Chapter 9: The Gift of Combat
Lynch was quite satisfied—one thousand Summer Kingdom coins for just an hour of sparring. This was more than he had ever earned from any part-time job before.
“You two, warm up over there. It’ll be your turn soon,” reminded Sister Lian, the woman in blue.
“Alright!” Lynch and Jiang Tao continued inside, found an empty spot to set down their backpacks, and began stretching.
Lynch took the opportunity to glance around. In the corner of the martial arts hall, there were numerous large training machines: over two-meter-tall brown cylindrical punching posts, red block-like fist strength detectors… He also noticed a sleek, white egg-shaped recovery pod tucked away in another corner. Nearby, a metal cabinet cluttered with various bottles and jars—brands he didn’t recognize, but clearly valuable.
The air was maintained at a comfortable twenty degrees Celsius—an ideal environment for martial arts practice. A subtle envy stirred in Lynch; who wouldn’t want to train in such a comfortable space that could greatly boost efficiency?
“Boom! Boom!” The central fight snapped Chen Yu’s attention back to the scene.
One combatant’s head was wrapped, revealing only a pair of sharp eyes. His movements were wide and forceful, his punches fierce and swift—like a tiger pouncing on prey, each clawed strike slicing through the air with a whistling roar.
“Boom! Boom!” The sharp tiger claws caught the opponent’s arm, aiming to rip it apart.
“Crack!” “Ah!” The opponent screamed in pain as his arm took a heavy blow, staggering back several steps before clutching his arm.
“Impressive!” Lynch thought, startled.
“Our employer this time practices Tiger Fist,” Jiang Tao explained. “He’s mastered its essence and is nearly perfect—almost ready to advance to the second level.”
“Also, Qi, he trains in Tiger Fist just like you,” Jiang Tao added with admiration.
Lynch nodded, acknowledging that this fighter was far stronger than himself, especially since he had already achieved mastery.
“That’s our employer—Guo Heng!” Jiang Tao continued. “They say his nickname is ‘Fierce Tiger.’ Just look at his vicious technique—like a tiger pouncing, he doesn’t hold back when training.”
“He hits hard. I bet that guy’s arm is fractured.”
“No wonder the pay is so generous. Who’d want to be his sparring partner otherwise?”
“But with Guo Heng’s level, a thousand coins almost seems too little…”
“Qi, we’re no match. Be careful,” Jiang Tao warned, instinctively clutching his arm.
In the center of the arena, Guo Heng removed his helmet, revealing a handsome face as he shook his head.
“Your physical fitness is too weak; your vitality probably doesn’t even reach 4.5.”
“Your martial arts level is low.”
“The improvement you bring me is negligible. You can leave. Next!”
Guo Heng thought to himself: “These sparring partners are still too weak, and the benefit I get keeps dropping. Stronger students won’t come to spar with me. I hope the next one is better.”
The man who had just left looked grim, his exposed skin bruised purple and blue. He sighed deeply, shouldered his backpack, and departed.
...
“It’s your turn!” Sister Lian came over with a reminder.
“Remember, wear your protective gear and give it your all. Don’t worry about hurting the young master—you’re not his match.”
“Of course, the longer you last, the better chance you have of staying on long-term. Understand?”
Lynch and Jiang Tao nodded, tension rising in their chests.
“Alright, you first,” Sister Lian said, pointing at Lynch.
“Okay,” Lynch replied, approaching the cabinet to glance at the new gear, then at the discarded equipment. Quietly, he donned the old protective gear.
The black gear was worn and reeked strongly of sweat, sticky and clammy. Lynch showed no disgust, quickly putting it on with a blank expression.
Opposite him, Guo Heng stepped forward without a helmet.
“Whoosh—” The entire martial arts hall fell silent, only the sound of breathing filling the space.
Standing nearly 1.9 meters tall, clad in deep black armor, Guo Heng’s muscular form resembled a towering bear, radiating an oppressive aura that pressed down on Lynch.
Sister Lian shook her head silently, thinking, “This one doesn’t look so good either—skinny frame, probably won’t last long.”
Lynch held his breath, focused, and shifted into the Three-Body Stance.
Guo Heng’s eyes lit up. “Tiger Fist? Interesting!”
“Brother, I hit heavy—be careful.”
With a grin, Guo Heng’s demeanor changed instantly. His arms flexed, hands spread wide with fingers curved like tiger claws.
In the next instant, he lunged forward, claws striking with force focused at the fingertips.
The tiger, king of beasts, large and brave in its pounce, attacks with reckless determination.
A fierce tiger charges!
The punches came swiftly and ferociously, like the wind.
“Whoosh!”
“So fast!” Lynch’s pupils contracted; it felt as if a tiger had leapt at him.
He instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late—Guo Heng’s tiger claw struck his chest unexpectedly.
“Boom!”
A sharp pain shot through Lynch’s body, penetrating the protective gear and impacting his chest.
He staggered back several steps, clutching his chest, feeling a burning sting.
Without the armor, Guo Heng’s claw would have torn through his skin.
So strong!
Guo Heng was about the same age, yet his strength was astounding.
Lynch furrowed his brow, concentrating fully. He resumed the Three-Body Stance, moving his feet cautiously, watching Guo Heng’s tiger claws.
Guo Heng’s assault intensified, his expression wild. Blood surged through his veins, unleashing explosive power.
“Ha!”
He stepped forward, claws slashing, erupting like an air cannon.
“Black Tiger Heart-Piercer!”
Sensing danger, Lynch’s body seemed to awaken, shivering as his own claws rose in defense.
“Boom! Boom!”
Their claws met, Lynch absorbing the impact and quickly redirecting the force, stepping back.
He thought, “He’s heavy-hitting, but I managed to deflect most of the power, and the armor blocked the rest.”
Guo Heng pressed on with tiger claw strikes, his breath fierce and punches fiercer.
“White Tiger Presents Claws!”
“Boom! Boom!”
The blows collided, power surging through Lynch’s armor. He groaned softly, vitality surging.
Despite the protection, Guo Heng’s strength and speed were superior. He closed the distance swiftly, leaving Lynch less room to evade.
Yet, strangely, when Lynch saw Guo Heng’s tiger claws, several ideas flashed through his mind.
He shifted left half a meter, bent down, and raised his claws to block.
Lynch’s body moved naturally.
“Whoosh—Boom!”
His claws blocked and absorbed the force again.
“Eh?” Guo Heng was astonished—this was the first time his attack had been blocked.
“Lucky shot!”
He launched another tiger claw strike.
Lynch saw through Guo Heng’s intent and used his waist to dodge.
But what met him was a barrage of rapid, hard strikes like a storm.
“Boom! Boom!”
Lynch thought, “My vitality and martial level are too low. I can only endure hits and deflect.”
At first, punching was mere practice, then hitting the punching post—after mastery, the post was lifeless.
To improve further, one must spar with a living opponent.
“Boom! Boom!”
Another tiger claw slammed into Lynch’s chest. He moved gracefully and countered with his own tiger claw.
“Black Tiger Heart-Piercer!”
“Boom! Boom!”
Their claws collided fiercely. Lynch launched a full-powered counterattack; offense was the best defense. With armor on, he focused solely on attacking.
His mind was sharp and alert—this was unlike any ordinary state, especially as Guo Heng’s Tiger Fist techniques flashed vividly in his mind.
Wielding Tiger Fist, his form was better than usual.
His body coiled like a drawn bow, then shot forward like an arrow, claws slamming out recklessly.
“Roar!”
Lynch let out a fierce shout, causing Guo Heng to falter briefly.
Then Lynch moved like a cat, agile and swift, releasing Tiger Fist attacks with even greater power.
“Boom! Boom!”
“Good!” Guo Heng’s eyes gleamed with excitement—this opponent was extraordinary.
In the center of the arena, it was as if two fierce tigers were locked in a brutal battle, intense and thrilling.
Jiang Tao watched eagerly from the sidelines.
“Qi is amazing—like a different person. Could this be his true form?”
...
“Good!”
Guo Heng felt exhilarated as Lynch’s tiger claws struck him.
Each blow sent pain waves to his brain, stimulating his nerves—a reminder that his body was under assault.
This was a sensation no other opponent could bring. The pain only fueled his excitement.
...