Chapter 13 - Halt
The moment the exclamation sounded, everyone present showed astonishment on their faces.
The Triple Internal Strength was the essence of the Feilin Gang’s martial arts, mastered by only a few members of the gang, all of whom were high-ranking members.
But how did Miss Luo’s fiancé learn this move?
“Just picked it up on the fly,” Yang Shifei said, tightening his left fist and calmly assuming a fighting stance.
Li Xiaolin was filled with doubt and uncertainty, and a hint of unease crept into his heart.
Initially, he thought this person was just a follower of Miss Luo, but now he realized the strangeness of this man.
Not only could he use his Triple Internal Strength, but his physique was also extremely robust. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to withstand the backlash of internal energy. Since just now, he hadn’t felt any trace of internal energy from this person. Could he be a body-tempering martial artist?!
The Chief Constable in the distance narrowed his eyes slightly, marveling at the mystery.
“Hmph!”
Li Xiaolin suppressed his shock and raised his arms, blue veins bulging as he also assumed a stance.
“What good is it to learn our Feilin Gang’s secret technique? Let me teach you the power accumulated over twenty years!”
Boom!
His figure suddenly sank, and a dull vibration sounded beneath his feet.
Amidst the rising dust, Li Xiaolin almost instantly teleported to Yang Shifei’s side, his fists swirling with a formidable force.
Practically at the same time, Yang Shifei raised his arm and countered, his body shifting sideways, and their fists collided, sending a burst of force exploding outwards!
Li Xiaolin took a step back, unable to hide the surprise in his eyes.
If the previous encounter could be considered an accident, there was no need for any doubt after this clash.
Even though his skills were still immature, this guy could skillfully neutralize his punches. His perceptiveness and reaction were simply beyond comprehension!
Boom! Bang! Boom!
In the next moment, the two figures were entangled in combat once again.
Their figures danced across the field, each step resonating with power. Their hands continuously clashed, producing muffled sounds.
The soldiers who had initially intended to intervene had already stopped in their tracks, watching in astonishment as the battle intensified.
They had never expected that this man could actually hold his own against Li Xiaolin.
“Who is this remarkable man? When did such a stranger appear in East City?”
“Look at his steady steps, effortlessly powerful!”
Whispers spread around the area, but Li Xiaolin in the center of the arena had no time to spare.
Because amidst the astonishment and confusion, only self-awareness remained.
—Thud!
Li Xiaolin blocked a whip kick with his elbow and then slammed his palm toward Yang Shifei’s chest, but it was easily dodged.
Yang Shifei exerted force from his waist, swiftly twisting to evade a punch, and countered with a grab.
With the rush of cold energy, emotions froze like ice, leaving only the most rational thinking and observation.
Although the close-quarters combat was extremely perilous, his mind was even more focused, analyzing the opponent’s moves and observing the key points of force. Gradually, he shifted from pure defense to launching counterattacks.
The flurry of punches and kicks flashed by, with Li Xiaolin’s swift reactions blocking them in time. But as he attempted to counterattack, he found himself once again unable to land a blow.
After several failed attempts at grappling, he could feel sweat forming on his forehead.
Where did this little monster come from?
Initially, he could perceive the stiffness in the opponent’s movements and techniques. But after just a few dozen exchanges, he was astonished to find that the man was becoming more skilled and experienced, seamlessly integrating the Triple Internal Energy into every punch and kick, making his attacks and defenses more concise and fierce.
What the hell, It took him several years to achieve this level!
Whoosh!
Yang Shifei’s left palm jabbed forward, aiming directly at the throat of the Feilin Gang’s leader.
Li Xiaolin’s eyes widened in anger, and blue veins bulged all over his body as he quickly raised his hand to block, then lifted his knee in retaliation.
But Yang Shifei had anticipated this move and also raised his knee, meeting the attack head-on. The force erupted, causing both of them to slide back three steps.
Almost simultaneously, both sides lowered their bodies and gathered strength before launching another barrage of attacks. Three Palm Strikes tore through the air and clashed head-on with Splitting Forest Fist.
Everyone present felt a suffocating sensation, witnessing the two figures retreat rapidly until they stopped at the foot of the wall and the stone steps.
Yang Shifei slowly exhaled, his mind clearer than ever before, and the cold energy continued to surge within him.
All the moves flashed through his mind like lightning, his fingers trembling slightly, and his muscles involuntarily twitching and adjusting the angle of his force, intending to perfect the Triple Internal Energy.
On the other side, Li Xiaolin’s expression was already solemn, his face stern as he assumed a defensive stance.
At this moment, he couldn’t afford to be careless anymore; he had to exert full force.
Looking into the opponent’s calm eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a tremor in his heart. For the first time, a hint of chill crept up his spine, as if all his weaknesses had been fully exposed, like being targeted by a fierce beast.
If he hadn’t relied on his stronger skills, he might have already been defeated in that previous clash. But if the fight continued—
“Come on,” Yang Shifei said expressionlessly, taking a step forward, Triple Energy concealed in his palms.
The solemn atmosphere made all the martial artists present hold their breath, their hearts devoid of any hint of contempt.
Just as Li Xiaolin was preparing to face him head-on, a cold female voice suddenly rang out.
“Halt.”
Everyone was stunned, and they turned to see Luo Xian’er walking down the steps, heading straight for Yang Shifei.
“This battle ends here.”
There was a slight restlessness in the surroundings, and the officials and soldiers were somewhat puzzled.
Considering the current situation, neither side had a clear advantage, so why call for a halt?
Li Xiaolin felt inexplicably relieved, but he still sneered, “Miss Luo, stopping now, isn’t it a bit anticlimactic?”
Yang Shifei was also somewhat surprised, watching as Luo Xian’er approached him.
“Miss Luo, now—”
“I didn’t think it through. Your wound has reopened.”
Luo Xian’er’s eyelashes drooped slightly as she gently lifted his right hand, revealing bloodstains on the bandage.
“Let’s go back to the mansion first and apply some medicine to your wound. There’s no rush to continue practicing martial arts until you’re fully recovered.”
“…”
Yang Shifei was silent for a moment, the chill around him subsiding slightly, and he couldn’t help but smile faintly, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Luo Xian’er held his hand, and they left the training ground side by side as if no one else was around, leaving behind a group of dumbfounded officials.
Li Xiaolin: “…”
Huh? What?
The leader of the Feilin Gang stared wide-eyed, still maintaining his fighting stance, watching the two figures walk away, his mind blank.
It wasn’t until the chief constable clapped his hands that everyone present snapped out of their daze.
Li Xiaolin’s face gradually fell, and he silently lowered his arms, allowing himself to be shackled again, his expression wordless as he stared at the sky.
This was probably the most frustrating fight of his life.
Not only did he fail to defeat a younger opponent, losing face in front of everyone, but he also had to witness the flirtatious exchanges between the young couple.
Thirty years of martial arts training suddenly felt… dull.
…
A short while later, the two of them returned to the Luo mansion in a carriage.
Yang Shifei stepped into the medicinal room again, looking around with interest.
A few days ago, he was too exhausted to observe the structure of this room carefully, but now he found that the cabinets were neatly arranged, containing a variety of herbs and medicines.
“Young master, please have a seat.”
A cold female voice sounded from behind.
Yang Shifei turned around to see Luo Xian’er already fetching two medicine bottles.
He quietly took a seat and watched as she earnestly unwrapped the bloodied bandage. He said, “Actually, this wound is almost healed. I didn’t even feel it reopen just now. It should be just a superficial wound.”
“If you’re injured, it has to be treated properly.” Luo Xian’er looked up at him and said, “Don’t move your injured arm around recklessly.”
Yang Shifei felt a bit embarrassed under her gaze. “I was too engrossed in the fight at the time and didn’t think about it.”
“…It’s fine, I was also too careless,” Luo Xian’er said, her expression softening slightly as she gently wiped away the excess blood and helped apply the medicine. “What insights did you gain from our sparring just now? Let’s chat about it. I’d also like to discuss a few things with you.”
Yang Shifei watched her meticulous and gentle movements, feeling a flutter in his heart. Unable to restrain himself, he said, “I just feel that Miss Luo is truly gentle and considerate.”
“…”
Luo Xian’er paused in her actions of applying the medicine.
Yang Shifei inwardly took a deep breath, regretting his nonsense, and quickly thought about how to smooth things over.
But the stunning girl in front of him just sighed softly and lightly pinched the unharmed skin on his arm. “You, you’re just like a big kid.”
Yang Shifei: “?”
Wait, was that a compliment or a tease?