Chapter 36 I'll Sign

The resounding echo of my signature just faded, leaving even my opponent, Sun Hongshan, frowning in utter astonishment.

Sun Hongshan couldn't help but think: I am at the weak fifth stage, while Shen Ye is only at the strong fourth stage, and he is even injured. Yet, for him to sign a life-and-death pact with me like this—is he... insane?

Griping the hilt of his blade, Shen Ye said earnestly and solemnly: "Where the blade points, there is no regret unto death."

"I am loyal to the blade, and the blade is loyal to me."

"Having grasped the blade, one must have the resolve to die by it."

"Come, let us fight!"

Sun Hongshan was dumbfounded. Was this... some kind of chuunibyou teenage dialogue?

He was nothing more than a fresh, tender rookie.

Sun Hongshan couldn't help but glance at Squad Leader Shen Shipeng, only to find him sitting there with an inscrutable expression. At that moment, a thought flashed through Sun Hongshan's mind: Squad Leader Shen must have been driven into a corner by his own uncle, unable to afford losing the position of the eighth squad leader any longer. Therefore, he had no choice but to let Shen Ye stake everything on a desperate gamble.

Since that is the case, I will slaughter you in this battle.

His mind made up, Sun Hongshan said to the referee, "Draw up the life-and-death pact."

The referee was a professional who had presided over several battles involving life-and-death pacts and was well-versed in the procedure.

Seeing that neither combatant had any objections, he turned his gaze toward the ringside. Both Shen Shipeng and Sun Dehai, figures of high status and great power, maintained expressionless faces with no intention of intervening. The referee said nothing more; he retrieved paper and pen and drafted a life-and-death pact with professional speed.

Moments later, the pact was completed.

"Both of you may examine it, and then sign your names upon it. Once the life-and-death pact is signed, no further grievances of life and death shall be discussed."

Shen Ye looked over the contents of the pact. It stated that on February 16, 2017, in the Gregorian calendar, Shen Ye and Sun Hongshan would fight to the death on the office building's arena of the Eighth Squad, Second Zhongdui of the Special Operations Unit, and whatever the outcome regarding life and death, no complaints would be entertained.

At the bottom were the designated signature lines for both parties.

Shen Ye directly wrote his name in the space provided for the first signatory.

Sun Hongshan likewise wrote his name behind the second signatory.

After witnessing both men sign, the referee instructed them to press their fingerprints on the document before declaring, "Today, Shen Ye and Sun Hongshan have signed a life-and-death pact upon the arena. From this moment on, matters of life and death shall no longer be contested."

Down below the arena, the crowd erupted in an uproar.

"They actually signed a life-and-death pact." Hu Qi looked slightly dazed. "I've read about it before in my old man's files. When martial artists harbor deep hatreds, they sometimes sign life-and-death pacts. I never thought I would actually witness one."

"A life-and-death pact is truly ruthless." Tang Mo watched, dumbfounded. "Between the deep-seated feud of Squad Leader Shen and Deputy Squad Leader Sun, coupled with the fact that Shen Ye killed Sun Hongshan's subordinate Guo Dong, these two are playing for extremely high stakes. Now they're gambling with their lives."

***

Deng Xiaozi asked Ma Nuonuo beside her, "Sister Nuonuo, who do you think is stronger between Shen Ye and Deputy Squad Leader Sun?"

"There is a considerable gap between the strong fourth stage and the weak fifth stage. Add to that the injuries on Shen Ye's body, so Shen Ye's odds of winning are probably around ten percent, while Sun Hongshan's odds should be ninety percent," Ma Nuonuo said in a deep voice. "However, since Shen Ye dares to fight to the death, he might possess some hidden, fatal trump card. It won't necessarily be easy for Sun Hongshan to win. By then, he will also have to reveal his own bottom cards and might even be injured by Shen Ye."

"If that happens, the next round will work to my advantage." A smile flashed across the corners of Ma Nuonuo's lips. "In that case, the position of the eighth squad leader is bound to fall into my hands."

Broadsword Li Da, Feng Leng, and the rest of the spectators all felt their blood boiling.

This was a rare life-and-death pact indeed!

This was a fight to the death! A battle of utter desperation!

It was completely different from the arena brawls of before!

***

On the arena.

Griping the hilt of his Huxuan Blade, Shen Ye looked at Sun Hongshan standing two meters away, a mocking smile curling at the corners of his lips. "Do you know why I signed this life-and-death pact?"

Sun Hongshan glanced at the watch on his wrist, looking thoroughly impatient. "Out of the three minutes allowed for dialogue, after deducting the time it took to sign the pact, there is only the final minute left. If you have any last words, say them quickly while you still can. Otherwise, you won't have another chance to speak."

"It's very simple. You've fallen into a trap," Shen Ye sneered. "Since the life-and-death pact is already signed, I'll let you die knowing the truth."

"The gambling agreement between your uncle Sun Dehai and Xuanyuan Du—that piece of intelligence actually fell into the old man's hands long ago."

"Since you wanted to propose a life-and-death pact, I simply decided to play along with you."

"However, fearing that you might be intimidated by my true strength,"

"I disguised myself as a strong fourth stage right from the beginning."

"You sent the Seven Wonders Pill to Tang Mo, allowing him to briefly burst forth with the strength of a strong fourth stage, just to test my ultimate power and facilitate your own plan."

"Yet, my disguise was far too successful; it completely deceived you."

"During my subsequent match against Feng Leng, pretending to be injured while fighting him was quite exhausting, I must say."

"Everything, step by step, has finally led to this battle."

"You finally proposed the life-and-death pact, and I accepted." Shen Ye wore a playful smile. "Now, you can properly test my strength. Let's see whether I am actually at the weak fifth stage, the intermediate fifth stage, the strong fifth stage, or the weak sixth stage?"

"What you said just now, I return to you word for word."

"Out of the three minutes allowed for dialogue, after deducting the time it took to sign the pact, there is only the final minute left. If you have any last words, say them quickly while you still can. Otherwise, you won't have another chance to speak."

***

Sun Hongshan's complexion instantly changed, his mind thrown into utter turmoil.

***

Meanwhile, seated at the edge of the arena.

Sun Dehai's expression also shifted drastically as his body lunged forward toward the platform.

However, an aged hand suddenly appeared right in his path.

Had Sun Dehai continued his forward charge, he likely would have been directly struck by that weathered hand.

He wanted to dodge to the sides and maneuver around it.

Yet that aged hand seemed to possess a mysterious, magical force that sealed off both his left and right flanks.

This forced Sun Dehai to retreat.

The owner of this aged hand was none other than Squad Leader Shen.

With a smile that was not quite a smile, Squad Leader Shen said, "Deputy Squad Leader Sun, what are you trying to do? The two on the stage have signed a life-and-death pact. Under such circumstances, outsiders are not permitted to interfere; those are the rules."

Sun Dehai said fiercely, "Old bastard, you plotted against me."

"Plotted?" Squad Leader Shen laughed heartily. "You were scheming to take my position, so I took the opportunity to plot against you—what is wrong with that? Xuanyuan Du, tell me if I'm right."

Xuanyuan Du, who had a blind eye, stepped forward. As it turned out, he had been a man of Squad Leader Shen all along.

That gambling agreement was nothing more than a ruse used to deceive Sun Dehai.

Grit his teeth, Sun Dehai said menacingly, "Old bastard, don't push people too far."

"You lost this round, and a loss means taking your lumps, doesn't it?" Squad Leader Shen laughed heartily, before his expression suddenly turned solemn. "Sun Dehai, oh Sun Dehai, you have twice insulted me, your superior, by calling me an old bastard. That is a grave offense. Let's punish you by forfeiting two months' salary."

By this time, Sun Dehai knew he had lost. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "Old bastard, don't think you've truly won this round. Your grandson is too young; he might not necessarily defeat my nephew."

*(The first chapter is delivered, humbly asking for your beloved recommendation votes!)*