Little Giant Spirit God

"Senior brother, look, he's so handsome." The woman jumped up and down, looking towards the stage.

"Junior sister, can you not be so shallow! In the martial arts world, it's about skill, not looks."

"But he really is good-looking. If I were Miss Lin, I wouldn't even compete, I'd just marry him."

"Junior sister, how about you take a closer look? Senior brother's looks aren't bad either."

The woman turned and glanced at him. "Senior brother, you... let's just forget it."

Someone said.

"This kid's no good, he definitely can't take one punch from Fan Zhutian."

"Last winter, when the Iron Fist Gang was fighting for territory, they invited Fan Zhutian. He took on seven or eight good fighters from the Blue Spear Society by himself, with just one punch..."

Fan Zhutian saw that the newcomer looked young and tender, so he didn't take him seriously. However, Zhang Yu's exceptional beauty caused many of the watching women to cheer, and the crowd below buzzed with discussion. Seeing his own spotlight stolen, he felt a surge of displeasure.

He taunted, "Pretty boy, are you on stage to find death? Take your sword and hurry home to learn embroidery from your mother, hahahaha."

"Starting off with taunts, he's asking for death!"

Zhang Yu looked up. The giant man was wearing a thick bear-pelt coat, and his hands were covered with steel knuckle dusters. He appeared to be fighting bare-handed, but he was far from disadvantaged. Ordinary swords and blades couldn't harm him through the bear pelt, which was as thick as armor. And if you took one of his punches, you'd be dead or severely injured.

I can't go head-to-head with him.

Zhang Yu also threw his head back and laughed, his laughter growing louder until it drowned out the crowd.

The audience below fell silent, all looking at him.

"Is this guy an idiot?"

Fan Zhutian asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Yu chuckled lightly, "I'm laughing because your forehead is dark. You're going to have a bloody disaster today!"

"I've been dark-faced since birth, how come I've never had a bloody disaster?"

"That's because you haven't met me yet."

"You're seeking death!"

"Big dark face, it's too early to say that. We'll know after the fight."

Fan Zhutian's face darkened further. He had endured scorn since childhood and hated it when people mocked his appearance the most. He said gravely, "Kid, do you know, according to the rules of the martial arts world, on the stage, life and death are not to be concerned with!"

Zhang Yu smiled, "This is the first time I've heard that."

"Then kneel down now, kowtow three times, shout 'Grandpa, spare my life' three times, then stick your butt out and get in position. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll forgive your rudeness."

Fan Zhutian suddenly charged forward, like a wild bull plowing the earth, making the stage tremble.

His speed wasn't particularly fast, but the stage was small, with limited room to maneuver.

This scene, filled with oppressive pressure, would have frozen anyone with a weaker will, leaving them unable to move.

Someone below introduced.

"Watch closely, this is Little Giant Spirit God's Three Axe Strikes."

"The first move, Wild Bull Charge."

The original owner had joined the Sun Moon Divine Cult two years ago and had considerable experience in combat. He had been promoted from a common soldier to a Deputy Flag Master, which showed his capabilities. Coupled with the assistance of the Green Jade Thumb Ring, Zhang Yu's senses were extraordinarily sharp. The giant man's originally not-so-fast movements seemed to slow down even further in his eyes.

However, in this situation, dodging in advance would cause the opponent to adjust his charge route, and besides, moving would make him more likely to reveal an opening.

Zhang Yu stood his ground.

When they were only three steps apart.

He slid his body, passing under the giant man's left elbow, and appeared on the other side of the stage.

Fan Zhutian crashed into empty air.

Their positions were swapped.

"What great footwork! He actually dodged it!"

Tiger Second Master slammed the railing, cheering loudly. He had noticed the last person to take the stage earlier; it was the young man who had been sitting by the window of the Drunken Immortal Tower. He had initially thought he was an arrogant young master from a noble family, but he didn't expect him to actually have some skill.

"Black Bull, I'm here! Are you running back to your mommy's embrace?" Zhang Yu shouted with laughter, deliberately trying to enrage the giant.

Fan Zhutian fell for the bait, gathered his strength again, and charged at him.

Zhang Yu, through practice, dodged with even greater ease. He could even simultaneously attack the opponent with the Azure Water Sword. However, the bear-pelt coat was too thick, and the Azure Water Sword was not a divine weapon. With a hit-and-run tactic, it was difficult to inflict real damage. To Fan Zhutian, it was no more than being bitten by a mosquito.

Someone below asked.

"Brother, didn't you say you had three axe strikes earlier? Why have you just been using 'Wild Bull Charge'?"

"Ahem, if Fan Zhutian can't catch that kid, even a hundred axe strikes would be useless."

"If it continues like this, does he actually have a chance to win this match?"

"Him being able to defeat Fan Zhutian is merely because his footwork happens to counter this brute-force style. It doesn't necessarily mean he's that skilled."

The person speaking, however, didn't consider that while many could see Fan Zhutian's weakness, why had no one been able to exploit it effectively to defeat him? Some things are easier said than done, and fighting on the battlefield is a different matter entirely.

"Heh heh, brother, you speak wisely. Then our chance has arrived?"

"Precisely. Traveling the jianghu, it's not about a moment of pleasure, but about who laughs last who is the true winner!"

At this point, Fan Zhutian also realized that if this continued, he would die of exhaustion on the stage and still wouldn't be able to catch this slippery kid who was like a loach. No matter how he attacked, the opponent could always dodge accurately.

He panted, "You... if you have the guts, don't dodge. Always dodging, what kind of good man are you?"

"If you have the guts to catch me, you won't even touch my clothes. What kind of good man are you?"

Zhang Yu wasn't worried at all. He used clever strength, and his stamina consumption was not large. As long as he dragged out the time, Fan Zhutian would undoubtedly lose.

On the embroidered building.

Lin Youlan picked up her teacup and took a gentle sip, a little more color returning to her pale face.

Lin Kun asked, "Mr. Zhong, what do you think of this young man?"

Lin Youlan quietly pricked up her ears.

"This person's grasp of timing is extremely keen. He must have been trained by a famous master, and his talent is quite high. However, judging solely by his footwork and swordsmanship, it's all chaotic and unrefined, like a street brawler's wild style. It shouldn't be like this."

"Mr. Zhong means, he's deliberately hiding his strength? Unwilling to reveal his teacher?"

"Perhaps so. Let's watch further."

On the stage, as expected, Fan Zhutian's stamina was nearly depleted. His movements became even slower.

Zhang Yu switched from defense to offense, using the Azure Water Sword to weave and entangle. Like a mosquito in the woods, he wasn't seeking a single fatal blow, only to draw a bit of blood. Accumulating small amounts would lead to an advantage.

Zhang Yu asked with a smile, "Big guy, are you still okay?"

Fan Zhutian propped himself up on his knees, panting like an ox, "If you can do it, I can do it!"

Fan Zhutian charged again, but his momentum was greatly reduced.

Zhang Yu's gaze sharpened. He circulated his Dantian, channeling inner energy into the Azure Water Sword.

He easily circled behind Fan Zhutian, leaned his body down to the side, and thrust his sword towards the Achilles' tendon area of the opponent's right leg.

As the sword neared his skin, Zhang Yu hesitated and then raised it by three inches.

The sword pierced his lower leg, and blood spurted out.

The giant stumbled forward a couple of steps and collapsed onto the railing at the edge of the stage.

Zhang Yu sheathed his sword and stood still, not pressing his advantage.

"Big guy, your tough skills are not easy to come by. I couldn't bear to injure you. You should go down yourself."

Fan Zhutian was not an ungrateful person. Zhang Yu had held back with that sword; otherwise, it wouldn't have been a flesh wound, but a severed tendon.

"I lost. I am convinced."

He cupped his hands towards Zhang Yu, "I am Fan Zhutian, known in the jianghu as 'Little Giant Spirit God'. May I ask your name, brother?"

"I am Zhang Liyu. I've just entered the jianghu and don't have a nickname yet."

Fan Zhutian laughed heartily, "Brother Zhang, your name suits you well. Your footwork is like a carp rolling, slippery and hard to grasp. If we meet again in the jianghu, I'll treat you to drinks to thank you for sparing me today."

The crowd below cheered.

This Zhang Liyu's footwork was exquisite, and when he delivered the final blow to decide the match, he was willing to show mercy, further demonstrating his heroic character and magnanimous spirit.

Fan Zhutian limped off the stage with his injured leg. He walked to the front of the embroidered building, refused the recruitment offer from the Lin family steward, and only took the forty taels of Silver Ingots.