Chapter 484: Attempting to Withdraw: Part 2

In truth, he felt that he could now go toe-to-toe with someone in the Gang Qi Realm.

After all, no one would believe that in just a few months, Cheng Feng could have perfected a Horizontal Training technique like the Iron Bone Golden Body.

That was a Horizontal Training Martial Artist who had reached the Gang Qi Realm.

Its defensive power was not something to be taken lightly.

Huo Luan took a deep breath, her expression complex.

She recalled several details from their exchange just now—when Cheng Feng blocked her punch in the first round, the force he used was perfectly calibrated to deflect the punch's power without hurting her wrist;

when she performed a mid-air spinning kick, the angle at which Cheng Feng tilted his head to dodge was so precise there was almost no wasted movement;

and as for that final claw strike, he hadn't waited for her to reveal a flaw before attacking; the moment her flaw appeared, his hand was already there.

What did this mean?

It meant Cheng Feng wasn't reacting; he was predicting.

He had calculated in advance where her flaw would appear, and before she could even remedy it, his attack had already landed.

This level of prediction could no longer be summarized by the phrase "good observational skills."

"So, how much strength did you actually use?" Huo Luan asked.

"Thirty percent at the start, then maybe up to fifty percent later," Cheng Feng said truthfully. "I used about seventy percent for that final claw."

Well, Cheng Feng could only tell a lie to fool this colleague.

After all, being too dazzling wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"Harmonizing with the light and dust" is the best approach.

Cheng Feng understood this essence deeply.

Huo Luan was silent for a long while, then suddenly looked up at the sky and muttered something.

Cheng Feng vaguely heard something like "I've lost face all the way to my grandmother's house."

Liu Yu leaned against the flagpole with an expression of someone enjoying the show, and took another slow sip of wine.

"Alright, don't be discouraged." He pointed at Cheng Feng with his tin wine flask. "This kid's foundation isn't the same path as yours. Your skills were polished in the army, emphasizing speed and suppression; you follow a fast-attack route.

His foundation is—" He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I can't quite see through it either, but at the very least, he also practices a Horizontal Training technique to temper his muscles and bones. His stamina is much better than yours, and his defensive power certainly isn't bad.

If you try to out-speed him, he can hold out until your stamina drops and then counterattack. This kind of fighting style is inherently unfair.

Plus, considering the Different Body that Wang Ji mentioned, you can figure it out yourself!"

Huo Luan lowered her hand and looked at Cheng Feng again. This time, her gaze lacked the previous scrutiny and probing, replaced by a straightforward curiosity.

"Who is your master?"

"No master," Cheng Feng said. "I trained myself."

Huo Luan clearly didn't believe him, but she didn't press the issue.

There were plenty of people in the pugilistic world who didn't want to reveal their lineage; although she was arrogant, she wasn't so lacking in boundaries that she would pry for the truth.

"Fine, I concede." She brushed the dust off her lapel and said generously, "From now on, I will listen to your opinions in the team.

But I have one condition—from now on, we must spar every so often.

Fighting someone like you who can predict moves is more useful for my improvement than three months of training on my own."

Cheng Feng nodded: "That's fine."

Huo Luan smiled with satisfaction, revealing two sharp canine teeth. She turned to pick up the short blade she had thrown to the side of the arena and tucked it back behind her waist with crisp, efficient movements.

To be honest, Cheng Feng thought this girl's personality wasn't bad.

Hmm, her figure wasn't bad either.

Sigh, what are you thinking about!!!

Wake up, Cheng Feng, you don't eat the grass around your own nest!

Liu Yu took another sip of wine, tucked the tin flask back into his waist, and spoke in an unhurried tone: "But overall, both of your foundations are better than I imagined.

Girl Huo's attack penetration is sufficient, and Cheng Feng's defensive coverage is broad enough. If you coordinate well, you can indeed form a system that is both offensive and defensive in a chaotic battle."

He took two folded sheets of paper from his chest and handed them to Cheng Feng and Huo Luan respectively: "This is the training plan I've listed for you two.

Starting tomorrow, you two will train together in the Martial Arts Arena for one hour every morning, focusing on the transition between offense and defense and position rotation.

In the afternoon, practice your own techniques. After Gu Niangzi arrives, we will add her Gu Arts coordination."

Cheng Feng unfolded the paper. On it, the training content was densely written in vigorous running script, from warm-up methods to specific sparring moves, from breathing rhythms to movement routes.

Every detail was marked clearly. The handwriting was sharp and angular, with a blade-like keenness in the strokes, which was quite fitting for this young Martial Artist's temperament.

He couldn't help but look up at Liu Yu. Enlisting at fourteen and being so highly valued by Wang Ji by twenty—this person's meticulousness far exceeded his initial judgment.

"Also," Liu Yu switched his blade to his right hand, tapped his long, slender fingers twice on the scabbard, and suddenly changed the subject, "Cheng Feng, to what extent do you estimate you can train that technique the Princess gave you?"

"Currently, two-thirds of the first layer is cleared; I should be able to finish it all tonight."

Liu Yu looked up at him, a trace of imperceptible shock flashing through those dark, heavy eyes: "After completing the first layer, the endurance of your meridians will move up a level.

By then, your physique will improve significantly, your Blood Qi foundation will strengthen, and your Blood Qi consumption will decrease.

This is a hidden characteristic of the technique; it wasn't written on the copy the Princess gave you."

Cheng Feng felt a shock in his heart.

Huo Luan stood to the side, listening in total confusion: "What technique? Wang Ji gave him a technique?"

Liu Yu did not answer her, but only said to Cheng Feng: "Do not reveal the matter of the Dragon Snake Nine Transformations to outsiders for the time being, including your friends and family.

Girl Huo, don't ask either. When you are supposed to know, the Princess will naturally tell you."

Huo Luan curled her lip, but still nodded honestly.

Just as the three were about to leave the Martial Arts Arena, a steward hurried over from the end of the corridor and whispered a few words to Liu Yu.

Liu Yu's brows twitched slightly, then relaxed. He turned to Cheng Feng and Huo Luan and said: "Gu Niangzi has arrived early."

Cheng Feng looked toward the end of the corridor and saw two servants carrying a black-lacquered wooden chest, walking toward them with great caution.

The material of the wooden chest was pitch-black and heavy, and on the lid, fine, intricate openwork patterns were vaguely visible, as if used for ventilation.

A faint, cloying, sweet fragrance was drifting eerily out from inside that chest.