Chapter 97: Chapter Twenty-Four: Big Bro, I Want to Learn Martial Arts

A faint smell of blood lingered in the low cave propped up by tree roots, where Si Tong and Anna leaned weakly inside.

Si Tong's newly replaced iron-plated armor saved his life; although he was still smashed to a pulp, at least it didn't let the wild boar tear his body apart.

Anna's shield was cracked down to half, but her condition was at least better than Si Tong's; she could still call for help in a low voice while hanging her broken arm.

Ji Ming stopped Charlie and Bei Li from directly hauling them out; instead, he leaned in and gave them a bottle of Fourth-generation Rejuvenation.

Professionals' lives are inherently tougher than ordinary people's, and now a surge of vigorous vitality nourished them, so the two quickly turned from danger to safety.

After confirming their spines were fine, Ji Ming then had the two youths help them out.

Then came a series of medical procedures; when Ji Ming finished treating their wounds and announced the therapy was over, both of their faces showed an incredulous expression.

"Perhaps this is just luck."

Recalling his own bizarrely entangled otherworldly life, as a doctor Ji Ming could only give that answer.

At this point the sky had already darkened, and nobody dared to delay; they hurried toward Sunlight City.

But once they got on the main road, they discovered that adventurers were panicking everywhere.

Especially near the city gate, it was practically a wounded soldiers' camp.

Asking the guards revealed that today the Dark Forest had erupted in a large-scale assault by ferocious beasts, and almost every adventurer squad had been attacked.

Seeing Ji Ming appear here, naturally many adventurers gathered around, asking him to treat their wounds.

But the medicine he carried was limited, and moreover most of it had already been used on his squad members.

He could only spread his hands, indicating he was unable to help.

Yet how could the adventurers possibly give up so easily?

Immediately someone thick-skinned spoke up.

"Doctor, how about we follow you to the clinic?"

Damn it, I still have to work tonight!

But things had come to this; not helping would be self-sabotage, so Ji Ming had no choice but to bring some seriously wounded toward the clinic.

The Iron Chain Squad members were loyal; they all followed and stood guard at the clinic to prevent any trouble.

After treating this batch of wounded, the time had already reached late night.

Seeing off his companions, Ji Ming locked the door, slumped onto the sofa with a bulging moneybag, and let out a sigh of relief.

Thinking it over, lying in the clinic felt no different from lying in the Underground City; after all, he was still on duty.

But today he surely lacked the energy to play an alternate character in an RPG; he was just like an old man in the monitoring room, opening several screens to watch the show.

The screen switched to the current hottest battlefield, where a group of Dog-headed People was attacking a convoy of Dog People.

Wrong — nowadays Dog People convoys have player protection; crafty Dog-headed People normally wouldn't touch this jinx.

——unless their eyes are all blood-red and they drool saliva like they have rabies.

Could the source of the demonic energy actually be the Underground City?

Ji Ming pinched his chin.

Uncertain, he took another look.

But when he enlarged the image, he discovered something else.

Ordinary players wield swords and spears; smart players use polearms; and some with strong performance urges will swing huge blades they can't actually handle.

Yet on this battlefield, there was actually a player who used fists and feet.

Moreover, in wide-open swings, his power and combat results were even more ferocious than those of weapon-wielding players.

Strange — how had this talent not been noticed before?

Ji Ming scratched his head and opened his ID.

"Lost Wanderer"?

Standing in a void, Zhang Tu remained silent for a long before giving himself this ID.

He had only intended to try playing for one night, but the next day and the day after, Uncle Li still couldn't find anyone willing to buy his gaming headset.

Having no choice, to subsidize the household he started moving more goods during the day to earn extra money.

But after silently working a day, he returned to his rented apartment exhausted, holding a boxed meal.

Seeing the attractive gaming headset, he still couldn't resist and entered the game again.

However, unlike ordinary players, he was a pure "travel player".

Thus, up to today his level remained a simple 【Level 1 (0/100)】.

But today, just as he was trying to pick some mushrooms for soup, a figure jumped in front of him.

"Big bro, are you a martial artist?"

Zhang Tu's motion paused for a moment, and he didn't utter a sound.

"Big bro, I've read martial arts novels; your face is sharp and angular, your eyebrows are sword‑sharp, your muscles are knotted, your temples bulge — all these are traits of a martial artist!"

Zhang Tu had no choice but to toss out a single line.

"I'm not; this is innate."

Having said that, he was about to turn and leave, but the person wouldn't let up.

"Big bro, I also want to learn martial arts; will you teach me?"

"Big brother, I also want to practice martial arts; will you teach me, okay?"

Zhang Tu lifted his head and saw standing before him a boy whose eyes begged instantly.

The boy was short and scrawny; it's doubtful his head could reach his chest — obviously a lad who'd tip over just trying to kill a chicken.

He was almost laughing in anger, and could only keep shaking his head.

"With you like that, you can't learn martial arts!"

You like this, you can't learn martial arts!

"But this is a game."

The youth didn't think twice and choked him with a simple sentence.

"This…"

"Right, teach me. I've wanted to practice martial arts and become a great hero since I was a kid, but my mother wouldn't let me; she said my health is poor…"

Practice martial arts? Great hero?

Looking at the 【Zhang Clan External Fist·Proficient】 on his panel, Zhang Tu's mind was filled with that crazy night and his mother's tear‑filled eyes as she was taken away.

He could only clench his teeth.

"Practice martial arts, can't become a great hero!"

Then he stepped away quickly.

"Wait, at least make a good connection!"

The youth didn't give up, but he went from walking to running, barely catching up to his steps.

"Add me as a friend, big brother, we can chat later."

This kid…

Zhang Tu was annoyed by his chatter and was about to turn back to say a few harsh words.

But his ears twitched, and he heard the sounds of battle not far away.

Instinctively stepping onto a stone slab and looking over, he discovered a group of Dog‑Headed beings besieging a Dog‑Dog people's convoy.

Among them were a few players, but they were clearly ordinary folks, fighting terribly.

He was still watching quietly, but the youth let out a low shout and immediately lunged forward.

"Hey!"

Zhang Tu, quick‑eyed and swift‑handed, grabbed the youth's back collar and glared.

"With that small frame, going over there is a death sentence!"

"But this is a game!"

The youth turned his head, his face full of resolve, and whispered emphatically.

"In reality you won't act when you see injustice, hesitating and fearing consequences; does that mean you won't act in a game either!?"

Having said that, he broke free of Zhang Tu's grip, slashing with the long sword at his waist and sprinted toward the battlefield.

"You…"

Zhang Tu inhaled, slowly clenching his fist.

He glanced at the glowing ID above the youth's head, gritted his teeth, and set off in pursuit.

"Flying Fire Meteor, you go ahead and draw your sword!"