Break his legs...
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And he even threw him out of Xianyang?
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In that instant, Li Yan understood why his father had been friends with Old Man Zhang and had even made the other man willingly scheme on his behalf.
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Perhaps only his father's forthright temperament could tolerate that foul-mouthed old man.
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Though he grumbled inwardly, he was too lazy to speak at that moment.
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Ignoring Zhang ShiTong across from him, Li Yan turned and walked to a chair nearby. First, he untied the Guan Shan Saber at his waist, then slowly undid the buttons and removed the Sleeve Blade from his left wrist.
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His movements were unhurried, carrying a certain ritualistic air.
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"Even learned Old Tiger's Sleeve Blade?"
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Seeing the short blade, Zhang YuanShang above seemed to be stirred by a memory. But he soon noticed the look on Li Yan's face, curled the corner of his mouth, and revealed an amused smile. "Interesting..."
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In this world, martial artists had to kill people when they practiced martial arts.
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Most of the time, their bodies remained relaxed. They did not walk sideways like idiots and draw attention to themselves. When they suddenly erupted, it was a Thunder Strike.
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Li Yan was sparring now, and neither side had any room for a sneak attack. Thus, using the few movements involved in taking off his clothes, he adjusted his state in a short time.
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When he turned around again, his eyes were already gleaming like cold ice.
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At the other end, Zhang ShiTong had also lost his lazy, carefree manner. Without saying a word, he changed his hands into palms, bent his body slightly, and crouched with his legs one before the other, looking exactly like a large rooster.
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Chicken Leg?
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Li Yan's brows drew together. He also turned sideways and shifted his shoulder, settling into position.
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This Chicken Leg was anything but fragrant to an opponent.
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Xinyi Liuhe Fist emphasized launching with Tiger Pounce, beginning with Eagle Capture, then Chicken Leg, Dragon Body, Bear Waist, and Tiger Head Hold. Its fame had spread in all directions; this was no joke.
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The Chicken Leg was the key to Xinyi Liuhe Fist. Speed and slowness, strength and weakness in issuing power—all were connected to it. As the saying went: "When intent departs, it is like wind rolling across the earth; all movement depends on the rear leg driving off; step after step, never leave the Chicken Leg."
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The most obvious example was a fighting rooster.
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Leaping, pouncing, advancing, and defending—at any moment, everything happened in a single, fluid motion.
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That was why practitioners of Xinyi Liuhe Fist had another old saying: "Practice the fist without slipping the legs, and you will grow into a careless fool."
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His father, Li Hu, had traveled the martial world and possessed extensive experience. While he was alive, he had explained all the widely circulated forms of boxing to Li Yan.
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Li Yan had been young then. An ordinary boy would probably have forgotten long ago, but he possessed a mature soul. He had memorized every crucial point until he knew them by heart.
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Xinyi Liuhe Fist also had numerous schools, each with its own characteristics.
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For example, Cangzhou favored expansiveness and openness, Jinzhou favored delicacy and cunning, while the Central Plains traditions tended toward viciousness and dominance.
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The moment Li Yan saw Zhang ShiTong's opening stance, he knew his lineage was connected to Jinzhou.
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Jinzhou had many wealthy merchants and banking houses. As a result, escort agencies gathered there, and the Martial World flourished greatly.
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When Zhang ShiTong had invited him earlier, he had said, "Carry three parts of a smile, yield three parts of reason, and drink three parts of wine." Li Yan had made a guess then, because that was the catchphrase of an Escort Guard.
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Escort Guards protected convoys. They only resorted to force when human relationships failed, but once they acted, their methods were exceptionally covert and crafty. They also had to adapt to all kinds of environments, so their boxing shared similar traits.
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Looks like I need to watch out for his hidden moves...
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Just as Li Yan's thoughts turned, Zhang ShiTong moved. His front and rear legs crossed, and with a shuffling step, he closed the distance.
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Li Yan frowned slightly and retreated sideways.
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He had long heard that when Xinyi Liuhe Fist struck, the shoulder did not move. Only after truly exchanging blows did he realize how troublesome it was. He could not see what the other man intended to do.
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Zhang ShiTong had already issued his power. This distance meant nothing. His right hand flicked, sweeping straight toward Li Yan's eyes.
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The palm wind howled, stabbing Li Yan's eyes until they hurt. He could not help leaning back.
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But this was only a feint. Zhang ShiTong's left hand hooked inward, already thrusting toward his upper abdomen like a nail hammer. If it landed, Li Yan might be unable to draw breath just like Meng HaiCheng.
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But if Li Yan dared to spar, how could he be all show and no substance?
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His right hand followed the motion and flicked aside, blocking Zhang ShiTong's punch. At the same time, he rotated his wrist into a claw and seized the other's wrist.
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This was the essence of Red Fist: cunning strikes!
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Red Fist had never been a passive art of taking blows. Its footwork was nimble. Whether advancing or retreating, attacking or defending, every move prepared the way for an attack.
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Even when withdrawing his hand, he had to hook the opponent.
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As long as this grip became firm, the next move could make the enemy bleed!
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Who could have guessed that Zhang ShiTong's move was still a feint?
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His left hand flicked and slipped free from Li Yan's grasp like a loach. Then, like a Tiger Pounce, his body accelerated again, and a shoulder strike crashed into Li Yan's chest.
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The two moved as fast as light and shadow, all within a single breath.
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Li Yan felt his chest tighten as though he had been hit by a wild bull, and he was sent flying backward.
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A row of chairs stood behind him.
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Seeing that he was about to collide with them, Li Yan braced with his right foot. Borrowing the force, he performed a backflip, making the difficult look effortless, and landed steadily atop a chair.
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His crossed fists pushed outward, as though he had not been struck at all.
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"Oh, you can take a beating..."
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Zhang ShiTong gave a mocking laugh and immediately advanced with a whip kick.
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"You little bastard, don't break my chairs!"
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Old Man Zhang, seated in the armchair, instantly voiced his displeasure.
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Yet this move from Zhang ShiTong was also a feint.
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He swept at the chair to force Li Yan to jump down.
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Sure enough, Li Yan had already leaped up. His right leg swept out toward Zhang ShiTong's head.
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The little bastard took the bait!
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Zhang ShiTong was delighted inwardly. His right leg rose with the momentum, delivering a Heaven Facing Kick.
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The lower body had to remain steady during a spar. Few people attempted airborne strikes because it was difficult to exert force in midair, and taking a hit meant disaster.
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But the moment he kicked out with the Heaven Facing Kick, he sensed that something was wrong.
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Li Yan twisted in midair. His left hand scooped up and seized Zhang ShiTong's leg, while a scissors kick clamped around Zhang ShiTong's neck.
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Then Li Yan flipped over, borrowing the strength of his entire body. Zhang ShiTong rose off the ground in an instant like a radish being pulled up, flew backward upside down, and slammed directly into the crossbeam of the main hall.
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This move borrowed an attacking concept from his previous life and combined Red Fist's grappling methods with Nine Rolls Eighteen Falls.
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Zhang ShiTong took the blow squarely. The instant he landed, he assumed a stance again, but the smile had vanished from his face. "What school of Red Fist is that supposed to be?"
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"Red Fist that can knock people down!"
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Li Yan gave a cold snort and rushed forward.
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He had sensed the danger from that exchange.
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His father Li Hu's former warning rose in his mind:
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When Xinyi Liuhe Fist struck, the shoulder did not move. Raise the hand and surge forward; intent arose from the heart, and the fist transformed from intent. It was exceedingly difficult to predict.
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More important were its attacking characteristics: like water overturning in waves!
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Once it seized the upper hand, it unleashed wave after endless wave of attacks. Defending for long would inevitably lead to defeat, leaving no chance to turn things around.
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Therefore, he chose to seize the initiative and attack.
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"Come on!"
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Zhang ShiTong was not startled but delighted. He sprang forward with a chicken step and raised his hand into a Heart-Piercing Punch.
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But this punch was only a feint.
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As Li Yan swept his right hand aside and knocked the punch away, Zhang ShiTong had already drawn both hands inward, palms facing each other. He suddenly thrust them outward.
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Xinyi Liuhe Fist—Double Palm Strike!
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A forward strike was called Tiger Pounce. A diagonal upward strike at the opponent's chin was called Old Ape Hanging Seal or White Ape Offering Peach.
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Zhang ShiTong chose to attack Li Yan's chin.
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If this landed solidly, Li Yan would faint on the spot.
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But at that moment, Li Yan's neck suddenly leaned backward. At the same time, he shifted his shoulder sideways and slid his left foot forward, closing the distance.
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Distance was the key to combat.
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This tiny step was enough for Li Yan to raise his hand and push, forcing Zhang ShiTong to expose an opening. At the same time, his shoulder flicked, and his right palm struck violently.
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Zhang ShiTong's view was blocked, and he could not see the palm strike below.
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Red Fist Thirty-Six Hand Techniques: Flower Hidden Beneath the Leaves!
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Zhang ShiTong had not taken it seriously at first.
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He only needed to pull back his wrist to prevent Li Yan from hooking it.
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At worst, he would take a palm strike.
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If he was hooked, however, then whether it was Red Fist's Harrier Class Shoulder or Sword-Hanging Leg, taking either move would end the spar.
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Who could have expected that when Li Yan's palm pressed down, Zhang ShiTong's expression would change drastically?
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Before he could react, a tremendous force sent him flying again. With a bang, he slammed into a pillar and slid down.
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"Hidden Strength?!"
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Above them, Zhang YuanShang stood as well.
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He was clearly surprised, but not worried.
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Hitting a man like hanging a painting—ferocious to behold, yet the force had been withdrawn.
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If Hidden Strength had been combined with Yin Power and driven straight into the heart, that would have been a killing blow.
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Sure enough, Zhang ShiTong immediately rose to his feet, his expression turning ugly. "Good kid. Looks like I can't hold back anymore!"
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He had also entered the realm of Hidden Strength. Although he was about the same as Li Yan and had only just grasped it, unable to wield Martial Power with effortless control or send it winding through countless transformations, using it and not using it were two entirely different matters.
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"Stop!"
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Zhang YuanShang sat back down in the armchair and waved a hand. "You don't have any deadly grudge against each other. Save your strength and fight to the death in the arena."
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"Boy, don't worry about the other matters. I'll arrange everything. They won't tamper with the arena, but whether you can win will depend on you!"
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Zhang ShiTong patted the dust from his clothes and said, "Zhou Bai isn't very old, but he's somewhat stronger than me. If you can't break through the 'circle' of his monkey boxing, then there's no fight to be had."
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"Thank you!"
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Li Yan cupped his hands, picked up his clothes, and left.
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He had achieved his purpose in coming here.
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First, Zhang YuanShang had promised to arrange the arena, so there would be no accidents.
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Second, the old man had indirectly reminded him of something.
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That Zhou Bai should be about as strong as Zhang ShiTong.
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But one was already twenty-seven or twenty-eight, while the other was only seventeen. Their potential was vastly different.
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For this Life and Death Arena, perhaps he would not need to use the Great Luo Dharma Body.
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Watching him leave the martial arts academy, Zhang ShiTong was no longer as hotheaded as before. He knitted his brows and spoke with his dead-fish eyes wide open. "He does have some of Li Hu's imposing manner. To grasp Hidden Strength at such a young age, no wonder he's so arrogant..."
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"But Father, Zhou Bai is probably a little stronger. You're gambling here!"
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"Of course I'm gambling!"
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Zhang YuanShang held his water pipe and took several puffs before speaking calmly:
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"Who in this life doesn't have to gamble a few times? Zhou Pan has already made contact with Chang'an. If I don't gamble now, I won't even have the chance to gamble in the future..."
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"What if you lose?"
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"Your old father has already lost a gamble once. At worst, I'll throw away this old face and keep cursing in the streets. This time, it's on your account. If you lose, go honestly to Cangzhou..."
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"Th-this isn't fair!"
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"A son lecturing his father about fairness? You want a beating!"
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"How did it go? How did it go?"
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Sha LiFei and Wang Dao Xuan had been waiting at the street corner.
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When they saw Li Yan emerge, they hurried over to ask.
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"It's all arranged."
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Li Yan pondered for a moment. "You two, although Old Man Zhang gave his guarantee, those people from the Iron Saber Gang are all scum. The beggars at the Mass Burial Grounds were very likely their doing. They may well use some sinister trick, so don't go wandering around these next two days."
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"Also, I need something."
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"What thing?"
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"Qin Han War Drums!"
Before you continue