Posture and Power

The secret of the Two-Aspect Step lay in returning to position. Once two points had been set, one could switch rapidly between them. If practiced to a profound level, it could almost become the "Secret Technique: Repeated Sideways Jumps."

The two exchanged moves in rapid succession. Ying Zhou roared again and again, but every move missed, leaving him thoroughly frustrated.

Si Ming did not simply dodge. He counterattacked as he evaded, using the Two-Aspect Step's return effect to tap his opponent before darting far away. Though none of his blows were particularly powerful and could not inflict any real damage on Ying Zhou, they always interrupted his rhythm, preventing him from launching a smooth, flowing offensive.

Ying Zhou seemed crazed, but he had not entirely lost his reason. After recognizing Si Ming's tactic, his punches abruptly changed. Instead of wide, sweeping blows, they became nimble and vicious, each move coming from a tricky, bizarre angle that was exceedingly difficult to guard against or predict.

"Snake Demon Fist!"

Si Ming failed to react in time. A glancing strike to his shoulder instantly left two bright red finger marks. There appeared to be no external injury, but a concealed force had been driven into his body. The pain sank into his bones, as though he really had been bitten by a venomous snake.

"You little brat, with skills like yours, you could have entered the elementary school martial arts league and won the championship, but instead you went after your classmates and little animals. You're utterly unreasonable!"

He no longer underestimated Ying Zhou and put away the pride that had lurked deep in his heart since defeating the Mighty Rhinoceros Toad. He retreated swiftly, opening up some distance and gaining a moment to catch his breath, then hurriedly directed all his Blazing Sun True Qi to his shoulder to dispel the concealed force.

"Trying to run now? Too late!"

Ying Zhou pressed his advantage without mercy. His five fingers came together like a snake's head, and he slid forward, stabbing at Si Ming with a sound that sliced through the air.

"Run? You're overthinking it. I just wanted to remind you that I'm not fourteen yet either!"

Si Ming shook his body and expanded his chest. His sinews and bones rang in unison, and a tiger's roar sounded from within his chest. Abandoning his previous hit-and-run offensive, he lunged straight forward amid a sharp, fierce gale.

A Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain pinned down the snake's head, followed by Fierce Tiger Forcibly Climbs the Mountain. His lunging punch struck Ying Zhou squarely in the chest, its ferocious force sending him flying.

Fortunately, Ying Zhou had his internal cultivation to protect him. Otherwise, that punch might have broken several ribs. His offensive thwarted, he clutched his agonized chest and said in shock, "How do you know the Tiger Demon Fist too?"

Si Ming snorted, folded his arms across his chest, and leaned his upper body slightly backward. In a voice dripping with mockery, he said, "A martial art that simple? I only had to see it once to learn it."

Chapter 23: Posture and Power

Ying Zhou's expression was one of uncertainty and suspicion. On the one hand, he did not believe Si Ming. Who in the world could learn a fist technique after seeing it once? Si Ming must have learned it before. On the other hand, he could not fathom the purpose of Si Ming's current pose. His whole body was plainly full of openings, and folding his arms hindered both his attacks and his dodging. Was he deliberately sowing confusion, or setting a trap?

"What martial art is that pose you're in?"

Ying Zhou thought that asking outright might catch Si Ming off guard. As he asked, he secretly gathered his strength, preparing a sneak attack.

"Heh heh, haven't you heard the famous saying? Posture is power!"

Si Ming turned sideways toward him, drew in his waist, and leaned his upper body slightly forward. Tilting his neck, he stretched his right arm straight out and pointed his index finger at Ying Zhou.

"You don't understand how to pose, so you can't grasp the true essence of power. This fight hasn't even begun, and you've already lost!"

Ying Zhou was somewhat bewildered. What kind of nonsense was this guy spouting with such a cool expression?

Yet his tone was so serious that he sounded quite convincing...

"You think I'd believe that?"

Ying Zhou let out a low roar and decided to stop worrying about what Si Ming was saying and settle everything with force. Swinging both arms, he lunged forward. Unlike his earlier Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain, this pounce was less ferocious and more agile, because he was using the Ape Demon Fist rather than the Tiger Demon Fist.

He closed the distance with Ape Leaps Across the Ravine, then flicked his arm out like a whip, striking straight at Si Ming's face. It was Ape Splits Three Mountains.

The "three mountains" referred to the left cheekbone, the bridge of the nose, and the right cheekbone. These three spots were the most vulnerable parts of the human body. A hit to any one of them, even if not fatal, could knock a person unconscious, injure the brain, and sharply reduce their fighting ability for a short time.

But Si Ming was not the least bit intimidated when it came to movement and lightness skills. He intended to repeat his earlier tactic, keeping his distance through hit-and-run fighting so he could observe his opponent's fist techniques. This time, however, he had miscalculated.

The Ape Demon Fist also emphasized footwork, focusing on agile shifts and evasions over short distances, advancing quickly and retreating swiftly, relying on flexibility and constant variation to land its blows. Its hips moved like a galloping horse, its legs like drills. Its steps concealed its legwork, and its legwork was contained within its steps. Every raised knee followed a method, and every step down held a kick.

Though it was called a fist art, the Ape Demon Fist's moves actually relied mainly on the palms, which closed into fists only just before striking. Moreover, every move targeted the opponent's face, making it truly ruthless.

For a time, Si Ming could not break free. His advantage in lightness skills was suppressed, leaving him only a slight edge. He could barely dodge the attacks, let alone counterattack.

Just then, Ying Zhou suddenly bellowed, his exhalation rolling like thunder. Combined with his internal cultivation, the explosive shout briefly rattled Si Ming's mind and involuntarily slowed his steps, leaving an opening. Third-level internal cultivation was not particularly strong, only at a middle schooler's level, but at close range it was enough to produce the effect of a sound technique, just as a sudden yell in someone's ear could startle them senseless.

Seizing the opportunity, Ying Zhou struck straight at his face with another Ape Splits Three Mountains. This time, Si Ming could no longer dodge.

"Ox Demon Horn Thrust!"

If he could not dodge, then he would not. Si Ming met the attack head-on, thrusting his forehead forward and driving both arms out like venomous dragons, using clumsiness to overcome agility.

With a thud, a red fist mark appeared on Si Ming's forehead. He had never practiced the Iron Head Skill, after all. Though he had executed the complete Ox Demon Fist, his own physical condition fell short, and he still suffered a minor injury.

Ying Zhou was driven straight back, a punch landing on each shoulder and leaving them weak and numb. His chest, where he had been punched earlier, also throbbed dully, leaving him thoroughly stifled.

"You've learned the Ox Demon Fist too?"

An expert could be recognized as soon as he made a move. Without two or three years of hard practice, it would be difficult to execute the Ox Demon Horn Thrust as accurately as Si Ming just had. Ying Zhou had practiced it himself, so he naturally understood the subtleties involved.

One thing, however, particularly puzzled him. If Si Ming had practiced the Ox Demon Horn Thrust, why was his forehead not very hard? It was like someone who practiced the Iron Sand Palm being able to deliver refined palm force while having no calluses on his hands.

Si Ming wiped his forehead and said, "I just learned it. I told you, for a martial art this simple, seeing it once is enough."

"You're still sticking to that absurd claim? If you're so capable, learn this fist art too!"

Ying Zhou swung both arms, and his speed increased another notch. As though he had grown wings, his force surged like racing thunder. His five fingers formed claws, moving too quickly for an eye to blink.

This was the Vulture Demon Fist, the last of the Five Demon Fists. It was said to have been lost, and even the nation's martial arts scripture repository had no record of it.

Of the Five Demon Fists, the Ox Demon Fist, Tiger Demon Fist, and Snake Demon Fist were the most common. The Ape Demon Fist was more difficult, so fewer people had mastered it. As for the Vulture Demon Fist, no one had been reported using it for nearly a hundred years.

The Vulture Demon Fist's attack patterns were much like those of the Eagle Claw Skill, but it had only killing moves, with no grappling techniques or the like. Its force was somewhat lighter, and it emphasized speed. Fast as it was, however, it lacked the Ape Demon Fist's agility. It excelled at accelerating in a straight line rather than changing direction and turning.

Faced with the lost fist art, Si Ming remained unhurried. He first countered it with the Ape Demon Fist he had just learned, which was effective against it. After twenty exchanges, he decisively used the Vulture Demon Fist.

For the first thirty moves, Si Ming's Vulture Demon Fist was less practiced than Ying Zhou's, and he was forced onto the defensive. He also took several claw strikes, leaving him with a few wounds. After thirty moves, the two were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand. After sixty, Si Ming had seized the advantage and was instead pressing Ying Zhou relentlessly, his moves proving even more ingenious.

"How is this possible... How is this possible! How could anything so unreasonable happen in this world?"