Red Ghost mentioned that Fuyi Building was also located on Longjin Road, a rather towering blue-black skyscraper.
While taking the elevator, Red Ghost casually said to Li Yan,
"The people who come here to watch the boxing matches are all either rich or noble, spending at least several hundred thousand in one night. The boxers here get a cut of that, so if you want to hold your ground, you'll need to find a big patron to back you up. I'll handle that for you. When the time comes, just make sure you don't say the wrong thing."
The elevator soon reached its destination and came to a halt. As the doors slid open, Li Yan's eyebrows raised involuntarily.
The entire building above the tenth floor had been opened up, creating a space about thirty-something meters high when looked up at from below. It featured a four-tiered viewing platform, and sixteen tasseled lanterns hanging high above. Red carpets lined the upstairs wooden balustrades with intricate carvings, and in the center stood a marble ring, surrounded by columns of Han white jade,
exuding an air of the ancient and classical. Waitresses in black tailcoats were seen moving back and forth, serving drinks to the guests.
Two-meter-high television screens on all sides ensured that the patrons could clearly see the action on the ring from any angle.
"How's that? Impressive setup, right? You're out of luck today; if it were another time, there would be bunny girls to see."
Red Ghost said jokingly to Li Yan as a waitress in a black tailcoat hurried over.
"Red Ghost, Mrs. Deng is making a fuss to see you."
Red Ghost rubbed his face and said to Li Yan,
"The big patron has arrived."
With that, he led Li Yan onto the escalator and turned to enter a private box.
Li Yan didn't quite understand why women would fancy the bloody scenes of the boxing ring. It just goes to say that the world is full of wonders.
The two entered a small box room.
As soon as the door was opened, they saw the floor covered in brown glass shards, with the whirling, coloured lights flickering unstably. On the coffee table were foreign liquors and desserts of brands Li Yan couldn't recognize.
A thirty-something-year-old lady lounged on the sofa, her big wavy hair, long legs and wasp waist accentuating her charm, and her seductive phoenix eyes had deep dimples on her face. Her mouth seemed to curl upward unconsciously, adding a bit of fierceness to her demeanor.
"You make me call for Red, and you play dead instead? If he's not at Fuyi, did he run outside Longcheng for a drink?"
"Judy, Red Ghost really did step out,"
the waitress in the black tailcoat said with a troubled look as another employee cleaned up the broken bottles all over the floor.
"Nonsense, I'm right back,"
Red Ghost, just entering the room, immediately said.
"Everyone out."
The waitresses scattered like pardoned souls, while Li Yan's eyes moved between the young woman and Red Ghost. He was thinking of excusing himself when Red Ghost gave him a stern look.
"Judy, what's got you so fired up? You'll get wrinkles."
Red Ghost sat next to Judy, picked up two glasses of wine, and spoke sincerely to the woman.
The woman took a glass and, with an unsatisfied tone, tilted her chin up,
"Ah, you ghost finally show up. I haven't seen you all night. What have you been up to? Did you know I came to Longcheng and deliberately avoided me?"
"Of course not. I went to check on some new blood under my wing,"
Red Ghost said innocently, and with his youthful face, his appeal to the woman was indeed significant.
"Yan, come over here."
Li Yan reluctantly walked over, squeezing out a smile for the woman.
"Judy,"
Judy scrutinized Li Yan from top to bottom.
His cheeks were gaunt, cheekbones prominent, and his chin sculpted a beautiful dimple. His eyebrows inclined slightly upwards, and his gaze was steady.
Judy sipped the golden liquid, her lips becoming even more luscious and red.
"The lad's kind of handsome, but can he hold his own? I fancy a good-looking fighter, but it's embarrassing for me when they get knocked down in the first round or two. The last boxer I backed lost, and that punk He Changhong actually mocked me..."
As she spoke, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Why don't you fight, Red Ghost? No matter the price, I'll back you."
"Sure," Red Ghost nodded and downed the glass of Western liquor in one go.
"But we should give the newcomer a chance. If Yan loses, I'll step in and wipe the floor with Mr. He on behalf of Judy."
Judy revealed a sweet smile.
"It's a deal," she said, facing Li Yan. "Little brother, you better last a long time."
Li Yan smiled faintly with his head bowed:
"You're joking, Judy. Red Ghost is my boss. It would be more embarrassing for me to make my own boss fight than to throw myself into the sea."
The woman laughed heartily, "Hey, if you can withstand it, I'll definitely dote on you."
Li Yan's temples twitched subtly, but he kept a pleasant smile on his face, not showing a hint of it.
...
"Don't say I don't look out for you. Judy is a major Waterpipe in the Longcheng rings. Her deceased husband was the Taiping Gentleman, and she herself is worth over ten billion. She spends seven or eight hundred thousand every night just on drinks. Cling to her fragrant, plump thighs, and you're set for life."
Li Yan mimicked Red Ghost's earlier gesture, rubbing his face and asked through a grimace, "So, what do you want me to do?"
Red Ghost patted Li Yan on the shoulder.
"Win tonight's fight and you'll secure your spot in the sixth arena. Show some style. It's been a while since I took on new blood; don't make me look bad."
"Style I have, but no flirty stuff. As long as you don't ask me to sell myself, I'll fight a tiger for you."
Red Ghost's smile deepened, creating a dimple, "Get on stage."
Li Yan was the first to enter the ring, glancing over the spectators who were gesturing their bets, and eventually settled his gaze on Judy, through the glass wall of the private booth.
The woman was holding a wine glass, revealing a stretch of her fair wrist, and she raised her eyebrows at Li Yan on the stage.
"With a net worth of ten billion, three million is just a drop in the bucket."
Amidst the increasingly loud cheers, Li Yan turned his head toward his final opponent of the day.
A man in his thirties with a sallow complexion stepped onto the stage, dressed in a black practice outfit, his expression indifferent.
This man, Cheng Hunan, was a fugitive wanted by the Japanese government. He had raped and killed seven young women in Hokkaido and brutally dismembered his last victim, a girl of only fourteen. Unknown to Cheng, the girl was the only daughter of an Inagawa-kai vice-chairman. He was marked for death by the Inagawa-kai, and in desperation, fled to Longcheng. It was an understatement to say that taking one step out of Longcheng would lead to an ugly death for him.
Cheng Hunan was skilled with firearms and daggers, and also proficient in the Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate. Before Li Yan, he had already won three fights that night. His lightest opponent had both arms' bones dislocated and kidneys shattered, knocked unconscious on the ring.
As the white towel hit the floor, Li Yan rushed forward the moment he could, his right hand chopping like lightning, landing on Cheng's blocking elbow, while his left palm struck at Cheng's neck with ferocious temper.
Everyone was stunned to see this new face daring to reach out for Cheng Hunan, but Red Ghost's attention shifted to Li Yan's left foot, which had quietly stepped half a pace forward.
Cheng twisted his waist, the back of his fist colliding with the arm Li Yan had struck out with, then extended his right hand straight out, reaching for Li Yan's upper arm.
The moment Cheng's hand touched Li Yan's shoulder, a smile flickered on Cheng's lips. He hadn't expected this tall, thin young man to be so fragile. But his grasp was relentless—his fingers tensed, his thumb hooked like iron, viciously gouging at Li Yan's shoulder blade!
As Cheng got hold of Li Yan's shoulder, a chorus of deep sighs rose from the stands.
During the previous three matches, no matter the situation, once Cheng got up close and grasped a shoulder, unleashing his joint techniques, his opponent had almost no chance of turning the tables.
Unexpectedly, the supposedly restrained Li Yan suddenly lifted his right leg to the sky, using the previously advanced left foot as a pivot. His right foot, like a rising dragon, lashed out violently with the tip of his shoe striking Cheng's jaw, sending Cheng's head snapping back and blood spurting into the air, his grip loosening in the process.
Li Yan pursued relentlessly, darting forward and seizing the wrist of the reeling Cheng. A fierce light flashed in the corner of his eye.
"Your Goju-Ryu might as well bow to the White Crane Sect. Today, I'll make you pay respect to your forefathers."