Chapter 90: Subjugation

Bang!

A tremendous muffled sound rang out.

Fang Qingyun and Hu Guang met fist to fist, but the result was Fang Qingyun being forced to retreat step by step.

Hu Guang, too, had lost the ability to continue his assault.

Fang Qingyun was a bit inferior!

“Rank Three, peak of the General level, still a step away from advancing to Rank Four!” Fang Qingyun fixed his gaze on Hu Guang. After this period of cultivation, his strength now barely matched a General of the third rank.

“Not bad!” Hu Guang sneered, saying, “If I kill you, I’ll obtain enough resources to advance. I’ll become a mid-level General.”

“Is that so?”

Fang Qingyun smiled faintly, set aside his sniper rifle, loosened his limbs, and strode toward Hu Guang.

“Courting death!” Hu Guang shouted, launching an even fiercer attack.

Every punch from him roared like a lion.

At this moment, Fang Qingyun noticed a faint streak of blood-red at the crest of Hu Guang’s fists.

He faced Hu Guang calmly, choosing to meet him head-on.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

...

“What are you doing?”

Blood Lion shook off Blood Eagle, who had grabbed his hand.

“Enough talk!” Blood Eagle said coldly, “I simply made a choice.”

“You’re putting your faith in this greenhorn?” Blood Lion gritted his teeth. “Blood Eagle, have you lost your mind? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you.”

He was visibly agitated.

Previously, because of Hu Guang’s actions, Blood Eagle, Blood Shark, and Blood Lion had been forced to secretly form an alliance to avoid being devoured by the other. Hu Guang was well aware of this.

Now, Blood Eagle’s collusion with Fang Qingyun would almost certainly be seen by Hu Guang as a joint decision.

Blood Lion’s eyes were full of murderous intent.

Either kill Fang Qingyun, or kill Hu Guang.

“Don’t be hasty!” Blood Eagle soothed him, “Just watch.”

Blood Lion paused, looking up, and saw that Fang Qingyun, under Hu Guang’s onslaught, was putting up a lively fight.

Though at first glance he seemed at a disadvantage...

No, something was off!

Blood Lion’s eyes widened.

Fang Qingyun’s strength was increasing.

At the start, he was suppressed, but now, every so often, he could even counterattack.

“This kid... is he using Hu Guang as a training partner?” Blood Lion said in disbelief. “Is he mad?”

Where were they?

Blood Axe Gang!

In the enemy’s stronghold, facing a powerful foe, and under the watchful eyes of them both, Fang Qingyun still dared to use Hu Guang as a sparring dummy. That wasn’t madness—it was either naïveté, or the belief that they had truly surrendered.

“Or maybe, he has something up his sleeve,” Blood Eagle said, his words thick with meaning.

Blood Lion’s expression shifted, and he whispered, “So what should we do now?”

Blood Eagle answered without hesitation, “If the kid dies at Hu Guang’s hands, you and I move together and take Hu Guang down.”

“But—”

“Don’t be a fool, brother!” Blood Eagle gritted his teeth. “Blood Bird is dead—do you think Hu Guang will let us off? No, he’ll definitely kill one of us. Do you dare bet on which?”

Blood Lion fell silent.

He wasn’t stupid.

The moment Blood Bird died, the balance was already broken.

If Blood Shark hadn’t also been eliminated, Hu Guang would likely have acted against them already.

Now, Hu Guang still feared they might join forces, so he would have to eliminate one.

Blood Eagle was the more likely target.

But would Blood Lion risk his own life on that chance?

“Should we act now?” Blood Lion gritted his teeth. “Let’s take out Hu Guang.”

“Not yet,” Blood Eagle said quietly. “First, let’s keep the rest of the Blood Axe Gang in check.”

Within the Blood Axe Gang, Hu Guang’s power was unquestionably the greatest, but as Generals, Blood Eagle and Blood Lion each had their own followers.

Especially with Hu Guang absent, after the two had barked orders and even killed a couple of dissenters, the Blood Axe Gang barely maintained order.

To put it plainly, this was the City of Chaos. There might be a few loyal souls, but most simply went with the flow.

With no word from Hu Guang, Blood Lion and Blood Eagle called the shots.

Anyone who disagreed was simply disposed of.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The battle between Hu Guang and Fang Qingyun raged on.

Their physical prowess was on full display.

A constitution of 32 brought astonishing regenerative powers.

Every blow from Fang Qingyun still carried its original force, but Hu Guang’s strength was beginning to wane.

Hu Guang grew anxious.

He wanted to call for help, but when he saw Blood Lion and Blood Eagle, his heart sank.

Both men stared at him coldly, their murderous intent unconcealed.

That only made Hu Guang more frantic.

If Blood Lion and Blood Eagle attacked now, he was finished.

“You’re done for,” Fang Qingyun’s light voice sounded.

He swiftly summoned his attribute panel.

[Origin -200]

[Origin: 19,496]

[Strength +1]

[Strength: 33]

The sudden surge in strength nearly knocked Hu Guang off his feet.

“You—”

Hu Guang’s eyes bulged.

If he had been able to suppress Fang Qingyun before, after such a prolonged bout, and with Fang Qingyun’s strength further increased, they were now evenly matched.

“Kid, let me tell you, this is the Blood Axe Gang. If I give the word—”

“Go ahead, let’s see you do it!” Fang Qingyun cut him off. “After all this time, I’m amazed. Is the Blood Axe Gang dead? Why has not a single person come?”

“You—”

Outside the Blood Axe Gang’s headquarters, Blood Lion coldly watched a large crowd of gang members.

There were about a hundred gathered at the headquarters.

Blood Lion and Blood Eagle’s followers numbered just over twenty, yet they held the remaining eighty or so warriors in check.

Because Blood Lion was there!

A General could easily wipe out dozens in a single stroke.

“Someone, quickly! Get in here!” Hu Guang’s furious roar echoed from inside. “Are you all dead? Why aren’t you saving me?”

A ripple of unrest passed through the gang, who had already sensed something was wrong.

Blood Lion’s expression remained icy. He suddenly roared, “Who dares move? Kill!”

A wave of overwhelming psychic energy drowned out Hu Guang’s voice and quelled the restless gang members.

They looked at each other, and in the end, chose silence.

“Hmph!”

Blood Eagle stepped out as well, saying coldly, “Business as usual. Do what you’re supposed to do. Don’t throw your lives away for nothing.”

Two Generals, and the situation was firmly under control.

Especially after Hu Guang’s cry for help, even his supporters lost their nerve.

If the gang’s strongest member was begging for help, what good were they going to do?

They’d just be throwing their lives away.

...

“You’re finished,” Fang Qingyun’s voice was calm.

“No, impossible!” Hu Guang roared, his punches heavier than ever.

Fang Qingyun was once again forced onto the defensive, but a smile flickered in his eyes.

This was exactly what he wanted!

Come on!

Fight with everything you have!

This would help him master his body more quickly, to become familiar with his new, enhanced attributes.

It wouldn’t be long before he could add more points.

“Need a hand?” Blood Eagle’s voice rang out.

Fang Qingyun shot a cold glance at him. “You so much as interfere, and I’ll kill you too.”

Blood Eagle’s face changed.

Even now, Fang Qingyun could utter such a threat? And say he’d kill Blood Eagle as well? Did he really have that kind of ability?

Blood Eagle glared at Fang Qingyun, trying to see what secrets he was still hiding.

“Blood Eagle, you dare betray me, betray the Northwest Military Academy!” Hu Guang roared. “Do you think they’ll let you off?”

“That’s none of your concern,” Fang Qingyun replied airily. “Once I’ve dealt with you, I’ll return to the Academy and deal with the one you mentioned.”

“You?” Hu Guang laughed maniacally. “Do you have any idea who that is? You’re just a freshman—how dare you talk like that?”

“Merely a couple of vice presidents,” Fang Qingyun answered calmly. “As for how I’ll deal with them, you’ll never find out. Now be good and die.”

The fight continued.

Hu Guang’s mind was in turmoil, his strength ebbing away.

Fang Qingyun gradually took the upper hand.

Despite his furious roars, Hu Guang could not escape his looming defeat.

Bang!

At last, after yet another violent clash, Hu Guang glared at Fang Qingyun, pulled a syringe from his clothing, and plunged it savagely into his own neck.

Fang Qingyun narrowed his eyes. “What’s that?”

“Take a guess!”

Hu Guang laughed madly, his aura surging higher and higher.

Fang Qingyun immediately understood.

“Rage Serum!” His expression darkened. “That’s strategic material. Not bad, having something like that.”

The Rage Serum was refined from dozens of rare ingredients and could temporarily enhance a General’s strength. It was a precious strategic resource.

“So what if it is?” Hu Guang sneered. “If you’ve got the guts, go report me!”

A deafening roar resounded.

A massive, jet-black lion appeared out of nowhere, its cold gaze fixed on Hu Guang.

Hu Guang’s bravado froze.

He stared at the lion, lips trembling. “What is that?”

Blood Eagle’s mouth went dry.

At this moment, he even wondered if he was hallucinating.

The beast, Blackie, had grown with Fang Qingyun’s strength; now it was over ten meters long and more than six meters high.

Its eyes were blood red!

Its entire body was covered in dense scales.

Majestic.

Formidable.

“Go!” Fang Qingyun commanded coldly. “Kill him!”

Blackie roared and charged at Hu Guang.

“No!”

With another furious roar, the battle resumed.

Hu Guang, who had already reached the peak of General Rank Three, broke through to Rank Four after injecting the serum.

Blackie, whose power had grown with Fang Qingyun’s, stood at General Rank Two or Three—but it was a demon beast.

Demon beasts were stronger than human warriors of the same rank.

So, it almost matched a General’s strength.

The two clashed, Blackie fighting desperately. In the end, after inflicting grievous wounds on Hu Guang, it was killed.

Hu Guang gasped for breath, locking his eyes on Fang Qingyun.

“Not bad!” Fang Qingyun clapped lightly, then, under Hu Guang’s despairing gaze, summoned another Blackie.

“I can call out several of them. How many can you defeat?”

Another mighty roar, and Blackie charged again.

This time, Hu Guang wasn’t so lucky—he was smashed to a pulp on the spot.

“How do you feel?” Fang Qingyun smiled at Blood Eagle and Blood Lion, who had just rushed into the hall.

Both men froze, then dropped to their knees, trembling.

That giant lion was stronger than they were.

If they fought, they’d stand no chance. If Fang Qingyun could summon several lions, they’d have no hope at all—other than ending up as snacks.

Even if they called others to besiege him, Fang Qingyun could fight his way out, and then exact bloody revenge.

“My lord, from this day forward, we are your loyal dogs!” Blood Eagle said obsequiously.

“Exactly, exactly!” Blood Lion nodded hastily. “Whatever you want us to do, we’ll do it.”

“Very good.” Fang Qingyun nodded indifferently. “Now bring me what I want.”

Blood Eagle hesitated. “My lord, the letter delivered by that person has a special mark—it can’t be used as evidence.”

He stepped to Hu Guang’s crushed corpse, calmly retrieved a blood-soaked letter, wiped off the flesh, and handed it to Fang Qingyun.

Fang Qingyun didn’t take it, just glanced at it.

The letter detailed his own information, and stated the sender’s lethal intent.

Just as Blood Eagle said, it couldn’t prove Qin Ran’s involvement.

“Forget it,” Fang Qingyun shook his head. “The Blood Axe Gang stays as it is. I don’t want the resources—turn them over to the Student Council as usual. But remember: any intelligence you gather, send a copy to me.”

“Yes, sir!”

Blood Eagle replied, then cautiously asked, “My lord, how do we deliver it to you?”

Fang Qingyun paused.

His own faction was still a vacuum; he didn’t even have a secretary. Even if there was news, it wouldn’t reach him.

“Call me for now,” Fang Qingyun said, giving Blood Eagle his number and even his backup, then looked to the side. “Someone’s coming—a lot of them. Whose people are those?”

Blood Eagle followed his gaze, gritting his teeth. “That’s the Lone Wolf Gang, another faction in the City of Chaos. We often clash.”

Fang Qingyun knew that in the City of Chaos, the strongest force was the City Lord’s Manor.

Then came the “Two Factions.”

After that were the eight gangs, including the Blood Axe Gang.

The One-Eyed Gang was among them.

The Blood Axe Gang was in the northwest, the One-Eyed Gang in the west.

Neighboring gangs, frequent friction.

Fang Qingyun thought for a moment. “Do you know whose backing they have?”

Most forces in the City of Chaos had someone behind them.

“No idea,” Blood Eagle hesitated. “There are rumors they have ties to Sacred Mountain Academy.”

“Oh? Sacred Mountain?”

Fang Qingyun smiled. “Then we won’t be courteous. Let’s bring them under control.”

“Bring them under control?!”

Blood Eagle and Blood Lion cried out in unison. Blood Eagle quickly added, “My lord, that won’t work. The City Lord’s Manor has forbidden large-scale gang wars. If they find out, they’ll punish us severely.”

“Aren’t the Lone Wolves about to attack?”

Blood Eagle gave a wry smile. “That’s different. The City Lord’s Manor doesn’t really want to stop us fighting. They’re happy to see the factions beneath them at each other’s throats. What they forbid is mergers.”

“For example, if the other side attacks with a large force, destroys the Blood Axe Gang, plunders everything, then retreats, the City Lord’s Manor will be pleased. They’ll just send a few men to scold the One-Eyed Gang, nothing more.”

“The One-Eyed Gang just has to hand over some of the loot from the Blood Axe Gang as tribute.”

Fang Qingyun’s eyes narrowed, a cold smile on his lips. “So they weaken the lower ranks, and profit as well.”

“Exactly!”

Fang Qingyun stared in the direction of the One-Eyed Gang, silent.

He could defeat these forces, but how could he subdue them?

Force them to swear martial oaths?

Pointless!

These men trained in a haphazard way; at best they’d reach General Rank Four or Five, never higher.

Martial oaths—none of them would care.

Unless he stayed here in person.

But that was impossible.

Not only could he not remain here, he had to return to the Northwest Military Academy as soon as possible.

The Student Council had to be dealt with quickly.

And Zhao Junhong—by his calculations, he’d be out of seclusion soon.

“Crush them!”

Fang Qingyun made up his mind. “Mobilize all our people and assist me. We’ll break the One-Eyed Gang and bring them under our control.”

Blood Eagle and Blood Lion exchanged a helpless glance and nodded. “Yes, sir.”