Chapter 280

: The Blood Matrix

Xia Fei kept his Celestial Moon as he slowly paced toward Skyhook. I wish to know just one thing: How much did Li Mo give you?

He did not make this statement loudly, yet it was very penetrative. When people were in trouble, they would sometimes be reticent or make a last-ditch gamble. Xia Fei just happened to be the latter. As long as there was a slim glimmer of hope, he would not easily give up.

Hook chuckled but did not say a word. His finger tapped on his chair rhythmically. Indeed, the person who contacted me has connections to Li Mo, but whether hes the mastermind or not, Im sure youre clearer on that fact compared to me. Youre a smart man, so you should know very well whom youve offended.

All of a sudden, hundreds of pulse laser beams shot out around Xia Fei, trapping him inside. Xia Fei had experienced something like this before, and the heat coming off from the lasers was not something he could not withstand. A quick glance was all it took for him to decide against forcing his way out.

Oh, right. Im the sort of person who loves seeing people put their lives on the line in a fight. I heard that youre a speed ability user with high cultivation. Wait while I arrange for my strongest gladiator to fight you in a deathmatch. If you win, perhaps you can live just a bit longer. You can consider this as the final chance Im giving you. Hook smirked.

Xia Fei was silent. It was clear that this scenario had long been planned, and he could not think of any good solution at the moment, so he had no choice but to follow along, step by step.

The pretty, white marble surface suddenly parted to reveal a solitary secret cell. Without anywhere to land his feet, Xia Fei helplessly dropped down into the darkness.

The walls of the underground passage were also enclosed by heavy metal alloy, which even his Celestial Moon could not make a dent out of. Xia Fei tried this for some time before concluding that it was useless, and thus he began to make his way forward.

What do we do now? Phantom anxiously asked.

This is a situation that someone has long planned for us. At this point, all I can do is take it one step at a time. I refuse to believe that everything is well in his grasp. Ill try and leave as long as I find a flaw in anything, Xia Fei said.

Should we contact the Assassin Sect? After all, you are their envoy and also Shadowlesss unacknowledged disciple. Sect Master Craneshadow might just show face and send men to come get you, Phantom said.

Xia Fei replied, Ive already contacted them.

What? When? Why didnt I realize this?

When I was retrieving Celestial Moon from the wall. You were busy looking at our surroundings then.

Phantom nodded. Given Xia Feis speed, it was completely possible for him to send that message then without anyone realizing.

The Assassin Sect can be considered at most a backup plan; it wont be easy for them to get here because even I have no idea where this is.

What did you tell them?

Xia Fei smiled. He did not tell Phantom, which made the latter slightly disgruntled as he followed him deeper into the passageway.

This passageway was very long; Xia Fei tried shattering the walls along the way but to no avail.

He could see light in the distance, sounding full of life, yet he had no idea why they would be so noisy.

Xia Fei curiously took a few steps toward the end of the passageway and saw a huge round clearing. The ground itself was made of heavy metal alloy, and there was a net of laser-emitting device overhead. Two topless warriors were in the middle of a gory fight as tens of thousands of audience watched the cruel battle unfold while eating popcorns, engrossed in this bloodsport.

Several of the people were even brandishing golden slips of paper, which Xia Fei guessed to be the money that they had placed on these fighters, looking absolutely hysterical, as if they wished that they could just bite the enemy themselves. Of course, none of them had the guts to risk their lives against these gladiators but still loved watching them lose their lives.

Xia Fei suddenly thought of the roman colosseum. This place might be a bit more high-class, but they still shared the same unhinged temperament.

Lighting a cigarette, Xia Fei stood by the laser fence as he watched the two fighters duel. There were plenty of similar fences on both sides, but it was only this cell where Xia Fei was that had a direct route to Hooks residence.

To his right stood a middle-aged man with cold eyestall, big, and bronze skin. His body was littered with scars, and right now, he was noisily eating a peach in hand.

The fat ones going to win. The middle-aged man did not even register Xia Feis presence as he muttered this to himself.

Xia Fei smiled. That might not be the case.

This middle-aged man curiously turned his head and glanced at Xia Fei before he continued watching the intense battle playing out in the clearing. I still think Im right. That skinny mans left legs already injured. With his movement speed largely reduced, it makes it harder for him to defend himself since his legs wont obey. Look, hes already at a disadvantage.

Xia Fei commented, Being at a disadvantage doesnt mean that hell surely lose. The skinny mans eyes are filled with vigor, while that fatty is fighting for the sake of fighting. The attitude these two men have is vastly different, so the conclusion to this may not pan out as certainly as you presumed.

The middle-aged man snorted. That skinny man only arrived at the Blood Matrix last night. If hes able to survive a few more days, his eyes will also turn into that of the fat man.

If thats truly the case, that means the skinny man will win even if he loses, Xia Fei said.

And just why is that?

Once someone loses hope, then theyre no different from a living corpse. Whats the point of their continued existence? If the skinny man loses, then hell be killed while still having his fighting spirit burning in him. That can be seen as dying a worthy death. Conversely, the one who survives will continue to live on his days wishing that hes dead, so even losing here can be counted as a win.

The middle-aged man furrowed his brows. In that case, are you saying that the skinny man will win no matter the outcome? What sort of logic is that?

Its the truth. Xia Fei blew a smoke ring as he said these three words.

The middle-aged man burst into laughter, What b*llsh*t truth. The way I see it, its just your warped logic.

He reached out his right hand with a large grin. It was due to the laser fence, which separated them, that caused him to only mime shaking hands.

Butcher.

Xia Fei.

The two men performed a weird handshake in the air, which could be considered as them introducing themselves to each other. Xia Fei retracted his hand and continued watching the fight. The hooded, fat man stabbed the skinny mans shoulder blade and thus ended the match.

The fat man raised his two arms and bellowed to the crowd, and the audience, which numbered in the tens of thousands, shouted in unison, KILL HIM! KILL HIM!

The skinny man collapsed onto the ground, his face drained of blood.

Just like a script that they had rehearsed, the thickset warrior did his best to brag about his victory, exaggeratedly demonstrating the posturing of a victor. Later, he used the knife he held in hand to chop the head off the loser, spurting fresh blood several meters high in the direction of the crowd for the climax of his match. Satisfied, he left the ring as he rumbled with laughter.

Xia Fei sat cross-legged on the ground, chain-smoking. That fatty seems to be very excited. Did he not consider that it will one day be his turn to have his head chopped off by someone?

Butcher did not share his sentiment. Everyone here knows that if theyre to go through the motions, theyll have a feast waiting for them. Youve just arrived. If you endure several days of hunger, youll come to learn that a piece of bread is far more important than some human lives. Meanwhile, respect and honor are all worth sh*t here.

Xia Fei kept silent. The savage nature of humans was pronounced here, so any discussion of morals was no more than empty words.

Well be fighting soon, Xia Fei said casually.

Butcher glanced at Xia Feis Celestial Moon and his spatial ring, Youve got some nice things. Ill be sure to take care of them well for you.

Thank you, Xia Fei said. Just hearing the name, I expected Butcher to be a violent person. I never imagined that youd be someone able to maintain his sanity in such a place.

Butcher shook his head. The crazy ones are already gone. Its precisely because Im clear-headed enough that I can survive till today. Of course, I can be crazier than anyone else when the need arises, but now is the time to rest, so theres no need for that.

Butcher raised his head and looked up to the sun with desire. To someone like him who was mired deep in a spiral of slaughter, freedom was like a life-saving medicinesomething he could hope for but not obtain.

I also walked out of that same passage as you years ago. Hooks compound is very well-designed. No one has managed to escape from this place yet. Youre not the first he managed to lure, but its been years since I saw anyone maintain their composure after getting entrapped. Perhaps thats why I find myself chatting with you so much, Butcher said.

Xia Fei let out a self-depreciating chuckle. Looks like I wasnt the first to fall for that trap. I dont know whether I should be happy about that or not.

Butcher replied, I dont care how you take that. All I know is that itll be a deathmatch tonight. Between the two of us, only one will be able to leave with their life intact. I doubt anyone will just give up their chance to survive; Im very happy to have met you, but we should stop here and now. I guarantee Ill give you a proper end. While it may not necessarily be decent, Ill be sure to be decisive and quick.

With that, Butcher got up and went toward his bed. It was a small and narrow metal bed, slightly better than the bed that others had because he had a military-green towel for a bedding.

Xia Fei gave it some thought before laughing. I doubt youll be able to get any sleep now; since Im going to die by your hands, why dont you talk to me about things related to Hook?

Butcher turned his back toward Xia Fei. Youre wrong. Ill be able to sleep even if its Armageddon. Besides, there are monitoring systems here. No use taking more. Youre going to die, but I still have to continue living.

Xia Fei lit a cigarette. Is beer not enough to keep you up a few more minutes?

Butcher paused for a good moment. Indeed, it is hard to reject an offer of beer.

The situation was fairly ridiculous. A man with the nickname of Butcher was actually a calm and collected surgeon, and even more absurd was how two men who were about to have a fight to the death in a couple of hours had decided to share a bottle of beer with each other.

Because Xia Fei had only been locked up without getting his equipment and spatial ring confiscated, he still had quite some food with him. He cracked open a bottle of beer and then covered the opening with his hand. He shook it vigorously a few times before loosening a gap to send the golden liquid shooting out.

Butcher, who was standing by the laser fence with his mouth open, greedily gulping what beer he could. Although most of it evaporated into mist due to the heat being emitted by the laser, a good portion still managed to reach Butchers mouth.

Using his sleeve to wipe his mouth a little, Butcher laughed heartily. Awesome! Its been years since I drank some beer. To think I would get a chance tonight. Have you got any more? Do another.

Hook sat in his seat, taking in everything that Xia Fei and Butcher were doing with his eyes.

Lord Hook, seems that Butcher and Xia Fei are getting along quite well. Should we keep them apart? It wont be good if this affects the quality of their fight, an underling chimed in.

Hook smiled. What do you know? The better they get to know each other, the more thrilling itll be when they fight each other later. I love this taste of people parting forever and never meeting again. Its unfortunate.