Defeat

Luo Kun sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his gaze sweeping across the courtyard.

He first looked toward Zhang Xiong and Gong Yulei's match.

The two were clearly a cut above the other apprentices, and they were locked in an evenly matched fight.

Gong Yulei's moves were vicious, every punch aimed straight at vital points.

Zhang Xiong's defense was airtight, always able to dissolve the attacks.

"Gong Yulei's Blood-Qi signs are becoming more and more obvious. He's almost caught up to Zhang Xiong..."

Luo Kun was secretly startled by Gong Yulei's talent.

"Yet that fondness for fighting and ruthlessness hasn't changed. His attacks are far too savage."

He shook his head with a sigh.

When his gaze shifted to Zhang Xiong, regret flickered through Luo Kun's eyes.

"If only his innate physique were a little better..."

The more Luo Kun watched, the more he appreciated this disciple.

If not for the limits of his aptitude, Luo Kun would have long since taken him as a personal disciple and taught him everything he knew.

Thinking of what he had endured in the great sect back then, Luo Kun felt bitterness well up in his heart.

Those fellow disciples blessed with extraordinary talent were now either holding lofty positions or renowned across their regions.

As for himself, his talent had been mediocre, leaving him no choice but to open a hall and teach disciples in this small place.

On the path of martial arts, it ultimately came down to one's innate physique.

"Ten years from now, I'm afraid even ten Zhang Xiongs won't be able to defeat one Gong Yulei..."

Luo Kun sighed inwardly.

This family business could only be passed on to the strongest person.

Suddenly, a miserable cry interrupted his thoughts.

Looking closely, he saw that Jiang Che had actually defeated Zhao Xisheng.

"Oh?"

Luo Kun's interest was piqued.

Seeing Jiang Che win so easily for the second time, he could not help but be moved.

"Judging by boxing alone, this kid has already surpassed Zhang Xiong and Gong Yulei!"

Unfortunately, Jiang Che showed no signs of Blood-Qi at all. His poor innate physique was obvious at a glance.

At that moment, Wang Dayong stepped forward to challenge him, and Luo Kun perked up to watch.

Wang Dayong was quite formidable and had a chance of breaking through to the Blood-Qi Realm.

Although he usually liked bullying his fellow disciples, Luo Kun turned a blind eye so long as no serious injuries were caused.

In the courtyard, Wang Dayong and Jiang Che stood facing one another.

Wang Dayong was powerfully built, half a head taller than Jiang Che, his muscles stretching his training uniform taut.

Jiang Che was lean and wiry, appearing especially slight by comparison.

Their standoff quickly drew everyone's attention.

"Jiang Che is in for trouble now that Wang Dayong has set his sights on him," an apprentice whispered.

"No matter how good Jiang Che's boxing is, without Blood-Qi to support it, he's no match in the end," another agreed.

Zhao Xisheng stood to one side, secretly worried for Jiang Che.

Jiang Che turned a deaf ear to their discussions.

He assumed the opening stance of the White Cloud Fist. He looked relaxed, yet an indistinct force emanated from him.

"Fancy nonsense!"

Wang Dayong let out a furious roar, his heavy fist shooting straight for Jiang Che's face.

The fist wind howled, making Jiang Che's cheeks sting.

Jiang Che sidestepped the blow and lightly pushed Wang Dayong's wrist with his right hand.

Wang Dayong swept out with his left fist. Jiang Che barely blocked it, but was still jolted several steps back, his arm going numb.

"Dodge, then! Keep dodging!"

Wang Dayong grinned viciously as he pressed forward, his fists raining down like raindrops.

Relying on his footwork, Jiang Che kept evading. He was forced back step by step, and his breathing began to grow ragged.

"Jiang Che is going to lose," someone murmured.

"Lasting this long against Wang Dayong is already impressive," another said with feeling.

Watching Jiang Che struggle to fend off the attacks, a trace of disappointment flashed through Luo Kun's eyes.

"As expected, no matter how exquisite his boxing is, without Blood-Qi, it is ultimately empty."

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Che had been forced into a corner.

Wang Dayong laughed loudly and smashed a heavy fist toward Jiang Che's head.

Some could not bear to watch and shut their eyes.

Luo Kun secretly circulated his energy, ready to step in and save him.

"This Wang Dayong is indeed far stronger than Zhao Xisheng..."

Jiang Che thought to himself.

"Since that's the case..."

He focused his attention and observed his opponent.

In an instant, Jiang Che's gaze changed.

Those eyes became like an ancient well whose depths could not be seen.

Without the slightest ripple.

The world slowed in his eyes.

Wang Dayong's fist seemed frozen in place.

He clearly saw the opening beneath his opponent's armpit.

The White Cloud Fist he had practiced tens of millions of times had almost become instinct.

Jiang Che withdrew his left foot half a step, his body slipping beneath the punch like a swimming fish.

His right hand became a palm and struck Wang Dayong's armpit with perfect precision.

"Ugh!"

Wang Dayong's expression froze.

His fist stopped in midair, and his entire body crashed to the ground.

The Martial Arts Hall fell silent as a graveyard.

Everyone stared wide-eyed.

Wang Dayong, who had held the advantage just a second ago, had actually lost?

Only when they saw Wang Dayong curled up on the ground in pain did everyone accept reality.

Jiang Che himself was somewhat surprised.

Not because he had defeated Wang Dayong.

But because, in that instant, he seemed to have felt a faint stirring of Blood-Qi within his body.

Yet when he sensed again now, there was nothing but emptiness.

"Was it an illusion..."

"Was that move just now the White Cloud Fist?" someone asked quietly.

"I've never seen a move like that." Someone nearby shook his head.

"That was the White Cloud Fist."

Luo Kun's voice suddenly rang out.

With his hands behind his back, he rose and walked into the courtyard.

"This is the Heart-Insight realm, where one has practiced a boxing art to its utmost limit... I never expected someone among you to reach this level!"

As he spoke, he patted Jiang Che on the shoulder, then pulled Wang Dayong up from the ground and tapped several points beneath his armpit. The pain immediately vanished from Wang Dayong's face.

"Heart-Insight..."

The way everyone looked at Jiang Che gained a few more shades of shock and reverence.

"That will be all for today."

Luo Kun returned to his meditation cushion and closed his eyes to meditate, sighing inwardly.

"Even with the Heart-Insight realm, without Blood-Qi, he is ultimately just an ordinary mortal."

For a moment just now, he had wondered whether he had misjudged Jiang Che.

Taking advantage of the pat on the shoulder, he had secretly examined him and confirmed that Jiang Che truly had no Blood-Qi fluctuations within his body.

"Still..."

Luo Kun changed his mind. "If he is willing, he could stay on as an assistant instructor."

Having practiced the White Cloud Fist to Heart-Insight, he would be well suited to teaching new apprentices.

"Jiang Che, you were amazing! That Heart-Insight thing was incredible!"

Zhao Xisheng excitedly gestured as he spoke.

His skin was dark, and when he smiled, he revealed a row of white teeth.

As Jiang Che's longtime sparring partner, he felt an inexplicable sense of shared glory.

Jiang Che smiled and shook his head. "I've merely practiced the White Cloud Fist until I know it well."

He knew that he had relied on Flow State rather than Heart-Insight, but this was the perfect opportunity to use it as a cover.

More importantly...

He lowered his head to look at his palm and thought to himself:

"If that feeling just now wasn't false... perhaps Flow State can help me break through to Blood-Qi!"

Early the next morning, just after the Martial Arts Hall opened, the apprentices began warming up in twos and threes.

Jiang Che stood in a corner of the courtyard, silently recalling that faint sensation of Blood-Qi from yesterday's Flow State.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to capture that feeling again.

But his dantian was empty, and he could sense nothing at all.

"Looks like I still need to fight someone while in Flow State?"

"Jiang Che!"

A rough roar interrupted his thoughts.

Wang Dayong strode over, his face full of defiance. "I was careless yesterday. Let's go again!"

"Fine."

Jiang Che nodded.

As it happened, he wanted to find Wang Dayong too.

The two assumed their stances.

This time, Wang Dayong was no longer reckless.

Instead, he lowered his center of gravity and held both arms before him, moving much like the boxers Jiang Che had seen in his previous life.

"Interesting..."

Jiang Che did not rush either, waiting calmly in the opening stance of the White Cloud Fist.

"Ha!"

Wang Dayong struck first, his right fist smashing over like a heavy hammer.

Jiang Che sidestepped and pushed the fist away with his left hand.

Wang Dayong had been prepared. His left fist followed close behind, blasting toward Jiang Che's ribs.

Jiang Che's gaze sharpened, and he instantly entered Flow State.

The world slowed in his eyes, and Wang Dayong's punching path became clear.

He lowered his body, his right palm slicing like a blade with precision at Wang Dayong's elbow joint.

Wang Dayong's arm went numb. He staggered back two steps, his face still unconvinced.

"Again!"

He roared angrily and lunged forward once more.

Jiang Che remained calm, every strike perfectly timed.

Wang Dayong's brute strength was riddled with openings in his eyes.

After only a few exchanges, Jiang Che seized the instant when his opponent's balance faltered and knocked Wang Dayong down again with one punch.

Thud!

Wang Dayong hit the ground hard, dust flying in all directions.

He panted heavily, veins bulging in his neck.

"Impossible... Again!"

Bang!

"Again!!"

Thud!

Every time Wang Dayong fell, he immediately climbed back up, but the result remained the same.

Jiang Che saw through his moves, and every attack was defused.

When Wang Dayong fell for the fifth time, he finally did not rise again.

He braced himself on the ground with both hands, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"Why..."

Wang Dayong choked out, slamming his fist hard into the ground.

The burly man, usually so arrogant and overbearing, now cried like a child.

Jiang Che froze.

He had not expected this.

For a moment, he did not know what to say and could only stand there silently.

The surrounding apprentices also fell quiet.

No one mocked him, and no one spoke.

Even Luo Kun opened his eyes and watched the scene from afar, looking thoughtful.

Jiang Che took a deep breath and reached out, intending to help Wang Dayong up.

But Wang Dayong violently shook off his hand, scrambled to his feet on his own, and rushed out of the Martial Arts Hall without looking back.

Jiang Che watched his retreating figure, his feelings complicated.

He had not wanted things to turn out this way, but the martial path was just this cruel.

A win was a win. There was no why.

Suddenly, something stirred in his heart.

During the fight just now, he had once again sensed that trace of qi and blood, clearer than it had been yesterday!

Though it had vanished in an instant, this time, he was certain it was not an illusion.

"Flow State... really can help me break through into qi and blood!"