Hu Guangzhong's Information

"Wen Lujia—is she famous?" Xiao Wang asked.

"Good grief, and you're planning to take the Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy exam? Wen Lujia graduated from Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy. I heard that by the time she graduated, she'd already broken through the first martial arts limit. She was supposed to be specially recruited into the inner city, but for some reason, she never went. Instead, she joined the Patrol Bureau. She's quite the rising star there, getting promoted almost once a year. In four years, she rose to deputy captain. She'll probably be promoted to captain within the next year or two. Do you know what the key is?"

"What?"

"The key is that she's also very pretty. I heard," Guan Chaoyang said, drawing an arc over his chest, "they're huge."

"Have you even seen them? How do you know they're huge?"

"I haven't, but that's what everyone says."

"What about the others? Do you know anything about them?" Xiao Wang continued asking, still not mentioning Hu Guangzhong by name.

"The others all have their own specialties. Take Captain Hu Guangzhong, for example. I heard he's insanely skilled with rocket launchers, and his firearm skills are top-notch too. His hand-to-hand combat skills aren't weak either."

Xiao Wang listened. "Sounds like an all-rounder. No wonder he became captain."

"Exactly. I'm not asking to become a captain. I'd be satisfied just getting into the Patrol Bureau as an ordinary employee."

"Where did you hear all this?" Xiao Wang asked doubtfully, probing for the source of his information.

"Isn't my dad a doctor? The Patrol Bureau sees blood all the time. My dad has treated quite a few of their people. They told him, and then my dad told me."

"No wonder."

The two headed toward the classroom as they talked. As they passed the stairwell, Bian Xiaolan was coming up the stairs and saw the two of them with their arms around each other's shoulders.

"Sons, hurry up and lend your empress mother a hand."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Guan Chaoyang and Xiao Wang immediately took one side each, lifted Bian Xiaolan, and carried her toward the classroom.

The morning's academic classes ended quickly.

After school at noon, Xiao Wang grabbed a simple meal in the cafeteria. Rather than going to the martial arts training hall, he headed straight to Zhongxing Martial Arts Hall.

All three master and disciples were there.

"You're here?" Wei Zhongxing said simply when he saw Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang cupped his hands in salute to Wei Zhongxing. Without wasting words, he said directly, "Master, please teach me combat techniques."

"You're quite proactive, kid. Forget the rest of your nonsense—at least you've got the right attitude."

Xiao Wang set down his backpack, walked over to Wei Zhongxing, and made his request again. "Master, please teach me combat techniques."

"Enough, enough. I'm not deaf. Aren't there still a few months before the Martial Arts Academy assessment? A few months is more than enough to learn one combat technique. As long as you learn one, it should be enough to pass the admission assessment."

That was what Wei Zhongxing said, but Xiao Wang no longer saw it that way. Yesterday, he might have thought there was nothing wrong with that, but now that he knew Hu Guangzhong might be transferred to the inner city in a month, time had become urgent.

If he could learn a combat technique within that month, his chances of killing Hu Guangzhong would increase greatly.

"Have you learned any fist techniques or breathing methods?" Wei Zhongxing asked Xiao Wang.

"Only the standard ones taught at school: the Primordial Yang Breathing Method and the Year-149 Universal Fist."

These were a fist technique and breathing method established by the Federation for all martial arts students to practice. The so-called Year-149 Universal Fist referred to the foundational, widely taught fist technique compiled by the Martial Arts Alliance in Federation Year 149.

"Doesn't that fucking mean you haven't learned anything at all?"

Wei Zhongxing grumbled, though he was not particularly surprised. Xiao Wang was a student who had not even known what combat techniques were. How could he possibly have learned other fist techniques or breathing methods?

He knew that many schools now emphasized firearms and neglected martial arts. Martial arts students were basically left to teach themselves.

Still, there was naturally a reason and merit behind these two methods being standard practices for martial arts students.

"How well have you learned them?"

"Probably... pretty well." Xiao Wang thought of his record at school. In the school martial arts training hall, no one had ever defeated him.

"Quite confident, aren't you? Second, test his level."

"Yes." Linghu Ke rose to his feet and stood facing Xiao Wang in the courtyard.

"Don't be like Cheng Hu yesterday and kill him in one blow. Exchange a few more moves. I want to see how well he combines his breathing method with his fists and kicks."

"Yes," Linghu Ke answered respectfully.

Xiao Wang: ???

So I'm just an ant, huh? He can casually talk about killing me in one hit.

Linghu Ke cupped his hands toward Xiao Wang. "Junior Brother, just attack me with all your strength."

"Then I won't hold back."

After his match with Cheng Hu yesterday, Xiao Wang knew the gap between them was obvious. Even if he went all out, he might not be able to harm the other man in the slightest.

"Please, Junior Brother," Linghu Ke said.

Xiao Wang truly did not hold back. He swept one foot backward, lowered his body slightly, tensed every muscle, and adjusted his breathing at the same time.

Then he lunged forward in a burst, launching the first attack.

His right fist shot straight toward Linghu Ke's face. It looked powerful and fast, but Linghu Ke did not dodge. Instead, he extended his right hand and easily caught Xiao Wang's fist, then pushed it toward himself. Xiao Wang's center of gravity shifted forward, and he nearly lost his footing.

But Xiao Wang quickly stepped forward and steadied himself. At the same time, he spun and swept a kick straight at Linghu Ke's abdomen. Linghu Ke took a step back with one foot and leaned slightly forward.

At the same time, he clenched his right hand into a fist.

He gathered strength.

Then he threw a punch at the sole of Xiao Wang's foot.

Xiao Wang's expression changed slightly when he saw it. Normally, arm strength was far weaker than leg strength. Against an evenly matched opponent, taking a kick head-on like this could break the bones in one's arm on the spot.

Yet Linghu Ke did not hesitate in the slightest.

He collided directly with Xiao Wang's kick.

Boom!

A dull impact rang out. Xiao Wang was immediately knocked back three steps, while Linghu Ke remained standing where he was without moving at all.

After Xiao Wang steadied himself, he recalled that exchange. He realized that Linghu Ke's punch had started out slow, then grew faster and faster as it swung out. By the time it collided with Xiao Wang's leg, only the afterimage of the fist could be seen.

At the same time, he felt that Linghu Ke's strength was immensely deep and steady, like rolling waves that never ceased, rather than the brief explosive burst of force Xiao Wang possessed.

"Continue," Wei Zhongxing called from the side as he watched.

Hearing him, Xiao Wang barely rested. He immediately lunged again and charged toward Linghu Ke. This time, he did not use his previous strategy of trying to defeat his opponent in a single blow. Instead, he changed tactics, using the Year-149 Universal Fist to attack Linghu Ke head-on.

But no matter how he threw his punches, he still could not get close to Linghu Ke.

Xiao Wang could feel that, in terms of raw strength alone, Linghu Ke was inferior to his eldest senior brother Cheng Hu. But in punching speed, accuracy, reaction speed, agility, timing, and other aspects, Linghu Ke surpassed Cheng Hu.

A single force could overcome ten techniques when the difference was great enough. But if Linghu Ke and Cheng Hu fought each other, Linghu Ke would probably have the clear upper hand.

After several more exchanges, Xiao Wang was already breathing hard.

Yet he still had not managed to get within half a step of Linghu Ke.

"All right, that's enough."

At Wei Zhongxing's words, the two finally stopped.

"Thank you for your guidance, Second Senior Brother." Xiao Wang cupped his hands toward Linghu Ke.

"It was nothing."

Then Xiao Wang quickly turned his gaze to Wei Zhongxing and asked, "Master, what do you think?"