Yaoshan Mountain, located in the suburbs of Linjiang City, stretches for dozens of kilometers with rolling hills, perpetually covered in lush greenery. It is full of vitality and exudes an aura resembling that of a paradise on earth.
As it was still early in the morning, there weren’t many visitors around—mostly joggers and people doing morning exercises. Few had managed to reach the summit, because although Yaoshan isn’t particularly tall, the climb becomes increasingly difficult the higher one goes…
Xiao Yufan, dressed in loose sportswear, swiftly moved up the stone steps. With each stride, he effortlessly skipped over several steps, his graceful and agile figure darting along the path. If anyone had seen him, they might have thought they were witnessing a ghost, as his speed was simply unbelievable.
Xiao Yufan glanced around at the scenery, deeply inhaling the fresh morning air, instantly feeling refreshed and energized. The entire landscape unfolded before his eyes, yet he had no intention of lingering to admire it. He continued forward, heading toward the peak of Yaoshan—someone was waiting for him there.
“You seem to be late…”
At that moment, Qinglong stood with his hands behind his back atop a massive rock. This stone jutted out from the summit, meaning that a single misstep could send him plummeting downward.
“That’s not really being late; you just arrived early!”
Xiao Yufan held some fondness for Qinglong. Like Xiaodao, the man didn’t seem scheming or calculating…
“Maybe so,” Qinglong replied, rubbing his nose bridge and, for once, flashing a rare smile. His gaze toward Xiao Yufan burned with intensity. Never before had he felt such a powerful desire to fight. Right now, all he wanted was an intense, exhilarating battle.
“You’re injured?” Xiao Yufan noticed a fluctuation in Qinglong’s aura and furrowed his brows.
“Just a small matter—I’ve already taken care of it.”
Qinglong suppressed his aura, showing no signs of abnormality. Although he described it as trivial, the undertone suggested otherwise.
“It must be about Solitary Wolf,” Xiao Yufan speculated, thinking of only one possibility. He had just learned that Solitary Wolf, a fierce subordinate of Chen Jiamin, had been killed. Aside from Qinglong, he couldn’t imagine anyone else in Linjiang capable of such a feat.
“It seems your information network is quite sharp. I only acted recently, yet you already knew…”
Qinglong didn’t deny it. After all, he was Qinglong—never one to shy away from responsibility.
“Solitary Wolf was one of Chen Jiamin’s men. Why kill him?”
Xiao Yufan was puzzled. Qinglong had no apparent reason to eliminate Solitary Wolf, especially considering the latter’s formidable strength. Defeating him wouldn’t have been easy.
“He secretly poisoned me. He deserved to die. For those who can never be friends, I hold back nothing.”
“Then should I say I’m glad—at least we’re not enemies, just having a friendly match.”
“That depends on the outcome. If you lose, you’ll be dead, so naturally, we won’t be enemies.”
Yao Mountain, located in the suburbs of Linjiang City, stretches for dozens of kilometers with its undulating terrain. It is perpetually shrouded in lush greenery, exuding a vibrant vitality that gives it an almost ethereal, fairyland-like quality.
As it was early morning, the number of tourists was sparse, mostly consisting of people out for their morning exercise. However, few could reach the summit, for although Yao Mountain is not particularly high, the ascent becomes increasingly challenging the higher one climbs…
Xiao Yufan, dressed in loose sportswear, moved swiftly up the stone steps. With each stride, he effortlessly leaped over several steps, his agile figure darting rapidly along the stone path. Anyone who saw him might have thought they had encountered a ghost in the early morning, for his speed was nothing short of astonishing.
Taking in the surrounding scenery, Xiao Yufan inhaled deeply the fresh morning air, feeling instantly refreshed. Though the panoramic view was breathtaking, he had no time to linger in admiration. He pressed on toward the summit of Yao Mountain, where someone was waiting for him.
“You seem to be late…”
At this moment, Qinglong stood with his hands behind his back atop a massive boulder that jutted out from the mountain peak. One misstep, and he could plummet straight down.
“This shouldn’t count as being late. You’re just early!”
Xiao Yufan had a favorable impression of Qinglong, much like he did of Xiaodao. This man didn’t seem like the scheming type…
“Perhaps,” Qinglong replied, touching the bridge of his nose with a rare smile. His gaze toward Xiao Yufan was intense, as no one had ever stirred such a strong fighting spirit in him. At this moment, all he wanted was an exhilarating battle.
“Are you injured?” Sensing a fluctuation in Qinglong’s aura, Xiao Yufan frowned slightly…
“It’s nothing serious. It’s already been dealt with.”
Qinglong reined in his aura, showing no outward signs of distress. Though he downplayed it as a minor issue, it was clear that it was anything but trivial.
“Must be about Goulang, right?” Xiao Yufan could only think of one possibility. He had just learned that Goulang, a fierce warrior under Chen Jiamin, had been killed. Apart from Qinglong, he couldn’t think of any other strong figures in Linjiang capable of such a feat.
“Seems like you’re quite well-informed. I didn’t act long ago, and yet you already know…”
Qinglong didn’t deny it, for he was Qinglong—a man who would never shy away from his actions.
“Goulang was close to Chen Jiamin. Why kill him?”
Xiao Yufan was puzzled. Qinglong had no reason to eliminate Goulang, especially since Goulang was a formidable opponent, making his death no easy feat.
“He secretly poisoned me. Naturally, he deserved to die. For those who can never be friends, I show no mercy.”
“Then perhaps I should say I’m fortunate that, at least for now, we’re not enemies. This is just a friendly spar.”
“That depends on the outcome. If you lose, you’ll be dead, and we naturally won’t be enemies.”
Though Qinglong felt an unprecedented pressure from Xiao Yufan, it only fueled his fighting spirit. Only the strong were worthy of his attention, and he aimed to grow stronger through these confrontations.
“Things might not go as you wish. I hope you lose, so I might gain another subordinate…”
Had these words come from anyone else, they would undoubtedly not live to see the next day. But Qinglong was different. This man was worth recruiting, and if the Dark Gate could secure such a warrior, their strength would undoubtedly rise to a new level.
“Then let’s see if you have what it takes…”
Qinglong smiled as he leaped down from the boulder. At the same moment, Xiao Yufan slowly raised his hands, his sharp eyes fixed unwaveringly on Qinglong, who stood five meters away. As his arms lifted, the corners of his mouth curled into a perfect arc.
In an instant, his entire body moved, his graceful form exuding a thunderous, unrestrained energy. His first strike would be earth-shattering. Without unnecessary words, Xiao Yufan knew that to make Qinglong submit, only strength would suffice.
Qinglong moved as well, his speed matching Xiao Yufan’s. The two figures closed the distance at a pace beyond ordinary comprehension, leaping simultaneously and exchanging punches, their attacks raining down on each other like a storm.
“Thud…”
A series of dull thuds echoed through the air as Xiao Yufan’s fist collided with Qinglong’s five times in rapid succession, startling a few resting birds. In the open space, the sound was deafening.
Xiao Yufan’s body descended, his toes lightly touching the ground before he spun into the air, his right leg sweeping horizontally. Qinglong raised his arm to block, enduring the powerful spinning kick with sheer force.
A slight raise of his brow, Xiao Yufan wasn’t surprised. If Qinglong were so easily defeated, he wouldn’t have caught his attention in the first place…
His right foot pressed against Qinglong’s arm, Xiao Yufan used the recoil to lean back, executing a dazzling backward kick aimed at Qinglong’s chin. Qinglong straightened his body abruptly, sidestepping to avoid the forceful strike.
Landing in a graceful flip, Xiao Yufan’s movements were nothing short of spectacular. Anyone witnessing this would have thought they were watching a movie…
A smile appeared on his face, one of excitement. A true opponent was hard to come by, and Qinglong had clearly earned that title. Meanwhile, Qinglong, who had fallen backward, pushed off the ground with his palms, standing upright once more, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yufan’s handsome profile.
“You’re strong, but I will still defeat you.”
In an instant, Qinglong moved again, his speed increasing another notch. His trench coat began to flutter as if caught in a wind.
Descending, Qinglong pivoted on his heel, his body spinning rapidly. His right leg, fueled by the momentum, swept horizontally toward Xiao Yufan. This move had never failed him, and he was confident it wouldn’t now.
Caught off guard by Qinglong’s sudden change in momentum, Xiao Yufan took two steps back to evade, his back pressing against the guardrail. A chill ran down his spine—damn, below him was a sheer drop. No matter how skilled he was, falling would mean certain death…
Qinglong, too, realized this. No master would give their opponent a chance to recover, and he was no exception. Xiao Yufan’s precarious position was the perfect opportunity to press his advantage.
Qinglong’s right leg, carrying a gust of wind, swept past Xiao Yufan’s chest. Missing its target, Qinglong immediately leaped into the air, delivering a heavy kick toward Xiao Yufan, who hadn’t fully straightened up. He was certain Xiao Yufan had no way to avoid this…
“Perhaps things won’t go as you wish. I still hope you lose, because then I might gain a new subordinate…”
If anyone else had said this, they wouldn’t have lived to see the next day. But Qinglong was different. This man was definitely worth recruiting. If the Dark Gate gained such a powerful warrior, their strength would rise significantly.
“We’ll see if you have the ability…”
Qinglong smiled, leaping down from the rock. At that moment, Xiao Yufan slowly raised his hands, his sharp eyes locked onto Qinglong five meters away. As his arms lifted, a subtle, confident smile curved his lips.
In an instant, his entire body sprang into motion, exuding a bold and electrifying aura. His first strike would surely shake the heavens—no further words were needed. Xiao Yufan knew clearly that only through strength could he earn Qinglong’s respect.
Qinglong moved too, his speed matching Xiao Yufan’s. The two figures shot toward each other at an unimaginable pace, leaping simultaneously and exchanging blows in rapid succession. Their attacks rained down like hail.
“Bang!”
A series of dull thuds echoed through the air. Xiao Yufan’s and Qinglong’s fists collided five times in quick succession, startling a few resting birds. In the open space, the sound rang out powerfully.
Xiao Yufan landed, his toe touching the ground, spinning mid-air as his right leg swept sideways. Qinglong raised his arm to block, enduring the powerful kick head-on.
Xiao Yufan raised his eyebrows slightly, unfazed. If Qinglong had been that easily defeated, he wouldn’t have even caught Xiao Yufan’s attention…
Placing his right foot on Qinglong’s arm, Xiao Yufan used the counterforce to lean backward, performing a dazzling backflip kick aimed directly at Qinglong’s jaw. Qinglong immediately straightened his body, swiftly sidestepping to narrowly evade the forceful strike.
Flipping backward and landing firmly on both feet, Xiao Yufan’s movements were incredibly graceful—like a scene from a movie.
A smile spread across his face, filled with excitement. A true opponent was rare to find, and clearly, Qinglong had earned the right to stand against him. Meanwhile, Qinglong, still crouched from his dodge, slammed his palms against the ground and shot upright, his gaze fixed on Xiao Yufan’s handsome profile.
“You’re strong, but I will still defeat you!”
In an instant, Qinglong was on the move again, his speed increasing another notch. His coat began to flutter without wind.
Qinglong dropped his body, pivoting on his heels, and swung his right leg powerfully toward Xiao Yufan. This move had never failed him before, and he was confident this time would be no different.
The shift in Qinglong’s momentum caught Xiao Yufan slightly off guard. He immediately took two steps back, his back hitting the railing. A chill ran down his spine—behind him was a sheer cliff. No matter how strong he was, falling down would mean certain death…
Clearly, Qinglong had noticed this too. No true expert would allow their opponent a moment to catch their breath, and he was no exception. Seeing Xiao Yufan in such a vulnerable position, Qinglong seized the opportunity to press his advantage.
Qinglong’s right leg swept past Xiao Yufan’s chest in a gust of wind. As the kick missed, Qinglong immediately leapt upward, delivering a heavy follow-up kick toward Xiao Yufan, who hadn’t fully regained his stance. He was certain Xiao Yufan now had nowhere left to run…
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