Sparring (Please Read On)

"Next month's assessment will not be like this month's, where the focus was on how quickly you began the stance technique. It will take the form of sparring instead. Whoever is stronger will receive more resources! Do any of you have objections?"

Gu Ye directly announced the new assessment rules, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces.

Chen Yuan remained unruffled.

Sparring truly could measure one's overall level in both vitality and combat techniques.

It seemed the competition this month would be even fiercer.

Still, he was not worried. After all, his two competitors were both at Rainbow Martial Hall, nowhere near him.

Just as he was thinking that, Gao Mingchang stepped forward and cupped his fists.

"Manager Gu, I strongly agree with determining superiority through sparring. My hands are itching already. Could we perhaps warm up a little now?"

"Oh?" Gu Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled. "Who do you wish to spar with?"

A premonition arose in Chen Yuan's heart. Sure enough, Gao Mingchang looked over with a smile.

"Junior Brother Chen mastered the stance technique within five days. Though the Rock-Solid Stance Technique is relatively simple, it still earns my admiration. Would you be willing to do me the honor of sparring with me?"

A knife hidden behind a smile? Interesting.

Chen Yuan naturally heard the implication in his words. Gao Mingchang was mocking him, saying that he had only managed to get started within five days because the Rock-Solid Stance Technique was comparatively simple, and that he was unworthy of the monthly five-tael subsidy.

If he could defeat Chen Yuan cleanly in a spar and display the gap between them, Gu Ye might change his mind and revoke Chen Yuan's monthly five-tael subsidy.

Clearly, Gao Mingchang did not want another competitor.

Even if he could not achieve that, he could use the opportunity to probe Chen Yuan's methods and limits, so he could prepare early.

Perhaps even take precautions in advance.

After all, fists and feet had no eyes.

Of course, Gao Mingchang might simply have wanted a spar, without any ill intent.

But Chen Yuan had always been unafraid to judge others by the worst possible malice.

Only then could he seize the initiative, react in time, or even snuff out danger before it arose—and stay hidden like hell!

The timing of Gao Mingchang's challenge was also exquisitely chosen.

Before Gu Ye, could Chen Yuan possibly refuse? If he did not even dare accept an ordinary spar, then in actual combat, would he not be a Battle-Shy Lizard?

That would undoubtedly lower his value in Gu Ye's eyes.

Thus, this was an open scheme, impossible to avoid.

Chen Yuan sighed inwardly. He had thought he could lie low, develop steadily, and quietly grow stronger, but things rarely went as one wished.

He stepped forward as well and cupped his fists. "Since Senior Brother has invited me, I will naturally accompany you."

Gu Ye nodded. "Very good. Then spar here in the courtyard. Do not harm the harmony between you."

He shot Huang Yan a meaningful look.

Huang Yan immediately understood and gave a slight nod.

The crowd quickly spread out around them, leaving only Chen Yuan and Gao Mingchang standing several zhang apart, facing each other.

Chen Yuan cupped his fists slightly. "Six Harmonies Mind Boxing, Chen Yuan. Please instruct me."

Gao Mingchang raised a hand with a smile. "Through-Arm Boxing, Gao Mingchang. Junior Brother, fists and feet have no eyes. Be careful."

The moment he finished speaking, he sprang out like an ape. With a flick of his right arm, his sleeve cracked sharply as a Through-Arm Splitting Strike shot straight at Chen Yuan's face. He showed no mercy from the outset.

Instead of retreating, Chen Yuan advanced. His left foot stomped forward, taking the center line, and the blue bricks across the courtyard trembled faintly.

Though the Rock-Solid Stance Technique was not particularly exquisite, its stable foundation was enough to answer ten thousand changes with constancy.

He bent his right arm and raised his elbow, taking the splitting strike head-on.

With a muffled bang, force scattered in all directions.

Gao Mingchang felt a heavy force rebound into him, and his heart jolted. Borrowing the momentum, he sprang back half a step, while his left fist darted silently beneath Chen Yuan's ribs like a venomous snake leaving its hole.

Chen Yuan had been prepared. Six Harmonies Mind Boxing combined offense and defense; his rear hand guarded his navel, elbows never leaving his ribs and hands never leaving his heart. This was precisely the move he had been guarding against.

He turned slightly. His left foot, which had stepped forward earlier, had already claimed the position, while his right knee drove toward Gao Mingchang's abdomen.

Gao Mingchang reacted swiftly, contracting his body and retreating two steps to open the distance.

The two stood about a zhang apart, facing off once more.

"Junior Brother, what impressive skill." Gao Mingchang's smile remained, but his gaze had grown several degrees colder.

He adjusted his breathing and pressed forward again. His right fist lashed out like a whip, but midway through the punch, it suddenly changed into a claw and went straight for Chen Yuan's throat—an insidious shift, clearly aimed at seriously injuring him.

Chen Yuan's pupils shrank. Driven by instinct, he not only did not retreat, but instead rammed straight into Gao Mingchang's chest.

Don't retreat. Press in!

This head-on charge was the very essence of Six Harmonies Mind Boxing.

Force rose from the ground. As his whole-body force exploded, his shoulder slammed into the other man's chest like an iron hammer.

Gao Mingchang's claw barely grazed Chen Yuan's neck, leaving a shallow bloody scratch.

Yet Gao Mingchang himself staggered back four or five steps from the impact. Sweetness surged up his throat, and though he desperately swallowed it down, a trace of blood still seeped from the corner of his mouth.

His internal organs felt thoroughly battered.

"Enough." Gu Ye's voice rang out at just the right moment.

Gao Mingchang lowered his head and cupped his fists, hiding the unwillingness in his eyes.

Chen Yuan touched the bloody mark on his neck and returned the salute calmly. "Senior Brother, thank you for yielding."

Their eyes met, undercurrents surging between them.

Behind Gu Ye, Huang Yan said softly, "Gao Mingchang went a little too far with that final claw."

Gu Ye neither confirmed nor denied it. He merely gave Chen Yuan a deep look. That collision just now had been incomparably decisive; there was a streak of ruthlessness in him.

Yu Yan took everything in, still standing with his arms folded and his expression unchanged.

Those two had some skill, but they were still a notch below him. The gap would only widen from here on.

Cao Yan, by contrast, wore a grave expression.

She was a woman, and her strength was already inferior by nature. She knew that if she fought either of them now, she would gain no advantage.

If she wanted to defeat them, conventional methods would likely not work.

Sun Chengjie and the other two, meanwhile, were somewhat excited. They had already been close to Chen Yuan, and they were also cultivating the Rock-Solid Stance Technique and Six Harmonies Mind Boxing.

When Gao Mingchang had called the Rock-Solid Stance Technique simple, they had already found the bastard unpleasant.

Now, seeing him take Chen Yuan's collision squarely and end up in a sorry state with blood at the corner of his mouth, they felt immensely satisfied.

"Enough. We will end here for today. Go back and cultivate on your own." Gu Ye waved a hand, bringing this monthly assessment to an end.

Sun Chengjie and the other two immediately crowded around Chen Yuan, chatting and laughing as they left.

Gao Mingchang watched Chen Yuan's retreating back. All the smile drained from his face, and a flash of venomous resentment flickered through his eyes.

He then caught up with Cao Yan and lowered his voice, though no one knew what he was saying.

On the way back, Chen Yuan listened to their discussion and occasionally added a few words, while inwardly weighing the matter of Gao Mingchang.

Clearly, that bastard was up to no good.

His final attack had been exceptionally vicious. Though it had also contained many openings, a newcomer who had practiced martial arts for less than a month would most likely panic and choose to retreat and dodge.

If that happened, they would fall right into Gao Mingchang's trap. He could chain his attacks together and seize the opening to strike when they were unprepared.

He simply had not managed to scare Chen Yuan.

Before Chen Yuan had transmigrated, he had seen a video of an old master. He could not remember the details, only six words—Don't retreat. Press in!

That had sealed Gao Mingchang's defeat.

On the surface, each side had won and lost something. But the red mark on Chen Yuan's neck was merely a flesh wound, while Gao Mingchang had taken that collision solidly. Without two or three days of rest, he likely could not practice at full strength.

That smiling tiger Gao Mingchang probably would not let the matter rest. If the open way failed, he would resort to underhanded means.

At that thought, Chen Yuan's heart turned cold and stern.