Chapter 52: Chapter 52: "Screw You, It’s Rigged!"
Du Sheng seemed to have anticipated the attack.
He dug his toes firmly into the ground, stepping forward while unleashing a "bow-step elbow strike." His left elbow, like a charging tiger, smashed toward Sang Biao's shin. Before his opponent could adjust, Du Sheng planted his feet and followed up with a twisting arm elbow strike.
Sang Biao's initial kick had been a probing move. Realizing Du Sheng's strikes were fierce and precise, he immediately recognized his opponent wasn't some amateur.
Sang Biao stepped back two paces, then launched a rapid right hook aimed at Du Sheng's forearm.
However, Bajiquan (Eight Extremes Fist) is all about aggression: "If you advance, I advance; if you retreat, I still advance."
Du Sheng didn't flinch. Using his elbow as a shield, he deflected the hook and charged forward, delivering a ferocious Open Gate Cannon Fist that struck like a drawn bow snapping forward.
Crack!
Du Sheng's right fist struck Sang Biao's biceps with pinpoint accuracy, interrupting his chain of attacks.
Sang Biao stumbled, his balance disrupted. It felt as if his fist had struck an iron plate—a sensation he'd never encountered in his career as an underground fighter.
Even more shocking, Du Sheng remained unscathed and continued pressing forward with a relentless Open Gate Cannon, forcing Sang Biao to retreat repeatedly.
Even when Sang Biao tried to use his weight advantage for a grappling takedown, he couldn't find an opportunity.
Recognizing Sang Biao's hesitation, Du Sheng quickly assessed his opponent's capabilities.
Based on combat rankings, Sang Biao was roughly F+, maybe scraping E-.
With this evaluation, Du Sheng felt reassured.
His Dragon Elephant Strength Skill's "bronze skin" defense reduced incoming damage by about a third. Combined with the cushioning from the gloves, Sang Biao's punches were little more than tickles.
"Break!"
Du Sheng stomped the ground, sending force rippling through his frame. His arm hooked like an iron claw, and his elbow crashed toward Sang Biao's chest.
Knowing Bajiquan's specialty in close combat and joint locking, Sang Biao dared not confront it head-on and quickly pivoted to retreat.
But Du Sheng wouldn't let him escape.
Another twisting elbow strike latched onto Sang Biao's wrist. With a sharp step forward, Du Sheng executed a Hard Open Gate, smashing through Sang Biao's defensive posture like a storm.
What is Hard Open Gate?
It's a technique where no matter the opponent's guard, the elbow forces its way through with sheer brute force.
Even though Sang Biao had conditioned his arms over years of training, they couldn't withstand Du Sheng's explosive power.
A wave of pain radiated from Sang Biao's upper arm, each impact as crushing as a heavyweight boxer's punch.
Desperately, Sang Biao abandoned retreat and aimed a swift upward hook punch at Du Sheng's jaw, hoping to disrupt his momentum.
Du Sheng rooted himself firmly, utilizing his waist and hips to pivot as he parried the strike with a single-handed "Tiger Guard."
Without pausing, Du Sheng's other hand shot out like a vice, seizing Sang Biao's arm in a Double Binding Lock maneuver.
A proverb in Bajiquan states:
"Double Binding Lock needs no ropes; it uses the enemy's own hands to tie them up."
Sang Biao found his own arms immobilized against his will, his expression twisting into panic.
Attempting to counter with a sweeping kick, he was unprepared for Du Sheng's sudden shift.
Du Sheng disengaged briefly, then spun his body for a high roundhouse kick. His heel connected sharply with Sang Biao's chin.
Thud!
Sang Biao spat out his mouthguard along with several teeth as he crumpled backward onto the mat.
Gasps and murmurs erupted from the audience, their disbelief palpable.
Even the ever-composed Boss Tan, seated comfortably moments ago, was now on his feet, visibly shaken.
He had harbored immense confidence in Sang Biao, who was known for his dominance in the underground fighting circuit of Myanmar.
Never would he have imagined that this supposed "pretty boy" could dismantle Sang Biao so effortlessly.
Meanwhile, Ma Yaowei, ecstatic beyond words, waved a towel and shouted toward Zheng Zetao:
"Zheng! Did you see that? My buddy never disappoints!"
Zheng Zetao burst into laughter, gripping the woman beside him tightly in celebration.
Even Wang Yaoyang, initially nervous, couldn't contain his excitement, clenching his fists in triumph.
In that moment, Wang Yaoyang realized his roommate wasn't just talented and handsome—he was an absolute powerhouse.
"This is insane! I've hitched my wagon to a superstar!"
He grinned uncontrollably, thinking of the 30,000 yuan he'd bet on Du Sheng.
However, the spectators underestimated Sang Biao's resilience.
Despite his shattered chin, he struggled back to his feet, eyes glinting with ferocity.
This time, he didn't charge recklessly. Suppressing his pain, he aimed to use his weight advantage for a grappling takedown, hoping to drag the fight to the ground where he could dominate.
But Du Sheng, having tested his Dragon Elephant Strength Skill, had lost interest in dragging out the match.
With a powerful step, his body shot forward like a coiled spring, leaving only a blur in his wake.
Crunch!
Before Sang Biao could react, Du Sheng's full-body shoulder strike, enhanced by Iron Mountain Lean, collided with his ribs.
Sang Biao was sent flying backward, a loud crack signaling his fractured ribs.
Du Sheng pressed the assault, his strikes—kicks, punches, and elbow thrusts—relentless as a tidal wave.
Sang Biao's body screamed in agony, each bone threatening to break under the onslaught.
He desperately attempted to seize Du Sheng's leg for a takedown, but the latter's stability and unorthodox techniques left no openings.
As Sang Biao attempted to rise again, a sharp elbow strike sent him tumbling into a corner of the ring.
Du Sheng stood tall, his presence commanding.
"Stay down," he declared coldly, "or it won't just be broken bones next time."
Though he wasn't intent on creating unnecessary enemies, he made it clear he wouldn't hesitate to deliver a more devastating blow.
Sang Biao spat blood, glancing briefly at the now-ashen-faced Boss Tan, then slumped back down in defeat.
The audience was in uproar, stunned by the shocking upset.
Shouts filled the air:
"Screw you, it's rigged!"
"That was a fix! Sang Biao, you're a disgrace!"
"What kind of so-called Myanmar champion
is this? Useless!"
The majority of spectators, having bet on Sang Biao, were now left with empty pockets and burning resentment.
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