I Only Used Half of My Strength

Since Zhang Chao and Lan Xiaoke were about to spar, Wang Yanran led them to the hotel's presidential suite. The spacious room provided plenty of space after moving the table aside.

"Just a friendly match, understood?" Wang Yanran glanced at Zhang Chao and Lan Xiaoke. It hadn't been long since Lan Xiaoke was subdued, and Wang Yanran didn’t understand why Ye Chuan had brought along such a low-level ghost.

He even wanted her to spar with Zhang Chao. But Wang Yanran trusted that Ye Chuan must have his reasons.

However, Ye Chuan wasn’t overthinking it.

He simply didn’t want to bring Zhang Chao along—his lack of strength would only make him deadweight. As for Wang Yanran, well, she was the financial backer, so bringing her was unavoidable.

"I won’t bully you. How about this—I’ll let you hit me three times first," Zhang Chao said, trying to be chivalrous, considering his overwhelming advantage in strength.

"Oh? Three punches?" Lan Xiaoke, who had been a bit nervous earlier, perked up immediately. "Hehe, hehe."

At worst, she could just surrender after those three punches.

Lan Xiaoke floated up to Zhang Chao, examining her tiny fist before blinking with one eye peeking from under her bangs. "Ready? I’m… really gonna hit you, okay?"

Zhang Chao smirked dismissively. "The Zhang Family is renowned for its defensive techniques."

"Then how did Ye Chuan knock you out in one punch?"

Zhang Chao: "…"

He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Are you hitting me or not? If not, I’ll go first!"

"Hit! I’ll hit now!" Lan Xiaoke eyed Zhang Chao before channeling spiritual energy into her fist. "I’m really gonna do it, okay?"

"Go ahead! Put some force into it!"

With a soft "hyah," Lan Xiaoke threw a punch—her movement sluggish, almost playful.

Zhang Chao scoffed, but the moment her fist connected, a heavy thud echoed, freezing his smirk in place.

"…"

In an instant, Zhang Chao’s life flashed before his eyes—

The time he wet the bed on his first day of elementary school.

His first college girlfriend.

Wait.

Something wasn’t right.

Clutching his stomach, Zhang Chao turned pale. Why was he seeing his life flash by just now?

"Holy—?!" Since when was she this strong?!

Weren’t all her talents supposed to be in speed?! Or did she have zero self-awareness about her own strength?!

His legs trembled like springs as he stammered, "D-did you even use your full strength?!"

"No effect, huh?" Lan Xiaoke scratched her head. "I didn’t do it right just now—only used half my strength."

Zhang Chao: ?

"Alright, second punch." Lan Xiaoke adjusted her stance, but Zhang Chao scrambled backward until his back hit the wall!

"Zhang Chao, what are you doing? Why are you backing up so much?" Wang Yanran frowned.

What was his deal?

Sweat beading on his forehead, Zhang Chao glanced at Lan Xiaoke’s raised fist. "Uh, I suddenly have a stomachache. Also, my pet turtle is giving birth—gotta go home."

"Next time, next time! I’m outta here!"

Without another word, he bolted, clutching his stomach.

"Huh?"

Wang Yanran stared blankly as Zhang Chao fled. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Realizing he wasn’t joking—just slamming the door behind him—she turned to Ye Chuan. "Senior, what should we…?"

"It’s fine. Let’s go ourselves," Ye Chuan said.

He understood why Zhang Chao had run—that punch had nearly knocked him out cold.

Wang Yanran nodded. "Then let’s head out."

She drove for about three to four hours until dusk fell, finally pulling to a stop.

"Senior, we’re here."

Lan Xiaoke, curled up in the back seat, poked her head out with a yawn. "Mmm, we’re here?"

She floated out of the car, only to find herself surrounded by darkness, with only a dilapidated building barely visible in the distance.

[Lanshan Mental Hospital]

The faded, peeling sign. Rust-covered iron railings tangled with vines and moss. Tattered police tape fluttering in the wind. Every detail of the building oozed an eerie, unsettling aura.

"Wow, this place looks terrifying," Lan Xiaoke muttered, hugging herself as a chill ran down her spine.

"Aren’t you a ghost?" Ye Chuan stepped out of the car, unimpressed by her cowardice. He made a mental note to toughen her up—otherwise, the stronger she got, the more timid she’d become.

"Is this the place?" He eyed the pitch-black building in the distance. Not a single light in sight—it was like they’d driven straight into the wilderness.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, Ye Chuan felt the temperature around him drop noticeably.

“Yes, according to the intelligence we’ve gathered, a Ghost King resides here,” Wang Yanran said, pulling out a compass. Her expression turned grave as she studied its readings.

A Tier-4 Ghost King—far beyond her ability to handle.

After all, she was only a Tier-1 Super Warrior.

“Be careful, Senior,” Wang Yanran briefed him on the Ghost King’s situation.

“Based on our intel, the Ghost King has already killed dozens of people here, which is why this psychiatric hospital was abandoned.”

“No one’s dealing with it?” Ye Chuan was surprised.

“A Tier-4 Ghost King is extremely powerful. Our Wang Family once sent people to handle it, but they failed…” Wang Yanran explained. “Since the Ghost King only appears at night, refuses to leave this place, and the area is remote and mountainous, the Wang Family has been monitoring it temporarily, waiting for our stronger members to free up time and deal with it.”

Ye Chuan nodded.

Just then, headlights flashed in the distance. They turned to see a jeep approaching.

Soon, several people stepped out—apparently from the Wang Family—and immediately greeted Wang Yanran as “Young Mistress.”

“Any updates on the Ghost King?” Wang Yanran asked.

The two were responsible for monitoring the Ghost King’s movements and reporting any anomalies to the Wang Family.

“No unusual activity. It’s been staying inside all this time without leaving.”

Then they glanced at Ye Chuan. Was this the person the Young Mistress had brought? He looked so young—could he really handle it?

A Tier-4 Ghost King was a formidable opponent, one that even most Tier-4 Super Warriors couldn’t defeat.

“Well, Senior… shall we go in?” Wang Yanran asked Ye Chuan.

“Let’s go,” Ye Chuan replied with a faint smile.