Chapter 14: Failure!

“Sigh. Brother Shi, it’s not that I’m being disloyal, but you were the one who insisted on seeing our Boss. Since that’s the case, Feng-zai, go invite the Boss over. The rest of you, clear out the backyard.”

Number Four sighed and then gave the order to his subordinates.

Shi Lei gave a mocking smile.

Clearing the backyard—did they want to fight?

Soon, the backyard was cleared, leaving a large, open space.

Before long, a young man about the same height as Shi Lei walked out from the inner room. Feng-zai followed a few steps behind him, not even daring to breathe loudly, as if the young man radiated such a terrifying aura that he dared not get close.

“So you’re this so-called ‘Boss’? I thought you’d have three heads and six arms.”

Shi Lei snorted.

Though he sounded indifferent, Zhang Lingshan could clearly sense that Shi Lei was nervous.

Having been in contact with Shi Lei for so long, Zhang Lingshan knew his temperament well.

If this guy weren’t nervous, he would be acting arrogant and smug, shouting insults; he would never be spouting such useless, blustering nonsense as he was now.

It was evident that while this young man looked plain and ordinary—merely a bit more robust than the average person—in Shi Lei’s eyes, he was likely far from simple.

This involved a level that a beginner like himself, who only knew how to stand in a horse stance, could not see.

Sure enough.

He heard the young man mention a term he had never heard before.

“Skin-tempering.”

The young man studied Shi Lei for a moment, grinned, and beckoned with his hand: “Shi Lei, right? A high-ranking disciple of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall. My hands are itching today, so let’s spar and see whose skin-tempering is superior.”

“Do you dare to go against my Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall?”

Shi Lei barked sharply.

The young man replied, “It’s just a spar, not a confrontation. Besides, you owe our gambling den so much money. If I were to report this to Master Hong, how do you think he would view you?”

“You!”

Shi Lei’s expression changed instantly.

He had never imagined a situation like this in his entire life.

All along, he had relied on the reputation of the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall to do as he pleased. As long as he didn’t cross the line or provoke those he couldn’t afford to offend, everyone would give him a bit of face.

But this person today wasn’t playing by the rules.

He was actually going to use his gambling debts to report him to his master!

He wasn’t particularly favored, nor did he have great talent; he had only reached this point by knowing how to flatter and read the room. If he were reported to his master, given his master’s temper, heaven knows how he would deal with him.

Thinking of this, Shi Lei couldn’t help but feel a chill down his spine.

No one had ever played this ruthlessly. After all, in the pugilistic world, people often crossed paths; who knew when they might need to ask him for a favor or a connection?

The pugilistic world wasn’t just about fighting and killing; it was also about human relationships and social graces.

But clearly, this young man didn’t understand social graces—he just wanted to fight.

What to do?

Shi Lei panicked.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Seeing the sweat on Shi Lei’s forehead, the young man smiled slightly and said, “Reporting you to Master Hong doesn’t really benefit me either. So, how about this: you fight me. If you win, all your debts will be wiped clean.”

Shi Lei was delighted upon hearing this. There was such a good deal?

But he calmed down in an instant and asked, “And if you win?”

“If I win, everything stays as it is. You don’t lose anything anyway, because today is essentially me paying to have you spar with me. As long as you don’t go report me to Master Hong if you lose, then everyone is happy.”

The young man said with a chuckle.

Shi Lei gritted his teeth, stung by the retort, and shouted, “Fine! Then today, I shall represent the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall and spar with you properly!”

“Don’t!”

The young man waved his hands quickly. “Not representing the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall—represent yourself. And I, too, represent only myself. Everyone here is a witness. I am Chen Hui, please enlighten me.”

Chen Hui said this while cupping his fists.

He was very polite.

Seeing that the man was flawless and that he couldn’t use the Hong Clan’s banner, Shi Lei had no choice but to cup his fists as well. “Shi Lei, please enlighten me.”

The two finished their salutes and stepped into the center of the courtyard to stand their ground.

*Swish!*

Shi Lei exerted force into his fingertips, his fingers elongating, and then he clenched them into a fist with a *thud*.

If someone were watching closely at this moment, they would notice red blood vessels appearing at his wrists.

As he let out a sharp shout, the red threads immediately spread to his finger bones.

“Take my punch!”

Shi Lei yelled, charging forward and smashing his fists fiercely toward Chen Hui’s chest.

“Well fought!”

Chen Hui laughed, his arms immediately snapping together, his legs sinking, his body leaning forward, and then he thrust forward in a simple, unadorned motion.

But those with a keen eye could see that the skin and muscles on Chen Hui’s arms had bulged at that moment.

*Bang!*

The fists and arms collided, then separated instantly.

*Thump, thump, thump!*

Shi Lei retreated several steps, finally steadying himself, but his hands hung limp and trembling. His face turned a sickly shade of blue and white, and his breathing was ragged.

Across from him, Chen Hui stood unmoved, merely exhaling faintly. He lowered his arms slowly and smiled slightly. “I concede the victory.”

With that, he turned and left, leaving behind a mocking remark: “With this level of skill, you’re trying to be a lobbyist? Everyone listen up, don’t let word of today’s fight get out. Otherwise, if Master Hong finds out, it would be a great disrespect to him. Who would have thought that a disciple of the esteemed Master Hong would be so fragile?”

*Pfft!*

Shi Lei, overcome with shame and rage, spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.

He saw the gazes of the crowd, then looked back at Zhang Lingshan. Feeling utterly humiliated and having no face left to stay, he turned and ran.

Zhang Lingshan was stunned, still not having recovered from the battle.

Just one strike, and the winner was decided?

What exactly was the “skin-tempering” realm? He didn’t see anything particularly special about it.

The only thing he noticed was that both men had immense strength and heavy footsteps; just a few steps had sent the dust in the courtyard flying.

And the sound of their collision—crisp yet dull—had created a feeling of oppression in his heart for a split second.

But beyond that, he couldn’t tell anything.

Was it because the skin-tempering realm itself wasn’t that strong, or was his own insight too weak to understand it?

Zhang Lingshan didn’t understand, but Li Fu understood even less.

The person he had hired, whom he had already paid, hadn’t accomplished anything; instead, he had run away in disgrace and even taken his money!

“Little Shan, my money, my money! That Senior Brother Shi of yours took my money. He didn’t save Little Dong, and he took my money instead. You have to get it back for me!”

Li Fu cried out in distress, trembling with agitation, nearly fainting on the spot.

Zhang Lingshan had to support him, saying, “Let’s go home first. Senior Brother has already run far away; I’ll go find him tomorrow.”

“Go home?”

Number Four sneered, stepping forward with his men to block their path.

He was as fierce and menacing now as he had been amiable toward Shi Lei just moments ago!

“Old man, you didn’t come to redeem your son with money, but instead went to find a lobbyist. Very good. I don’t think you need to leave anymore. As for you,” he said, looking at Zhang Lingshan, “out of respect for Shi Lei and the Hong Clan Martial Arts Hall, this matter has nothing to do with you. You may leave.”