Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Hidden Dragons, Crouching Tigers
As Ma Yaowei eagerly stepped forward, he taunted:
"Come on! Beat me, and dinner's on me tonight!"
To his surprise, Du Sheng casually shrugged off his playful grab with a subtle shake of his arm.
A true practitioner's skill is evident with even the slightest movement.
Ma Yaowei's playful demeanor turned serious. He could no longer afford to underestimate this opponent.
Aside from years of Taekwondo training, he had also studied Tang Shou—the ancient martial art adapted into Karate by the Japanese. Known for its direct and lethal techniques, it wasn't easy for someone to evade his grip so effortlessly, let alone with such grace.
Du Sheng noticed the growing crowd, including Liu Tao and Liu Yifei, who had abandoned their meals to watch.
He shook his head and said,
"Let's take this to the training grounds."
Ma Yaowei, eager for action, quickly agreed. Despite his muscular build and height advantage, he asked,
"Want to wear any protective gear?"
In an era where brawls were still relatively common, sparring sessions were usually consensual, but safety precautions weren't unheard of.
"No need."
Du Sheng strode confidently to the training grounds and stood still, hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of calm confidence.
Ma Yaowei admired his poise but didn't let it distract him. He began warming up, flexing his joints and stretching his limbs.
Seeing Du Sheng unmoving, Ma Yaowei assumed a fighting stance and called out:
"I'm coming in!"
"Please."
Du Sheng's gaze focused on Ma Yaowei's waist—a crucial point for balance and movement.
Inwardly, Du Sheng felt a surge of newfound strength as he funneled 3,000 reputation points into upgrading his Baji Boxing skill.
[Baji Boxing LV2 / Blue (4168/10000)]
A wave of heat coursed through him, fortifying his bones and amplifying his physical power.
Du Sheng estimated that his punches could now generate over 300 pounds of force—a feat that exceeded the average untrained adult's 150-pound punch.
Even professional boxers, after years of training, rarely surpassed 230 pounds. Legendary fighters like Muhammad Ali topped out at 500 to 600 pounds of force.
The upgrade wasn't just about power; it also bolstered his resilience, making him more durable in combat.
Du Sheng clenched his fists, feeling the explosive potential coursing through him. Confident, he awaited Ma Yaowei's first move.
---
Ma Yaowei circled Du Sheng cautiously, looking for an opening.
Yet, no matter how he moved, Du Sheng remained rooted in place, his posture steady and inscrutable.
Frustration began to creep in as Ma Yaowei realized he couldn't gauge his opponent's weaknesses.
The crowd, sensing the standoff, began to jeer:
"Come on, Ma! Stop stalling and throw a punch!"
"We've got meals to finish!"
Ironically, the loudest voices came from Yuan Bin's team—many of whom had been on the receiving end of Ma Yaowei's sparring sessions. Seeing him in a tight spot brought them a sense of schadenfreude.
Spurred by the taunts, Ma Yaowei decided to take the initiative. He stomped forward and launched a swift sidekick at Du Sheng's torso.
The kick was so fast it whistled through the air!
Du Sheng responded by slightly lowering his knees, anchoring his stance. With a move called "Welcoming the Morning Sun," his left hand darted out like a serpent, targeting the inner side of Ma Yaowei's knee.
Realizing his kick had been neutralized, Ma Yaowei retracted his leg and followed up with a sharp right hook aimed at Du Sheng's forearm.
But Du Sheng had already anticipated the strike. As Ma Yaowei's arm swung in, Du Sheng's left arm rose to block it, deflecting the blow effortlessly.
Seizing the opportunity, Du Sheng closed the distance, driving his right fist forward like a drawn bowstring.
CRACK!
The Iron Mountain Leaning strike landed squarely on Ma Yaowei's left arm, interrupting his combo mid-motion.
The impact left Ma Yaowei momentarily stunned.
It wasn't just the pain—though his arm felt as if it had collided with iron—it was the sheer immovability of Du Sheng's stance.
This wasn't something he had encountered before, even in over a dozen sparring matches.
Du Sheng didn't let up. His momentum carried him forward as he stomped the ground with a thunderous step, channeling the force into a downward Splitting Mountain Palm strike.
CRACK!
This time, Ma Yaowei's left forearm bore the brunt of the blow.
Despite his years of conditioning, the raw power of Du Sheng's strikes overwhelmed him. His arm throbbed with pain, making it difficult to maintain his footing.
Desperate, Ma Yaowei attempted to retaliate with an upward swing aimed at Du Sheng's face.
But Du Sheng countered swiftly with a defensive move, catching the punch mid-flight. Before Ma Yaowei could react, Du Sheng twisted his arms into a lock, rendering him defenseless.
Realizing his precarious position, Ma Yaowei prepared to lift his leg for a counterattack, but Du Sheng released him unexpectedly and pivoted.
In one fluid motion, Du Sheng delivered a sidekick to Ma Yaowei's torso, bypassing his guard entirely.
THUD!
The force of the kick sent Ma Yaowei sprawling to the ground.
---
The crowd erupted in a mix of gasps and cheers.
Even Yuan Bin's team members, who had been critical of Du Sheng, were left speechless.
Ma Yaowei's reputation as a skilled fighter was well-earned, and yet he had been decisively defeated in mere moments.
Liu Tao and Wang Yi couldn't contain their excitement, nearly bursting into applause.
Meanwhile, Liu Yifei, who had been silently watching, covered her mouth in astonishment, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Go, Cousin!" she whispered, clearly thrilled by Du Sheng's performance.
Even Zhao Jian and Yuan Bin were impressed.
"This young man has potential," Zhao Jian remarked.
"He's more than just potential," Yuan Bin replied, nodding thoughtfully.
Standing nearby, Qu Jueliang observed Du Sheng with renewed interest.
"If he gets the right opportunities, he could very well follow in the footsteps of Zhao Wen Zhuo," he mused.
Du Sheng, meanwhile, remained cal
m, his composure unshaken by the cheers or the whispers of admiration.
For him, this was just another step toward proving himself.