Break his legs... and throw him out of Xianyang?

In that instant, Li Yan understood why his father had gotten along with Old Man Zhang and why the latter had been willing to scheme on his behalf. Perhaps only his father’s bold, easygoing nature could tolerate such a foul-mouthed elder.

Though he grumbled silently, Li Yan had no interest in arguing.

Ignoring Zhang Shitong, he walked to a chair, removed the Guanshan blade from his waist, then slowly unfastened his clothing and took off the sleeve-hidden dagger from his left wrist. His movements were calm, deliberate, and almost ritualistic.

“So you learned Li Hu’s sleeve dagger, too?” Zhang Yuanshang, seated above, seemed briefly lost in memory at the sight of the short blade. Noticing Li Yan’s expression, he curled his lips into an amused smile. “Interesting...”

In their world, martial artists trained to kill. They appeared relaxed most of the time, not strutting around like fools, but when they moved, they struck like lightning. Since they were about to engage in a formal bout, though, there was no need to play dirty. Li Yan had already adjusted his state through his small preparatory movements. When he turned back, his eyes gleamed like cold steel.

Across from him, Zhang Shitong had also dropped his lazy demeanor. He wordlessly shifted his palms, bent slightly at the waist, and sank into a stance. His front and back legs were half-crouched, like a rooster ready to brawl.

Chicken stance?

Li Yan’s eyebrows tightened as he shifted his own stance.

The “Chicken Leg” was anything but harmless.

The Xinyi Liuhe Fist emphasized explosive motions. There was the tiger pounce, eagle grasp, chicken leg, dragon body, bear waist, and the tiger head embrace. Its widespread fame was no joke.

The chicken leg was one of the core moves. All of the martial artist’s speed and power were generated from it. As the saying went: “Intent like a sweeping wind, power from the rear leg. Never leave the chicken stance.”

The most direct example was cockfighting. Leaping, striking, and defending were all done in a single burst.

Hence, another saying: “If you don’t train your legs, you’ll be reckless all your life.”

Li Yan’s father, Li Hu, had once explained many common martial arts to him. Though he had been young, his mature mind had retained every key detail.

Xinyi Liuhe Fist had many branches. The Cangzhou styles were broad and open, while the Jinzhou styles were compact and cunning. The styles used in the Central Plains were fierce and domineering. Zhang Shitong’s opening stance immediately told Li Yan that his art stemmed from a Jinzhou lineage.

Martial arts thrived in Jinzhou because it was filled with merchant houses and escort agencies. Earlier, Zhang Shitong had spoken of the three parts smile, three parts reason, and three parts wine. It was a common saying in the escorting trade.

Escort guards only fought when necessary, but when they did, they were tricky and adaptable.

Li Yan immediately grew wary.

Just then, Zhang Shitong moved. With a quick step, he closed the distance.

Li Yan frowned and stepped back. He heard that the Xinyi Liuhe Fist struck without shoulder movement, but experiencing it firsthand was different. He couldn’t even tell what was coming.

It was then that Zhang Shitong attacked. With a flick of his right hand, he swiped at Li Yan’s eyes. The wind alone made Li Yan’s eyes sting, forcing him to lean back.

However, it was a feint. Zhang Shitong’s left hand shot forward like a spike toward Li Yan’s upper abdomen. One solid hit would leave him gasping like Meng Haichen. Li Yan was no amateur, though. He deflected with his right hand, then turned it into a claw, seizing his opponent’s wrist. That was the essence of Red Fist, also known as the Snaring Strike.

The Red Fist was never about taking hits. Every movement, both attack and defense, prepared the next strike. Even in retreat, its practitioners seized an opportunity to make the next move.

But Zhang Shitong’s move was still a feint. His left hand slipped free like a loach. With a tiger-like force, he accelerated and slammed his shoulder into Li Yan’s chest.

The exchange happened in an instant. Li Yan felt his chest tighten, as if struck by a bull, as he was sent flying backward.

Behind him was a row of chairs. Just before he crashed into them, he pushed off with his right foot, flipping backward and landing lightly on one of them.

He crossed his arms as if unharmed.

Zhang Shitong grinned. “Not bad. You sure can take a hit.”

He then followed up with a sweeping kick.

Zhang Yuanshang barked in annoyance, “Brat! Don’t break my chairs!”

The kick was another feint. It was meant to force Li Yan off the chair.

As expected, Li Yan leaped, and his leg arced through the air toward Zhang Shitong’s head.

Got you!

A rare kind of move to begin with, it was also difficult to generate force from airborne attacks. Zhang Shitong raised his leg into a skyward kick. But at that moment, he sensed danger.

Li Yan twisted in midair, grabbed his leg, and locked Zhang Shitong's neck with a scissor hold. With a powerful twist, he uprooted and flung Zhang Shitong into the air, sending him crashing headfirst into a beam.

Li Yan’s move blended modern combat principles with grappling techniques.

Zhang Shitong landed hard, immediately falling back into a stance.

He growled, “What kind of Red Fist is that?”

Li Yan snorted and charged forward. “The kind that knocks people down!”

He already realized the danger. Moreover, his father’s warning echoed in his mind.

The Xinyi Liuhe Fist attacks like rolling waves. Once it gains momentum, it overwhelms you like a tide.

Thus, Li Yan chose to attack first.

“Good!” Zhang Shitong advanced, throwing a straight punch.

Another feint. As Li Yan deflected it, Zhang Shitong retracted and thrust both hands at Li Yan's jaw. The twin strike used the momentum he built up through Tiger Pounce. A solid hit would knock him out.

At that moment, Li Yan leaned back, shifted his stance, and stepped in. Distance was everything. That small step gave him the opening. He raised his arm to block his opponent’s vision, then struck.

Hidden Flower Beneath the Leaf.

It was one of the moves in the Red Fist. Zhang Shitong wasn’t concerned as he planned to withdraw, but the moment the strike landed, his expression darkened. He was blasted backward again, slamming into a pillar.

He gasped in shock. “Hidden force?!”

Even Zhang Yuanshang rose to his feet in surprise. He wasn’t worried, since Li Yan had held back, but he realized why the youngster was so confident.

Thankfully, Li Yan had no killing intent. Otherwise, the force would have struck the heart directly, causing irreparable damage.

Zhang Shitong rose to his feet, his expression still dark. “Looks like I can’t hold back anymore!”

He, too, had reached the Dark Jin Realm and could use hidden force, but he hadn’t mastered it.

“Enough!” Zhang Yuanshang waved his hand. “There are no life-or-death grudges here. Save your strength for the ring. Kid, I’ll arrange things. No tricks on the stage. Whether you win depends on you.”

Zhang Shitong dusted himself off. “Zhou Bai’s stronger than me. If you can’t break the circle he creates, you stand no chance.”

“Thanks.” Li Yan cupped his hands and left.

He had achieved his purpose of demonstrating his strength. Moreover, he could tell that Zhang Yuanshang would ensure the duel went fairly.

He had now also learned that Zhou Bai was similar in skill to Zhang Shitong, but he was far younger and more talented. Perhaps, he wouldn’t have to use his ultimate technique.

Watching him leave, Zhang Shitong frowned. “He’s got Li Hu’s aura. No wonder he's arrogant. He’s mastered hidden force so young. But Father, Zhou Bai is stronger than me. You’re still gambling with his life.”

“Of course I am.” Zhang Yuanshang blew out a huge cloud of smoke. “Life is a gamble. Zhou Pan has backing now. If we don’t act, we’ll never get another chance.”

“And if you lose?”

“I’ve lost before. Worst case, I lose my reputation again. This time, you go to Cangzhou.”

“That’s not fair!”

“Talking fairness with your father? Are you asking for a beating?!”

***

“Well? What happened?”

Sha Lifei and Wang Daoxuan rushed up as Li Yan emerged.

Li Yan smiled. “It’s arranged.”

He then thought for a moment.

Afterward, he added, “Be careful. The Iron Blade Gang plays dirty. The beggars last night were likely their doing. Oh, right, I also need something.”

“What is it?”

“A Qin-Han war drum.”