Chapter Six: The Call

“Hurry, someone come quickly!” Zhao Yintian shouted loudly, summoning many of his subordinates.

What did he call these people for? Naturally, he wanted them to capture Zhao Yuan. Though he was supremely confident in his own strength—after all, he possessed the bloodline of a six-star warrior—he still preferred to err on the side of caution.

He was not like those villains in storybooks, arrogantly believing himself invincible, only to meet a miserable end. Because of this, even though he believed his abilities were formidable, he brought along plenty of men. The more people, the greater the assurance, and it never hurt to be prepared for any contingency.

When the group finally forced Zhao Yuan into a corner, leaving him with no avenue of escape, Zhao Yintian at last felt at ease. He refused to believe that, under such circumstances, Zhao Yuan could still slip away.

His earlier caution vanished in an instant, replaced by the joy of impending victory that flooded his mind.

“Hahaha! You never imagined you’d be caught by me, did you? In your state, even if there were a few more of you, you’d still be no match for me.”

Hearing Zhao Yintian’s words, Zhao Yuan almost wanted to laugh aloud. He wondered where Zhao Yintian found such confidence. Did numbers alone guarantee victory?

Nothing in this world is absolute. At least, Zhao Yuan believed these men could not restrain him. Even with a crowd, not everyone could attack at once.

Besides, why let them all target him?

Zhao Yuan looked at Zhao Yintian with a provocative gaze. “Very well! Didn’t you just say that no matter how many there are, I’m still not your match? If that’s the case, let’s see one-on-one who’s truly stronger.”

Zhao Yuan’s words struck a nerve in Zhao Yintian. He clenched his fists, the veins bulging along his forearms, as if he wished to kill Zhao Yuan on the spot.

He bore a deep grudge against Zhao Yuan, yet his confidence in his own strength was unshaken. Hearing Zhao Yuan’s challenge, he was naturally delighted. Compared to Zhao Yuan, he truly believed he could defeat several opponents single-handedly.

“You said it yourself,” Zhao Yintian decided to accept the challenge.

Zhao Yuan was not surprised by his response. He had employed this goading tactic knowing full well Zhao Yintian would fall for it. This was exactly what he wanted.

He knew the saying, “Two fists can’t match four hands.” Though he claimed he could escape from these men, it would still cost him considerable effort.

If intelligence could resolve this, he preferred not to resort to violence. Though this matter couldn’t be handled entirely without action, it was best to conserve his strength where possible.

Otherwise, Zhao Yuan would find the situation troublesome, and he detested troublesome matters most.

“Since that’s the case, let’s settle this once and for all,” Zhao Yintian declared.

The others who had come to help capture Zhao Yuan hurriedly stepped aside, clearing a wide space in the center to serve as the stage for their contest.

In truth, these men eagerly anticipated the duel, wanting to see who would prove superior. Zhao Yintian’s reputation was greater, but Zhao Yuan was not to be underestimated.

Thus, the match promised to be quite a spectacle. The two opponents stood facing each other, quickly assuming fighting stances, yet neither attacked immediately.

They both remained still, eyes locked on one another, their concentration intense. Though it seemed uneventful, this too was part of the contest.

The first to strike would gain the initiative, but would also concede a certain advantage. Neither was willing to make the first move. Unless they were certain they could crush the other outright, they would not act. The opening move was crucial to any duel.

But soon, Zhao Yintian acted. He sensed the timing was right, noticing Zhao Yuan’s focus falter—a perfect opportunity. If he didn’t seize it now, it would slip away.

Who was Zhao Yintian? His reputation wasn’t built solely on hearsay; he possessed genuine skill and talent. Naturally, he seized this opportunity, hoping to settle the matter in one stroke.

If he could defeat Zhao Yuan outright, it would be ideal. Even if not, he could use this opening to suppress Zhao Yuan and gain the advantage in their duel.

He threw a punch, the wind from his fist whipping Zhao Yuan’s hair. Yet Zhao Yuan merely tilted his head slightly, evading the attack.

“As expected, you fell right into my trap.” He was no fool. He knew there was a gap between himself and Zhao Yintian, especially surrounded by so many foes.

The disparity between them was plain to see. He wasn’t just aiming to defeat Zhao Yintian; he was plotting his escape from the encirclement, for only then would he have a chance to survive.

Thus, besides observing Zhao Yintian’s movements, he was also considering how to break free, how to escape Zhao Yintian’s pursuit.

There wasn’t much time to deliberate, and if he devoted too much thought to his escape, he would leave himself vulnerable and be defeated by Zhao Yintian.

He knew very well what failure meant—it was nothing short of death. Defeat was not an option.

But in thinking about this, he also realized how to seize the initiative.

The lapse in focus Zhao Yintian had noticed was, in fact, deliberate on Zhao Yuan’s part.

He had intentionally feigned distraction, while in reality keeping all his attention fixed on Zhao Yintian. The apparent absent-mindedness was a calculated act.

Just as a fisherman needs bait, his feigned weakness was bait to lure his opponent.

As for who the “big fish” was in this scenario, it hardly needed explanation—Zhao Yintian had taken the bait.

“You did it on purpose.”