Chapter 253: Fierce Battle
Chapter 253: Fierce Battle
Mr. Wu glanced at the long sword in Chen Chuan's hand, its cold blade shimmering under the light, evoking a prickling sensation that made his eyelids twitch involuntarily.
But Mr. Wu suddenly smiled, his tone turning gentle again, "Chen, I'll guide you well, and I'll take good care of your head."
The chandelier above continued to sway, casting his shadow on the floor and walls, creating a distorted, eerie effect.
As the chandelier's sway slowed and it was about to come to a stop, the room's shadows seemed to flicker, and Mr. Wu's figure suddenly lunged forward.
Chen Chuan, focusing on his drawn sword, knew that his opponent was not only a Tier Three master but also a teacher at the Wu Yi Academy. From the moment he stepped onto the small hill, his second self had merged with the teacher's.
Seeing the teacher rush towards him, Chen Chuan slightly raised his sword, blocking it horizontally. Mr. Wu's fist struck the blade, and a cracking sound echoed as their forces collided. The floor beneath Mr. Wu shattered, but he stood firm, his shoulders and waist shifting as if preparing for a horizontal slash.
Mr. Wu exclaimed in surprise, his fist pushing against Chen Chuan's elbow. Using the momentum, he quickly retreated to his original position, looking at Chen Chuan with slight astonishment.
He had intended to push Chen Chuan over with that shove, but the latter matched his speed, blocking the attack and remaining steady.
Mr. Wu grinned, "Chen, I see you're almost at Tier Three. Your entrance exam score must not reflect your full potential. No wonder you didn't take my advice. I underestimated you, but this is better. Your brain will help me complete my plan."
Chen Chuan could sense that Mr. Wu's strength surpassed that of Tan Wang and Luo Qi. His previous lunge nearly exceeded Chen Chuan's ability to react, and it might not even have been his fastest move.
Chen Chuan quickly adjusted his state, releasing the constraints on his emotions. His entire mutated body became incredibly lively, and various thoughts and complexities flooded his mind. Yet, his heart remained calm, like a thick layer of solid ice sealing a blazing fire.
This time, Chen Chuan didn't wait but chose to take the initiative. He flicked his shoulder, and the narrow blade of the Xuejun Sword sliced through half the living room, aiming for a horizontal slash.
Typically, long weapons are challenging to wield indoors, but with his strength and speed, furniture and walls were as flimsy as paper. These obstacles hindered him and his opponent equally.
Mr. Wu, a skilled fighter, had already gauged Chen Chuan's speed and strength from their initial contact and was about to launch a targeted offense.
However, Chen Chuan's attack this time was even faster than before, causing Mr. Wu's previously relaxed expression to change abruptly.
The sword's tip was about to reach his neck, seemingly ready to decapitate him in the next moment. Mr. Wu's body suddenly sank as if someone had pulled him down from below. As he descended, his mutated body's organs contracted and gathered.
When the sword's flash passed overhead, Mr. Wu stomped the ground, shattering the floor beneath him. The entire house seemed to shake, and he lunged towards Chen Chuan again.
Mr. Wu's timing was perfect, catching Chen Chuan at the moment his power converged. The sword couldn't be withdrawn in time.
Chen Chuan responded by extending his right hand from the sword's hilt, blocking with his elbow while stepping back and lowering his center of gravity.
A dull thud sounded as Mr. Wu's hands collided with Chen Chuan's elbow, and the impact tore the sleeves of their shirts. The powerful force pushed Mr. Wu backward, and his feet instantly carved a trench in the floor. The wooden boards shattered and splintered, followed by a loud crash as the wall behind him broke. Both men burst through the wall, landing in the open space outside.
Using the momentum, Mr. Wu closed in, ready for close combat.
Chen Chuan knew that engaging in close-quarters combat would be disadvantageous. Not only would he be unable to utilize his sword's advantage, but he might also be suppressed by Mr. Wu.
At that moment, Chen Chuan kept his hand holding the Xuejun Sword still, but his wrist snapped inward, and the mutated tissue in his wrist tightened, causing the sword's spine to lash out like a whip towards Mr. Wu's back.
Sensing the danger, Mr. Wu used his elbow to pivot and side-flipped away to a safe distance.
Wooden boards rained down, and one landed between them, revealing a torn Mo Lan Corporation advertisement in the light from inside.
The wind outside ruffled the corner of the painting, creating a flapping sound.
Mr. Wu stared at Chen Chuan, his earlier ease gone, his gaze flickering.
Chen Chuan returned the stare. Before coming here, he had prepared thoroughly.
Wu Teacher's fighting skills could be found on the school's Nexus, and past combat scenes were also accessible, with the most recent one from the previous semester.
So, before coming, he had rehearsed in his mind several times. Normally, the initial strike had a good chance of success, but Wu Teacher dodged it, not with his usual speed, but rather with an explosive technique.
This was normal, after all, even a school teacher wouldn't reveal their full strength, and they would surely have some tricks up their sleeves.
However, after dodging the initial strike, the counterattack was a missed opportunity. This indicated that the explosive technique wasn't sustained.
Wu Teacher looked at the long knife in Chen Chuan's hand and licked his slightly dry lips. He hadn't brought a weapon, which was a weakness. Normally, he wouldn't need one against a second-limit student he could easily overpower, but Chen Chuan's displayed strength was unexpected.
Had he taken some kind of drug? Even so, he was far from an ordinary student. But since he wasn't Wu Teacher's student, he didn't have the clearance to view his entire record, which would have provided a clearer understanding.
The correct strategy at this point was to retreat temporarily and wait for the drug's effects to wear off, ensuring an easy victory.
But he couldn't do that. He had already revealed his true intentions, and any relaxation of pressure might allow Chen Chuan to use the Nexus to send a message.
Chen Chuan made a slight adjustment. As the armed party, he didn't need to be overly cautious, so he stepped forward and swung his knife at Wu Teacher.
Wu Teacher lowered his center of gravity and continuously retreated, dodging several strikes. Then, he tapped his feet, creating some distance, and said with a smile, "Chen Chuan, no wonder your technique was rated low during the entrance assessment. You have strength and speed, but lack variation, making it easy for teachers to judge."
Chen Chuan remained unmoved. With his altered organs activated, their speeds were now equal. Even with his lack of technique, he had the advantage of being armed while Wu Teacher was empty-handed, leaving no room for error.
Even with a simple strike, Wu Teacher had to be on full guard, enduring more pressure and mental and physical exhaustion than Chen Chuan.
So, while it seemed like Wu Teacher was at a disadvantage, as the fight dragged on, Chen Chuan's stamina would deplete, and the scales of victory would tip in Wu Teacher's favor. Therefore, the concern should be for Chen Chuan, not Wu Teacher.
Chen Chuan sincerely said, "Wu Teacher's dodging skills are indeed remarkable, and I've learned a lot from them."
Wu Teacher's face twitched. Chen Chuan's knife technique had its shortcomings, but it was decent and without obvious gaps. Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult to find a counter-attack opportunity, so Wu Teacher tried to create anxiety through words. Seeing this didn't work, he had to resort to a more aggressive approach.
As the knife slashed towards him again, he narrowed his eyes and stepped back to dodge. But this time, after a few steps, he suddenly closed in.
Chen Chuan was prepared for an inward thrust, as his knife was long enough to keep his opponent at a safe distance. Seeing Wu Teacher approach, he thrust his knife, not expecting much, but to establish a threat and force a dodge.
Unexpectedly, Wu Teacher charged forward, allowing the long knife to pierce his abdomen, but he remained calm. He quickly closed the distance, reaching out with one hand to grab and the other to poke at Chen Chuan's eyes with two fingers.
Wu Teacher was decisive. Since empty-handed against a weapon was disadvantageous, he chose to trade injury for advantage. If Chen Chuan didn't abandon his knife, Wu Teacher could use his superior technique to seize Chen Chuan in close combat and end the fight.
If Chen Chuan chose to abandon his knife, even if he dodged the grab, Wu Teacher could still seize the long knife and turn the tables.
At this critical juncture, Chen Chuan didn't abandon his knife. He raised one hand to block the grabbing hand, and instead of dodging the fingers aimed at his eyes, he lowered his head and charged forward.
Wu Teacher narrowed his eyes. Just as his fingers were about to strike Chen Chuan's eyes, he turned them into a fist and punched Chen Chuan's forehead. This punch was restrained, as he needed Chen Chuan's brain intact, and it was enough to knock him unconscious.
But to his surprise, Chen Chuan seemed unaffected by the punch. Taking advantage of the momentary opening, he twisted the knife in his hand! Just as he was halfway through the twist, Wu Teacher grabbed the blade with a loud snap, and his altered organs and muscles tightened to stop the knife's rotation.
Chen Chuan looked up and met a hideous face.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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