Inside the hideout, they ran into more members of the Mountain Lion Gang.
Sam Li paused, thoughtful. "By all rational accounts, this should be the full force of the Mountain Lion Gang."
Nearby, Jane caught his voice and gave a small smile. "Good guess. But you'd better behave—on the way here, they gave you a muscle relaxant."
Muscle relaxant?
Sam Li flexed his hands slightly—and snapped the ropes binding him. "Too bad. Looks like it didn't work on me."
Jane was stunned to see him break free. She glanced quickly at Razor and Dog King, then rushed forward, trying to restrain him again.
But tying down Sam Li was easier said than done.
He simply raised one hand and sent Jane flying several meters back. Calmly, he said, "I know you're not one of them. If you're planning to take them out too, feel free to help."
Jane froze, shocked. "Don't talk nonsense," she shot back instinctively.
She hadn't expected someone she'd just met to see through her undercover identity.
In truth, Jane wasn't part of the Mountain Lion Gang at all—she was a criminal behavior analyst who had infiltrated the gang a month ago to assist the Public Security Bureau in a sting operation.
And now, the timing for that operation had finally arrived—but Sam Li and the group of students had thrown everything off course.
Jane knew this wasn't the moment to blow her cover.
She drew her weapon, trying to assert control. "Stay put. I promise you won't be in danger…"
But Sam Li ignored her.
His attention was already on Razor, Dog King, and the other gang members. "You're surrounded. If you surrender now, it's not too late."
His voice caught the attention of Razor and Dog King instantly.
All eyes—more than twenty pairs—snapped toward Sam Li.
Sensing things were spiraling, Jane yelled, "He broke free! Don't let him get away!"
To protect her cover, she charged at Sam Li first, and when she reached him, whispered urgently, "Don't fight back. I can keep you safe."
But Sam Li didn't need to play along anymore.
He hadn't come just to save a hostage—his goal was to bring down the entire Mountain Lion Gang. Now that every member was gathered here, this was the perfect time to strike.
The next moment, he raised one hand, coating his arm with Geo energy.
A burst of golden light erupted—Jane was blasted backward.
Razor's brow furrowed. "What's going on? Didn't you give him the muscle relaxant?"
One of the goons said nervously, "Boss, I gave him two shots just like you said. He shouldn't be able to move… Maybe we got scammed?"
Dog King immediately remembered the last fight.
If it hadn't been for those dud rocket launchers, he would've beaten Piper and Sam Li back then.
He gritted his teeth. "Damn black market dealers."
Fake or not—it didn't matter anymore.
The prey had escaped. All they had to do was hunt him again.
Razor stepped forward, face hard.
Dog King stepped in eagerly. "Boss, you're the leader. Let me handle this little pest. Thirty seconds, tops."
He had wanted to fight before—back when they were at the edge of the Hollows—but Jane had stopped him.
And then the Public Security Bureau had shown up.
But now, finally, the moment was his.
Dog King sneered at Sam Li. "Ahahaha! You can catch rockets with your bare hands, right? If it weren't for that black market junk, I'd have blown you to bits already. But hey—better late than never. I'll take you out first, then go wipe out those women from the Sons of Calydon."
He was brimming with confidence.
To him, Sam Li was just lucky—not strong.
No real threat at all.
Seeing how fired up Dog King was, Razor nodded. "Fine. He's yours."
With his boss's approval, Dog King had no reason to hold back. He gripped his spiked club and stalked toward Sam Li, expression twisting into something ugly.
Jane glanced from Dog King to Sam Li and started to worry.
After a brief hesitation, she tried again. "The Bureau is still chasing us. There's no need to waste time here."
Dog King scowled. "You again? You've been in my way three times now. What, you with him or something? Step aside, or I'll take you down too."
Jane opened her mouth to argue—
But Razor's voice rang out. "Jane, stand down. This one's Dog King's prey."
She couldn't risk exposing herself now.
Reluctantly, she stepped back.
...
Surrounded by gang members, Sam Li gave Jane a faint glance, signaling her not to worry.
Then he turned to Razor, Dog King, and the rest.
"I've got a mission to finish," he said calmly. "So do me a favor—come at me all at once. I'm in a hurry."
The words hit like a slap.
Dog King snapped.
He'd been mocked by the Sons of Calydon before.
Now even a captive dared to look down on him?
No way he'd tolerate that.
With a roar, he swung his club straight at Sam Li's head.
It was a powerful blow—even Jane frowned, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
The other hostage girl shrieked in terror.
But just as the club was about to land—
Sam Li raised one hand.
And caught it. Effortlessly.
He gripped the club tight—then flung it aside, hurling Dog King and the weapon together into a nearby wall.
CRASH.
The wall shattered.
It happened so fast. One second, the Mountain Lion Gang was cheering. The next, total silence.
Everyone stared at Sam Li—and the motionless Dog King in the rubble.
He'd been taken out with one hand?
Plenty of them already didn't respect Dog King. Now, seeing him flattened in an instant, the rest hesitated only a moment before stepping forward.
"Dog King, you're useless. Step aside and watch how it's done!"
"No one get in my way—I'm next!"
"Boss, if I take him down, can I be your personal guard?"
Dog King had been Razor's right-hand man.
But now that he'd lost in one move, anyone who beat Sam Li would prove they were stronger—and deserve his spot.
At that moment, one of the younger thugs said nervously, "We're running out of time, Boss. Let's all go at him together. There's more than twenty of us—if we each land a hit, we can crush him!"