Not Just a Win, but a Spectacular One

Faced with Banjo Ichito's sweeping kick, Zhang Hongxing chose not to meet it head-on.

It wasn't because he couldn't beat him. Although his strength was still at early Foundation Establishment after his previous decline, with true qi, he could send his opponent out of the ring with a single punch.

But that wouldn't look impressive.

There was also a good chance someone would seize on it to claim he had bribed his opponent.

So in this match, he not only had to win, but win spectacularly.

With a slight push of his feet, Zhang Hongxing hopped a short step backward, narrowly avoiding Banjo Ichito's sweeping kick. Then he let himself fall, planted his right hand—the only hand he could move—on the floor, and began to spin.

In an instant, Zhang Hongxing's figure became a blur.

In his place was a constantly spinning Human Helicopter. More frightening still, even while spinning, Zhang Hongxing could bend and straighten his right arm to hop toward his opponent.

"Badass!"

"Zhang Hongxing, you're badass!"

"Can he keep that up?"

"Of course he can! Just shout 'badass' with us!"

After a stretch of silence, The Hive suddenly erupted. All the frustration the crowd had bottled up came pouring out. Nothing drove spectators wild like a spectacular fight.

In the ring, Banjo Ichito had already been forced into a corner.

With nowhere left to retreat, he could only fight for his life.

"Hah!"

He shouted again and kicked his right leg out at Zhang Hongxing, the Human Helicopter.

Thud. Banjo Ichito toppled sideways onto the canvas, while Zhang Hongxing smoothly rose to his feet.

The utterly relaxed expression on his face was almost impossible to believe.

Hadn't that whole series of Human Helicopter moves tired him out at all?

Banjo Ichito finally climbed back up, but his right foot was trembling slightly. Without even checking, he knew he had almost certainly injured the bone. His career might well end here.

The thought only fueled his anger.

So he attacked again, determined to smash his opponent with his iron fists.

It was a powerful hook aimed at Zhang Hongxing's neck. If it landed, he would press his advantage. This time, Zhang Hongxing didn't dodge.

He extended his right hand as well, curling it into a claw to catch Banjo Ichito's incoming fist. Then he swiftly turned sideways, bent forward, and threw him over his shoulder.

Thud.

The entire ring seemed to shake.

"Great throw!"

"Now that's Chinese Kung Fu!"

"Go, Zhang Hongxing! Beat him, and you'll be my idol!"

The spectators cheered again, louder than before. Their voices surged like waves, one after another, each higher than the last.

Such a feverish atmosphere was truly rare.

Banjo Ichito climbed up for the second time. Before he could steady himself, Zhang Hongxing hopped over, seized his arm with one hand, and began spinning on the spot. It looked just like the windup for throwing a Frisbee.

Spinning, leaping, I close my eyes...

Spinning, leaping, I never stop...

At that moment, those lyrics unwittingly began playing in the spectators' heads. Some even sang them aloud, quickly sparking a small chorus.

"Stop! Stop! We concede! We concede!"

Banjo Ichito's manager screamed frantically. If Zhang Hongxing kept spinning him like that, the final throw or slam might split Banjo Ichito's head open.

Clang, clang, clang...

The organizers hurriedly had someone ring the bell to stop the match, and the host raised his microphone to call out a reminder.

Zhang Hongxing wasn't trying to kill anyone. With his opponent having conceded, he naturally wouldn't insist on continuing. His spinning visibly slowed until he finally stopped.

The moment Banjo Ichito was set down, he vomited.

He threw up everywhere, and everyone beside the ring pinched their noses.

This was a match with a distinctive smell.

It was also the most frustrating, humiliating match he had ever fought.

"We won!"

"Zhang Hongxing is badass!"

"Zhang Hongxing, I love you!"

"Red Star! Red Star! Number one in the world!"

The spectators at the venue went wild, and those watching the livestream erupted too. That day, Zhang Hongxing became a sensation.

The Human Helicopter, spinning his opponent until he vomited, challenging every UFC fighter with one hand, and the music video set to "Spinning, leaping, I close my eyes" all made the top ten trending searches.

It was a celebration for the people of the Xia Kingdom.

At The Hive, the "Sick Man of East Asia" backdrop had long since been taken down. The person responsible for it had also been tracked down and given a thorough beating.

Since Zhang Hongxing had entered the ring under exceptional circumstances, he naturally couldn't receive a Championship Belt from the UFC.

But that did nothing to affect his standing in the hearts of the Xia Kingdom's people.

To them, Zhang Hongxing was the champion.

The one and only champion.

Who else would dare declare that he could defeat a three-time defending champion with both legs bound and only one hand to fight with?

"Mr. Zhang Hongxing, does your earlier challenge still stand?"

At some point, the host had walked up to Zhang Hongxing.

"Of course. If anyone wants to challenge me, I'm ready anytime. Still, I don't like being bothered constantly. How about this? I'll set a seven-day window.

"If anyone wants to challenge me within those seven days, you can arrange it anytime. I'll accept any opponent, regardless of their level. Anyone who beats me can win fifty million. I don't even mind fighting them one after another. But once those seven days are over, it'll depend on my mood."

Zhang Hongxing answered without hesitation.

He had only just restored the confidence of the Xia Kingdom's people, and he had no intention of crushing it again. If anyone really did keep challenging him, he wouldn't mind fighting his way into legend.

A legend whose very name made people tremble and admit he was unbeatable.

Texas, America.

Inside a spacious private training gym, heavyweight champion Tyson Kevin punched a sandbag while watching a video his manager was playing for him. Onscreen was Zhang Hongxing's arrogant declaration.

"Kevin, what do you think of him?"

"He's just a clown. In a real fight, I could put him down with one punch."

"Kevin, perhaps you're underestimating him. He just defeated Banjo Ichito, the champion from Cherry Blossom Country."

"No, that definitely wasn't down to his strength. It was his money doing the fighting. Trust me, I've seen what money from the Xia Kingdom can do."

"All right."

Sulin, Transvestite Country.

In a rice field near a small town, a shirtless man ran back and forth, throwing punches.

"A Gui! A Gui! I found a chance to make some money!"

A small figure ran toward the shirtless man, shouting as he came.

"Shawang, slow down."

"A Gui, look! Hurry and look! We're about to get rich!"

"Fifty million? Shawang, are you sure this is real?"

"Of course."

Mox, Bear Country.

In a snow-covered courtyard, a bald, burly man over two meters twenty tall drank liquor while watching a video.

"Badov, are you sure you want to get mixed up in this?"

"Yes. Even if it's just to please the UFC president, I can't back down. Besides, I really want to face that Zhang Hongxing. I have a feeling he's a strong opponent worth fighting."

Similar scenes played out in different places across different countries.

An open conspiracy targeting Zhang Hongxing had begun.