As noon approached, the taxi carrying Xue Jing found itself stuck in traffic on a bridge. The driver, growing bored, opened his window and pointed to the outskirts on the opposite side.
"See that area over there?" the driver said casually. "That's South City. More than a decade ago, a big company wanted to develop it, attracted a ton of investment, and everyone was excited. But halfway through the construction, they found out it was a 'high-incidence earthquake zone.' Couldn't sell it after that, so they just left the buildings unfinished."
Xue Jing glanced in the direction the driver pointed, spotting a wide expanse of half-built structures, many of which had exposed steel bars jutting out.
"No one really lives there, but a lot of dead bodies get found there. It's a dumping ground because nobody goes there," the driver continued, his tone as if discussing the weather.
Xue Jing didn't respond but narrowed his eyes, focusing. His enhanced Level 5 aiming ability granted him vision far sharper than the average person's. Even from this distance, he could make out details in the abandoned construction site. On one of the unfinished rooftops, something dark and shadowy appeared to be perched on a rusty steel bar.
Is that a cockroach? Xue Jing thought, blinking in surprise. But when he looked again, it was just a large black plastic bag flapping in the wind, caught on the steel bar.
"An illusion?" Xue Jing muttered to himself.
He couldn't shake the memory of fighting the cockroach monster, and now he found himself seeing cockroaches in random places. Shaking his head, he dismissed it.
Maybe it left me with some psychological trauma, he thought, recalling the repulsive creature. I really hate cockroaches.
---
Beicheng District, known for housing the city's government officials and affluent residents, was often referred to as "the north is noble." It was Xue Jing's first time in this part of the city, and as the taxi wound its way through the streets, the difference became stark. While the rest of the city felt more urban, Beicheng was lined with villas and mansions hidden among lush green trees. The streets were spotless, and the people walking by were dressed in high-end fashion, with a few butlers and maids in attire fit for an idol TV drama.
Even the license plates on the cars were all one to five digits—vanity plates that showcased wealth and influence. Some of the plates were intimidating, the kind usually reserved for the truly powerful.
The driver, who had been relaxed earlier, became tense. His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he focused, his entire demeanor changing, as if he were taking a driving exam.
Once they arrived at the destination, Xue Jing thanked the driver, paid the fare, and stepped out of the car. Before him was a large villa, impressive and imposing. Two men stood at the gate, waiting for him which were Pei Youguang and his older brother, Pei Tiancheng.
"Is it you who commissioned the sparring match?" Xue Jing asked with raised eyebrows.
Pei Youguang scratched his head and laughed awkwardly before Pei Tiancheng stepped forward to explain.
"Not exactly," Pei Tiancheng began. "Someone requested to meet you through me. They thought it might be too forward to ask for a direct meeting, so they commissioned it as a sparring match."
Xue Jing sat down on a plush sofa in the elegantly decorated living room after they entered the villa. Soon after, several maids appeared with tea trays, one of them kneeling to serve him an intricate cup of black tea. Xue Jing took a sip. It had a rich flavor he couldn't quite place but found pleasant.
"Master Pei," Xue Jing began, looking across at Pei Tiancheng, "is this person really just interested in sparring?"
Pei Tiancheng shook his head. "No, not exactly. He wanted to meet you and figured this would be the best way to do it."
Xue Jing took another sip of tea, then leaned back slightly. "Who is he?"
Pei Tiancheng waved off the maids, who quietly exited the room before he spoke again in a low voice. "I'm not entirely sure. He claims to be part of some official organization, but I wasn't able to figure out which one. All I know is my father treated him with great respect and instructed me to do whatever was needed to meet his demands."
"He's strong," Pei Tiancheng added after a pause. "Even though I haven't fought him, I can tell. His appearance, his behavior—everything about him screams that he's someone who's seen plenty of battles."
Xue Jing nodded, intrigued. "Where is he?"
Pei Tiancheng looked hesitant for a moment but answered. "He's waiting in the back mountain, not far from here. He wants to take you there personally."
Xue Jing stood up, giving Pei Tiancheng a pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry. You're the client, you call the shots here."
Relieved, Pei Tiancheng nodded and led Xue Jing out toward the back of the villa.
---
In a grassy area on a slope at the back of the mountain, a man lay sprawled on the grass, basking in the sun. He appeared to be in his early twenties, with short buzzed hair, dark skin, and a muscular, steel-like physique. Wearing a sleeveless black vest, green military pants, and black combat boots, his relaxed posture contrasted with his imposing appearance.
"Um?" The man opened his eyes, sitting up as he pressed his hand to a device behind his ear.
"Captain? ...Right, I understand. But I still think pushing him might give us the answer we need."
He turned his head as the sound of an approaching car caught his attention. "No need to say more, he's here."
The black car stopped a few feet away. Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang exited first, followed by Xue Jing, who stepped out, adjusting his collar.
The man, who had been watching, grinned. "Oh? He looks decent."
He approached with his arms outstretched in an exaggerated manner, his long arms hanging like a primate's. "Xue Jing, nice to meet you. You can call me 'Mandrill.'"
His smile widened, and he added, "The best way to make friends—let's fight!"
Without waiting for a response, the grass beneath Mandrill's feet exploded, and his figure vanished.
Xue Jing's eyes barely flickered as Mandrill appeared in front of him, launching a punch with terrifying speed. The attack was so fast that the air itself whistled under the force of the blow.
Yet, Xue Jing didn't move. He stood still, allowing the punch to land squarely on his chest.
Puff.
Under Mandrill's astonished gaze, the punch didn't pierce through as expected. Instead, it produced a dull thud, as though it had hit a thick rubber tire. Xue Jing's bones trembled with a deep rumble, absorbing the punch's kinetic energy and converting it into power within his body.
The dragon energy surged through him like a storm.
With a quick turn of his body, Xue Jing unleashed a powerful backhand punch, the dragon's strength coiling into his fist like a real dragon's tail sweeping through the clouds.
Killer move – Fengyunwei!
"Bang!"
The sheer force of Xue Jing's counterattack ripped through the air, bending the grass in front of him into a wide fan shape. With a loud crash, Mandrill was sent flying over twenty meters, embedding himself into the grassy slope like a javelin.
Pei Tiancheng and Pei Youguang stood frozen, their mouths agape at the sheer power of Xue Jing's strike.