122: Chapter 121 Killing Fiend 122: Chapter 121 Killing Fiend For mercenaries, eight out of ten are gamblers, and at least nine out of ten love the flesh-to-flesh freedom of combat.
Combining these two elements, few could resist the temptation.
The Aziziya Barracks now were like a volcano’s crater, where anyone who jumped in could only wait for the eruption.
Gaddafi’s rule was tottering; it was only a matter of time before the opposition took over completely.
As one of the symbols of Gaddafi’s rule, the Aziziya Barracks were inevitably a prime target for the opposition.
If no accidents occurred, the mercenaries staying at the Aziziya Barracks were essentially waiting for death.
Even though they were paid a lot every day, the pessimistic outlook made it seem impossible for them to spend their money.
Thus, it made sense to bet all they had in a desperate gambit for exhilaration.
All the mercenaries, without exception, all fifty-two of them, gathered in one corner of the grass field, including many Libyan officers who flocked over, each waving bills and shouting loudly in Arabic.
In the center of the crowd, a forty-something white man shouted excitedly.
“Guys, someone has finally stepped up to challenge the psycho Killing Fiend!
We can carry on with our fighting tournament.
Anyone can enter the ring, anyone can bet.
Let me introduce you to the psycho Killing Fiend, not that he needs any introduction.
Now, let’s hear from our brave challenger.
Hey buddy, what’s your name?”
Harris stepped forward, grinning and about to speak, when Li Jinfang, standing beside him, pulled him back and shouted, “Toad, my name is Toad.”
When Li Jinfang spoke, he used English, but the word “Toad” was pronounced in Chinese.
Alright then, this fellow HAMA, he’s challenging the Killing Fiend.
Let’s wish him luck in taking down the fiend.
But considering this guy’s an unknown, the odds are set at five to one.
Come on, place your bets, come on, come on, if I were you, I’d bet on HAMA to win with those five-fold odds.”
“HAMA, take down the Killing Fiend; I can’t stand that guy!”
“Kid, take out the Killing Fiend; we’re behind you.”
Once the Gambler announced the bets were open, the mercenaries verbally supported Li Jinfang one-sidedly, but when it came to laying down their cash, without exception, they all sided with the Killing Fiend, with not a single one willing to stake on Li Jinfang.
Harris whispered to Li Jinfang at his side, “You should’ve said you were ‘Frog.’ When you said ‘Toad,’ no one knew what it meant.”
Gao Yang glanced at Harris, replying softly, “If I told them that ‘Toad’ was ‘Frog,’ would the odds still be this high?”
Harris suddenly understood, immediately beaming as he said, “That’s right, absolutely right, five to one, haha, even with a single bet we’d make a killing.”
After saying that, Harris immediately held up two large stacks of bills and shouted, “I bet on HAMA to win, darn it, make sure you record that, I bet on HAMA to win.”
After converting their money into betting slips, Harris looked at his with glee, but just then, about a dozen Libyan officers also placed bets in Arabic, using the few who spoke English to exchange their money for betting receipts.
Seeing Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim eagerly placing his bets, Harris furrowed his brows, walked over to the colonel, and after pulling him aside, asked quietly, “Who are you betting on?”
“Of course on the Killing Fiend, what about it?”
With no one nearby, Harris said softly, “Trust me, put your money on our guy, I guarantee you’ll win.”
“But I’ve already placed my bet, twenty thousand US dollars.
But are you really sure your guy will win?”
“Of course, we’re together, why would I lead you astray?”
“Alright, I’ll put another ten thousand on your man.
I hope your intel is good.
Darn it, it’s been too long, I’ve always backed the wrong side, don’t let me down this time.”
While Harris and the colonel muttered to each other, the Killing Fiend appeared on the scene.
A white man in his thirties, about 1.8 meters tall with an innocent-looking face and a simple smile, he didn’t look like a psycho at all.
The Killing Fiend stood in the center of the crowd, smiling benignly at Li Jinfang and beckoning with his finger.
At that moment, Gao Yang patted Li Jinfang’s shoulder and said loudly, “Go on, kill him.”
Li Jinfang loosened up his neck and walked over to the Killing Fiend, the two standing face to face.
After sizing up Li Jinfang from head to toe, the Killing Fiend smiled slightly and said, “Japanese?
“Very well, since you are from Huaxia, I will use Huaxia Kung Fu to fight you.”
After finishing his words with a smile, the Killing Fiend saluted Li Jinfang with clasped fists, a very formal gesture.
Li Jinfang, after being momentarily stunned, returned the salute with the traditional courtesy of a Huaxia martial artist.
The Killing Fiend appeared polite and far from the image of a deviant, which caused Li Jinfang to doubt what Harris had said.
It was at this moment that the Killing Fiend leisurely said, “I will kill you with Huaxia Kung Fu even though I consider it the most rubbish fighting style among those I’ve learned.”
Li Jinfang’s expression changed as he said, “Make your move.”
The Killing Fiend assumed a Wing Chun starting position and closed the gap with quick, short steps.
After a loud shout, he launched a dazzlingly fast barrage of punches straight at Li Jinfang’s chest and abdomen, perfectly exhibiting the essence of the “little idea” sequence of Wing Chun.
Li Jinfang blocked back and forth with his fists, but as he used wide, sweeping movements, he struggled against the close-quarters combat of Wing Chun and quickly got hit squarely in the chest after the Killing Fiend exploited an opening.
After taking the punch, Li Jinfang abruptly retreated to temporarily avoid the Killing Fiend’s assault.
Despite being punched, Li Jinfang’s mind was set at ease.
Was it still Wing Chun if it didn’t master the inch power?
If he had been hit by that punch from a true Wing Chun master, it would have been more than just a momentary pain.
A sense of certainty grew within Li Jinfang, and after he provocatively motioned with his fingers, the Killing Fiend charged again with a shout.
This time, however, Li Jinfang struck first, sending a punch the moment the Killing Fiend got within reach.
In Huaxia Kung Fu, there was never a claim of any style being the strongest—it all depended on the practitioner’s skill.
Li Jinfang fully grasped the essence of Xingyi Fist, while the Killing Fiend had at best learned only the basics of Wing Chun, lacking even the elementary inch power of the form.
Li Jinfang’s punch was like lightning, and the Killing Fiend couldn’t dodge in time, forced to block with his fists.
After a light crackling sound, the Killing Fiend, struck on his left arm, staggered back several steps before regaining his stance.
Li Jinfang did not press his advantage but stood in place, shaking his index finger disdainfully as he said, “You call that Huaxia Kung Fu?
Don’t disgrace our Huaxia Kung Fu.
That’s not how to practice Wing Chun; that’s nothing but a cat’s scratch.”
After shaking his left hand vigorously, the Killing Fiend, still smiling, said, “I told you, Huaxia Kung Fu is the crappiest fighting skill I know.
Now, I’m switching to Karate.
I will break your limbs and let you die in agony.”
Following another loud shout, the Killing Fiend adopted a Karate stance.
Li Jinfang took the initiative to attack, but after two punches and a kick, he gained no advantage.
The Killing Fiend no longer used fixed moves, which significantly stepped up his strength.
Real fighting couldn’t be like in the movies with a back and forth exchange lasting half a day.
It usually came down to a clash within a few strikes.
Li Jinfang immediately moved aside after missing a hit, prepared for the Killing Fiend’s counterattack.
The two were cautious as they tested each other out, neither gaining the upper hand for the moment.
The Killing Fiend indeed proved to be a formidable opponent for Li Jinfang, and they reached a standoff.
Yet, Li Jinfang was confident he could ultimately win because he realized that while the Killing Fiend knew many fighting styles, he had mastered none of them thoroughly, nor had he integrated the various techniques.
Meanwhile, the crowd was wildly waving their betting slips and shouting.
Some cheered for Li Jinfang, some cheered for the Killing Fiend, and Gao Yang and his group had shouted themselves hoarse, hoping Li Jinfang would quickly finish off the Killing Fiend.
Finally, the Killing Fiend launched another assault.
He feinted with his fists, then threw a high kick aimed at Li Jinfang’s head.
Li Jinfang had been waiting for such an opportunity and, ducking low, swept the Killing Fiend’s supporting leg with a sweeping kick, toppling him.
He immediately moved in to stomp down.
Li Jinfang’s stomping foot landed on empty ground, and he almost got hit by the upside-down Killing Fiend’s spinning kick to the chin.
He had never seen such a technique and almost fell for it.
Harris shouted, “That’s Capoeira from South America.
Li Jinfang had no idea what Capoeira was, but after the Killing Fiend rolled over and got back up, he hopped towards Li Jinfang with a sinister tone, “You’re very strong, but I’ll kill you and then eat your heart.”
Fooled by the Killing Fiend’s facade, Li Jinfang hadn’t been harboring much of a killing intent, but after hearing the threat to his heart, his eyebrows shot up, and without wasting words, he lunged forward with a punch.
The Killing Fiend dodged Li Jinfang’s punch by tilting his body, then inverted himself with one arm on the ground, kicking swiftly at Li Jinfang in a stylish and agile pose.
He had noticed Li Jinfang’s unfamiliarity with Capoeira and aimed for a repeat, but this time his move was ineffective against Li Jinfang.
Waiting for this chance, Li Jinfang neither dodged nor hid.
He roared and braced himself against the attacker’s kicking legs while his own right foot savagely shot out, striking the upside-down Killing Fiend’s face.