Long Yu sprinted through the torrential rain, running while recollecting the recently concluded duel.
From the moment he met Wu Li, every word spoken, every technique exchanged, passed swiftly through his mind.
"The problem was with that ’Five Mountains Suppress the Sea’ technique," Long Yu quickly concluded. Until that point, the duel had posed no issues; he had always been in control. The crux lay in the fact that after he executed ’Five Mountains Suppress the Sea’, Wu Li’s counter was too targeted!
His ’Fist Intent’ and the techniques he used were precisely the counters to Long Yu’s ’Five Mountains Suppress the Sea,’ which impacted the momentum of his Fist Intent, causing the shift from active to passive and granting Wu Li the opportunity to counterattack.
"He couldn’t possibly have predicted that I would use ’Five Mountains Suppress the Sea,’" Long Yu murmured to himself, "So, luck?"
There was no doubt that Long Yu had lost the duel, and now he had concluded that Wu Li had simply been luckier.
Although Wu Li’s realm and strength were inferior, he had still managed to turn defeat into victory, and even if luck had played a part, Long Yu acknowledged Wu Li’s strength.
Up ahead, a group of people approached with upright postures and agile steps, all clearly skilled martial artists.
They greeted Long Yu as they reached him.
He nodded indifferently, "Let’s go."
Someone came forward to hold an umbrella for Long Yu, while the rest also took out their own.
The group walked down a street to where seven or eight cars were parked, entering and starting the vehicles before driving away.
"Dragon King," said the driver of the car Long Yu was in, hesitating before asking, "How is Wu Li?"
These people had hidden in the outskirts to avoid detection by Victor’s group, so they were unaware of the outcome of the duel.
Long Yu’s mouth twitched slightly, his expression somewhat unnatural.
He had confidently claimed he would kill Wu Li, but not only had he failed to do so, he had almost lost his own life to him, which made him feel slightly embarrassed.
"I didn’t catch him; ’Le Yuan’s’ people are probably chasing him now," Long Yu said with composure.
The driver thought for a moment, then asked, "Aren’t we going to intervene?"
"This is not Los Angeles after all," Long Yu shook his head, "Let the ’Le Yuan’ people fuss."
While driving, the driver inquired, "Dragon King, if even you couldn’t detain Wu Li, he might become a significant threat if he survives this ordeal."
Long Yu, hearing this, showed no concern but rather flashed a hint of excitement, "If he survives tonight, I’ll find another chance to kill him!"
The driver nodded, not doubting Long Yu’s capabilities.
"Even if Wu Li survives tonight, he won’t be able to make a move for at least six months."
Long Yu added, confident in his understanding of the human body and realms, even without practicing Wu Li’s ’Transformation of Peng’ or ’Giant Python Swallowing Pill.’ He could estimate the enormous toll on Wu Li using these two techniques simultaneously. That’s why he said, for the next half year, Wu Li wouldn’t dream of entering combat.
The driver spoke up, "Then our next step could be to take care of Li San."
Long Yu nodded slightly and closed his eyes to rest in the car.
"Team three, four dead, two seriously injured, target lost."
"Team four, three dead, one seriously injured, target lost."
"Team two, one dead, one seriously injured, target lost."
Inside the building, the radio continuously broadcasted voices as the teams took turns reporting their status.
Victor listened to the reports in silence, his face as cold as frost.
His colleagues beside him were quiet as church mice, afraid to make a sound that might provoke Victor’s wrath.
"Shall we continue the pursuit?" came the inquiry from the other end of the radio after a moment.
Victor remained silent, and the room was filled with silence.
"Victor..." his companion asked cautiously.
Victor picked up the communicator, his tone ice-cold, "All squads clean up and evacuate immediately."
"Team Three received."
Victor closed his eyes and stood still like a statue. Several minutes later, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Victor," came a magnetic voice from the other end.
Just hearing this voice made Victor’s expression involuntarily become respectful, while his companion stood erect, eyes fervently fixed on the cell phone in Victor’s hand.
"Boss, we have failed."
"Tell me what happened," the voice on the phone demanded without hesitation or any sign of emotional fluctuation.
Victor said, "Wu Li fought against Long Yu. Initially, he was at a disadvantage, then he used a blood-stimulating technique that suddenly burst forth, briefly overpowering Long Yu. Then he abandoned the chance to defeat Long Yu and turned to flee."
"I ordered the capture of Wu Li, but he killed several team members and ultimately escaped."
"It’s pouring rain here; Wu Li won’t leave many traces, and we’ve suffered too many casualties, so I ordered a retreat."
Victor reported the facts clinically, without injecting any personal emotion.
"What about Long Yu?" the boss on the phone asked.
Victor replied, "Long Yu was prepared in advance, anticipating our arrangements. He brought people with him, lying in wait on the outer ring. He’s in good physical condition and had someone to extract him, so I didn’t pursue him, focusing instead on capturing Wu Li."
"Alright, come back."
With that, the boss hung up the phone.
Victor’s back was drenched in sweat. He knew that although the boss hadn’t said anything reproachful, he was already dissatisfied with him.
"Let’s go, head back," Victor said to his companion.
New York, the rain was pouring down.
Wu Li ran into a building, completely drenched by the rain, water dripping off him as he made wet footprints with every step towards a direction.
The surging of his blood began to slow down, the strength in his body ebbing away like a tide, his internal organs felt as if they were being torn apart; intense pain started to hit him, his limbs going weak, his consciousness beginning to blur...
Wu Li had broken through the gunmen’s encirclement in less than a minute, then ran with all his might in the heavy rain for over two minutes, and, through sheer willpower and his last breath, made it to this building.
This place was an underground fight club of the Hongmen Zhiyuan Hall; Wu Li had once saved Li San outside this very building, so the place was deeply etched in his memory.
Fortunately, this location wasn’t too far from where Wu Li had fought.
There was a private elevator ahead, and a Chinese man was standing outside it, with a noticeable bulge at his waist—a clear sign he was armed.
As Wu Li walked by, looking unsteady, the man reached out to block his path and said in English, "Friend, this elevator is out of service."
"Contact Liuyeh for me; my name is Wu Li," Wu Li said, summoning the last of his strength.
The man looked surprised for a moment, taking a careful look at Wu Li’s appearance.
"Please wait a moment," the man changed to Chinese this time.
Wu Li let out a breath, his body going limp, uncontrollably falling forward.
Just before losing consciousness, Wu Li instinctively glanced at the system message he’d received:
[Received recognition from a Master Level Boxing Grandmaster; serial task ’Master’s Name’ completed 10/10]
[Task Reward: Three Emperors Cannon Fist promoted to Master Level]
[Note, ’Master’s Name’ task fully completed, and one Grandmaster Level recognition obtained, the task is completed above expectations]
[Reward has been distributed]