第160章 "Deception's Iron Grip"

**Chapter 160: The Web of Deception**

White Xiaopu's anger had reached a boiling point, his chest heaving with each ragged breath. The stranger's calm gaze only infuriated him further, and he lunged at the man with a snarl.

But to his surprise, the stranger didn't flinch. Instead, he reached out and grasped White Xiaopu's wrist, his grip like a vice.

"Ah, youth," the stranger said, his voice low and smooth. "You're so quick to judge, so slow to understand. You've been playing right into my hands, and you still don't see it."

White Xiaopu struggled against the stranger's grip, his face twisted with rage. "Let me go! You're just a trickster, trying to confuse me!"

The stranger chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. "I'm not a trickster, little one. I'm your only hope. You see, I've been watching you for some time now, and I've come to a realization. You're not just a pawn in the game – you're the key to it all."

White Xiaopu's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice shaking with anger.

The stranger leaned in, his breath cold and rank. "You have the potential to become something greater than you ever thought possible. But you need my help to unlock that potential. And I'm willing to give it to you – for a price."

White Xiaopu's eyes flashed with fury. "You're just trying to manipulate me!" he spat, but the stranger's grip only tightened.

"Ah, but I'm not," the stranger said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "I'm trying to set you free. Free from the chains of ignorance, free from the shackles of your own doubts. You have the power to change the course of your destiny, White Xiaopu – but you need to trust me."

White Xiaopu's face contorted in a mix of emotions – anger, fear, and uncertainty. He looked into the stranger's eyes, searching for any sign of deception, any hint of truth. And for a moment, he thought he saw something there – a glimmer of sincerity, a spark of genuine interest.

But before he could process it, the stranger's grip relaxed, and he vanished into thin air. Leaving White Xiaopu staring at his wrist, his mind reeling with the implications.

"Who are you?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "What do you want from me?"

And then, as suddenly as he appeared, the stranger was gone. Leaving White Xiaopu to wonder if it had all been just another trick, another layer of deception in the web that surrounded him.

As he stood there, frozen in uncertainty, a chill ran down his spine. The stranger's words echoed in his mind, like a mantra, repeating themselves over and over...

"The web of deception, White Xiaopu. You're just a pawn in the game..."

And then, everything went black.