Arms extended, body lowered, stance set, one fist guarding the head, the other the chest.
Lu Zheng stood opposite, shoulders relaxed, hands hanging loose, unmoving.
“What’s that mean?” Lü Tieling asked.
“You coming to me, or me to you?” Lu Zheng smiled, sidestepping the question.
“Hah!” Lü Tieling scoffed, thinking, *Let’s see you act tough until you look like a fool!*
He stepped forward, throwing a straight punch.
Power surged from his feet, twisting through his waist, aiming for Lu Zheng’s face.
Lu Zheng sidestepped instantly, dodging the full-force blow, then swung his right fist, catching Lü Tieling’s right rib.
“Bang!”
“Ugh!”
Lü Tieling nearly gasped.
“All-out, no reserve? You think your opponent’s a dummy?” Lu Zheng remarked.
Lü Tieling twisted his body. Impressively, a punch that’d floor most didn’t even injure him.
“Slippery like a monkey, let’s see how I catch you!”
Lu Zheng grinned. Alright, time to play.
Noticing Lu Zheng’s speed, Lü Tieling shifted to control, aiming to grab him and end it.
He closed in, one hand blocking, the other reaching for Lu Zheng’s shoulder.
Lu Zheng dodged right, then left, shifting Lü Tieling’s balance. He deflected Lü’s right arm, ducked low, and struck like a blade at Lü’s armpit.
Swift as lightning, Lü Tieling couldn’t react in time.
“Oh!”
Lu Zheng pulled back, exploiting Lü’s recoiling shoulder to slip a hand under his left rib, tripping him with a leg sweep.
“Bang!”
A loud crash, and Lü Tieling flew sideways, slamming onto the ring.
“Continue?” Lu Zheng asked.
Before Lü could answer, he gritted his teeth, rolled over, and lunged for Lu Zheng’s legs.
“Gutsy!” Lu Zheng had to admit, that armpit strike wasn’t light.
But…
Lu Zheng crisscrossed his legs, evading the grab, then lunged with a knee strike to Lü’s half-risen abdomen.
“Bang!”
Lü Tieling soared from one side of the ring to the other.
“Bloody hell—” came the crowd’s gasps.
It was a six-metre standard ring, the visual impact stunning.
Lü Tieling felt a twinge of fear, but touching his stomach, it hurt less than his armpit.
“Don’t worry, I used pushing force, far but not deep,” Lu Zheng waved.
The crowd realised he’d mentioned training in traditional martial arts.
Too awesome!
The men gaped, stunned.
So cool!
The women’s eyes gleamed.
Lü Tieling stood, while Lu Zheng remained relaxed, “Continue?”
“Continue!”
Lü Tieling thought Lu Zheng’s moves were a special technique, impressive but not damaging.
Hadn’t he seen the *Ip Man* films? The Tai Chi master dominated early but lost due to weaker physique.
If he could grab Lu Zheng, he’d turn the tables!
Lowering his stance, Lü Tieling shuffled closer, this time aiming for a ground grapple.
“Bang!”
Lü Tieling hit the floor again, flipped by Lu Zheng’s arm and leg.
“Continue!”
“Bang!”
“Continue!”
“Bang!”
Each time, a new move, never repeated.
Lü Tieling struggled up, legs trembling. Lu Zheng had hit a nerve, and it hadn’t recovered.
After the right armpit took a knife-hand strike, the left followed, then ribs, shoulder, groin…
All the body’s most pain-sensitive spots. Though no visible injuries showed, Lü Tieling could barely stand.
“Con…”
Before he finished, Lu Zheng darted forward.
In a flash, Lu Zheng grabbed his shoulder, flipped his balance with a kick, spun, and hoisted him into the air.
“I…”
Lü Tieling yelped, weightless, spinning one and a half times before being flung out.
“Bang!”
He crossed half the ring again.
Lü Tieling collapsed, sprawled on the mat, unable to rise.
Facing the ceiling, the lights dazzled, his gaze blank and dazed.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What happened?
…
The crowd below was silent.
Lu Zheng’s eyes swept over the eager men, who stepped back in unison.
He slipped through the ropes and stepped down.
Lin Wan handed him water, her eyes twinkling with amusement, “Drink.”
“Thanks!”
“Leader!”
Some rushed to the ring to check on Lü Tieling.
“Little brother, you’re amazing!”
“Young man, brilliant!”
Others swarmed Lu Zheng, especially the flirty woman who’d clung to Lü Tieling earlier.
Overwhelmed, Lu Zheng raised his hands in surrender, feeling odd touches.
Moments later, the noisy club quieted.
Lu Zheng expected Lü Tieling to slink off, but he recovered, approached, and gave a hearty thumbs-up, “Mate, you’re the real deal!”
A straightforward guy.
“Sit,” Lu Zheng made room.
Lü Tieling sat, giving Lin Wan a thumbs-up, “Good eye!”
A double meaning. Lin Wan raised a brow, smug.
Surrounded by the crowd, Lin Wan sat close to Lu Zheng, staking her claim, making women and girls’ eyes glow with envy.
This age, this strength, this look—a treasure of a man!
Too bad someone claimed him!
Why are good men always taken?
“What do you practice, mate? Tongbei Fist and Piguazhang?” Lü Tieling asked.
“Nah,” Lu Zheng shook his head. “I mess around, dabbling in bits of everything.”
What? Just messing around?
Lü Tieling shook his head, unconvinced, but told the receptionist, “Make Lu Zheng’s card full VIP, free access from now on.”
Then to Lu Zheng, “Mate, I know you don’t care, but it’s my gesture. Come by anytime, we love having masters like you.”
“Exactly!”
“Totally!”
“Welcome!”
The rough men’s eyes shone, admiring strength most.
“Thanks,” Lu Zheng nodded.
Lü Tieling grinned, nodding to Lu Zheng and Lin Wan, “Carry on, I’m off for a massage upstairs.”
“Hiss!”
He winced as he stood, aching all over.
