Chapter 44: Going All Out

Inside a quiet and elegant courtyard.

A layer of fine white sand was spread across the ground, interspersed with several rugged rock formations.

Two people entered one after another, each performing stretching exercises to warm up.

The surroundings were sparse, devoid of any unnecessary decoration.

Only a single red plum tree was in full bloom, with many petals scattered beneath it.

Located in the backyard of a villa, the space had been renovated to present a profound Japanese style.

Fang Cheng took off his shoes and completed a set of squats.

Next, he made rhythmic huffing sounds as he performed continuous stepping punches and several leg kicks.

He then stood quietly in the center of the courtyard, his gaze fixed on Goro Majima, who stood several meters away dressed in a gray martial arts gi.

Half an hour ago.

Facing Goro Majima's challenge in the living room.

After careful consideration, Fang Cheng ultimately chose to accept the fight.

The generous reward of one hundred thousand yuan was hard to resist.

If he could secure this money, his grandfather's surgery fees would be covered immediately, and his mother would no longer have to worry.

Moreover.

Since the man had issued such an open challenge.

As a practitioner of martial arts, how could he shrink back in fear?

Having thought this through, Fang Cheng dealt with it calmly, no longer acting hesitant.

He decided to treat this duel as an even more intense sparring session.

It was also the best opportunity for real combat training to hone the various fighting techniques he had recently mastered.

Previously, Fang Cheng and Goro Majima had engaged in several informal exchanges.

He could feel that the opponent's physical strength was indeed formidable, with an offensive power far exceeding that of an average professional athlete.

However, Fang Cheng's current strength attribute had already reached 18 points, making him in no way inferior to his opponent.

Coupled with his advantage in mental attributes, even if the opponent had some hidden trump card, Fang Cheng believed he could control the flow of the battle.

As the fight approached, Fang Cheng silently analyzed his opponent's specific strength and habitual moves.

Goro Majima also completed his warm-up, adopting a combat stance that blended hardness and softness.

His arms rose slowly, crossing in a cruciform shape, before pulling back into fists to build momentum.

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed.

Having observed instructional videos for many days, he knew that karate masters typically adopt a preparatory hand position before beginning a fight.

The principle was equivalent to the traditional martial arts concept of "sinking the Qi to the dantian"—channeling energy throughout the entire body to make it easier to exert force.

By doing this, Goro Majima was clearly prepared to give his all, just as he had said.

Fang Cheng immediately stepped forward and back, knees slightly bent, arms raised past his chest.

He also assumed his most proficient classic boxing guard.

Under the afternoon sun, in the courtyard serving as an arena.

Two figures stood in confrontation, with no spectators in sight.

A light breeze blew past, petals drifted slowly, and strands of hair brushed against brows.

"Hai!"

Goro Majima suddenly exhaled sharply, stepped forward, and lunged with a sudden burst of speed.

Simultaneously, his punch transitioned into a thrusting palm, rising in a forward-leaning stance.

A hand blade, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, slashed instantly toward Fang Cheng's neck.

Fang Cheng executed a stepping side-step to dodge, using the momentum to whip a backhand whip punch.

Goro Majima blocked with an upright palm.

Fang Cheng feinted with a lead jab, then immediately followed up with a heavy cross to the face.

*Slap!*

Goro Majima's reaction was half a beat too slow; in his haste, he could only use both arms to guard his head.

Fang Cheng immediately followed up with a heavy whip kick, swinging it hard toward the left side of the man's abdomen.

In less than two seconds.

The previously composed Goro Majima was forced from an offensive stance into a defensive one, appearing somewhat overwhelmed.

Fang Cheng gave him no room to breathe, his continuous combinations of punches moving as fast as afterimages.

Hooks to the ribs, jabs to distract, supplemented by sudden, unexpected kicks.

With feints and sudden strikes, he suppressed his opponent, forcing him back step by step.

The repeatedly struck Goro Majima seemed to grow incensed.

He suddenly gritted his teeth and glared, relying on his toughness to endure one of Fang Cheng's relentless whip kicks.

Seizing an opening, he used his left hand to catch and lock the leg while using his right fist to counterattack.

*Bam!*

The two instantly exchanged blows in a flurry of punches.

Fang Cheng's body swayed as he quickly retracted his leg and stepped back, continuously adjusting his center of gravity.

Goro Majima did not retreat, but his face was contorted in pain, his teeth bared.

The tip of his right fist was visibly swollen and red.

Clearly, caught off guard, he had suffered the effects of Fang Cheng's "Iron Fist."

Fang Cheng's expression remained unchanged as he took a slight breath.

Since the opponent had requested his full strength, Fang Cheng naturally would not hold back.

Thus, he fought with extreme aggression from the very start, skipping any so-called "testing" phase.

This was a sign of respect for his own character and respect for his opponent's skill.

Goro Majima had not expected that Fang Cheng's offensive capability would be just as strong as his durability.

He seemed provoked by Fang Cheng's aggressive, headstrong fighting style.

At this moment, his eyes were bloodshot and fierce, showing signs of returning to his former manic state.

After a heavy breath, he lunged forward again, launching a new assault.

However, this time, Goro Majima was clearly aware that Fang Cheng's boxing was superior to his own.

He abandoned karate hand techniques entirely, opting instead to compete in kicks and grappling.

Fang Cheng countered every move, alternating between defense and offense.

He could clearly feel that Goro Majima's strength had increased slightly.

He speculated that perhaps the opponent had entered a state of manic mental focus.

For a time, the two were evenly matched.

Fang Cheng, being taller with longer limbs and faster reflexes, could land several moves in an instant, clearly holding the upper hand.

Goro Majima, possessing more combat experience, was still able to find opportunities to counter even while on the defensive.

Leveraging his stocky build and low center of gravity, he occasionally used leg-catch takedowns to force Fang Cheng to change his tactics.

Suddenly, he employed a leg-clamping technique, transitioning into a spinning back kick followed by an *Ouchi Gari* (inner trip).

This sequence was incredibly fluid and extremely subtle.

However, Fang Cheng had already seen through it and read the move.

A week of Jiu-Jitsu training had taught him various ways to fall and many anti-takedown techniques.

He immediately intercepted with his left leg and yanked the opponent's wrist with his right hand.

While disrupting the man's balance, he also used the momentum to break free from the entanglement.

He followed up with a series of whip kicks, striking like an unrelenting lash.

By this point, Fang Cheng had completely taken control of the rhythm, exerting overwhelming pressure.

*Thud!*

Another side kick struck the chest.

Under the massive impact, Goro Majima slammed into the rock formation behind him, letting out a muffled groan.

Faintly, a soft "crack" could be heard; it seemed two of his ribs had broken.

One could see just how immense 18 points of strength truly was.

Even the tough Goro Majima had suffered a heavy blow.

Fang Cheng's heart skipped a beat; it seemed he had taken it too seriously and actually injured his employer.

He then shook his head slightly, feeling a hint of disappointment.

"Is it over just like that?"

The light screen flickered, and two notification messages appeared before his eyes.

【You have experienced a thrilling battle, Boxing Experience +30】

【You have experienced a thrilling battle, Sanda Experience +35】

Fang Cheng had actually held a small amount of expectation regarding the "true strength" Goro Majima had spoken of.

He hadn't expected that as his physical attributes increased and his skills evolved, the powerful fighter who once gave all the club's coaches headaches could no longer withstand his full-strength attacks.

Just then, a low laugh suddenly rang out.

"Heh..."

Goro Majima slowly climbed to his feet, his joints making continuous, crisp popping sounds.

The moment he lifted his head, those bloodshot eyes stared directly at Fang Cheng, his gaze as sharp as an awl.

He licked the blood at the corner of his mouth, seemingly enjoying the stimulation brought by the pain.

It seemed that their previous duel was merely a warm-up—a test for Fang Cheng.

"You are indeed strong enough."

Goro Majima rolled his neck, then gave Fang Cheng a thumbs-up, revealing a satisfied and strange smile

"So, from here on, please make sure to stay one hundred percent focused. Do not let your guard down!"

Fang Cheng didn't understand what he was saying.

But he could clearly see the changes occurring in Goro Majima's physical state.

His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing was heavy, and veins bulged on his face.

It looked as if he was preparing a massive ultimate move, though the charging time was somewhat long.

Fang Cheng showed no signs of relaxation; he reset his stance and stared at his opponent.

Suddenly, his pupils constricted.

Goro Majima's entire body seemed to inflate, suddenly swelling in size by a full circle.

*Bang—*

Immediately after, his clothes and pants instantly burst apart, turning into countless flying scraps of gray cloth.

(End of Chapter)