Like a dam that seemed unbreakable until a raging flood tore a hole through it, the middle-aged man's defense gave way the moment Greedy Wolf's punch struck true. His balance failed, and then everything collapsed.
The fight turned one-sided in an instant.
Greedy Wolf's rapid punches landed again and again, striking the man's shoulders, legs, chest, and abdomen. The man staggered backward. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth and splashed across his loose white robe, blooming into vivid crimson flowers.
Greedy Wolf threw one final punch, then stopped.
The blow drove the middle-aged man back another five or six steps before he managed to steady himself.
His face flushed deep red. He stared at Greedy Wolf with bloodshot eyes, disbelief written all over his face.
Then, with a retch, he spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.
Unwillingness flashed across his face as he dropped to his knees with a thud.
The outcome was decided.
Greedy Wolf looked distinctly unsatisfied. The fight had not let him enjoy himself. The middle-aged man had managed to injure him, but he had been less troublesome than several earlier opponents.
Of course, the main reason was that Greedy Wolf had grown stronger.
He realized he had become a truly top-tier fighter.
He was still a long way from the martial arts grandmaster his master had spoken of, but his fighting skills already placed him above nearly every other fighter.
There were probably only a handful of people stronger than him now.
And at the pinnacle of that handful stood the man hailed as the greatest martial artist of the age: his master, Master Gu.
As Greedy Wolf secured victory with a crisp string of attacks, the stands erupted in thunderous cheers.
Greedy Wolf was more of an underdog than a star