Chapter 76: Gratitude for the Inner Armor Sent by Brother Duan
Zhang Ze quickly came to realize that to show off and make an impression, one must have the strength to back it up.
Just a few minutes on the stage were enough for him to witness Duan Hong’s formidable power. Although he had caught up with Duan Hong in terms of cellular strength, his martial skills were still far behind.
...
“Isn’t he just hopping around, only to get himself trapped?” Cheng Ren, usually steady and low-key, couldn’t help but worry as he watched the two sparring on the platform. Qi Lijun, beside him, didn’t seem concerned at all, laughing, “That guy’s always got tricks up his sleeve. I don’t think handling Duan Hong is much of a problem for him.”
Hearing this, Cheng Ren said nothing more.
...
On the stage.
Bang!
Duan Hong landed a palm strike on Zhang Ze’s crossed arms, making them tingle with numbness.
Good heavens—there’s hidden force in that strike!
Having read a few martial arts novels in his previous life, Zhang Ze couldn’t help but sigh inwardly as he noticed Duan Hong’s techniques. If they were really to fight head-on, he doubted he could handle Duan Hong.
“Hmph. Is this all you’ve got?” Duan Hong had no goodwill toward Zhang Ze. As he sneered, he lunged at Zhang Ze once more.
Seeing Duan Hong’s speed, Zhang Ze didn’t try to meet him head-on. He dodged left and right, but in doing so, gradually fell into a disadvantage. Yet he remained unconcerned, continuing to tangle with Duan Hong, showing no signs of defeat for the moment.
...
“Is dodging all you know?” Duan Hong grew frustrated as Zhang Ze kept evading him, his voice cold.
Zhang Ze, unfazed, did whatever it took to avoid contact. Not letting him touch was the plan.
Thus, a strange scene unfolded on the stage: one roared and chased, the other kept darting left and right, refusing to confront directly.
This stalemate didn’t last long. When Duan Hong’s patience wore thin, Zhang Ze finally stopped dodging.
Bang! Bang!
Both had cellular strength over 400, and their repeated collisions sent urgent thuds echoing through the training hall.
...
Thud, thud—
Rapid footsteps approached as Zhang Ze saw Duan Hong charging at him. In a rush, he tried to dodge sideways, only to realize it was too late. Helpless, he braced himself and thrust his foot toward Duan Hong’s chest.
Seeing Zhang Ze no longer dodge, Duan Hong became excited, the wind around his fist seeming sharper than ever.
Just as the two were about to collide, Zhang Ze’s lips curled into a grin, his body sinking low in a sudden move. As his figure slipped away, Duan Hong was caught off guard.
Taking the opportunity to dodge Duan Hong’s fist, Zhang Ze didn’t stop there. He clenched his right fist and launched it straight upward.
It happened in a flash. Duan Hong let out a wail, doubled over in agony, clutching his groin and curled up on the floor.
Zhang Ze wrinkled his nose, staring at the writhing figure for a while, but refrained from taking advantage. Still, his move was undeniably shameless—no normal man could endure such a sudden blow.
...
“Zhang Ze is truly shameless,” Zhang Qingping remarked, watching the bout and feeling a twinge of pity for Duan Hong’s defeat.
But to her surprise, Leng Bingbing beside her gazed at Zhang Ze with a look of admiration.
“Hey, what are you thinking?” Zhang Qingping’s voice snapped Leng Bingbing out of her reverie.
“Oh, nothing… I just didn’t expect Zhang Ze to beat Duan Hong. It’s quite surprising,” Leng Bingbing replied.
Zhang Qingping eyed her warily, half-smiling. “You don’t actually think Zhang Ze won on his own strength, do you?”
“Isn’t that the case?” Leng Bingbing looked bewildered.
...
“Brother, are you alright?” Zhang Ze feigned innocence, acting as if he knew nothing, approaching Duan Hong and whispering with a grin, “I know a male doctor—want an introduction?”
“You… you’re shameless!” After much effort, Duan Hong could only manage that response.
Zhang Ze, determined to remain thick-skinned, replied with feigned innocence, “You can’t accuse me like that, brother. Tell you what, I’ll hold onto your inner armor for now. As for this steel plate of mine, I guess I’ll have to part with it.”
Speaking with apparent righteousness, Zhang Ze placed the three-centimeter-thick steel plate beside Duan Hong and took Duan Hong’s premium inner armor for himself.
In the end, he helped Duan Hong off the stage, already wearing the inner armor he’d claimed. Before leaving, he made sure to clear Duan Hong’s name, saying, “Senior Duan Qingkuang, please don’t blame Brother Duan Hong. He probably didn’t expect my fighting style to be so… unique, and unintentionally lost his inner armor to me…”
Duan Qingkuang’s face was dark with fury, unable to ask for the inner armor back in his embarrassment.
Afraid Duan Qingkuang might demand it later, Zhang Ze, before returning to the Yongsheng Martial Arts Club’s lounge, thanked Zhao Jinghong, “Thank you, Senior Zhao, for being my witness. Today, I am honored to receive Brother Duan Hong’s gift of inner armor. I’ll treat you to barbecue someday!”
With these words, Zhang Ze walked back, laughing. Zhao Jinghong was left feeling more than a little awkward, cursing silently.
You took someone’s inner armor.
Fine, you took it—why flaunt it in front of him?
And if you must show off, why drag me in as your witness?
If Duan Qingkuang comes after me later…
Zhang Ze returned to Qian Qian’s side, grinning, as the latter admired him with complete awe.
No one noticed Duan Hong, eyes fixed on the inner armor now worn by Zhang Ze, fainting from rage.
...
As soon as Zhang Ze and his companion left the stage, Qi Lijun and Duan Peng stepped up next.
Thinking of Zhang Ze’s earlier antics, Qi Lijun instinctively glanced at Duan Peng. The latter didn’t understand, until Qi Lijun tentatively suggested, “I also have a three-centimeter-thick steel plate. How about we place a bet?”
...
The martial contest at Anqing Martial Bureau was unknown to the two middle-aged men outside.
One sported a scruffy beard, looking rather disheveled. The other wore a black jacket and oversized sunglasses covering half his face.
With a puzzled look, the bearded man asked, “Third Brother, what are we really after with all this? The church has been urging us to leave He Yue City for so long—why do you insist on targeting the martial arts club’s students?”
The man in sunglasses replied in a deep voice, “You know nothing. Lu Shuai’s death means nothing to me—normally I wouldn’t bother. But now, I’ve got my eye on his little sister...”