Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Thank Young Master Fu for the Reward

The onlookers had already dispersed, leaving ample space for Cao Tian and the two men.

Wang Shuisheng and Sun Youzhu flanked Cao Tian, but he just wore a look of indifference, as if he couldn’t be bothered with the coming fight.

The three took their positions. Wang Shuisheng and Sun Youzhu wasted no words; they exchanged a look and attacked Cao Tian in unison.

Wang Shuisheng specialized in Fist Technique, his punches fast and fierce. He aimed a punch directly at Cao Tian’s throat from a vicious angle.

Sun Youzhu, on the other hand, specialized in Leg Skills. His right leg whipped out in a side kick aimed at Cao Tian’s left temple.

Although Wang Shuisheng and Sun Youzhu didn’t always get along, their coordination was surprisingly seamless now that they were facing a common foe.

The pincer attack, one fist and one leg, sealed off nearly all of Cao Tian’s escape routes. The sight even made Fu Juemin’s eyes light up—he’d never received such "special treatment" when he sparred with the two of them.

As for Cao Tian, he didn’t even deign to lift his gaze in the face of their assault.

Without even glancing at Sun Youzhu’s incoming kick, he took half a step forward to meet Wang Shuisheng head-on.

Then, with a twitch of his shoulder, his own fist shot out, striking Wang Shuisheng’s shoulder before his opponent’s attack could land.

Wang Shuisheng grunted in pain and retreated, but Cao Tian had no intention of letting him go. Sinking low, he pressed forward, using his left arm to block Sun Youzhu’s kick while his right hand clamped onto Wang Shuisheng’s neck. He shoved him aside, blocked, and then raised his elbow...

THUD! THUD! 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

In just a few exchanges, Wang Shuisheng took a fist to the chest and Sun Youzhu a kick to the stomach, and both were sent flying!

"Excellent!"

The Black Shark Gang’s Master was the first to shout his approval, his face beaming with delight.

When he came to his senses, he found he was the only one clapping. The roomful of Fu Family guards were all glaring at him, and he suddenly remembered this wasn’t a gang-fight betting ring down at the docks.

He gave a sheepish smile and awkwardly shut his mouth.

"That was a fine display."

Fu Juemin, seated on the soft couch, smiled and nodded before asking:

"What style of fist is that?"

"Life and Death Fist."

Cao Tian replied flatly.

Fu Juemin paused. The Black Shark Gang’s Master immediately cried out, "What nonsense are you spouting?! Young Master Fu, he practices Tongbei."

"Oh."

Fu Juemin chuckled, unconcerned. He looked at the defiant Cao Tian before him, thought for a moment, and then gave an order.

"Get him a stool, and brew him a cup of tea."

"Thank you, Young Master Fu, for the seat and the tea."

Cao Tian showed no reaction, but the Master, ever the quick-witted one, hurriedly expressed his gratitude.

Fu Juemin paid them no more mind. He closed his eyes and quietly enjoyed the Muscle Therapist’s work.

No one else in the training hall spoke. Everyone waited in silence for about twenty minutes. When the session was over, Fu Juemin opened his eyes, and it felt as if the stagnant air in the hall finally began to stir.

Fu Juemin rose from the couch and stretched. His bones and sinews popped softly, like a bowstring being drawn taut.

"I’m ready."

The therapist from Xing’an Hall was highly skilled. Combined with a special medicinal oil, Fu Juemin now felt all his fatigue and soreness vanish, returning him to his peak condition.

Cao Tian wasted no words, walking directly across from him.

"Young Master Fu. Please."

Fu Juemin had just seen Cao Tian in action. He could tell that in terms of both raw power and technique, Cao Tian was a cut above the average Bone Forging practitioner. He was, in fact, the most formidable opponent Fu Juemin had encountered since he began his training.

Although this was only a sparring session, Fu Juemin was taking it very seriously.

After a moment’s thought, he initiated the exchange with Ming Fist, launching the first attack at Cao Tian.

Cao Tian didn’t dodge. He simply raised a hand to block, then threw a counter-punch. After they traded blows for several rounds, Fu Juemin took a fist to his left ribs and staggered two steps to the side.

"You went easy on me, Young Master Fu."

Cao Tian’s expression was cold as he cupped his fist in a salute to Fu Juemin. He sounded polite, but Fu Juemin caught the faint, almost imperceptible flicker of contempt in his eyes.

"Then you’d better not hold back!"

The corner of Fu Juemin’s mouth twitched, and his eyes grew cold as he threw a punch.

Cao Tian raised his arm to block as usual, but just as Fu Juemin’s fist was about to connect, it suddenly unfurled into a palm.

Eight Extremes Bone Forging Skill—Stone-Smashing Technique!

With his Eight Extremes Bone Forging Skill at the Master Level, combined with the full force and speed of his 9 points in Attack, Fu Juemin’s palm strike was immensely powerful. His palm compressed the air, creating a faint whistling sound as it cut through.

BAM!

The moment palm met arm, the look in Cao Tian’s eyes changed instantly.

Fu Juemin’s strike felt like a foot-thick stone slab slamming into his chest. Though he had blocked it securely, both of his arms throbbed with excruciating pain, and he was forced back two steps.

Before Cao Tian could recover from his shock, Fu Juemin’s follow-up attacks were already upon him.

Cao Tian’s brow twitched, his expression finally turning serious.

They traded fists and feet, and the training hall echoed with the dull thuds of their collisions. What had started as a simple sparring session was gradually taking on a dangerous edge.

The longer the fight went on, the more alarmed Cao Tian became.

He had long since forgotten why he was here; he was now treating the man before him as a true opponent in every sense of the word.

’This Young Master of the Fu Family... his Fist Technique is so refined and masterful. There’s no way he’s only been training for two months. I’d believe it if someone told me he’d been training bitterly for five or six years.’

’And even though he’s clearly only at the Middle Stage of Bone Forging, the speed and power of his punches are astounding. Even I, at the Late-Stage of Bone Forging, can’t match him.’

’And I have no idea how he trained his body to be this tough. When I land a punch, he seems completely unfazed. But when he hits me, I’m reeling for ages.’

’It’s gotten to the point where, even though I’ve landed more hits on him than he has on me, I haven’t gained the slightest advantage. In fact, as time goes on, he’s getting more familiar with my fighting style, and I’m slowly starting to lose ground.’

WHOOSH—

Just as he was thinking this, a pair of iron fists came flying at his face.

The two fists were swift and powerful, yet possessed an indescribable agility and deceptiveness, like a pair of black pythons coiling around a pillar as they lunged to bite him.

A vicious glint flashed in Cao Tian’s eyes. Instead of trying to dodge or block, he chose to counterattack, launching his own fist at his opponent’s neck. In the Black Shark Gang, his fighting style was famous for its ferocity.

But just as Cao Tian was about to trade blow for blow, he suddenly heard a soft chuckle.

Years of brutal fights on the docks and in the rings made Cao Tian’s instincts scream that something was wrong. It was too late to change his move. With a dull THWACK, his opponent took the punch on his shoulder and arm. Then, the pair of "black pythons" bit down on his own arm, yanking him forward...

The next second, a figure as solid as a wall slammed into his chest!

CRUNCH!

Cao Tian thought he heard the sound of his own sternum cracking under the strain as he was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string.

He didn’t fall, however. The instant before he hit the ground, he pushed off and forced himself back to his feet.

But when he looked up and saw the handsome young man opposite him, who had already stopped and lowered his fists, Cao Tian gritted his teeth and finally forced out the words: "I lost."

The training hall was silent for several seconds, until the Black Shark Gang’s Master broke the silence with a cheer.

"Excellent! A wonderful fight, Young Master Fu!"

The Fu Family guards immediately followed with their own cheers.

"Well fought, Young Master!"

"Such incredible skill, Young Master!"

Fu Juemin stood there relaxed as a servant eagerly came forward to wipe the sweat from his brow.

He glanced at Cao Tian, who stood in silence with all his earlier arrogance gone, and said to the Black Shark Gang’s Master, "Your Black Shark Gang picked a good one. Go to the accounting office and collect one hundred silver coins before you leave."

"I want him again tomorrow. Remember to be here early."

"Yes, sir."

The Black Shark Gang’s Master bowed respectfully before running over to Cao Tian, tugging at his sleeve. "What are you waiting for? Hurry and thank Young Master Fu for the reward!"

Cao Tian’s lips thinned into a tight line. Finally...

his spine, once as straight as a stalk of green bamboo, slowly bent.

"Thank... you, Young Master Fu... for your generosity."