Just One Punch

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Lu Zheng started on the defensive, then launched a few small attacks of his own, but always stopped at the right point. Whenever he got close, he pulled back in time, merely testing Lin Wan's reactions and responses.

Thus, the two of them shouted and circled on the ring, looking as though they were trading blows back and forth, yet neither had any intention of deciding a winner.

"You know, this guy really is an agile-type fighter. I don't think Lin Wan can beat him either."

Lu Tieling nodded. "But Lin Wan's reactions are fast too. He's basically gotten no advantage over her."

"Club Manager, can you tell what style he practices?"

"Mm, it looks a little like Tongbei Fist, with some of the approach of Splitting-Hanging Palm as well."

"Club Manager, you're amazing! So knowledgeable—you can see through him at a glance!"

"Hahaha!"

Twenty minutes later, Lin Wan stopped, panting heavily and waving her hand. "I can't fight anymore!"

"Wanwan Jie, you're amazing!"

"So cool!"

"Come down and get some rest!"

Lu Zheng turned sideways and pulled open the ring ropes, letting Lin Wan climb down first before following her down.

Seeing the two of them leave the ring, Lu Tieling eagerly came over carrying two bottles of water, handing one to Lin Wan first.

Lin Wan thanked him, casually took it, then passed it to Lu Zheng. "Have some water."

"Thanks." Lu Zheng nodded, accepted it, unscrewed the cap, and drank.

Lu Tieling, "..."

He could only hand the water he had meant to give Lu Zheng to Lin Wan instead.

"How was I?" Lin Wan tipped her head back and took a sip, her eyes bright as she looked at Lu Zheng.

"Pretty impressive!" Lu Zheng nodded.

Lin Wan rolled her beautiful eyes. If she had not seen Lu Zheng strike while acting on instinct, she might really have believed his nonsense.

The young and strong Liu Leng had been sent flying by a single collision, while an international assassin had been knocked unconscious outright...

"Lin Wan is obviously impressive. She's the strongest amateur fighter I've ever seen." Lu Tieling happily took over the conversation.

Amateur?

Although Lin Wan's main profession was criminal investigation, she probably would not be willing to accept being labeled an amateur fighter.

"Don't brush me off." Lin Wan did not look at Lu Tieling at all, instead saying to Lu Zheng, "Where should I improve?"

Stared at by Lin Wan's pair of bright eyes, Lu Zheng unconsciously licked his lips.

"How should I put it?" Lu Zheng paused. "Everywhere needs improvement."

Lin Wan: (ノ°ο°)ノ

Am I really that bad? And here I thought I was pretty good!

"Outrageous!"

Lu Tieling came back to his senses, immediately widening his eyes as he cut in again from the side. "You didn't even suppress Lin Wan in the ring, yet you're saying she needs improvement everywhere? Are you kidding?"

"Brother, isn't that a bit much?"

"Exactly! Wanwan Jie is so good—she almost knocked you down several times!"

"Little bro, that's not how you chase girls. You're using PUA tactics, you know?"

Lu Zheng instantly became the target of public criticism, leaving him completely baffled. What had he even said?

Hadn't he merely said that Lin Wan needed improvement everywhere? It was not as if he had lied. Lin Wan's skills were certainly strong among ordinary people, but since the goal now was to avoid accidents when encountering experts, then naturally she needed improvement everywhere.

To say nothing else, just that wanted criminal whom he had knocked out with one punch—if that man had slashed back with his knife, Lin Wan would absolutely have been unable to block it.

"What are you all talking about?" Lin Wan immediately came to Lu Zheng's defense. "We were on the ring just now to test my weaknesses!"

Lu Tieling waved a large hand. "Lin Wan, I've fought you too. Your technical movements are basically all in place. At most, you lack experience and strength, and maybe your footwork can't quite keep up.

Where did you find this guy? He's spouting nonsense with nothing but his mouth, acting so arrogantly. He talks about you like this, and you actually believe him?"

Lin Wan was helpless.

Lu Tieling was really just an amateur combat-sports enthusiast. He had only trained with professionals in the past because of his hobby.

Because he was tall and sturdy, and his experience and reactions truly were not weak, he counted as a top expert among amateur combat-sports enthusiasts and held a certain advantage against lightweight fighters like Lin Wan.

But his own eye for things and theoretical knowledge were only at an amateur level. He could not even compare to her, so how could he possibly see Lu Zheng's prowess? Lin Wan had never revealed her profession before, and she did not want to play teacher or have others latch onto her, so she had never argued with anyone.

This time, she had merely brought Lu Zheng somewhere familiar where they could spar. Lin Wan truly had not expected this to happen.

"Buddy, how about getting on the ring for a few rounds? Let me see what a real expert looks like!"

"I'm getting in line."

"Hey, will my turn ever come?"

"That's enough!"

Lin Wan got angry. "I asked Lu Zheng to teach me. What does it have to do with any of you?"

She had wanted to use boxing lessons to get closer to Lu Zheng, but this had backfired. If this matter ended halfway through and created a rift between her and Lu Zheng, what excuse would she have left to go find him? "Sister Lin—"

Jiang Lingling stepped forward and grabbed Lin Wan. This was the first time she had seen Lin Wan lose her temper.

The others were stunned as well.

Lu Zheng waved his hand from the side. "It's not that serious, it's not that serious..."

How had they somehow ended up getting angry?

But Lu Tieling would not let it go. Frowning at Lu Zheng, he said, "You kid seem pretty capable. Since you're so good, get on the ring and fight me. If you win, I won't say another word. But if you lose, stop blowing hot air!"

Lu Tieling was getting worked up too.

He had asked Lin Wan out for meals several times, only to be politely turned down. Later, he had tried to get closer to her by offering pointers, only to be rejected again. Yet now she had found some pretty boy to teach her.

Wasn't that plainly saying she did not think much of Lu Tieling?

"Lu Zheng doesn't need to—"

Lu Zheng waved his hand, interrupting Lin Wan.

He could see it now. Lu Tieling had been blinded by jealousy and had gone off the deep end.

Of course, he could ignore him and find another place to practice with Lin Wan. But if he did that, not only would he gain a reputation here for being timid, trouble-shy, and only good at boasting, Lin Wan probably would not be able to stay here either.

He naturally did not care, and Lin Wan presumably did not care either, but there was no need for it.

When everyone else was drunk and he alone was sober, each side saw the other as a clown. Why bother? These people were not bad people either. Since it was something one punch could settle, Lu Zheng naturally would not begrudge that one punch.

What a trivial matter. "Fine, let's get on the ring!" Lu Zheng nodded.

"Lu Zheng!"

But in Lin Wan's eyes, Lu Zheng was clearly doing this to look after her.

She had chosen the wrong place and caused this trouble, yet Lu Zheng was the one cleaning up after her.

She shot Lu Tieling a glare. Lin Wan regained her composure, her expression turning cold as she said lightly, "Don't hit too hard. Teach him a proper lesson."

Tsk, tsk. She was telling Lu Zheng to make Lu Tieling suffer a little more, not finish him in one move like Liu Leng and that wanted criminal.

She had turned back into the familiar cold-faced policewoman.

Ruthless and vicious. I like it!

"Alright!"

"Hmph!"

Lu Tieling snorted, casually took the gloves and helmet Lao Du handed him, pulled open the ring ropes with one hand, and stepped onto the boxing ring.

He crooked a finger at Lu Zheng. "Get up here!"