Chapter 77: Reluctant to See You Hurt
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Opening the door, they saw someone sitting in a wheelchair.
An Lan was stunned. Could the person in the wheelchair be Coach Gao?
“Ah Long, go out.” The person in the wheelchair turned slowly.
It was a man in his thirties, with stern features. His arms resting on the wheelchair’s armrests revealed tight muscles, suggesting regular exercise. However, his legs were covered with a blanket, hiding the condition beneath.
“Old Gao, they…”
“They won’t harm me and wouldn’t bother harming me.” Gao Chengyuan said.
Ah Long glanced at them and walked out.
“I heard you came to invite me as a coach?” Gao Chengyuan asked.
“Yes.” Xu Xingran replied, “The close-quarters combat circle isn’t large, but you have a great reputation in this field. The disciples you’ve trained have won many awards in major competitions.”
Gao Chengyuan tapped his fingers on the wheelchair’s armrests. “Don’t joke with me. I can see your skills; there’s nothing I can teach you.”
“So, there are some questions we want to ask you. Like about Zhang Lin.”
As soon as Xu Xingran’s words fell, Gao Chengyuan visibly tensed.
Zhang Lin was the fighter whose ligaments ruptured, forcing him to give up Mixed Martial Arts. Later, he miraculously recovered but died for unknown reasons.
“Zhang Lin once challenged your best student. In fact, the three who fought us today are not your most outstanding students,” Xu Xingran said.
Gao Chengyuan squinted his eyes. “You must have done a thorough investigation to come here. You should understand there are some questions I can’t answer. Pretend not to know anything and live longer. You’re young; it’s better not to pry into the abyss.”
“So, you do know something.”
Gao Chengyuan didn’t directly answer the question but asked, “Why don’t you share what you already know?”
“Zhang Lin challenged your best student, Jiang Su, and even caused Jiang Su’s shoulder to fracture. It was a severe injury, preventing him from returning to the fighting scene. After Jiang Su was injured, he must have gone through a very difficult period, right?”
Gao Chengyuan smiled helplessly. “What’s more painful than falling from a height? Pride falls into the dust, and past glory is gone. He’s a person who lives in applause and victories. Could you bear it if it were you?”
Xu Xingran shook his head. “Of course, I couldn’t. So, is there someone contacting him, offering him special treatment?”
Gao Chengyuan’s eyebrows trembled slightly. “Exactly. A certain doctor contacted him, claiming they could heal Zhang Lin’s ligaments, ensuring a better condition after his return. They also asserted the capability to restore Jiang Su if he agreed to the treatment. Jiang Su had to go to their location and follow their arrangements. Jiang Su informed me about this. At that time, he felt very joyful, finding new hope in his gloomy life.”
“He told you because deep down, he vaguely felt something was wrong with this treatment. But he didn’t want to live like a useless person, so he sought your opinion, hoping you could help him firm up his decision,” Xu Xingran said.
“Yes. So I made a decision that I regret. I told Jiang Su… it’s a trap. Fighters like Zhang Lin should challenge legitimate Mixed Martial Arts teams, not come to our fighting club. What if Zhang Lin intentionally injured your shoulder and then lured you into this illegal medical organization’s trap?” Gao Chengyuan said.
“What’s there to regret? Your analysis is correct; it is indeed an illegal medical organization,” Xiao Chen said.
Gao Chengyuan smiled, pointing his finger in Xiao Chen’s direction. “Then you really underestimated the power of this illegal medical organization.”
“What happened next?” Xu Xingran asked.
“Jiang Su refused the person who called him, saying he wanted to try other legitimate medical avenues. Rejecting them comes with a cost,” Gao Chengyuan paused. “That day, as Ah Long and I were taking Jiang Su to rehabilitation, a car crashed into us and sent us off the bridge.”
“I saw that news, claiming the truck driver was driving under the influence. Your car flipped into the river, Jiang Su drowned, you sustained severe leg injuries, and Ah Long’s waist was injured around that time too, right?”
“Yes.” Tears welled up in Gao Chengyuan’s eyes. “Initially, I thought it was just an accident. But someone anonymously called me, asking if I regretted my decision. That’s when I realized this ‘accident’ happened because Jiang Su rejected them.”
Gao Chengyuan’s shoulders shook violently, his throat hoarse.
“I don’t know what kind of families or backgrounds you come from, but I can only tell you… this organization has the ability to keep you living in perpetual unease.” Gao Chengyuan took a deep breath.
“You don’t need to blame yourself,” Gu Liyu, who had been silent, spoke.
“If you were in my shoes, could you avoid self-blame?” Gao Chengyuan retorted.
“Recently, Zhang Lin’s body was found, bearing many signs of severe beatings. The autopsy revealed significant degradation in his functions. If you let Jiang Su undergo the treatment from that organization, his fate would likely be similar to Zhang Lin’s,” Gu Liyu said.
Gao Chengyuan remained silent for a long time. “Is what you’re saying true?”
“There’s no ‘recovery’ in this world without a price,” Xu Xingran said.
“So, the real reason you came to me is to tell me that my decision back then wasn’t wrong, to give me comfort?” Gao Chengyuan asked.
“Coach Gao, think carefully. Since then, have members of your club frequently resigned, never to return? Including the skilled fighters you’ve trained?” Xu Xingran asked.
This question instantly stunned Gao Chengyuan.
“You…What do you mean?” he asked.
“Any medical experiment needs at least an experimental group and a control group. If Zhang Lin is their experimental group, including Jiang Su, then those powerful fighters who left your club are the control group.”
“I always thought they… left because of my car accident, and my coaching abilities declined, so they found stable careers elsewhere. Or… it’s impossible for people to fight forever. If they want a stable career, it’s not unreasonable… Are you saying they… became the control group? Control for what?”
“Whether those who used drugs after being injured became stronger, or those who were originally physically intact were stronger.”
Gao Chengyuan took a deep breath. “Are you suggesting that the Mixed Martial Arts fighter Zhang Lin during the fight, to those who left our club…”
“The police compared those who left your club. A total of twelve, and eight of them have already gone missing,” Xu Xingran said.
At this point, even An Lan found it frightening.
Gao Chengyuan didn’t know what this organization wanted to do, but An Lan knew that this organization was “Eden.”
“What… what should I do?” Gao Chengyuan asked.
“Do you think anyone in the club is most likely to be ‘invited’ by this organization, or who is most likely to accept this ‘invitation’?” Xu Xingran asked.
“Jiao Yun… she… she had some bad experiences before, making her very averse to alphas.” Gao Chengyuan lowered his head. “So, the so-called control group is to have them compete with the experimental group to determine their strengths and weaknesses, right? The so-called experimental group should consist of alphas who have been injured before?”
Xu Xingran nodded in response. “In theory, yes.”
Hearing this, even An Lan felt a chilling sensation in his heart. He imagined all the trials Zhang Lin went through after receiving treatment from “Eden.”
Zhang Lin first challenged professional Mixed Martial Arts athletes, which had no practical significance for “Eden.” After defeating those Mixed Martial Arts athletes, Zhang Lin found real combat experts, such as Jiang Su, a student of Gao Chengyuan. After defeating Jiang Su, he faced even more rigorous tests from “Eden”—combat against the control group.
This combat was probably a life-and-death struggle, and Zhang Lin’s body was exhausted in these battles. In the end, he faced death.
If, according to Gao Chengyuan, Jiao Yun harbored deep resentment towards alphas, if she was absorbed into “Eden” as part of the control group, her revengeful heart would undoubtedly show no mercy to alphas like Zhang Lin.
Gao Chengyuan clenched his fists. “I teach them combat as a skill to overcome opponents, not as a lethal technique.”
“However, ‘Eden’ is definitely monitoring this combat club. Today, we caused quite a scene, and the ‘Eden’ guys must have seen it. Will they contact that Jiao Yun?” Xiao Chen curiously asked.
“They will,” Gu Liyu said.
Xu Xingran lowered his head and smiled. “Indeed, ‘Eden’ has always been unruly. Who are they afraid of? Moreover… after today’s three matches, they might think that we are the most valuable control group, right?”
As soon as Gao Chengyuan heard this, his expression changed. “You students shouldn’t have gotten involved in this matter! Even the police can’t handle them. You kids…”
“We took care of your three disciples. Word is they are the most formidable ones you have left. It was also us who, as kids, thought about the most likely purpose of ‘Eden.'” Xiao Chen walked up to Gao Chengyuan, patting his shoulder. “And we’ve had a confrontation with this organization long before. Even if we didn’t approach them, they would eventually come to us.”
Xu Xingran took out his phone and called Captain Hong, asking them to protect Gao Chengyuan and closely monitor the recent activities of Gao Chengyuan’s three disciples, especially Jiao Yun. All their communications had to be under surveillance, and even their daily encounters with people had to be carefully examined.
“Today, we’ve achieved our goal, Coach Gao. You can rest now,” Xu Xingran patted Gao Chengyuan’s shoulder.
“What… what else can I do? I can’t let my students become the control group for that organization again…” Gao Chengyuan said.
“Coach Gao, you can’t stop it. It’s human nature.”
The three bid farewell to Gao Chengyuan and left the room.
Ah Long had been waiting outside. As soon as he saw them coming out, he jokingly asked, “Didn’t you say you wanted to apprentice? Are you guys my junior brothers now?”
“Brother Long, take good care of Coach Gao,” Xu Xingran turned back and smiled meaningfully.
Ah Long was taken aback for a moment, squinting his eyes.
Seeing Ah Long’s expression and recalling that before coming here, Xu Xingran had mentioned that there was danger for their students in this combat club, but the police would protect them, An Lan couldn’t help but wonder if Ah Long was actually part of the police.
Regardless of whether it was true or not, it couldn’t be openly discussed.
They had to pass by the arena when leaving. Old Qin and Jiao Yun, who had fought them, were both looking at them with probing eyes.
Jiao Yun sneered, “Didn’t you come to apprentice under Coach Gao? Why leave so soon?”
“We’ll have a formal apprenticeship ceremony another day. Senior Sister, please honor us by joining the feast,” Xu Xingran said with a smile.
“You’re so young, yet you’ve mastered the art of smiling on the surface but not in your heart.” Jiao Yun snorted, her gaze sweeping past Xu Xingran’s shoulder, landing on An Lan.
An Lan, walking side by side with Gu Liyu, had an eye-opening day. Before, he only knew that Gu Liyu and the others were outstanding in the younger generation of marksmanship, but today he realized it went beyond that.
“Why are you staring at me and not saying anything?” Gu Liyu stopped and asked.
“Ah?” An Lan smiled and approached Gu Liyu, looking into his eyes. “I was just thinking, do you have any more impressive qualities that I don’t know about?”
“I thought… I scared you,” Gu Liyu said.
“How could that be.”
Although he imagined Gu Liyu learning these close combat skills, An Lan felt a pang of sadness.
Gu Liyu gave a shallow smile. “Do you really want to know other impressive qualities of mine?”
“What else?” An Lan’s curiosity was piqued by Gu Liyu.
Xu Xingran sighed helplessly and walked ahead.
Covering his eyes, Xiao Chen said, “As an alpha, aside from pheromones, isn’t the most impressive part… there?”
An Lan, who had briefly thought about bestowing superhero attributes on Gu Liyu in his mind, choked.
The most impressive part of Gu Liyu, that one could glimpse in the shower room at Above Cloud Club… was about as much information as An Lan wanted to know.
“What are you daydreaming about?” Gu Liyu grabbed An Lan’s hand, their fingers intertwined. There was a hint of gentleness in his voice, “I’ve never been willing to let you suffer.”
An Lan tried to pull his hand back. Despite Gu Liyu’s seemingly relaxed and natural grip, An Lan found that when he tried to break free, the strength was cleverly controlled. It neither made An Lan feel his fingers being pinched painfully nor allowed him to escape.
As they passed by Jiao Yun, she spoke up.
“He’s restraining himself now, but plundering is the alpha’s nature.”
They didn’t stop, but An Lan knew that those words were directed at him from Jiao Yun.
In that instant, Gu Liyu’s hand seemed to loosen, but An Lan instead tightened his grip.
Gu Liyu looked at him, and An Lan just smiled.
He knew too well that the thorn embedded in Gu Liyu’s heart had not been pulled out. Normally, there was nothing that could shake Gu Liyu, but when it came to matters related to An Lan, it was different.
Jiao Yun’s words touched the thorn in Gu Liyu’s heart, and even for a moment, Gu Liyu would be afraid of hurting An Lan.
An Lan wouldn’t let him feel uneasy again and said softly, “You’re right… Plundering is the nature of an alpha. Just like me, wanting to possess everything of yours.”
Gu Liyu didn’t say anything, but An Lan knew he was pleased.
The three of them got into the car. Xiao Chen mischievously pushed Gu Liyu’s injured ribs, but Gu Liyu blocked it.
“What are you doing?”
“We’ve been classmates for so long, it’s rare to see you get injured.” Xiao Chen smiled with a pulled mouth.
“I’ve known you for so long, and it’s the first time I’ve seen your face swollen from being beaten.” An Lan teased from the side.
Xiao Chen’s expression immediately became somewhat gloomy.
While driving, Xu Xingran asked, “Want to go to the hospital?”
“No need,” Xiao Chen replied in a muffled voice.
“Don’t bother,” Gu Liyu added.
“But it’s a rib,” An Lan frowned.
Xu Xingran, driving and smiling, said, “Our recovery abilities are strong. Believe it or not, by tomorrow morning, when you see Xiao Chen again, he’ll have his usual arrogant school bully face. It’s the same for Gu Liyu. As long as Jiao Yun didn’t break his ribs, he should recover in three or four days.”
An Lan looked at Gu Liyu, silently asking if what Xu Xingran said was true.
Gu Liyu nodded and whispered, “It doesn’t hurt now.”
“But what about that Jiao Yun? She not only removed her own omega gland but also has deep opinions about alphas. You’re the most well-informed; spill the beans!” Xiao Chen patted the back of Xu Xingran’s seat.
When the car stopped at a downtown intersection, coincidentally with a red light lasting about ninety seconds, Xu Xingran spoke leisurely.
“Actually, it’s the kind of story you often see in social news… a tragic story for others but a real experience for Jiao Yun. She was once forcibly marked by a certain alpha,” Xu Xingran said.
“Nowadays, it’s a society governed by the rule of law, with so many legal provisions protecting omegas. Any alpha who forcefully marks an omega will find it challenging to survive in society. Isn’t it possible that the alpha involved had a special status and didn’t face consequences?” An Lan asked.
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