"It’s impossible. You know I have to protect myself, and I must fight." Hua Yan said seriously. Having been reborn once, she could see through the world's events more clearly than others, such as predicaments and death.

Brother Qiang arrived at the fighting platform, followed by Ah Jin. The rowdy crowd quieted down upon seeing their leader, fearing Brother Qiang. After a few words with some of his men, Brother Qiang left before Hua Yan arrived.

He and Ah Jin went to a pavilion on the left side of the fighting platform. The doors and windows of the pavilion were all open, and through the half-drawn bamboo curtains, seven or eight men and women could be vaguely seen inside.

A man in his forties, with a charming woman in his arms, teased, "Why hasn't your new toy arrived yet? She’s quite the diva."

The laughing group fell silent, watching the man and Brother Qiang. They seemed to be either watching a show or carefully gauging the situation, making the atmosphere tense. Among them, the man and Brother Qiang remained the most composed.

Brother Qiang smiled gracefully and assuredly said, "When she arrives, you can have someone teach her a lesson. We won’t intervene, dead or alive, after the fight."

The man opposite Brother Qiang, with a complex expression but smiling eyes, said, "Brother Qiang, that’s a great plan. Let Taishan face her." He spoke lightly, but it made everyone shiver. Taishan, one of the man's, Jigu’s, deadly enforcers, was feared by several armed factions.

Jigu's intention was clear: he wanted Hua Yan dead. Ah Jin felt conflicted, watching Brother Qiang, who was still leisurely drinking tea. She couldn't understand his true intentions.

If Brother Qiang didn’t care about Hua Yan, why host such a grand event? But if he valued her, why set up a life-and-death battle when Jigu made things difficult for her?

Moments later, laughter resumed, as if the potential loss of a life was the most mundane thing. Ah Jin whispered in Brother Qiang’s ear, then bowed and left. She spoke to a young man outside the door, who then left on her instructions, and she returned to the room.

Jigu watched Ah Jin's actions with a mocking smile. Brother Qiang remained calm, like an ancient well.

Hua Yan wouldn't know that if she didn't have a sudden breakthrough in the upcoming fight, death was unavoidable.

This fight would start with six people chosen by Brother Qiang, battling in pairs. The three winners would then fight Hua Yan. The three winners among the six were the best of the best. It was hard to say if Brother Qiang had high expectations for Hua Yan or if he was cold and calculating.

Hua Yan herself had no complaints, instead feeling a bit grateful. If she was smart, she should carefully observe and remember the habits of these fighters, so she wouldn’t be caught off guard and could find a way to break through when facing any one of them.

Arriving without seeing Brother Qiang, Shui pointed to the pavilion behind them, and Hua Yan realized that Brother Qiang and his people were enjoying themselves there.

In the first match, the two fighters were similar in size to Hua Yan, with equally dark skin. Their moves were unrefined but their bodies were agile, and they seemed quite strong. If one of them grabbed her arm, it would surely break.

Half an hour later, the chubby one won. As he stepped down from the stage, he glanced at Hua Yan with a mocking look. Hua Yan felt angry but maintained a stoic expression, deciding to turn this chubby guy into a pig head later and make him forget his own surname.

In the second match, both fighters were brawny men with discernible moves, exuding a martial artist's aura. The fighting platform echoed with thunderous clashes, making Hua Yan worry that she would be thrown high and smashed into a pulp.

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Feeling embarrassed, she thought, but in the end, the bearded man won. Hua Yan noticed his eyes were similar to Brother Qiang’s, with a bloodthirsty look that made anyone he stared at tremble with fear.

Feeling the same concern as Hua Yan, Shui worriedly handed her a slice of mango to calm her racing heart. Giving Shui a reassuring look, Hua Yan continued watching the third match.

Astonishingly, five minutes later, amidst a cloud of dust, a tall, skinny man walked off the platform. Hua Yan, wide-eyed, muttered to herself, "I didn't even see how he won, that was too fast..." Such speed finally made Hua Yan feel a sense of impending crisis.

Afterward, there was a half-hour break, during which a few dark-skinned girls danced on the stage. Shui, on the other hand, took Hua Yan to relax.

"Isn’t this Miss Hua Yan? You look pale, are you unwell?" A pockmarked man appeared from nowhere, blocking their path with a grin.

Shui wanted to speak for Hua Yan but was stopped by her. She smiled faintly, "Thank you for your concern. We’re just taking a stroll, you’re in our way."

"Ah, I was just asking, take your time." The pockmarked man suddenly changed his tone and stepped aside.

After walking a distance, Shui asked in confusion, "He seemed afraid of you?"

Hua Yan sneered, "Not of me, but of Brother Qiang. He saw Brother Qiang standing in the pavilion, watching."

"Oh, you mean Brother Qiang was there just now?" Shui smiled excitedly, "Does that mean he really cares about you? This match must be just for show then."

"You talk too much," Hua Yan rolled her eyes at Shui, thinking people really can't be judged by their looks. She hadn’t realized Shui was so talkative before. She didn’t believe Brother Qiang was so kind; she felt like she was just a toy for others, dispensable, at their mercy. This thought made her so frustrated she wanted to hit someone.

Just in time for her first match, her opponent was the slightly perverted chubby guy. At the signal to start, he launched an attack, his strong fists aimed at her chest.

With no experience fighting against people, Hua Yan instinctively moved her chest to avoid the first punch, but her neck took a heavy hit. "Cough cough..." The intense pain made her trachea ache, and every breath brought a sharp pain.

The chubby guy didn't give her a chance to react, throwing a second punch. Hua Yan, unable to consider anything else, quickly rolled to the edge of the fighting platform.

She swiftly got up, ready to strike at any moment. Seeing the chubby guy's lecherous grin, Hua Yan’s blood boiled, and her desire to pummel his face into a pulp grew stronger, overpowering her pain.

Standing in the center of the platform again, Hua Yan reviewed the chubby guy’s previous match, noticing his incredible strength but unstable footing. He preferred to take the initiative, giving him a slim chance of victory. Suddenly, Hua Yan had a plan as the chubby guy launched another attack.

"Take this!" he shouted, speeding up as he charged at her. Hua Yan held her breath, her eyes narrowed, and she stood firm, watching the chubby guy rush toward her.

Focused, Hua Yan felt as if his every move was a second slower. Just before his kick landed, she moved aside, letting him swoosh past her.

At the same time, Hua Yan struck swiftly, kicking his knee. With a loud thud, the platform trembled as the chubby guy fell, clutching his knee.

Hua Yan smiled, immediately kneeling on him and punching his face repeatedly. One punch, two punches, three punches... until he moaned and begged for mercy. Before getting up, she kicked between his legs. It wouldn’t cripple him, but he wouldn't be able to perform for the next six months.

Undoubtedly, Hua Yan won this match, leaving a fierce impression on the crowd. In the pavilion, Jigu laughed, "So fierce! If Brother Qiang no longer needs her, remember to let me have some fun with her!" He laughed lewdly.

Brother Qiang ignored Jigu, focusing on Hua Yan. He sensed something unusual in her movements but couldn't pinpoint what it was.

After sucking on a mango slice Shui handed her, Hua Yan prepared for the next match. Due to her previous cunning victory, the bearded man didn’t attack immediately but watched her like a predator eyeing its prey. Hua Yan took a deep breath, cautiously eyeing the bearded man and thinking of how to defeat him.

She couldn't match his strength or speed, so her best bet was to use her faster reflexes to leverage his power against him. Additionally, subtle displays of weakness might work in her favor, as she noticed contempt in the bearded man's eyes.

His delay in attacking suggested he was cautious. Excited to test her strategy, Hua Yan's eyes betrayed nervousness despite her efforts to hide it, which only made her more conspicuous.

The bearded man sneered inwardly and launched his attack, coordinating hands and feet in an assault that exuded oppressive force, making Hua Yan's palms sweat.

In three or four exchanges, the bearded man suppressed Hua Yan, landing several hits. He seemed intent on ending the fight quickly, with each move more lethal and swift than the last, giving no room for error.

Hua Yan grew anxious; her stamina couldn't match the bearded man’s. If she didn’t seize the initiative soon, she’d either be beaten to death or exhausted.