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Chapter 354 - 324 A Martial Artist

Chapter 354: Chapter 324 A Martial Artist

Like Roger, coming from a prominent family, he naturally received excellent upbringing, with specialized training in all manners of etiquette, and he was not lacking in emotional intelligence. Yet these were merely superficial qualities, the education they received from childhood, the environment they were in, and the experiences they had ingrained in them a subconscious belief: they were different from most people.

This attitude of superiority was not evident when dealing with people of their own class, but when interacting with others, it unconsciously manifested—and ironically, they often thought of themselves as very friendly and approachable. Most tragically, this mindset was mutual; many people actually catered to them.

For example, a high-status individual might help them with a minor favor, generating enormous gratitude, but if the same help came from an ordinary person beside them, it would seem trivial.

In Roger’s view, by proactively inviting you to be my sister’s martial arts coach and offering a million US dollars per month as tuition, I’m giving you great honor and consideration—shouldn’t you be immensely grateful?

Thus, Roger spoke with confidence.

The Holmes family had been around since the Civil War period, and over the years had grown into a financial behemoth in the United States: banks, real estate, fashion, automobiles, luxury goods... their influence spanned various industries.

As he stated, if one wished to do business in the United States, no one would refuse the friendship of the Holmes family, which was more precious than a million dollars a month, so he didn’t think Wu would refuse.

However, Wu’s reaction caused Roger’s face to darken as Wu replied indifferently, "I really don’t have time, and if this means losing the friendship of the Holmes family, then so be it."

Wu planned to focus on establishing professional competitions next, and he barely had time to coach his own disciples, let alone others. If Roger had approached him with a better attitude, Wu might have explained further and discussed a possible compromise, perhaps proposing that Sofia could stay by his side.

But the initial attitude shown was not of seeking help but one implying that hiring him as the coach was an honor, with no room for negotiation—things were set and he just had to comply.

With such an attitude, it would be odd if Wu agreed.

"Mr. Wu, few people ever refuse me. You really are arrogant," Sofia spoke up, her expression slightly displeased.

Wu looked at Sofia, "Between the two of us, who is truly arrogant, is it not obvious?"

"Huh?" Sofia failed to suppress a laugh.

Roger, finally abandoning courtesy, looked at Wu with a cold sneer, "What are you exactly? Just a martial artist. Today’s competition was merely for entertainment; you think too highly of yourself. What right do you have to compare with us?"

Li San, standing beside Wu, narrowed his eyes chillingly at Roger, causing Roger to instinctively shrink his neck and step back, while the three bodyguards quickly advanced, two blocking behind Roger and one standing beside him, ready for any threat from Li San.

"Heh," Wu laughed.

Hearing the laughter, Li San tempered his aura, leaving it to Wu to handle.

"You are right, I am just a martial artist."

Roger displayed a contemptuous smile on his face, but before he could further express himself, Wu suddenly moved.

He stepped forward, rushing towards the two bodyguards in front of him.

These Caucasian bodyguards, professional security personnel from a major American security company, were well-trained in close combat. Seeing Wu charging at them, they didn’t hesitate to reach out simultaneously, one from the left and one from the right, grabbing Wu’s arms, preparing to twist and exert force. As bodyguards, their primary goal was not to kill but to protect their employer, so they practiced grappling and counter joint techniques predominantly.

Wu, unconcerned about his captured arms, tensed his muscles. His bones and muscles popped and his arms swiftly straightened, turning as rigid as rods of steel, leaving the bodyguards unable to twist them.

Without waiting for the bodyguards to shifts tactics, Wu stepped forward, lifting his arms, seamlessly integrating Xingyi’s Drilling Fist Force and Beng Fist Power in a Spear Technique called "Gao Tan Ma," using his arms as long spears to hook and fling the two bodyguards off their feet, destabilizing and sending them flying backward.

The bodyguard beside Roger shifted his expression and within 0.5 seconds, reached for a gun at his waist, aiming it at Wu.

The three bodyguards’ teamwork was perfect, very professional, and capable of handling most emergencies with two specializing in close-quarters grappling to block incoming threats, and the third skilled in Spear Technique who could utilize the time bought by his companions to quickly draw and fire their weapon.

Unfortunately, they were facing Wu.

The two proficient in close combat couldn’t even block a single move from Wu, and as for the one skilled with weapons, he had barely drawn his gun when Wu grasped his hand, preventing even a tremble.

Not everyone possessed Feng Lin’s skills to threaten Wu with a firearm.

Wu effortlessly took the gun from the bodyguard’s hand, gripped the man’s shoulder with his left hand, swung, and flung him away.

Now, nothing stood between Wu and Roger.

Roger hadn’t even comprehended what had happened; he only saw Wu charge forwards, his two bodyguards flying out, and then Owen, just as he had drawn his gun, had it magicked away by Wu and was thrown aside.

"You..."

Roger, dumbfounded, started to speak but was immediately silenced as Wu grabbed him by the neck, lifting him single-handedly like a little chicken.

Roger’s face turned bright red instantly, his eyes bulging, mouth agape, hands frantically clawing at Wu’s arm, his feet kicking wildly.

"Stop it!" Sofia’s face turned pale, completely unexpected that things would turn out this way.

She wanted to step forward and stop Wu, but a casual glance from Wu made her freeze like a mouse who had seen a cat, too frightened to move.

"In Hua Country, there is an old saying, ’within arm’s reach, a person can oppose a nation.’ I am but a single Martial Artist, but before me, your life is mine to command, to live if I say to live, to die if I say to die. No matter what your status is, you only have one life."

Wu looked at Roger in his hands, his expression one of disdain, before finally letting go and setting Roger down.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough!"

Roger collapsed onto the ground, coughing violently.

Wu, towering above him, said, "Remember this, even if it’s just a Martial Artist, he is not someone you, a pampered young master, can insult."

The two bodyguards who had been thrown aside earlier had already hurried over to help Roger up, while Owen, who had been disarmed, endured the numbness in his body to stand in front of Roger.

Seeing this, Wu surprisingly threw the gun he held back to Owen.

Owen caught the gun, a complex look on his face, Wu’s gesture making him hesitate to point the gun again, yet his professional integrity didn’t allow him to back down.

Sofia quickly came to Roger’s side, "Are you okay?"

Roger had several scratch marks on his neck, his face flushed red with resentment as he glared at Wu, but dared not utter any harsh words.

"Let’s go!" Roger said fiercely.

Sofia bit her lip, glanced at Wu, and followed Roger as they left.

Everyone on the deck had noticed the disturbance; they had all heard what Roger had said to Wu. Many Martial Artists felt vindicated seeing Wu single-handedly lift Roger; hearing Wu’s words to Roger made them feel that a Martial Artist should act just like that!

Although these Martial Artists present were considered to be at the peak of the Martial Arts World, in terms of social status and economic power, they couldn’t compare to someone like Roger, who was born with a silver spoon. So even though these Martial Artists had killed before and seen blood, not everyone had the courage to openly confront someone after being insulted like Wu did.

"Now, I wonder if Zheng Yingrong will regret inviting him to compete."

Nearby, Zhou Yuanqing spoke softly.

"A common man’s fury spills blood over five steps; if he had not taken action, he would have been despised, his reputation completely ruined," commented Zhao Xuan coldly beside him.

Zhou Yuanqing nodded, "After all, that young fellow from the Holmes Family doesn’t understand the Martial Arts Circle well enough. Insulting a Great Boxer in such a setting, he had to act, unwilling or not."

On the other side, the main instigator of this wager, Jon, was also talking with some friends.

"Jon, does Wu have guts or is he just ignorant to dare offend someone from the Holmes Family so blatantly?" one of them asked, somewhat surprised.

Jon, shaking his head with a smile, replied, "No, you simply don’t understand these Martial Artists well enough."

"Oh?"

"For these Martial Artists, sometimes reputation matters more than life. You can kill them, but you can’t humiliate them." Jon said softly, "Wu is quite reputed in the Martial Arts Circle; being publicly humiliated by little Roger in front of so many Martial Artists forced his hand, or else his reputation would have been completely ruined."

"But Wu was ferocious in retaliation, poor little Roger. I need to go see him, after all, I invited him here," Jon said to his friends with a smile, then turned and walked in the direction Roger had left.

At the ship’s railing, Wu turned to Li San, "Sorry, this might cause you trouble."

Li San laughed, "What trouble is this? If you hadn’t acted, I would have. So what about the Holmes? If it comes to it, you and I can join forces and go have a heart-to-heart with their Family Head."

"Fair point," Wu nodded seriously.

Then, the two exchanged glances and burst into loud laughter.

Others might feel that Wu acted out of burden for his reputation, compelled to respond, but Li San knew that even in a private setting, if Roger dared to speak such words, Wu would still teach him a lesson: no matter who you are, you only have one life!

Whether a prince or a high official.

When acting impulsively out of vengeance, killing a man within ten steps, leaving no trace a thousand miles...

Li San and Wu were just such Martial Artists deep down!