Chapter 283: Another Victory
Chapter 283: Another Victory
The spectators couldn't help but sigh in unison, a collective expression of their shared sentiment.
But there was nothing they could do; the situation was crystal clear. With the opponent's hands gripping his neck, a vital area, if Chen Chuan were to strike with full force, he could easily snap Ren Qiao's cervical vertebra.
This was a clear-cut loss.
They couldn't help but feel frustrated, especially after the previous two rounds where they had witnessed a genuine exchange of blows. What had just happened? There was no physical contact between the two fighters, right?
With such solid fundamentals and a reputation for being a steady individual, how could he make such a rookie mistake?
Moreover, the move Chen Chuan had used at the end seemed to be a grappling technique. They could understand if he knew how to grapple or wield a blade, as fighters needed to train in both unarmed and armed combat. But how could he also know grappling?
They were perplexed.
Chen Chuan declined the information provided by Cheng Shang, and naturally, he wouldn't share his own knowledge with the crowd. Both parties remained shrouded in mystery to each other.
However, Zhou Yuan's technique, a strength-based method, wasn't widely known. Only those who had trained in it understood how to utilize it effectively. Outsiders, even if told, might not grasp its intricacies.
Chen Chuan watched as Ren Qiao walked off the stage, dejected. The technique he had just used was the one Teacher Zheng had recently demonstrated to him—leading with an attack to throw off the opponent's own moves.
If not for Ren Qiao's lack of combat experience and his deep-seated apprehension, the outcome would have been different.
In truth, if Ren Qiao had fought more relaxed, he might not have been defeated so quickly.
The short-haired woman felt helpless. She flashed in the Boundary Vessel and transferred two hundred yuan to Ni Xixian's account, then threw the silver coin back, saying with resignation, "I'll have to be frugal again this month."
Ni Xixian rolled her eyes. "Come on, Bai Jie, not every student you teach becomes a master."
Bai Jie shook her head. "I don't teach just anyone."
After Ren Qiao's loss, most people realized that Chen Chuan was no ordinary fighter. They understood that facing such an opponent required a strategy, not just rushing in headfirst. So, for now, no one was eager to step up.
At that moment, outside the fighting arena, several people were making their way in.
Since this was an internal exchange with no fixed schedule and to save face for everyone, outsiders weren't invited. Those present were all familiar with the inherited martial arts style.
Blood ties didn't bind this group; it was the style itself that united them. Even if they were father and son, if their ideas clashed or one was deemed unworthy, they would be abandoned, and the opportunity would be given to others who better embodied the philosophy and possessed greater talent.
A car pulled up in the outer square, and the brother and sister Chen Chuan had met at the Sea Boundary Arena stepped out. The man checked his watch and then looked inside.
"Xiao Jing, it seems we're a little late. The exchange tournament has already started. Let's go in."
"Mm-hmm!"
The man led the little girl inside, just in time to see Ren Qiao sitting dejectedly to one side, surrounded by a few acquaintances. Two others sat nearby, having just caught their breath after their loss.
The man checked his watch again. No, I'm sure I got the time right. I was only a few minutes late, and you've already had several matches?
"Brother, that..."
Xiao Jing tugged at the man's sleeve and pointed at Chen Chuan in the arena. "That little brother is the one we met at the Sea Boundary Arena."
The man nodded. He had recognized Chen Chuan when he entered. "What a coincidence to meet twice in such a big city like Central City. It's like fate."
But...
He looked at Chen Chuan, dressed in the Wu Yi Academy uniform, the clear winner. Is this young man that strong? He's defeated several opponents in a row?
Ni Xixian spoke up, "Chen, it looks like you don't need a break after all?"
Chen Chuan thought to himself, 'If I say I'm tired and want to rest now, wouldn't that be even more unreasonable?' So he nodded and said, "I think I can continue."
Despite his polite response, the young people around him felt belittled, frustrated, and annoyed.
Ni Xixian looked to the side, "Who's next?"
Liu Yin stepped forward, "I'll go." He walked into the arena, and as he did, the atmosphere in the arena quieted down.
Xiao Jing's eyes lit up, "It's Liu Yin!"
The man said, "Oh? Liu Yin is up so soon? Seems like this young man is putting a lot of pressure on them."
Liu Yin was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding fighters of his generation. At his age, he couldn't compete with Chen Chuan, and even now, it was hard to predict who would win in a real fight.
"Liu Yin will definitely win, right?" Xiao Jing looked up at Liu Yin with admiration.
The man pondered for a moment, "In a duel, there's no guarantee of victory. Fundamentals, mindset, and performance on the day are all crucial. Today's winner might not be tomorrow's."
He looked ahead, "Among fighters like them, the gap in skill is minimal, making it hard to predict the outcome. Sometimes, it might even come down to luck."
"Luck?"
"Yeah, like the position you stand in. There's a superstitious belief that those standing on the left, or the west side, are more likely to lose."
"But Liu Yin is standing on the west side now."
"So, it's just a superstition, huh?"
Liu Yin stood before Chen Chuan and said, "Chen, by going first, I've gained an advantage. I hope you don't mind."
Regardless of how quickly Chen Chuan ended the fight, he had seen enough to understand his opponent. This was clearly an unfair advantage.
And he hoped for a fair fight, otherwise, winning wouldn't be meaningful. So he said, "In hand-to-hand combat, I specialize in Square Fist. I have always been very sensitive to sensing danger, and I can always find some flaws in my opponents. I hope you'll be careful."
The short-haired woman said, "Liu Yin not only has excellent fundamentals, but he can also seize the right opportunity to strike. This is something others can't compare to."
Ni Xixian joked, "Bai Jie, you better be careful not to jinx Liu Yin."
The short-haired woman gave her a disapproving look but soon closed her mouth.
Suddenly, Ni Xixian frowned and walked to the side, as if she had received some news.
Chen Chuan noticed that after this person stepped forward, the others remained silent, indicating that he was the most outstanding among the disciples.
Chen Chuan carefully observed Liu Yin. His mental state and posture were excellent, and his movements were well-coordinated, with almost no obvious flaws or weaknesses. He wouldn't be defeated in one move like the previous opponents.
After exchanging a fist salute, both retreated a little. However, Liu Yin stood still, not out of fear or hesitation but to avoid taking advantage of Chen Chuan.
Since Liu Yin was gracious, Chen Chuan didn't hold back. He slowly approached, and as he reached a certain distance, he suddenly accelerated, throwing a punch towards Liu Yin's face.
Instead of engaging, Liu Yin moved his feet, slightly leaned back, and sidestepped. His movement was swift, and his center of gravity was well-adjusted. Although he didn't fully commit, both his hands were already in the ideal position for a counterattack.
The audience breathed a sigh of relief, and someone shouted in admiration. Liu Yin managed to avoid being knocked down in one hit, easing the psychological pressure they had been feeling.
Chen Chuan glanced at Liu Yin, who moved naturally and cautiously. To win in a low-state expression, he would have to find flaws and opportunities during the fight. It seemed like a prolonged engagement was necessary.
At that moment, Ni Xixian's message came through the Boundary Vessel, "Little Brother Chen, there's something at the bureau that needs to be dealt with. Please handle it as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow. With this new development, he had to change his original strategy. Instantly, he released the constraints on his altered tissue, and his forward stride suddenly accelerated.
This sudden change in rhythm would catch most people off guard, possibly causing them to panic. However, Liu Yin remained calm. Instead of dodging, he raised his arm and leaned forward, initiating physical contact.
Bai Jie, standing nearby, couldn't help but praise his decision. It was the right choice because dodging would be futile. Could he outrun someone charging towards him? In such a situation, he might be knocked down instead.
By taking the initiative to close the distance, Liu Yin could use the momentum to counter Chen Chuan's speed. Chen Chuan's sudden acceleration would have a cost, likely involving most of his altered tissue. Therefore, there was no need to fear grappling or capturing techniques. It was pointless to try to maintain distance from an opponent who would close the gap when necessary. Sometimes, a direct approach with physical contact could be more effective.
Indeed, Chen Chuan didn't change his technique. In an instant, their arms and shoulders collided, creating a loud 'bang' sound due to the force exerted by both parties moving forward. The sound made everyone's chests feel stuffy.
Liu Yin had anticipated this collision, knowing that the force exerted by both parties would cause a momentary stagnation. He had trained in the Zhou Yuan Technique, allowing him to adjust and coordinate faster than ordinary people. Therefore, he could recover first and use this slight advantage to seize the initiative.
But he didn't expect that after being pushed back two steps by the force, Chen Chuan would remain unmoved in his original position. Chen Chuan then stepped forward and, without showing any sign of being affected, swiftly grabbed Liu Yin's wrist with a 'pa' sound.
Liu Yin's eyes widened as he realized Chen Chuan possessed grappling and capturing skills. If Chen Chuan's power infiltrated, the fight would be over. With no other option, Liu Yin could only guide the power and, following the opponent's anticipated pull, charge forward again.
Unexpectedly, Chen Chuan didn't employ the anticipated technique. Instead, he also exerted power and charged forward, resulting in a second collision, accompanied by another dull thud in the arena.
Chen Chuan stood firm like a rock, unmoved. Liu Yin, on the other hand, felt a stuffy sensation in his chest, and his hands and feet trembled slightly. His steps below became somewhat unsteady.
Before Liu Yin could recover, Chen Chuan's figure suddenly loomed larger in front of him. Chen Chuan's shoulder slammed into Liu Yin's chest with a 'bang,' sending Liu Yin flying backward. He crashed onto the floor and slid for a distance before being caught by the crowd amid exclamations.
Chen Chuan straightened up and stood in the arena, facing the direction where Liu Yin had fallen, and bowed with a fist salute, saying, "Thank you for the lesson."
The arena fell silent.
After a few breaths, Ni Xixian clapped and said, "Alright, let's end it here for today. Little Brother Chen has something to attend to at the bureau and needs to leave. We'll find another opportunity next time."
Ni Xixian gestured to Chen Chuan, who then headed towards the exit.
The audience remained silent. Liu Yin was acknowledged as the strongest among them, and with his defeat, there seemed little point in continuing the tournament today.
Chen Chuan straightened his clothes, nodded to the audience, and walked towards the door. As he was about to exit, a voice called from behind, "Who taught you your combat skills?"
Chen Chuan stopped and turned his head. It was the person he had met before. He looked back at the audience inside and replied slowly, "It was Teacher Cheng Zitong from Yangzhi Wuyi Academy."
After saying this, Chen Chuan turned and walked towards the door. Shortly after, the sound of a sports car speeding away could be heard outside.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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