Stack the Thickest Armor, Take the Harshest Blows

In the battles Fang Cheng had experienced before—whether against Kanzaki Rin, the muscle-heads at school, or Yagawa Ryoka—no such prompt had ever appeared.

The appearance of this prompt now was truly beyond Fang Cheng's expectations.

But it was an absolute, pleasant surprise.

"Get up already, stop lying on the ground playing dead, you trash."

Takeda Masumi continued to provoke Fang Cheng with insults.

Fang Cheng had no time to ponder the difference between his previous fights and this special training.

He scrambled back to his feet, still annoyed, but his restless heart calmed down with the appearance of the prompt.

Launching another attack at Takeda Masumi, Fang Cheng's strikes remained straightforward, devoid of any technique.

Takeda Masumi, as if toying with him, nimbly hopped left and right, her upper body twisting rapidly to dodge his amateurish punches.

But this time, Fang Cheng wasn't in a rush to land a hit; instead, he patiently observed her movements and patterns.

Takeda Masumi seemed to notice Fang Cheng's newfound composure, and even nastier words spewed from her mouth in an attempt to enrage him.

I really should have Kanzaki Rin listen to this to see whose mouth is actually filthier.

Fang Cheng tried his best to tune out Takeda Masumi's verbal assault. He felt he had caught onto her dodging rhythm and began to launch probing attacks.

Bang!

The attack failed, and he was countered by Takeda Masumi, who seized the opening to knock him down with a single punch.

[Combat Training +1]

The appearance of this prompt greatly diminished the frustration Fang Cheng felt after being knocked down.

"Get up, don't lie on—"

Before Takeda Masumi could finish her taunt, Fang Cheng leaped up from the ground and attacked her again.

He continued his previous strategy, observing Takeda Masumi's movements while on the offensive.

He realized that Takeda Masumi's speed and strength were not superior to his own; in terms of raw power, she might even be weaker.

However, her combat technique was incredibly refined, and her reaction time was far superior, completely bridging the gap in strength and allowing her to treat Fang Cheng like a monkey.

Bang!

Fang Cheng was knocked down again.

[Combat Training +1]

Before Takeda Masumi could even open her mouth, Fang Cheng had already climbed up and lunged at her.

Bang!

[Combat Training +1]

Bang!

[Combat Training +1]

Rising for the twelfth time, Fang Cheng didn't even take an extra breath before charging at Takeda Masumi.

He had realized that Takeda Masumi didn't have a fixed dodging pattern; she simply anticipated his intent beforehand and used her superior reflexes to evade.

Given this, there were only two ways to land a hit: either be so fast that she couldn't react, or hide his true intentions.

The former would require Fang Cheng to increase his speed by at least fifty percent, while the latter would require combat skills on par with Takeda Masumi's.

Neither could be achieved in a short time, but Fang Cheng had his own unique method.

He attempted an attack, and as expected, Takeda Masumi caught the opening, striking his chest with a sound like an iron rod hitting cowhide.

Fang Cheng let out a muffled grunt, quickly bracing his feet to keep from being knocked down, and swung a fist toward Takeda Masumi's face.

This was his unique method: trading injury for injury, seeing who had the higher defense and the thicker health pool.

"Smack!"

Unfortunately, the punch didn't land on her face as intended; at the critical moment, she blocked it with her palm.

"Not bad, you guy."

Takeda Masumi sneered, though she was secretly startled.

If not for her quick reflexes, she would have taken that punch right to the face.

Fang Cheng had been knocked down so many times, yet instead of losing heart, he used his own advantages to counterattack. Among the many interns who would be crying for their mothers after being beaten a few times by her, he was already standing out.

Even if Fang Cheng possessed the 'Self-Healing' ability and wouldn't be injured, the pain of being beaten would usually erode a person's willpower.

Surprised as she was, Takeda Masumi wouldn't show it. Instead, she continued her relentless verbal barrage: "You think you can fool me with such a simple trick? Do you think everyone's brain is as stupid as yours? Even a monkey is smarter than you."

"Is your mouth smeared with shit? Your breath is so foul."

Fang Cheng finally retorted, swinging his other fist toward her at the same time.

Before he could land a hit, he lost his balance, tripped by Takeda Masumi's leg, and was kicked away.

[Combat Training +1]

Fang Cheng lay on the ground, catching his breath for a few moments before scrambling back up to charge at her again.

[Combat Training +1]

[Combat Training +1]

[Combat Training +1]

Knocked down countless times only to stand back up again, Fang Cheng was like a machine that knew no pain and felt no fatigue.

Although Takeda Masumi still held an absolute advantage, she grew more astonished with every exchange, even beginning to suspect that Fang Cheng was a masochist.

Every time he was knocked down, he would immediately scramble back up with a look of exhilaration on his face; if that wasn't masochism, what was?

Finally, after being knocked down for the umpteenth time, the notification in Fang Cheng's field of vision changed.

[Combat +1]

Fang Cheng stood up from the ground, feeling as though his entire body had become lighter.

Filled with excitement, he lunged at Takeda Masumi once more, aiming for her face as usual.

Takeda Masumi knew her mouth was infuriating and that many people wanted to punch her in the face.

That was why her facial defense was the tightest; she easily gauged the trajectory of Fang Cheng's punch and dodged backward.

The fist grazed past her cheek so closely that her skin could clearly feel the wind it generated, stinging slightly.

"What..."

Takeda Masumi felt a jolt in her heart; her judgment had actually been off.

Fang Cheng didn't stop after missing, continuing his fierce assault on Takeda Masumi.

Although his attack style remained as straightforward as before, it was no longer a reckless, aimless flailing; he was now choosing the most advantageous angles of attack based on distance, positioning, and movement.

Takeda Masumi was still able to dodge Fang Cheng's fists, but the surprise in her heart grew ever stronger.

She could still read Fang Cheng's intent, but his attacks had become concise and effective, stripped of any superfluous movement.

Takeda Masumi, who had opted entirely for defense and evasion, had lost the initiative against the suddenly stronger Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng threw a heavy, powerful punch toward Takeda Masumi's chest; she crossed her arms to block it, but the force still sent her sliding backward until she slammed into the ropes.

Enduring the pain in her arms, she looked up at Fang Cheng with undisguised shock.

How long had it been since this guy was a rookie who didn't know a shred of technique, only to grow into someone who could almost be considered an initiate in combat?

If she hadn't experienced it herself, Takeda Masumi would never have believed that someone could become so unreasonably strong after just a few dozen beatings.

"Come on!"

Fang Cheng shouted at Takeda Masumi, exhilarated: "Aren't you supposed to be tough? Come on! Keep going!"

After taking a beating for so long, he had finally seen the dawn of a counterattack—how could he not be excited?

Takeda Masumi's expression darkened as she strode toward Fang Cheng: "You think you can contend with me just by having this much ability? You're too naive, kid. I'll show you what real combat is."

Fang Cheng didn't think Takeda Masumi was bluffing, because from the very beginning, she had only chosen to defend and dodge, never once launching an active attack.

And now, she was finally going on the offensive.

Fang Cheng felt no fear; instead, his blood boiled as he met her head-on.

If he couldn't take this woman down, how could he hope to survive in this world fraught with peril?

As they closed the distance rapidly, Fang Cheng had just raised his hands when Takeda Masumi suddenly flashed, vanishing from his line of sight.

"Holy crap!"

Fang Cheng quickly turned his head to search, but could only catch the afterimage Takeda Masumi left behind.

The next moment, he felt a sharp pain in his chin, and his entire body was sent flying, spinning 360 degrees four and a half times in the air before slamming heavily onto the ground with a thud.

[Combat Training +1]

Thanks to Pei Zhongfan for the tip, (^▽^)