Chapter 113 Oops

Liam’s fist came crashing down with brutal force. The sound of bone and ceramic shattering echoed across the courtyard as his punch smashed directly into Khan’s mask. Cracks spidered out instantly, and with a final crack, the mask split in two and fell away.

Gasps rang out.

What lay beneath the mask was a grotesque sight. Khan’s face was disfigured, melted in places, as if acid had once been poured across his skin. Twisted scar tissue clung to his jaw and cheek, one of his eyes was milky and lifeless, and his lips were half missing on one side.

But Liam didn’t flinch.

He didn’t care.

Grabbing Khan by his collar, Liam yanked him back up to his feet and slammed a fist into his face again.

Then again.

And again.

And again.

Each hit sent blood flying, teeth breaking, the sound of flesh meeting bone echoing louder than any words. The crowd was silent, many too stunned to even breathe. Liam’s face held no expression—just calm, calculated wrath.

"Liam, that is enough! Know your place!" Li’s voice finally snapped through the silence.

He stood with one hand raised, eyes narrowed, voice filled with authority.

But Liam only chuckled, a low, bitter sound as he dropped the limp and broken Khan to the ground.

"Know my place?" Liam echoed, turning his sharp gaze toward Li. "Where was that energy when he tried to kill me? Huh? When that dagger went through my back, I didn’t hear anyone yelling then."

He took a step away, as though he was done.

The crowd exhaled slowly.

But then, Liam turned.

He bent down, picking up the blood-stained dagger—the same blade Khan had buried in his back. He held it up, inspected the edge, and then walked slowly back toward Khan’s body. The way he held the knife wasn’t defensive—it was executioner’s posture.

Khan, barely conscious, stared up at Liam in horror, blood pouring from his mouth, unable to move.

Liam raised the dagger high.

Gasps erupted again.

Most didn’t try to stop him. If anything, some even nodded. Murmurs rippled through the crowd—

"He deserves it."

"No mercy."

"Do it. He tried to kill him."

Liam’s voice cut the air, cold and sharp.

"Show mercy... and get killed. Isn’t that what you said?"

And then, the dagger began to descend.

But it never made it.

A hand grabbed his wrist mid-swing.

Liam’s eyes widened, and he furrowed his brows as he turned his head—Li stood before him, gripping his hand tightly, stopping the blade in place with a strength that matched Liam’s own.

The audience froze again.

Lady Viora stood up from her seat, her tone outraged. "What is the meaning of this, Li? You’re interfering with their match!"

Lilith’s eyes flared with anger as she stepped forward, her voice icy cold. "Unacceptable. Don’t you dare get in Liam’s way. Khan broke the rules. He stabbed Liam with a poisoned dagger. He should be dead."

Li didn’t flinch. He looked at Lilith calmly.

"When you were losing... Liam stepped in for you. Now I’m doing the same—for Khan."

Liam’s eyes narrowed.

Lilith stared hard at Li. "Khan isn’t even one of your men. You’re not part of the Crimson Hand—"

Li raised his voice, cutting through the air like a blade.

"As of this moment... the Crimson Hand belongs to the Golden Bird."

Silence.

Then—gasps.

Every corner of the arena reacted. Some stood up. Others gasped aloud. Even Lilith took a half-step back, eyes widening.

The Golden Bird.

The name sent shivers through many spines. A monstrous organization, one that had moved in the shadows for years, stronger, older, and far more influential than any single gang. The Golden Bird was a ghost—whispered about in the underworld but never seen in full. Until now.

Lilith’s sharp mind processed it quickly. This wasn’t just about Khan.

They were trying to take her out.

Her gang. Her influence. Her power.

Li was drawing lines.

Boss, who had been standing near the edge of the gathering, felt the blood rush to his head. He staggered slightly as his mind reeled.

He had been trying to get Li’s attention for years. Groveling, bribing, offering his services in a dozen ways. And yet Li had never once looked his way.

And now, because of this—because of Lilith—Li had not only recognized the Crimson Hand... he had absorbed them into the Golden Bird.

Boss’s lips quivered. He didn’t know the full story behind Li and Lilith. Didn’t care.

All that mattered was the power.

Even if it meant he was no longer the head of his own gang, it didn’t matter. Being under the Golden Bird... meant survival. Meant privilege.

Meant everything.

Lilith stared across the field, her face unreadable. But inside her mind, alarms were ringing.

This... was going to be a problem.

Li’s voice rang out again, cold and authoritative, silencing the murmurs that had started to stir within the courtyard. "From this moment on, anyone who lays a hand on the Crimson Hand lays a hand on the Golden Bird. And they will bear the full weight of that decision."

A heavy silence followed. Lilith’s fists clenched tightly at her sides, her sharp feline eyes narrowing with restrained fury. Her vision swam with rage. She knew Li’s game. He’d always hated her, but striking her directly would’ve stained his name, made him look petty in the eyes of the underworld. So this—this move—was a masterpiece of political cruelty. By backing the Crimson Hand, he could go after her without ever dirtying his own hands.

Everyone in the crowd watched, breath held, afraid to make a sound. The atmosphere was thick with tension, the kind that made even seasoned killers hesitate.

Then, a calm but sharp voice broke the silence.

"Crimson Hand. Golden Bird. Black Lotus." Liam’s deep voice carried across the arena, laced with contempt. "I don’t care. This is personal."

All eyes snapped to him.

With Li still gripping his wrist tightly, Liam let the dagger in his hand slip from his fingers. It clinked softly against the concrete and fell to the ground. But Liam wasn’t done. The moment it hit the floor, he flicked his foot up sharply.

The dagger soared through the air, spinning once before it drove itself deep into Khan’s thigh with a sickening thunk.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" Khan’s scream tore through the air as his body convulsed violently. Foam bubbled from his mouth almost instantly, his limbs jerking erratically as the venom surged through his bloodstream. The poison Liam had been stabbed with moments ago now ran its full course through Khan.

Gasps echoed across the arena.

Li’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Khan, then back to Liam. The young man stared back at him, cold and unblinking.

"Oops," Liam said, a sly grin spreading across his face. "That’s a strong poison."

Li’s rage exploded.

Without warning, his fist lashed out toward Liam, the air trembling from the sheer force behind it. Liam’s eyes widened in shock as he instinctively tried to lean away.

What the hell?! he thought. How the fuck is this old man so strong?!

But before the strike could make contact, another figure intercepted it in a blur of movement.

BOOM!

The shockwave from the collision sent a gust of wind whipping through the arena. Dust lifted, and several nearby onlookers stumbled back.

Liam’s eyes went even wider.

Standing between him and Li was none other than Lady Viora, her delicate hand firmly wrapped around Li’s fist, stopping it dead in its tracks.

What the hell... how is she this fast?! Liam’s thoughts raced. He hadn’t even seen her move. One second she was by the table, and the next—there she was.

Li stared at her in surprise, but Viora didn’t flinch.

Her expression was calm, cold, yet there was a dangerous glint in her eyes. Her voice came out softly, but it cut through the noise like a blade. "You are crossing a line, Li. The duel was over. Anything after that... is on you."

Li growled, jerking his hand free, but the damage was done. His attack had been blocked. In front of everyone.

"He killed Khan," Li hissed.

"Khan tried to kill him first," Viora replied, voice level. "Poisoned weapons were never part of the rules."

Lilith stepped forward now, her voice just as deadly. "You’re quick to defend someone who tried to cheat death. Khan lost, and instead of accepting it, he tried to take Liam down with him. That dagger—" she pointed at Khan’s twitching form "—was the only reason your champion had a chance."

Li’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The crowd was murmuring again, and this time, the sympathy wasn’t with the Golden Bird.

Boss, standing nearby, watched everything with a conflicted look. His heart raced. Li just claimed Crimson Hand... that puts him above me. I’ve wanted this alliance for years... but if he’s already being challenged like this...

Lilith turned to Liam. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer than usual, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something. But instead, she stepped back beside Viora.

Liam turned his attention toward Khan one last time. The man was on the ground, still convulsing, his mouth frothing violently. There was no saving him now. The poison had done its job.

A silence settled over the entire arena once more.

Li adjusted his coat, eyes sweeping across the faces watching him. "This changes nothing," he said. "Crimson Hand is under Golden Bird. Challenge that if you dare."

Lilith’s eyes narrowed. There was no denying it now—war was coming.

And this was only the beginning.