Evan Lin's gaze was indifferent as he swept his eyes around, taking in the scene.
"Don't get too cocky!"
On the platform, a rugged-looking man whose forearms were thicker than his thighs—and whose whole appearance seemed oddly mismatched—glared coldly at Evan Lin: "Don't think killing Wild Monkey means anything."
"That guy's foundation was unstable, he just fell for your trick! Since you're so confident, let me, 'Arm-Swing Tiger' Jack Jiang, teach you a lesson!"
Jack Jiang stepped forward, his fists were so large they dwarfed an average person's head.
Just standing there, he radiated a sense of raw power.
"Arm-Swing Tiger is stepping up! He's been training his arm strength since childhood—they say he once strangled a brown bear to death with his arms!" someone in the crowd exclaimed as Jack Jiang took the stage.
"Jack, that's not fair. I never liked Wild Monkey either, but this time we've got an outsider killing one of Sunrise City's own. I, Ian Yan, want a crack at him too!"
'Iron Fist' Ian Yan!
The former champion of Sunrise City's Underground Boxing King Tournament!
With his iron fists, he carved out his own territory—his reputation in Sunrise City was legendary. He once killed a Thai boxing king with his bare hands, smashing the expert's arm to pieces punch for punch!
"If you two are stepping out, I can't fall behind."
Another man emerged from the crowd.
He looked lazy, his eyelids drooping as he sized up Evan Lin: "'Overlord Leg' Victor Chen. Pleased to meet you."
Arm-Swing Tiger Jack Jiang, Iron Fist Ian Yan, Overlord Leg Victor Chen!
All three stepped forward at once.
"This kid's pissed off everyone! Those three are Sunrise City's top fighters—they've never teamed up before."
"Exactly! You can tell he's an outsider. He came up and killed Wild Monkey—he's basically slapped Sunrise City in the face. As local-born experts, of course they can't stand him."
"Man, he's in trouble now. Jack Jiang specializes in upper-body attacks, Ian Yan in the midsection, and Victor Chen in lower-body kicks. They've got all bases covered—doesn't look good for that kid."
Seeing the three step out, the other hesitant contestants on the platform quickly followed suit, one after another.
"Count me in! That kid's way too arrogant!"
"Me too! I want to see what makes him think we should all attack together!"
"Damn, where'd this punk come from? So cocky at his age! I ought to teach him some manners on behalf of his parents!"
The platform was in an uproar—Evan Lin's earlier comment had thoroughly infuriated everyone.
Do you want to come at me together?
Those six words made it clear he didn't take anyone on the platform seriously!
"Should we... stop this?"
Derrick Ding saw the situation turning ugly and glanced at Old Madam Ding.
This year's Underground Boxing King Tournament was supposed to pick fifteen survivors, then move to one-on-one eliminations to decide the strongest.
But now it looked like the boy might lose to a group attack before that stage.
It did seem a bit unfair.
Old Madam Ding glanced at Elder Mark Mu, then at the cold-faced Zane Zhen, and after a brief pause, shook her head: "Let it continue. If he loses, he loses. For someone so young to defeat Wild Monkey in one move shows talent, but if he gets beaten by a group, that's his own choice."
"It's good for the young to be bold, but if they're too bold, it's a problem."
Old Madam Ding spoke calmly, her pace slow and deliberate.
Evan Lin's single-handed defeat of Wild Monkey had made Old Madam Ding appreciate his talent, but if it meant offending Medicine King Valley, she'd never allow it.
Zane Zhen clearly held a grudge against the boy.
"If that's how it is, then there's nothing more to be done."
Old Madam Ding quickly made up her mind.
After meeting Zane Zhen, she was even more determined to see him win and marry Wendy Ding—then Medicine King Valley and the Ding family would be united.
On the platform, everyone stared at Evan Lin, eyes full of murderous intent.
"So many people?" Shawn Shi's expression changed slightly.
The atmosphere on the platform was heavy.
Everyone up there was at least late-stage Outer Strength, with some at late-stage Inner Strength.
A group attack from so many would be no joke.
"Hahaha, that idiot pissed off everyone! Looks like he won't even last until my uncle gets here—he's gonna get killed right now!"
"Serves him right!"
Carter Cheng gritted his teeth, his face swollen like a pig's.
Ruby Ding, sitting nearby, looked satisfied: "Serves him right, being so arrogant at his age."
"Wait! This isn't fair!"
A trembling voice called out from the edge of the crowd.
"Hm?"
Derrick Ding frowned, and everyone turned to look.
There stood a pale-faced girl.
She looked frightened, her voice trembling as she spoke up.
Ding Xiaoyin had just entered and seen Wild Monkey's head separated from his body by Evan Lin's hand.
Now, seeing the crowd about to gang up on Evan Lin, she remembered that night in the car—the cold-faced youth who drew his blade for her—and couldn't hold back any longer.
"Xiaoyin! You should be outside greeting guests! This isn't the place for you to speak!" Derrick Ding snapped, his voice cold and full of displeasure.
"Xiaoyin, once a fighter steps onto the high platform, life and death are up to fate. That's always been the rule of the Ding family's Underground Boxing King Tournament—you should know that." Old Madam Ding's gaze was indifferent as she looked at Xiaoyin, her tone icy.
Old Madam Ding usually pitied Xiaoyin a bit, so she treated her slightly better at home.
But compared to that, Old Madam Ding would always choose Medicine King Valley—family interests came first, and Xiaoyin's protest only embarrassed the Ding clan.
Her tone grew even colder.
"But... this isn't fair!" Xiaoyin bit her lip, finally finding some strength after years of meekness: "Great-grandma, didn't you always say the tournament is to find the strongest person willing to fight for honor and the future?"
"But even the strongest can't beat so many at once!"
Xiaoyin kept shouting, turning to look at Evan Lin on the platform—only to see him glance at her briefly, then look away, his profile cold and sharp as a blade.
As if he'd never met her before.
It left Xiaoyin with a quiet sense of loss.