Chapter 25: Zhang Chu

Hearing Doghead Old Gao say this, everyone present turned to look at Guo Jing. Seeing the situation, Guo Jing sighed and said, “That’s right—my gun skills were indeed taught by Uncle Gao. As far as master and disciple go, he is my teacher.”

With Guo Jing’s words, Doghead Old Gao’s expression improved considerably, no longer as awkward as before.

Ever since Guo Jing finished shooting the bottle cap, Doghead Old Gao knew he had lost. This kid’s gun skills probably had no equal in all of China—no, not even in the entire world.

He finally understood why his right eyelid had been twitching yesterday. He felt as if he’d gone to challenge someone, gotten slapped dozens of times, then kicked onto a steel plate until his leg broke.

Under normal circumstances, after being humiliated so badly, this matter would have been dropped—but that was under normal circumstances.

If Doghead Old Gao had only ever humiliated Miao Lian once, Miao Lian would have let it go today. But from the moment Doghead Old Gao stepped off the vehicle, Miao Lian knew he’d come to challenge his unit.

What does this prove? It proves Doghead Old Gao has come to challenge him many times before.

Today was a rare chance to humiliate Doghead Old Gao—he wasn’t going to let him off so easily. After all, anyone who comes to challenge must be ready to have their legs broken.

Miao Lian walked up to Old Gao and whispered, “Old Gao, are you afraid now?”

After speaking, Miao Lian gave Xiao Zhuang a glance. Xiao Zhuang immediately understood and shouted loudly, “Report!”

Hearing it was still this kid shouting, Doghead Old Gao shot him a furious look—as if to say, “You’re not done yet?”

But Xiao Zhuang didn’t care. After all, Doghead Old Gao had just insulted and humiliated them without mercy.

Without waiting for Old Gao’s approval, he shouted out loud:

“This officer from Langya Special Forces has never beaten our Night Tiger Recon Company in shooting. Surely gunplay isn’t his strength—would he care to show us his hand-to-hand combat skills?”

“Xiao Zhuang, you’re disrespectful!”

After scolding Xiao Zhuang, Miao Lian smiled at Doghead Old Gao and said, “Old Gao, you came to challenge me but didn’t succeed. How about you spar with our Night Tiger’s best fighter?”

“If you refuse, just look at those boys—they won’t keep their mouths shut. Before long, the entire military region will know what happened today.”

Here, Miao Lian sighed, “Then the reputation of Langya…”

Doghead Old Gao glanced at Miao Lian, thinking inwardly: “I bet you’ll be the first to spread the news.”

But he had to accept this challenge. If he refused to fight after being humiliated, the entire military region would know he’d been too scared to respond. For Langya’s sake, he couldn’t lose face any further.

Besides, he didn’t believe he’d lose. Guo Jing’s gun skills far surpassed his own, but hand-to-hand combat? That wasn’t his weakness. As for Zhang Chu’an, his martial skills were even worse than Guo Jing’s.

“Fine. Since Brother Miao insists so earnestly, I’ll spar with you properly.”

Doghead Old Gao agreed readily.

“Zhang Chu’an, step forward.”

Miao Lian shouted loudly toward the back row.

Zhang Chu’an walked calmly forward. Seeing Zhang Chu’an appear, Doghead Old Gao asked, “Chu’an, you’re skilled, but you’re still no match for me.”

Zhang Chu’an smiled confidently. “A man changes in three days—you should look at him anew. Maybe I can beat you now.”

“Confidence is good, but victory still depends on real ability.”

Doghead lectured Zhang Chu’an.

Guo Jing was speechless. Uncle Gao, why do you always say such foolish things? If you get beaten by Zhang Chu’an now, how embarrassing will that be? How will you save face?

Doghead Old Gao immediately threw a punch at Zhang Chu’an’s face. Zhang Chu’an didn’t dodge or evade.

He met the punch head-on. Doghead Old Gao staggered back two steps, staring at Zhang Chu’an, who stood utterly unmoved, and sucked in a sharp breath.

In that punch, he felt as if his bones were cracking. When they’d fought before, Zhang Chu’an wasn’t this strong.

Before he could recover from the pain of the punch, Zhang Chu’an closed in and delivered a brutal elbow strike.

Zhang Chu’an moved too fast. Doghead Old Gao had no time to dodge—he crossed his arms to block the blow.

The impact sent Doghead Old Gao sliding backward two or three meters. As soon as he stabilized his stance, Zhang Chu’an swept his leg low.

Doghead Old Gao rolled over on the ground to avoid the sweep. As he leapt into the air, Zhang Chu’an grabbed him and hurled him away.

Doghead Old Gao adjusted himself midair and landed slowly, steadying his stance—only for Zhang Chu’an’s next attack to come instantly. He had to scramble desperately to evade again.

Throughout the entire fight, Zhang Chu’an used no clever techniques or tricks—only sheer speed and strength crushed Doghead Old Gao.

The onlookers were stunned. They’d imagined the fight, but never anything like this.

At this point, for Doghead Old Gao to win against Zhang Chu’an was pure fantasy—he had no chance to counterattack at all.

Even Minister Zhao, who had weathered countless storms, was speechless with shock. He knew Doghead Old Gao’s strength better than anyone—he was nearly unmatched within the entire Langya Battalion.

He never imagined that a small unit like the Night Tiger Recon Company had both Guo Jing, whose gun skills far surpassed Doghead Old Gao, and Zhang Chu’an, whose hand-to-hand combat far surpassed him.

Doghead Old Gao now resembled a tiny boat in a storm, about to capsize at any moment. He was barely holding on, his spirit on the verge of collapse.

He’d fought Zhang Chu’an before—back then, Zhang Chu’an had fallen after a hundred moves. Now, he couldn’t even last a hundred moves against him.

But he couldn’t lose. If he lost, he’d destroy Langya Battalion’s honor.

“Ahh!”

After a furious roar, Doghead Old Gao tried to launch a counterattack—but was mercilessly crushed.

Instantly, the two clashed again. Zhang Chu’an leaned close and whispered to Doghead Old Gao:

“Uncle Gao, want to lose with some dignity?”

Doghead Old Gao let out a bitter laugh. “Looks like you’ve already got me figured out.”

“But beating me isn’t that easy.”

With that, Doghead Old Gao abandoned all defense and launched a full-force assault on Zhang Chu’an.

He threw a punch straight at Zhang Chu’an’s face—but Zhang Chu’an moved faster, kicking him squarely in the stomach.

After taking the kick, Doghead Old Gao collapsed onto the ground. Minister Zhao immediately ordered soldiers to carry him to the medical room—but Doghead Old Gao shouted sharply to stop them:

“Don’t come near me. I’m fine. I can still fight.”

Doghead Old Gao slowly rose to his feet. He couldn’t lose. He carried the honor of Langya Battalion. He’d already lost in gunplay—if he lost in hand-to-hand combat too…

What would people think of Langya Battalion?

Seeing Doghead Old Gao stand up, Zhang Chu’an immediately shouted, “I yield.”

Come on—if he really injured Doghead Old Gao, he’d never hear the end of it.