Around noon, the sun blazed high over the Eastern No. 2 Training Ground of the Jiangnan Military Region. The surrounding grass shimmered with heat, distorting the light. But no one here sought shade; a crowd of people stood under the scorching sun, shouting excitedly as they watched a duel.
"Go, Guo Dabao! Don't be a coward, just fight!" Old Master Qiu, refusing an umbrella from his guards, stood robust and spirited like the younger men, waving his arms and cheering.
Facing Yang Yi in the arena was Guo Dabao of the Jiangnan Military Region's Viper Special Forces. Hailing from Behe Cangzhou, he had honed formidable martial arts skills since childhood and was widely regarded as the best fighter in the Jiangnan Military Region!
The fact that even Guo Dabao had been sent in showed just how many Jiangnan experts Yang Yi had already taken down in this round-robin challenge.
Guo Dabao's expression was grim. He didn't rush into an attack. The shirtless man before him exerted immense pressure. Having watched the previous bouts, Guo Dabao knew Yang Yi was formidable.
"Come on!" Yang Yi, though drenched in sweat, his muscular body glistening as if oiled, maintained a calm, carefree demeanor, flashing a smug grin reminiscent of "Cold Front."
Without further delay, the two engaged.
As soon as Guo Dabao made his move, Yang Yi recognized the style—Piguaquan, or "Chop-Hanging Fist." Those long, ape-like arms swung wide and fierce, striking toward Yang Yi's vital points with relentless momentum.
A true master reveals their skill at first contact! Guo Dabao's technique was solid, unlike the flashy forms of the earlier fighter, Xiao Yan. Feeling the sharp force of the wind, Yang Yi dared not meet it head-on; he twisted and raised his arm to block.
But Piguaquan thrives on momentum—advance with every step, follow through with every move!
Yang Yi initially intended to hold back, but his defensive stance put him at a disadvantage. Guo Dabao pressed his advantage, closing in relentlessly!
High strikes hook, low strikes chop, horizontal strikes block, and straight strikes deflect!
Guo Dabao's arms moved like rods, whips, or coiling snakes, unleashing a dozen punches in seconds, forcing Yang Yi into a flustered defense.
Moreover, Guo Dabao matched Yang Yi in height and was stockier, his fists and arms packed with power. Each block left Yang Yi's arms numb and aching.
"Ha!" Guo Dabao, refusing to relent, suddenly changed tactics mid-battle. He twisted his waist and hips, swinging his left arm like a whip.
Yang Yi hadn't anticipated this move. Despite twisting his head to absorb most of the impact, Guo Dabao's fist still slammed into his face.
"Nice!" Cheers erupted from the sidelines. The Jiangnan soldiers couldn't help shouting in excitement. The earlier defeats of their top fighters by Yang Yi had been a bitter pill to swallow.
Guo Dabao, however, looked a bit embarrassed. He pulled back, scratching his head apologetically. "Ah, I couldn't hold back. Sorry about that..."
Yang Yi touched his mouth; a trace of blood seeped from the corner. But this minor injury didn't bother him. If anything, the blood brought out a wild edge beneath the refined, almost scholarly demeanor he'd cultivated lately.
"No worries! Let's go again!" Yang Yi grinned excitedly, raising his fists and settling into a stance.
As the Jiangnan Military Region's top hand-to-hand combatant, Guo Dabao was truly formidable, and Yang Yi's fighting spirit was fully ignited.
"Alright! Let's go!" Guo Dabao, enjoying the fight, shouted and launched another attack.
This time, Yang Yi didn't just defend. He met Guo Dabao head-on, trading blows in a fierce exchange.
How strong was Yang Yi when he got serious? He didn't know himself. But without using internal energy, he and Guo Dabao went blow for blow, ending in a dead heat!
And Yang Yi was using the Hongquan (Hung Gar) style he'd learned since childhood in his past life!
Hongquan embodies the power of a lion and tiger, along with the finesse of a white crane, while Piguaquan balances hardness and softness. The two masters alternated between brutal, bone-jarring clashes and agile, evasive maneuvers—like willows swaying in the wind or dragons coiling and striking—engaging in a battle of wits and strength!
The watching special forces soldiers were both awed and electrified.
But Guo Dabao was still outmatched. Yang Yi suddenly switched to techniques from his previous life, spinning around to get behind Guo Dabao.
Startled, Guo Dabao tried to turn, but Yang Yi landed several heavy blows to his ribs, knocking the wind out of him. By the time he recovered, Yang Yi had already locked his throat and twisted his neck.
Of course, he didn't deliver a killing blow, but Guo Dabao knew that in a real battle, he'd be dead.
"I lose!" Guo Dabao was gracious, lowering his hands and sighing in defeat.
Still, his teammates applauded, cheering for both the match and the display of skill.
Yang Yi hadn't won easily; he'd had to pull out some of his best moves. Sweating profusely, he grinned through his injured lip and gave Guo Dabao a friendly hug.
"See that? The Wolf Warrior lives up to his name! There's always someone better. From now on, you'd better train hard, train like your life depends on it!" Old Master Qiu, who had long accepted Yang Yi's point, used him to scold the complacent soldiers.
"Yes, sir!" The Viper Special Forces soldiers responded, some still grinning, but their eyes now held a serious glint.
They looked at Yang Yi with fervent admiration.
Too bad he wasn't a woman...
...
At noon, Old Masters Qiu and Zeng dragged Yang Yi to Qiu's home for lunch. It was originally scheduled at the military mess, but Qiu's granddaughter wanted to meet her idol, so Qiu readily agreed.
Qiu Xiaoqian was quite warm toward Yang Yi, and his refined, scholarly appearance after changing back into a shirt only increased her fondness. Unfortunately, after the long bout, Yang Yi arrived home late. Qiu Xiaoqian could only greet him briefly before rushing off to school.
"Xiao Yang, with skills like that, you must have retired not long ago, right?" Lu Pengju, having finished his work, joined them for the meal. He'd already heard about Yang Yi's spectacular defeat of all the Jiangnan Military Region's top fighters.
"Heh, not too long—about five years..." Yang Yi answered honestly.
Five years? That meant Yang Yi had retired at twenty-five or twenty-six?
The three generals were surprised. Old Master Qiu, especially curious, asked, "With your abilities, even the Wolf Warriors wouldn't have many like you. How could they let you go?"
Despite the Wolf Warriors' reputation, they were just more experienced and hardened by blood and fire. In terms of individual skill, they couldn't just send anyone to beat a region's top fighter. The talent pool was similar; the Wolf Warriors didn't recruit the absolute best nationwide. If they could reach that level, other regions would be obsolete.
Yang Yi smiled faintly. "It's not something to be proud of, but it's not a secret. During a mission with the Wolf Warriors, I ran into a guy harassing a woman. I beat him so badly he ended up in the hospital. Turns out his father had deep connections in the military, so I had to pack my bags. But if I had to do it again, I'd still hit him. No regrets."
Hearing this, Old Master Qiu, who also had a granddaughter, bristled with anger. He slammed the table and said, "Who was it? Tell me! I may be retired, but I still have old subordinates. I'll get justice for you!"