Chapter 117: Too Filthy

The beauty who had defeated Chu Tianfeng looked at Leng Jun with deep affection once more. "Brother Leng, are you going to hit me, or should I jump off myself?"

Leng Jun’s expression was cool, and his words were even cooler: "I’ll count to three. One, two, three!"

"Alright, Brother Leng, goodbye!" The beauty cast one last lingering look at Leng Jun before leaping backward off the stage.

The elderly referee watched this dramatic scene, torn between laughter and tears.

"Give me your wooden plaque." The elderly referee beckoned to Leng Jun.

Leng Jun walked quickly to the referee, gave a slight bow, and produced the wooden plaque to hand over. The referee swiftly signed his name on the plaque, held it high for the crowd to see, and announced, "Contestant number 118, Leng Jun, has won five consecutive matches and has earned the qualification to enter the secret realm."

Only then did a faint smile touch Leng Jun’s face. He cupped his hands in a salute toward the audience, took back his plaque, and walked slowly off the stage.

Following this, the competition continued. Two young men stepped onto the stage—one tall and thin, the other short and stout. Unsurprisingly, both were at the middle stage of Hua Jin. Their tactics were largely identical, relying on brute force and direct exchanges. However, the taller man’s stance was unstable, and he frequently suffered for it, repeatedly getting caught by the shorter opponent. Eventually, the tall man tried to switch tactics and outpace his opponent, but he failed to match the shorter man’s speed. He left an opening, and the shorter man capitalized with a series of kicks that sent him flying off the stage.

Next, a fat man dressed in red flew onto the stage.

"Contestant number 322, Bai Yucheng, challenges the reigning champion!" Bai Yucheng had a booming voice, full of vigor.

This fellow was even fatter than the previous champion, round as a ball. With a round face and a round body, dressed in a bright red down jacket, he looked like the sun had fallen to earth.

"Are you clear on the challenge rules?" the elderly referee asked.

Bai Yucheng smiled broadly. "Reporting to the senior, this junior is very clear."

"Begin!" The referee, not wanting to waste more words, announced the start.

Bai Yucheng roared and lunged at the champion like a lion. The champion braced himself, preparing to meet the fierce attack.

*Screech—*

What was going on? Just as the audience expected a clash of fists and feet, Bai Yucheng slammed on the brakes, his feet screeching against the stage floor.

"Sorry, my belt came loose!" Bai Yucheng stopped a meter away from his opponent and lowered his head to look for his belt.

"Loose your grandfather!" The champion, his momentum broken, pointed at Bai Yucheng and cursed.

*Whoosh!*

Before the words had even left the champion's lips, Bai Yucheng suddenly exploded into action, his left fist slamming toward the champion's face. Fortunately, the champion reacted quickly, raising his elbows in time to block the strike.

*Bam!*

But Bai Yucheng’s attack wasn't just one punch; as his left was blocked, his right followed through instantly.

*Bam!*

The punch landed squarely on the champion’s forehead, sending him stumbling backward. Bai Yucheng’s fists then flew, a blur of motion around the champion's head and chest. Left hook, right hook. A double strike to the ears! A thrust like a rainbow piercing the sun!

The champion was forced into a retreat, soon pushed to the very edge of the stage. Bai Yucheng delivered a sweeping leg strike. The champion, dazed by the barrage, jumped up to dodge. Little did he know, the sweep was a feint. As the champion hung in the air, Bai Yucheng lunged forward and delivered a "Black Tiger Steals the Heart" punch directly into the champion’s stomach.

Mid-air, the champion had no way to dodge. He could only cross his arms to protect his vital organs.

*Bam!*

He managed to block, but the force of the blow sent him flying, tracing a perfect arc through the air.

*Thud!*

The champion’s geometry must have been taught by a gym teacher, as the end of his arc landed him well outside the stage!

"Hahaha!" A roar of laughter erupted from the crowd.

"Bai Yucheng, go to hell!" The former champion, disgruntled after being knocked off, cursed loudly.

Bai Yucheng acted as if he hadn't heard a thing, happily bowing to the audience. The elderly referee walked to the front of the stage, surveyed the crowd, and announced, "I declare contestant number 322, Bai Yucheng, the winner."

Hardly had the words left his mouth when another figure flew onto the stage. "Contestant number 451, Qiao Yilai, challenges the champion!"

Another fat man, also at the middle stage of Hua Jin. Chu Tianfeng wondered if there was something wrong with his eyes; he even glanced at the woman next to him, and after confirming her chest was normal, he let out a long sigh of relief.

The referee asked the standard questions, and upon receiving confirmation, declared the match started. Qiao Yilai prepared to attack without hesitation.

"Wait!" At the critical moment, Bai Yucheng called for a timeout.

"Screw you, even if your balls fell off, I’d still beat you!" Thinking Bai Yucheng was about to pull the same trick, Qiao Yilai roared and launched himself forward.

"Hold on, Brother Qiao, listen to me. I guarantee you can easily make two hundred thousand!" Bai Yucheng shouted while dodging.

"Really?" Hearing there was money to be made, Qiao Yilai stopped in his tracks.

"Indeed." Bai Yucheng pulled out a checkbook. "As long as Brother Qiao forfeits this match, I’m willing to offer two hundred thousand as an appearance fee. How about it?"

Qiao Yilai was delighted. Where else could he make two hundred thousand just by jumping on a stage? The tournament didn't limit the number of challenges, so he could always come back later!

*A rich tycoon!* Qiao Yilai was overjoyed, but he still played hard to get. "Add another hundred thousand, and I’ll jump off right now!"

"Done!" The chubby Bai Yucheng was surprisingly generous, immediately burying his head in the checkbook to write the check.

The audience, however, was having trouble accepting this display.

"Referee, is this allowed?" someone protested loudly.

"What the hell, is this the legendary 'Money-Fist'?" another complained.

"It’s so sleazy! This is blatant bribery!"

Chu Tianfeng watched the two of them, dumbfounded, though he couldn't help but admire the fat man. *Brilliant! Truly brilliant!*

The elderly referee was equally stumped. Since they weren't breaking any rules, he couldn't do a thing about it. The rules only forbade weapons and hidden projectiles—they said nothing about money.

"Senior, I concede!" Qiao Yilai was swift; the moment he got the check, he hopped off the stage.

What could the referee do? He glared at Qiao Yilai's back with a look of utter disappointment, then reluctantly announced Bai Yucheng as the winner.

Immediately, another figure rushed onto the stage.

"Contestant number 161, Lu Guan, challenges the champion!"

The referee didn't even bother asking questions and announced the start. Unsurprisingly, this was likely another round of "Money-Fist."

"Brother Bai, I’m here for the money!" Sure enough, the moment the referee stepped back, someone started negotiating. But this time, it was the challenger, Lu Guan, who initiated it.

*How shameless!* The crowd erupted in jeers.

"Contestant 161, your mother is calling you home for dinner!" someone shouted.

"Brother Bai, give me ten thousand and I’ll deal with him for you!" another joined in.

"Shameless for money!" a female martial artist shrieked.

Bai Yucheng, however, seemed to like Lu Guan. He smiled as he took out his checkbook, filled in three hundred thousand, and handed it to Lu Guan. Lu Guan took it with a grin and gave it an exaggerated kiss.

"Senior, I concede!" Lu Guan said to the referee with a smile.

*Concede your mother!* The referee wished he could kick them both.

"I declare contestant number 322, Bai Yucheng, the winner," the referee announced, his voice devoid of spirit.

"Contestant number 251 challenges the champion!"

A clear, sharp voice rang out, and a dark figure appeared on the stage. It was Chu Tianfeng; he could no longer stand it!

"Put the bag down!" The referee was seething; he assumed this was another one here to collect money, given the backpack.

Chu Tianfeng bowed slightly and placed his bag in the corner.

"Gold necklaces and rings must be removed, too!" the referee barked.

Chu Tianfeng felt a bit frustrated but obediently took off his jewelry and put it in the bag.

"Let me reiterate the rules," the referee glared at Chu Tianfeng. "No weapons or hidden projectiles, no intentional killing or maiming. Being knocked down, knocked off the stage, or conceding means defeat. Understand?"

"Understood!" Chu Tianfeng nodded.

"Hmph!" The referee glared at Bai Yucheng. "Begin!"

Bai Yucheng immediately reached for his pen and checkbook. *Money-Fist, level one preparation!*

Unexpectedly, Chu Tianfeng looked at him like he was an idiot. "Are you going to jump off yourself, or should I throw you off?"

"What?" Bai Yucheng thought he had misheard. "You don't want to get rich?"

"If you jump off now, I can give you four hundred thousand!" Chu Tianfeng grinned.

The referee, who had been closing his eyes, opened them slightly and looked at Chu Tianfeng with interest. The crowd’s enthusiasm was instantly ignited.

"Two-Fifty, well done!" someone cheered.

Chu Tianfeng rolled his eyes. *Well done your mother! Is that a compliment or an insult? I’m number 251, not 250!*

"Two-Fifty, beat him to death, I’ll take the blame!" The nickname spread through the crowd like a flu.

"Two-Fifty, avenge me!" That one was clearly from the fat former champion who had been swindled earlier.

Chu Tianfeng really wanted to jump off the stage and give those loud-mouthed martial artists a beating.

"Two-Fifty, your number suits you perfectly!" Bai Yucheng seemed infected by the nickname too. He silently put away his pen and checkbook. "It’s not too late to change your mind."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Chu Tianfeng’s eyes as he walked toward the fat man. "Ten moves. If you can withstand them, I’ll jump off myself!"

Bai Yucheng’s eyes lit up. "Fine, a gentleman’s word is as good as a bond."

Chu Tianfeng unleashed a punch: "One move!"

Bai Yucheng tried to dodge, but the moment he moved, he realized the fist was already upon him. He had no choice but to block. *This kid is dangerous!* Bai Yucheng felt a jolt of alarm. There was no time to think; he crossed his arms to intercept.

*Bam!*

Chu Tianfeng’s right fist smashed into Bai Yucheng’s right arm. Bai Yucheng stumbled back several steps, his arm numb and his insides churning. *Damn it, this guy is definitely not just at the middle stage of Hua Jin!*

Bai Yucheng’s expression changed, panic rising within him.

Chu Tianfeng chuckled and threw another punch!