Chapter 42: The Betting Begins

"Damn it! You've forced my hand to this point! I shall show you no mercy!" Lin Kuang's expression twisted into a snarl, his internal energy surging from his right hand into the blade of the Feimo Sword.

The crimson light traveled from the hilt to the tip, flowing back into Lin Kuang’s body. His eyes, now stained a deep, blood-red, glowed like those of a killing god risen from the depths of hell.

"Xiaoshan! Are you alright?" Ruoxi stumbled to her feet, running toward Moshan with a look of distress.

"I'm not dead yet! I can still walk!" Moshan grinned.

"It's all my fault! We shouldn't have returned so late. Father is missing, Aunt Mei is dead, and now even your arm is severed!" Ruoxi leaned against him, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed.

"It's my fault! All mine!" Moshan whispered, his heart aching at the sight of her tear-streaked face.

"Where is my sword? Where is my Jingpo Sword?" Ruoxi seemed to remember something, hurriedly wiping her face as she scanned the surroundings.

*The Jingpo Sword...* Moshan thought, a cold sweat breaking out on his brow. *How is this girl so quick to react at a time like this?*

*Thud!*

"Ah!"

"What happened?" Moshan asked.

"Something hit me on the head!" Ruoxi whimpered.

"Does it hurt?" Moshan looked into her watery eyes, his right hand gently stroking her head as his heart softened.

"It hurts so much!"

It turned out that Lin Kuang had struck the black-clad man with such force that he was sent flying into the wall, shattering it and sending rubble raining down upon them.

"Stop talking, hurry up and run!" Haoyun watched Lin Kuang’s transformation; it was clear he was prepared to kill.

Haoyun glanced toward the black-clad man, his eyes flashing with intensity.

"Can you hold him off?"

"Just go! His sword is too bizarre; I won't last long!" the black-clad man replied coldly, never looking back.

Haoyun shuddered. He was a man of cold temperament, rarely prone to emotional volatility, but the urgency in the man's voice panicked him. He immediately hurried Haotian away from the scene.

"How can you two still be flirting at a time like this?" Haotian shouted in anger.

"Run! Lin Kuang's target is you! Do you have a death wish?"

"Heh!" Lin Kuang chuckled, his face suddenly hardening as he turned. "A grasshopper thinking it can move faster than an ant, trying to hold me back!"

"Run!" The black-clad man flew out of the hole in the wall, but with a flash of sword light, he was struck down again, powerless to resist, causing the adjacent wall to collapse with a roar.

"Run!" Moshan felt a jolt of fear. Just a moment ago, the black-clad man had been handling the situation with ease; now, he was being tossed aside like a ragdoll.

Haotian scrambled to his feet, feeling a bitter resentment as he saw Ruoxi pressed against Moshan. She wouldn't even spare him a glance. In just a few short days, had she completely ignored him? It was all because of this kid!

"Stop staring! Don't let the time Gaochuan bought with his life go to waste!" Haoyun roared. One pair was flirting, and the other was dazed! He couldn't fathom what they were thinking!

"Oh! Right!" Haotian replied hurriedly. Looking ahead, he saw that Haoyun was already carrying Haopo on his back, fleeing the scene.

"Are we still going to worry about him?" Haotian asked.

"Suit yourself! I can't be bothered!" Haoyun paused for a moment before saying coldly.

"Why has my grandfather turned into this?" Ruoxi asked as she ran.

"What do you mean?"

"The red light on his body?"

"I have no idea. I don't even know why he's hunting us, let alone you!" Moshan replied helplessly.

"Then why is he still chasing you? Catching me is one thing, but you!"

"What about it?" Moshan panted heavily. Given the massive exertion from earlier, his ability to still run was already impressive; in the past, he would have collapsed long ago.

"My genetic chain is similar to his, which increases the chance of genetic mutation. After all, he can use the same drugs he uses to enhance himself on me!" Ruoxi whispered.

"Genetic chain?"

Genetic sequencing, as the name implied, involved using drugs or machines to induce mutations in specific genes. If successful, one could gain bizarre powers—superhuman speed, enhanced reflexes, or increased bone density.

However, failure meant the original genetic chain would be damaged, rendering certain organs useless—essentially leaving the subject crippled.

Martial artists, possessing bodies far stronger than the average person, had a higher success rate, and the consequences of failure were less severe for them.