With global currency devaluation, I'll wear these back and take my whole family flying!

Jin Pili raised an eyebrow noncommittally: "I've never liked hiding things. If you want to be my friends, then I'll show you the real me."

As she spoke, she led Shen Ci and Gu Lianxing to two empty seats and settled them in: "You two just sit here quietly. The drinks in the refrigerator by the wall are free. The restroom is at the far left end of the corridor. There are cameras and reverse camera scanners everywhere here, so don't take any pictures with your phones, understand?"

Shen Ci nodded, and Gu Lianxing mechanically followed suit.

Pili glanced at the time again: "I don't have time, I'm going now."

Shen Ci suddenly grabbed Pili's wrist, her brows furrowed with worry as she asked, "Are you really okay?"

Pili shook his head at her: "It's alright. Although everyone who comes in according to the rules has to participate in gambling, I'll talk to you two and make sure you're not involved. Don't worry."

"That's not what I meant." Shen Ci looked into her eyes and said seriously, "I meant you, is that alright?"

Jin Pili was slightly taken aback, and he and Shen Ci looked into each other's eyes at the obvious concern and worry in her gaze.

After a moment, she turned her head and chuckled softly, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

It seemed that time was truly running out. Jin Pili withdrew his wrist and left quickly without looking back, but the worry in Shen Ci's eyes did not dissipate.

At that moment, two fighters were competing in the arena. The surrounding audience was screaming and cheering excitedly, as if they had been injected with adrenaline. The two fighters were both muscular men, and now they were bruised and blood was splattered everywhere.

Thunderbolt, she's a girl!

"Aci, let's... let's go."

Gu Lianxing seemed to only then come to her senses, and grasped Shen Ci's arm, saying nervously and timidly, "I'm a little scared, what if they beat someone to death..."

Before Shen Ci could react, a man in a suit next to her suddenly smiled and said, "Is this your first time here, young lady? Don't worry, this fighting arena has been around for over ten years and has never had a fatality. The referees and fighters are all very professional."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci quickly asked, "Sir, do you come here often? Is this underground boxing ring? Is it a place that specializes in betting?"

The man looked at Shen Ci with interest, and smiled slightly, gesturing with his chin towards the area behind Shen Ci: "Look over there, that's where online gambling is being conducted."

Shen Ci turned around and saw an area behind him where eight computers were arranged side by side, and staff members wearing suits and headphones were all intently operating something.

"The betting area is over there." The man pointed in another direction: "If this is your first time here, I don't recommend betting blindly. You can choose popular players and follow the trend to bet; that will increase your chances of winning."

Shen Ci understood.

The driver who said "Everyone who goes in has to participate, that's the rule" before we got into the van meant that we had to participate in betting.

But underground gambling is illegal, which is why Pili said she would go and make arrangements so that it wouldn't involve the two of them.

Just then, a burst of loud cheers erupted from the crowd.

The match is over, and the red team has won.

The big screen displayed the winner's image, clearly showing his historical record: 12 wins and 10 losses, with betting odds of 1 to 6.

In other words, the person who bets on this person to win can earn six times the prize money.

"Ugh, it's another Taekwondo vs. Kickboxing match. You win one, I win another, it's so boring."

The man shook his head with a complaining tone, his voice lacking enthusiasm.

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci couldn't help but ask curiously, "Sir, weren't the matches grouped by sport? Why is 'Taekwondo' being paired with 'Mixed Kickboxing'?"

"That's what makes this place so fun. There are no different events; the matchups are all decided by drawing lots. There are a lot of uncertainties. After all, there are so many types of fighting in the world. You might be able to beat one, but you might not be able to beat another."

"What about gender? Are there no distinctions between male and female contestants?" Shen Ci quickly asked.

The man nodded: "Of course, there aren't many female contestants to begin with, and the probability of drawing the same gender is extremely small. Anyway, I've never seen two female contestants in the same group."

Upon hearing this, Shen Ci's heart skipped a beat.

Gu Lianxing understood as well. She looked at Shen Ci anxiously and said, "Aci, let's go. Let's call Pili along. Even if we're short of money, we can't fight this. It's too dangerous!"

Before Shen Ci could speak, a gong banging sound, accompanied by cheers from the audience, once again resounded throughout the venue.

The host, holding the microphone, announced with great enthusiasm that the next match was about to begin. When the name Pili was uttered by the host, Shen Ci and Gu Lianxing instinctively straightened up.

"Oh no, Thunderbolt is about to enter the arena!" Gu Lianxing murmured.

Shen Ci's palms were already sweating.

The man next to them looked at the two of them and asked with a smile, "Are you fans of Pili? I've bet on her today too!"

But at this point, the two of them could no longer hear what he was saying, or perhaps they couldn't hear any other sounds at the scene; all they could hear was the pounding of their own hearts.

Before long, the blue team took the stage first.

He was a muscular man about 1.8 meters tall. He was only wearing blue shorts, a pair of boxing gloves the size of his head, and a mouthguard. Judging from his equipment, it was not hard to tell that he was a professional "boxer"!

Given the height difference and the natural strength gap between men and women, how could Pili possibly defeat such a man?

Soon, Thunderbolt from the red team slowly walked out of the rest room on the other side. She was wearing a tight-fitting tube top and close-fitting shorts, without any equipment, looking neat and clean.

However, Shen Ci couldn't immediately discern what she was studying from this outfit.

When Pili appeared, Gu Lianxing couldn't help but tremble: "What about Shen Ci? Can Pili handle this?"

Shen Ci was just as nervous as Gu Lianxing, but when she saw the fearless gaze of Pili on the field, she was also infected by it and inexplicably gained a little more confidence.

"I hope so," Shen Ci murmured.

Both the red and blue sides clasped their fists in salute, their Thunder Palms clenched, their postures upright, and the aura emanating from their bodies made Shen Ci understand at that moment.

Pili uses "Chinese martial arts"!

The gong sounds, and the duel begins!

The audience stirred, and Shen Ci and Gu Lianxing instinctively stood up from their seats, their eyes fixed on the situation in the fighting arena.

The blue boxer struck first, trying to seize the initiative. He swung his arm and swept his fist, which flew straight toward Pili's face with the force of a whirlwind. He did not slacken his strength at all because his opponent was a girl.

Upon seeing this, Shen Ci and Gu Lianxing instinctively gripped each other's hands tightly, their breaths even catching in their throats. But Pili simply tilted his head slightly and easily dodged the opponent's full-force attack!