Yang Family Martial Arts Academy

At noon, in Jinling City East District, at the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy.

The Yang Family Martial Arts Academy promoted fitness and self-defense through training in martial arts, combat sports, and sanda. It also championed the spirit of Chinese martial arts, spread its traditions, and showcased exceptional techniques. It ranked among the top three martial arts training centers in the East District.

At that moment, a slender young man with handsome features was strutting across the pedestrian crossing with devil-may-care swagger, heading leisurely toward the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy a short distance ahead.

Just after he crossed, he came upon a couple arguing. When the woman saw Jun Wangchen walk past her, she immediately pointed at him and shouted at her boyfriend, "If you were half as handsome as him, we wouldn't be arguing!"

The man glanced at Jun Wangchen and shot back, "If I were half as handsome as him, would I even give you a second look?"

Jun Wangchen looked utterly bewildered.

What?

I'm just passing by. Do you really have to flatter me like that?

Who the hell did I piss off?

"Man, is it really that hard to keep my good looks under wraps these days?" Jun Wangchen sighed helplessly.

No, I have to make people notice that I've got brains as well as looks.

With his mind made up, Jun Wangchen scanned his surroundings and spotted a little girl ahead to his left, looking at him.

"Okay, she'll do." Wearing a harmless smile, Jun Wangchen walked toward her and asked, "Little girl, aside from being handsome, what other qualities do I have?"

The little girl froze, then burst into tears and ran off, clearly frightened.

"Man, what a headache. My looks actually made her cry. My fault, my fault. I've kept this handsomeness hidden for twenty years, and it slipped out before I could control it." Jun Wangchen stopped, rubbed his nose, and gazed skyward with a sigh.

(Lost dignity: Master, you've thrown me all the way to Antarctica this time. When are you bringing me back? I still want to play King of Glory!

King of Glory: Ahem, I hear someone wants to beat me?

Officer Severed Finger: Freeze! Hands up, everyone! I hear someone wants to beat King of Glory. Men on the left, women on the right, perverts in the middle.

Sharp-eyed audience: Screw King of Glory! Go jack off! You've abandoned the sacred calling of masturbation to play King of Glory instead? Get lost.

Innocent airplane caught in the crossfire: What did I do wrong? Why are you beating me?)

"Jun, over here!" Just as Jun Wangchen was lamenting how lonely life was at the top, a clear voice suddenly rang out ahead of him.

Jun Wangchen paused and focused his gaze, spotting a lovely figure waving to him a short distance away.

She looked tall and slender today, her sleek black hair cascading like water to her waist. Delicate, curved brows framed watery, star-bright eyes on her beautiful, unadorned oval face. Her nose was small and graceful, her lips like cherries, and a pair of dazzling diamond earrings adorned her ears. Her slender, snowy neck rose with swanlike elegance, making her look like a lotus emerging from the water, strikingly tall and graceful.

Jun Wangchen stared, entranced. He had never imagined that Zi Hanyan could look so mature and alluring once she dressed up.

Seeing Jun Wangchen rooted to the spot, Zi Hanyan blinked and waved at him again.

Only then did Jun Wangchen snap out of his daze and hurry over to her.

"Zi, sorry I'm late."

"Not at all. I only just got here too. The anniversary celebration is about to start, so let's go inside." Zi Hanyan smiled faintly and pointed at the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy.

Jun Wangchen nodded and quietly followed beside Zi Hanyan as they entered the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy together.

The academy's main hall was bustling with people, many of them chatting and laughing about its tenth anniversary.

A breeze brushed through Zi Hanyan's hair, carrying a faint fragrance. Wherever she passed, people stopped, their eyes invariably settling on her.

Standing beside Zi Hanyan, Jun Wangchen felt one murderous glare after another bearing down on him, piling on the pressure. Clearly, some of these people already assumed he was her boyfriend.

"Jun, wait here in the hall for a moment. I'm going to pay a visit to Master Yang first," Zi Hanyan said, seemingly remembering something.

"Sure." Naturally, Jun Wangchen had no objections.

After watching Zi Hanyan head upstairs, Jun Wangchen surveyed the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy. It really was remarkably large; the main hall alone could accommodate over two hundred people.

Various pieces of martial arts equipment stood in every corner of the hall. Many of the academy's disciples were explaining the corresponding training methods to the guests, making for a lively atmosphere.

After looking around a little more, Jun Wangchen found a place to sit in the hall and waited quietly for Zi Hanyan to come back downstairs.

Ahead to Jun Wangchen's left stood a thick-browed young man in the academy's uniform. He was enthusiastically introducing its experts to the people before him. "Honored guests, as one of the East District's top three academies, our Yang Family Martial Arts Academy is home to many experts. Out there, any one of them could easily take on ten opponents.

"And the strongest of them all is our senior brother. He can now punch through a ten-centimeter-thick iron plate and easily kick through a punching bag. He's incredibly powerful. Other academies have come here to challenge us before, and it was only thanks to him that we pulled through!"

"He's that terrifying?" The listeners were all stunned.

If the thick-browed young man was telling the truth, didn't that mean the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's senior brother could kill a bull bare-handed with a full-strength blow?

The thick-browed young man lifted his chin, clearly proud of his senior brother. "Of course! Our senior brother's martial arts have reached an incredible level, with techniques so unpredictable they're almost supernatural. No one at any academy in the East District is a match for him.

"He's won every East District academy tournament these past few years. Our master is already preparing to train him as the academy's future successor. You should know that, in the past, only the master's son could inherit the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy. But our senior brother isn't his son. He joined the academy later on. Now do you understand how amazing he is?"

The listeners were stunned once more. The Yang Family Martial Arts Academy had an excellent reputation in the East District, connections with many influential people, and hefty profits every year. Becoming its successor meant becoming its owner, gaining not only substantial wealth and power, but also extraordinary status.

Clearly, the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's senior brother was no ordinary man.

A few people looked at the thick-browed young man and asked curiously, "If your senior brother is that amazing, could you bring him out so we can meet him?"

"No problem. He's upstairs discussing something important with our master right now, though, so he'll probably need a little while before he comes down." The thick-browed young man pointed toward the second floor.

He had barely finished speaking when a muscular man with a crew cut slowly descended the stairs with steady steps.

The moment he saw the crew-cut man, the thick-browed young man bowed respectfully. "Senior brother!"

Several people nearby, including Jun Wangchen, turned their attention to him.

Jun Wangchen's gaze sharpened as he observed the crew-cut man's bearing. Sharp eyes, a tiger's stride, and force flowing through every movement. This guy really does have some skill.

The crew-cut man gave everyone a friendly smile and cupped his hands in greeting. "My name is Guo Wu. Welcome to the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy!"

"Senior Brother Guo, I've heard so much about your martial arts prowess. Could you give us a demonstration?" a young woman wearing glasses asked eagerly from the crowd.

Guo Wu paused, then readily agreed with a smile. "It's a simple matter. Of course."

The listeners immediately perked up. Getting to watch the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's strongest disciple demonstrate his skills would certainly make their visit worthwhile.

Some of the other guests noticed what was happening and gathered around with interest.

"Guo Wu, the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's senior brother. I heard he dominated the East District academy tournament three years running. He's incredibly strong."

"He really is. The last time someone challenged the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy, he crippled their strongest fighter with a single move. Absolutely terrifying."

"All I can say is that Master Yang got lucky, taking in such a powerful and loyal disciple. Unlike the disciples at my academy, who all keep thinking about jumping ship."

Comments rose from all sides as more and more people gathered, eager to see just how powerful the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's senior brother really was.

With everyone watching, Guo Wu stepped onto the academy's specially prepared martial arts platform and gave the crowd a courteous smile. "Today marks the tenth anniversary of our Yang Family Martial Arts Academy. Your kindness has given me the honor of displaying my humble skills before you. I hope you'll continue supporting our academy. We, in turn, will keep striving to improve and reach even greater heights."

As he spoke, Guo Wu let out a low shout. His arm muscles suddenly bulged, and he threw a punch like a giant's crushing blow. The spectators below could almost hear the air exploding.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Guo Wu continued demonstrating techniques on the platform, displaying astonishing speed and strength. After roughly two minutes, his gaze sharpened. He bent his right leg and drove it straight toward a hanging punching bag.

With a bang, the blow punched clean through the entire bag. Countless grains of sand spilled down along his leg, creating a particularly startling sight.

"Bravo!" Everyone burst into applause, their eyes filled with admiration.

At first, they had thought the thick-browed young man was exaggerating Guo Wu's abilities. They had never expected him to truly possess the power to kick through a punching bag. The Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's senior brother certainly lived up to his reputation.

Seeing the astonishment in everyone's eyes, the thick-browed young man looked immensely proud, as though he himself were standing on the platform instead of Guo Wu.

"I'm not in the best form today, so I could only manage a few modest techniques. Please feel free to point out any shortcomings." Guo Wu bowed slightly to the audience from the platform. Though his expression remained composed, intense pride shone in his eyes.

"You're far too modest, senior brother. With skills like yours, who would dare claim you have shortcomings? Isn't that right, everyone?" The thick-browed young man shook his head and addressed the crowd.

Everyone nodded in agreement. Indeed, none of those present could match the feats Guo Wu had just performed.

Hearing this, Guo Wu's pride became even more apparent, and he looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

He was just about to say something when a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"The force of your punches disperses too much, your kicks lack concentrated power, and your footing is unstable when you strike. There are far too many openings. On top of that, your expressions when attacking are affected and rather theatrical. You have more shortcomings than I can count!"