Chapter 331 + 332: The End

"Bold," Xuanwu said coldly, "Please convey the question within five seconds."

"You crazy woman!" Di She felt a sudden panic in his heart, his legs going weak, and the iron ball he had barely lifted fell to the ground. "Hurry, hurry, hurry! Hurry your mother!"

Xuanwu waited quietly outside the door for a few seconds, then reached out and opened it. But her way of opening the door was different from others; she pulled it sideways, and the wooden door was crushed into powder.

"Di She, violation, death."

Xuanwu waved her hand lightly, and all the metal in front of her seemed to have been cut by something, shaking and turning into small cubes that scattered across the floor like beans. However, her force was strong enough that the walls on both sides of Di She's room were also sliced open, allowing Chen Junnan and Xu Qian to see each other.

"Di She, death."

Upon seeing Xuanwu, Di She instantly slumped to the ground.

"Wait a minute!" Di She shouted, "I—I can make the call now! I'll do it right away!"

"Too late."

"Too…?"

Di She gritted his teeth and glared, and before Xuanwu could act, he thrust his palm toward her chest. Xuanwu did not dodge, allowing the hand to pass through her body. Di She felt as if his hand had stabbed into a pile of straw, the sensation empty and disordered. Xuanwu's body was not like ordinary flesh.

"Oh…?" Xuanwu paused slightly, a hint of delight appearing in her eyes, "Do you want to kill me?"

Hearing this, Di She's blood ran cold throughout his body.

"I was wrong! Wrong, wrong!" He yanked his hand back forcefully, "I don't dare to kill you… It was all a misunderstanding…"

"You don't even dare to kill me…"

The delight in Xuanwu's eyes gradually turned to disappointment. She slowly extended her hand into the air and gently clenched it, holding a purplish-red object. Upon closer inspection, it was a throbbing, foul-smelling heart.

"Ah!" Di She clutched his chest and screamed, "You crazy woman! Why won't you let me go?!"

He completely lost his reason and cursed nonstop, "You don't even wear clothes! Do you know what you are? What gives you the right to kill me?!"

"Bold." Xuanwu casually crushed the purple-red heart in her hand, turning it into a spray like fireworks.

Di She gasped in shock, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slowly collapsed to the ground, clutching his chest.

Although Chen Junnan and Xu Qian witnessed this scene, they only stared with wide eyes, not daring to make a sound. Xu Qian even covered her mouth with her hand. This woman named Xuanwu was truly terrifying; her hair hung like clothing over her body, and her icy gaze pierced through the strands, making one's heart crawl with fear. Her method of killing was also unusual—it was neither like enhanced physical strength nor like "Hui Xiang"; it was more like magic.

"Heh… cough, cough…" Di She was not yet dead and kept crawling forward on the ground, "I guess… I'm not completely without gain…"

He inched closer to Xuanwu: "The most feared woman in all of 'Zhongyan Zhidi'… cough, cough… Anyway, I'm dying… I might as well feel… what's so different about you…"

He parted Xuanwu's long hair that reached the ground and reached out to touch her leg. Xuanwu waved her hand lightly, and Di She's entire arm flew off.

"Bold."

Xuanwu extended both hands, her fingers moving as if playing an ancient zither in the air. Di She's body then turned into segments of dismembered limbs, like meat chopped by a chaotic blade. Each section of his body twitched individually before stopping one by one. The notorious Di She, one of the earth-level zodiac, died like livestock at Xuanwu's hands.

"The gamble is over," Xuanwu said softly, "The game is finished."

With a light wave of her hand, the doors to everyone's rooms opened. From most of the rooms, the smashed flesh and blood poured out, forming a horrific river of gore with a foul stench.

"Your 'Dao' is here." Xuanwu reached out again, and forty-eight "Dao" flew from the central podium, lying quietly on the ground. "Di She's corpse and the venue are for you to divide as you wish. Farewell."

The four surviving participants who could still move stepped out: Yan Zhichun, Zhong Zhen, Xu Qian, and Yunyao. They looked around but saw no sign of Xuanwu; she seemed to have already left.

"What about Chen Junnan?!" Yunyao was the first to react and rushed to the next room to check inside. One glance made her gasp in shock. Chen Junnan's entire body was covered in deep wounds from iron spikes, and due to the excessive bleeding, it was hard to tell exactly where the injuries were.

"Chen…"

Yunyao ran to Chen Junnan's side and examined him up and down; his whole body was still bleeding. "You… how did this happen?"

Xu Qian quickly followed.

This was her first time seriously looking at Chen Junnan's face. She had only heard his voice before and thought he must be quite sleazy, but he turned out to be exceptionally handsome.

"Hey… are you dying?" Xu Qian asked.

"Huh? That voice—you're Qian Jie, right?" Chen Junnan forced himself to stand up, "I never expected Qian Jie to be such a beauty… I'm doing just fine, young master. I still have to go back and brag to Lao Qi—how could I die here?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Junnan's body lost control and toppled forward like a falling tree. Yunyao hurriedly reached out to support him. His body felt very light.

Xu Qian started to reach out but quietly pulled back. It seemed this girl beside him and Chen Junnan were a couple; both were strikingly good-looking, so they must be together.

"Big star… let go of me first…" Chen Junnan steadied himself again and pushed Yunyao's hand away, "Young master has stood against the wind since childhood—how can I trouble you…"

"I said, stop pretending." Yunyao said helplessly, "If I don't hold you, you won't even make it back…"

"Young master isn't afraid of death." Chen Junnan laughed, "My condition is really bad. I'll find a nice spot and kick the bucket later. The task of spreading my glorious deeds is up to you…"

"Stop talking nonsense." Yunyao said, "Get up, I'll carry you back."

"You…?" Chen Junnan smiled, "I don't want to tire you out…"

"I've been dancing for ten years; my stamina is better than most. Is there a doctor in your room?" Yunyao draped Chen Junnan's arm over her shoulder, "If we can find a doctor, you might still be saved."

Chen Junnan looked a bit uncomfortable and kept trying to pull his hand back.

"Oh…" Yunyao was amused by Chen Junnan, "Don't get the wrong idea—I don't like guys."

"I… young master knows… but it still feels a bit abrupt…"

As the two were talking, they heard a strange noise from the other side. Xu Qian turned with them to look and saw Zhong Zhen, covered in blood, rushing out and grabbing Yan Zhichun by the neck.

"I'm going," Chen Jun Nan shouted, then pushed Yun Yao and Xu Qian aside and stumbled forward. "Hey! What the hell are you doing!"

But Zhong Zhen seemed completely oblivious to Chen Jun Nan's voice, grinning angrily as he said, "You woman... I've finally got you... Do you remember what I said?"

Yan Zhi Chun kept moving her hands, but she couldn't control any of Zhong Zhen's actions. She never imagined this man could be so ruthless, piercing his own eardrum right there.

Chen Jun Nan reached Zhong Zhen's side in a few quick steps, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hey! Let's talk this out... Let her go first..."

"Get lost!!" Zhong Zhen roared, throwing a punch straight into Chen Jun Nan's chest. Chen Jun Nan was in terrible shape, and he couldn't dodge it at all, getting knocked flat on the ground.

"You bastard..." Chen Jun Nan clutched his chest, gasping for breath after hitting the ground, then slowly got back on his feet. "Looks like I've run into a real thug today, huh?"

Just as he was about to step forward and argue, Yun Yao held him back.

"Huh?" Chen Jun Nan paused. "Big star, step back a bit. If things get ugly, my blood might splatter on your face."

Yun Yao sighed with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "Chen Jun Nan, what do you mean 'your blood'? If you're going to play the hero, at least make the other guy bleed."

"I'm not at my best today—I've been bleeding all over—but don't worry, I won't let that guy off easy."

"It seems like a personal grudge. Do you really need to get involved?" Yun Yao asked.

"I don't care if it's personal or not. They're both still alive, right? The Di She game didn't kill them, so it's a waste to fight over old beef now. Besides, I can't stand watching some big guy beat a woman to death right in front of me."

Yun Yao sensed that Chen Jun Nan had some strange fixation, but since she didn't know his past, she just said, "That woman doesn't seem like an ordinary person. She might even want to kill Zhong Zhen."

"I've already taken the fall for Zhong Zhen's death. That iron ball never hit his head from start to finish. If he'd been smarter, he wouldn't have ended up here." Chen Jun Nan said seriously, "Anyway, that's beside the point. If I see it happening, I have to step in."

"You... fine..." Yun Yao couldn't argue with him and just waved her hand in resignation. "It'd be a hassle if you got yourself killed, so let me handle this."

While Chen Jun Nan looked at her in confusion, Yun Yao picked up a small stone from the ground and tossed it casually.

The stone hit Zhong Zhen right on the temple, but with light force.

Zhong Zhen closed his eyes and started to get up, but his right foot stepped on an unstable rock. He stumbled back a few steps, then tripped over a piece of debris on the ground, falling backward uncontrollably and hitting the back of his head on an open door.

"Urgh!" Zhong Zhen cried out in pain, clutching the back of his head and rolling on the ground.

"Hey..." Chen Jun Nan nodded. "Big star, you're starting to remind me of the old you."

Yun Yao stepped forward and said, "Zhong Zhen, the game is over. Let's all stop this."

Zhong Zhen cursed under his breath as he stood up, then glared fiercely at Yun Yao. "Oh... so you've got Qiang Yun now?"

Chen Jun Nan examined the blood on Zhong Zhen's face and turned to say, "This guy's probably gone deaf."

"Deaf...?" Yun Yao said. "If talking doesn't work, then we'll make him back off the hard way."

Zhong Zhen took a slow step forward and said, "You've got Qiang Yun, so theoretically I shouldn't mess with you, but if I kill you now, I can get Hui Xiang. Today, no matter what, I'm taking this woman out—otherwise, I won't sleep a wink."

"All right!" Chen Jun Nan suddenly yelled, "Now that the suit guy's team has laid down their threats, it's time for the idol star team's turn."

"Zhong Zhen, give it up." To make sure Zhong Zhen understood, Yun Yao spoke slowly and clearly. "Qiang Yun has never been defeated."

"Whoa~~" Chen Jun Nan chimed in again, "The idol star team keeps it short and sweet. Who'll win this fight is still up in the—"

Before he could finish, a slap landed cleanly on the back of Chen Jun Nan's head.

"Hey?"

"Can you just shut up for a second...?" Xu Qian said with a helpless expression. "I think you're not hurt bad enough. You're still cracking jokes when you're like this. Aren't you worried about that girl?"

"Her?" Chen Jun Nan walked over to the wall and leaned against it. "Once she hears Hui Xiang, she won't need me to worry."

No sooner had he spoken than Zhong Zhen charged forward, swinging his thick fist toward Yun Yao's face.

Yun Yao didn't move an inch, standing perfectly still, but Zhong Zhen tripped over his own feet, throwing his body off balance and missing his punch.

"Damn it..." Zhong Zhen regained his composure and swung his other hand, backhanding a slap.

Yun Yao calmly pulled a small mirror and a tube of lipstick from her bag and started touching up her makeup in the mirror.

Meanwhile, Zhong Zhen flailed his fists and slaps around her nonstop, but strangely, every single one missed. He kept getting tripped by stones on the ground or blocked by debris. Once the debris was cleared, as he threw another punch, a chunk of the ceiling suddenly cracked and smashed right onto his arm.

"You..." Zhong Zhen panted heavily, clutching his arm, his eyes practically shooting flames.

He knew Yun Yao was unbeatable in her Qiang Yun state—her Hui Xiang had even taken down Di She.

How could he break this weird protective curse?

After thinking for a moment, Zhong Zhen pulled a small knife from his pocket. He glanced up at Yun Yao, who was still fussing with her lipstick in the mirror, seemingly unsatisfied with her lip color as she gently wiped at the corner of her mouth with her pinky finger.

"Since the big moves aren't working..."

He exposed the blade and slowly moved it toward Yun Yao's neck. As long as the knife pierced her throat, even slowly, it would kill her.

But just as the blade was about to touch her neck, it snapped in half with a "crack," the broken piece falling to the ground while the handle lightly bumped against Yun Yao's fair, slender neck.

Yun Yao snapped her compact mirror shut and turned to ask, "Had enough?"

Zhong Zhen breathed heavily, his whole body started to tremble.

Though he couldn't hear a thing, he could read her lips.

In Yun Yao's eyes right now, he must look like some ridiculous, persistent child.

And with that broken blade on the ground, Zhong Zhen had a gut feeling that if he kept this up, he'd end up getting hurt by it in some absurd, twisted way.

Thinking of that, he finally backed off, letting out a deep sigh. "You all want to save that woman... One day, you'll regret this decision."

With that, he tossed the knife handle to the ground, glanced at Yan Zhi Chun, and said coolly, "The world's a big place, but I've got your face and your Hui Xiang memorized. You won't get away."

He gave a sinister smile, then turned and walked away.

"Ding ding!" Chen Jun Nan, still leaning against the wall, suddenly shouted, "The winner is..."

"Just keep your mouth shut!" Yun Yao and Xu Qian both yelled at once.

Chen Jun Nan shrugged helplessly and fell silent.

Yun Yao stepped forward and helped Yan Zhi Chun to her feet, asking, "Are you okay?"

Yan Zhi Chun just gave a faint smile and didn't reply. Instead, she walked past Yun Yao to Chen Jun Nan and said, "So you're Ti Zui, huh? Interesting. I'll remember you too."

"Thanks," Chen Jun Nan replied indifferently, "I might not remember you."