Two days later.
Derrick Ding stood outside Magnolia Manor, hands behind his back, watching the steady stream of arrivals with a slightly distracted expression.
He was the nominal head of the Ding family, and in others’ eyes, Derrick belonged to the true doers.
Ever since the Ding family matriarch stepped down in recent years, the clan’s power had grown steadily under Derrick’s leadership.
Not only had their ties with Medicine King Valley deepened, but the Ding family’s younger generation had also made great strides in strength.
Everything seemed to be thriving for the Ding family—except for the ancestral evil ghost, which had suddenly resurfaced, now hanging over them like a sword of Damocles, ready to strike at any moment.
Just a few days ago, the mysterious death of the third Ding young master left the whole family uneasy.
This Underground Boxing King Tournament wasn’t just about recruiting the strongest fighters into the Ding clan—it was also a precaution against the troubles looming ahead.
Not far away, Yinnie stood humbly by the gate, greeting guests. The whole Ding family looked down on this fatherless branch girl, dumping all the unpleasant chores on her.
A short distance away, an Audi pulled up and stopped.
Ruby Ding stepped out of the car arm-in-arm with Carter Cheng.
"Carter!"
Seeing Carter, Yinnie's eyes instantly reddened and she ran over, only to be ruthlessly shoved to the ground by Ruby. "Move aside, Yinnie. You're on greeter duty today. The family cares a lot about this tournament, so consider this your one chance to shine. You’d better cherish it, get it?"
"You—"
Yvonne glared angrily, wanting to say something.
"Enough, Yinnie. Let me spell it out for you: I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole. The Cheng family is a big deal in Sunrise City—we don't mix with Ding side-branches like you. So stop acting like a toad lusting after swan meat."
Carter sneered, his words biting and razor-sharp.
The onlookers saw Yvonne sitting on the ground, eyes red, and burst into laughter, treating her like a joke.
The onlookers saw Yinnie sitting on the ground, eyes red, and burst into laughter, treating her like a walking punchline.
A woman in a black short skirt walked in from outside. She was stunningly beautiful, her eyes flirtatious, her figure graceful, every step exuding allure.
She was like a delicate flower, her gaze drifting over each person. The moment she appeared, all eyes were drawn to her.
"That's Wendy Ding!"
"She really deserves to be called Sunrise City's number one beauty. Damn, that figure, that aura—absolutely stunning!"
"What do you know? Her features are natural. She's not just Sunrise City's top beauty—she could easily compete for number one in all of Seacrest Prefecture!"
A few burly men nearby stared openly at Wendy, not bothering to hide their thoughts.
The moment Wendy appeared, Carter Cheng’s gaze immediately shifted to her, his face breaking into a wide smile. "Wendy, you’re here."
"Of course I’m here. Isn’t this tournament full of people who came just for me? Hmm?"
Wendy let out a light laugh, her face gentle and beautiful, her gaze sweeping the room like a hundred flowers blooming at once.
"I’ve long heard that Miss Wendy Ding is unmatched in her beauty. Seeing her today, she truly is extraordinary! Haha."
"No kidding! Compared to her, even the family’s magic artifact isn’t as captivating!"
As soon as Wendy looked their way, everyone broke into smiles.
They were all contestants in this tournament. After three days of selection, there were still a hundred and twenty people at the late stage of force training—a testament to the tournament's appeal.
"Thank you, big brothers, for thinking so highly of me. If any of you wins first place, I hope you’ll treat me well in the future." Wendy’s voice was sweet and soft, every word tugging at their hearts.
Yet deep in her gentle eyes, there was always a trace of coldness and faint disdain.
"Absolutely! Hahaha!"
The atmosphere grew heated with Wendy’s arrival.
She walked gracefully into Magnolia Manor, not sparing a single glance at Yvonne Ding on the ground.
The crowd followed Wendy into the manor.
Yinnie looked disheveled. Derrick Ding saw this, his face cold as he spoke: "Yinnie, not everyone has arrived yet. Stay outside and greet the guests. Don't stand there sniveling and ruining the family's image."
With that, Derrick ignored Yvonne and turned to enter the manor.
Yinnie's face went ghostly pale, her thoughts swirling in a daze. Suddenly, she remembered that night—a mysterious youth behind the wheel of a black car, killing with a single stroke, vanishing into the darkness. A yearning rose up inside her, sharp and strange.
If only—just once—someone would draw a blade for me...
Yvonne’s mood sank lower.
Soon, luxury cars gathered at the gate, and people kept arriving.
This was a grand event for the Ding family—and for all of Leighton City.
Whoever won this battle—even some mountain nobody—could leap straight to the top, like a carp jumping over the dragon gate.*
*Footnote: In Chinese culture, 'carp jumping over the dragon gate' means someone achieving sudden and dramatic success against the odds.
Even those who didn’t place well, if they showed enough skill and caught someone’s eye, could still earn a bright future.
Spectators came for the excitement; fighters had their own schemes.
Time flowed by, minute after minute.
Until three figures appeared at the gate.
Evan Lin wore a baseball cap and carried a backpack. He didn’t show any sharpness, but his presence felt perfectly natural and imposing.
Especially those pitch-black eyes—deeper than ever. To others, they looked like a spring whose source could never be found.
"Sir, this is the place."
Shawn Shi introduced Evan Lin to the entrance.
The preliminary rounds had been held outside Magnolia Manor, but the main entrance was on the other side.
Shawn led Evan here, bowing so low he seemed to want to bury his head in the dirt—like dust. But when he looked at others, his eyes were full of contempt and confidence.
"Mm."
Evan nodded calmly and walked inside.
Shawn handed Evan’s participation token to Yvonne, placing it in her hand.
Yinnie stood alone at the door, her mind a tangled mess. As she accepted the token, a strange feeling welled up inside her. She jerked her head up and caught sight of a cold, indifferent face—one that felt achingly familiar.
It looked familiar—like the one who drove that night, and even more like the youth who killed with a single knife, never stained by blood, backpack slung over his shoulder.
"You—"
Yinnie trembled, eyes flickering with recognition. But before she could get the words out, the youth had already turned away, leaving only his solitary, distant back disappearing into Magnolia Manor.
At first glance, he seemed thin; then, increasingly calm and desolate; finally, like a sheathed blade whose true edge was hidden.
Though only a few meters apart, no matter how she looked, it felt like the distance spanned the ends of the earth.