Chapter 71

"Since Lord Yu has said so, although I am Hall Master of the Black Water Gang, the rules of fist combat apply here—I cannot deliberately show favoritism."

Sēn Lǎo spoke with calm composure.

Favoritism? There's not a trace of it.

Ye Tian didn't even bother to glance at Sēn Lǎo; in fact, in Ye Tian's mind, he had already begun plotting how to kill this old bastard.

"Hmph!"

Ye Tian's indifference made Sēn Lǎo even more displeased.

He decided that even if Ye Tian was knocked down to the brink of death, he wouldn't intervene—just pretend he didn't see it.

After all, he was this old; he could claim he hadn't reacted in time—what could anyone do to him?

,,,

Ye Tian and Shuanggu stood facing each other.

The crowd instinctively stepped back, clearing a space.

No one rushed to strike first.

"Shuanggu! Hit him! Hit him now!"

But Xiao Bawang couldn't hold back—he shouted loudly as Shuanggu still didn't move.

His face glowed with anticipation, eager to see Ye Tian knocked out by a single punch.

Shuanggu had originally been searching for an opening; though not clever, he was no novice fighter—he wasn't the greenhorn he'd been when first entering the martial world. Now, he knew how to seize opportunities and exploit his opponent's weaknesses.

But Xiǎo Bàwáng kept shouting from the side, and Ye Tian stood there, utterly calm and unmoving.

Shuanggu's inner resentment grew thicker.

He resolved to teach this brat a lesson.

"Hah!"

He sank his Qi into his dantian, stomped his foot, then charged toward Ye Tian at speed.

His towering frame, in this motion, became like a rampaging beast, ready to tear the opponent apart.

"Whoosh!"

Indeed, one must never underestimate anyone under heaven—Shuanggu was truly the top Fist Master of Zhòng Hé Bāng.

Ye Tian slowly exhaled, then swiftly inhaled and held his breath.

"Block!"

"Bang!"

As Shuanggu swung his fist, Ye Tian raised his hand and caught it firmly; his elbow bent slightly, yet still prevented Shuanggu's fist from advancing an inch.

"?"

Shuanggu himself froze in shock.

Xiǎo Bàwáng's prepared cheer died instantly—this was nothing like the expected image of Ye Tian being knocked out by one punch.

Especially Wu Luo—his smiling expression froze at that moment, a dark premonition quietly rising in his heart.

Something's off.

A true Fist Master, Shuanggu snapped out of his shock quickly and swung his other fist toward Ye Tian's face.

"Slap!"

Again, Ye Tian raised his other hand and caught it steadily.

To others, it looked like a contest of brute strength.

But Shuanggu gritted his teeth so hard his jaw trembled, veins bulged on his forehead, and muscles tensed across his arms; by contrast, Ye Tian's face remained expressionless as he slowly pressed downward, forcing Shuanggu's fists lower.

"Hah!"

Shuanggu unleashed all his strength again—but his hands still slid helplessly downward.

How is this possible!

In pure strength contests, Shuanggu had never lost before.

But reality gave Shuanggu no time to doubt.

"Boom!"

Ye Tian suddenly exerted force, splitting Shuanggu's fists apart, then swung both fists forward—striking Shuanggu squarely on the chest.

The one-meter-ninety giant's body flew backward uncontrollably.

He smashed through several tables and chairs.

"Whoosh!"

Only then did Ye Tian release the breath he had held.

Hard Qi Gong!

This was the only skill Ye Tian had acquired besides Iron Wire Fist—a technique that, through simple breathing, temporarily enhanced strength and bodily defense.

Since obtaining it, he'd never had a chance to use it—yet today, the opportunity finally came.

"Impossible!"

Shuanggu's frame was solidly built; even after being flung back, he suffered little damage.

He quickly rose again.

In his past days in the martial world, he'd faced opponents with superior techniques—he wasn't Linshui City's top Fist Master, after all—but he'd never before been utterly crushed like this.

Shuanggu couldn't accept it.

Without a moment's hesitation, he charged at Ye Tian again.

"Shuanggu!"

Wu Luo was starting to panic—but by now, nothing he said could stop it; Shuanggu was clearly in a frenzy.

But this time, Ye Tian had no intention of responding passively.

"Huh!"

He drew another breath and held it, then stepped forward into a bow stance as Shuanggu charged in, assuming the opening posture of the Iron Wire Fist.

First he slapped away Shuanggu's swinging fist, then punched straight into Shuanggu's abdomen.

"Ugh!"

The immense force made Shuanggu feel nauseous, his vision darkening.

Twin Peaks Piercing Ears.

Seizing the moment, Ye Tian slapped both of Shuanggu's ears simultaneously with his hands.

"Ah!"

A deafening ringing exploded in his ears, blood beginning to seep from the earlobes.

He struck again, this time punching Shuanggu's chest—and as Shuanggu reeled backward, Ye Tian raised both hands and seized Shuanggu's arms.

"These unnatural arms—this is the source of your confidence, isn't it?"

"Wait… wait!"

His wrists gripped tightly, Shuanggu realized Ye Tian's intent and panicked.

All his skills were in these two hands—if they were ruined, what the hell would he have left?

"Stop!"

"Ye Tian, stop right now!"

Wu Luo shouted urgently, and beside him, Sēn Lǎo also rose to intervene.

Unheeding, Ye Tian stared at Shuanggu, a cruel smile slowly spreading across his lips.

"Huh!"

He drew another breath, gripped Shuanggu's arms, and twisted them sharply outward.

"Ah!"

With several sharp *crack* sounds, Shuanggu's arms bent at unnatural angles, cold sweat drenching his forehead from the agony.

He released his grip.

Letting Shuanggu collapse helplessly onto the ground.

"Shuanggu!"

Wu Luo could no longer hold back—he rushed forward the instant Shuanggu fell.

Zhong He Bang had few members to begin with; talents like Shuanggu were exceedingly rare. Losing any one of them pained Wu Luo deeply.

Looking at Shuanggu like this.

Xiǎo Bàwáng could no longer shout anything; his earlier excitement had been replaced by terror.

Especially when he noticed Ye Tian's gaze turning toward him.

His feet instinctively retreated, stumbling as he collapsed onto the ground.

He was inherently a bully who cowered before strength—Ye Tian's dominance filled Xiǎo Bàwáng with primal fear.

"I told you to stop just now—didn't you hear me?"

At that moment, Sēn Lǎo stormed over, jabbing his finger at Ye Tian's nose and yelling.

This was about whether he could make more money in the future—how could Sēn Lǎo not be desperate?

"Ha!"

A scoffing laugh escaped Ye Tian as he tilted his neck, grinning freely at the furious Sēn Lǎo.

"Forget for a moment that, by martial code, fist fights are to the death—Shuanggu is a Fist Master of Zhong He Bang, and he himself hasn't surrendered. What right do you, a Hall Master of Black Water Gang, have to speak?"

"Or are you, Hall Master Sēn Lǎo, actually a spy planted by Zhòng Hé Bāng into our Black Water Gang?"

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