Chapter 77: I’ll Give It a Try, So What?

Chapter 77: Chapter 77: I’ll Give It a Try, So What?

Li Ran actually sensed danger from Cui Biao’s punch. His face fell; he no longer dared to be complacent. He dodged frantically, but he was a step too slow. Though he avoided a fatal blow to the chest, Cui Biao’s fist still slammed into his shoulder.

With an explosive THUD, Li Ran let out a muffled grunt. He staggered backward a good five or six steps before collapsing onto the floor, his face a deathly pale.

Cui Biao looked at Li Ran and chuckled. "Might as well tell you, I’m a Grand Martial Master too!"

"You... how did you become a Grand Martial Master...?" Li Ran scrambled up from the floor, staring at Cui Biao and exclaiming in astonishment.

Cui Biao chuckled. "If you can become a Grand Martial Master, why can’t I?"

Li Ran’s expression turned icy as he stared at Cui Biao. "You dare attack me, Cui Biao? Have you considered the consequences for when I get back?"

Cui Biao looked at Li Ran and laughed. "Li Ran, now that I’ve already made my move, do you really think I’d let you leave? You’ll just turn up dead, a ’mysterious death’ on the Nanjiang River. No one will ever trace it back to me. Tell me, what could even your old man do to me then?"

Li Ran stared back at Cui Biao and laughed as well. "Kill me? You think you’re worthy?"

Cui Biao returned his gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. "Worthy or not, I think I’ll give it a try!"

With that, he began to advance on Li Ran, one step at a time.

Just then, a sigh echoed from the sofa. "So I’m just invisible to you all, is that it?"

As the voice faded, the old man on the sofa slowly rose to his feet. He supported himself with a crutch under his left arm, clearly a cripple.

Cui Biao turned to face the cripple. "A gimp like you," he said coldly. "What makes you think you have the right to speak here?"

But the words had barely left his lips when recognition dawned, and he couldn’t help but gasp, "The Cripple! You’re *the* Cripple, one of the six great masters of Jiangcheng!"

In the next instant, the color drained from his face.

The Cripple. Ranked third on the Nanjun Masters’ List. He was a peak Grand Martial Master with a formidable fighting style, wielding a crutch of refined steel. In all of Jiangcheng, he was virtually invincible, save for the two masters ranked above him.

’My own power has grown,’ Cui Biao thought, ’but I’m not so arrogant as to think I could ever match the Cripple.’ Seeing this monster approach, his heart seized in his chest.

At that moment, Li Ran looked at Cui Biao and sneered. "I came prepared to deal with Ye Feng today, so of course I wouldn’t come unprepared. I just didn’t expect you to stumble right into my trap, and even dare to attack me. Too bad for you. Today, you’re not leaving this place."

With that, he turned to the Cripple and snorted. "Master, do it. Waste him. If he ends up dead, I’ll take full responsibility."

"Leave it to me." The Cripple nodded as soon as Li Ran finished speaking, then started toward Cui Biao, leaning on his crutch.

Cui Biao watched helplessly as the crutch tapped against the ground. The solid concrete floor spiderwebbed with cracks under the impact. It was terrifying to imagine the force behind each strike.

’If that thing hit someone’s head...’

Cui Biao didn’t dare to complete the thought. He knew he was in for the fight of his life. If he could survive this, he would live. If not, then this day next year would be his death anniversary.

He snatched a nearby machete and assumed a fighting stance.

By now, the Cripple had reached Cui Biao. He shot Cui Biao a disdainful look, chuckled, and then abruptly swung his crutch up and brought it crashing down on him.

Cui Biao put everything he had into a powerful swing of his machete, aiming to intercept the crutch. "Break!" he roared.

A deafening CRACK echoed through the room. Shen Qing watched in horror as Cui Biao’s twenty-pound machete was sent flying by the Cripple’s blow. It soared upward until it embedded itself in the ceiling with a dull THUNK, the blade quivering from the impact.

As for Cui Biao, the immense force sent him staggering back five or six steps before he could regain his footing. Shen Qing saw that the webbing of Cui Biao’s hand had been split open and was bleeding profusely, both his arms trembling uncontrollably.

A single blow had completely neutralized Cui Biao.

The Cripple looked at Cui Biao and chuckled. "Someone like you thought you could fight me? You’re not worthy. Now, allow me to send you on your way."

With that, he stalked toward Cui Biao. He crossed the distance in just three steps, arriving before him in an instant. He raised his crutch, ready to bring it down.

Cui Biao had nowhere to run. He sighed to himself. ’Looks like this is it. This is where I die.’

But just as the final blow was about to fall, a calm voice drifted in from the doorway. "Touching my people? I don’t think I gave you permission."

As the voice faded, a man in a suit strolled into the room, his hands casually tucked into his trouser pockets.

It was Ye Feng.

The Cripple froze, his crutch stopping mid-swing. He stared at Ye Feng, his eyes like ice.

Shen Qing saw Ye Feng and rushed over to him, shaking her head. "Ye Feng, I never imagined Li Ran would even bring in the Cripple from Jiangcheng’s list of masters! Even Master San was defeated. You have to go, now! You’ll be in danger if you stay here."

"Haha..." Li Ran burst into wild laughter the moment Shen Qing finished speaking. "Now that I’ve lured him here, how could I possibly let him leave?"

He walked up to Ye Feng and sneered. "You bastard. Last time at the Chunjiang Restaurant, you had Yuan Long’s son, Yuan Hao, to back you up. You really put on a show, acted all high and mighty. You were so damn arrogant!"

"But Yuan Hao isn’t here to protect you today, is he? So go on, act tough for me now! Try being so arrogant again! You don’t have the guts, do you? Haha..."

But his laughter had barely faded when Ye Feng’s right hand shot up and delivered a resounding slap across his face. With a sharp SMACK, one side of Li Ran’s face instantly swelled up.

Ye Feng looked at Li Ran with a beaming smile. "I tried. So what?"

The slap stunned everyone in the room into silence.

’Everyone knew the Cripple was backing Li Ran, yet Ye Feng still dared to strike him. This guy... he’s got some serious nerve!’

Even Li Ran himself was stunned. He clutched his cheek, staring dumbly at Ye Feng, scarcely able to believe his own eyes. But he recovered quickly. His face turned livid as he glared at Ye Feng.

"You bastard! You still dare to hit me? Since you’re so determined to die, I’ll be happy to oblige!"

He whirled around to face the Cripple, grinding his teeth. "Master, do it! Get him! If he ends up dead, I’ll take full responsibility!"

The Cripple nodded and took a single step forward. In the next instant, he appeared before Ye Feng like a phantom. His crutch descended like a bolt of lightning, aimed squarely at Ye Feng’s head.