Chokes

Chen Chong and Pei Li stood facing each other in the middle of the Training Room once again.

The Exclusive Training Room wasn't very large, just big enough for one person to practice in. At that moment, the two of them might as well have been in a ring.

Chen Chong noticed that Pei Li's bearing and posture had changed.

She leaned forward, her hands reaching out tentatively. At over 1.8 meters tall, she kept her center of gravity even lower than Chen Chong's, ready to explode into action at any moment.

Her stance was somewhat like Peng Wei's from before, but it seemed more relaxed—and gave Chen Chong, even in his current, stronger state, a much sharper sense of danger.

Chen Chong was eager to experience some high-level grappling. Quite a few fighters placed great importance on grappling. These ground-based submission techniques were practical and dangerous, often serving as a finishing move in the ring.

But the Combat Technique Yu Feng taught barely covered that area. It included only a few defensive measures and escape techniques. The style leaned more toward a powerful, damaging form of boxing.

That suited Chen Chong just fine.

But to him, grappling could counter his abilities to some extent, so he was all the more eager to gain experience fighting against it.

He looked at Pei Li with keen interest, but she had clearly misunderstood something. She merely said coldly:

"I thought someone as capable as you would value more meaningful things. I thought you'd be a little smarter, too."

"I think this is pretty meaningful."

Chen Chong clapped his hands, eager to get started, then settled into a standard guard.

"Come on."

Pei Li's gaze was icy. Without hesitation, she began closing in, her long arms probing in front of Chen Chong as she tried to grab his arms.

Chen Chong moved nimbly, careful to keep his distance from her.

The first rule of fighting an opponent skilled in grappling was not to let her drag you to the ground. The second was that even if the fight went to the ground, you couldn't let her secure a complete hold.

Once she landed a finishing move on the ground, there was no escaping unless there was an enormous gap in strength—one on the level of a difference in realms.

Chen Chong was willing to experience it, but that would come in the second half. For now, he would start by focusing on defense.

His footwork was light and nimble, his movements incredibly quick.

These were footwork techniques taught as part of the Combat Technique.

Pei Li's arms darted forward without warning, and her footwork was more deceptive. Her grappling was far more dangerous than Peng Wei's three basic moves, yet she always missed Chen Chong by a hair.

Her composure began to waver.

It wasn't just that Chen Chong was as slippery as a rat. Seeing him only dodge without attacking, she felt as if he were engaging in the opening act of some filthy game with her... A surge of anger rose in Pei Li.

She stared at Chen Chong and charged forward again, stomping fiercely to close the distance in an instant. Her hands shot out to grab him, but even faced with such a hard-to-dodge grab, Chen Chong slipped sideways with a quick shuffle.

The Combat Technique Yu Feng taught excelled in footwork and punches. With strong fists and kicks, its standing grapples and leg techniques were no slouches either. It was lacking only in submission holds—a truly practical and formidable style of boxing.

After evading her attack, Chen Chong had a clear opening to counter with a heavy punch or a roundhouse kick.

But he didn't. He merely tapped Pei Li's shoulder with a jab, then pulled back again.

The jab made Pei Li stumble back two steps. Suddenly, she straightened up and stopped trying to grab him.

The change left Chen Chong slightly puzzled. Then her long leg came whipping toward him with astonishing force!

It was the same roundhouse kick she'd used at the start. Hadn't she already proved it was pointless?

Though confused, Chen Chong shifted his footing to dodge. But then he saw that Pei Li's leg was moving faster—it was her other leg!

At last, Chen Chong understood what his instincts had been warning him about.

Pei Li's raised leg struck swiftly and fiercely, while her other leg, still supporting her, had already gathered power. She kicked off the ground and launched herself into the air! She spun, her long legs sweeping across nearly half the room.

Thud!

Her legs went from rigid to pliant, coiling around Chen Chong's neck like a snake. Chen Chong twisted with all his might to evade, but Pei Li's legs were simply too long. Their reach far exceeded that of her arms, and they wrapped around his waist, taking them both crashing to the ground.

This was Pei Li's finishing move, making full use of her physical advantages: a midair leg capture no one had ever escaped.

They immediately entered a ground stalemate, with Pei Li's legs already wrapped around Chen Chong—a nearly perfect opening position on the ground.

Chen Chong felt two giant pythons winding around his upper body, tightening rapidly as they tried to crush his bones.

The outcome would be decided in an instant.

Chen Chong knew that once Pei Li tightened her legs and wrapped her arms around him, completing the hold, he wouldn't be able to break free given their similar strength. He had to get out while there was still a gap.

He straightened his back and twisted his waist and shoulders together. His entire spine moved like a dragon as he jolted backward.

This was the Dragon Spine Style from the Combat Technique, a way to escape a hold applied from behind.

Pei Li felt a surge of force through her legs, about to shake her off. But she only gave a silent, cold laugh, curled her upper body forward, and reached out to wrap her arms around Chen Chong's neck. Chen Chong keenly sensed the movement behind him and threw a punch over his shoulder. Pei Li had anticipated this. Her arms suddenly went limp and instantly coiled around his, pinning it tightly against her chest.

Pei Li's legs were wrapped around Chen Chong from behind, locked across his lower abdomen. Chen Chong's head lay against her lower abdomen, while Pei Li had lifted his arm above his head and pinned it against her chest with both hands.

Chen Chong felt his left arm twisted completely backward. At the same time, Pei Li tried to draw her legs up over his chest and stomach, immobilizing him completely. He immediately braced his right palm against her legs, using his waist and abdomen to help hold them back, while straining with his left arm to keep Pei Li from bending it all the way back.

He was in a dangerous position. Pei Li hadn't fully locked him down yet, but one arm was as good as pinned. He had to keep exerting himself to avoid being left completely helpless.

The two began struggling for leverage on the ground. It looked far less intense than their earlier exchange of punches, but every shift, pin, roll, and tightening hold was perilous. In less than a minute, they were both drenched in sweat. One of Chen Chong's arms was still in Pei Li's grasp, and their positions had barely changed.

Pei Li gritted her teeth.

"Give up."

"No."

Sweat beaded on Chen Chong's forehead, but his gaze remained resolute. He still had some room to struggle with his upper body, but he had to be careful with his strength to maintain the balance between resisting Pei Li's four limbs with both arms.

Annoyance appeared in Pei Li's eyes, along with something more complicated.

She had to admit that Chen Chong was a rare opponent. He had not only held out against her for so long on the ground, but continued to resist despite being at such a disadvantage.

But his persistence was meaningless.

She had complete control. She only needed to put more force into either her legs or her arms, and Chen Chong's fragile balance would crumble.

Thinking of the look in Chen Chong's eyes earlier, Pei Li's expression grew cold. She decided to end this pointless struggle and teach Chen Chong a lesson in the process.

Her hands suddenly surged with all their strength. At the same time, she thrust her powerful lower abdomen upward, bending Chen Chong's left arm into a distinct arc!

Chen Chong had two choices.

He could put all his strength into his left arm to keep the joint from breaking, but then his right arm would inevitably weaken. Pei Li only had to press her legs against his chest and obstruct his breathing, and he would be doomed.

Or he could keep enough strength in his right arm to resist Pei Li's legs, but then his left arm would certainly break. The result would be the same.

Pei Li thought Chen Chong would choose the first option.

But Chen Chong chose the second—or rather, a third.

He simply abandoned his resistance with his left arm, then turned his right hand into a blade and struck Pei Li's left ankle with all his strength.

Pei Li never expected him to make that choice. But at this point, she didn't hesitate. Her eyes narrowed as she prepared to sacrifice her ankle in exchange for Chen Chong's entire arm.

She twisted with all her strength, using both hands and her abdomen—

Then realized she couldn't budge him.

There was a sharp crack, followed by a surge of pain in her ankle. Her left foot had dislocated.

She couldn't help releasing her hold with her legs. Chen Chong immediately twisted around until he was facing Pei Li, and his right hand followed through to seize her by the throat.

The situation reversed in an instant.

Chen Chong looked down at Pei Li, who lay beneath him, and said calmly:

"You lost."