To Sign or Not to Sign

The live-stream assistant couldn’t help but remind him:

“Han Ming, what the hell are you playing at?”

“So many people are watching the stream.”

“Even if the opponent’s cultivation level is a bit higher than expected—”

“he’s still just a martial artist.”

“You’re a high-level martial artist, what’s there to be scared of?”

Me, scared?

Han Ming cursed inwardly.

“It’s not you signing a death pact, you’re just here to watch the show, of course you’re not scared.”

“I’m the one who might be risking my life here.”

“The other guy’s a freak who can kill above his level.”

Just then, the notary public reminded him again:

“It’s time for you to press the fingerprint. Are you going to do it or not?”

The crowd waiting for the duel was getting impatient.

“Don’t chicken out at the last minute.”

“I already bought the ticket. If he doesn’t sign, the money’s wasted.”

“Don’t worry, if the duel doesn’t happen, the Martial Arts Association will refund the tickets.”

By regulation, death pact duels must be approved by the Martial Arts Association and the notary public, and then held in a public sports arena.

The right to watch the duel belongs to the Martial Arts Association.

Even the duelists’ families have to buy tickets to get in.

After all, preparing a death pact duel takes manpower and resources.

Some places even require a security deposit, and if you die, you have to choose the sponsor’s coffin and urn.

At this moment, the boss of the organization backing Han Ming saw Han Ming’s cowardice and the flood of comments on the screen.

He was so angry he immediately messaged the live-stream assistant:

“What the hell are you guys doing?”

“Get him to press the fingerprint now!”

“The people from Wei Corporation are still waiting!”

The live-stream assistant was helpless.

He hadn’t expected Han Ming to be such a coward.

The ridicule in the live chat was almost overwhelming.

“This streamer is a total coward.”

“Are you going to fight or not? If not, go home and raise pigs!”

“All bark and no bite, tail tucked between his legs when it counts.”

“Such a waste of all my gifts, and this is what we get?”

…

The notary public had had enough.

Not caring if it hurt Han Ming’s pride, he said bluntly:

“Are you scared?”

“If you regret it, there’s still time to back out.”

“I really don’t get it. You’re a high-level martial artist, what’s there to fear?”

Seeing the notary’s contemptuous gaze, Han Ming was torn.

At the critical moment, he told the staff:

“I feel sick, I’m going to the bathroom.”

Then he dashed toward the restroom.

Everyone on site was speechless.

The staff hurriedly shouted:

“Are you going to sign the death pact or not?”

“If you’re too scared to sign, just say so.”

“According to regulations, if the audience demands a refund, you have to bear the cost.”

Han Ming didn’t care. He quickly locked himself in the bathroom.

His face was extremely pale.

Not only the people on site, but also the viewers in the live stream,

the boss of the organization behind him,

and even the big shot from Wei Corporation—

so many eyes were on him.

Han Ming knew that if he didn’t sign today, he’d never hold his head high again.

His previous online bravado would be a joke.

He’d also offend the big shot from Wei Corporation.

His current boss would definitely abandon him.

Other organizations would never dare to hire him again.

“Should I take a gamble? Bet that Chen Feng can’t beat me despite the level gap?”

“Sign?”

“This is a death pact, after all.”

“Once you sign this, your life might be at stake.”

At that moment, the bathroom door was knocked on.

“Who’s knocking at a time like this!”

Han Ming shouted irritably.

“Mr. Han, I strongly suggest you open the door.”

The voice outside made Han Ming freeze.

“Isn’t that the voice of that big shot from Wei Corporation yesterday?”

“Why is he here?”

“Could it be that he’s forcing me to sign a death pact?”

“What should I do? Offending the Wei family could be a death sentence too.”

Just then, there was a loud bang.

The bathroom door was forcibly ripped off.

Outside, two bodyguards flanked Wei Xu, who calmly stood behind them after pushing the door aside.

Han Ming panicked and tried to explain.

Wei Xu then extended his hand, offering a small porcelain bottle.

“This is a Qi-Blood Pill.”

“Once you take it, your Qi and blood energy will increase by 300 points.”

“I think with this, you won’t have any more worries.”

Han Ming stared in astonishment at the porcelain bottle in Wei Xu’s hand.

An increase of 300 Qi-Blood points!

That would practically make him a top-tier martial artist.

He had heard of the Qi-Blood Pill before.

They cost hundreds of thousands each.

Extremely rare and hard to come by.

Although it boosts Qi and blood, the effect is temporary.

It lasts about ten minutes.

Once the effect wears off, your Qi and blood return to normal.

Even though it’s only ten minutes,

in many cases, such a pill is enough to turn the tide, to defy fate.

Han Ming took the pill.

Suddenly, he felt a surge of confidence.

Soon, he returned full of self-assurance.

Before the staff could say anything,

Han Ming dipped his thumb in the inkpad and pressed it onto the death pact.

“If you want to die, I’ll grant you that.”

Chen Feng glanced at him and said dryly,

“You really have a changeable personality.”

“Your attitude flip-flops are something else.”

The viewers in the live stream were equally confused.

“What’s going on with this guy?”

“Was he just holding it in the bathroom?”

“Maybe he’s drunk in the restroom.”

“Or was that just for show?”

...

Finally, amid countless expectations, the death duel began.

On the arena stage, Chen Feng quietly scanned the scene.

His eyes landed on several familiar faces.

Wei Xu from Wei Corporation was there, smiling broadly at him.

Even Xiao Ruohan and her mother had come.

And lastly, Yang Honghui, the branch president of the Martial Arts Guild.

That old guy was just standing at the edge of the arena.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was just a security guard.

Jin Youxi held Liu Weiwei’s arm tightly, her mood tense.

That was just her personality.

Whenever she got nervous, she needed to hold onto something.

Liu Weiwei felt the grip tightening on her arm.

She knew Jin Youxi was very anxious.

She gently patted Jin Youxi’s hand in reassurance.

“Don’t worry, Master will definitely win.”

Jin Youxi nodded.

“Master will make sure we get our revenge.”

Just as the two sisters comforted each other, a discordant voice rang out behind them.

“Win? With what?”

“Han Ming is a senior martial artist.”

“A mere martial apprentice wants to beat a senior martial artist?”

“You must be dreaming.”

“Hahaha… better start picking out a coffin for your master.”

Xiao Ruohan’s mother was delighted.

As if she already saw Chen Feng’s miserable death.

But beside her, Xiao Ruohan frowned deeply.

I just saw it on my phone.

Someone actually claimed that Chen Feng's current vital energy is three hundred.

That means he has already reached the mid-stage of a Martial Artist.

Her first reaction was to dismiss it as nonsense.

But then she noticed that this information came directly from the data Chen Feng himself reported when he signed the death pact.

And there was even video evidence from that moment.