Chapter 113: Two Battles, Two Deaths!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Central Battle Stage.
Very quickly, the first student stepped onto the stage.
Fang Ping raised his hand, indicating that he had something to say. The student opposite him wrinkled his brows and said gruffly, “Speak!”
“Senior, may I know your name?”
“School of Weaponry, sophomore student Chen Guolong!”
“I’m a little curious. I’m a new student who only entered this school recently. I haven’t wronged many people, so why do you want to challenge me?
“Of course, I know the general reason. However, I still want to ask Senior Chen something. Have you perhaps also been defeated by NMAU’s Wang Jinyang?”
“...”
Chen Guolong’s brows remained furrowed. He did not answer.
Fang Ping continued, “Of course, I can understand if you’ve been beaten by him before. However, Wang Jinyang and I are not the same person.
“Even if he did teach me martial science theory, there’s still no need to treat me as his substitute, right?
“Senior Chen, you couldn’t have prepared to hurt me, right?”
Chen Guolong remained silent.
Fang Ping continued leisurely, “Really, I’ve always been a civilized person. I have some knowledge and understanding of martial sciences. I’ve never fought a lot. I’m a good student.
“If you seniors want to beat me up to vent your feelings, I will then submit.
“Could you perhaps not hit my face though?
“Also, don’t injure me too badly. I’m afraid I might not be able to pay for the medical bills.”
Chen Guolong frowned. The crowd below the stage was beginning to feel dissatisfied when Lu Fengrou said in a slightly impatient tone, “If you’re going to fight, then fight! If you don’t want to fight, surrender and stop with all the useless chatter!”
Fang Ping did not get annoyed. Instead, he chuckled. “So it’s alright if I surrender now?”
“Huh?”
Chen Guolong finally opened his mouth. His gaze was sharp as he said, “You want to surrender?”
“Of course. You’re at Peak Rank-1 whereas I’ve just reached Rank-1. Plus, I’ve gotten the medicinal pills, admitting defeat is fine, isn’t it?”
Below the stage, Zhou Yan was also frowning. She said coolly, “Surrendering is fine, but you need to think clearly. Backing out from a fight that hasn’t even started is detrimental to martial science theory.”
“There’s nothing I can do. They’re seniors whereas I’m a new student. I don’t know if they’ll find an excuse to kill me in battle. Surrendering is undoubtedly the best choice.”
Below the stage, Liu Yongwen took a deep breath and said, “Fang Ping, what exactly are you trying to say!”
“You’re Senior Liu, right?”
Fang Ping laughed. “I’m not thinking of doing anything. I just want to ask, did you all plan to kill me?
“We’re all understanding people. If you have such thoughts in your mind, say them out loud.
“If that’s the case... Then I also have something prepared...”
Liu Yongwen said coldly, “In martial arts battles, accidents can happen at any time. Nobody wants to kill anyone. When Wang Jinyang first came to MCMAU, he didn’t want to kill anyone either. However, sometimes, you can’t hold back. No one can blame a specific person!”
“I understand the meaning behind those words of yours, Senior Liu.”
Fang Ping nodded. He smiled widely as he said, “In that case, I don’t have any psychological burdens.
“Really, I’m being honest. I was too scared to even kill a chicken when I was young.”
“Wang Jinyang told me very early on that I had to strive in martial arts, but how could I strive since I was like that?
“I didn’t know how to. I thought I was striving if I quietly practiced and learned, as well as did my best to obtain more resources.
“My instructor once told me that I should fight when it’s time to fight. Not to mention, change my mentality a little bit because it’s like that of a chicken’s.
“I don’t think I’m a chicken. I’m just not very used to it.
“In my opinion, we’re all fellow students. As we’re all students, we don’t have any major conflicts between us. To put it in another way, it’s still my first time meeting the few of you seniors.
“Your grudges against Wang Jinyang should have nothing to do with me.
“But now, I guess this can be considered as taking your anger out on me, right?
“I didn’t even provoke anyone...”
“Fang Ping, that’s enough!”
The audience below the stage were starting to feel impatient. Could this guy still be considered a martial artist? Why did he have so much nonsense to say?
Fang Ping sighed, thinking in his heart, ‘It’s not nonsense, I’m just saying it to hear it myself.
‘I, as a person, cherish life too much!
‘I cherish life so much that when I thought Huang Bin was going to cause me trouble, I found him to cause trouble first.
‘I cherish life so much that, even though I’ve never killed and don’t dare to kill a person, if a person wants to take my life, I will definitely resist.
‘How do I resist?
‘If I kill my opponent, he won’t want my life anymore.
‘But we’re all still students, still youngsters, without major grudges against one another. To kill someone without a good reason—is it worth it?’
Fang Ping did not know if it was worth it or not. However, he felt that in other people’s eyes, life and death were just that simple.
A fight of goodwill and spirit was good, and taking anger out on someone else was fine. However, since there was no way to seek revenge on Wang Jinyang, and since Fang Ping was related to Wang Jinyang, Fang Ping would have to do!
Whether or not Chen Guolong wanted to kill him, Fang Ping did not know. However, it was true that Liu Yongwen wanted to find someone to avenge his brother.
Liu Yongwen himself could not show up as a challenger. Hence, among the challengers, either someone was representing Liu Yongwen, or they were all Liu Yongwen’s assassins.
Fang Ping sighed. “I really can’t understand how you all think. Are all martial artists this crazy? Just a small disagreement and you start to fight. I feel like I’ve entered a lunatic asylum...”
“Enough!”
Opposite Fang Ping, Chen Guolong was getting angry. He called out in a deep voice, “Are you surrendering or shall we continue!”
“If I surrender, you’ll all think that I’m easily bullied. Then, you’ll still come to bother me.
“Therefore, I guess not surrendering is the better choice...”
Zhou Yan did not wait for him to finish his sentence and quickly said, “Start!”
Whoosh!
Right after she had spoken, Fang Ping, who had been spewing nonsense earlier, rushed to the front!
Fang Ping went for his strongest Puncture Kick as his first attack!
His right leg struck quickly, and a “whoosh” sound was heard.
Chen Guolong’s expression did not change as he lifted his left arm to block the attack. His right hand then curled into a fist. Instead of retreating, he advanced. Moving one step forward, his right fist went straight for Fang Ping’s throat!
Bang!
Fang Ping’s right leg collided with Chen Guolong’s left arm. Fang Ping’s facial expression remained the same. On the other hand, Chen Guolong’s entire body trembled. He fiercely pushed his left arm outwards, pushing off Fang Ping’s right leg.
“Despicable!”
Chen Guolong shouted. With just one move, his left arm had been reduced to a mess of flesh and blood!
With bone-honing, what was hardened was the bone. In regard to skin, even if the toughness of it was increased through bone homing, there was a limit to it.
Something was wrong with Fang Ping’s leg!
With no time to check thoroughly, Fang Ping quickly retracted his leg. He clenched both his hands into fists. Putting strength into his left leg, he sprang up!
In mid-air, Fang Ping put his fists together, moving into a Swinging Fist Punch!
Pft!
In a flash, his knuckles smashed Chen Guolong’s right arm. Chen Guolong let out an angry roar. His body straightened and his right arm sprang upwards, blocking Fang Ping’s fists. At the same time, his left arm moved toward Fang Ping’s chest like a punch!
Fang Ping’s upper body tilted backward in an odd position. His employed his pole-standing firm stance to its limit—roly-poly!
With Fang Ping’s body slanted, Chen Guolong’s fist met with empty air!
Inertia caused Chen Guolong’s body to slightly lean forward. Without a sound, and with his body still tilted backward, Fang Ping abruptly kicked his left leg toward Chen Guolong’s crotch!
“Asshole!”
Chen Guolong was so angry that his eyes were about to burst. He hastily moved backward!
However, he had lost the upper hand because his left arm was angled forward and his right arm had just blocked Fang Ping’s swinging fists. There was no time to retreat!
Fang Ping spoke of his own weakness, and yet his attacks were merciless!
Without letting Chen Guolong escape his attack range, Fang Ping shot his left leg toward Chen Guolong’s crotch.
Knowing it was too late to retreat, Chen Guo Long clipped his legs together in preparation to trap Fang Ping’s leg. At the same time, his right hand changed to the Eagle Claw form to capture Fang Ping’s left leg!
Once Fang Ping’s left leg had been pinched by his fully honed right hand, Fang Ping’s death would not be too far away!
Fang Ping remained silent. He acted as if he did not know that his left leg was not honed, and it was unable to break through Chen Guolong’s right-hand defense!
Just as Fang Ping’s left leg approached Chen Guolong’s crotch, Fang Ping suddenly landed heavily on his it. Taking advantage of the momentum, he leaped into the air. Then, he extended his right leg and aimed straight for Chen Guolong’s temple!
“Hurk!”
Chen Guolong was stunned. He felt as if his liver and gall were splitting apart. With an explosive roar, he rapidly moved back!
Due to his earlier intention of capturing Fang Ping’s left leg, his arms were tilted downward. There was no time for him to block.
Just as he was preparing to retreat, Fang Ping, who had previously remained silent, let out a sudden roar. His right leg moved like a shadow, and with a full-powered Vitality Outburst, he kicked Chen Guolong’s temple!
Pft!
The sound of a sharp weapon entering a body escaped, it was almost inaudible.
Due to inertia, Chen Guolong continued to move backward even though Fang Ping had already retracted his leg!
Psh psh...
After Chen Guolong had moved back a few steps, the sound of liquid spraying was heard.
“Sorry, I’m just really afraid of dying.”
Fang Ping muttered softly as he took a few steps back, no longer attacking.
Opposite him, Chen Guolong’s eyes were wide open as the spirit in his gaze slowly faded.
His temple was a mess of flesh and blood. There was an obvious hole in it.
Martial artists of the lower 3 ranks generally could not survive being kicked on the temple by Fang Ping if he was wearing alloy combat boots.
“Guh...”
It seemed as if Chen Guolong had something to say. However, other than meaningless “guh guh” noises, he could not make any other sound.
Bang!
His body fell backward and then hit the stage as the arena plunged into silence.
“I killed someone...”
Fang Ping muttered to himself. He could not look at Chen Guolong. Throughout both his past and present lives, Chen Guolong was the very first person who had died by his hands.
When Huang Bin died, he had not been there to witness it.
When the Evil Sect martial artist died, he was there to witness it. However, the death had not been caused by his own hands.
The sophomore opposite him was still very young, he was about 20 years old.
Fang Ping never wanted to kill someone. A change in mentality could not happen so quickly.
However, he did not want to die!
He did not know if Chen Guolong would have killed him, but he did not want to bet on it. Hence, from the very start, he attacked with the notion of killing the other party first.
...
It was silent below the stage.
To both parties, it seemed like they had exchanged many blows. However, in reality, they only rapidly changed techniques. Hence, the entire thing had lasted for less than a minute.
A challenge between martial artists was that simple.
Chen Guolong was dead!
That Peak Rank-1 martial artist lost to Wang Jinyang earlier that year. At that time, he was injured, but his life was kept intact.
Yet today, he lost his life to someone who was Wang Jinyang’s junior, or perhaps, his disciple.
“Someone’s dead...”
Zhao Xuemei’s face was pale. She never thought that someone would die right at the beginning of the challenge!
It had completely exceeded her expectations!
Standing at the side, Yang Xiaoman’s face was beginning to turn pale. She never thought that such a thing would happen either. Was it still a match?
In the crowd, Liu Yongwen’s face changed slightly. However, he did not say a word.
In the arena, life and death were decided by fate. Before stepping onto the stage, Chen Guolong should have made preparations for such a scenario.
“It was a pretty good fight.”
Lu Fengrou said coolly, “It lacked a bit of flair, and your strength is slightly lacking as well. If not, with your opening move, you could have broken his left arm. Then, with your second move, you could’ve stomped him to death!”
On the other hand, the instructor beside her had a bad look on his face. He gritted his teeth as he said, “Such attacks are too ruthless!”
Lu Fengrou ignored his statement. However, on one side, Zhang Guoru took a deep breath and said calmly, “What a joke!”
Although everyone was from the same faction, he had said so himself. If you want to kill others, then be prepared to be killed!
The death of Chen Guolong just proved that he was out of luck, and his skills were not up to par.
On one side, another instructor said gruffly, “It’s too fast. How can it be that his foot bone has been completely honed. It hasn’t even been a month!
“Furthermore, Fang Ping’s boots are E-class alloy boots. Fighting barehanded, he was at a major disadvantage!
“Chen Guolong was careless. Right from the beginning, he was forced to take on a passive role. His counter-attacks were also weak as he was confused by fake attacks.
“If he took the risk and not blocked the lower attack, his position might have changed from passive to active. He had a chance to turn the tables!”
“There’s no use saying this now!”
Lu Fengrou huffed. It seemed as if the instructor was talking about Chen Guolong, but he was actually explaining what had happened to the people at the back.
Fang Ping managed to kill Cheng Guolong in an instant not because his skills far surpassed the latter’s.
The primary reason was that he had a good weapon as well as made a sudden burst of movement. Chen Guolong did not dare attack Fang Ping first as he was injured...
If he had taken the risk and not worried about the attack from below, it might have been possible for Chen Guolong to kill Fang Ping with a single punch.
...
On the stage, members of the Martial Arts Society quickly showed up with a doctor in tow and brought Chen Guolong off the stage.
In reality, the audience knew that the doctor was just there for show.
Fang Ping let out a breath of unclean air, letting his Vitality and Mentality return to their peak. Repressing the slight discomfort in his heart, he turned to the audience below the stage. “I didn’t mean to kill anyone. My skills are limited...”
“Fang Ping, there’s no need to say all that!”
Liu Yongwen interrupted him coldly. “On the battle stage, one is responsible for their own life or death!
“There’s no one who doesn’t know of this principle!
“If you have the strength, then take revenge. If you don’t have the strength, then admit your loss. This is also MCMAU’s rule!
“Nobody forced Chen Guolong onto the battle stage. It was his own decision. The three people at the back as well. If there’s anyone who doesn’t want to go on stage, you can withdraw!”
Having been interrupted, Fang Ping paused a while before nodding. “I guess I was just making a fuss out of nothing. In that case, let’s continue!”
“You don’t have to rest?”
“There’s no need. I booked a train ticket for this afternoon. I’ll defeat everyone and settle my business!”
Fang Ping smiled fiercely as he turned to the three people standing by the stage. “Who’s next? Let’s end this quickly!”
“You sure have confidence!”
The second challenger was not afraid. He jumped straight onto the battle stage and said in a low voice, “School of Weaponry, junior student Zhang Guowei!”
“Earlier this year, half my sternum was broken by Wang Jinyang. Even after resting for a few months, I’m still not fully healed.
“As you know, in a martial arts university, being unable to train and improve for half a year practically means that my martial arts journey has been cut in half!
“Those of us here have limited qualifications and don’t have a lot of family support. We don’t have powerful fathers to back us up.
“Having to stop training, one’s future immediately turns bleak!
“At first I had hopes of graduating at Rank-3, but now I might end up being stuck at Rank-1...
“Wang Jin Yang is now at Peak Rank-3, advancing to Rank-4. I have absolutely no hope of getting revenge on him!
“A fight between martial artists do not involve regular people. His parents are regular people, and he has no siblings.
“Since you, Fang Ping, have been taught martial arts by him, it’s only natural that I’d look for you to seek revenge.
“Whether you kill me or I kill you, it doesn’t involve other people. It’s purely an act of exacting revenge and purging resentment. I have no relatives that are martial artists. If I die, then all my grudges die with me!”
“Understood.”
Fang Ping nodded and smiled. “Putting it like this makes it so much simpler. I’m not that much different from you. Wang Jinyang might not necessarily help me do anything, so even if you kill me, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
Offstage, Zhou Yan waited for the two to finish talking. Then, she said, “Start!”
The moment the word was heard, both parties moved at the same time!
Zhang Guowei had also honed his lower limbs. He swiftly avoided Fang Ping’s Whip Leg agilely as his own leg swept out toward Fang Ping’s left leg.
Fang Ping hastily dodged as Zhang Guowei continued to close in on him, forcing Fang Ping into a corner of the battle stage!
...
Below the stage, Zhao Xuemei was very nervous. She said softly, “Xiaoman, this time... This time, will someone die?”
Yang Xiaoman exhaled. Her face was pale as she nodded and said in a low tone, “The chances are eight or nine out of ten.”
Both parties had spoken clearly that their goal was to kill each other!
“In that case... In that case, Fang Ping now is...”
“I don’t know. Zhang Guowei is at Peak Rank-1 after all. He’s not unprepared, and he isn’t looking down on Fang Ping unlike the previously...”
As the two talked, they gradually did not know what else to say and fell into silence.
...
Onstage.
Fang Ping’s eyes narrowed, and he stopped counter-attacking. With the help of pole-standing, he continuously retreated.
A Rank-1 Martial Artist’s Vitality was limited. His outburst would not last for long.
Zhang Guowei was also dishing out hits consistently, relentlessly shrinking the space Fang Ping had to escape.
His Vitality was limited, but so was Fang Ping’s!
This was especially true since Fang Ping had not completed his bone honing. Not a single limb of his had been honed completely. Hence, comparing their rates of depletion, Fang Ping could not last longer than him.
Five or six minutes later, Fang Ping’s face began to look pale. Not to mention, his footsteps began to look a little weak.
Zhang Guowei did not take the risk and continued to reduce the space Fang Ping had to dodge, preventing Fang Ping from taking any medication.
A moment later, Fang Ping’s face became paler and paler. His arms and legs started to tremble.
Below the stage, Lu Fengrou lightly scrunched up her brows as Zhang Guoru said in a low voice, “His Vitality has pretty much been used up.”
“Humph!”
Lu Fengrou scoffed. Zhang Guowei was very steady, he did not give Fang Ping any time. If not, Fang Ping could have taken the Rank-2 Vitality Pill she had given him to increase his outburst for a while.
A Peak Rank-1’s Vitality theoretically lasted longer than Fang Ping’s.
Fang Ping was a thrice-honed and his Vitality was not low. However, looking at the situation at hand, Fang Ping did not know how to pace himself. Hence, he ended up using more Vitality than Zhang Guowei.
Just as Zhang Guoru finished his sentence, Fang Ping staggered slightly onstage. The extent of it was very small.
However, every one of the spectators had extraordinary eyesight!
On the stage, Zhang Guowei had also noticed it. Seeing his chance, he pounced forward, preparing to harshly attack Fang Ping’s leg that was losing Vitality. After that one kick, it would be Fang Ping’s death!
However, right after he had rushed forward, he felt that something was wrong!
The earlier, pale-faced Fang Ping whose footwork was weak suddenly regained his color!
His Puncture Kick that was originally soft and weak suddenly had an outburst of strong Vitality!
“Shit!”
Zhang Guowei did not even have the time to think about how Fang Ping was suddenly full of Vitality.
At that point, even he, as a Peak Rank-1, felt that he could not hold on much longer. He could see that Fang Ping had used up more Vitality than him. Even if Fang Ping had instantly taken a Vitality Pill, it would have been difficult to get such an instant response. There was something called the digestive period!
Sadly, Fang Ping was no longer giving him a chance.
Zhang Guowei was about to shout “surrender”. However, right before the word could leave his mouth, Fang Ping’s foot hit his heart with a “bang”.
Though his kick hit its target, Fang Ping did not relent. His fists stretched outward to both his sides, and he punched Zhang Guowei’s left and right temples!
Blood seeped out from Zhang Guowei’s nostrils and the corners of his mouth as well as eyes. Even though Fang Ping had not completely honed his limbs, the strength of being a thrice-honed could not be overlooked.
As a skull was never honed, a martial artist’s head was a weakness.
Dong...
The light in Zhang Guowei’s eyes faded as he fell to a sitting position, his head drooping down.
...
Below the stage.
There was a drastic change in expression in Liu Yongwen and the audience. Even Zhang Guoru had his brows furrowed as he said in a low tone, “How can it be!”
He, as a Rank-5 Martial Artist, clearly saw that Fang Ping had depleted his Vitality. However, Fang Ping suddenly had an outburst of Vitality which caused the death of Zhang Guowei!
Two battles and two deaths. It was completely out of their expectations.
The remaining two people who had not lost their fighting spirit upon the death of Chen Guolong showed clear signs of fear.
...
Onstage, Fang Ping closed his eyes. He breathed heavily as his heart pounded rapidly.
In a single challenge, he had killed two people. At that moment, he did not care about right or wrong. Not to mention, whether or not it was worth it. All Fang Ping knew was that as long as he was alive, it was fine!