Chapter 38: A Fierce Struggle Within the Cage

“So, what do you think? Are you satisfied with the grand boxing match I’ve prepared just for you? As long as you win tonight, your name will spread like wildfire across Baiyun, even throughout the whole city.” Big Mouth Owl stood up, spreading his arms as he spun in a circle.

“Do you find this amusing?” Lu Feng asked, his expression dark.

“Of course. The real show is just beginning.” Big Mouth Owl clamped a cigarette between his lips and clapped three times. “Bring down our cage!”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

With the sounds of his hands, another spotlight swept over the center ring, illuminating a massive iron cage—eight meters in length, width, and height—descending from above. Chains rattled and groaned as the steel cube was lowered. When it hit the ground with a thunderous boom, the guests erupted into applause and cheers.

Mad Xi strode onto the ring, pulled open the cage door, and stepped inside. Once he was standing in place, he turned his head to glare at Lu Feng, his eyes glowing with the ferocity of a wild dog.

“Please, the eager audience is waiting for you,” Big Mouth Owl said, gesturing magnanimously toward the ring.

“And if I refuse?” Lu Feng locked eyes with him, his voice seething with anger.

“Then the cage hanging with that woman up there will suddenly drop. Boom!” Big Mouth Owl mimed a shattering fall with his hands.

“I’ll enter the cage,” Lu Feng ground out, barely controlling his fury, “but once I’m inside, you must let Chen Lan go!”

The smile vanished from Big Mouth Owl’s face. He flung his cigarette stub to the floor, grinding it beneath his heel. “You’re in no position to negotiate with me. Either get in there and kill my mad dog, or watch your woman fall from above—smashed to pieces.”

“Very well. You’ve truly angered me now.” Suppressing the rage on his face, Lu Feng turned and walked up onto the platform, entering the iron cage.

Clutching the bars, Chen Lan saw Lu Feng appear. She covered her mouth, eyes wide—fear, gratitude, and worry all mingling in her gaze.

As Lu Feng entered the cage, Big Mouth Owl’s lips curled into a cold smile. He snapped his fingers.

A lackey, already prepared, hurried up with a heavy padlock, closed the cage door, and locked it securely.

At that moment, the master of ceremonies shouted into the microphone, “Mad Xi returns to face the mysterious challenger! Final minute for bets—hurry up, last minute, fifty-nine, fifty-eight, fifty-seven, fifty-six, fifty-five…”

The guests below finally got a look at the so-called “mysterious challenger”—a young man with an unfamiliar face, not particularly burly, and lacking the ferocious aura expected of an underground boxing king.

So, most of the crowd rushed to the betting booth, all putting their money on Mad Xi to win.

In the world of underground boxing, Mad Xi’s reputation was legendary—he’d killed a man in the ring. That alone made him notorious and terrifying.

…

Next to Big Mouth Owl, a subordinate whispered, “Boss, Mad Xi’s injuries haven’t healed. He might lose.”

“Do you know what kind of wolf is most dangerous?” Big Mouth Owl replied with a smug grin.

“A hungry wolf?”

Big Mouth Owl shook his head. “A wounded wolf. A wolf that smells blood. That’s what Mad Xi is right now—a mad wolf.”

“What if Mad Xi loses?” the lackey asked, worried.

“Do you know how many bets have been placed on him to win tonight?” Big Mouth Owl shot back.

“No idea,” the lackey said, shaking his head wisely.

“One point eight million. How much do you think Mad Xi’s life is worth?” Big Mouth Owl’s tone was icy.

A chill ran inexplicably through the subordinate at those words.

…

Inside the cage, Mad Xi ran his hand along the bars, savoring their coldness. He spoke slowly, “This is the feeling. When I’m locked in a cage like this, that’s when I want to live the most. Your kick really hurt me last time. Now, I have to return the favor—double.”

Lu Feng fixed Mad Xi with a razor-sharp gaze, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards. “My medical skills might be excellent, but even the best doctor can’t cure someone faking madness.”

Even the finest medicine can’t cure someone pretending to be mad—just as you can never wake someone pretending to sleep.

In fact, from the first time Lu Feng met this man, he knew he wasn’t truly insane. He simply relished scaring others, enjoyed the fear that came with his act.

“You don’t understand, but I’ll make you understand soon enough.” Mad Xi grabbed his own collar and ripped it apart in one motion, revealing a torso packed with muscle.

The audience below roared even louder, “Kill him! Kill him!”

Lu Feng looked down at the bloodthirsty mob, and the last trace of sympathy he had for them vanished.

Mad Xi crouched low, like a rabid dog, ready to pounce at any moment.

Lu Feng undid the top button of his shirt, loosening his body as he spoke. “Martial arts were meant for health and strength. But when something must be done, and someone must be fought, you do it. I don’t act; I won’t throw any unnecessary punches or kicks. Let’s end this quickly.”

After unfastening his collar, Lu Feng stretched and settled into a solid stance, beckoning Mad Xi forward with a curl of his finger.

Mad Xi, seeing the gesture, bared his teeth in a vicious grin and lunged, launching a snake fist strike at Lu Feng’s throat.

As the strike came, Lu Feng’s hand shot out, lightning-quick, seizing Mad Xi’s wrist. Channeling his internal energy, he wrenched his opponent’s arm back, stepped forward, and drove his shoulder into Mad Xi’s chest with an iron mountain thrust.

Bang!

Mad Xi was sent flying, crashing hard against the cage. He scrambled up, trying to counterattack.

But Lu Feng was already there in a flash, sweeping Mad Xi off his feet with a whip kick, then grabbing and twisting his arm until it dislocated.

A scream tore from Mad Xi’s lips as he dragged his limp right arm, unable to continue fighting.

A single punch, a single kick—two moves to end it all!

The audience stared in stunned silence. The master of ceremonies announced, “The challenger is victorious! Those who bet on the challenger, collect your winnings in the back—odds were twelve to one! You’ve struck it rich!”

Ninety percent of the crowd had bet on Mad Xi, as Lu Feng hardly looked strong at all—just a young, slim boy, hardly the image of a brutal fighter.

The arena exploded into chaos. Furious losers hurled bottles at the ring, shouting, “It’s rigged! It’s all rigged! Mad Xi lost to a kid, and with just a punch and a kick—definitely a fix!”

“Give us our money back!” The infuriated crowd erupted into a riot.

Lu Feng ignored the unworthy mob and, amid the clamor, fixed his gaze on Big Mouth Owl, his voice cold. “Open the door! Let her go!”

Big Mouth Owl only sneered at Lu Feng, then strode over and snatched the microphone from the MC. “You all doubt the result, huh? Fine, let’s add another match. Whoever you want up there, he’ll go up. And if you’re out of cash, you can borrow from me to bet more!”

“Send up Black Bull King!”

“That’s right, Black Bull King! Beat him to death!” The crowd’s anger shifted entirely to Lu Feng.

“Then Black Bull King it is. He’ll be on in thirty minutes! If you want to win your money back, go place your bets!” Big Mouth Owl dropped the mic and told a lackey, “Go bring that black brute over here!”