Volume One: First Signs of Brilliance Chapter Fifty: Victory and Defeat

Wang Jue’s actions did not escape the notice of the sinister man. Seeing Wang Jue attempt to flee, he said chillingly, “Kid, don’t even think about escaping.”

As he spoke, his dagger struck like a venomous snake, relentlessly pursuing Wang Jue, leaving not the slightest opportunity for escape.

“Take him,” Wang Jue muttered, recognizing that his intentions had been largely uncovered by such a ruthless assault. Yet he did not fret; instead, he leaped over the burly, bald man lying on the ground and kicked him straight back.

In the next instant, the powerless, bald man was sent sprawling directly in front of the tall, thin man.

A sharp sound, a cry of pain, and a stream of curses from the tall, thin man rang out together—the dagger piercing flesh, the bald man’s groan, and curses tangled in the air.

The two crashed together and quickly separated.

Fortunately, Wang Jue’s home was not large. With the bald man’s bulk blocking the way, there was scarcely any place to hide. Previously, Wang Jue had suffered because of this, forced into a desperate struggle.

Now, let them tear each other apart!

“Fat fool, get out of my way.” Without a second thought, the tall, thin man yanked the dagger from the bald man’s body, utterly ignoring him.

Having been toyed with like a monkey by Wang Jue, the tall, thin man’s fury had long since reached boiling point, his expression twisting into madness.

He no longer cared about the mission; only one thought consumed his mind: kill Wang Jue first, search for the target later.

With murderous intent blazing in his eyes, the tall, thin man pursued Wang Jue, who was fleeing toward the outside. His speed was far beyond anything the bald man or Wang Jue himself could match.

Obstacles meant nothing to him; he slipped past everything with agile ease, never slowing—if anything, accelerating as he gave chase.

What the hell? This guy’s speed was monstrous!

Wang Jue had meant to find an opening to defeat him. But witnessing how mercilessly the man had turned on his own comrade, he abandoned any thought of confrontation and opted for a swift escape.

The sound of the wind slicing behind him made Wang Jue realize he was in real trouble—his pursuer’s speed was nothing short of supernatural. The moment Wang Jue stepped outside his home, it felt as if some ferocious beast was hunting him down.

“Die, brat!” the tall, thin man shouted.

In this desperate flight, Wang Jue dared not let his thoughts wander; he raced toward the stairwell. Just as he was about to descend, he sensed something wrong behind him. Before he could confirm what it was, the rush of wind told him all he needed to know. Even though he’d prepared, the dagger slashed his arm.

Not only that—after wounding his arm, the dagger instantly shifted direction, lunging for his throat.

Seeing this, Wang Jue instinctively jerked his head back, but standing at the top of the stairs, his balance faltered.

His unstable footing cost him dearly; Wang Jue tumbled down the stairs in a rolling heap.

Fortunately, the flight wasn’t long. Despite the pain wracking his body, Wang Jue managed to twist at the landing, steadying himself just in time to face his assailant once more.

Damn it, this guy’s speed is insane! There’s no way I can outrun him. Comparing their speeds, Wang Jue decisively gave up on running.

He knew the gap between them was too great; no matter how desperately he ran, he’d be caught soon enough.

More importantly, turning his back on such a foe was far too dangerous—especially when the man’s intent to kill was clear. It would be no different from offering his neck to the blade.

Wang Jue pressed his back against the wall, eyes locked on his adversary. The tall, thin man was already looming above him on the stairs.

“Hahaha… Run, why don’t you!” The man’s eyes were bloodshot as he laughed madly, then leapt from the stairs toward Wang Jue, intent on giving him no quarter.

In midair, the tall, thin man’s right hand brushed his belt.

A flash of silver—a cold gleam shot forth from his waist, and the belt vanished.

It was a slender, flexible sword.

The soft sword writhed like a silver serpent, its cold light flickering like starlight. Each glimmer carried deadly intent, and Wang Jue felt the pressure mounting with every breath.

It had to be said: having a weapon made all the difference. The tall, thin man was already a formidable opponent; armed first with a threatening dagger, now with an even more lethal soft sword, his power was multiplied—far more than merely doubled.

At this moment, Wang Jue even felt the urge to close his eyes and accept death.

He hadn’t been a match before; now, another weapon? Was this not the very definition of being cornered?

“No, I can’t die. I won’t just wait for death.”

Wang Jue focused, staring intently at the starlit blade coming at him, his face flushed with the desperate will to survive.

Every muscle tensed, his blood seemed to freeze, his bones creaked with strain.

His body instinctively adopted a stance to counterattack—his enemy was airborne; this was his only chance.

“Die!”

Life and death hung by a thread as the tall, thin man plunged down.

Wang Jue unleashed everything he had, holding nothing back. Though he’d never studied martial arts, his physical prowess far surpassed ordinary practitioners, and he erupted with strength that exceeded even the highest-level martial artist.

Like a black bear threatened for its life, his right fist surged forward with a thunderous, soul-shaking roar.

The force was terrifying!

The aura overwhelming!

In less than a second, even the tall, thin man’s sword-wielding arm hesitated.

Fist against sword.

Strength against skill.

In that instant, their bodies collided.

Unsurprisingly, the tall, thin man’s soft sword struck first, its silver radiance dazzling and unavoidable. In one exchange, Wang Jue’s body was covered in countless wounds.

Yet, Wang Jue felt nothing—no fear, no pain, only pressure.

Pressure he now longed to release.

Desperate? So be it!

If it comes to risking everything—let’s see who survives!

He knew he wasn’t the stronger, but in sheer tenacity, he believed himself second to none.

No words.

No emotion.

Everything was poured into that single punch.

A sickening sound as the sword pierced flesh.

“What’s happening?”

The tall, thin man stared at his sword embedded in Wang Jue’s right chest, expecting to savor Wang Jue’s agony. To his surprise, things did not go as he’d anticipated.

Before he could even land, Wang Jue’s fist arrived.

Rather than retreat, Wang Jue advanced, enduring every attack, pressing forward.

One punch decided the outcome.

The tall, thin man attempted to block, reaching with his left hand to stop Wang Jue’s forceful blow.

But it was futile.

In that moment of absolute calm, Wang Jue would not allow his punch to be thwarted.

Their hands never touched. Both were already wounded, and Wang Jue cared little if his injuries worsened.

Trading wound for wound? He’d take that bargain!

For him, it wasn’t a loss; it was a gain.

In the next instant, Wang Jue’s full-powered punch struck the man’s chest.

A crack—bone shattered.

“Aaah…” The tall, thin man screamed as the agony in his chest overwhelmed him.

Though a martial artist, his body was not invulnerable. Without special techniques, a direct hit still caused injury.

For people like them, minor wounds were inconsequential, but a serious injury—if left untreated—could be fatal.

With a deafening impact, victory was decided in a flash.

The tall, thin man could not withstand Wang Jue’s strength—especially as his own momentum from the leap multiplied the force of the blow.

The moment his chest met Wang Jue’s fist, he was launched backward like a cannonball, flying out of the stairwell and crashing into the corridor.

Seeing his opponent sent flying, Wang Jue felt no joy.

“Cough… cough, cough…”

Barely able to support himself, Wang Jue leaned against the wall. Even the smallest movement tugged at the wound in his chest, making him cough uncontrollably.

He glanced at the spot where the tall, thin man had vanished.

He waited a long time; when the man did not reappear, a sense of relief flooded him—gratitude for surviving.

His body was a bloody mess. After coughing, Wang Jue suddenly felt something rise in his throat, sickening him.

In the next instant, blood surged up from within.

“Ugh…”

He vomited mouthfuls of blood, managing a bitter smile. “So this is my first time facing death directly—who’d have thought it’d be so utterly humiliating?”

He looked down at his ruined, blood-soaked shirt, unsure just how badly he was hurt.

He didn’t even know how many times the tall, thin man’s attacks had struck him, or how dangerous they had been.

Now that the crisis was over, all he knew was that he was exhausted, desperate for sleep.

With a thud, Wang Jue’s injuries were too severe for any quick recovery. Perhaps his anxiety about his enemy had kept him standing this long.

He staggered two steps toward the stairs, biting back the pain.

Ultimately, his strength gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

His vision flickered—black, then white—logic told him he must not pass out, must not sleep.

He even wondered if, once he slept, he would ever awaken.

His willpower, many times greater than most, forced his eyes open, sustaining him in this world of alternating darkness and light.

But his body could endure no more.

At this moment, Wang Jue realized he still had so much left undone.

He wanted to stay conscious.

He wanted to see what had become of the tall, thin man.

He wanted to run away as quickly as possible.

He wanted to hold on until Lan Yiyi arrived, and so much more.

But his body would not allow it.