He quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Mr. Xiao!"

He risked breaking with the Dragon Group to step forward in order to quell the incident and protect Xiao Chen. If Xiao Chen were to speak up and obstruct him now, wouldn't that push the situation further out of control?
Xiao Chen raised his hand, palm facing outward, and made a "stop" gesture to Zhuang Yuan. It was simple, but carried an undeniable authority.

The words Zhuang Yuan was about to say suddenly got stuck in his throat, and he could only look at Xiao Chen anxiously.

Duanmu Jue stared at Xiao Chen, his anger turning into a cruel laugh, a smile filled with chilling killing intent: "Xiao Chen! If it weren't for the interference of the Western Martial Arts Army, you would already be a cold corpse! Don't push your luck!"

"Taking an inch and wanting a mile?" Xiao Chen tilted his head slightly, seemingly savoring the word, before a faint smile appeared on his lips.

The arc was slight, yet it sent alarm bells blaring in Duanmu Jue's heart, causing an instinctive pang of fear. "You can fight if you want, and leave if you want? There's no such thing as a free lunch." He paused, his gaze calmly meeting Duanmu Jue's fiery eyes, his tone still indifferent: "Today, out of respect for Zhuang Yuan, I won't kill you. But today's matter must be settled. Let's set a time and place for another fight."

These words, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattered the stillness in the hall.

"You and I will sign a life-or-death agreement to determine who is superior and who will fight to the death." Xiao Chen's voice was clear and firm. "This battle represents only you and me personally, and does not involve the Western Martial Arts Army, nor is it related to the Dragon Group."

“Of course,” he added, his tone even carrying a hint of “consideration,” as if he were taking care of the weak. “If you, Duanmu Jue, think you dare not, or feel that the rules are too strict or that you are afraid… then just pretend I never mentioned it.”

"Wow!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the hall!

The faces of the elite Western Martial Arts Army soldiers brought by Zhuang Yuan changed drastically, their expressions filled with shock and disbelief.
Even those Dragon Group warriors who barely managed to stay upright stared wide-eyed as if they had seen a madman, their gazes towards Xiao Chen a mixture of shock and absurdity as he took the initiative to challenge Duanmu Jue.
Or was it after witnessing the opponent's terrifying strength? This isn't just arrogance; it's practically asking for a quick death!

Duanmu Jue was taken aback at first, then his shoulders shrugged violently, and a low sneer squeezed out of his throat. The laughter grew louder and louder, and finally turned into a deafening, maniacal laugh. He laughed so hard that he was doubled over, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

"Hahaha... Zhuang Yuan! Listen to this! Listen to this!"

He pointed at Xiao Chen, laughing so hard tears were almost streaming down his face, his voice full of undisguised sarcasm, "The person you risked your life to protect, he's rushing headlong into the underworld! Now tell me, how are you going to save him?! Hahaha!"

Zhuang Yuan frowned deeply, his eyes filled with confusion and anxiety as he looked at Xiao Chen. In the end, he could only sigh heavily, a sigh brimming with sorrow.

He met Duanmu Jue's mocking gaze, slowly shook his head, his tone as heavy as ice, carrying an almost sorrowful solemnity:

“Duanmu Jue, from the moment I stepped through this door, I… never thought of ‘saving’ Mr. Xiao.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Chen's calm profile before settling back on Duanmu Jue's contorted face, and spoke each word slowly and deliberately:

"I am saving you, and the reputation of the entire Dragon Group behind you."

"Save me?" Duanmu Jue's maniacal laughter abruptly stopped, as if an invisible hand had grabbed his throat. The muscles on his face twisted instantly, and his eyes were filled with absurdity and rage.

"The difference in strength between him and me is like an insurmountable chasm! I need you to save me?! Zhuang Yuan, have you lost your mind?!"

He couldn't be bothered to look at Zhuang Yuan anymore, and his gaze refocused on Xiao Chen. Like a predator eyeing its prey, he looked him up and down with great interest, his eyes filled with cruel mockery.

“Interesting, very interesting.” He clicked his tongue twice, his tone carrying a condescending arrogance. “In all these years, you are the first junior who has dared to challenge me, Duanmu Jue, to a life-or-death battle.”

He stood with his hands behind his back. Although his right arm still hung limply and black blood was still seeping from the wound, the arrogant aura of a top expert rose up again, making the surrounding air slightly stagnant.

"Since you're so determined to die, why shouldn't I grant your wish?" He sneered, his tone icy and chilling. "Five days from now, at the Heavenly Terrace in the provincial capital! I will let you experience firsthand what the true... abyss of despair is!" (End of Chapter)