Chapter 23: The Strength of One

"Xia Yan, you are a wanted fugitive in the Free Zone. That you dare to step foot here is simply seeking your own death; you have no one else to blame." Qihao’s lips were stained with blood. "Give it to me, Xia Yan. Hand it over, and then you can go to your grave."

Xia Yan had encountered many madmen, but the manic Qihao before him reminded him of only one person: Ai You, the former director of the organization. That woman’s demeanor was much like Qihao’s is now.

"You can kill me and then take this item," Xia Yan said with a smile.

"Do you think I don't dare!" Qihao shrieked, her madness peaking. "Xia Yan, I want nothing more than to kill you. If you don't hand it over, I will strike right now."

"Go ahead, strike!" Xia Yan chuckled.

Unable to suppress the madness within any longer, the woman completely lost her reason. She instantly unleashed her ability—a dark, tempestuous energy that swirled toward Xia Yan like a tornado, as if to tear him into shreds.

Facing such a fierce assault, Xia Yan didn't even bother to move.

A figure flashed, and a woman in a qipao appeared before Xia Yan. Her eyes flickered with complex emotions, but she managed to deflect the dark energy.

"Miss, violence is forbidden in the Free Zone. This is your only warning!" the qipao-clad woman said sternly.

"You still have the nerve to issue warnings?" Xia Yan squinted. "I heard that anyone who resorts to violence in the Free Zone is to be executed!"

The woman’s expression shifted slightly. She coughed softly and said, "Sir, this is a sacred auction house; we do not wish for any unnecessary disorder."

"But I am the victim here!" Xia Yan smiled. "Are you going to remain indifferent to the fact that I was almost killed?"

"You..." The woman stared coldly at Xia Yan, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes.

Xia Yan knew clearly that with his identity fully exposed, the only way to escape this desperate situation was to fight with everything he had.

In extraordinary times, one must take extraordinary measures. Without hesitation, he revealed his true self, no longer fearing to stand against the Free Zone. He was already in such a hopeless spot—what else was there to fear?

The Free Zone meant nothing to him!

Xia Yan threw back his cloak, letting the hood that obscured his features drift away. He revealed a face that, while not handsome, was resolute and brave.

The wanted fugitive of the Free Zone, the mortal enemy of the humanoid mutants—it was him, Xia Yan.

He had committed an act of defiance, killing a newly ascended member of their kind right before the eyes of a powerful mutant. He could have chosen not to kill them, but he hadn't hesitated for even a second before striking.

*I killed your kin! And what can you do about it?*

The Xia Yan of old had never changed; he would never bow to the Free Zone.

*Let’s fight it out, then, and see who falls and who stands!*

Held back by the qipao-clad woman, Qihao’s eyes were filled with madness. If she had the choice, she would have taken Xia Yan down with her without a second thought. Unfortunately, she did not.

By now, Xia Yan’s appearance had been noted by everyone at the auction. As Qihao’s voice grew louder, they had already begun to suspect that something was deeply wrong. But seeing Xia Yan’s true face still left them astonished. While Xia Yan wasn't globally famous, the external factions visiting the Free Zone all had intelligence experts who recognized him.

"Xia Yan?"
"Which Xia Yan?"
"A human, I presume?"
"We don't have specific intel."
"But we know a thing or two about the Free Zone's records!"
"They say this Xia Yan is a wanted criminal!"
"A fugitive who killed a Level 5 mutant."
"This guy is a total lunatic."
"To offend the mutants and be hunted by the Free Zone, yet still dare to come here alone..."
"He never intended to walk out alive, did he?"
"This is going to be a show."
"How will the Free Zone vent their rage?"
"Let's wait and see!"

Amidst this, Xia Yan stepped onto the high platform, followed by the sullen qipao-clad woman. His smile was brazen and unrestrained, causing the bidders to memorize his face with great care.

An unconventional "auction" was about to unfold. Xia Yan stood in the bidder’s spot, preparing to bid for his own "life." Either he would die here, or he would carve out the only path to survival.

*Let’s try it,* he thought. *Let’s see if I can survive in this desperate trap.*

"What a pity," Xia Yan said softly, pointing to the Chain of Purity around his neck. "Since I, Xia Yan, placed the highest bid, this accessory belongs to me."

"How arrogant!"
"And he’s a wanted criminal!"
"Even if he isn't afraid of death, there’s no need for this!"
"Watching others struggle in their final moments—I almost feel pity for him."
"He brought it on himself. If he hadn't come to the Free Zone, none of this would have happened."

The crowd whispered, puzzled as to why Xia Yan remained so haughty. Shouldn't he be crying miserably and begging for mercy on his knees? Why did he show no fear? Was he truly unafraid of death, or had he gone so mad that he was ignorant of his own peril?

"I, Xia Yan, am wanted by the Free Zone. Coming here meant there would be no end until one of us is dead," Xia Yan sneered. "Just now, the people of the Free Zone tried to kill me with all sorts of schemes, but alas, what a pity..."

"Xia Yan, shut your mouth!" the qipao-clad woman roared at him.

But they could not strike. Once they did, the reputation of the Free Zone would be ruined beyond repair. No matter how furious she was, she had to endure it.

"What, wasn't it you who wanted to kill me just now?" Xia Yan laughed. "You had my partner handle the handover, hoping to use the excuse of me being a fugitive to kill me, but I saw through it!"

"We..." The woman found herself unable to retort.

"And then you were even more despicable, using that pathetic woman, Qihao, to threaten me, hoping to goad me into striking first. Alas, I saw through that too," Xia Yan said with pity. "What a shame, people of the Free Zone—your plans have failed."

"Xia Yan!" The woman gritted her teeth.

"Now I’ll give you a chance: come up here and kill me!" Xia Yan sneered. "Why did it take so long for someone to come for the handover after the auction ended? Do you think I’m an idiot? It was obvious that the original staff had been swapped out for a powerful ability user—like you."

The woman was livid.

"Look at your posture; there isn't a hint of the grace one would expect in a qipao. Your clothes aren't even adjusted properly—did you not have enough time? Five or six minutes is just too short, isn't it?" Xia Yan’s mockery was relentless.

The crowd finally understood Xia Yan’s goal: he intended to challenge the entire Free Zone with his own strength alone.

This guy was a lunatic. He had completely lost his mind. What right did such a small, insignificant existence have to stand against a behemoth like the Free Zone?