Jiang Lan took a deep breath, calming the excitement inside him.
He turned and walked back toward the team.
A moment later, Jiang Lan rejoined them.
Shen Qingqiu glanced at Jiang Lan, a little more approval in his eyes.
Zhao Gang came over with a broad smile.
"Brother, how did it feel?"
Jiang Lan knew Zhao Gang was asking how it had felt to kill the Ironback Wolf.
He smiled. "Pretty good."
Zhao Gang's voice was tinged with envy.
"Comparing yourself to others really is infuriating. You've only just awakened, and your defense is already so strong that even an Ironback Wolf can't break through it."
Jiang Lan smiled without saying anything.
He really had no interest in showing off about things like this.
As long as nobody provoked him, he was easy enough to get along with.
The team continued onward. After nearly two hours of searching, they had made a decent haul.
Besides killing several ferocious beasts, they had picked up plenty of assorted odds and ends.
Just then, Li Hu and his group appeared a short distance ahead.
Spotting Shen Qingqiu, Li Hu brought his second squad over.
"Captain Shen, how's the haul?"
"Not bad." Shen Qingqiu nodded slightly. "Yours?"
"Not bad either. We killed a few Ironback Wolves."
As he spoke, his gaze landed on Jiang Lan, and his tone turned mocking.
"Why are you covered in blood? Don't tell me another beast chased you down. Honestly..."
Before Li Hu could finish, Li Ming spoke up beside him, his voice dripping with jealousy.
"Tsk... Hu, you'd better leave Jiang Lan alone. He's awakened a special defensive talent now. He's not someone you can just mess with anymore. Watch out, or he might teach you a lesson."
Jiang Lan silently glanced back at Li Ming.
Prancing around like a clown.
"Oh?" Li Hu's eyes flickered. "You awakened a special talent?"
"That's wonderful news. Congratulations!" Li Hu stepped up to Jiang Lan and held out his hand to shake. "Young man, I've offended you plenty in the past. Please don't hold it against me."
Jiang Lan looked at Li Hu's outstretched hand in silence for a moment before offering his own.
"No worries."
That was what he said, but inwardly, Jiang Lan thought, This bastard's backing down awfully fast.
You've really mastered the art of changing your tune depending on who you're dealing with.
Li Hu was all smiles.
"Now that you've awakened a special talent, you'll be one of the team's mainstays."
"I wouldn't go that far. I still have a long way to go."
"Aren't you being modest?" A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes as he looked at Jiang Lan. "Right, since it's a special defensive talent, just how strong is your defense?"
Beside them, Shen Qingqiu frowned at those words.
"Li Hu, what are you getting at?"
Li Hu waved a hand.
"Don't get me wrong, Captain. I'm just curious. Besides, we'll be heading outside the city together from now on. Knowing each other's abilities will help us work together, won't it?"
He looked at Jiang Lan and continued.
"Brother, why don't you spar with one of my men? Think of it as exchanging experience."
Shen Qingqiu's expression darkened. "This is the wilderness, not a sparring arena."
"Just a simple spar. We'll stop before anyone gets hurt." He looked at Shen Qingqiu. "Captain, don't tell me you're afraid Jiang Lan will lose?"
"You..."
Just then, Jiang Lan suddenly raised a hand.
"Sure."
"Jiang Lan!" Shen Qingqiu turned and glared at him.
Other people might not know what Li Hu was up to, but how could he not?
That bastard was clearly setting a trap for Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan said,
"It's fine, Uncle. It's just a spar."
With that, he turned his gaze to Li Hu.
"But before we spar, I have one condition."
"What condition? Let's hear it."
Jiang Lan said, "Forget your men. How about I spar with you directly? What do you think?"
The moment Jiang Lan said that, everyone fell silent.
The smile froze on Li Hu's face, and the squad members behind him all stared in disbelief.
Shen Qingqiu's eyes widened as he looked at Jiang Lan.
Whatever else he might be, Li Hu was a Meridian Opening martial artist.
Has this kid lost his mind?
Li Hu was silent for a moment before suddenly breaking into a grin.
"Brother, you're not joking with me, are you?"
Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Li Hu's expression darkened.
"Jiang Lan, I'm at the initial meridian-opening stage. Are you sure you want to spar with me?"
"What, scared?" Jiang Lan refused to back down.
He could see everything Shen Qingqiu could.
He had thought Li Hu was simply quick to back down, but it turned out he was plotting something.
Since Li Hu wanted to play dirty, Jiang Lan would oblige him.
"Besides, didn't you want to test my defense, Captain Li? You might as well do it yourself. Saves us the trouble."
Li Hu took a deep breath.
"Fine. Since you put it that way, I won't hold back." He turned to Shen Qingqiu. "Captain Shen, you have no objections, do you?"
Frowning, Shen Qingqiu looked at Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan gave him a reassuring look.
"You two... stop before anyone gets hurt."
"Of course."
Li Hu walked up to Jiang Lan and loosened his wrists.
"Jiang Lan, let's see what you're made of. Be careful."
"Go right ahead."
Without another word, Li Hu threw a punch.
Bang!
The blow carried considerable force.
Jiang Lan took half a step back. His chest tingled slightly, but that was all.
A flicker of shock crossed Li Hu's eyes.
He had put a full seventy percent of his strength into that punch. How could this kid act as though nothing had happened?
But he quickly regained his composure and sneered.
"Not bad! You're tough! Again!"
As he spoke, he concentrated all his strength into his fist and drove it toward Jiang Lan's chest.
Beside them, Shen Qingqiu's expression changed sharply.
The others might not be able to tell, but he could.
Li Hu was putting his full strength into this blow.
A full-power strike from someone at the initial meridian-opening stage...
Before he could react and intervene, Li Hu's fist had already struck Jiang Lan's chest.
Bang!
This time, Jiang Lan took two steps back, his chest tightening.
Hurt? Not a chance.
Li Hu was utterly stunned.
Jiang Lan was still standing after taking his full-power strike?
But Jiang Lan gave him little time to dwell on his shock. He rolled his shoulders and smiled fiercely.
"Captain Li, you've had your punches. Since this is a spar, isn't it my turn now?"
Li Hu's expression changed.
"You..."
Jiang Lan did not wait for him to finish. His fist shot out, striking Li Hu square in the face.
Bang!
With a dull thud, Li Hu flew backward like a kite with its string cut. He sailed a long way before crashing to the ground with another heavy thump.
"Cough, cough..." He coughed twice, his pupils trembling with shock. He could not comprehend it.
Someone who had not even been a martial artist before could completely overpower him just by awakening a special talent?
It had taken him fifteen years to advance from the Body Tempering Realm to Meridian Opening.
Fifteen years of his life could not measure up to some brat who had only just awakened?
How was that possible?