"Hehe." Jia Yanyong chuckled slyly at Lin Zheyu, his eyes full of malice.
Being ambushed by a mere scholar and nearly blinded had caused him to lose face within the gang. Over the past two days, his so-called friends had often hovered around and mocked him, leaving Jia Yanyong feeling utterly humiliated.
Although brave and fierce, he did not have the scheming mind of his elder brother, Jia Yanming. Jia Yanyong was overly straightforward. Even after being ambushed by Lin Zheyu, he never spoke ill of him.
During gang brawls, he was always the first to charge in head-on. He believed that living in the underworld meant putting righteousness first and being willing to take a blade for his brothers. Jia Yanyong didn't think it was a big deal even when his neck was slashed and his life was nearly lost for it. However, he truly couldn't get over his failure to guard against a scholar's ambush and being mocked for it.
"Good!" said Lin Zheyu. He glanced at Jia Yanyong, who was itching to strike him down right then and there.
Since he intended to join the Feihong Gang, his grudge with Jia Yanyong should also be settled. After all, there was no true blood feud between them. He was more than willing if it could be resolved through a single fight.
"Haha, you've finally fallen into my hands. This time, I'll beat you good and hard to reclaim the reputation I lost," said Jia Yanyong, grinning broadly as he looked at Lin Zheyu.
Anyone could see the malice gleaming in Jia Yanyong's eyes. He twisted his neck, his fists cracking loudly; the sound alone was enough to make Lin Zheyu feel pity for his knuckles.
"Since you both agree, Jia Yanyong, exchange a few moves with Mister Lin. Stop when it's enough and don't strike too heavily," said Xu Jingwu.
In his view, although Lin Zheyu had practiced martial techniques for some time, he could not possibly be a match for Jia Yanyong. Jia Yanyong had already reached the early stage of the Bone Forging Realm, and with his burly, towering physique, his strength was formidable. Within the Feihong Gang, he was considered a skilled fighter.
"Rest assured, Boss, I know my limits," said Jia Yanyong with a chuckle, looking quite pleased.
"The space here is too cramped to move around. Let's head to the courtyard at the back," said Lin Zheyu.
He led Xu Jingwu and the others to the courtyard of the Jade Pill Teahouse. Liang Song cast them a distant glance, then went back to drinking and daydreaming on his own.
***
Once in the courtyard, Lin Zheyu rolled up his sleeves and faced Jia Yanyong across from him.
Jia Yanyong glared at Lin Zheyu with hostility and said, "This time, you can't use tricks or ambush me. Let's see what real skill you have! Damn bastard, you made me lose my reputation in front of Xie Jiang and Ning Hui. I'll beat you so bad this time that you won't get out of bed for days! Ha! Take my fist!"
With a shout, Jia Yanyong swung his fist and charged straight at Lin Zheyu. With his towering build and the ferocity behind that punch, onlookers couldn't help but feel nervous for Lin Zheyu.
"Boss, are you sure this is alright? If something happens to Mister Lin, who will tell us such wonderful stories in the future?" said a man standing beside Xu Jingwu.
Many in the Feihong Gang were fans of Lin Zheyu's stories, and lately they had become addicted to hearing his stories.
"Don't worry. Though Jia Yanyong is reckless, he still knows his limits. At worst, Mister Lin will just be bedridden for a few days," said Xu Jingwu with a smile. He had suggested the match mainly to let Jia Yanyong vent his frustrations.
"Ugh!"
"Shit!"
"Whoa!"
Hearing the exclamations from the courtyard, Xu Jingwu quickly turned to watch the duel. In Xu Jingwu's mind, Lin Zheyu was no match for Jia Yanyong. In size and in combat experience, Lin Zheyu was greatly inferior. Yet when he looked at the two fighting, his gaze froze slightly.
***
Jia Yanyong's punch came with fierce momentum. In his mind, Lin Zheyu was still that frail scholar who was weak and feeble. Even if he had trained in martial arts for a month or two and grown sturdier, Jia Yanyong still dismissed him.
Seeing Jia Yanyong's ferocious punch, the corners of Lin Zheyu's mouth curled faintly. After a whole night of sparring and being kicked around by Master Liang, Lin Zheyu had gained some insights into actual combat.
With the Golden Goose Technique, he nimbly dodged Jia Yanyong's punch. Seizing the chance, Lin Zheyu grabbed Jia Yanyong's wrist and gave a sharp pull in the direction of his charge, causing Jia Yanyong to lose balance and stumble forward.
Bang!
Lin Zheyu bent his elbow and slammed it hard into Jia Yanyong's back. The heavy force sent Jia Yanyong crashing face-first into the ground in a humiliating sprawl. The scene shocked the watching gang members.
Manager Wu was stunned as well and thought, Is this really the same boy I once knew, skin and bones, and fragile as a reed?
In just a short time, it was simply unbelievable that he could now defeat someone as burly as Jia Yanyong with ease.
"That doesn't count, I wasn't paying attention just now. Again!" shouted Jia Yanyong.
He got up from the ground with a dark and ugly expression. To be defeated so easily in front of everyone, without any trickery or ambush this time, was utterly humiliating.
"Alright," said Lin Zheyu with a nod.
He assumed the stance of the Barbaric Ox Fist, intending to use raw strength to subdue Jia Yanyong while also demonstrating his ability to Xu Jingwu.
"Hmph!" Jia Yanyong snorted coldly, suppressing the pain in his back as he launched another attack. He practiced the Black Baleful Fist, a technique that at higher levels made his fists brutally fierce. Just brushing against it could cause injury, and a direct hit could mean death.
Lin Zheyu channeled his breathing method, unleashing it together with the Barbaric Ox Fist. After learning the breathing method, the power of his fists had more than doubled. Once he trained the breathing method to greater proficiency and tempered his organs further, his strength could multiply three or even four times beyond what it once was.
Bang.
The two clashed fists, and a dull thud echoed out. Both Lin Zheyu and Jia Yanyong felt their arms go numb, their bones aching faintly. Their strength was evenly matched, and both were shaken back two steps.
A trace of shock flashed in Jia Yanyong's eyes as he thought, Such strong force... has this fellow also reached the Bone Forging Realm?
The Black Baleful Fist was brutal and fierce. Within the gang, few could take one of his punches head-on. Yet the supposedly frail scholar before him had endured it and even forced him back a few steps.
"Again!" Jia Yanyong shouted and lunged forward once more.
His strikes were wild and fierce, but riddled with flaws. Because of Liang Song's instruction, Lin Zheyu easily spotted Jia Yanyong's weaknesses. But he chose not to exploit them. Instead, he intended to subdue this straightforward brute with sheer strength.
From their earlier clash, Lin Zheyu realized Jia Yanyong wasn't much stronger than him. Due to his larger build, Jia Yanyong's strength was slightly greater by a small margin.
Actual combat was not about brute force or speed, but about awareness and technique. In this regard, Jia Yanyong was far lacking. He had raw bravery and brawn, but knew only how to suppress others with force.
Bang.
Thud, thud, thud.
The sound of fists striking flesh echoed through the courtyard. The Feihong Gang members, Manager Wu, and even the Jade Pill Teahouse's waiter all looked at Lin Zheyu with new eyes.
They had never imagined that the refined scholar, brimming with literary spirit and passionately recounting tales of the martial world from the storytelling stage, would possess such formidable strength.
"Good! Good! Good!" Watching the fierce exchange of blows between Jia Yanyong and Lin Zheyu, Xu Jingwu couldn't help but exclaim three times in succession.
Lin Zheyu actually possessed such natural talent in martial cultivation. From his fist techniques, it was clear he was practicing the widely circulated Barbaric Ox Fist. As far as he knew, Lin Zheyu had been training for less than two months, yet had already brought the Barbaric Ox Fist to the Proficient level. Such comprehension was truly astonishing.
If this youngster really had no prior exposure to martial cultivation, then with this natural talent and comprehension, he's worth cultivating, thought Xu Jingwu to himself.
Bang!
Lin Zheyu raised his hand to block Jia Yanyong's punch aimed at his face, his arm tingling slightly from the impact. He stepped forward with his right foot and kicked at Jia Yanyong's knee.
Caught off guard, Jia Yanyong staggered, and his balance was thrown off. Seizing the moment, Lin Zheyu quickly closed in and used the Barbaric Ox Charge! With the Barbaric Ox Charge, both fists struck forward. In his panic, Jia Yanyong chose to block the fist aimed at his face. The corner of Lin Zheyu's lips curved upward, revealing a triumphant smile.
Bang!
The other fist slammed viciously into Jia Yanyong's abdomen.
"Argh." Jia Yanyong felt his abdomen seize up in a spasm, and his body curled up like a shrimp as he collapsed to the ground.