"We are sending Ah Huo to fight, a request he made himself. Because Wang Liu used to be on Ah Huo's old squad, and Ah Huo took great care of Wang Liu back then, Wang Liu's betrayal has made Ah Huo extremely furious. He wants to take this revenge personally," Wu Yuanjia replied.

"Mm, so it’s Ah Huo. I know his strength; there definitely won't be any problems," Liu Hui nodded. He had witnessed Ah Huo’s prowess before. Even if Ah Huo was slightly weaker than Wang Liu previously, with Wang Liu’s strength now greatly diminished, Ah Huo could certainly handle him.

"Boss Liu, we studied the footage of their previous fights and found that Wang Liu's current strength is likely slightly superior to Ah Huo's. Why are you so certain Ah Huo will defeat Wang Liu?" Hu Qingyang asked worriedly from the side.

Their Red Star Syndicate and the United Gang had bet heavily this time; the losing side faced utter ruin. Consequently, there was internal disagreement within the Red Star Syndicate about letting Ah Huo fight Wang Liu, believing Ah Huo was slightly inferior in power. However, Wu Yuanjia insisted on Ah Huo fighting. With the Red Star Syndicate unable to find a stronger expert in time, they reluctantly agreed, though their confidence remained low.

"Boss Hu, rest assured. Trusting me will not be a mistake," Liu Hui said.

Just then, a high-ranking member of the Red Star Syndicate approached and leaned down to speak to Hu Qingyang: "Boss, we received word from our outer betting houses that a large group of people is preparing to place wagers on this underground fight. They are asking if we will accept their bets."

"How much capital do they have, and who are they backing?" Hu Qingyang inquired.

"We hear they have two hundred million in funds, all intended to be placed on Wang Liu of the United Gang to win."

Upon hearing this, Hu Qingyang immediately knew this was the United Gang exerting pressure. Seeing that Wang Liu held the advantage in strength and had a higher chance of winning, the United Gang was flooding the outer markets with large bets, confident in their victory, aiming to maximize their profit. Now, it was a matter of whether the Red Star Syndicate dared to call their bluff.

"Boss Liu, what do you think our odds of winning are?" Hu Qingyang asked.

"If I were you, I would accept every single one of those bets," Liu Hui responded, bypassing the odds discussion and instead urging Hu Qingyang to take the large influx of wagers.

Hu Qingyang considered it for a moment, then stated firmly, "Accept all those bets. We’ve already gambled heavily this time; we won't worry about this small change."

"But..." the high-ranking member looked troubled.

"Boss Hu, if you lose this underground fight, I will personally compensate you for all the losses," Liu Hui said, seeing the subordinate hesitate and instantly understanding his worries.

Hu Qingyang flared up in anger: "Why are you still standing here? Do my words no longer hold weight? You’re letting Boss Liu see a joke!"

The subordinate left, thoroughly chastised and embarrassed, to instruct the outer betting stations to take the opposition's wagers.

At that moment, the door to one of the lounges on the cruise ship opened, and Ah Huo, clad in a red sleeveless shirt and shorts, leaped out. Huang Huali was beside him, explaining some last-minute notes about the match. Seeing Liu Hui seated there, they immediately walked over and called out, "Boss."

Liu Hui observed Ah Huo, radiating murderous intent and brimming with fighting desire. His all-red fight attire suited his moniker perfectly. Nodding with great satisfaction, he said, "Ah Huo, you must understand your mission today: you are to beat Wang Liu to death. We need to send a warning to those who dig at our foundations and those who are ungrateful; our foundations are not to be trifled with."

"Boss, I understand. Between Wang Liu and me, only one is fated to live today," Ah Huo affirmed.

"Ah Huo, don't be nervous. I can assure you, that Wang Liu is nothing but a paper tiger. He is nothing without us. You can dispatch him easily, so he will be the one dying today," Liu Hui chuckled.

"Boss, I believe you," Ah Huo nodded.

"Sit down and rest for a moment, adjust your mood. The boxing match is about to begin," Liu Hui instructed.

Ah Huo sat down next to Liu Hui to compose himself. Soon, the door to another lounge opened, and Wang Liu emerged, wearing a green tank top and shorts. A striking coach was speaking to him beside him.

Wang Liu instantly spotted Liu Hui sitting among the Red Star Syndicate members and felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. Back when he was with Starry Sky Group, he knew this Boss was incredibly formidable; Liu Hui had expanded Starry Sky to its current massive scale in less than half a year, employing formidable tactics. Having betrayed Liu Hui, he naturally felt a pang of fear seeing him. Thus, he avoided Liu Hui’s gaze and found a spot on the United Gang's side to sit sideways.

Wang Liu was, in fact, already beginning to regret his choices. He hadn't been able to resist the temptations of the United Gang, falling into their embrace for the sake of money and women. He had indeed enjoyed a period of excessive luxury, possessing inexhaustible funds and an endless parade of beautiful women—things he had previously only dreamed of. However, after indulging in a period of decadence, he began to feel a sharp decline in his own strength. At first, he attributed it to overindulgence, so he deliberately abstained from women and intensified his training to prepare for this fight. But to Wang Liu’s disappointment, the strength he lost had not only failed to recover but was rapidly draining away. Ironically, Wang Liu’s strenuous efforts to regain his power had instilled supreme confidence throughout the United Gang regarding this match.

Wang Liu noticed his power loss but could not pinpoint the cause. Just as mysteriously as he had gained strength within Starry Sky Security, his power was now vanishing without explanation. The United Gang had placed enormous hopes on him this time, banking on this fight to stage a massive comeback. Therefore, Wang Liu dared not tell Sang Biao about his severe decline in strength, lest Sang Biao eliminate him on the spot.

Wang Liu could only hope his power would suddenly return before the match; otherwise, he was absolutely no match for Ah Huo. But until today, upon arriving at the venue, Wang Liu’s hope finally shattered, because his strength had not inexplicably returned—it was even slightly weaker than yesterday.

The match time was approaching. Several elderly men dressed in black entered the hall. They walked directly toward the row of empty seats situated between the Red Star Syndicate and the United Gang and took their seats.

Seeing that Liu Hui did not recognize them, Hu Qingyang introduced them: "These gentlemen seated in the middle are the seasoned veterans of the underworld who mediate disputes between our two factions, and they also serve as the witnesses for this fight."

Liu Hui nodded slightly and remarked, "Since they are here, the match should begin soon, correct?"

Hu Qingyang confirmed, "Most of the people are here; the fight could start at any moment."

At that moment, the high-ranking member who had stepped out returned and quietly informed Hu Qingyang, "Boss, we have accepted all the external bets."

Hu Qingyang nodded, "Excellent. Now everything is in place; we are just waiting for the east wind. We await the result of their contest."

The elderly men in black seated in the center checked the time, exchanged glances, and nodded. Then, one of the elders tapped a small bronze bell on the table, producing a resonant "Dong, dong" sound. Silence immediately fell over everyone in the hall.

"We old folks have been invited by both the Red Star and the United Gangs to preside over this fight, which is meant to resolve years of conflict between the two parties. I hold here the agreement document, which outlines the stakes placed by both sides for this match. I will not elaborate on the specifics. Now, I ask Boss Hu and Sang Biao to step forward and sign this agreement." The elder who rang the bell spoke loudly.

Hu Qingyang and Sang Biao stepped forward together, each picking up a copy of the agreement to review. Finding the contents identical to what was discussed earlier, they each signed their names, then exchanged the signed documents. Hu Qingyang, Sang Biao, and the witnesses each kept a copy.

"Uncle Kun, honored seniors, we rely on you for this matter," Hu Qingyang said, bowing respectfully to the elders.

Sang Biao merely gave the elders a brief nod, said nothing, and coldly returned to his faction's side.

Hu Qingyang, unperturbed, returned to his seat with a smile, holding his copy of the agreement.

The elder named Uncle Kun, seeing that neither side had objections, stood up and announced loudly, "Since both parties have agreed, I now declare tonight's boxing match officially open. We invite the fighters from both sides to enter the arena."

Huang Huali patted Ah Huo on the shoulder; Ah Huo stood up and strode toward the center of the hall.

"Ah Huo," Liu Hui suddenly called out.

"Boss, do you have any final instructions?" Ah Huo turned back to look at Liu Hui.

"Make it bloody," Liu Hui smiled.

Ah Huo paused for a beat, then laughed, "Boss, I will."

Seeing Ah Huo standing in the center of the hall, brimming with ferocious energy, Wang Liu felt a touch of apprehension. However, given the circumstances, he had no choice but to enter the ring. He began praying that Ah Huo's strength had also diminished significantly, giving him a slim chance of victory. So, Wang Liu stepped onto the platform as well, standing opposite Ah Huo.

The gang members from both sides, seeing the match about to start, surged forward, surrounding the area tightly.

Uncle Kun, seeing both fighters in position, declared, "I now announce the rules of this bout: there are no rules, and there is no referee. The match continues until one party falls unable to move or until someone surrenders. The standing party is the victor. Do you have any objections?"

Ah Huo and Wang Liu both shook their heads.

"Since neither party has objections," Uncle Kun stated, "I now declare the boxing match to commence."

The atmosphere instantly became intensely taut, with everyone in the hall focused on the two figures in the center. Ah Huo stared at Wang Liu, saying nothing, secretly gathering his power. Wang Liu, having reached this point, had also let go of all restraint, intending to carve a bloody path through the fight. He deeply longed for and was unwilling to abandon that life of excess he had experienced.

Ah Huo let out a strange cry and threw a punch aimed straight for Wang Liu’s chest. Although Wang Liu’s power had waned, his eyesight remained keen. He saw the trajectory of Ah Huo’s fist and exerted all his might with both hands to deflect it. However, due to his current lack of strength, even though he managed to bat Ah Huo's punch aside with his hands, the ferocious force accompanying Ah Huo's blow caused Wang Liu’s body to stagger, thwarting his chance to counterattack.

From this first exchange, it was clear that Wang Liu was significantly inferior to Ah Huo in sheer power. The expressions of Sang Biao and the other United Gang executives changed drastically. They had studied the recording of Wang Liu’s previous fights, including one against Xing Jiu Xing Se, knowing Wang Liu was supposed to be stronger than Ah Huo. Seeing Wang Liu at a disadvantage in power during this exchange made their hearts leap into their throats.

Ah Huo instantly confirmed Wang Liu's massive power drop and recalled Liu Hui’s words, instantly boosting his confidence. He threw another simple punch toward Wang Liu’s chest. Knowing his current strength was far less than Ah Huo’s, Wang Liu dared not meet the blow head-on. Instead, he used a pillar in the center of the hall to dodge the strike.

Ah Huo roared, and though the punch missed Wang Liu, due to Ah Huo’s deliberate redirection, it slammed into the pillar. The pillar let out a tremendous crash and was cleaved into two pieces right down the middle, sending splinters flying. If the hall hadn't had other load-bearing beams, this single blow might have caused the entire structure to collapse.

The crowd gasped in shock. They had not anticipated such massive destruction from human physical power alone and gained a clearer understanding of the combatants' strength.

Ah Huo did not pause after shattering the pillar; he threw another punch toward Wang Liu's chest. Having his evasive pillar destroyed, Wang Liu suddenly had nowhere to hide, and Ah Huo’s fist speed was too rapid for him to dodge. He had no choice but to meet Ah Huo’s fierce assault head-on, raising both hands to guard his chest, preparing to absorb the attack.

A sharp crack echoed as Ah Huo’s blow shattered both of Wang Liu’s guarding arms instantly. Wang Liu spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward, almost unable to believe his eyes. This Ah Huo, whose strength hadn't matched his before, had defeated him in just one exchange? Had his own power declined too rapidly, or had Ah Huo’s improved too swiftly?

Ah Huo pressed his advantage without hesitation, following Wang Liu as he retreated. Seeing Ah Huo’s ferocious face closing in, Wang Liu finally felt genuine fear. He considered surrendering; although surrender would bring severe punishment from the United Gang, it was better than immediate death here.

Ah Huo saw Wang Liu’s intention but gave him no chance to speak. He quickly caught up to Wang Liu and, under Wang Liu’s look of sheer terror, delivered a savage punch to his mouth. This blow not only knocked out every tooth but also shattered Wang Liu’s jaw, rendering him instantly speechless.

Wang Liu let out a muffled scream, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood and shattered teeth. With his arms broken, he couldn't even reach his wounds. Combined with the blood coating his face and his drooping arms, Wang Liu’s appearance was terrifying, causing onlookers to suck in sharp breaths.

Ah Huo remembered Liu Hui’s instruction: "Make it bloody." He followed up with a punch to Wang Liu’s nose, which instantly caved into his face. Wang Liu began to weep, but he felt no more pain, as he had already completely lost consciousness. Ah Huo stabilized Wang Liu and then punched him directly in the eye socket. The eye socket immediately split open, and Wang Liu’s eyeball fell onto the ground. Ah Huo stepped down on it, crushing the eyeball. The spectators instinctively touched their own eyes, as if Ah Huo were crushing theirs.

Ah Huo still didn't stop. He lifted the semi-conscious Wang Liu and broke the femur in his thigh with one kick. Wang Liu fell unconscious again, but as Ah Huo broke the bone in Wang Liu’s other leg, he painfully woke up once more.

Ah Huo dropped Wang Liu to the floor and said coldly, "Your abilities were granted by the Company. Without the Company, you would have no strength. Therefore, if you betray the Company, the consequence is beyond your imagination."

Wang Liu was beaten senseless, unable to even register Ah Huo's words. All he knew was excruciating pain, and he thrashed on the floor, hoping to alleviate the agony. Soon, the floor was covered in his flowing blood, the color dazzlingly red.

The United Gang members looked ashen. Wang Liu was clearly defeated, and both sets of his limbs were shattered. This was the real world; Wang Liu would not miraculously get up like a cockroach from a cartoon to unleash terrifying power and obliterate Ah Huo into dust. Their underground fight was lost.

Ah Huo settled into a low stance and began circulating his energy. Then, he unleashed a devastating punch into the hall floor. The entire cruise ship resonated with a deafening boom, and everyone aboard felt a severe tremor. Wang Liu, lying on the floor, was instantly jolted airborne. Ah Huo’s second punch followed rapidly, striking Wang Liu squarely in the chest. Wang Liu didn't even manage a scream; he simply disintegrated into a cloud of bloody mist in mid-air, sending fragments of flesh showering down onto the United Gang members.

As the mist of gore rained down on them, several United Gang members actually bent over and began vomiting. The others stood pale-faced, utterly stunned by the horrific scene, momentarily unable to react.

The few black-clad elders seated in the center also looked somewhat pale. They had presided over countless underground fights in their lives, but nothing as bloody and terrifying as this night.

Hu Qingyang was the first to recover. He suppressed the overwhelming joy in his heart and prompted, "Uncle Kun, honored seniors, should the result of the match be announced now?"

Uncle Kun snapped out of his daze. Being well-traveled in these matters, he conferred briefly with the elders beside him, then stood up and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the victor of this boxing match has been determined. The winning party is the Red Star Syndicate."

The Red Star Syndicate members immediately erupted in loud cheers. Having won this match, their archenemy, the United Gang, was finished. They would no longer need to live in constant fear of surprise attacks from their rivals.

The United Gang members stood like statues, dumbfounded. The match they were certain to win had turned into a devastating defeat—an outcome they simply could not accept. Sang Biao stared blankly for a long moment, then suddenly stood up and shouted, "I protest! This match was a conspiracy! Our United Gang will absolutely not recognize this result!"

Uncle Kun became furious. "Sang Biao, what do you mean by that? This fight was conducted in plain sight, with us old folks as witnesses—where is the conspiracy?"

The elders beside Uncle Kun also stood up angrily, glaring at Sang Biao. Sang Biao questioning the result deeply insulted the honor of these mediators who bore witness.

"You old relics, don't speak if you don't understand the situation! The man just beaten to death, Wang Liu, was originally one of Red Star’s men. So, they were throwing the fight to trick us out of the United Gang’s assets!" Sang Biao yelled.

"Sang Biao, don't be so shameless. Wang Liu was clearly someone you poached from us! He is your man now—what talk is there of throwing the fight? And look at the brutality of the scene—is this how people throw a fight? Are you implying that Uncle Kun and the other seniors are senile and dispensing unfair judgment?" Hu Qingyang retorted fiercely.

Sang Biao, blinded by rage, walked right into the trap. He seized Hu Qingyang's words: "I am indeed implying that these old fossils are senile and dealing out unfair judgment! You are colluding to destroy the United Gang!"