Chapter 43: Cornered Beast (Revised)

The chaos sparked by Lin Hao spread like wildfire, but as the organization capable of running such a large underground auction beneath Tianmian City, Undercurrent's response to this situation was also extremely swift.

The ever‑poised Butterfly Speaker's expression shifted slightly at this sight, but he did not panic.

His ability to serve as Undercurrent's auctioneer tonight relies on more than just eloquence and looks.

The mechanical phoenix‑tailed butterfly perched on his shoulder fluttered up under his control, scattering dreamy blue‑purple phosphorescent powder across the auction hall, while he himself drew a deep breath.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please stay calm!"

His voice carried a soothing power that reached straight to the heart, attempting to quell the negative surge triggered by Lin Hao.

"This is merely a minor mishap; Undercurrent will take care of it shortly......"

His words and mental soothing did take effect—some bidders caught in negative emotions hesitated, then gradually calmed down.

At the same moment, several figures in black combat attire emerged from the shadows around the auction platform—members of Undercurrent's Mercenary Corps.

They acted swiftly and with training, beginning to stabilize the situation, curbing the violence of some, evacuating the crowd to safety, and locking onto the source of the chaos——

the monster that was rampaging.

The situation seemed to be brought under control in the blink of an eye.

Yet the Butterfly Speaker still underestimated Lin Hao, whose reason had been completely devoured by Mutation, as he burst forth with terrifying speed.

In the short one or two seconds while he focused on mental soothing, Lin Hao, now half‑human half‑monster, shot forth like a shell from a barrel, slamming into and flinging aside every guard and piece of furniture that tried to block his path.

He was charging straight for the auction platform—more precisely, he came lunging at him who stood before the life‑support cabin!

"What the hell?!"

Alarm bells rang in the Butterfly Speaker's mind; he launched a mental strike to disrupt Lin Hao's movements while pushing off with his feet, his body floating backward like a butterfly, light and airy, to increase distance.

But Lin Hao's speed was too great.

His mental strike slammed into the part of Lin Hao's brain already overtaken by rage and Mutation—like a stone sinking into the sea—eliciting only a more frenzied roar, while his charge speed remained undiminished.

"Hey hey hey! You've got to be kidding!"

Finally unable to hold back, the Butterfly Speaker burst out with a complaint utterly at odds with his elegant appearance.

"We're all just playing with consciousness—how did this turn into a berserk frenzy?!"

But his complaint could not change reality.

The next instant, Lin Hao's massive arm, now grown with keratin and bone spurs and wielding destructive force, smashed into the Butterfly Speaker, who had only managed to muster a thin energy shield on his surface in the hurried moment.

"Bang——!"

A muffled sound rang out as the shield shattered on impact.

The Butterfly Speaker felt as if he had been hit head‑on by a speeding freight truck, his body flung backward uncontrollably.

He crashed into the decorative column at the edge of the auction platform, tumbling into a disordered heap and struggling to get up for a moment.

The mechanical phoenix butterfly also fell beside him with a mournful cry, its light dimming.

Having cleared the obstacles before him, Lin Hao's terrifying figure finally stood before the life‑support cabin.

He lowered his head, gazing at Ye Lin still asleep inside the cabin; a flash of tenderness and urgency belonging to Lin Hao flickered in his scarlet eyes.

He let out an indistinct whimper, raised his already deformed palm, and slowly reached out toward the girl inside the life‑support cabin.

"Sorry...... I should have come earlier......"

He let out a ragged gasp, as if regaining a sliver of sanity after his madness, and thrust his fully twisted, deformed hand toward the cabin's door.

The specially crafted material groaned under his brute force, cracks spreading rapidly.

"Crack!"

He tore the life‑support cabin's door apart with brute strength and flung it aside.

Pale blue nutrient fluid gushed out with a splash, spilling across the floor.

Deprived of the fluid's buoyancy, the sleeping Ye Lin slumped softly downward.

A flash of urgency crossed Lin Hao's eyes; he quickly extended his relatively intact other hand, hoping to catch her and carry her away.

"Outrageous! Heretic, you dare not harm anyone!"

A furious shout exploded like thunder.

Qi Junyi had been watching coldly from the sidelines until he saw the monster smash the life‑support cabin and reach out toward the unconscious girl inside.

He knew the auction venue was a mix of dragons and snakes, and though he preferred not to intervene so early, the mission they had received was to protect the girl who was being offered as a lot.

Qi Junyi hesitated not at all, shattering the glass of his private box and charging out, delivering a lightning‑fast side kick that struck Lin Hao's ribs with the force of a battle‑axe.

"Bang!"

A dull impact sound rang out.

At this moment Lin Hao's entire focus was on Ye Lin, leaving him unprepared as Qi Junyi's heavy, forceful kick landed squarely on him.

The force of Qi Junyi's kick was astonishingly heavy and fierce.

Lin Hao staggered back, his thickened, mutated legs carving deep gouges in the metal floor, while corrosive saliva dripped uncontrollably from his fangs, making a sizzling sound.

Qi Junyi lightly flexed his ankle, his eyes burning with icy battle intent, all trace of his usual carefree demeanor gone as he locked onto the monster radiating frenzied killing intent before him.

"Judgment Court business—idlers, get out!"

He announced it coldly; although his target was Lin Hao, the warning was meant for everyone in the hall who was itching to act.

"Give her...... back to me!"

Lin Hao stared fixedly at Qi Junyi, who stood before Ye Lin; his frenzied obsession once again overrode the pain from his ribs, and the sliver of sanity he had just regained was swallowed anew by his beastly nature.

He no longer tried to take Ye Lin away, instead pouring all his rage into this sudden stumbling block.

Qi Junyi snorted, sidestepping to evade Lin Hao's lawless, ferocious lunge.

The massive arm, bristling with bone spurs, swept past his chest with an evil wind, yet not even a thread of his clothing was touched.

"Is that all?"

Qi Junyi then drove a heavy elbow strike into Lin Hao's belly, eliciting a dull 'bang'.

Lin Hao winced in pain, letting out a muffled roar, while his other intact hand swung wildly.

His movements were huge and reckless, his power terrifying yet utterly unskilled, like an enraged wild ox.

Qi Junyi was even too lazy to block, merely ducking with a casual dip, allowing that arm capable of shattering rock to sweep over his head.

At the same time, his right leg swept swiftly to the side‑back of Lin Hao's supporting knee.

Ugh—ah!

Lin Hao's balance faltered instantly, his massive body stumbling, dropping to one knee on the ground, cracking fine fissures into the floor.

Roar—!

He roared unwillingly, struggling to rise, his blood‑red eyes filled only with madness.

"Can't even keep your footing, yet you still try to steal like others?"

Qi Junyi's voice carried unabashed mockery; seizing the moment, he stepped forward, grasped the wrist of Lin Hao's Mutation arm, used his body to pivot, and delivered a clean, swift over‑shoulder throw.

Boom!

Lin Hao's heavy body was slammed hard onto the ground, shaking the entire auction platform as if it shivered.

Giving him no chance to breathe, Qi Junyi's knee pressed heavily against his back of the neck, pinning him firmly to the ground.

He also twisted his wrists backward, locking his arms with a special binding device engraved with blue Rune.

The entire fight lasted only a few breaths, fast enough to dazzle the eyes.

Yet Qi Junyi's breathing remained perfectly steady; he brushed imagined dust from his hand, watching Lin Hao futilely struggle on the ground, occasionally letting out a disgruntled roar, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"With this three‑legged cat's skill not even enough for a turtle fist, you still dare to jump before me, your father? Who gave you the courage?"