Chapter 167: The Queen Who Can't Bear It! Completely Lost Her Control:
In the office, a stunning woman with a proud figure and an irresistible charm practiced a set of boxing techniques. Each graceful movement exuded elegance.
After finishing the routine, Yan Wumei's captivating face revealed a hint of regret.
The set of boxing moves had been taught to her by Xu Hao, and the memory of his teaching was vivid in her mind.
She had practiced it countless times, gaining new insights with each attempt.
However, what troubled her was that Xu Hao had only taught her half of the routine. She hadn't learned the remaining part yet. His hands-on teaching method made it easier to grasp the techniques, but the postures were awkward, and his hesitation during the lessons had been almost unbearable for her.
Despite being a mature woman in her thirties, she couldn't withstand the tension during those lessons. She had completely lost her composure...
Yan Wumei understood why Xu Hao hesitated—after all, she was well aware of her own allure. But understanding didn't make the situation any less embarrassing.
The trembling she had experienced under his guidance must have caught Xu Hao’s attention, leaving her too ashamed to face him again.
Thus, she had been practicing alone these past days, avoiding any interactions with Xu Hao.
But still, she couldn't stop thinking about him.
The memories of his teaching, the closeness, and the subtle touches replayed in her mind. It was the first time she had felt such emotions.
Xu Hao's strength was beyond her imagination, which made her wonder—how did the beautiful matriarch of the Xu family, his wife, handle it? Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, she scolded herself for entertaining such ideas.
"Yan Wumei, you're the queen of the underground world, the leader of countless women. How can you let your mind wander to a married man?" she muttered.
Even though Xu Hao didn't look his age, he was at the prime of his charm...
[Ding! Yan Wumei's heartbeat accelerated, emotional points +555.]
Lost in thought, she was startled by a knock on the door.
"Come in," she said calmly, pushing aside her distractions.
Xiao Qi, her short-haired confidant, entered with a solemn expression. "Sister Yan, the two forces are coming to our doorstep again."
Yan Wumei’s expression turned cold. She walked over to her weapon rack, put on a pair of silk gloves, and picked up a Tang sword.
"Let's go meet them. Do they really think they can suppress me as they did before? I haven't even settled the score with them yet, and now they dare come to me?" she said sternly.
Xiao Qi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Sister Yan, this time they seem more determined than ever. It looks like they have found some powerful reinforcements..."
Yan Wumei’s face darkened.
Xiao Qi had been by her side for a long time and never exaggerated. If he was this concerned, the situation must be serious.
She clenched her fists. "No matter who they bring, I'm not afraid."
…
(At night)
On a deserted street, two rival forces faced off against Red Rose.
One side was filled with burly men covered in tattoos, wielding various weapons and exuding fierce auras. The other side, Red Rose, was composed entirely of women, each holding a long sword that contrasted with their feminine charm. Despite being outnumbered, they stood strong, their killing intent palpable.
The leaders of Qinglong Hall and the Tyrant Gang stood side by side.
"Old Tie, this time we must not hold back. We need to crush Red Rose once and for all and then settle who truly reigns over Demon City," said the Tyrant Gang leader with a wicked grin.
"Hahaha... Old Wang, I couldn't agree more. It's been half a year, and we've let Yan Wumei run rampant for far too long," the Qinglong Hall leader replied.
"Exactly! But this time, let my Tyrant Gang handle Yan Wumei. Just because she had a breakthrough, she thinks she's invincible. We have our own surprises for her."
"Oh? Did you bring reinforcements as well, Old Tie?" Wang Long asked with narrowed eyes.
"You too, huh?"
After exchanging pleasantries, both sides quickly realized they had each recruited a peak Dark Strength Realm master. Their expressions turned serious.
Having one master join them could be considered luck, but two? It was suspicious. However, they had no choice but to accept the situation.
A single peak Dark Strength Realm master could challenge their entire forces, and now they had one each. They couldn't afford to act recklessly.
Initially, their goal had been to eliminate Red Rose and then turn on each other using their newfound strength. But now, with both sides having equal reinforcements, their plans had changed.
They were left with no choice but to tread carefully.
What they didn't know was that Xu Hao had strategically placed these masters in their ranks to disrupt their balance. By making them wary of each other, neither side dared to make a move against Red Rose.
This gave Yan Wumei a much-needed respite.
She took this opportunity to seek Xu Hao's help to further enhance her strength.
Everything was going according to Xu Hao's plan.
This was precisely why Xu Hao had to deal with Luo Yan in advance. If Luo Yan had been present, he could have easily handled the two masters, rendering their threat ineffective. Not only would it have failed to pressure Yan Wumei, but it would have also allowed Luo Yan to act heroically, turning Xu Hao's efforts into someone else's gain.
Shortly after, the roar of an engine echoed in the night as a Porsche came to a stop.
Yan Wumei stepped out gracefully.
The moment their leader appeared, the women of Red Rose felt a wave of relief wash over them, as if they had found their pillar of strength.
"Sister Yan, something's wrong. The people from Qinglong Hall and Tyrant Gang seem more determined than ever to take us down," one of her confidants reported.
Yan Wumei's expression turned icy, and she said nothing.
Gripping her sword tightly, she stood at the forefront of her forces, her gaze piercing through the opposing factions.
Despite facing an army of formidable enemies, fear was the last thing on her mind.
At this moment, her commanding presence radiated an undeniable dominance.
Her arrival stirred a buzz among the opposing men.
"No wonder she's called the queen of the underground world. She's absolutely stunning."
"Now I understand why ancient emperors waged wars over women. Just looking at her, I get it."
"Damn, she's like a temptress! Who could resist her?"
"Whoever manages to conquer her is a true man."
"Forget it. One slap from her could send us flying. Let’s just hope the boss can capture her and make her ours."
Even the leaders of Qinglong Hall and the Tyrant Gang, Wang Long and Tie Batian, were captivated by Yan Wumei's beauty. The real reason they had joined forces against Red Rose wasn’t just to seize territory—it was because of her.
Both had pursued Yan Wumei privately in the past, and both had been mercilessly rejected. Since wooing her through conventional means had failed, they chose a different approach. If she wouldn’t willingly submit, they would crush her organization and force her hand.
Yan Wumei, however, was not one to be swayed by force or persuasion. "If you want a fight, then let’s fight. I'm not afraid of anyone," she had declared.
Now, with both leaders eager to defeat her, she addressed them coldly. "You have the audacity to trouble my Red Rose? I thought the past six months had humbled you..."
Tie Batian chuckled arrogantly. "Hahaha, I've always been bold."
Wang Long smirked. "Don't think that just because you've had a breakthrough in strength, you can ignore us. We were just toying with you before."
Yan Wumei's face darkened. She knew their hesitation over the past six months was due to their mutual distrust. Neither had gone all out, fearing the other might take advantage. But tonight, things were different—they were serious.
Even so, she remained unfazed. "If that’s the case, come at me. My Red Rose may not match your combined strength, but before I fall, I will take one of you down with me."
Her words were a blatant threat, and both Wang Long and Tie Batian hesitated. They knew Yan Wumei was ruthless enough to follow through on her warning, which had been a major reason for their cautious approach so far.
However, this time they were prepared.
Their confidence was evident as they sneered. "Yan Wumei, don't be so full of yourself. Do you really think your breakthrough makes you untouchable? We may not be enough to deal with you, but others can."
As they finished speaking, the crowd parted, and two figures stepped forward—one tall and lean, the other short and stout. Their presence exuded an overwhelming aura, deep and oppressive like an abyss.
Yan Wumei's eyes narrowed. She had expected them to have some trump card, but she hadn't anticipated both factions recruiting peak Dark Strength Realm masters.
Previously, she might have been able to handle one, but two... that was a different story.
A sense of helplessness crept in.
If she were also at the peak Dark Strength Realm, she wouldn’t have to worry about this situation. As a thought crossed her mind, she recalled Xu Hao.
She had gained so much from just two training sessions with him. If she had continued to seek his guidance, she might have already reached that level. Her close friend, Xu Feiyan, was a testament to his teachings—fearless, even in the face of formidable opponents.
Regret flooded her heart. If only she had swallowed her pride and approached Xu Hao earlier, she wouldn't be in such a predicament now.
Noticing her wavering confidence, Wang Long and Tie Batian grew smug.
"What’s wrong, Yan Wumei? Weren't you all high and mighty before? Didn't you say you’d take one of us down with you?" Wang Long taunted.
"Go on, I'm right here. If you dare, make your move. But now you see our true strength, don't you?" Tie Batian laughed.
Yan Wumei stood her ground, her mind racing. This wasn’t just about Red Rose anymore—it was about survival.
"If you know what's good for you, surrender with your Red Rose and give up all your territory."
"Your Red Rose doesn't have to be disbanded—just merge into our Tyrant Gang. My brothers have been eyeing your sisters for a long time."
"And as for you... I'll take good care of you."
"Hold on a second, my friend. We agreed that Red Rose’s territory belongs to you, but Yan Wumei belongs to me."
"Hmph, you can't be serious..."
The leaders of the two factions began arguing openly over Yan Wumei, with tensions rising and a potential fallout looming. Truly, she was a beauty capable of causing disaster.
Observing the heated exchange, the two peak Dark Strength Realm masters—one short and stout, the other tall and lean—exchanged glances. In their eyes, there was only disdain and pity.
They were both members of the mysterious organization "Wu Xiang." Though they weren’t fully aware of the bigger plan behind their infiltration of these two forces, one thing was certain—their ultimate target was Yan Wumei.
Otherwise, why would their orders be to focus on subduing her without harming a single hair on her head? No actions beyond the specified limit were allowed.
They dared not defy the orders from "Wu Xiang." They were well aware of the organization's terrifying power. Despite their own status as peak Dark Power experts, they were mere pawns in "Wu Xiang," where Transforming Strength Realm masters were aplenty, each capable of crushing them with ease.
The mystery surrounding "Wu Xiang" was fearsome—those who encountered them either joined or perished, leaving no witnesses alive. Even those who joined had their families held as leverage, ensuring absolute obedience.
Although they resented their predicament, they had no choice but to comply. Messing with Yan Wumei beyond orders would be courting death.
Without a word, they stepped forward, their killing intent sweeping toward Yan Wumei.
Yan Wumei snapped out of her thoughts. She knew she was outmatched, but retreat was not an option. Tightening her grip on the sword, she stepped forward fearlessly.
In the open space between the two forces, the three of them locked eyes. The battle was imminent.
The short and stout man and the tall and lean man struck first. To ensure they didn’t accidentally harm Yan Wumei, they both wielded weapons.
Gritting her teeth, Yan Wumei met their attack head-on.
Clang!
The sound of clashing metal echoed through the night.
Facing two peak Dark Strength Realm masters, Yan Wumei found herself at a disadvantage from the very beginning.
Within mere moments, she was struck by a powerful blow and sent crashing to the ground.
Her breathing became ragged, and she could feel the internal injuries wreaking havoc inside her body. A deep sense of despair crept in.
The power gap was too wide, and she was up against two formidable opponents. There was no way she could win.
She had hoped to hold out for a while, but she had been overwhelmed so quickly. Now, she feared for what would come next—the destruction of Red Rose, the suffering of her sisters, and her own fate in the hands of these men.
The consequences were too dire.
Yan Wumei clenched her fists in frustration. If only she had asked Xu Hao for more guidance earlier. Even with a little more training, she might not have fallen so easily.
But it was too late now. There was no turning back.
If she could turn back time, she wouldn’t hesitate to seek out every opportunity to grow stronger.
And the opportunity had always been there—Xu Hao.