C4 Opening Its Mouth, It Was a Hundred Million!

Before stepping into the labyrinth, Ke Dong had spent several years in sales. He wouldn't claim to have met countless people, but he prided himself on his ability to read them.

Soong Wan exuded vitality, moving with a stride that was both steady and forceful. His mere presence commanded attention, the kind of aura that suggested significant social standing and high regard in a particular sphere.

Observing Soong Wan's hands—thick with calluses—along with his earlier gesture of respect, Ke Dong speculated that Soong Wan was likely a master of martial arts.

In the past, charlatans had exploited the name of traditional martial arts, teaching a few flashy moves and opening their doors to disciples, only to amass wealth and end in disgrace. Such incidents had skewed public perception, leading many to dismiss traditional martial arts as mere show and to admire foreign fighting techniques instead.

Ke Dong, however, understood the depth and richness of traditional martial arts, which couldn't be encapsulated by these impostors.

Regrettably, he lacked the means to vindicate traditional martial arts. Now, with access to the realm of cultivation, it seemed he no longer needed them, but that didn't diminish his respect for true masters.

Mimicking Soong Wan, Ke Dong bowed with his hands clasped: "My name is Ke Dong. If I'm not mistaken, you must be a martial arts master."

A flicker of surprise crossed Soong Wan's face, quickly giving way to laughter. "Haha! I should have known. You and I are cut from the same cloth! That kick you delivered earlier had at least a decade's worth of skill behind it. How could a mere street thug have withstood it? If I may be so bold, Brother Ke Dong, who did you study under? I'm acquainted with another master who is an expert in Tan leg, named Fan Sheng. You must know of him, right?"

Ke Dong looked sheepish. "Truthfully, I have no master. That kick was just an impromptu move, not Tan leg, and I don't know Fan Sheng."

Soong Wan's brow furrowed slightly. "It wasn't Tan leg? But that clean and decisive stance surely reflects no less than ten years of practice!"

If he's unwilling to talk about it, let's leave it at that. Perhaps he has his reasons for keeping silent.

"Alright, perhaps I misjudged the situation. I'm older than you, so I hope you don't mind if I call you Ke. Do you have any insight into this maze?"

Ke Dong shook his head, "I'm not too familiar with it. Was there something you wanted to discuss?"

Just as Soong Wan was about to respond, a portly middle-aged man interrupted them.

"Master Soong? Is that really you, Master Soong? It's me, Boss Wang! Remember the three hundred thousand yuan I sponsored for your dojo? Do you recall?"

Soong Wan turned to the self-proclaimed Boss Wang and, after a brief moment of reflection, he recognized him. "Ah, Boss Wang, what a surprise to see you here. Without your generous sponsorship, my dojo would have had a tough time getting off the ground."

The scuffle between Ke Dong and Chen Qiang had already drawn quite a bit of attention, though most onlookers preferred to keep their distance and avoid any trouble.

Later, when Soong Wan struck up a conversation with Ke Dong, the combination of Ke's demeanor and Soong Wan's commanding presence once again caught the eye of many. Boss Wang's sudden appearance only made it more difficult for the surrounding crowd to look away.

Then, recognition dawned on some of them.

"Is that Wang Chun from Wang Family Real Estate? The real estate mogul with an annual turnover exceeding ten billion? Goodness, I never expected to see him here!"

"Why the surprise? I bet everyone's found their way into this maze. Money's no good here, so clinging to Master Soong's coattails might be a smart move. You know who Master Soong is, right?"

"I've heard of him. They say he's a genuine martial arts master, not just any self-proclaimed 'great master.' He's the real deal."

"Exactly! Rumor has it his iron palm can split stones and a single blow could be fatal to an ordinary person."

"That impressive? I never imagined I'd run into Master Soong here. If I could just have a word with him, maybe he'd be willing to lend a hand if danger comes my way in the future."

"Exactly! Wang Chun seems to be playing his emotional card with Master Soong right off the bat. Too bad we didn't have any prior connections with Master Soong, or we could've tried the same strategy."

As Ke Dong listened to the chatter around him, he learned about the identities of Soong Wan and Wang Chun, and his interest in Soong Wan deepened.

Unperturbed by the murmurs, Wang Chun seized Soong Wan's arm. "Master Soong, I have no idea how I ended up here, but could you stay by my side and protect me? If you can get me out of this hellhole, I'll give you ten million!"

Ten million?!

The crowd gasped at the sum. For the average person, ten million was a lifetime's unreachable goal, yet Wang Chun was offering it up with ease.

Was this the mindset of a real estate mogul?

Soong Wan calmly withdrew his arm, "Mr. Wang, it's not that I'm unwilling, but this labyrinth is fraught with peril. I'm struggling to ensure my own safety, let alone offer assistance."

The crowd was dumbfounded once more. Soong Wan had actually turned down ten million?

But then it dawned on them – in this accursed place, survival was uncertain, making Wang Chun's offer nothing more than an empty promise. It was no wonder Soong Wan had declined.

Undeterred, Wang Chun escalated his bid, "Thirty million! Fifty million! No, a hundred million! Master Soong! I'll agree to any terms if you'll protect me!"

Given their earlier thoughts, not even Wang Chun's skyrocketing offer could sway the crowd now. Money held no value in this place.

A look of annoyance crossed Soong Wan's face as he firmly pushed Wang Chun aside and turned back to Ke Dong.

"Ke, no more beating around the bush. I propose we team up to navigate this maze. With mutual support, we stand a better chance of survival. What do you say?"

Wang Chun froze at these words, his gaze shifting to Ke Dong with a hint of malice.

He'd offered a whopping hundred million, yet Soong Wan wouldn't lift a finger to protect him. What made Ke Dong so special?

Had it not been for this blasted labyrinth, he could've crushed Ke Dong with a mere word!

The crowd was visibly taken aback when they saw Master Soong volunteer to join Ke Dong in navigating the maze.

Sure, Ke Dong's kick was impressive, but was it enough to warrant such attention from a martial arts master?

Was there more to Ke Dong than met the eye?

In the midst of their astonishment, Ke Dong shook his head, "I appreciate the gesture, but I prefer to go it alone."

His words hung in the air, and once again, the onlookers were astounded: Had Ke Dong lost his mind?

To pass up such an incredible chance – how could he not seize it?