Chapter 10: Counterattack
Chapter 10: Counterattack
As Lu Ke threw a punch, Chen Chuan instinctively blocked with both hands, but this was a feint. Lu Ke's prepared follow-up strike swiftly smashed through, and he advanced forward with his swift movements. Chen Chuan leaned back, but he was still hit on the jaw guard, and he retreated two steps.
Lu Ke paused, feigning concern, "Young Master Chen, are you okay? I might have hit a bit too hard."
Chen Chuan smiled at him, "I'm fine."
Yu Gang, arms crossed, remained silent. He understood Lu Ke's subtle intentions; real combat was never a place for polite discussions, and such minor actions were insignificant.
Lu Ke sought to land another hit on Chen Chuan, not only to vent his frustration but also to tactically provoke Chen Chuan, hoping to disrupt his calm and gain an advantage for the rest of the match.
However, Lu Ke soon realized that Chen Chuan didn't react with anger or fear. His calmness, similar to when he first entered the match, made Lu Ke more cautious.
Chen Chuan lacked proper fighting experience and relied on his understanding to make moves. Recalling Yu Gang's teachings, he cautiously approached Lu Ke while defending against his attacks. He constantly probed the distance with his leading hand, also disrupting Lu Ke's rhythm.
When he felt he was at the right distance, Chen Chuan threw a straight punch, but Lu Ke easily dodged it and countered with a hook punch. Fortunately, Chen Chuan was prepared and blocked it with his hand, preventing Lu Ke from landing a hit.
At this moment, Lu Ke should have taken advantage and thrown several more punches to gain the upper hand. Instead, he rapidly retreated as if fearing something.
Over the past few days, Lu Ke had observed that Chen Chuan's punches and kicks varied in intensity. Sometimes they were ordinary, but at other times, they exhibited explosive power and strength, with speed to match. Lu Ke couldn't discern a pattern, so he dared not let Chen Chuan land a hit.
If Lu Ke wouldn't approach, Chen Chuan took the initiative.
Chen Chuan tried to get close and launch an attack, but Lu Ke's footwork was agile. As soon as he detected Chen Chuan's intention to strike, he quickly moved away. Sometimes, when Chen Chuan seemed close, Lu Ke would kick him away and repeatedly target his leg bends. Other times, he'd suddenly strike at Chen Chuan's face.
Except for the initial two punches, Lu Ke maintained a safe distance, relying on his skilled legwork and quick movements. He kept Chen Chuan at a medium to long-range distance, ensuring Chen Chuan couldn't reach him.
Lu Ke's strategy was sound. Those new to the path of combat often lacked stamina, especially in intense confrontations. A few minutes of continuous dodging would exhaust them, and Lu Ke wouldn't need to exert much effort. With their stamina depleted, he'd have the advantage in the remaining rounds.
Chen Chuan attempted various approaches but couldn't launch effective attacks. He understood that his lack of technique and experience led to his current predicament.
Under normal circumstances, he knew he'd lose.
But he wanted to win.
If it were a life-or-death battle or an admission test, he'd undoubtedly use his "Second Self" without hesitation.
However, this was just a friendly match, and a mere formal victory held little meaning. It would be a missed opportunity for training. So, Chen Chuan not only wanted to win but also to win without relying on his "Second Self."
Lu Ke wasn't flawless. His personal defense was tight, but it lacked oppressive pressure, giving Chen Chuan time to devise a countermeasure. After observing for a while, Chen Chuan discovered a potential breakthrough.
Lu Ke had a habit. Whenever he attacked in an open area, he'd quickly shift his stance. But as he neared a wall or pillar, he'd often deliver a strong kick to push his opponent away.
Perhaps Chen Chuan could try something.
Chen Chuan remained patient, not rushing or revealing his intentions. He waited for the right opportunity.
The two continued their chase and defense, and two minutes quickly passed, bringing them close to the end of the first round.
Lu Ke dodged while observing Chen Chuan. So far, he showed no signs of fatigue, which was unusual for a beginner.
Lu Ke realized his mistake.
Damn it! It was the breathing technique! With the continuous use of the breathing technique, Chen Chuan's physical attributes significantly improved. Even with Lu Ke's prior training, Chen Chuan could match him, and it was only a matter of time before he surpassed him.
(End of Chapter 10)
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a deep envy rose within him, and under the influence of this emotion, he lost his usual composure slightly.
Chen Chuan immediately sensed that Lu Ke's mindset had undergone a subtle change. He didn't know the reason, but he knew his chance had come.
He kept an eye on his surroundings, and when Lu Ke approached the wall pillar once more, he lunged forward abruptly. At the same time, he contracted his abdominal muscles in preparation, guided by his breath technique. His eyes fixed on Lu Ke, he reached out with a low, swift grab!
As expected, Lu Ke kicked out, as if delivering his foot right into Chen Chuan's hands. Because Chen Chuan was prepared, even though the kick landed on his abdomen, he didn't suffer much damage. As he moved backward with the momentum, he pulled on Lu Ke's foot, attempting to disrupt his balance.
Lu Ke was startled when his leg was caught. With his experience, he immediately threw a punch at Chen Chuan's face as Chen Chuan pulled back.
Chen Chuan had initially planned to destabilize Lu Ke and then strike, but in a real confrontation, there was no time to execute actions fully. Thus, he was a step behind, and it was Lu Ke's fist that arrived first. He quickly ducked, letting the punch strike his forehead guard. Although his head jolted, he wasn't seriously injured.
At this moment, he didn't insist on striking. Instead, he clamped Lu Ke's leg with his arm and extended his other foot, trying to hook Lu Ke's supporting leg. Since he hadn't learned how to attack from the ground, he assumed that once he knocked Lu Ke down, he would win.
However, he soon realized that what seemed easy during practice was much more challenging in real combat. The tugging between their limbs caused many obstacles. His foot fell short of Lu Ke's heel, barely touching it. Lu Ke, startled, instinctively hopped back to avoid the hook.
This hop created a pause. Chen Chuan felt the resistance from Lu Ke's body suddenly diminish. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and executed a Palm Lift from the Major Free Fighting technique!
This move involved striking upward with the palm root, passing through the gap between Lu Ke's hands and hitting his chin.
Struck by this heavy blow, Lu Ke's head snapped back. Even with the chin guard, he felt a wave of dizziness and staggered backward.
"Stop!"
Yu Gang called out at this moment.
Chen Chuan immediately stopped, and Lu Ke retreated, shaking his head and leaning against the pillar. It took him a while to recover.
Yu Gang waited until Lu Ke had regained his composure before calling both of them over.
He first looked at Lu Ke and commented, "Your technique and experience are clearly superior to Chen Chuan's. After landing a hit at the start, you thought you had the upper hand and started dodging to avoid being hit, hoping to exhaust Chen Chuan. Whether this strategy is right or not aside, your movements were repetitive and lacked any feints or variations. It's no surprise that you were caught off guard. Thankfully, Chen Chuan doesn't know the 'Standard Free Fighting' technique and is wearing gloves, otherwise, you can imagine the consequences."
Lu Ke's face changed slightly.
In the 'Standard Free Fighting' technique, the Palm Lift is often followed by the Curtain Tear, where the fingers exert force to tear off the opponent's face or crush their throat bone. Although Yu Gang hadn't taught him this, he was aware of it.
Yu Gang then turned to Chen Chuan and said, "Chen Chuan, when you both exchanged greetings at the start, given your positions, Lu Ke's first punch couldn't have reached you. Defending was unnecessary and gave Lu Ke the opportunity later. This is due to your lack of experience, but also your failure to observe the surroundings carefully. You need to learn from this and improve your distance judgment in the future."
Chen Chuan nodded, humbly accepting the critique.
Yu Gang continued, "However, I must commend you. Even though you were at a disadvantage from the start, you never gave up looking for opportunities and remained very proactive. Most importantly, you won the match, so I'll give you two points for the first round."
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Chapter end
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