Unstoppable Martial Arts: Starting from Fist Technique Deduction
Chapter 52 - 43: Those Who Dare to Bet, Step Forward

Chapter 52: Chapter 43: Those Who Dare to Bet, Step Forward

In the room.

"Phew." Having completed his training, Lin Yuan slowly calmed his surging Qi-Blood.

"At my current level, both Stone Breaking Hand and Serpent Dragon Walk have reached perfection, and the Eight-step Breaking Fist has almost reached its limits. Even the Nine Chapters cannot progress further. If I were to be classified among the academy’s disciples, I should be an elite disciple. But compared to the very top elite disciples, I don’t know how many I can beat."

"That elite disciple who patrolled the mountains back then, if we were to face off again, I’m confident I could take him down in ten breaths." Lin Yuan assessed his own condition internally, feeling sentimental, "After returning this time, I must naturally elevate my status, or else I’d remain at the bottom tier of the academy. The acquisition of resources is truly way too slow."

"With the status of an elite disciple, there are fewer constraints, allowing me to speed up my advancement in martial arts."

Regaining his focus from his chaotic thoughts, Lin Yuan thought once more, "The goods being escorted this time may not be ordinary, given the chaotic signals emerging from the academy, more vigilance is needed."

"Still, according to the strategy set earlier, the first response to unforeseen events is to flee."

With that, Lin Yuan finished the food in his pack and was about to sleep, when he received an invitation from Pan Xuncheng.

At night in the courtyard, Lin Yuan, along with Zhou Jianxing, Gong Zhangshan, and others, lit a bonfire, drinking and eating meat.

"Brother Lin, this journey is not easy, it’s rare to find peace at this moment, cheers!" Pan Xuncheng said heartily.

"Old Pan, thanks for taking care of me in recent days, cheers!" Lin Yuan naturally wouldn’t refuse, clinking bowls with him.

After downing a bowl, Old Pan wiped his lips and said to Gong Zhangshan beside him, "Old Gong, Brother Lin is a brother on the same path as us later on, why keep a cold face every day? Look at the monk’s face and Buddha’s face, you must give some respect to Elder Tian."

"Heh." Gong Zhangshan looked at Lin Yuan, let out a sneer, and continued to drink his bowl of wine unaffected.

His attitude was evident.

The previously warm atmosphere cooled a bit.

At this moment, Zhou Jianxing stepped out.

"Brother Lin, don’t blame me for saying nonsense after drinking. The few of us live by licking blood off knives, gone through much to earn a third-class guest elder position in the Tian family." Zhou Jianxing’s straightforward tone expressed his discontent.

"If you had some blood relationship with the Tian family, we naturally wouldn’t say much."

"But as a mere chores disciple from the academy, being able to sit on par with us, how can we be convinced?"

"Either show some skills for us to see, if the brothers applaud, naturally you gain respect. If not, then humble yourself, and show the proper attitude to us seniors."

"Merely borrowing some other’s influence to scare us brothers can’t work."

Upon hearing Zhou Jianxing’s words, Lin Yuan nodded in agreement and calmly said, "Brother Zhou is right."

While hearing these words, Lin Yuan detected a certain off-flavor, yet remained unperturbed.

Zhou Jianxing seeing Lin Yuan still remained so calm, felt more displeased and immediately stood up, walking beside the bonfire.

The firelight shone on his face, the light flickering in his eyes.

Slowly looking around, Zhou Jianxing spoke, "Brother Lin, since you agree with this, why not provide some entertainment for everyone tonight, you and me."

Stepping slowly in front of Lin Yuan, Zhou Jianxing said coldly, "If you can last ten rounds with me, I’ll down three bowls of wine, acknowledging you as a brother."

"If not, you get only one-tenth of your reward, the other nine-tenths we will divide among ourselves. How’s that?"

"Old Zhou, you’ve gone too far." Pan Xuncheng sensed the wrongness and immediately spoke up, "Brother Lin’s reward is to be discussed by Manager Tian and the Family Head, it’s not for you or me to interfere."

"Old Zhou, you can’t bully people like this. You know full well Brother Lin is but a chores disciple in the academy, how could he fight you?" Ji Guoxiang’s voice came through, carrying some emotion.

"Brother Lin is evidently full of potential. Given time, he may reach the same realm as you and me." Ji Guoxiang also stopped, "Today, I’d like to try with you, why not duel me."

With an angry face, Ji Guoxiang stood facing Zhou Jianxing from afar.

"Instead,"

Gong Zhangshan stood up simultaneously, then looking around at more than ten people drinking and eating with them, he said, "Those few brothers are all good hands within the Tian transportation line, you may choose any. If you win, or tie, we’ll be polite and begrudgingly accept you as equal in team."

At this moment all eyes focused on Lin Yuan, waiting for his response.

Pan Xuncheng saw things had escalated beyond reconciliation, and sighed, "Brother Lin, though I’m the lead in this escort team, my powers parallel Old Gong, Old Zhou, and others, their attitude is beyond my control."

"This matter you must settle yourself."

Pan Xuncheng, Gong Zhangshan, and Zhou Jianxing all have Qi-Blood, meridians, bones at the Great Achievement Realm, on par. But Pan Xuncheng, being fair and experienced, received face support from Gong Zhangshan and others.

"Brother Lin, inappropriate, by no means agree." Ji Guoxiang stood out, "You are still young, the future is long. Rest assured, Brother Chicken will definitely keep you safe today."

"Come on, I want to see who among you itches to have a bone loosening today, Brother Chicken will help you with it."

Lin Yuan naturally stood up, nodded to Ji Guoxiang.

Then, with a calm face, swept his gaze over the crowd: "I understand the rules, the old bully the new."

"As for saying I get nine-tenths of my reward, I think such stakes are too light." Lin Yuan gestured to stop Ji Guoxiang from speaking again, softly said, "But you see, I’m poor and have nothing to bet."

"Why don’t we all make one bet, just this once." Lin Yuan extended a finger, slightly tilted his head, eyes sliding along his finger, indicating to everyone: "We bet lives, dare you? Just once, one match to decide the winner or loser?"

"If you win, take my head! Come, who would gamble with me?" Lin Yuan looked at the crowd, who previously sneered, and let out a cold snort.

The atmosphere froze.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

The fiercely burning firewoods continuously sparked, heard clearly in everyone’s ears.

"Of course, before the bet, I’d also like to tell you my situation. Haven’t introduced myself yet, I’ll say it now."

"I come from a humble background, just happened to pass the academy entry test, and have been in the academy for about half a year now."

"Of course, my martial arts progress in the academy is equally unremarkable. But I have good luck, having made a big brother, named Xie Wanxin."

"Xie Wanxin, my good brother, do you know him? Doesn’t matter if you don’t, let me introduce him to you."

"Brother-in-law of Hou Sixian! The future pillar of the Pei family you speak of, Hou Sixian."

"Now do you know who Xie Wanxin is? Understand? Let me explain it once more."

"Hou Sixian’s brother-in-law, Xie Wanxin, my good brother, my big brother." Lin Yuan said loudly.

Everyone was momentarily stunned, clearly shaken by the information Lin Yuan revealed.

At that moment, discussions naturally rose among the crowd.

"Able to tie to the family’s pillar? Is this true? Is Lin Yuan just bluffing?"

"Damn it, using Hou Sixian’s influence to show off in front of us, riding on coattails."

"How could we not know who Hou Sixian is? Lin Yuan clearly means if he gets wronged and finds Hou Sixian, what could we do."

"Better to believe it’s true than not. Looking at Lin Yuan’s confidence, doesn’t seem like he’s faking it."

"Betting lives, who the hell dares to? Losing means death, winning equals death. No one dares step up; even the Gambling Saint would stand by sipping wine."

Inwardly cursing, yet they dared not show it.

"Now who will bet lives with me? Who?" Lin Yuan laughed loudly, demanding fiercely.

The crowd looked displeased, but none dared to come forward to gamble lives with Lin Yuan.

Even knowing Lin Yuan might be weak, possibly far inferior to them. But what of it, standing behind him is that Hou Sixian, an unreachable figure in their lifetime.

In the Middle Condensation Realm, almost stepping into the seventh layer, almost entering the Late Condensation Realm, high-ranking figures they dared not offend.

They initially thought Lin Yuan merely had ordinary connections, thought they’d bully a newcomer together, gain some benefits, satisfy a little vanity.

How would they know Lin Yuan’s backing was so strong, these people naturally didn’t dare provoke him further.

In their eyes towards Lin Yuan, there was shock, fear, and a bit of flattery.

Zhou Jianxing and Gong Zhangshan’s faces turned ashen.

Seeing none dared approach, Lin Yuan contained his smile.

"Hmph! Merely bullying with power!" Gong Zhangshan’s face was ashen, reluctance filling his heart, letting out an angry snort.

"Bet lives, dare you?" Lin Yuan’s eyes grew cold, staring at Gong Zhangshan.

"You!" Gong Zhangshan blushed.

"What you want? My head, at your disposal." Lin Yuan sneered once more.

"Bet lives! Step forward one step?!" Lin Yuan pointed to the three-foot land before him.

"Excessive bullying!" Gong Zhangshan and his companion grew furious but in resignation, only able to vent.

Lin Yuan squinted his eyes, looking at the two.

"Excessive bullying? So what?" Lin Yuan lightly laughed, then coldly said, "Who dares bet lives, step out?"

Silence reigned once more.

About ten breaths of time, no one uttered a word amidst such a scene.

"Heh, cowardly mice!" Seeing their stiff faces after a while, Lin Yuan lightly laughed.

These people were all accustomed to their long martial arts practice, bullying someone like Lin Yuan, a greenhorn. Once Lin Yuan relied on Hou Sixian’s power, not a single person stepped out.

Proving these people achieve their sense of accomplishment by bullying the weak, not true heroes. Facing authority all retreated, feared, weighing their interests, not acknowledging someone’s position based on strength.

Each one of them couldn’t withstand ten rounds in his hands.

Regardless of Lin Yuan’s current strength, hearing Hou Sixian’s name frightened them from moving forward, how could they fight Lin Yuan?

Not qualified.

Only Ji Guoxiang stepped forward, speaking fairly.

Lin Yuan showed respect for this.

"Thanks, Brother Ji." saying so lightly to Ji Guoxiang, before turning back into the house.