35: Strive for a Brilliant Future

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Name: Wang Yishan; Gender: Male; Ability Level: A; Danger Level: High!

Upon seeing the titanium eye’s display, Qin Xiaofan’s brow furrowed deeply.

He had already hidden away every ability user above A-class—some thrown into lakes, others buried underground—so where had this man sprung from?

He asked Zhang Liang, and Zhang Liang’s answer left Qin Xiaofan speechless.

It turned out that while Zhang Liang was following the route Qin Xiaofan had designated, he was tripped up halfway. Turning around, he discovered it was a statue’s foot. Driven by curiosity, he dug the statue out and, to his astonishment, it was indeed one with a line at the back of its head.

So, Zhang Liang revived him.

Qin Xiaofan guessed he hadn’t buried the statue deep enough, and the heavy rains a few days ago must have exposed its legs.

What a nuisance!

“Boss, you must stand up for me!” Zhang Liang clung to Qin Xiaofan’s leg, wailing in distress. “After I revived him and explained the situation here, he beat me up and even declared that he’d trample you underfoot as well...”

Not far away, Wang Yishan approached with a swagger, every step exuding arrogance.

“My logic is simple. I’m not opposed to submitting—but you must have the strength to make me yield. I wonder if any of you have heard my name? I am Wang Yishan, the Iron Fist, third place in the Global Tournament!”

At these words, everyone’s eyes went wide.

Xiaoyan stared at Wang Yishan, suddenly recalling something, and said to Qin Xiaofan, “Brother Fan, I remember now! No wonder he looked so familiar—he’s famous, an A-class ability user, third place in the Global Tournament, incredibly powerful…”

Qin Xiaofan was puzzled. “What’s the Global Tournament?”

Xiaoyan grew anxious. “The Global Ability User Tournament! The grandest event on Earth, held every ten years since 2060, gathering the world’s strongest. Wang Yishan was the third-place winner of the twenty-fifth tournament, a household name. His ability: Iron Fist, a one-hundred-percent hit rate—hence the nickname, Iron Fist Wang Yishan!”

Qin Xiaofan was momentarily stunned.

That sounded... incredibly strong.

Was this the end for him?

In the crowd, someone’s eyes darted about before he squeezed forward to declare loudly, “Boss, Wang Yishan may be strong, but I, Zhao Yitian, volunteer to fight for you!”

His passionate tone roused a wave of enthusiasm.

“Boss, I, Ye Chenyang, request to fight!”

“Boss, I, Lu Renjia, request to fight!”

“Boss, I, Gong Juren, request to fight!”

…

In an instant, voices volunteering for battle rose in a tide; whether they were skilled fighters or not, every combat-type ability user stepped forward.

What a display of unity!

Witnessing this, Qin Xiaofan was so moved he nearly wept.

His hard work had not been in vain.

Since they were so full of fighting spirit, he would grant them their wish. With a grand gesture, Qin Xiaofan shouted, “Very well! Go forth!”

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The crowd immediately fell silent...

Almost everyone took a step back in unison, their gazes darting away or lowering their heads, not daring to meet Qin Xiaofan’s eyes.

Qin Xiaofan was utterly dumbfounded by the scene.

Beside him, Xiaoyan’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

What the...

These scoundrels hadn’t expected Qin Xiaofan to actually agree—they’d only shouted to show loyalty, never imagining they’d be chosen. The moment permission was given, their bravado vanished.

Seeing this, Qin Xiaofan’s heart ached with disappointment.

These damned cowards!

“Ha ha ha!” Not far away, Wang Yishan was laughing so hard he clutched his stomach, doubling over in mirth.

He’d truly worried that the lot of them would swarm him—if they had, he’d have been in trouble.

Indeed, all men fear death.

Even with Wang Yishan’s strength, if the whole crowd attacked, there would certainly be casualties in his counterattack—and who could say they wouldn’t be the one crushed by his iron fist?

Everyone was simply trying to survive...

Who would truly throw their life away?

At that moment, as Wang Yishan’s triumphant laughter echoed, Qin Xiaofan’s mood soured further.

Just then, a small, thin figure finally squeezed out of the crowd.

“Boss! I... I, Lu Xiaojin, volunteer to fight!”

He was a boy of seventeen or eighteen, raising his hand as he stood alone before everyone. His voice trembled with timidity, yet he called out bravely all the same.

He looked emaciated, as though he’d suffered long-term malnutrition, his clothes ragged, body filthy—but his eyes shone with startling brightness.

Now, everyone stared at this boy as if he were a fool.

Qin Xiaofan glanced at Lu Xiaojin. The titanium eye showed: only a C-class ability user.

Another braggart?

Qin Xiaofan had little hope, thinking this was just another empty gesture. Still, he waved at Lu Xiaojin. “Alright, go ahead.”

But the next moment, to everyone’s astonishment, as all expected Lu Xiaojin to shrink back, the skinny youth—at the instant Qin Xiaofan finished speaking—charged at Wang Yishan without a hint of hesitation!

Even Wang Yishan was taken aback.

“Is this kid an idiot? Looking for death!”

A fist was unleashed.

Bang!

Lu Xiaojin’s frail body flew backward, crashing hard to the ground and spitting a mouthful of blood.

Qin Xiaofan was stunned.

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Everyone was stunned.

No one had expected such an outcome. Who would have thought Lu Xiaojin would actually dare to charge—didn’t he know he could be killed by Iron Fist Wang Yishan?

On the ground, Lu Xiaojin’s scrawny frame slowly rose.

Blood filled his mouth, but his fighting spirit burned even fiercer.

His ability: the more he bled, the stronger he became, and his injuries healed rapidly.

Without a word, Lu Xiaojin wiped the blood from his lips and charged again—faster than before.

Everyone looked on in disbelief.

Was he truly unafraid of death?

Predictably, Lu Xiaojin was sent flying once more by Wang Yishan’s fist.

This time, half his teeth were smashed out.

He lay on the ground, blood pouring from his mouth—a ghastly sight.

Yet, Lu Xiaojin struggled to his feet again, once more charging without hesitation. Xiaoyan could no longer stand by and wanted to help, but Qin Xiaofan stopped him.

“You little brat, are you really not afraid of dying?” Wang Yishan snarled, and with another casual punch, sent Lu Xiaojin hurtling away.

This time, the scrawny youth did not rise again.

His face was covered in blood; gritting his teeth, he tried several times to stand, but in the end, his strength failed, and he collapsed in a pool of blood.

The gap between C-class and A-class was simply too vast.

Lu Xiaojin hadn’t managed to harm Wang Yishan in the slightest—the fight was over.

Qin Xiaofan flashed to Lu Xiaojin’s side.

He crouched down, gazing into the battered, bloodshot eyes of the boy. After a long silence, he finally spoke. “I don’t believe anyone would be foolish enough to die for someone else. Now, give me a reason to believe you’re not a fool.”

From the pool of blood, the boy’s lips moved.

Then came his feeble, barely audible voice: “Boss, I’m not a fool, not at all. I’m smarter than all of them. I just... just want a brilliant future...”

Qin Xiaofan was taken aback.

Then, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Looking at the youth before him, he slowly stood and spoke in a gentle voice:

“Lu Xiaojin, remember the choice you made today. Trust me, in the days to come, you will be proud of what you chose today.”

With that, he turned to face Wang Yishan, lightning flickering in his eyes.

“Now, leave the rest to me.”