Chapter 262: Big Guy

Chapter 262: The Big Guy

Cheng Ge was nimble, his moves tricky and unconventional. He used the desks and chairs as obstacles to circle around his opponent, targeting weak points like the joints.

However, his opponent was like a humanoid tyrannosaur, holding an absolute advantage in strength.

His movements were broad and sweeping, fierce and overwhelmingly domineering.

Each punch and kick left Cheng Ge’s blocking arms numb, his qi and blood in turmoil, his internal organs nearly shifted out of place.

Cheng Ge was like a small boat in a raging storm—though his technique was masterful, he was constantly suppressed by the opponent’s sheer, brutal power.

*Bang!* In a head-on clash of fists that was impossible to avoid, Cheng Ge felt a tremendous force travel up the bones of his arm.

His entire arm went numb in an instant, and he staggered backward, losing his balance.

With a *crash*, his back slammed heavily into a sturdy bookshelf, knocking several books to the floor with a loud thud.

“Ngh…” A coppery taste rose in Cheng Ge’s throat, but he forced it down.

The dark figure pressed his advantage mercilessly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as he closed in like a shadow.

His five fingers curled like iron hooks, carrying an icy killing intent, aimed straight for Cheng Ge’s throat.

Cheng Ge hurriedly raised his still-numb arm to block. Their arms tangled instantly, locked in a perilous close-quarters struggle.

The opponent’s strength surged like a tide, gradually bending Cheng Ge’s arm. Those hook-like fingers crept closer and closer to his Adam’s apple.

At this critical moment, the opponent’s other hand shot out like a gust of wind.

Cheng Ge: “!!!”

Cheng Ge’s heart leaped. Eyes wide, he watched the iron hand approaching, hurled himself backward in desperation to dodge the fatal strike. The opponent’s hand barely grazed the tip of his nose.

But the opponent’s fingertips accidentally caught the cloth covering his face, tearing it away.

The jade hairpin holding his hair was also pulled off. With a clink, the hairpin fell to the floor, breaking in two.

Cheng Ge’s long hair was suddenly free, tumbling down like an inky waterfall, cascading over his cheeks and shoulders.

Just then, a thin cloud that had been obscuring the moonlight drifted away.

The cold, clear moonlight poured into the study like liquid silver, several times brighter than before.

In an instant, it vividly illuminated Cheng Ge’s face, flushed from the fight.

He tilted his head back, sweat dampening his temples, his eyes moist and glistening faintly.

This sight under the moonlight was breathtaking, carrying a destructive impact.

The tall dark figure’s fierce forward lunge came to an abrupt halt, as if someone had pressed a pause button!

His hand, aimed at Cheng Ge’s throat, froze mid-air, only inches away.

He stared at Cheng Ge’s face—

Those eyes, which had held only coldness and murderous intent in the darkness, were now filled with immense shock, his pupils slightly constricted.

In the depths of his gaze, astonishment rolled like waves, followed by an even more complex, indescribable emotion.

Confusion, bewilderment, and even… a faint but undeniable quiver.

He seemed spellbound, frozen in front of Cheng Ge, his breathing momentarily disturbed.

At this moment of life-and-death stalemate, in that eerie pause—

From outside the study, footsteps sounded in the distance. Cheng Ge’s eyes narrowed. This was no place to linger.

Without hesitation, he seized the fleeting opportunity caused by the opponent’s momentary distraction.

Engaging his core strength, he clenched his right fist, pouring all his remaining energy into this one blow. It smashed viciously toward the opponent’s face.

“Mm—!” The tall dark figure was completely lost in shock, utterly unprepared for this sudden heavy hit.

*Thud!* The fist landed squarely on the bridge of his nose. He let out a muffled groan of pain.

Stars exploded before his eyes. A piercing pain and unbearable stinging pain shot through his nose. Warm liquid immediately began to flow.

He instinctively released his grip on Cheng Ge’s hand, clutched his nose, and staggered backward several steps before barely managing to steady himself.

The tall dark figure shook his head hard, trying to clear the darkness from his vision and the ringing in his skull.

He wiped the warm liquid from his nose. His hand came away sticky and crimson.

When he looked again, the person before him had vanished. Only the window was still swaying slightly in the night breeze.

He stood there, moonlight flowing silently.

In the shadow beside the desk, a faint, warm glow caught his eye.

He slowly bent down, reaching out with bloodstained fingers. From the cold floor, he picked up a jade pendant.

On the pendant’s front were orchids with twining branches. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the pendant. He lifted his head once more toward the window through which Cheng Ge had disappeared—

Cheng Ge pressed his chest, forcing down the bloody taste surging in his throat, and glided silently along the wall.

He quickly grabbed the end of the rope hidden in the shadows, jerking it downward three times with force.

Almost at the same moment as he signaled, the other end of the rope answered with a quick tug.

Cheng Ge wrapped the rope around his wrist several times, then kicked off the wall hard.

The night wind whistled past his ears. Below in the courtyard, the light of torches had already begun to flicker.

Cursing under his breath, Cheng Ge mentally swore at every deity in heaven and earth, along with that big brute who had appeared out of nowhere.

He felt certain the heavens had it in for him—every time he tried to pull off some shady business, something always went wrong.

Last time at the Liu residence, he’d run into that freak Yun Xunyu. Now at the Zhao residence, he’d met a tough nut who had nearly cost him his life.

That guy wasn’t human—he was a primordial beast in human skin!

Thoughts racing, he leaped down from the high wall. The reinforcements waiting outside—Wufeng, Ling Feng, and Jifeng—already had their nerves on edge.

Seeing his figure descend, they moved in unison with practiced ease, catching him steadily and absorbing the impact of his fall.

The moment his feet touched the ground, Cheng Ge turned aside and couldn’t help coughing violently. His disheveled black hair, loose and long, covered half of his pale face.

With the coughing, a trickle of crimson blood finally spilled from the corner of his mouth, unable to be suppressed any longer.

It slid down his jawline, staining a small, glaring red patch on his plain-colored lapel.

He felt darkness closing in before his eyes, his chest feeling like a boulder was crushing it, each breath pulling at excruciating pain.

His legs gave way, his body uncontrollably stumbling forward, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Everyone gasped! Seeing this, Wufeng and his two companions were so frightened that their hearts nearly stopped.

Wufeng reacted the fastest, immediately squatting down to drape one of Cheng Ge's arms over his own shoulder, then straightened his back and, without hesitation, swung Cheng Ge onto his back.

At this moment, Cheng Ge couldn't care less about his image. He lay limply on Wufeng's back, feeling as if all his strength had been drained.

"Move!" Wufeng's voice was low and urgent. Ling Feng and Ji Feng immediately flanked them.