Chapter 10: Taking a Kickback

Half an hour later, Guo Heng’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he declared, "It’s time to end this."

"Brother, watch yourself!"

With a burst of intensity, he unleashed his internal energy, his blood surging as he exerted his full power.

"Roar!"

Guo Heng let out a thunderous shout, channeling his breath into his strength, which surged significantly. He struck out like a tiger lunging, his movements swift and fierce, stirring up a gale. His fingers were thick, his nails rounded and hooked like claws, as if tearing through everything in their path.

"Angry Tiger Pierces the Forest!"

"Bang!"

Sensing the danger, Lin Qi erupted with his own maximum power.

"Roar!"

Lin Qi let out a roar like a tiger’s cry. He dug his feet into the ground, arching his spine like a bow, and channeled his force through his arms.

"Bang!"

A deafening collision echoed as their tiger claws locked in a contest of strength. With a sharp crack, Lin Qi felt a sweetness rise in his throat. His vision of Guo Heng seemed to shrink, and he was forced to stagger back several steps. The intense pain radiated through his protective gear, especially in his chest, where he felt the impact resonate.

Lin Qi dropped to one knee, cold sweat pouring down his face. Had it not been for the armor, his ribs would surely have shattered.

Guo Heng also retreated several steps. A satisfied smile spread across his face. "Exhilarating!"

"You're quite good. Take a break, and let’s swap!"

He turned and walked toward his seat, clutching his chest. "I was careless. This kid’s blood-energy levels and fist technique are lower than mine, yet he managed to go toe-to-toe with me for half an hour. Hell, where did this genius come from?"

...

Lin Qi slowly stood up and walked to the side. With trembling arms, he removed his protective gear, spat out a mouthful of blood, and wiped the sweat dripping from his hair.

"Brother Qi, drink some water!" Jiang Tao approached, handing him a bottle of red sports drink.

Lin Qi took the bottle, twisted it open, and drank greedily, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"Taozi, this guy doesn't hold back at all. If not for the gear, I think he would have beaten me to death," Lin Qi said, clutching his chest. "You need to be careful too! By the way, where did you get this sports drink?"

"They provided it. It's free."

"Alright, it's my turn," Jiang Tao said. After a brief chat, he patted Lin Qi on the shoulder, donned the protective gear, and stepped into the arena.

Lin Qi collapsed onto a long black bench. "Whew..."

Sweat dripped from his forehead as he caught his breath. A translucent screen, visible only to him, flickered before his eyes.

[You watched Guo Heng perform the Tiger-Form Fist. You have gained a new understanding of the Tiger-Form Fist. Fist Technique +0.5%]

[You have gained a new insight into fist techniques... Fist Technique +0.5%]

[Fist Technique: First Stage 85.6% -> 86.6%]

...

Lin Qi clenched his fist, his body exhausted but his spirit lifted. "Sparring with Guo Heng increased my fist technique by 1%. I thought that would take another day or two. It really is true that sparring with others is more effective for improvement."

Usually, Lin Qi would spar with Jiang Tao, but they never went full out for fear of injury. Being in their final year of high school, an injury that affected their martial arts progress would be a heavy price to pay. But today was different—because money was involved, Lin Qi had finally unleashed his full potential.

"Guo Heng’s strength is only marginally better than mine. If I had a little more time, I would surpass him," Lin Qi mused.

...

"Bang!" "Ah!"

The battle in the center of the martial arts room caught Lin Qi’s attention again. In the arena, Guo Heng’s tiger claws struck with such force that the air itself seemed to snap. This was the pinnacle of internalizing one's technique—the "thousand-gold strike," where the movement becomes muscle memory, and the power flows from the spine through the entire body.

Under the fierce onslaught, Jiang Tao moved with ease. He practiced the Ape-Form Fist, which focused on long-range strikes and evasion. His arms were both rigid and flexible, allowing him to deflect the power of each blow, keeping the match evenly balanced.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Soon, Jiang Tao felt as if he were being surrounded by a pack of tigers intent on devouring him. A few dozen seconds later, "Ah!" Jiang Tao was sent flying, sliding across the floor before coming to a halt.

Guo Heng also stepped back, gasping for air, drenched in sweat. After a moment, he spoke. "Excellent. Your strength is remarkable; you could rank among the best in our school. This has been a huge boost for me. A few more days of this, and my Tiger-Form Fist will make significant progress. Then, I can focus on my blade training. Sister Lian, we'll keep these two."

Guo Heng pointed at Lin Qi and Jiang Tao, feeling very satisfied. It was truly a strange day—two geniuses appearing back-to-back, neither of them simple.

Sister Lian, standing nearby, nodded. "I understand, Young Master."

Jiang Tao removed his helmet, spat out a streak of blood, and smiled. "Thank you, Young Master Guo!"

He locked eyes with Lin Qi. Lin Qi felt a surge of joy; if this part-time job could continue, the earnings would be substantial.

"However, Young Master Guo," Jiang Tao added with a smile, gesturing with his fingers, "my friend and I have held out longer than the others. I’ve been at it for nearly half an hour, and my injuries aren't light. We’ll need a good recovery period. You see..."

The woman in blue frowned and scolded, "We agreed on 1,000 yuan an hour. That is already the highest market rate. Don't be too greedy!"

Jiang Tao remained unruffled, smiling, "You can't say that. Quality sparring partners like us aren't easy to find. Besides, our injuries are severe, and we need to buy expensive medicine for treatment. 1,000 yuan is honestly a bit low... so we need more money!"

"We need more money!" Lin Qi stood up to add.

"Impossible!" The woman in blue's expression shifted, and she immediately refused.

"Wait, Sister Lian. I recall that the price my father set was 2,000 yuan an hour, wasn't it?" Guo Heng spoke up, his eyes sharp as a hawk’s as he locked onto the woman.

"2,000 yuan an hour?" Lin Qi and Jiang Tao exchanged confused glances, then turned back to the woman.

Well, well—taking a kickback? She was pocketing half the pay. That was truly excessive. They had only seen four people in total. If it were 1,000 yuan per person, that was a net profit of 4,000 yuan a day. It was enough to make anyone jealous.

Feeling Guo Heng’s piercing gaze, Sister Lian began to break out in a cold sweat. "This..."

...

A few minutes later, Guo Heng looked at the two of them. "That woman has been fired. Someone else will contact you later. The rate will be 2,000 yuan an hour."

Lin Qi and Jiang Tao exchanged satisfied smiles. "Thank you, Young Master Guo!"

"Alright, I'm off. My reserved time is up." Guo Heng nodded and picked up his backpack to leave.

"Young Master Guo, do you still want these sports drinks?" Jiang Tao called out cheerfully.

"Keep them," Guo Heng waved dismissively.

"You got it!"