Chapter 10: Counter-Offensive
Chapter 10: Counter-Offensive
As Lu Ke threw a punch, Chen Chuan instinctively blocked with both hands, but this was a feint. Lu Ke's prepared backhand swiftly struck, and as he advanced, his movements seamlessly connected. Despite Chen Chuan's backward lean, he was still hit on the jaw guard, forcing him to retreat two steps.
Lu Ke paused, feigning concern, "Young Master Chen, are you alright? I might have hit too hard."
Chen Chuan glanced at him and smiled, "I'm fine."
Yu Gang crossed his arms, silent. Lu Ke's subtle thoughts were clear to him; real combat was never a place for rationality, and such minor actions were insignificant.
Lu Ke, seeking to land a hit on Chen Chuan, had a constant air of discontent with him. He wanted to vent and tactically provoke Chen Chuan, hoping to anger him and disrupt his calm, making him easier to defeat.
But Lu Ke soon realized Chen Chuan didn't anger easily. He maintained his composure, just as he had when he first approached, making Lu Ke more cautious.
Chen Chuan, lacking formal combat experience, fought based on his understanding. Recalling Yu Gang's teachings, he guarded against Lu Ke's attacks while slowly closing the distance, constantly probing with his lead hand to gauge distance and disrupt his opponent.
Feeling he had reached the ideal distance, Chen Chuan tried a straight punch, but Lu Ke effortlessly dodged and countered with a hook punch. Fortunately, Chen Chuan's awareness protected him, and he blocked it with his hand guard.
At this moment, Lu Ke should have seized the initiative and landed a few more punches to gain the upper hand. Instead, he rapidly retreated, as if fearing something, giving Chen Chuan an advantage.
Over these days, Lu Ke had learned Chen Chuan's punches varied in intensity. Sometimes they were average, but other times, they packed a powerful burst, not only in force but also in speed. Lu Ke couldn't discern the pattern, so he dared not let himself be hit.
Chen Chuan took the initiative, approaching Lu Ke. Lu Ke's footwork was agile, and at the slightest sign of an attack, he swiftly moved away. Sometimes, feeling Chen Chuan was close, he'd quickly kick him away, simultaneously targeting his leg bends. Other times, he'd suddenly strike at Chen Chuan's face."
Aside from the initial two punches, Lu Ke relied on his nimble legwork, quickly shifting positions in open spaces. But as he neared walls or pillars, he'd often kick Chen Chuan away, keeping him at a medium-to-long-range distance, ensuring Chen Chuan couldn't reach him.
Lu Ke's strategy was practical. Those new to combat often lacked stamina, especially in intense confrontations. After a few minutes of dodging, Lu Ke would be exhausted, and Chen Chuan, with his superior stamina, could easily overwhelm him. Without stamina, Lu Ke's advantage would only grow in subsequent rounds.
Chen Chuan tried numerous times to launch an effective attack, but to no avail. He understood his lack of technique and experience led to this predicament. Under normal circumstances, he'd lose every time."
But he wanted to win.
In a life-or-death situation or an admission trial, he'd unquestionably use his 'Second Self'.
However, this was just a friendly match. Pursuing a superficial victory held little meaning and would deprive him of valuable training. So, he aimed to win without relying on his 'Second Self'.
Lu Ke wasn't flawless. His personal defense was tight, but it lacked an imposing presence, giving Chen Chuan time to strategize. After observing for a while, Chen Chuan identified a potential turning point.
Lu Ke had a habit. Whenever he attacked in open spaces, he'd swiftly shift positions. But near walls or pillars, he'd often kick Chen Chuan away.
Perhaps this was worth a try...
Chen Chuan remained patient, never revealing his intentions. Both parties engaged in a cat-and-mouse chase, and two minutes swiftly passed, nearing the end of the first round.
Lu Ke dodged and observed Chen Chuan, noticing something unusual. Chen Chuan showed no signs of fatigue, atypical for a novice.
Lu Ke realized the reason—the Breath Regulation Technique! Its continuous operation significantly enhanced Chen Chuan's physical attributes. Even with extensive training, Lu Ke couldn't match Chen Chuan, and it was only a matter of time before Chen Chuan surpassed him.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a deep sense of envy welled up within him, and under the influence of this emotion, he momentarily lost the calm he should have maintained.
Chen Chuan immediately sensed it. Lu Ke's demeanor seemed to undergo a subtle shift, and though he didn't know the reason, he knew his chance had arrived.
Chen Chuan kept his eyes on his surroundings, waiting for Lu Ke to approach the wall pillar again. In that moment, he surged forward, coordinating with his breathing technique, his abdominal muscles contracting in preparation. With his gaze fixed on Lu Ke, he reached out and grabbed!
As expected, Lu Ke kicked out, as if delivering the strike right to Chen Chuan. Chen Chuan caught the kick, ready for it, and though his abdomen was struck, he didn't sustain much damage. As he retreated with the force of the kick, he pulled on Lu Ke's heel, attempting to disrupt his balance.
Lu Ke was startled when his leg was grabbed. With some experience, he punched towards Chen Chuan's face as Chen Chuan pulled his leg back.
Chen Chuan had intended to disrupt Lu Ke's balance before striking, but the actual confrontation during practice was entirely different. There was no opportunity to fully execute his moves, so he was a beat late. Instead, Lu Ke's fist reached him first, and Chen Chuan quickly ducked his head, allowing the punch to land on his forehead guard. Although his head shook, it didn't cause any significant harm.
At this point, Chen Chuan didn't insist on striking. With Lu Ke's leg clamped under his arm, he extended his leg below, attempting to hook Lu Ke's other supporting leg. Not having learned ground attack techniques yet, he assumed that once he knocked his opponent down, it would be considered a win.
However, he soon realized that while this worked in practice, in actual combat, the pulling and tugging between their limbs caused numerous stumbles. His foot fell short of Lu Ke's heel, only grazing it slightly, but it still startled Lu Ke, who instinctively jumped back on one leg to avoid the hook.
This jump, however, created a pause, and Chen Chuan felt the opposing force suddenly lessen. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and executed a 'Pan Tuo Zhang' from the Great Free Fighting style!
This technique involved striking the opponent from below with the palm root, and Chen Chuan's strike passed through the gap between Lu Ke's hands, landing on his chin.
The powerful blow caused Lu Ke's head to snap back, and despite his jaw guard, he felt a wave of dizziness, staggering.
"Stop!"
Yu Gang's voice rang out.
Hearing this, Chen Chuan halted his actions. Lu Ke retreated, shaking his head. He steadied himself against the pillar, taking a moment to recover his senses.
Yu Gang waited until Lu Ke was back on his feet before calling both students forward again.
He turned to Lu Ke first, offering his assessment: "Your technique is clearly superior to Chen Chuan's. Yet, after landing the initial strike on Chen Chuan, you thought you had the advantage. Then, fearing his retaliation, you kept dodging, aiming to wear him out. Putting aside whether this strategy was right or wrong, your moves were repetitive, lacking any feints or variations. It's no surprise that your flaws were exposed. Fortunately, Chen Chuan doesn't know the full extent of Direct Free Fighting, and you were wearing gloves; otherwise, the consequences could have been severe."
Lu Ke's face paled slightly.
In Direct Free Fighting, the 'Pan Tuo Zhang' is often followed by the 'Si Lian Shou', a vicious move where, after striking the opponent, the fingers are forcefully extended to tear the enemy's face or crush their throat. Although Yu Gang hadn't taught this technique, Lu Ke was aware of it.
Yu Gang then addressed Chen Chuan: "Chen Chuan, when you both bowed at the start, given your positions, Lu Ke's first punch couldn't have possibly hit you. Your defense was unnecessary, which gave Lu Ke the opportunity to strike you. This is due to your lack of experience, but it also reflects your inadequate observation of the arena. You must learn from this and, in the future, at least make accurate judgments about distances."
Chen Chuan nodded, humbly accepting the feedback.
Yu Gang continued, "However, I must also commend you. Despite taking a hit early on, you never gave up seeking opportunities, displaying great initiative. Most importantly, you won. So, for this first round, I award you two points."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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