Chapter 10 · First Fight in the Cage

The cage smelled like rust and piss.

Chen Feng stood in the center, bare feet on metal grating that bit into his soles. Blood from earlier fights pooled in the gaps. The overhead lights buzzed. Someone was screaming bets in the crowd but Chen couldn't make out the words over the ringing in his ears.

Across from him, a guy the size of a fridge wrapped chain around his fists. Link by link. Taking his time.

"You the gym rat?" Chain Guy didn't look up. Just kept wrapping. "Heard you can take a punch."

Chen's mouth was dry. He tried to swallow. Couldn't.

Three days ago Zhao had shoved a card in his face outside the gym. Midnight. East Dock. One fight. Or Su Mian's place burns. Chen had thrown the card away. Then dug it out of the trash an hour later.

Old Xu didn't know he was here. Su Mian sure as hell didn't know.

"Hey." Chain Guy finally looked up. His face was scar tissue and bad teeth. "You deaf?"

"I can take a punch," Chen said.

Chain Guy grinned. "Good."

The bell didn't ring. There was no bell.