Chapter 817 - 817 Best of Three Games
"There's actually not much of a difference." Du Tianyi said, "As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain. In a place where one Sect is very strong, other Sects will inevitably decline. Therefore, everyone wants to stand at the top. Since ancient times, it has been said that the arts do not rank first, and martial arts do not accept a second place. Those who practice martial arts definitely want to learn from the top person. Who would willingly learn from the second or third best?"
Ye Qing nodded, agreeing fully with what Du Tianyi had said. Due to Tie Yongwen, the Southern Xingyi School was very prominent in the Eastern Province. It was normal for people to come and challenge them. The Da Hong Fist, having disappeared for so long, most likely reappeared this time to reclaim their fame, and so they targeted the Xingyi School first.
The words of Hong Tianci immediately garnered considerable support. In fact, many people here wanted to see just how capable the current Xingyi School was. However, they did not have the courage to challenge the Xingyi School directly. Now that someone had taken the lead, they were naturally happy to support it.
Wei Hua did not refuse. Since the death of Tie Yongwen, the Southern Xingyi School often faced challenges, and he had grown accustomed to it. Moreover, they had suffered losses on several previous occasions, and many people thought the Southern Xingyi School had collapsed. This time, he too wanted to take this opportunity to let everyone know that the Xingyi School would not tolerate any provocation!
Wei Hua and Hong Tianci agreed on three matches, with the winner determined by best two out of three.
From the Xingyi School side, the first to take the stage was Du Yongwu's son, Du Fei. Among the younger generation, Du Tianyi was naturally the strongest in the Xingyi School now. Du Fei, however, was the second strongest, a master capable of the Internal Energy Release. This time, Wei Hua sent him out first, intending to intimidate the group and also to gauge the opponent's strength.
Du Fei took the stage, facing a martial artist of the same age from Da Hong Fist. This martial artist was also skilled in Internal Energy Release. Moreover, the Da Hong Fist was characterized by direct and varied techniques; though simple, they were immensely versatile. The martial artist almost ended up tying with Du Fei. Fortunately, these past days, Du Fei had learned many lost techniques of Xingyi Quan under Du Tianyi, greatly enhancing his strength. Eventually, he outwitted his opponent and repelled him.
"Thank you for the bout!" Du Fei said with a fist salute and a slight smile, now much more humble than before. Undoubtedly, after meeting Du Tianyi, he understood that there are indeed heights beyond the known limits!
Yet the people of Da Hong Fist furrowed their brows. Hong Tianci clenched his teeth, glaring at Du Fei and said sternly, "Since when did Xingyi School have such a master? How come I didn't know?"
Loudly, Du Fei replied, "I originally belonged to the Northern Xingyi School. Now, the South and North Xingyi Gate have merged, and I am indeed a disciple of the Xingyi School now!"
"Oh, so it's that Northern Xingyi School that got swallowed up by the Southern Xingyi School," Hong Tianci gazed at Du Fei disdainfully, "Humph, I came here intending to see what capabilities the disciples of that old man Tie Yongwen had. What, does the Southern Xingyi School have no one left?"
These words angered the people of both the South and North Xingyi Gate, and Du Fei also frowned. The merger of the South and North Xingyi Schools wasn't about who swallowed whom. Such remarks from Hong Tianci were clearly provocative!
"The South and North Xingyi Gate were originally one family; there is no issue of one swallowing the other. Today, we are merely returning to one family," Wei Hua responded calmly, "Young Master Hong, if you wish to see the capabilities of my Master's disciples, just say so. However, I hope you can be more polite in your words. My father, after all, was an elder, and moreover, he has passed away. Your disrespectful words are rather impolite, aren't they?"
"Enough with the nonsense, Tie Yongwen was not my elder, what politeness?" Hong Tianci said angrily, "Mr. Wei, for the next round, are you planning to send out a disciple of Tie Yongwen, or do you intend to continue letting the people from Northern Xingyi School fight for you?"
Wei Hua turned his head to look, as Du Tianyi had already stepped out of the room and nodded slightly towards him. Wei Hua smiled faintly and said to Hong Tianci, "Since Young Master Hong has come to seek advice today, of course, we will show you the most complete Xingyi Quan. This Du Tianyi, is my Junior Brother and also my father's Closed-door Disciple. May I know which member of Da Hong Fist will come forward to offer guidance?"
"No need for anyone else, I'll do it myself!" Hong Tianci stepped forward, glaring coldly at Du Tianyi, "That earlier bout was just to warm up. Now, let's begin for real!"
"What do you mean by that?" someone from the Xingyi School immediately said angrily, "We've already won one round, are you thinking of reneging?"
Hong Tianci frowned, looking coldly at that person, "When did I say I'd renege?"
"Then what do you mean by starting for real!"
"Starting for real means to show you the true ultimate skills of Da Hong Fist," Hong Tianci said coldly. "There are three bouts, and just because you've won one, you think you hold the winning ticket? Humph, in the remaining two bouts, I will make sure you lose miserably!"
Hong Tianci said this, while casting a glance at Du Tianyi. He originally thought that such words could provoke Du Tianyi. However, Du Tianyi's completely calm expression surprised him.
Hong Tianci knew that the Xingyi School's boxing technique primarily focused on skill, aiming for a calm and stable mindset during combat. He came here speaking so offensively precisely to agitate the people of the Xingyi School and destabilize their mindset, thus gaining an advantage. However, Du Tianyi's excessive calmness puzzled him—was this person's mental state really that good?
Someone from the Xingyi School laughed boldly, "Anyone can talk big. Let's see you prove it in the fight!"
As soon as these words were uttered, Hong Tianci became even angrier. He glared resentfully at Du Tianyi, slowly clenched his fists, and assumed the beginning stance of the Da Hong Fist.
Du Tianyi smiled faintly, slowly stretched out one hand, and placed the other hand behind his back. From this posture, it seemed as if he intended to fight Hong Tianci with just one hand.
Hong Tianci flew into a rage, Du Tianyi's stance was clearly belittling him. At this, he completely lost his temper, roared furiously, and in a quick step, charged up to Du Tianyi, his fists piercing forward aiming directly at Du Tianyi's temples.
Du Tianyi remained calm, lightly and casually deflected Hong Tianci's arms. However, Hong Tianci was quick to change moves, turning around and kicking towards Du Tianyi. His speed and power were immense, as he sought to swiftly end the fight and showcase his strength to everyone.
Yet, though Du Tianyi used only one hand, he was not at a disadvantage. After struggling for a while, Hong Tianci grew increasingly furious. Du Tianyi had been fighting with just one hand for such a long time, which was quite humiliating. If word spread, where would he put his face?
Hong Tianci gritted his teeth and attacked even more fiercely, moving immediately to target Du Tianyi's other hand. He had resolved that either he would quickly defeat Du Tianyi or force him to use both hands, only then could he save face. Eventually, he shifted his focus entirely onto the arm Du Tianyi had behind his back, resolved to knock him down from that direction.
Du Tianyi continuously dodged and blocked, still not using that hand, which brought the fight to a somewhat perilous pitch.
"Ah, if Brother Du doesn't use that hand soon, he might really be at a disadvantage!" Da Fei, standing next to Ye Qing, couldn't help but remark.
"There's no rule against using both hands, why does Brother Du torment himself?" Chen Jun also wondered.
Ye Qing also frowned slightly, the previous Du Tianyi wasn't so conceited. This time he was fighting with just one hand, what was going on?
"Open up!" In the heat of the battle, Hong Tianci suddenly roared, both fists aiming straight at the unused arm of Du Tianyi. He seized the opportunity; Du Tianyi's body couldn't dodge in time, and his other arm couldn't come to defend in time either.
Just as Du Tianyi was about to be hit by the fists, the arm he had kept behind his back suddenly lifted and directly blocked Hong Tianci's punches. At the same time, the other hand shot out, landing a punch directly on Hong Tianci's left rib, sending him stumbling back several steps, nearly unable to maintain his footing.
This stunned everyone. They all thought Du Tianyi wouldn't use that arm, but just then, he did, completely catching everyone off guard, including Hong Tianci who was caught by surprise.
In the end, Du Tianyi hadn't used that arm at all until the very last moment, leading Hong Tianci to almost conclude he would not strike. But then Du Tianyi suddenly did, catching him completely unprepared, and directly defeating him, leaving him with an indignant feeling of disbelief.
"You... you weren't supposed to use that hand, were you?" Hong Tianci said angrily.
Du Tianyi looked at Hong Tianci calmly, responding, "Did I ever say that?"
"You..." Hong Tianci opened his mouth wide, but couldn't manage to say a word.
Indeed, Du Tianyi never said he wouldn't use that hand. Even if he used it, no one could fault him!
The Xingyi School members burst into laughter. Tie Weihua stepped forward, cupped his hands towards Hong Tianci, and laughed, "Young Master Hong, we appreciate the exchange. Two out of three rounds, and we luckily won two. We need not fight the third round, right?"
Many around them laughed as well, and Hong Tianci's face turned beet red. He said in a heavy tone, "Your Xingyi School, resorting to such despicable and shameless tricks to deceive me. I do not accept this match!"
A Xingyi School member responded, "It's two out of three rounds, witnessed by all. My junior brother never said he wouldn't use that hand. You lost because your skills are lacking. By saying you don't accept it, are you intending to overturn the outcome of those two rounds? Or perhaps, do people of Da Hong Fist refuse to admit defeat?"
As soon as this was said, many people around started murmuring, all mocking the people of Da Hong Fist.
Hong Tianci's expression turned even uglier, he clenched his teeth tightly and stared hard at the Xingyi School members, saying harshly, "Fine, you've got guts. The paths we take don't need to cross, we'll see!"