The Fuk Yee Mansion that Red Ghost spoke of was also located on Dragon Ferry Road, an imposing edifice of dark blue and black.

As they ascended in the elevator, Red Ghost casually mentioned to Li Yan, “Those who come to Fuk Yee Mansion for the boxing matches are either rich or noble, easily spending upwards of tens of millions in a single night. The fighters here get a cut, too. If you want to hold your ground here, you need to find a major high roller to back you up. I'll handle the arrangements; just make sure you don’t misspeak when the time comes.”

The elevator promptly reached its destination and halted. As the doors slid open, Li Yan couldn't help but raise his eyebrows in surprise.

The building’s interior from the tenth floor upwards was an open space, the ceiling soaring some thirty meters above. Four tiers of seating surrounded the arena, and sixteen tasseled lanterns hung aloft. Wooden escalators with intricately carved patterns were carpeted in red, leading up to the central marble ring flanked by columns of pristine white marble—an ambiance steeped in antiquity. Waitresses in black tailcoats moved to and fro, serving drinks to the guests.

Four two-meter-high television screens faced the stands, ensuring that spectators could clearly see the boxers in the ring from any angle.

“How about it? Impressive setup, isn’t it? You’re out of luck today, though. On another occasion, you might have enjoyed the company of bunny girls,” Red Ghost joked to Li Yan as a waiter with a black swallowtail butterfly badge hurried over in a rush.

“Brother Red Ghost, Mrs. Deng is making a fuss to see you.”

Rubbing his face, Red Ghost turned to Li Yan and said, “The big high roller has arrived.”

With that, he led Li Yan up the escalator and into a private box.

Li Yan didn't quite understand the appeal of such a bloody spectacle to women. It just went to show that the world was full of wonders.

The two entered a small private room.

As soon as the door opened, they were greeted by a floor littered with the shards of amber glass, the scattered colorful lights flickering uncertainly. The coffee table was set with foreign liquors and snacks of brands Li Yan didn't recognize.

A woman in her thirties lounged on the sofa, her voluminous wavy hair, long legs, and slender waist accentuating her allure. Her seductive phoenix eyes were complemented by deep dimples, and her lips seemed to curl upwards unconsciously, lending her a somewhat intimidating air.

“You asked for Ah Hong to come, and you play dead? If he’s not at Fuk Yee, has he run off to slurp soup outside Dragon City?”

“Sister Judy, Brother Red Ghost really did step out,” the black swallowtail-clad waitress said, her face a picture of distress, while someone else swept up the broken bottles from the floor.

“Nonsense, look, I’m back, aren’t I?”

Red Ghost, just stepping into the room, immediately made his presence known.

“Everyone out.”

The black swallowtails scattered like they had been granted amnesty. Li Yan's eyes darted between the young woman and Red Ghost; he was about to leave as well but a stern glance from Red Ghost stopped him in his tracks.

“Sister Judy, what’s got you so fired up? You’ll wrinkle your pretty face,” Red Ghost said as he sat down next to Judy, sincerely offering her a glass of wine.

The woman took the glass and tilted her chin up, her voice tinged with dissatisfaction, “Ah, you finally show yourself, deadbeat. Vanishing the whole night, what have you been up to? Did you know I was coming to Dragon City and deliberately avoid me?”

"Of course not. I'm here to look after the new blood in my ranks."

Red Ghost spoke with an air of innocence that, paired with his youthful face, wielded a considerable charm over women.

"Ah Yan, come here."

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Li Yan approached reluctantly, managing a forced smile for the woman.

"Sister Judy."

Judy sized up Li Yan with a critical eye.

His cheeks were gaunt, cheekbones pronounced, and his jawline sketched out a striking dimple. His eyebrows were slightly upturned, giving him a resolute gaze.

Judy sipped her golden liquor, her lips growing even more lusciously red.

"Quite the handsome fellow. But I wonder if he can hold his own. I like them good-looking, sure, but it's no good if they get knocked out in the first few rounds. It's embarrassing for me. Last time my fighter lost, that flop He Changhong had the audacity to tease me…"

Her thoughts were interrupted as something caught her eye.

"Why not have Ah Hong fight? Whatever the cost, Sister Ah will back you."

"Sure," Red Ghost nodded, downing his glass of Western liquor in one gulp.

"But we should give the newcomer a chance. If Ah Yan loses, I'll step in to clean up the mess with Young Master He's scrambled eggs for Sister Judy."

Judy's smile was sweet.

"That's settled then," she said, turning to Li Yan. "Little brother, try to last a little longer."

Li Yan bowed his head, smiling faintly:

"Sister Judy jests. Brother Red Ghost is my boss. It would be more shameful for me to lose and force my boss to fight than to jump into the sea."

The woman's laughter was lively and charming. "Well, if you can withstand it, Sister Ah will certainly take good care of you."

Li Yan's temples twitched slightly, but his smile remained warm and convincing, betraying no sign of discomfort.

...

"Don't say I don't look after you. Judy is a major high roller at Dragon City Arena. Her late Dead Ghost Husband was a Gentleman of Peace, and she herself is worth over ten billion. She spends seven or eight hundred thousand on drinks every night. Cling to her coattails, and you're set for a soaring success."

Li Yan mimicked Red Ghost's earlier gesture, rubbing his face and grinning awkwardly, "So what do you want me to do?"

Red Ghost patted Li Yan on the shoulder.

"Win today's fight, and you'll have secured your footing at the sixth arena. Show some style. I haven't taken on new blood in a long time, Red Ghost. Don't let me down."

"I've got style in spades, just not the flirty kind. As long as you're not asking me to sell my looks, I'll fight a tiger for you."

Red Ghost's smile deepened, dimples appearing on his face. "It's your turn to step up."

Li Yan was the first to ascend the stage, his peripheral vision catching the bettors in the stands signaling their wagers. His gaze finally rested on Judy, who stood behind the glass walls of her private box.

The woman held a wine glass, her fair wrist exposed, and she raised an eyebrow at Li Yan on the stage.

"With a fortune of ten billion, three million is but a drop in the bucket."

Amidst the increasingly fervent cheers, Li Yan turned his head, his gaze settling on his final opponent of the day.

A man in his thirties, with a sickly, sallow complexion, ascended the platform. Dressed in a black martial arts uniform, his demeanor was one of icy detachment.

This man was named Minami Kido, a fugitive wanted by the Japanese government. He had infamously committed atrocities in Hokkaido, where he had raped and murdered seven young women. His last victim was a mere fourteen years old, whom he brutally dismembered. What Kido hadn't anticipated was that the girl was the only daughter of the vice-president of the Inagawa-kai, a notorious Japanese Yakuza group. As a result, he found himself the target of their relentless pursuit, and in utter desperation, he fled to Dragon City. To speak frankly, a step outside Dragon City would ensure a grisly end for him.

Kido was proficient with firearms and daggers, and possessed a mastery of Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate. Before facing Li Yan that night, he had already triumphed in three consecutive bouts, his lightest opponent left with both arms' bones dislocated and a ruptured kidney, unconscious in the boxing ring.

As a white towel hit the floor, Li Yan charged forth almost instantaneously. His right hand, swift as lightning, slashed horizontally, smashing against Kido's blocking elbow. His left palm whipped towards Kido’s neck with a ferocity that was almost unreasonable.

The crowd was taken aback by this fresh-faced challenger daring to engage with Kido, but Red Ghost shifted his attention to Li Yan's left foot, which had stealthily edged half a step forward.

Kido twisted his waist, his knuckles colliding with Li Yan's oncoming arm, and with a straight right hand, he reached to grab Li Yan's upper arm.

The moment his palm touched Li Yan's shoulder, a smirk flickered across Kido's lips. He hadn't expected this tall, lanky young man to be so easily subdued. But without hesitation, his fingers tensed, his thumb like an iron hook, viciously gouging at Li Yan's shoulder blade!

The sight of Kido seizing Li Yan's shoulder prompted a wave of heavy sighs from the stands.

In the previous three matches, no matter the prior circumstances, once Kido managed to close in and grasp the shoulder, applying his joint techniques, his opponents had virtually no chance of turning the tables.

Unexpectedly, the seemingly subdued Li Yan suddenly kicked his right leg skyward, using his subtly advanced left foot as a pivot, his right foot like a soaring fierce dragon. The violent tip of his shoe savagely struck Kido's jaw, snapping his neck backward and sending a spray of blood skyward as his right hand weakened and released its grip.

Li Yan, seizing the advantage, lunged forward, grabbing the wrist of Kido, who was now reeling backward. A chilling glint of ruthlessness flashed in the corner of his eye.

"Hard-Soft Style, derived from the Southern Fist White Crane School. Today, I shall have you pay homage to the Ancestral Grandmaster," he declared.

**********

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