Chapter Sixty-Three: Resolution

The source of the earlier voice was a man with fiery red hair, his features twisted in a savage manner, bare-chested and resembling a wild beast. Two men accompanied him, dragging the famous Doctor Xue, who appeared unharmed but had inexplicably lost consciousness.

“What is your mission? Who commands your organization?” Xiao Ye asked coldly, his gaze fixed on the red-haired man.

“No, no, no.” The man smiled, shaking his head. “Now is not the time for you to ask questions. Listen to what I have to say next.”

Xiao Ye squinted at the man, assessing his strength.

“Welcome to this island. My name is Red Ghost, and I am here to greet you. I know you and your companions must have many questions, but that doesn’t matter. Clearly, the man in my hands is important to you. If you can defeat me, I’ll tell you everything.”

Red Ghost laughed, and for a moment Xiao Ye felt unable to see through him.

“I didn’t come here to interrogate you,” Xiao Ye replied, shaking his head. “I’m here for a transaction. I have what you want—the Nether Fruit. All I want is the man you hold; nothing else concerns me.” He produced the item he had prepared and addressed Red Ghost.

“I don’t think you understand the seriousness of the situation. What you hold is not the Nether Fruit. Are you really not curious about any of these matters?” Red Ghost drew a pistol from his waist and pressed it to Doctor Xue’s forehead, laughing wildly at Xiao Ye.

Indeed, Xiao Ye did not have the Nether Fruit—he had fashioned a simple apple to deceive the man, hoping to spirit Doctor Xue away. Unexpectedly, Red Ghost saw through the ruse at once and threatened Xiao Ye, promising to blow Doctor Xue’s brains out unless he agreed to the contest.

“Alright, I’ll play your game,” Xiao Ye said after a moment’s thought, acquiescing to Red Ghost’s demands.

“You may not understand the rules of this game,” Red Ghost replied, smiling. “Though I’m here to receive you, I’m not the one you’ll be fighting. Follow me.” He handed Doctor Xue over to the two men at his side and gestured for Xiao Ye to enter the base.

Xiao Ye snorted coldly, eager to see what tricks Red Ghost would try.

Inside the base, aside from the sophisticated equipment, there was a small ring before them, crudely constructed as if assembled only recently.

“This arena was built especially for you. Though it’s not large, it will suffice for you to show your skills,” Red Ghost said. “I’ve prepared ten men for you—don’t worry about being left wanting.” He suddenly broke into a smile, its meaning unclear.

Xiao Ye instantly understood Red Ghost’s intent: this would be a gauntlet, designed to exhaust him. Though he was unsure what Red Ghost’s ultimate goal was, in this situation, he cared for nothing else.

If it was a fight they wanted, he would oblige.

“It doesn’t matter how many men you send, or whether I fight you. I only want to understand your purpose,” Xiao Ye interrupted, his voice icy.

“I admire your confidence and strength. Let’s see if you can maintain your composure,” Red Ghost replied, unconcerned. He licked his teeth, clearly intrigued by Xiao Ye.

Xiao Ye was not wholly unprepared. He hadn’t brought Chilong to the base entrance, intending for him to remain outside and provide support during the fight. It seemed Red Ghost was unaware that Chilong had accompanied Xiao Ye onto the island, and now Red Ghost’s motives were even more mysterious.

Red Ghost whistled sharply, piercing the night and breaking Xiao Ye’s train of thought. From within the base, ten men of varying appearance emerged and assembled behind Red Ghost.

“Very well, enjoy the feast I’ve prepared for you,” Red Ghost declared, stepping aside from the ring.

The ten men glared at Xiao Ye with ferocious, murderous eyes. He knew this was a gauntlet and had no intention of wasting much strength.

He shed his coat, vaulted onto the platform, and the first man, tall and imposing, joined him. Eagerly, the man tore his shirt, revealing bulging muscles; he looked less like a fighter and more like a contestant in a beauty pageant.

Xiao Ye sneered at him, sensing the man was unaware of what awaited.

“I don’t know who you are, but to die by my hand is a privilege,” the man announced.

As soon as the words left his lips, he lunged at Xiao Ye, swinging a fist. His muscles tensed, iron-like and powerful.

But against Xiao Ye, the attack was pitiful. Xiao Ye anticipated the sudden assault, unfazed. Standing with hands behind his back, he shifted his body at the last moment, evading the blow.

The man’s eyes caught only the blur of something moving at phenomenal speed; before he could react, Xiao Ye’s fist struck his heart.

With a single blow, the heart was shattered, ribs splintered, and the man’s chest exploded. His body was thrown across the ring, his eyes filled with disbelief.

One punch from Xiao Ye, and the man died instantly.

Xiao Ye withdrew his fist, exhaled slowly, and said to those behind him, “Next!”

Red Ghost’s pupils dilated in shock. He had not expected Xiao Ye to be so powerful. These ten men were the strongest he could find, yet one had died from a single blow.

Moreover, Xiao Ye seemed to be holding back.

“Next! Get up there and kill him, and you’ll be richly rewarded!” Red Ghost urged.

The second man entered the ring, fiercer than the last—though still no match for Xiao Ye, he at least looked like a proper fighter.

As expected, Xiao Ye dispatched him as well, another instant kill.

Seeing the new corpse on the platform, Red Ghost’s eye twitched, his expression growing darker as he ordered the third man, “Continue!”

Red Ghost had underestimated Xiao Ye. The men he had chosen lacked the strength to even briefly restrain him, let alone kill him; they were merely fodder.

Red Ghost’s face trembled involuntarily. Xiao Ye not only had strength to spare, he had not even broken a sweat after dispatching several opponents.