The back of the hand protecting his cheek was already swollen, burning with pain.
This was the result of Li Chonglou's cultivation reaching a new level, greatly enhancing his physical resilience.
In the past, such a slap would have likely broken his hand.
He finally understood how desperate Xu Lie had been before.
With such a disparity, victory was impossible.
Yet Xu Lie, at the cost of his life, managed to cripple one of his eyes. How resolute.
“Kid, I admit your research into antiques is no less than Lin Zhendong’s, but you think you can trap me with your amateur kung fu?” After the slap, Tian Shan did not press his advantage.
Instead, he sneered, “Even your master was toyed with in my palm, let alone you.”
“Three years ago, I set a trap and found Lin Zhendong in Qinzhou.”
“I told him there were clues to Shi Boqiong, luring him to help me excavate a tomb, but the real intention was to have him break the tomb’s mechanisms.”
“As a result, his meridians were shattered, and I even used him as a scapegoat to send him to prison.”
“To this day, he doesn’t know that person was me!”
Even with his sunglasses on, Tian Shan’s face was filled with smug satisfaction.
“So it was you,” Li Chonglou said, his expression unchanged. He recalled his master’s past imprisonment.
Now he knew it was intentional, but back then, he thought his master had been framed by someone who accompanied him into the tomb.
It turned out to be Tian Shan.
However, Tian Shan was far too presumptuous, thinking his master was defeated by him.
“Do you really think your petty tricks can fool my master? He knew it was a trap, yet he went, all because of Shi Boqiong.”
“His cultivation was crippled, and his willing imprisonment has nothing to do with you. He could have gotten out whenever he pleased, but he was waiting for certain clues.”
“You are not worthy of being compared to him!”
Whether it was Lu Weishen, Li Hanlong, or Tian Shan before him, they were all extremely arrogant.
Furthermore, they had all been outshone by his master. Thus, with his master losing his cultivation and being imprisoned, they all believed it was their own doing.
Clearly, this was the delusion of the weak.
Hearing this, Tian Shan’s mouth twitched, and a fierce glint flashed in his single eye, “What Shi Boqiong, it’s all nonsense. To think that old fellow Lin Zhendong would search for it for so many years.”
“It’s utterly laughable. However, in my opinion, you and your master share at least one similarity.”
“That is, being stubborn to the bitter end.”
“Whether you admit it or not is irrelevant, as you will die by my hand today.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he lunged again, covering several meters in an instant. His body moved like a leopard pouncing, and another massive palm descended from above, aimed at Li Chonglou’s head.
It had to be said that Tian Shan’s arrogance knew no bounds. Despite having suffered at Xu Lie’s hands, he still looked down on Li Chonglou.
He didn’t even use fifty percent of his strength, simply throwing out slaps.
This was blatant humiliation; he clearly didn't consider Li Chonglou a worthy opponent.
Li Chonglou naturally perceived this. With his Heavenly Eye opened to its limit, Tian Shan’s movements seemed to slow down slightly.
Though imperceptible, it was enough.
As long as it wasn't as sudden as before, with his current strength, he might be able to hold on for a while with caution.
*Slap!*
Palm met palm, and Li Chonglou did not hesitate to slap back. The collision of their palms was like a thunderous explosion.
Li Chonglou staggered back five steps, while Tian Shan remained unmoved.
The difference in strength was clear.
Li Chonglou shook his almost numb palm, his thoughts churning, “He’s truly a tough opponent. If my true qi hadn’t recovered, these two slaps would have killed me.”
His talent for fighting was too weak. Even after practicing the sheepskin scroll technique, his realm had advanced, but his actual strength was still worlds apart from Xu Lie’s.
Facing an expert of Tian Shan’s caliber, he was simply outmatched.
Moreover, he could tell that Tian Shan was toying with him like a mouse. Otherwise, he likely wouldn’t have been able to block even a single palm.
On the other side, Xiao Da and Guan Jian were also in dire straits. Without their firearms, they were no match for the beautiful woman.
Guan Jian slowly knelt to the ground. The woman’s face contorted into a cold, cruel smile. She picked up a dagger that Li Chonglou had kicked away and walked behind Xiao Da.
Xiao Da trembled all over but couldn’t move. The woman, seemingly frail, possessed astonishing strength.
He had no ability to resist at all.
He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with despair and regret.
He regretted his usual arrogance, why hadn't he practiced diligently, only seeking accolades and solving major cases.
Now, facing such a ruthless bandit, he lacked even the ability to protect himself. How could he possibly save others?
Seeing Captain Guan kneel, Xiao Da’s eyes welled up with tears.
He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and choked out, “Captain Guan, I’m sorry…”
“No need to apologize, you two will meet again soon in the afterlife,” the woman whispered into his ear as she brought the dagger to his throat.
Her voice, though charming, was filled with killing intent; she was about to slit his throat on the spot.
“No, we’ll do as you say. Spare him! He’s a police officer; killing him is a capital offense!” Guan Jian’s face flushed red as he tried to stop her.
The woman sneered dismissively and glanced at Tian Shan, “Following him, do you think I would care?”
Saying this, she tightened her grip, and the dagger sliced downwards.
At the same moment, Li Chonglou, hearing Guan Jian’s shout, was distracted and looked towards Xiao Da.
His pupils dilated rapidly. He pulled a copper coin from his pocket at lightning speed and flicked it through the air, shouting, “Let go!”
*Crack!*
The copper coin struck the woman’s tiger mouth, splitting it open and splattering blood.
With a muffled groan, the dagger fell.
Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Da leaped up, flipped, and kicked the woman in the chin. He then rolled away to safety.
Guan Jian immediately lunged for his gun, picked it up, and pointed it at the struggling woman, completing the sequence and regaining control of the situation.
However, Li Chonglou’s side was now worse off.
Already at a disadvantage against Tian Shan, and now distracted by saving Xiao Da, Tian Shan’s single eye blazed with hatred as he saw his woman injured by Li Chonglou’s thrown coin.
He seized the opportunity and delivered a kick directly to Li Chonglou’s chest.
*Pu…*
A dull thud accompanied a stream of blood arcing from Li Chonglou’s mouth. He was sent flying over ten meters, slamming hard against the conference hall wall.
With a *thump*, his body slid down limply.
His eyes were glazed, and his face was ashen.
“Li Chonglou!” Xiao Da, having just gotten up, saw this and his eyes widened in fury.
If not for Li Chonglou, he would have been throat-slashed by now. Yet Li Chonglou himself was severely injured by a single kick.
Gritting his teeth, he lunged towards Tian Shan, who was walking towards Li Chonglou.
Unfortunately, Tian Shan didn't even spare him a glance. He merely waved his hand like swatting a fly, “Scram.”
Xiao Da was sent flying several meters away, lying on the ground as if his body had cracked open, his internal organs in agony.
His heart filled with utter dread, he finally understood the ferocity of the enemy Li Chonglou faced.
“Cough, cough…”
Li Chonglou leaned against the wall, blood seeping from his mouth. Yet, his expression showed no panic. He seemed to be muttering to himself, “Seen enough of the show, haven’t you? If you don’t make a move soon, I’m going to be beaten to death…”
Tian Shan trembled, as if realizing something. Before he could turn his head.
Suddenly, a sigh echoed from the stage, “Alas, you are too weak. But your eyesight is decent; I didn't expect you to see through me.”