I Need to Warm Up First

I Need to Warm Up First. "Me!"

Fang Mo froze at his words, looking at Guan Lie in surprise.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Guan Lie would call on him. Surely he'd be the last choice! There were plenty of front-courtyard disciples who'd been training for months longer than he had. Why would Guan Lie pick him?

"Master!"

Still, he hurried forward.

"Are you willing to go up?"

Guan Lie asked Fang Mo in a low voice.

Fang Mo looked at Guan Lie, then turned his gaze toward Han Zhou on the platform. He nodded.

"I am!"

"Good!"

Guan Lie's eyes suddenly lit up. He hadn't expected Fang Mo to actually agree, and a note of satisfaction appeared on his face as he nodded.

"Go on! Give it your all in this match!"

"Yes, Master!"

Fang Mo clasped his hands in a salute and turned to head for the platform. Just then, Guan Lu hurried after him, grabbed his arm, and said with a determined look in her eyes:

"Fang Mo, I know what you're capable of. You have to win this fight!"

Fang Mo met Guan Lu's gaze. He was puzzled; it seemed she might know something. He nodded.

"I'll do my best!"

A smile appeared on Guan Lu's face when she heard him agree. She lowered her voice.

"Not your best—you have to win. You absolutely must! If you win, your senior sister will give you a reward!"

"What reward?"

Fang Mo asked in surprise.

Guan Lu beamed and gave him a push.

"I'll tell you after you win. If you lose, I won't let you off!"

"Come on, Junior Brother Fang! You've got this!"

Ding Zhiwu clenched his fist and made an encouraging gesture.

"Junior Brother Fang, we believe in you! You can do it!"

He Shaobing and Chu Silin cheered Fang Mo on too.

"Okay!"

Fang Mo smiled at them, then turned and headed for the platform.

"Has Tiger Might Martial Arts School run out of people? Why'd they send someone like him?"

"That kid's so skinny! What kind of strength could he have? Is Tiger Might Martial Arts School just giving up?"

"They're just sending him up to make up the numbers!"

The moment Fang Mo appeared, the crowd erupted into chatter, with jeers rising now and then.

Fang Mo had been training for almost two months, and his body had grown sturdier. But compared to those who practiced martial arts, he still looked far too thin and frail. He wasn't tall or broad, and he hardly looked like someone who trained in martial arts.

"Fang Mo's going up?"

Seeing Fang Mo walk onto the platform, Qin Lang's eyes widened in disbelief.

He knew Fang Mo was training in martial arts, but how long had it been? What kind of strength could he have? He was a good-for-nothing, too. Had he really dared to step onto the platform? Was he looking to get himself killed?

"Lang, do you know him?"

Qin Linyue asked Qin Lang beside him.

"Second Uncle, he's Fang Mo!"

Qin Lang leaned closer and spoke in a low voice.

Qin Linyue asked in confusion:

"Fang Mo from the Fang Family?"

"That's right, him!"

Qin Lang nodded.

Qin Linyue narrowed his eyes slightly and murmured:

"Go tell the people from Xiongying Martial Arts School to cripple him!"

Qin Lang's eyes suddenly lit up. He said excitedly:

"Sure, Second Uncle. I'll go right now!"

"Madam, it's Fang Mo!"

At a restaurant overlooking the square, Aunt Sun pointed toward the platform and spoke to Hu Yuehua, who was seated nearby.

"I see him."

Hu Yuehua held a pair of binoculars, keeping Fang Mo firmly in her sights. Her eyes were cold. "That good-for-nothing actually dares to fight? What could he possibly have learned?"

Aunt Sun smiled slightly.

"Maybe Guan Lie has come to his senses and doesn't dare oppose us anymore. He's sending Fang Mo up to his death."

Hu Yuehua's lips curled into a sneer.

"Even better. But we still can't let Tiger Might Martial Arts School off the hook. They cost me thirty million. It's too late for them to surrender now. Once they're defeated, I'll make them feel the Fang Family's fury!"

Fang Mo heard the chatter and jeers too, but pretended not to. He walked toward the platform one step at a time.

Unlike Han Zhou, he didn't leap up. He climbed the stairs.

That only made the crowd laugh harder, and the taunts rose in waves.

"Kid, I'd advise you to get down and send someone stronger up!"

Han Zhou folded his arms and looked at him with contempt.

Fang Mo calmly stepped onto the platform and smiled faintly.

"It's fine. If I lose, someone else will come up."

Han Zhou was about to say something when he glanced toward Xiongying Martial Arts School. He saw someone beside Wei Zhendong make a hand signal. Han Zhou immediately understood and nodded. When he looked back at Fang Mo, his eyes had turned cold.

"You're asking for death. Don't blame me, then!"

He moved into an attacking stance for Eagle Claw Skill, spreading his arms like a great roc taking flight as his aura surged.

"Wait!"

Fang Mo suddenly raised a hand to stop him.

"What?"

Han Zhou lowered his stance and asked in a low voice.

"Let me knock the sand out of my shoe!"

Fang Mo smiled and squatted down, taking off his shoe and tapping it on the ground to shake out the sand. He took his time, making Han Zhou's eyes roll.

"Oh, just get down!"

"If you don't dare to fight, get lost! Stop wasting our time!"

The spectators shouted their displeasure, even yelling for Fang Mo to get off the platform. Fang Mo acted as if he hadn't heard a thing and kept shaking the sand from his shoe.

"Are you done yet?"

Han Zhou called out impatiently.

"Done!"

Fang Mo finally finished and leisurely put his shoe back on.

Han Zhou assumed his stance again and barked:

"Then let's begin!"

"Wait!"

Fang Mo raised his hand to stop him again. Han Zhou's foot darted to the side, nearly making him twist his ankle. He stopped and roared angrily:

"Are you ever going to be done?"

Fang Mo, however, remained unhurried.

"I need to warm up. I haven't loosened up yet; I might throw my back out. You want to warm up too?"

"I don't need to! Hurry up!"

Han Zhou shouted in frustration.

Fang Mo smiled faintly. He stretched his legs, swung his arms, and twisted his waist. Han Zhou looked ready to explode. After waiting more than ten seconds, he couldn't hold back any longer and shouted:

"Are you ready or not? If you don't fight right now, get off the platform!"

"Ready!"

Fang Mo smiled, finished his movements, and settled into a stance. "Come on!"

Only then did Han Zhou take up his stance. But after being interrupted twice, his great-roc-spreads-its-wings posture had grown slack, and his eyes had lost their focus.

"Fierce Tiger Pounces Mountain!"

Fang Mo's eyes suddenly blazed wide as his qi and blood surged. A tiger's roar burst from him, and he lunged like a fierce tiger.

In that instant, he seemed to become a real tiger. His aura was no longer as weak as before, and his speed was astonishing. The tiger's roar jolted Han Zhou. His expression changed in an instant, and he hurriedly struck back with his eagle claws.

Their clawed hands collided with a dull thud. Shock flashed in Han Zhou's eyes as he felt a force bearing down on him like a mountain crashing into the sea. How could that frail body hold such terrifying strength? It was every bit as strong as his own. Caught off guard, he couldn't bring all his strength to bear and was completely overpowered, forced back several steps.

"Good! He's using Fierce Tiger Pounces Mountain beautifully!"

Guan Lie's eyes lit up. He silently cheered. Fang Mo's technique had opened his eyes; he'd already grasped a hint of the true essence of Tiger Subduing Fist.

"Junior Brother Fang is so strong!"

The people from Tiger Might Martial Arts School were all stunned.

Even if Fang Mo had caught his opponent off guard with that first strike, the force behind their head-on clash had been real. They knew he'd reached a high level in Tiger Subduing Fist, but hadn't expected his strength to be so formidable as well.

Guan Lu's face was alight with joy. She'd been right—Iron Mask was Fang Mo.

This match was in the bag!

"Cheap shot! He caught him by surprise!"

Many people from Xiongying Martial Arts School shouted angrily. Wei Zhendong's expression had turned especially grim.

"Tiger Step Cannon Hammer!"

Fang Mo paid no attention to the shocked crowd. With the advantage in hand, he unleashed his full strength, shifting his feet and closing the distance in a flash. He drove a cannon-fist straight at Han Zhou's chest.

Han Zhou had just steadied himself. Seeing Fang Mo charge like a fierce tiger, he had no time to dodge and hurriedly crossed his arms over his chest.

Fang Mo's fist slammed into Han Zhou's arms. The tremendous force drove them against his chest, sending him stumbling backward.

"Hold him back!"

Han Zhou roared. His strength surged as he stamped the ground, trying to drive Fang Mo back.

"Golden Rooster Shakes Wings!"

Fang Mo stamped the ground again and shook his arm. Inch Strength erupted, instantly jolting Han Zhou's arms hard into his chest.

Han Zhou couldn't hold on. The impact sent him staggering backward several steps. His arms felt as if they were about to snap, and the penetrating force hammered his chest, leaving it so tight he could barely breathe. A violent cough threatened to break out.

"Get off the platform!"

Fang Mo roared and charged like a fierce tiger. A tiger's roar shook the forest as a powerful Qi Force bore down on Han Zhou, like a tiger pouncing on its prey.