Hearing those words—"I will protect you forever"—the indignant expression on
"There's no need to argue back and forth. I already said, both of you can come at me together,"
Tang San stepped forward two paces, calm and composed. "Please instruct me."
A flash of sinister light flickered through Dai Mubai's eyes. His right fist shot upward as he launched himself forward in a charge, driving straight toward Tang San's chest. The movement was simple—no frills whatsoever—but Tang San's expression shifted. The force behind this single punch had already reached its absolute peak through the combined effect of sheer power and speed. Without rich combat experience, no one could achieve something like that.
At this moment, Tang San absolutely could not retreat. If he pulled back, the momentum of his opponent's charge would only surge further, making this punch even more devastating. So rather than retreating, he advanced. His right foot surged forward in a single step that covered three full meters, instantly closing the distance between himself and his opponent. Tang San's intention was simple—he wanted to disrupt his opponent's rhythm of attack.
He threw his own right fist forward at the same time, his hand instantly transforming into a luminous, milky white.
With a muffled thud, Dai Mubai's charging body ground to a sudden halt, while Tang San stumbled backward four or five steps before he could steady himself.
A glint of surprise appeared in Dai Mubai's eyes. He clearly hadn't expected that this youth—who looked several years younger than himself—could actually take his punch head-on.
What surprised Dai Mubai most was Tang San's fist. He had clearly held the advantage in raw striking power, yet his own right hand now throbbed as though it might split open. Tang San's fist felt as hard as if it had been cast from bronze and iron.
Tang San was equally astonished. His fist had not only carried the internal force of the
The opponent's power was rigid, yet not the explosive kind of rigidity—it was concentrated, condensed rigidity. All of that force seemed compressed into an area no bigger than a fist, and the shockwave it had released was already sending a violent churning through Tang San's qi and blood.
"Good. Taking one of my punches means you've earned the right to be my opponent," Dai Mubai barked coldly. His figure surged forward again, and this time his attack was anything but simple. He launched himself into the air from the ground, arriving above Tang San in the span of a heartbeat. His four limbs extended in strange, sprawling angles—to the eye, his entire body looked riddled with openings, yet every limb made subtle, shifting movements, as though concealing infinite follow-up techniques.
Tang San's expression had grown exceedingly grave. He bent his knees slightly, toes angled inward, calves surging with power in an instant. His left arm swept inward from the outside in a circular arc while his right arm pushed outward from the inside—settling into a peculiar stance.
This particular strike of Dai Mubai's was none other than his signature technique. No matter how an opponent tried to block or counter, he had multiple ways to adapt. What appeared to be an action full of openings actually concealed profound offensive methods—any one of his four limbs could become a deadly weapon.
But just as his attack was about to unfold, an invisible force suddenly surged up from below. It felt viscous, almost sticky, without any tremendous impact—but its tenacity was extraordinary. Suspended in midair with nowhere to brace himself, Dai Mubai felt his entire body being wrenched off its original trajectory by that strange force, pulling him off to the side. All of his attacks naturally lost their target.
What kind of power was this? A flash of astonishment shot through Dai Mubai's mind. But his battle experience was incredibly rich. He twisted his powerful frame in midair, rotating a full turn horizontally, and landed steadily on the ground.
And it was precisely at that moment that Tang San launched his counterattack. His timing was perfect—right at the instant Dai Mubai's feet touched the ground, when it was hardest to generate force.
Using the Ghost Shadow Phantom Trail, he took three swift, light steps that carried him to Dai Mubai's side in the blink of an eye. Both palms struck simultaneously, aiming for Dai Mubai's shoulders.
A flash of sinister light flickered through Dai Mubai's eyes, and all four of his pupils seemed to flare at once. He exhaled sharply with a grunt, shrugged his shoulders back while retreating, and his twin fists—striking after Tang San's move but arriving first—swept upward in a double uppercut aimed at the crook of Tang San's elbows. The savage force of his fist broke through the air with a rapid chain of explosive cracks, a testament to just how much power those two punches packed.
At the same time he threw his fists, Dai Mubai's right leg snapped upward—and at this close range, it was aimed directly at Tang San's chin, revealing extraordinary flexibility. Whether it was his twin punches or his right leg, if any single one connected, his superior striking power would immediately take Tang San out of the fight.
But would Tang San allow him to have his way? Don't forget—this was Tang San's own offensive initiative.
The palms pressing toward Dai Mubai's shoulders had lost their target as his shoulders shrank back, but Tang San didn't pull his hands away. Instead, both palms swept downward simultaneously—a smoothing, guiding motion. The same supple, resilient force Dai Mubai had felt before reappeared, and his upper arms were dragged outward to either side. His double punch sailed past Tang San's arms without connecting.
As his hands swept down, Tang San's left foot surged forward a single step. He angled his body to the side and drove his shoulder straight into Dai Mubai's chest. That lateral shift also happened to dodge the rising kick Dai Mubai had launched at him—as though every move had been calculated to perfection.
At that moment, Dai Mubai had one foot on the ground and no room to evade. His attack had been brushed aside by both of Tang San's hands, his force spent, and he was instantly at a disadvantage.
With a muffled thud, Tang San's shoulder slammed hard into Dai Mubai's chest. In the midst of the twin sisters' startled cries, Dai Mubai's body flew backward instantly—his upper body arcing into a backflip as he was launched a full five meters before finally hitting the ground.
Tang San didn't pursue. He stood watching quietly as Dai Mubai landed. From the contact he'd felt against his opponent's chest, he knew he hadn't gained all that much of an advantage.
(End of Chapter)