It sounds too absurd for the Iron Fist Club to be beaten with a 40:0 record, but this is the cruel reality.
Although the king of fighters championship rules require each participant to fight a maximum of 12 matches per day, Niuniu and Sister Pomegranate, who had brought people back from their hometown, could still participate today despite losing yesterday.
Not to mention the participation of fun-loving Alin, Niuniu’s cousin whose talent is no less than his, and Star Soul Eagle, a professional judo athlete.
Their team of professionals took turns challenging the Iron Fist Club, and it only took half an hour to make the opponents submit completely with their “otherworld martial arts.”
Of course, the traitors who could survive in the harsh environment of the Great Wilderness were tough enough, and their combat ability wasn’t really bad enough to be completely dominated. However, Teacher Li ended up doing “live teaching” at the end, almost hands-on teaching Niuniu how to fix the flaws in his fighting style.
This was equivalent to having a “carry” on their team during group fights, so how could they possibly win?
Fireworks Beef Bowl had finished his twelve matches early, and now he was strolling over to the boxing matches. While appreciating Teacher Li’s fighting, he said to Brother Mao who was standing beside him:
“Old Li practices Yixingquan, but his style is mixed with other schools. I’m not skilled in hand-to-hand combat, but I can barely see traces of Hung Gar and Bagua in it.
He says he’s from Foshan, so he definitely knows Wing Chun too. I really don’t know where these young people found such a tough expert. If someone with this skill opened a martial arts school in Li’s Slope, they’d be making money hand over fist.”
“You’re really in the mood to watch people fight”Brother Mao pursed his lips, looked around, and whispered to his “little uncle”:
“You’ve experienced it yourself, I wasn’t lying to you, right? So about what we discussed before, do you want to give it a try? You can’t just let Ah Feng lie there forever.”
Faced with Brother Mao’s inquiry, Fireworks Beef Bowl remained silent, clearly very conflicted.
After several seconds, he said:
“I’m still not comfortable with it. This brain wave interference sounds too sci-fi. Maybe we normal people can come here this way, but Ah Feng’s situation is different from ours!
Xiao Mu, I know you mean well-
But I only have that one son, he’s all I have left. I’d rather have him lie there and take care of him for life than risk another accident that might make him…
Sigh.
Give me more time.
I need to confirm everything is fine here before I dare let Ah Feng try it.”
“That’s fine, he’s been lying there for almost 5 years anyway, a few more days won’t matter.”
Brother Mao nodded and added:
“But even if you make up your mind, you’ll still need to talk to Alpha Company first. I think that might take a lot of effort from you too.”
“As long as Ah Feng can get better, I’m willing to spend all my money.”
Fireworks Beef Bowl said through gritted teeth, then his gaze scanned the crowd around the boxing ring, finally landing on Little Ashina, the smallest one who was currently perched on Fatal Orchid’s shoulders, waving her fists watching the excitement and cheering loudly.
He narrowed his eyes and said to Brother Mao:
“This girl, is she the one you told me about before?”
“Yes, Little Ashina.”
Brother Mao introduced:
“I learned about her situation from a friend. Although it’s different from Ah Feng’s case, it’s really very similar. If Little Ashina can live happily in Transia, then maybe Ah Feng can too.
But don’t make any moves in reality.
Little Ashina’s family background is quite extraordinary. I tried to hire someone to investigate before, but they refunded double the next day and wouldn’t take the job at all.”
“Mm, I understand, don’t worry, I know what to do.”
Master Yang nodded, but soon his gaze fell on Sister Pomegranate, who was standing aside with folded arms waiting for challengers.
He raised his eyebrows and sighed:
“What an imposing aura, what a crimson tigress. Xiao Mu, are you sure you can handle her? I feel like if you two continue, you’ll never have a peaceful life.”
“Don’t say that!”
Brother Mao quickly explained:
“We’re just ordinary friends.”
“Ordinary friends and you invited her to your home?”
Master Yang teased with a smile:
“Although we split up the family long ago, I know that old feudal thinking in your family well. You dare to bring someone home already, seems like you’re quite satisfied with her. Just don’t know if she’s willing to give you this chance?”
“Tch, I’m working on it, aren’t I?”
Brother Mao pursed his lips without responding, and after a long while finally muttered:
“Um, those family traditions…”
“Huh? Didn’t you refuse to learn before?”
Beef Bowl was stunned, and asked back:
“That’s really difficult to learn. Your dad only learned a bit of the basics before giving up, and your grandpa didn’t insist either, clearly knowing there’s not much point learning those battlefield arts in today’s peaceful society. It’s just a pity about the inheritance. Have you made up your mind?”
“Mm.”
Brother Mao sighed helplessly to the heavens and said:
“Can’t win without learning it. She has her own background too, if I can’t even win against her then forget about the next step. I asked Little Rich Brother about it, she doesn’t look up to men who are weaker than her.”
“Alright! Our family has produced heroes for generations, and now we’ve got a romantic in your generation.”
Master Yang laughed heartily and patted the young man’s shoulder, saying cheerfully:
“I’ll come back next month to teach you, and bring Ah Feng back too. If we’re sure about asking them for help, then we definitely can’t stay abroad anymore, this is clearly a national-level project, maybe it’s time to return to our roots.
Clean up the house and clear out a courtyard for me.”
“It’s ready.”
Brother Mao said softly:
“Grandpa always keeps space for your branch of the family, everything’s complete and ready to move in.”
While they were talking, Turner from Iron Fist had hurried over after receiving the news, only to see the last member of the “Iron Fist Club” being locked down by Star Soul Eagle’s ground techniques, crying out in pain and shouting surrender.
This unique ground jujutsu caught Turner’s eye.
The monk system of the Winter Wolf Church rarely needed ground grappling techniques, but that didn’t stop him, as a Silver-rank warrior monk, from using his experience and intuition to determine that these techniques would definitely be valuable in certain situations.
When he saw Niuniu standing next to a grey-haired middle-aged man glaring at him, Turner knew this was the otherworld version of “beat the junior, and the senior comes.”
But he had already prepared for this situation.
“It’s him, Teacher Li.”
Sister Pomegranate jumped down from the ring and said softly beside Old Li:
“This guy is very powerful, powerful in every aspect. Your absolute strength is definitely not as good as his, since he has monk’s qi and spirit power enhancement, but this guy is a vow-bound monk, so there’s a possibility to defeat him through technique.”
“Mm.”
Teacher Li nodded.
He looked Turner up and down.
This person looked young but was definitely someone with a story, this could be seen from the remaining scars on his neck and those dead eyes.
This person had experienced terrible things in the past, must be a tough character who crawled out of hell.
“This is our Shadow Trail Sect’s Grand Master!”
Since Teacher Li hadn’t gotten the Mind Microphone plugin yet, Niuniu introduced on his behalf:
“My sister and I just invited him to Transia today, just to tell you northerners not to bully us thinking we have no heritage!”
“Shadow Trail Sect? Never heard of it.”
Turner looked Teacher Li up and down, saying quite surprisingly:
“But if it’s a monk sect with heritage, why hasn’t he, as a Grand Master, mastered the Way of Qi? Don’t monks in your sect cultivate these? Just rely on hand-to-hand combat techniques? How can you reach the transcendent realm that way?”
“That’s our business, mind your own!”
Niuniu couldn’t make up a reason either, so he could only skip this topic and shouted:
“Isn’t the monk’s way all about technique? Today we’ll only compete in technique. If our master wins… uh, seems like we don’t need anything, so let’s just exchange martial arts knowledge?”
“If you win, I’ll give you what you need most.”
Turner shook his head and said:
“A monk who can’t master the mysteries of qi will forever be just a beginner, no matter how amazing the techniques are, they need power to fill them to unleash destructive force. Great chaos is coming to this continent, without power you won’t be able to survive, let alone protect Transia.
If I win, I don’t ask for much.
Just teach me those unique martial arts in your hands!
This is the only pleasure and collection hobby of a vow-bound monk. Do you agree?”
Niuniu translated Turner’s words for Teacher Li, who had no objections and was actually quite interested in the “Way of Qi” mysteries that Turner promised.
Having reached an agreement, they didn’t waste time and decided to settle it right there on the boxing ring.
Old Li saluted with clasped hands, while Turner returned with a Winter Wolf Church monk’s greeting.
As a vow-bound monk, he couldn’t bully the weak, so before the fight began, the power within him was quite cleverly suppressed to the lowest level, making him look no different from an ordinary professional.
This was the unscientific power produced by vows in this unscientific world.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on this, the two monks had already prepared for the duel, while a group of people had gathered on the previously empty viewing stands around them.
Important NPCs like Kudel and his granddaughter, Andrei and his servants, Maxim and his two descendants, Lady Adele with the young lady, and little Countess Sharon had all arrived.
They wanted to see this battle of technique, and more hoped to see these unfriendly northerners take a hard loss on Transia’s soil.
“I think I’ve figured out what this Turner wants, he’s trying to get Lord Murphy’s attention and have a face-to-face conversation with him.”
Maxim said to Adele beside him:
“I asked these warriors before, Turner said after defeating them that Transia’s warriors were just beginners in his eyes, only Lord Murphy’s techniques interested him. Obviously, he hopes these words will reach Lord Murphy’s ears.”
“Ah, typical fighter’s straightforwardness.”
Adele placed her hands on her abdomen and said softly:
“He must have something to tell Lord Murphy, but this guy is dangerous. And Lord Murphy seems to not want to contact him so quickly, maybe the master has discovered some unsettling details?”
“I don’t know, but the master must have his thoughts, this isn’t something we should consider.”
Maxim replied.
Adele also nodded, having no objection to this.
Before their eyes, Turner took the initiative to attack Teacher Li. Without the enhancement of the Way of Qi and Winter Spirit power, the moves that looked flashy before seemed to become ordinary, but the hunting aura unique to Winter Wolf monks still made his every move full of killing intent and ferocity.
After removing all supernatural power influences, even just hand-to-hand combat made this technical competition full of suspense from the very beginning.
Teacher Li wasn’t in a hurry to attack, instead he kept defending and dodging, seemingly wanting to figure out the characteristics of this fighting style, which was quickly noticed by Turner. The Winter Wolf monk narrowed his eyes and suddenly changed his stance in the next attack, switching from imitating beast momentum to becoming deadly and vicious.
Every move targeted eyes and throat, even groin kicks were thrown out.
Not only did his stance change, but the style of his boxing completely transformed as well, clearly not wanting to let Old Li figure out his patterns so quickly. This change caught Teacher Li somewhat off guard, but after taking a flying side kick, he steadied himself again.
He realized that this NPC probably knew as many martial arts styles as he did, and trying to probe such a martial arts master seemed a bit presumptuous.
So Teacher Li also switched his fighting style, finally bringing out his ultimate skills, changing from fists to claws like a fierce tiger pouncing forward. Turner didn’t give an inch and met force with force. Both sides took several hits from each other and as their footwork changed it was hard to determine victory, so they simply changed moves simultaneously.
Old Li threw a straight punch forward avoiding Turner, then lowered his body and exploded forward like a ground dragon, grabbing Turner’s waist and diving to the ground, then applying jujutsu ground techniques, showing a smooth combo.
However, he just couldn’t hold onto Turner, who slipped away like a fish, impossible to lock down with joint techniques and quickly escaped, but just as the Winter Wolf monk was retreating, amidst Niuniu’s exclamation, Old Li executed a standard and fierce iron mountain lean-in killing move, his whole body crashing in like a battering ram, finally making Turner’s footwork and rhythm show a bit of disorder.
And with this disorder, regaining the rhythm wouldn’t be so easy.
From this second on, the initiative completely fell into Teacher Li’s hands. He adopted the most rigid frontal pressure fighting style, seemingly throwing wild punches but actually very methodical, continuously using various boxing technique combinations.
In close quarters combat true skill was shown, in these few seconds it was like hitting a wooden dummy with butterfly-like flowing strikes making crisp sounds, leaving Turner trapped like falling into a spider web unable to break free.
He rarely felt the frustration of being suppressed at the technical level, and tried to use agile footwork to create distance but Old Li just shifted his feet a few steps like a clinging ghost, sticking close again making it impossible for the Winter Wolf monk to create any distance.
This move made Sister Pomegranate’s beautiful eyes shine.
This was her family’s “craft,” but the set of roaming eight trigrams palm that grandfather passed down supposedly from Master Dong wasn’t this exquisite in her hands.
Turns out it wasn’t that the boxing was bad, but that she hadn’t practiced well!
Footwork!
Footwork was the key.
After grappling like this for over ten seconds, Turner had been forced to the edge of the ring. At this point everyone both on and off the stage held their breath, even the young lady who didn’t know much about fighting could see the outcome was about to be revealed.
Turner naturally also knew his situation.
But he had already been confused by this person’s unpredictable boxing patterns. He could distinguish that in just the short few minutes earlier, this guy had used at least 8 different styles of techniques, was this really the foundation that a monk sect he’d never heard of before could casually bring out?
If he didn’t counter-attack now he was going to lose!
At this critical moment, Turner adjusted his breathing, paying the price of taking two punches and a kick head-on to forcefully create distance, then concentrated his spirit to dodge Old Li’s incoming killing heavy punch like a flash, just like a replay of his fight with Niuniu, throwing an uppercut towards Teacher Li’s neck and chin.
But just as the tide of battle was turning, Old Li also pulled out a strange move.
Left arm raised to protect the throat, back hand formed sword fingers and struck like lightning at Turner’s throat.
This sudden change from “otherworld martial arts” to Shadow Sect’s Spirit Slash caught Turner off guard, but the pain in his neck told him he had ultimately lost this move.
Although it didn’t cause him any damage besides pain, if this slash had carried monk’s qi, the metal-splitting piercing force would have been enough to tear his entire neck open.
“I lost…”
He sighed, the fully charged uppercut finally stopping inches from Old Li’s chin.
In terms of technique, he was willing to admit that this Shadow Trail Sect Grand Master before him was indeed a bit better than him, though the other party also had the slight advantage of unfamiliarity in their first encounter.
However, as a Silver-rank vow-bound monk who had been through life and death many times, he wasn’t a sore loser.
“I admit defeat, Master.”
Turner stepped back and slightly nodded to Teacher Li before him, then took out a sealed scroll from his spirit bag and threw it to the cheering Sister Pomegranate below.
He himself turned and jumped off the ring, disappearing into the shadows of the sewers with his subordinates.
Only after Turner left did Teacher Li, who had kept a straight face without speaking, let out a breath, his whole body suddenly collapsing to the ground, giving Niuniu and others a fright as they hurriedly dragged him down with all hands on deck.
“Pressing from start to finish without daring to take a breath, aren’t you tired?”
Master Yang asked with a smile. Old Li couldn’t be bothered to pretend anymore and said softly:
“Damn, haven’t been this tired in many years! This guy is very strong, if I had made even the slightest mistake I would have been done for. And I only learned bits and pieces, just barely won by standing on the shoulders of giants. This ghost game…
Really has something to it.”