Descendants of the False Gods

Chapter 038: Life in the Imperial Capital (16)

Lán’s right arm completely blocked Lù Yù’s line of attack. Lù Yù could only strike based on instinct, targeting Lán’s body.

However, before his fist even touched Lán, Lù Yù’s center of gravity was already being pushed to the right, causing him to lose balance.

In a hurry, Lù Yù transformed his left hand into a claw and grabbed Lán’s right arm to steady himself. He adjusted his body, shifting from a left-forward, right-back stance to a more balanced, parallel horse stance, using his right leg to anchor himself and regain stability on the ground.

Seeing Lù Yù’s timely change of stance, Lán immediately exerted his full strength and lunged forward, while his right foot swept sideways, trapping Lù Yù’s right foot, which had just stepped forward.

This time, Lù Yù couldn’t hold on any longer. Originally, he intended to use his horse stance to keep his balance, but now all his force was directed to the left. Suddenly, Lán sent a force pushing backward while his right foot was caught.

In an instant, Lù Yù was lifted off the ground, flying backward into the air.

With a “smack,” Lù Yù landed on his back two meters away.

Lù Yù lay on the ground, clenched his fist, and hammered the grass in frustration. He was somewhat disappointed. He had imagined they’d go back and forth for seven or eight rounds before being defeated, but the reality was a far cry. He had only thrown one punch, defended once, and ended up on the ground.

He quickly sprang to his feet, did a respectful bow, and said, “Senior, I lost. I will keep improving.”

“Kid, don’t be disheartened. You did well. If your reactions and speed were just a bit quicker, those two moves wouldn’t have taken you down. You’d have had a chance to counter,” Lán replied, bowing in return and offering praise.

The two returned to their respective lines, and another young challenger from Lù Yù’s team stepped up.

“My name is Péi Bǎo. I want to challenge Senior Tián Luò. Senior Tián is also my idol.” The kids all had a competitive fire in them.

Tián Luò stepped out from his team and greeted Péi Bǎo with a fist salute: “Tián Luò.”

He then assumed the same bow stance as Lù Yù’s, though his fist guard was different.

Tián Luò placed his left hand as a palm in front of him and his right fist at his waist, finishing his stance and saying, “Please make your move.”

Péi Bǎo, a fiery-tempered kid, didn’t hesitate. He launched a direct front kick, aiming to break Tián Luò’s one-handed defense.

A direct front kick relies on power and speed, with quick retraction if it fails.

But Tián Luò didn’t give him a chance. He moved his feet, and both hands grabbed Péi Bǎo’s ankle as he attempted the kick and pulled it back.

Péi Bǎo realized that if he was pulled, he’d lose his balance, so his only option was to perform a split and use his hands to stabilize his body.

Thinking quickly, he pulled his leg back and shifted his weight backward.

The little guy had strong legs, so Tián Luò couldn’t pull him.

Instead, Tián Luò switched to a push, using his back foot, waist, and hands to push Péi Bǎo’s leg forward.

Péi Bǎo’s center of gravity shifted backward, and when Tián Luò pushed, Péi Bǎo’s front foot hopped a few times as he tried to stabilize himself but ultimately couldn’t.

With a “smack,” Péi Bǎo fell on his back just like Lù Yù.

Péi Bǎo rubbed his lower back and quickly got up, bowing respectfully: “Senior, I admit defeat.”

Tián Luò also offered advice generously, “Your force and retraction have room for improvement. If you could adapt more steadily, it would make you stronger.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

Péi Bǎo, still rubbing his back, limped back to his line.

Another young challenger stepped forward. “My name is Láng Wéichéng, ‘Láng’ as in the character for ‘gentleman’, not the wolf clan. I want to challenge Shěn Yì.” (The wolf clan uses ‘Láng’ as a surname, like ‘Liè Kōng · Láng · Lì’)

Xiǎo Yī, still a bit confused, didn’t quite understand why he was being called up so quickly. He was ranked last in his team’s martial arts skills, not counting the ‘informant’ Lǐ Xìn.

Actually, the rankings were based on their performance during the last match in Chengxi. Liú Xióng, who was the first to fall, left the impression of being the weakest.

“Xiǎo Yī, don’t freeze up. It’s your turn. Be gentle, the boss told you not to hurt him,” said Xiǎo Xióng as he nudged Xiǎo Yī.

Xiǎo Yī, finally understanding, stepped forward to face his opponent.

Xiǎo Yī, used to using a gun fist, immediately adopted the bow stance and threw a straight punch: “Make your move.”

Láng Wéichéng, not fazed, mirrored Xiǎo Yī’s stance but was more cautious.

After preparing his stance, Láng Wéichéng began to move laterally, trying to approach Xiǎo Yī’s side.

Xiǎo Yī, unwilling to be passive, began moving laterally as well, always keeping his front facing his opponent.

Láng Wéichéng stopped his movements when he couldn’t find an opening and launched a sidekick toward Xiǎo Yī’s left foot in an attempt to probe.

Xiǎo Yī braced himself, absorbing the kick, and launched a straight punch toward Láng Wéichéng’s midsection.

Láng Wéichéng quickly withdrew his leg, moved back to stabilize his stance, and raised his arm to block.

Xiǎo Yī’s left punch was a feint, quickly switching to a right punch, targeting Láng Wéichéng’s throat with speed and force.

Láng Wéichéng, luckily, had moved back, giving him enough space to react. He quickly blocked the punch with both fists.

As soon as the punch was deflected, Xiǎo Yī retracted his fist, stepped, and delivered a sweeping side kick toward Láng Wéichéng’s support foot.

Láng Wéichéng stepped back, and although his front foot was kicked, his center of gravity and support point had already shifted, so it didn’t throw him off balance. However, his front foot slid back half a step as a result of the kick.

Xiǎo Yī dropped his leg and immediately followed up with a bow stance and a punch, pressing forward, though this was another feint.

Láng Wéichéng stepped back and resumed his bow stance, continuing to block outward.

Xiǎo Yī, changing his rhythm, threw another punch with his right hand.

Láng Wéichéng immediately responded, blocking with both hands.

After Láng Wéichéng’s first attack, Xiǎo Yī continuously pressed the attack. Each time, Láng Wéichéng’s movements were slightly disrupted, causing his footwork to deviate.

After four or five cycles of repeated attacks, Xiǎo Yī suddenly stopped with a straight punch, instead turning into a sweeping back fist, catching Láng Wéichéng off guard.

Láng Wéichéng, attempting to pull his leg back, was taken aback by the spinning sweep and hurriedly planted his foot to stabilize himself, raising both hands to block.

But before he could fully steady himself, the force of the back fist hit him.

Without stable footing, Láng Wéichéng’s body was pushed to the side, though he didn’t fall. He staggered a few steps to regain his balance.

In the moment of Láng Wéichéng’s instability, Xiǎo Yī closed in and executed a bow stance, spun, and pushed forward.

Láng Wéichéng, already staggering, was pushed back with a light “smack” and sat down on the ground.

“I admit defeat, Senior,” Láng Wéichéng said as he sat.

Xiǎo Yī cupped his hands and returned to his team.

Lán, seeing Xiǎo Yī return, muttered softly, “He’s getting cocky.”

Xiǎo Yī, confused, didn’t understand what was said.

Another kid stepped up. “My name is Qí Jiā. I want to challenge that Senior sister.”

Members of Lán’s team felt nervous for the child.

Lǔ Bīng stepped up gracefully: “Hello, my name is Lǔ Bīng. But I’m not like those older brothers, I’m not good at defense.”

“I’m not afraid of pain. I got used to it from their training,” replied Qí Jiā confidently.

“Uh? Well, okay. Make your move,” Lǔ Bīng said as she finally didn’t adopt the bow stance.

“At least the girl has some sense,” Lán muttered to himself, casting a glance at Xiǎo Yī.

Qí Jiā prepared with fists in front of her chest, ready to counter Lǔ Bīng’s moves. She launched a sweeping kick toward Lǔ Bīng’s waist.

Lǔ Bīng squatted, raising her arms to protect her head, and swept her right foot to hook Qí Jiā’s supporting leg.

Qí Jiā couldn’t react in time. As soon as her foot hit Lǔ Bīng’s arm, her supporting foot was swept off the ground.

With a “smack,” Qí Jiā was thrown down in one round.