Chapter Seventy-six: The Game

Ling Tian had already anticipated that Tiger would try this move, so he remained calm and exerted his strength, meeting Tiger’s grip. With only thirty percent of his power, Ling Tian easily countered Tiger’s effort.

Tiger’s expression flickered, and he tightened his right hand again. This time, he used sixty percent of his strength, intending to crush Ling Tian’s right hand and teach him the hard truth that there’s always someone better out there. Yet, no matter how hard Tiger tried, Ling Tian received it effortlessly, his face betraying not the slightest concern.

When Tiger unleashed his full strength, Ling Tian’s expression remained unchanged. Cold sweat broke out on Tiger’s forehead. He was called Tiger because his martial arts were modeled after a tiger’s claw—immense force, steely fingers as hard as nails, able to gouge pits in stone. But now, for the first time, his most formidable claws were useless against an opponent.

With a look of disdain, Ling Tian spoke: “You’re the third master of the Azure Dragon Hall. That means there’s a second and a chief hall master above you. Judging by your strength, I doubt the other two are much more formidable.” As he spoke, Ling Tian suddenly exerted force; his hands turned into iron pincers, making Tiger’s right hand creak ominously.

Tiger gritted his teeth against the pain, sucked in several breaths, and hurriedly withdrew his hand, quickly wrapping it and sealing an acupoint. Only after this did he breathe a sigh of relief. Clearly, the other party had spared him out of consideration for Wang Yong—otherwise, his right hand would have been lost.

Swallowing his humiliation, Tiger kept his composure. “My friend, you’re among the strongest martial artists I’ve ever met.” Outwardly calm, Tiger’s heart was in turmoil. His opponent was so powerful that even the chief hall master, who had been cultivating in seclusion, might not be able to defeat him.

Ling Tian said, “We’ve wasted enough time here today. Spare me the idle talk.”

Tiger replied, “Straightforward, I like that! But you caused trouble in the casino and injured so many of Fukang’s brothers. You must give us an explanation. Otherwise, you won’t walk out of here standing.”

Ling Tian laughed. “You’re the ones cheating at your own tables. As for the fighting, that was self-defense. Besides, I’m curious—where do you get the confidence to make such outrageous claims? You’re barely at the threshold of the Qi Refining realm and dare to act so arrogantly in front of me? Ignorance is truly bold.”

At these words, Tiger was stunned into silence. After years of cultivation, he had only just brushed the boundary of the Qi Refining realm—half a step more and he’d be a true Qi Refiner. This was a breakthrough he had only recently achieved, and no one but himself knew of it, not even the second and chief hall masters. Yet this young man had seen right through him.

Clearly, this opponent was already a Qi Refining martial artist.

Tiger knew all too well what a Qi Refiner represented.

“My friend, don’t think that just because your skills are high, you can do as you please. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can’t suppress a local snake. On the Azure Dragon Hall’s turf, no matter how strong you are, you can’t stand against us. Two fists can’t beat four hands—surely you know this, my friend?” Though shocked, Tiger forced himself to remain calm, for Wang Yong was still in their hands.

No matter how powerful Ling Tian was, as long as they held what he cared about, they still had leverage. Besides, even a Qi Refiner was flesh and blood—a single bullet could end him.

Ling Tian sipped his tea and said coolly, “You might call me a mighty dragon. As for you? Local snakes? No, in my eyes, you’re barely earthworms. As for your numbers.” He snorted in contempt. “Even if you all attack together, you won’t last a minute before me. The gap in strength is not something that numbers can compensate for.”

This was a difficult opponent—strong, calm, and keen-minded.

For the first time, Tiger—once a dominant force in Yunhai City—felt powerless, unable to win by force or words.

His only hope now lay with their hostage, Wang Yong.

After adjusting his thoughts, Tiger forced a smile. “Your friend is in my hands. At my command, he’ll be dead in an instant. I don’t think you’d want to see that, would you?”

“You’re threatening me with a hostage?” Ling Tian asked.

Tiger nodded. “That’s right, I’m threatening you with a hostage. And I advise you to give up on capturing me. I may not be your match, but I’m confident I can escape.”

Tiger wasn’t lying. He was indeed no match for Ling Tian, but if he fled with all his might, Ling Tian wasn’t guaranteed to catch him. Even if he could, as long as Tiger held out for ten seconds, Wang Yong would be finished.

“By the way, do you want to play a game with me? It’s quite fun, though I doubt you have the nerve.” Ling Tian grinned.

Completely unpredictable.

Waiting for Ling Tian to compromise, Tiger clicked his tongue in annoyance. Still, he said, “Your brother is in my hands, and yet you have the mood to play games? Don’t you care about his life?”

Ling Tian smiled faintly. “Of course I don’t want anything to happen to my brother. Still, I suggest you worry more about yourself right now.” With that, he opened his backpack and took out a toy bomb, indistinguishable from a real one. The fuse in particular was authentic—a chopstick-thick length, twenty centimeters long.

Under Tiger’s astonished gaze, Ling Tian set the bomb on the table, pulled out a lighter, and assumed a posture ready to ignite. “This is a military-grade explosive, designed for armored vehicles. Tell me, are you tougher than an armored vehicle? I think we can find out.”

Damn! Where did this kid get a bomb? No, who walks around carrying bombs for fun? This must be fake.

Tiger laughed. “Trying to scare me? You’re too green. These things are everywhere—ten bucks a pop. You underestimate me, thinking you can frighten me with a toy bomb.”

“Is that so? Since you think so, let’s try another one.” Ling Tian pulled a toy grenade from his backpack and waved it in front of Tiger. “This grenade has been modified; it’s only a tenth as powerful as the original. So, tell me, do you think this is real or fake?”

Tiger sneered. “Another toy. I just don’t see the point in all these games of yours.”