Cutting the Grass and Pulling the Roots

From Tu Ran's angle, she could see the veins bulging on his forehead and hear the grinding, creaking sound of his teeth.

He refused to submit.

"As I recall, as long as both parties willingly step onto the ring and there are witnesses around, life and death are both permitted in a match. So right now, whether you live or die is entirely up to me." Tu Ran leaned close to his ear and said in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Lu Huaiwei panicked.

He sensed the killing intent.

"I give—"

"Crack"

Before Lu Huaiwei could finish his surrender, Tu Ran twisted his neck to the side, snapping it.

The crowd below gasped, staring at her in shock and fear.

This was nothing more than an ordinary sparring match, yet this woman had snapped her opponent's neck.

She climbed off him, stood up, and brushed off the nonexistent dust from her hands.

Lu Huaiwei didn't accept her, but he couldn't beat her either.

If he harbored a grudge, he wouldn't confront her head-on in the future; more likely, he'd trip her up behind her back.

Dealing with him early saved trouble later.

Tu Ran stepped down from the ring, and Ding Naiqing swallowed hard before giving her an involuntary thumbs-up. "Sister Ran, you're amazing."

He'd been worried about her for nothing—just borrowing trouble.

Although Tu Ran twisting her opponent's head off on the ring didn't violate Federation law, she was still "invited" by the Inspection Department to the Inspection Center.

The statement was taken by the same white-haired man who had interrogated her yesterday, the one who claimed to be a former "Iron-Blooded Inspector," named Li Fuyang.

"It's you again, little miss." Li Fuyang adjusted the glasses on his nose.

These days, few people wore glasses like him; most were elderly. Young people would have some chip implanted in their eyes—a five-minute surgery that kept their vision clear forever.

"Mm... I didn't violate Federation law this time, did I?" Tu Ran asked.

"No, you didn't, but I still need to take your statement."

"Go ahead and ask, I'll cooperate fully."

Li Fuyang glanced up at her, then lowered his head and wrote something in a notebook.

These days, not many people used paper like he did either.

But he hadn't even asked a question yet—why was he already writing? Tu Ran was puzzled.

At that moment, the first sentence on Li Fuyang's notebook read: Pioneer Tu Ran, good attitude, active cooperation, respects elders. Though it's all a facade, she pretends well.

"Did he willingly step onto the ring?" Li Fuyang asked.

"Yes, everyone present can testify for me. Ding Naiqing even tried to stop him, but he pushed Ding Naiqing away and even insulted him."

Li Fuyang nodded and continued, "He didn't surrender in the middle?"

"No," Tu Ran shook her head without changing her expression. "I asked him if he wanted to surrender, but he didn't answer and even tried to struggle, so I had no choice but to do it."

Tu Ran sighed regretfully.

Li Fuyang glanced at her.

"Don't try to put on an act in front of me. As a former Iron-Blooded Inspector of the Federation, not a single subtle expression of yours can escape my eyes!"

Tu Ran could tell he was very proud of that title, bringing it up every time.

"Is the statement done? When can I leave?"

Li Fuyang adjusted his glasses. "You can leave now."

Tu Ran stood up. "Then I'm off, Iron-Blooded Inspector. Goodbye."

Li Fuyang's old face flushed at her address of him, and he said angrily, "Who told you to call me that?"