C9 Private Settling 3

Chu Yang couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement when he saw Chen Le take the bait, but he quickly composed himself. He played along with Chen Le's line of thinking. "I have no idea. What exactly did you do to me? All I remember is waking up to find only Miss Meng by my side." To avoid raising any suspicions, Chu Yang kept it to himself that he was well-acquainted with Meng Jingxian.

Chen Le breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving Chu Yang's confirmation. He was unaware of the poison, believing he had merely passed out from an injury. Since Chu Yang was in the dark, Chen Le saw no need to divulge his secret. "I was frightened myself. How could I possibly know why you would faint out of the blue?"

Realizing that Chen Le intended to feign ignorance, Chu Yang understood that he wouldn't get any information out of him today. Deciding not to beat around the bush, he got straight to the point. "Since it's unrelated to you, let's discuss who will take over this position."

Chen Le was caught off guard. He hadn't expected Chu Yang to be so direct or to bring it up so quickly, but wishes are one thing, and reality is another. Chu Yang enjoyed the element of surprise, and if his actions became predictable, the fun would be lost.

Seeing Chu Yang's earnest demeanor, Chen Le felt the pressure. It was as if Chu Yang wouldn't rest until he had an answer today. "Look, you're young and inexperienced. If you were to take this position now, there would be dissent from those below. So..."

Chu Yang cut him off mid-sentence, clearly impatient. "Are you questioning the judgment of our superiors? Or is there something else you're trying to say?"

Chen Le found himself at a loss for words, his mouth opening and closing without producing a sound. Any response seemed incorrect. He couldn't criticize the superiors' decision-making, nor could he admit that his reluctance to take the position was simply because he didn't want it. He had his own unfinished business, and only in this role could he carry out his plans more smoothly.

"Since you've got nothing to say, are you ready to step down from your position?" Chu Yang advanced relentlessly. He was convinced that today, Chen Le wouldn't be able to turn the tables. The memory of the agonizing pain from the venomous insect bite still lingered with him.

"No way. I'm laying it on the line right now; I'm not relinquishing my spot," Chen Le blurted out, cornered and without a filter. But words once spoken can't be retracted, and he had no intention of backpedaling on his declaration.

Chen Le couldn't have imagined that Chu Yang's prolonged engagement was a ploy to elicit that very response. Consequently, all that followed was a direct result of his statement, and Chu Yang couldn't be held accountable. "So you're saying if I take you down, the position is mine?" Chu Yang's grin was irrepressible, clearly reveling in the moment.

Chen Le hadn't anticipated this escalation. He assumed Chu Yang would retreat in the face of his bold declaration, especially since he wasn't without his own supporters.

After waiting over ten seconds and getting no response from Chen Le, Chu Yang grew impatient and launched an attack. His fists flew with the speed of a spending spree, blurring into overlapping shadows.

Yet, the ensuing events took Chu Yang by surprise. Chen Le managed to evade the assault. Despite being an Immortal Venerable and confident in his own swiftness, Chu Yang found it incredible that Chen Le had dodged so effortlessly.

Undeterred, Chu Yang continued his onslaught, transforming the office into their arena. Thankfully, the spaciousness of the principal's office accommodated their fierce duel.

Chu Yang's attacks grew increasingly rapid, escalating from fists to a full-on flurry of limbs. Chen Le, focused solely on evading, was left with no chance to counterattack. As he struggled to match Chu Yang's velocity, his body began to accumulate injuries, each more severe than the last.

Minutes later, Chu Yang had Chen Le completely subdued. Sweat plastered Chen Le's face, yet Chu Yang remained as composed as if he hadn't lifted a finger—his face unflushed, his breath steady. The disparity in their abilities was clear. Despite ultimately being overpowered, Chen Le's prowess had taken Chu Yang by surprise. He had pegged Chen Le as all show and no substance, only to discover he was quite capable.

Chen Le was the first person Chu Yang had encountered since returning to Earth who could withstand him for such a duration. Whether Chu Yang's own strength had waned or Chen Le possessed genuine talent was unclear. With a forceful twist of Chen Le's arm behind his back, pleas for mercy soon followed.

"Let's... let's talk this out..." Chen Le stammered, finally articulating his request.

But Chu Yang's thoughts of his sister fueled a burning resentment that wouldn't be quelled. His grip on Chen Le's twisted arm tightened, the pressure mounting as Chen Le's cries for leniency grew increasingly desperate.