Chapter Seventy-Three: Repelled with a Single Finger

Black Panther had been mixing in the underworld for years, a top enforcer of his gang, living a life where every day he danced on the edge of a blade. His sixth sense was sharp. Just now, when Ling Tian used his spiritual awareness, Black Panther felt as if he’d been seen through completely, all his secrets laid bare. That feeling was ominous. So Black Panther was certain Ling Tian was no ordinary man.

Lone Wolf continued, “I just heard from Liu Zhiping that you won a lot of money at the casino and also injured quite a few of our brothers.”

Ling Tian replied, “I was on a lucky streak at the casino, just won a little. As for injuring your men? Let’s just say they were useless. By the way, why are you asking? Are you planning to make me pay compensation?”

Lone Wolf was visibly displeased with Ling Tian’s attitude and said coldly, “That’s right. Anyone who crosses the Azure Dragon Hall can’t walk away without paying the price. That’s absolutely impossible.”

Ling Tian smiled faintly and asked in a calm tone, “So, how exactly do you want me to compensate?” From Lone Wolf’s words, Ling Tian had confirmed that Azure Dragon Hall was a gang operating out of Yunhai City. In modern times, though, they’d moved into the shadows, using puppets like Liu Zhiping to generate profits for them. In truth, all these gangs were now trying to appear legitimate.

Although they’d retreated behind the scenes, their fundamental nature hadn’t changed—they still preferred to settle matters with violence.

Of course, Ling Tian himself was rather fond of using violence, because when dealing with violent types, violence was the most direct and effective method.

Lone Wolf burst into laughter. “Leave all your valuables, and then break both your arms yourself.”

A cold smile curled at Ling Tian’s lips, his gaze toward Black Panther and Lone Wolf turning icy. It was as if the two men before him were not living men, but corpses. “And what if I refuse?” Ling Tian replied in a chilly voice.

Lone Wolf slammed the table, roaring, “Kid, you still don’t understand the consequences of crossing Azure Dragon Hall. Telling you to break your own arms was already me being merciful.”

“You call that merciful? Then I’d really like to know—what do you consider cruel?” Ling Tian retorted.

“Tear the tendons in your hands and feet, break all ten of your fingers, and dig out your eyes,” Lone Wolf said in a somber tone.

“Then come and try.” Ling Tian exhaled a thick plume of smoke at Lone Wolf, took another drag of his cigar, and looked at Black Panther and Lone Wolf with utter disdain.

Lone Wolf was incensed, his eyes turning bloodshot. Ever since he’d made a name for himself, people everywhere treated him with respect. Now, a mere nobody dared speak to him this way. “Black Panther, let me handle this brat alone. Stay out of it,” he said, raising his fists to strike.

Black Panther reached out to stop him, his voice low and steady, “Wait.”

Lone Wolf glared in confusion. “What? There’s no point wasting words on scum like this. The best way is with fists. Move aside and let me crush him with one punch.”

Black Panther shook his head. “You’re not his match.”

Those words made Lone Wolf think he’d misheard. If anyone else had said that, Lone Wolf would have slapped them. He hadn’t sensed any threat from Ling Tian. “Why do you say that?” Lone Wolf asked, for he trusted Black Panther’s judgment.

“I can’t explain it. Just a feeling,” Black Panther replied quietly. He wasn’t wrong—his instinct, honed through years of bloodshed, told him Ling Tian was no simple opponent. “Lone Wolf, for him to come alone and cause trouble at Fukang, he must have something up his sleeve.”

Lone Wolf snorted in contempt. “I thought you knew something, but it’s just a gut feeling. I never trust instincts, only strength. To deal with this kid, one punch is all I need.” With that, Lone Wolf’s fist shot out.

This time, Black Panther didn’t stop him. Letting Lone Wolf try would only prove his own intuition right or wrong.

Lone Wolf’s iron fist was almost upon him.

Ling Tian, unhurried, stretched out a single finger. Yes, just one finger, and with it, he effortlessly blocked Lone Wolf’s frenzied attack.

“Is this all the strength you have?” Ling Tian remarked indifferently.

Lone Wolf felt as if his fist had slammed into a steel pillar. Pain shot through his body from his hand as if it had been shattered. The agony was so intense, Lone Wolf was sure the other had used all his strength to block the punch, but when he saw Ling Tian had stopped his all-out blow with nothing but a single finger, he realized Black Panther had been right.

“I’m curious—at your level of strength, where do you stand in Azure Dragon Hall? Low, mid, or high rank?” Ling Tian flicked his finger lightly, and the burly, bull-like Lone Wolf was sent flying over three meters, crashing heavily into the wall.

Lone Wolf nearly coughed up blood from the impact, crouching and gasping for breath. After a moment, he raised his right hand in shock, discovering that his so-called “iron fist” was fractured.

The other had crippled his proudest weapon with nothing but a finger. That showed just how formidable Ling Tian was.

Having easily defeated Lone Wolf, Ling Tian turned to Black Panther with a smiling gaze. “Since Lone Wolf won’t answer, you can tell me what I want to know. Of course, if you refuse, then there’s no need for you to exist.”

As he finished speaking, a powerful aura surged from Ling Tian, bearing down on Black Panther like a storm cloud.

Seeing Lone Wolf, famed for his iron fists, so effortlessly repelled by Ling Tian’s single finger, Black Panther was deeply shaken. For the first time, there was fear in his eyes as he looked at Ling Tian.

“What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?” Ling Tian frowned as Black Panther remained silent.

Under Ling Tian’s overwhelming pressure, Black Panther couldn’t help swallowing hard and replied in a low voice, “We’re considered mid-level in Azure Dragon Hall. Above us, there are several true experts.”

“Oh, I see.” Ling Tian nodded thoughtfully. If this level of strength was only middle-tier in Azure Dragon Hall, then their top fighters were probably only at the entry stage of Qi Refinement. Such martial artists could pose a certain threat to Ling Tian, but nothing more than that.

Noticing Ling Tian’s contemplative look, Black Panther’s heart sank. He realized that this mysterious young man, seeing the gap in power, hadn’t acted immediately because he wanted to use Black Panther and Lone Wolf to gauge the true strength of Azure Dragon Hall.