The two individuals did not rush into action immediately; instead, they sized each other up. Perhaps it was because both rarely faced opponents of equal stature. They locked eyes, assessing one another, and for a fleeting moment, I had the illusion that they were looking into a mirror. Indeed, both were quite similar in height and build. If it weren't for one sporting a shaved head, from behind, one might easily mistake them for brothers.
" Sheng Xiong " glared intensely before finally whispering, "I want to avenge Changshan!"
"Hey! Bring it on!" came the cold sneer from across the way, "A Hu."
The two launched at each other almost simultaneously!
With a muffled thud, they struck their opponents in their first exchange. Sheng Xiong's right fist landed squarely on A Hu's left ribcage, while A Hu's right fist connected directly with Sheng Xiong's left chest.
Both men staggered slightly but immediately began to throw punches at each other again. Perhaps due to their similar heights, they seemed to have tacitly agreed not to use kicks and instead opted for close-quarters combat.
The difference lay in their fighting styles: Sheng Xiong relied solely on standard military boxing techniques, while A Hu appeared to employ more long-range techniques. A Hu was somewhat more agile in his movements, but Sheng Xiong seemed to have the upper hand in terms of strength. What baffled onlookers was that neither fighter dodged; every punch landed with a resounding impact.
I inhaled sharply. These two fools—were they competing on who could take a hit better? They exchanged blows in silence, leaving those around them astonished.
I wasn't sure how formidable A Hu usually was, but I knew that when Sheng Xiong first enlisted, he possessed immense strength. In arm wrestling contests, only Xuanhua could hold out against him for a while, but even then, he ultimately lost. During training sessions, while both could lift the Bridge Board together, Sheng Xiong could manage it alone without breaking a sweat!
Since joining the military, my focus had been on enhancing the new recruits' strength training—primarily their explosive power and endurance—resulting in significant improvements across the board. Sheng Xiong was no exception; although he wasn't the best in five-kilometer runs, his strength was undeniable. He often helped carry rifles for new recruits, typically managing three rifles at once with ease.
If A Hu was comparable to Sheng Xiong, he too must possess remarkable strength. The two were now locked together, grappling fiercely as they tried to bring each other down, their arm muscles bulging with effort.
They grunted silently as they strained against one another, their faces reddening from exertion. Suddenly, they both let out a loud shout and simultaneously raised their right knees to collide with each other's abdomen. There was another loud thud as their knees crashed together! Both men staggered back two steps.
This was raw power! I marveled at how absolute strength could dominate everything; yet when two forces were equally matched, neither could gain the upper hand! It seemed that relying solely on brute force would lead nowhere. I couldn't help but feel anxious—what would happen to Sheng Xiong?
The two "giants" held their ground for a moment, panting as they rubbed their hands together. It made sense; the effects of force were mutual—while both could take hits, their fists also took a toll. The intense exchanges had drained them significantly as they rested while keeping a wary eye on each other, fearing an unexpected attack.
"A Hu! Finish him off!" Liu Chao's cold voice cut through the tension before A Hu could catch his breath.
A Hu's body jolted slightly at Liu Chao's words; he gritted his teeth and let out a low growl before bending forward and lunging at Sheng Xiong. Without hesitation, Sheng Xiong mirrored his actions and charged forward as well. The sound of their collision echoed loudly!
Were they going to grapple again?! I felt confused; this was hardly a wise choice. Continuing like this would merely determine who would falter first. For A Hu, it didn't matter much since he had no other opponents left; however, for Sheng Xiong, this was dire because even if he managed to exhaust A Hu and win this bout, there was still a hefty opponent waiting behind him—what would he do then?
As for that fat guy, I glanced at him. He stood calmly on the sidelines with his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. For some reason, I always felt that among the three of them, the fat guy was the most inscrutable one; otherwise, he wouldn't be leading the charge.
The two giants were locked in a stalemate. A Hu and Sheng Xiong bent down, straining against each other, both trying to overpower the other. However, their strengths were evenly matched, and for quite a while, they only managed to exert more force without gaining any advantage. The exposed parts of their upper bodies had turned red from the effort, indicating that neither was holding back. Suddenly, A Hu let out a loud shout of "Ah!" He stepped back with his right leg, leaning forward as he shifted his weight, pushing against the ground with all his might. This was going to be full power! Could Sheng Xiong handle it?
Just as we anxiously watched, Sheng Xiong suddenly relaxed as if all his strength had vanished. A Hu's accumulated force surged forward like a flood that had lost its dam, and in an instant, he was about to push Sheng Xiong down to the ground!
My heart leaped into my throat! At that moment, Sheng Xiong abruptly shifted his body to the side and used both hands to guide A Hu's momentum away. A Hu suddenly lost his target and stumbled forward uncontrollably!
This was using force against force! This was Xu's Tai Chi! When did Sheng Xiong learn Tai Chi techniques? I turned to look at Xu, who mischievously winked at me. Yes, these two must have been playing together; it seemed Sheng Xiong had picked up a bit of it and was putting it to good use!
As A Hu was pulled off balance and fell towards us, he stumbled several times before Sheng Xiong pushed him from behind! With a trip of his foot, A Hu completely lost his balance and crashed to the ground!
Sharp Blade Company wins! Yes!
I watched closely as A Hu fell towards me; his eyes were wide open in disbelief. He truly couldn't believe that Sheng Xiong had resorted to trickery! How could someone who had gone head-to-head with him suddenly use deceit? His expression shifted from disbelief to shock and then to rage; that momentary transformation was simply spectacular!
In a narrow encounter, the brave win! When heroes meet, the wise prevail! These two could truly be considered heroes among heroes; however, I always felt that Sheng Xiong had the upper hand—not in strength but in intellect. From the very beginning, Sheng Xiong mirrored A Hu's aggressive approach. By engaging in a direct confrontation first, he likely gained a clear understanding of both their strengths. Additionally, he made A Hu feel relaxed and underestimated him by appearing simple-minded; this allowed him to gain an advantage in their next move.
Sheng Xiong is impressive! I hadn't realized this guy had such a keen mind beneath that rough exterior; appointing him as Clerk seemed like the right choice after all.
Sheng Xiong turned around and bent down to extend a hand towards A Hu. "Brothers," he said apologetically, "I'm sorry! I have to win!"
A Hu suddenly pushed himself up from the ground and swatted away Sheng Xiong's hand. "You tricked me!" he exclaimed angrily.
Sheng Xiong smiled apologetically and looked up at the fat guy across from him. "I'm sorry; I had to do it."
I thought Sheng Xiong was trying to conserve energy for dealing with the fat guy later. However, I noticed that his eyes were becoming increasingly red; at first, I thought it was due to burst capillaries from exertion but later realized I was mistaken.
A Hu glared at Sheng Xiong for a moment before spitting on the ground in disdain and turning back to rejoin his team—clearly not satisfied with the outcome.
By now it was dark outside. More and more warriors from Tiger Head Company gathered at the entrance. Someone found the switch for the field lights and flicked them on with a few clicks; suddenly, the area in front of Unit building was brightly lit. Everyone's expressions were clearly visible.
It was time for the fat guy's turn. I said nothing but glanced at Liu Chao. He pretended not to see me and darkly told the fat guy, "Fatty, it's your turn! You must win!"
The chubby man responded with a grunt and slowly walked over to face Sheng Xiong. He crossed his arms, took a step forward, advanced his left leg, and gradually spread his arms apart. His left hand pushed forward while his right hand pulled back, as if tearing cotton. The left hand extended fully, appearing both straight and bent at the same time. The right hand was drawn down to just below his navel, pressed against his abdomen, with all five fingers of both hands splayed wide open. With a casual gesture, he executed a move that was even more graceful and relaxed than Xu's earlier demonstration. It was hard to believe that the previously awkward chubby man now looked imposing, like a master.
At that moment, Xu's voice rang out from behind, "Xingyi Quan's Three Body Posture! It's Xingyi Quan!"
"What?!" I quickly turned around and asked, "What is that? I've never heard of it!"
Xu looked at Sheng Xiong with some concern and explained, "The chubby man is using Xingyi Quan, which emphasizes internal strength. Its forms are loose yet focused, unconstrained in appearance but varied in technique. In the Xingyi Twelve Forms, the emphasis is on the offensive techniques derived from animals—not concerned with form but rather with the essence of practice. It incorporates the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. The style combines offense with defense; it's described as: no invitation or blocking—just one strike! When masters face off, it’s like lightning and thunder; hence Xingyi is renowned for its combat effectiveness! There's also a saying: 'Ten years of Tai Chi without stepping outside; one year of Xingyi can kill.'"
Xu's voice was likely loud enough for Sheng Xiong to hear as well. However, the chubby man caught these words too; a hint of a smile appeared on his round face, perhaps realizing he had encountered someone knowledgeable about martial arts.
"So what?" I still didn't grasp the significance.
"It means Sheng Xiong without any foundational martial arts skills is in trouble!" Old Bi chimed in to explain simply.
Before I could react further, the chubby man suddenly shouted, "Watch out!" His hefty body sprang into action!
(To be continued; tomorrow will be even more exciting!)
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