Rhea didn't show it, but she was enraged. The entire VIP lounge was trembling intensely. It was as if the air itself were becoming denser by the second, turning into a thick gas capable of making even the bravest weak in their knees.
She silently gazed at Jin's back, disappearing as he left the ring.
The maids, unable to endure the tension any longer, discreetly slipped through the door one by one. Arthur cast a sidelong glance at her, his intentions shrouded in mystery.
Finally, Arthur's father stood up.
Glancing at the lady sitting at the corner of the sofa, he spoke firmly.
"Please refrain from contacting me for matters like this, Grace."
Grace didn't respond, nor did Rhea. Without explaining himself any further, he exited the room.
Deeply sighing, Arthur subtly bowed in their direction and spoke.
"Well then, my ladies, I'll be taking my leave. This was certainly an experience that'll help me grow even further."
With the father and son no longer in the room, Grace stood up as well. Walking to Rhea, she stood beside her.
The spectators were in an uproar. People threw whatever came into their hands inside the ring, trying their best so that at least one would hit the host. Unlike Allen's usual fights, this one was anticlimactic in a way; they couldn't even understand what had happened. That dissatisfaction made them feel as if they had been scammed.
Since some had actually lost their bets against Lian, it wasn't false to say that they'd truly been scammed. He was a new competitor, one who seemed as if he had never even killed a mouse before. Yet, the same kid had made one of the fiercest fighters of the club forfeit, one who was famous simply for his brutality and fearlessness.
Grace spoke, her tone even.
"What now?"
Rhea slid her hand inside the pants' pockets.
"The club will close down for a while. I'd be lying if I said the closure isn't going to affect the business. Still, a little break will bring everything back on track."
Tilting her head, she continued.
"What about you?"
Grace had an amicable smile as she spoke, her eyes targeted at someone in the spectator's seats.
"I'll go find who our new winner really is."
*****
"Is that really enough?"
John pitifully examined Jin. There were bruises all across his body, as if someone had ganged up on him in an alley. Simultaneously, he observed that Jin had taken care to avoid any injuries that would be visible beneath his clothing.
He was still unsure whether it was intentional or if Allen was just that big of a psychopath.
Snatching the ice bag from John's hand, Jin clicked his tongue.
"What are you whining for? It doesn't even hurt much."
Unfortunately, Jin was in a lot of pain. He had tried his best to avoid getting hit in any vital regions, but his internal injuries were concerning.
There were a few minor cuts here and there on his torso and limbs, which were manageable. The bruises would eventually heal over time, which was why he wasn't worried about them.
There was only one injury that had become fatal to him.
He glanced at his abdomen. A large area had blackened, with a sharp red swelling in the center. In Allen's final strike, he had punched Jin in such a way that it had bypassed his demonic qi guarding the area of impact and torn through his muscles. If the match had continued, Jin would've been the one to forfeit instead.
'The rest can be taken care of once I start cultivating my qi. But this… I'll need an actual physician if I want to get back on my feet.'
Gently placing the ice bag on the swollen area, he winced.
'This is a complete failure. I was far too complacent.'
He hadn't expected the club owner to make him fight such a powerful opponent. Nor had he expected Allen to be so skilled and tolerant. The match would have concluded in the first few exchanges if it hadn't taken place inside the ring. It was only due to that fact that Jin had been able to survive against Allen.
He knew that if this had happened during the tower's trial or anywhere outside, he would have died immediately.
Closing his eyes, he brought back his thought process during his fight as well as his analysis of Allen's fighting style. He knew about boxing only as much as Lian did, but it was still lethal. The only difference was that Allen simply used that martial art to entertain the people of the fight club.
And if he moved with the intent to finish his opponent from the start, none of the spectators would even be able to enjoy the fight. Since the winner would be decided in just a few blows, it was important to stay focused. Such was the real nature behind an actual confrontation.
Jin growled in frustration.
'It feels as if I've become just as dumb as this kid has been. I shouldn't have come to this place.'
Jin was someone who only took the fights he was certain of winning. There were also times when he was uncertain of his survival, yet his prowess and martial arts were enough to pull him through that situation. It went to such a scale that when he announced himself to the martial world, he was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium genius.
But Lian's body wasn't the same as his. What would have taken Jin a few days to recover would take Lian weeks to do so. Even then, recovering completely would always be a question he wouldn't be able to answer.
He had only been able to survive because Allen was just strong enough for his instincts to cover, and Lian's body was in range to react to those instincts. If Allen had actually released his Core Ability, he would have incurred a fatal injury, one that would have resulted in his death.
'It is a stroke of luck that will never happen again.'
Although both his mind and body were in shambles, there was a faint warmth in his heart. The demonic qi was reacting to his pain. Not only was there pain, but there was also a hint of gratefulness mixed in.
It had been a long time since he had felt this much pain. It had also been a long time since he had taken a reckless decision and faced the consequences. As shameful as it was, that was the way of life. And he loved being alive.
When he was about to surpass the heavens, he had become numb to those feelings. There was also no one strong enough to make him feel threatened, at least not on land.
So, to feel that thrill and youthfulness once again was intoxicating.
Unfortunately, he couldn't revel in those emotions for long.
When he opened his eyes, a person was standing beside John.
He wore a physician's robe and a military suitcase in one of his hands. Strands of his hair had turned grey. He was wearing frameless spectacles, which made it easier to see the dark circles under his eyes. The patchy beard made it look like the man barely even had the time to bathe, let alone sleep.
John looked terrified, as if Allen were nothing compared to the man who appeared to have been working all day long.
As he looked at Jin, he had a strange look in his eyes, but he couldn't care less.
Because the person standing in front of him was none other than Oliver, Lian's oldest brother. A second-ranked challenger of the tower and a physician by occupation.
He was also Lian's inspiration for entering the tower.
Oliver parted his lips, as if he wanted to say something. Instead, his gaze lowered to Jin's injury.
He swiftly placed the suitcase beside him on the bench and opened it wide. Inside, a myriad of surgical equipment, medicinal pouches, and bottles were arranged gracefully. There were so many things inside that it made his head ache.
Taking a small glass vial out, he handed it to Jin.
He brought it near his eyes. The vial was filled halfway with a bleak, viridescent liquid. As he rotated the vial, the liquid remained at the bottom, as if the laws of physics didn't apply to it.
As he pulled the cap out, a pungent smell attacked his nose. He was unsure whether the smell he was getting was that of onions or lavender. Whichever it was, he was certain that none of those materials had been used to make it.
Oliver hadn't said anything yet, but it was clear that he had to drink the mysterious potion.
Closing his eyes, he gulped it down in one motion.
'That's… not so bad.'
The potion was mostly bland. That was all he needed to know that Oliver was a great physician. But that was not the only property that had impressed him.
Almost instantly, a warm sensation spread across his body. The pulsing pain around his shoulder started to numb down, and the sharp pain in his abdomen subsided as well. It didn't take him long to understand that it wasn't a medicine, but instead a painkiller, which was better than nothing.
Before he could notice, Oliver's palm was resting on his abdominal swelling. Frowning subtly, he felt qi gathered in Oliver's palm, spreading across the injury. Since his body was numbed, all he could feel was the cold qi finding its way through the muscle tears, mending them one after another.
'Hmm… is this his core ability? I've never seen something like this.'
Even if he was on the verge of death, a few days of sleep were enough to get him back on his feet. Sometimes, when it was urgent, he had also experienced the grace of a physician. The only difference was that there were no painkillers in his era, and the treatment would be akin to torture.
Oliver retracted his arm after a few minutes. The injury hadn't completely healed, but Jin didn't mind it. The remaining wounds could be healed with a few days of cultivation and rest.
On the other hand, Oliver seemed as if he was about to pass out.
'There must be a cost and condition for this ability as well. '
He was curious about Oliver's ability, but it wasn't the right time to ask. Oliver had already packed his suitcase.
Avoiding Jin's gaze, he spoke.
"Let's go."