You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

As for those clumsy dodges and "bumps into walls," they were befitting of a middle-aged person who hadn't practiced much in years and was timid and fearful, without any suspicion of being faked.

The mercenary expectation in the other person's eyes and the effort he put into appearing respectful completely put Wang Shengxiong at ease—this was just a down-on-his-luck martial artist looking for work to make a living.

Wang Shengxiong snorted through his nose, which was taken as acknowledgment of the assessment.

"So-so, a bit more agile than the average person, and his fancy moves are quite impressive."

But to make a living here, just knowing how to hide isn't enough! You have to be able to fight! Daring to fight! Daring to use ruthless tactics!

"Yes, yes, yes! Manager, you're right! As long as I can work here, I'll definitely practice hard and work under you!"

Chen Yang quickly expressed his opinion, his tone exactly like that of a seasoned veteran whose edges had been worn down by life in the big city and who just wanted to make a living.

He even asked cautiously.

"Manager... my surname is Zhang, just call me Lao Zhang."

"May I ask your surname, Manager? It will be easier to address you from now on."

His tone was ingratiating.

"Wang Shengxiong!"

Wang Shengxiong glanced at him, then directly stated his name, with a hint of arrogance stemming from his newly acquired reputation.

"Want to be a security guard? Sure. We're short-handed at the venue tonight, and I need someone with some experience who can hold the fort. You don't look like a hothead or a troublemaker."

However…

He abruptly changed the subject, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes.

"Want to follow my brother Xiong? It's not that easy! The rules are very simple."

Go to an underground boxing ring and fight two warm-up matches! You don't need to win, just have the guts to step in, fight until you're bleeding, and last at least three minutes standing. That'll qualify you! How about that?

"An underground boxing ring?"

Chen Yang, who plays Lao Zhang, suddenly looked up, his face instantly drained of color, and his eyes revealed an undisguised and incredibly real immense fear and resistance.

"Manager! Brother Wang!"

Those kinds of places... those kinds of places are deadly! I... I have a family to support... I can't take any more trouble... I... I just want to be a security guard and keep a low profile..."

The terror almost spilled from his eyes.

Wang Shengxiong was even more satisfied as he watched the other person's genuine fear and struggle. The more afraid they were, the more it showed they were ordinary people with no background and no guts to resist.

What he needs are subordinates who are somewhat useful but don't dare to cause trouble, and are also easy to control!
"nonsense!"

Wang Shengxiong slammed his fist on the table, revealing his vicious nature.

"If you're afraid of dying, don't come out here to make a living! If you're working on my turf, you have to listen to my rules! It's just a few warm-up matches, not a life-or-death battle! Don't dare? If you don't dare, get the hell out of here right now!"

Faced with such strong coercion.

All that remained on "Old Zhang's" face was a desperate struggle.

His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and the beads of sweat on his forehead shone even brighter. After struggling for a few moments, he gritted his teeth, and a look of near-crying emotion appeared on his face, filled with helplessness and resigned dejection.

"Brother Wang...I...I'll try...I can only try..."

His voice trembled with fear.

"You're smart to know what's good for you!"

Wang Shengxiong finally revealed a victor's smile and stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

"Pack your things and come with me!"

The night was dark.

Wang Shengxiong was driving a modified black SUV, its engine roaring as it sped through the neon-lit city streets. Chen Yang, playing "Old Zhang," sat in the passenger seat, nervously wringing his hands, his eyes anxiously watching the rapidly receding street scenes outside the window, occasionally glancing back at Wang Shengxiong as he drove.

The SUV quickly drove away from the bustling area and turned onto a somewhat desolate road in the suburban area with only a few streetlights.

Finally, Wang Shengxiong parked his car in a corner of a huge parking lot that looked like a logistics distribution center. The parking lot was brightly lit and packed full, but mixed in with it were many luxurious figures that were out of place among ordinary trucks.

Chen Yang's quick glance swept over several sports cars with special license plates and extremely flamboyant appearances, like beasts lurking among nightingales.

Several heavily modified off-road vehicles resembled steel monsters, with huge rims and menacing tire treads, and a restless roar could be faintly heard from under the hood.

There were even a few of the latest limited-edition luxury cars that could only be seen in top magazines and auto shows, parked discreetly in the shadows of a corner, with a ring of empty space around them that no one dared to approach.

A strong smell of engine oil and cigarette smoke mixed with various high-end perfumes and alcohol wafted through the slightly stuffy air of the parking lot.

This place is practically a giant mobile display of wealth.

"We've arrived, get off!"

Wang Shengxiong turned off the engine and led Chen Yang to an inconspicuous elevator entrance leading to the B3 floor in a corner of the parking lot.

At the entrance stood two burly men in security vests, smoking cigarettes. Upon seeing Wang Shengxiong, they immediately straightened up and respectfully called him "Brother Xiong," while casting a scrutinizing glance at "Old Zhang," who was cowering behind him.

The elevator doors opened, revealing a massive freight elevator used for transporting heavy trucks. The walls of the elevator were covered in graffiti and scratches, giving it a raw and rugged industrial feel.

The elevator quickly descended two floors.

The moment the heavy iron gate slid open to both sides—

The clamor of hell suddenly crashed over us like a tangible tsunami! It was completely different from the deliberately understated luxury of the ground-level parking lot!

The deafening roar, so loud it seemed to shatter eardrums, could have blown the roof off! It was like tens of thousands of wild beasts simultaneously unleashing their bloodthirsty excitement in a cramped cave!
The intense, almost overwhelming smell of blood, sweat, rust, and tobacco mixed with the acrid odor of alcohol!
It was a unique smell, a mixture of sweat soaking through skin and then steaming under the high temperature, blood splashing and drying and then being sprinkled with fresh, salty odor, the rusty smell of metal being repeatedly struck and clashed, the burnt smell of cheap tobacco and cigars, and the mixed smell of strong liquor! This smell was like an invisible, giant fist, slamming hard into the nostrils and lungs of the newcomer!
Scorching! Humid! Like a steamer! Countless human body heat entangled, fermented, and surged in the air!
The lights were no longer monotonous, but countless rapidly flashing neon laser spheres, spotlights, and focused lights! Red! Blue! Green! Blinding white! Like a bizarre, constantly twisting, deforming, and flashing colorful hell!

Amidst the deafening noise and pungent smell, these intense lights frantically slashed at everyone's retinas and central nervous system!
Before us lies a colossal underground space, converted from a parking lot!
Its scale far exceeds expectations!

The central area consists of three enormous octagonal cages, each about one meter above the ground, arranged in a triangular pattern!
That wasn't a professional standard octagonal cage, but rather a rough and sturdy structure welded together from special alloy steel about the thickness of a thumb! At that moment, inside the largest cage in the middle, two well-dressed, muscular men, bare-chested like wild beasts, were frantically colliding and wrestling!
Even amidst such immense noise, the sounds of fists slamming into flesh could be clearly heard! Sweat and blood splattered everywhere under the bright lights! The stands outside the cage were packed so tightly they were almost overflowing! Frenzied people crammed into the small seats, or simply stood and leaned against the railings!
Their faces were contorted and grotesque with excitement, shouts, or the enormous stakes of winning or losing! Countless arms were waving! Banknotes were tossed through the air like scraps of paper!
Extending outwards from the boxing ring area is a much wider space.

Dozens of luxurious gaming tables were set up here! Female dealers in revealing and sexy uniforms skillfully dealt cards and shook dice cups. The tables were surrounded by successful people in suits and socialites in designer clothes, their eyes gleaming with the same frenzy as the stands, only with an added layer of greed!
The clinking of the chips was crisp and loud, yet like a death knell! Further out were semi-open booths with a higher level of privacy, where some people who truly controlled wealth and even some influence smoked cigars and drank expensive liquor, surrounded by bodyguards, watching the bloody battle in the cage with arrogant and cold expressions, as if watching a beast fight.

The entire space was meticulously divided into a core area for wild battles, a gambling area for hedonistic indulgence, and a "hunting zone" for the elite to play in, with waves of frenzied excitement rising one after another.

This is an underground arena and den of iniquity, shrouded in a veneer of legality, exuding intense primal desires and a cruel, bloody atmosphere!

Being in that environment, any rational nerve would be instantly twisted and torn apart!
Wang Shengxiong was already numb to everything in front of him, as if he were breathing air.

He looked at "Old Zhang" beside him, whose face was pale, eyes were unfocused, and body was trembling slightly from the huge noise and chaotic scene. He grinned with extreme satisfaction, even enjoying the look of terror on the country bumpkin's face as he saw the world for the first time.

That's exactly the effect he wanted! To completely destroy the opponent's psychological defenses!
He stretched out his thick arm and slapped hard on the somewhat thin shoulders and back of Old Zhang, played by Chen Yang, shouting in a voice that drowned out the noise.

"How about it, Lao Zhang? This is what you call the real taste of life!"
Now you've really broadened your horizons, haven't you? Stop cowering! You're already here, so open your eyes wide and take a good look! You'll see what this world is like later!

He casually parted a gap in the crowded, excited throng, leading Chen Yang through the dense crowd, which resembled a sardine can, like a slippery fish.

Soon we arrived at a bustling gambling table very close to the largest octagonal cage in the center.

The crowd here was even more intense! The gambling tables were packed, but behind them, a middle-aged fat man in a flashy shirt with slicked-back hair was skillfully handling a thick wad of cash and chips while smoking a cigar. He was surrounded by several cold-faced bodyguards, and two assistants were quickly recording and registering something.

A huge screen stands next to the gambling table, constantly scrolling through images of the upcoming boxers, their records, odds, and other information.

Wang Shengxiong patted the fat man on the shoulder, and the fat man turned his head and immediately showed a fawning and enthusiastic smile.

"Hey! Xiong-ge! You came in person today? And who is this?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Old Zhang, played by Chen Yang.

"Old Zhang! You're here to apply for a security guard job!"

Wang Shengxiong pointed at "Old Zhang" behind him, whose face was still pale, and roared, then slapped Chen Yang's shoulder hard.

"I'm bringing him here to see some blood! Let's play a couple of warm-up matches and test his courage!"

He leaned close to the fat man's ear, but didn't lower his voice intentionally because the place was too noisy.

"Tiger Head Zhang! Arrange two warm-up matches for him! Don't give him any special treatment against the opponents! Just the most ordinary ones!"
This kid said he's practiced some kung fu, let him see what he's made of!

The middle-aged fat man known as "Tiger Head Zhang" squinted his small eyes and quickly looked "Old Zhang" up and down a few times, his face showing an estimating expression as if he were sizing up pigs or sheep for sale.

Having worked in this line of work for many years, he could tell at a glance that the old guy was terrified, his steps were unsteady and his eyes were darting around, and at best he was just a street thug with some fighting experience.

These kinds of people won't die in the warm-up match, but they'll definitely suffer a lot. They're perfect for whetting the appetites of guests who are eager for excitement.

"No problem! Arrange the person Xiong Ge recommended!"

Tiger Head Zhang patted his chest and immediately shouted a few words to an assistant in a vest beside him. The assistant quickly ran away.

Wang Shengxiong nodded in satisfaction, then spoke to Chen Yang, who was still in a state of "extreme shock and dazedness".

"Old Zhang! Did you hear that? I've arranged it for you! Don't just stand there like an idiot!"

He shoved Chen Yang hard.

"Now it's your turn to warm up! Remember this! Once you're up there, don't be a fucking coward! Be ruthless! Be fast! Be bloody! Get the spectators excited! Three minutes!"

Stand firmly in the ring for a full three minutes without getting knocked off! Win or lose! Even if you have to crawl, stay in the ring until the bell rings before you fall!

This is a direct order! Did you hear me?!

His words were filled with unquestionable authority and the cruelty unique to the lower classes.

Chen Yang staggered as he was pushed, and the "Old Zhang" he was playing seemed to be completely jolted awake from his "stunned" state by Wang Shengxiong's final, violent reprimand. His face instantly drained of all color, his eyes filled with the deepest fear and panic, and his lips trembled, barely able to speak.

He nodded with great difficulty, uttering a single, almost whimpering sound.

"...Yes...yes..."

His appearance, like a lamb to the slaughter, consumed by fear, made Wang Shengxiong laugh even more heartily.

He ignored Chen Yang and turned to yell at Tiger Head Zhang and the assistant in charge of betting registration.

"Place your bet! I'll bet on tonight's warm-up match..."

"Buying 'Old Zhang' won't last a minute!"

Wang Shengxiong practically roared it out, a cruel excitement on his face. Without even glancing at "Old Zhang" beside him, who was shrouded in fear and whose legs were trembling almost imperceptibly, he pulled out a thick wad of banknotes and slammed it onto the gambling table.

"Bet on this side! Bet on the first round!"

The assistant in charge of registration immediately got busy.

The fat manager, known as "Tiger Head Zhang," glanced at Chen Yang, who was pale as a ghost, and then at Wang Shengxiong, his small eyes filled with hesitation.

"Brother Xiong...let him go? That's practically suicide! With that kind of cowardice, he wouldn't last three minutes, not even thirty!"

He had seen far too many newcomers, terrified by the bloodshed, wet their pants when the bell rang.

"You don't know anything!"

Wang Shengxiong waved his hand impatiently, his face full of certainty and confidence in his own judgment. (End of Chapter)