Yu Gang went outside and saw that a dozen or so people had gathered in the open area. Most of them were scattered around, dressed in dark blue work clothes. Each had brightly polished iron chains wrapped around their fists, and they all looked incredibly fierce.
Four men stood at the very front. The leader was a man in his thirties with a short, stout build, wearing non-prescription glasses and an old-fashioned, plain-collared tunic. Behind him stood two burly, middle-aged men. A little farther back was a young man in his early twenties with a defiant gaze and a flattop haircut.
Seeing Yu Gang, the leader smiled, clasped his fist in his palm, and said, "Teacher Yu, it's been a while."
Yu Gang returned the gesture. "I didn't expect you to come in person, Mr. Qi. My place is humble, with little to offer in terms of hospitality. Please excuse the crude arrangements."
Mr. Qi let out a breath. "Not at all. I didn't come here today for tea or wine, Teacher Yu. I came just to see you."
Yu Gang said, "I'm just an ordinary martial arts coach. There's nothing remarkable about me."
Mr. Qi smiled. "Teacher Yu, why be so modest? Everyone knows what you're capable of. The reason I'm here today is to personally invite you to join our Iron Chain Gang. Ah, but please, don't be so quick to refuse..."
He waved his hand. "We know you're in trouble, Teacher Yu. But we can help Mr. Yu resolve it."
Yu Gang said gravely, "My problems are not something the Iron Chain Gang can solve. It will only bring trouble upon you."
Mr. Qi seemed unconcerned, or perhaps just supremely confident. "How will we know if we don't try? Teacher Yu, those powerful people may be trouble, but so is the Iron Chain Gang. Once you join us, we'll be brothers. Your business becomes our business. We'll help you, and we'll do it in a way that you find satisfactory."
Yu Gang said nothing.
Mr. Qi then cupped his fist again, raising his voice so that everyone present could hear him. "Teacher Yu, if you join the Iron Chain Gang, I am willing to acknowledge you as my master. With this, Teacher Yu, you can't possibly doubt the sincerity of the Iron Chain Gang, can you?"
Yu Gang involuntarily fell silent. The Iron Chain Gang was not to be trifled with. Now that things had been put this way, he had to give a clear response. To do otherwise would be a grave insult.
Mr. Qi maintained his smile and the respectful gesture, awaiting his response.
After a moment, Yu Gang appeared to reach a decision. He looked at Mr. Qi and his men. "Let's do this. I know nothing but combat. Let my student fight one of your men. If you win, I'll agree to join the Iron Chain Gang. If you lose, you will not bother me again for at least a year."
As if he had expected this, Mr. Qi lowered his hands and smiled. "We will certainly grant Teacher Yu's request." He turned his head and called, "Ding Shuo."
"Here!" The flat-topped young man in his early twenties stepped forward from behind him. "Mr. Qi."
Mr. Qi said, "You'll spar with Teacher Yu's student. Be careful, now. Teacher Yu is a master of his craft, so I imagine his student is no slouch either."
Ding Shuo found Lu Ke behind Yu Gang and stared at him fiercely for a few moments.
Yu Gang called Lu Ke over and told him, "Lu Ke, you'll fight him. Be careful." Lu Ke agreed nervously, "Yes, Master."
Mr. Qi said, "Mr. Yu, we're all friends here. This isn't a fight to the death. Stop once the outcome is clear." He then looked to his side. "Ding Shuo, did you hear that?"
Ding Shuo said, "Just watch, Mr. Qi." He pulled off his shirt, revealing a muscular physique. From his pocket, he took out a pair of Boxing Gloves and tightly wound their straps around his hands, then began to jump around to warm up.
Lu Ke was also warming up, but he seemed a bit off, constantly taking deep breaths.
Chen Chuan had also arrived at the entrance of the training area, watching the commotion outside. The Iron Chain Gang and the Blood Mark Gang were the two largest gangs in Yangzhi City, and conflicts often broke out between them.
He didn't know the specifics of their feud, but he had heard that the Molan Company was behind the Blood Mark Gang. For the Iron Chain Gang to be able to go head-to-head with the Blood Mark Gang, they must also have some powerful backing.
'I just don't know why they're after Yu Gang this time. Honestly, if Yu Gang gets recruited by the Iron Chain Gang, it will mess up my training schedule…'
After a short while, Lu Ke and Ding Shuo were more or less ready. The two went to the open space, exchanged the customary fist-and-palm salutes, then retreated a few steps and took their stances.
Ding Shuo grinned, then rushed forward, opening with a leaping knee strike at Lu Ke that looked exceptionally vicious.
Lu Ke quickly dodged to the side. After landing, Ding Shuo pivoted nimbly, keeping up with Lu Ke's movement. He threw a ferocious combination of punches, then suddenly followed up with a surprise low sweep. Lu Ke showed no opening, raising his knee in time to block it. But the force of the kick seemed immense, and he was forced to sidestep to dissipate the momentum.
Chen Chuan watched very carefully. From the fluidity of Ding Shuo's power generation and the faint, hard-to-distinguish sound of his exhalations, he judged that this man had also mastered a Breathing Technique. 'However, as long as Lu Ke performs normally, he's not without a chance.'
Lu Ke was forced to dodge repeatedly under Ding Shuo's aggressive assault. Although he was constantly on the defensive, his defense was fairly stable. While dodging, he was also observing his opponent, looking for an opening.
Soon he found an opportunity. After Ding Shuo threw two punches and was about to follow up with a low sweep, Lu Ke suddenly shot out a front kick, landing it squarely on his opponent's abdomen.
It was a beautiful kick, not only disrupting Ding Shuo's intended sweep but also serving as a powerful counter-attack.
Normally, a blow like that would have broken his opponent's rhythm and marked the beginning of a counter-offensive. But unexpectedly, not only was Ding Shuo's attack not interrupted, he even thrust his abdomen forward. Lu Ke instantly felt a force push back from the sole of his foot, and he was involuntarily forced backward.
With his physical conditioning, he should have regained his balance quickly, but it was as if he had a cramp. His legs suddenly gave out, and he fell to the ground. He quickly rolled into a half-kneeling position, planting a fist in front of him to guard against Ding Shuo's follow-up attack.
Ding Shuo, however, did not rush in. Instead, he took a couple of steps on the spot and gestured with his palm up, as if telling him to hurry up and get back on his feet.
Chen Chuan then noticed a flush rising on Lu Ke's face, and his breathing had become much more rapid. He不禁 remembered something, and he looked back toward where Lu Ke had been sitting. Next to Lu Ke's usual water bottle, there was a small medicine vial. The cap was off, and two small, pale-yellow pills were still inside.
Lu Ke took a deep breath and stood up. Just then, Ding Shuo shot forward, and a flurry of fists rushed toward him. He instinctively raised his arm to parry, but just as he lifted his hand, a knee slammed into his ribs. He let out a muffled grunt, his breathing became chaotic, and he staggered a few steps before falling to the ground again, only managing to prop himself up with his arms to keep from lying flat.
Now everyone could see that something was wrong with his condition.
Ding Shuo said with dissatisfaction, "Hey, what are you doing? Are you having a fit or something?"
Yu Gang sighed softly. "Lu Ke, come back." He paused. "Mr. Qi, this round..."
"Wait a moment, Teacher Yu."
A voice came from inside the building.
Mr. Qi and his men followed the sound and saw a well-proportioned young man with a handsome and distinguished air emerge from the building.
Chen Chuan walked to Yu Gang's side and said to him, "Teacher Yu, I can be considered your student too, right? Senior Brother Lu doesn't seem to be well. This fight has become a bit unfair. The match isn't decided yet, so can you let me take his place and continue?"
Yu Gang looked at him and said, "You didn't have to come out. This doesn't concern you."
Chen Chuan said earnestly, "Mr. Yu, if it wasn't my business before, it is now. You know that if things turn out that way, it would probably be inappropriate for me to continue studying under you."
'If this were purely about Yu Gang, he wouldn't have gotten involved. But Nian Fuli had warned him. Because Yu Gang had a case against him, he should just learn from him and not get too close, likely out of caution. But if Yu Gang joined the Iron Chain Gang, Chen Chuan would definitely have to stop his training to avoid suspicion. Rather than let that happen, it was better to take the initiative and try to change the outcome.'
Mr. Qi laughed at this. "Teacher Yu, is this another one of your students? Since we agreed your student would fight, it's within the rules for him to step up."
Ding Shuo scoffed, but internally he had no objection. 'Beating a sick guy gives me no satisfaction. Besides, those first few exchanges were barely enough to warm me up.'
Seeing they had no objections, Yu Gang considered for a moment, then said to Chen Chuan, "Be careful. This Brother Ding is very skilled with his fists and feet."
'Chen Chuan understood immediately. Skilled with his fists and feet implied that his other techniques were weaker. That meant he could be a little more unrestrained in his own approach.'
Lu Ke struggled to his feet, clutching his ribs as he came before Yu Gang. "Master, I..."
Yu Gang patted his shoulder. "Don't overthink it. It was my oversight. Hurry back inside and take your medicine."
Lu Ke gave a quiet assent. He glanced back at Chen Chuan, who was starting to warm up, and, breathing laboriously, walked slowly back into the building.
Before long, Chen Chuan finished his warm-up, walked out into the open space, and stood facing Ding Shuo.
...
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