When Siao Jia heard this voice, she was so terrified her soul nearly fled her body. It was familiar. Extremely familiar. It was Xu Ke's voice.

A moment later, Xu Ke stepped out from behind Wong Qifu. He looked at the four of them and smiled. "Surprised to see me?"

The color drained from their faces as everyone's eyes widened in unison. Shock and disbelief surged through their hearts. How could this be?! That knife had clearly pierced through Xu Ke's heart!

"You... you... you can't be alive!" Ye Chen roared, thoroughly agitated. His previously graceful composure had vanished completely. He couldn't accept that Xu Ke was still alive! It meant he had toiled all night for nothing, only to end up bound and captured himself. He was the sole loser tonight!

"And why not?" Xu Ke said, approaching the four of them with a small knife in hand. A cold smile touched his lips. "I'm just too lucky to die. Any problem with that?"

As Xu Ke appeared, Wang Wu immediately moved to follow him, determined to stay by his side and protect him. Wong Qifu, for her part, remained silent. She trusted Xu Ke to handle what came next on his own.

"Then how did you recover so quickly?" Song Zhong suddenly shouted. "You're not Xu Ke! Who are you?" Even if that knife didn't kill him, the leg we broke tonight should have left him crippled. How could the man standing before us, so full of life, possibly be Xu Ke?

"Me?" Xu Ke walked up to the four captives. "I'm your daddy," he said coolly.

Song Zhong glared daggers at Xu Ke. With my True Qi, I can break these tight ropes. That was the source of my confidence when I was thinking about escaping. I really want to break free and punch this bastard, who's only acting so high and mighty because he has Wong Qifu's backing. But just behind Xu Ke, Wang Wu was staring at him, his face an emotionless mask. I don't dare.

"Why are you still alive?" Ye Chen asked, his face grim. From Xu Ke's tone, he could tell it was the very same man who had cursed him out earlier tonight. But he didn't understand. Why is he still alive?

Xu Ke offered no further explanation. Instead, he stood and said, "Now, I'm going to give you all a chance. It's simple. Here's a knife. I'll untie you, and the last one standing gets to walk out of here." He smiled. "Perfectly fair. Uncle Wu can be the witness; he won't interfere with your duel."

At his words, the corners of Wong Qifu's mouth curled into a slight smile. The four captives, however, turned pale with shock, especially Siao Jia. How could I possibly survive a duel like this?

Huang Qi was the first to object. "No! I don't agree! Ye Chen has his guard, and I can't beat Song Zhong. I'll definitely die!"

Xu Ke looked at him. "Young Master Huang, hold on. The Ye Family at least bothered to call. I'm giving them this chance out of respect for the Ye Family Head. As for you... the Huang Family has already given you up. You don't deserve the right to live."

Huang Qi's chest tightened, and he was so incensed he nearly coughed up blood. I won't let Huang Qi join this duel, Xu Ke thought. He's still useful. He can die later. He had only said those words to antagonize the man.

Xu Ke stood and walked over to Huang Qi. "Come on. Since you're going to die anyway, let me at least collect some interest first."

"What?" Huang Qi was taken aback. Interest? What interest?!

The next thing he knew, his vision went black. Xu Ke's fist descended with a wildly overpowering force. Seeing the sheer power that erupted from Xu Ke, the expressions of both Song Zhong and Wang Wu changed drastically.

BANG!

Huang Qi's head smashed violently against the wall, and blood gushed from the wound. He was knocked unconscious instantly.

A slight smile touched Xu Ke's lips. Huang Qi had knocked him out in the alley earlier; now, it was time to return the favor. When it came to settling scores, turnabout was fair play.

A chill shot through Ye Chen's bones at the sight.

"Alright," Xu Ke said, turning to the remaining three, a smile on his face that didn't reach his eyes. "Do you want to play this game?" To truly destroy a person, you must first crush their spirit. Xu Ke planned to show them one last glimmer of hope before extinguishing them completely.

"What if you go back on your word?" Ye Chen asked, his expression souring. I have a way to win this game. Siao Jia is a non-issue, and Song Zhong's family is still in the hands of the Ye Family... But if Xu Ke reneges on his promise, I'm just a fish on the chopping block, completely helpless.

"If I promise to let the winner go, I will let them go," Xu Ke said, his smile icy. "You can choose to participate, or you can choose not to. Those are your only two options. Pick one."

Ye Chen felt as sick as if he'd just swallowed feces. This was utterly vile.

After a long, agonizing pause, Ye Chen finally lowered his head. "I'll join."

Seeing Ye Chen submit, Song Zhong's face turned ashen as he squeezed out the same words. "I'll join."

Xu Ke walked over to Siao Jia. He saw the mix of fear and venom in her eyes as he reached out and pulled the cloth gag from her mouth. "What about you? Will you join?"

"Xu Ke, you bastard!" she screamed in terror.

Knowing she was doomed, Siao Jia finally broke down. How could I possibly survive this game?

"Will you join?" Xu Ke repeated.

"Are you just toying with us?" Siao Jia shrieked. "You'll never let us escape alive! You're a devil! A demon!"

Her body trembled uncontrollably, seized by a despair that seeped deep into her very marrow. For Ye Chen, this survival game offered a glimmer of hope, but for Siao Jia, there wasn't the slightest chance of survival. Every moment she remained alive was saturated with the terror of her impending death. The fear was a noose slowly tightening around her neck, choking her, leaving her with no way out. It was even more horrifying than being killed outright.

Then, Siao Jia's eyes landed on Wong Qifu in the distance, and she screamed with venomous spite, "Xu Ke, I knew it! You're having an affair with this old hag, and now you're torturing me with her!

"So you betrayed me from the very beginning! You're scum! You'll die a horrible death!"

She was babbling nonsense, driven by utter fear.

Xu Ke's gaze turned icy. "Say one more word. I dare you." His voice carried a killing intent so terrifying it chilled a person to the bone.

Song Zhong's expression shifted. What's going on? Why has Xu Ke become a completely different person since his suicide attempt? And that eruption of True Qi when he knocked out Huang Qi... Impossible!

Siao Jia froze, instinctively terrified by Xu Ke's chilling glare. He raised his hand, ready to strike. She can curse me, but she cannot curse Wong Qifu.

Just then—

"Xu Ke, wait," Wong Qifu suddenly said.

He turned his head. "What is it?"

Wong Qifu walked over to stand beside him. She looked down at Siao Jia's swollen, battered face and said coolly, "Let me."

Xu Ke was taken aback, and Siao Jia's face went pale.

Wong Qifu raised her hand.

SLAP!

A crisp, decisive slap echoed through the room.

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