Three Steps! Three Punches!

Lu Guowei had long been unable to hold himself back. He knew his performance just now had been somewhat embarrassing, and all he wanted now was to put the newly learned boxing technique to good use, win back some face!

"Take this!"

He let out a low roar, suddenly stepped forward, drove power through his waist and hips, and sent his right fist straight at Lu Jue's centerline!

However,

in Lu Jue's eyes, this seemingly swift and fierce punch had slightly unsteady footwork. Its force chased superficial brutality too much, while the coordination between waist, legs, and fist still lacked polish. It was all show and no substance.

This guy was about to take the Martial Arts Examination, yet he was still pouring his energy into other boxing techniques.

Didn't he know that for people like them, neither gifted nor born into wealth, their only fighting chance was to pour all their energy and resources into the Three Great Basic Cultivation Methods?

Lu Jue shook his head. Facing the howling fist, he neither dodged nor evaded, his gaze sharp as an eagle's.

He suddenly took a huge step forward with his left leg, planting it firmly like roots in the earth and making the floor tremble faintly beneath his foot.

The muscles all over his body twisted together like steel wires. Power rose from the ground, passed through the rotation of his waist and abdomen, surged through joint after joint, and finally gathered in his right fist. The entire process was like a fully drawn greatbow, brimming with explosive force.

He used no flashy technique at all—just the simplest Straight Punch, meeting it head-on with force against force!

"Bang!"

The two fists slammed together, producing a dull thud that made teeth ache!

"Ugh—ah!" The confidence on Lu Guowei's face instantly froze, replaced by extreme pain and disbelief!

He felt as though his fist had not struck flesh and bone at all, but had solidly collided with a wall forged from steel!

A violent pain spread from his finger bones and wrist bones through his entire arm, as if his bones were about to split apart!

How was this possible?! How could his fist be this hard?! This was absolutely not the strength someone ranked over seven hundred should have!

Lu Guowei screamed in horror within his heart, already thinking of retreating.

But Lu Jue gave him no chance to catch his breath!

Having seized the advantage with one move,

he pressed forward step by step!

Like a festering sore clinging to the bone, he followed the rhythm of Lu Guowei's pain-driven retreat and took another huge step forward.

Then,

the second punch came crashing out like a heavy hammer! It drove straight into Lu Guowei's wide-open chest!

In his haste, Lu Guowei could only raise his numb, aching right arm to barely block it.

"Thud!"

Another heavy sound of flesh striking flesh rang out.

Lu Guowei only felt an irresistible force crashing into him. His blocking arm was viciously smashed back against his own chest, sending his blood and qi churning as he staggered back two steps, his breath catching in his throat.

Yet at that moment,

the third punch had already arrived!

Faster than the second punch!

Fiercer!

It still shot straight toward Lu Guowei's chest, carrying a domineering force that seemed capable of crushing everything in its path!

"Blargh!"

Lu Guowei could no longer hold it in. Sweetness rose in his throat, and he sprayed out a mouthful of sour fluid mixed with bits of stomach contents. He was like a man struck by a speeding truck, flying backward and smashing hard into the low table behind him where the tea set rested!

In the blink of an eye, there had only been—

three steps!

Three punches!

Clean and decisive!

The whole room fell silent, quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Only Lu Guowei's pained groans and ragged breathing remained.

The assured smile on Uncle's face had not even fully bloomed before it froze completely. His features twisted into a strange arc, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

Father's expression was extraordinarily complicated.

Seeing his son win in such an overwhelming fashion, an indescribable surge of excitement and pride rushed into his heart, and the corners of his mouth nearly split into an uncontrollable grin.

But just as the smile emerged, he felt it was inappropriate. He forcibly suppressed it, leaving behind an expression that was neither quite a smile nor not a smile.

At some point, Grandfather had set down the wine cup in his hand. His usually imposing face was now filled with disbelief.

His eyes remained fixed on Lu Jue, as though he wanted to dissect this grandson he had never truly regarded from head to toe.

Those three punches!

Too fast! Too ruthless! Too domineering!

There had been no flashy display of technique at all—only the perfect union of pure strength and timing!

This was absolutely not the strength of someone ranked merely over seven hundred!

Just as everyone stood dumbstruck, a shrill wail, sharp enough to nearly crack, suddenly exploded through the room:

"It doesn't count! This doesn't count!"

Aunt sprang up from her seat like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She first checked on the unconscious Guowei, then pointed at Lu Jue with claws bared, crying out:

"Dad! You can't just let it end like this! Guowei—he wasn't in good condition today! Before coming here, he'd already sparred with one of his classmates, and his body was still weak! This wasn't a fair fight at all! Lu Jue took advantage of him while he was vulnerable! They're both Lu Family Members, yet he struck so heavily!"

"Enough!"

Grandfather slammed his palm onto the table, making the teacups jump wildly.

At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

"Guowei did indeed lose this match!"

"But—"

His tone shifted, his voice carrying an exhaustion he could not conceal.

Reason told him that the strength and disposition Lu Jue had displayed were the true hope for the Lu family's rise.

Yet emotion wound itself around his heart like countless vines.

His eldest grandson, Lu Guowei, had grown up before his eyes. They had spent every day together, and he had invested countless efforts and expectations into him. That bond had long since sunk deep roots.

Lu Jue, on the other hand, was almost a stranger to him aside from the thin tie of blood. Especially after what had happened to the other's mother two years ago, it would already be a blessing if Lu Jue did not hate him.

If he poured resources into Lu Jue, then once Lu Jue truly achieved Great Accomplishment and his wings grew strong, how could he possibly serve him as attentively as Uncle's family did, allowing him to enjoy his old age in peace?

At that thought, he slowly raised his left hand. He looked for a long while at the warm-colored Jade Thumb Ring on his index finger, his gaze complicated. As if making an enormous decision, he finally gritted his teeth and took it off.

"Lu Jue."

"You've reached this level of strength, so you must have your own methods and opportunities. Grandfather won't ask too much."

"But your cousin is stubborn by nature. He has trained in martial arts for so many years; it has practically become his only hope. If you make him give it up now, I'm afraid it would hurt him more than killing him."

"As your grandfather, I'll throw away this old face today! This ring is an ancient artifact I risked my life to find among the remains of a Ruined Ancient City when I was in the Scavenger Team. It's worth more than forty thousand. I'll use it as your reward for winning this match! Our previous agreement will be canceled from this day onward. You train in your martial arts, and Guowei trains in his. How about it?"

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone in the private room focused their eyes on the ring and Lu Jue's face. The air solidified as they waited for Lu Jue's response.

Lu Jue remained silent. He did not take it, merely looking back at him calmly.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Grandfather gritted his teeth and took another stack of cash from his pocket.

"Dad, didn't you just say—" Father grew anxious and stepped forward to argue, only to be stopped by Uncle beside him.

"Second Brother, it was just some fooling around among the younger generation. It can't be taken seriously. Dad, that ring of yours—"

"Enough. This is what Lu Jue deserves. Here are four thousand, along with this ring. Let today's matter end here!"

Lu Jue silently sighed.

Although he had expected this long ago, facing it for real still sent a bone-piercing chill through him.

Even if he fought his way to first place at the martial academy, in this old man's heart, he would probably never compare to that "fine eldest grandson" whom he had defeated with three punches.

It was like in a company: the leader's most trusted subordinate was often not the most capable one, but the confidant who had spent years eating, drinking, and making merry with him.

But it did not matter. He had never needed this old man's approval.

The path that truly belonged to him could only be carved out alone, one fist and one kick at a time.

Whatever familial bonds Grandfather claimed to have had were worn away completely when his mother died.

Let him see with his own eyes exactly what kind of trash he had protected in every possible way!

And let him see just how high the self he had dismissed with money could climb!

Time would give the fairest answer.

This match had not only allowed him to keep the resources, but also shown Father his strength.

He had even gained an additional "spoils of war."

A bloody profit!