Today, Either You Beat Me to Death or I Beat You to Death

Half an hour later, Kanzaki Rin drove into the underground parking garage of a high-rise.

Fang Cheng got out of the car on shaky legs. He rested one hand on the door, his heart still pounding away.

He swore that from now on, unless absolutely necessary, he would never get in a car driven by this terrifying woman.

When Kanzaki Rin drove, it was as if she were racing to her own funeral. She sped through the dense traffic, as wild as a dog off its leash.

Even with an immortal body, Fang Cheng had been terrified, afraid that one little mistake from Kanzaki Rin would turn them both into a puddle of mush.

He couldn't waste his precious extra lives on something like this.

Kanzaki Rin got out and glanced at Fang Cheng. She didn't say anything, but the slight twist of her lips clearly said, "That's all you've got?"

Fang Cheng took a deep breath and tamped down his anger. He had no interest in stooping to the level of this terrifying driver.

He might have to ride in her car again on the way back tonight.

Kanzaki Rin led Fang Cheng to an elevator in the underground garage, but it required a keycard to use.

After swiping her card to enter, Fang Cheng discovered there were five more levels below the underground garage.

This clearly wasn't a place ordinary people could visit.

Unable to help himself, Fang Cheng asked, "What is this place?"

"A training facility run by the Disaster Countermeasure Department. Its equipment is rather old and outdated, so hardly anyone comes here."

Kanzaki Rin explained, then casually pressed the button for the lowest level.

As the elevator descended, Kanzaki Rin continued, "I found you an excellent trainer. You'd better keep that smart mouth of yours in check and avoid offending her."

Fang Cheng asked in surprise, "Aren't you afraid my identity will be exposed?"

Only Kanzaki Rin knew he was a Vampire; they were keeping it from the Countermeasure Department.

If he trained for a long time, it would be impossible to hide how quickly his injuries healed, even if he kept his recovery rate as low as possible.

"Don't worry. She's someone we can trust completely."

Kanzaki Rin explained, "Your identity for now is an intern with Self-Healing abilities. Just don't expose your immortal body. So don't get yourself killed."

Fang Cheng was certain that she'd sounded downright delighted when she said the last sentence.

This woman probably hoped he'd get beaten to death.

Fang Cheng immediately had a bad feeling about this so-called trainer.

When they stepped out of the elevator, they found themselves in a long corridor, completely deserted.

The spaces on either side of the corridor were divided into broad rooms. Some were clearly training areas, while others had their doors shut tight.

At the far end, a tall woman came out to greet them. She spread her arms toward Kanzaki Rin and laughed heartily. "Rin, long time no see!"

Fang Cheng's first impression of her was that she was really tall.

He was about 175 centimeters himself, and he was still growing. His future was bound to be terrifyingly bright.

The woman standing before him was at least 190 centimeters tall. She wore military boots, camouflage pants, and a black tank top. Her exposed skin was a healthy wheat color, and her muscles were sharply defined. Her pectoral muscles in particular were downright exaggerated.

Kanzaki Rin hugged her, then turned back to Fang Cheng. "Let me introduce you. This is Takeda Masumi. She'll be in charge of your intensive training for the next three days. Get to know each other."

Takeda Masumi looked at Fang Cheng, and her smile instantly vanished. She gave him an openly contemptuous look. "Rin, this is the rookie you've got your eye on? He doesn't look like much!"

Everything about her, from her tone to her demeanor, gave off an overpowering air of authority, enough to make people overlook her pretty face.

Fang Cheng wasn't pleased with her attitude, but he still held out his hand. "Hello, I'm Fang Cheng."

Takeda Masumi's lips curled slightly, her scornful expression so irritating it practically begged for a punch.

She held out her hand carelessly, grasped Fang Cheng's, and suddenly squeezed hard.

Fang Cheng furrowed his brows slightly. It wasn't because it hurt; he was already used to pain.

He was just curious about the woman's inexplicable hostility toward him.

"That's enough."

Kanzaki Rin stopped Takeda Masumi. "We're short on time. Quit messing around."

"Getting protective already?"

Takeda Masumi teased her, then released Fang Cheng's hand. "Come with me."

The three of them went to a boxing ring, and Takeda Masumi tossed a pair of boxing gloves to Fang Cheng.

"I heard you want to learn how to fight. I have just one training principle: real combat."

As she spoke, Takeda Masumi had already put on her boxing gloves. She knocked her fists together with a thud.

She stared at Fang Cheng. "You can still back out. But once training starts, you won't be allowed to quit, even if I beat you to death."

Fang Cheng glanced at Kanzaki Rin and saw that she'd already stepped aside, looking like she was there to watch a show.

Fang Cheng didn't mouth off at her again. Instead, he took off his jacket, which was in the way, and silently put on the boxing gloves.

When Takeda Masumi saw that he hadn't said a word in response to her provocation, she spat on the floor. "Ptooey! Chicken!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she saw Fang Cheng climb into the ring of his own accord.

Standing above her, Fang Cheng beckoned Takeda Masumi with one hand. "Today, either you beat me to death or I beat you to death. Get up here."

A flicker of surprise crossed Takeda Masumi's eyes, followed by a defiant grin.

"Now that's interesting!"

She vaulted into the ring and rolled her neck from side to side, producing a series of cracks.

"Come on, bring it on. Let's see what makes you so confident about running your mouth."

Fang Cheng took a few deep breaths, then suddenly drove forward with both legs and threw a straight punch at Takeda Masumi's punchable face.

Takeda Masumi nimbly dodged to the side, avoiding Fang Cheng's straight punch.

At the same time, her fist shot upward from below and struck Fang Cheng squarely on the chin with speed and precision.

Thud!

Fang Cheng went flying, hit the ropes, bounced off, and slammed hard onto the ground.

"That's all you've got?"

Takeda Masumi burst out laughing. "I thought you'd be tough. Turns out you're just trash who talks big."

Fang Cheng lay on the floor for a moment, getting used to the pain on half his face. Then he climbed back to his feet and attacked Takeda Masumi again.

Takeda Masumi's long legs seemed to have springs in them. She bounced nimbly from side to side, easily dodging Fang Cheng's attacks, and even had time to criticize him as she moved.

"Decent speed, but your attacks are too simple and direct. Are you a monkey? Even a monkey wouldn't be this stupid. What happened to all that swagger when you were talking tough? Hit me!"

Fang Cheng did his best not to let Takeda Masumi's taunts affect him, but he couldn't help getting more and more impatient.

Takeda Masumi caught him off guard again and knocked him to the floor with another punch.

Below the ring, Kanzaki Rin shook her head slightly and turned to leave. She had no interest in watching Fang Cheng get beaten.

She'd brought Takeda Masumi in to put Fang Cheng through intensive training, not because she wanted to watch him suffer. She wanted to improve his combat ability in a meaningful way within three days, and only Takeda Masumi could possibly manage that.

But first, he had to survive Takeda Masumi's inhuman, real-combat training.

More than 99 percent of the interns from the Disaster Countermeasure Department who'd trained under Takeda Masumi had ended up in the hospital. That was also why she'd been assigned to manage this dilapidated training facility.

As Kanzaki Rin left, she could still hear Takeda Masumi's furious roar.

"Don't lie there pretending to be dead! Get up like a man! Move!"

Fang Cheng didn't notice Kanzaki Rin leaving, and even if he had, he wouldn't have cared.

At that moment, all his attention had been drawn to a line of text that appeared in his vision.

[Combat Training +1]