The Bout Agreement

When Yu Gang stepped outside, he saw a dozen or so people gathered across the open ground. Most of them were spread out around the perimeter, dressed in dark blue work overalls. Loops of brightly polished iron chains were wound around each man's fists, and their presence and expressions were fierce and imposing. Four men stood at the very front. Leading them was a squat man in his thirties wearing plain-glass spectacles and an old-fashioned, plain-collared straight robe. Behind him stood two burly middle-aged men, while a crew-cut young man in his early twenties with an arrogant glint in his eyes stood slightly farther off. Upon seeing Yu Gang, the leading man broke into a smile, clasped his fists, and said, "Teacher Yu, it's been a long time." Yu Gang clasped his fists in return. "I never expected Mr. Qi to grace this humble place. It is crude here, with nothing decent to entertain you with. Forgive my lack of hospitality." Mr. Qi waved it off with a sigh. "Not at all. I didn't come here today for tea or wine. I came solely to see you, Teacher Yu." Yu Gang said, "I am merely an ordinary boxing instructor. What is there to see?" Mr. Qi smiled. "Why be so modest, Teacher Yu? Who doesn't know what you are capable of? I made a special trip here today to invite you to join our Iron Chain Gang. Ah, don't be in a rush to refuse..." He held up a hand. "We know you are in some trouble, Teacher Yu, but we can resolve it for you." Yu Gang said in a low, heavy voice, "My affairs aren't something the Iron Chain Gang can settle. It will only bring you trouble." Mr. Qi dismissed the notion, brimming with supreme confidence. "How would you know without trying? Teacher Yu, those powerful figures and nobles may not be easy to cross, but neither is our Iron Chain Gang. As long as you join us, we are brothers. Your business will be our business. We will help you, and in a way that satisfies you." Yu Gang fell silent. Mr. Qi clasped his hands once more, raising his voice so everyone present could hear. "Teacher Yu, after you join the Iron Chain Gang, I can even take you as my master. Surely that leaves no doubt about our sincerity?" Yu Gang remained silent. The Iron Chain Gang was by no means a benign crowd. Now that things had been stated so plainly, he had to give a clear response; otherwise, it would be seen as slapping them in the face. Mr. Qi held his smile and his clasped-hands posture, waiting for an answer. After a moment, Yu Gang seemed to reach a decision. Looking at Mr. Qi and the others, he said, "How about this: I know nothing besides combat. Let one of my students have a match against one of yours. If you win, I will agree to join the Iron Chain Gang. If you lose, don't come looking for me for at least a year." Mr. Qi seemed to have anticipated this. Lowering his hands, he smiled. "We must show Teacher Yu respect." He turned his head and called out, "Ding Shuo." "Right here!" The crew-cut young man stepped forward from behind him. "Mr. Qi." Mr. Qi said, "Spar a round with Teacher Yu's student. Be careful, now. Teacher Yu is exceptionally skilled, so his students shouldn't be slacking either." Ding Shuo spotted Lu Ke behind Yu Gang and glared at him viciously. Yu Gang called Lu Ke over and instructed him, "Lu Ke, go have a match with him. Be careful." Lu Ke answered somewhat nervously, "Yes, Master." Mr. Qi said, "Mr. Yu, we're all friends here. No need for life and death—just stop once the point is made." He turned to Ding Shuo. "Ding Shuo, did you hear that?" Ding Shuo said, "Just watch, Mr. Qi." He stripped off his shirt, revealing a physique corded with sinewy muscle. Pulling hand wraps from his pocket, he bound his hands tight and began hopping lightly in place to loosen up. Lu Ke was also warming up, but he seemed somewhat off his game, taking deep breaths over and over. By now, Chen Chuan had also walked up to the doorway of the training ground, watching the commotion outside. The Iron Chain Gang and the Blood Mark Gang were the two largest gangs in Yangzhi City, and clashes frequently broke out between them. He wasn't privy to the exact grudges, but he had heard that the Blood Mark Gang was backed by the Molan Company. For the Iron Chain Gang to go toe-to-toe with them, they had to have the backing of some powerful faction as well. He just didn't know what they wanted with Yu Gang this time. In all honesty, if Yu Gang were recruited by the Iron Chain Gang, it would disrupt Chen Chuan's own training schedule... Before long, Lu Ke and Ding Shuo were practically ready. Both stepped into the clearing, exchanged the customary fist-and-palm salute, then backed up a few steps and assumed their stances. Ding Shuo grinned broadly and charged forward, launching right into a flying knee strike toward Lu Ke with ferocious momentum. Lu Ke scrambled aside to evade. The moment Ding Shuo landed, his feet pivoted nimbly, staying right on Lu Ke's heels. After unleashing a fierce flurry of combination punches, he suddenly whipped out a cold, sneaky low kick. Lu Ke showed no opening and brought his knee up in time to check the blow, but the kick packed immense power, forcing him to shift sideways to dissipate the force. Chen Chuan watched intently. Judging from the fluid efficiency of Ding Shuo's mechanics and the faint, barely perceptible hisses of exhaled breath, he deduced that this man had also mastered a breathing technique. Even so, as long as Lu Ke performed normally, he still had a fighting chance. Lu Ke ducked and dodged repeatedly under Ding Shuo's relentless assault. Although on the defensive the whole time, his guard remained relatively solid. As he evaded, he continued observing his opponent, looking for an opening. Soon, he found his chance. Right after Ding Shuo threw two punches and began whipping a low sweep toward him, Lu Ke abruptly snapped a front kick straight into the man's midsection. It was a beautiful kick, not only disrupting Ding Shuo's low attack but also landing as a potent counterstrike. Normally, breaking the opponent's rhythm like this would mark the start of a counteroffensive. Unexpectedly, Ding Shuo wasn't interrupted at all. Instead, he thrust his abdomen forward. Lu Ke felt a surge of force shove back through the sole of his foot, sending him stumbling backward against his will. Given his physical conditioning, he should have regained his footing quickly. Yet as if suddenly seized by a cramp, his legs abruptly gave way, and he crashed to the ground. He quickly rolled into a half-kneel, raising a fist in front of himself to guard against a follow-up assault. Ding Shuo didn't rush in. Instead, he paced a couple of steps in place and beckoned with an upturned palm, gesturing for him to hurry up and get to his feet. Chen Chuan noticed that a flush had crept across Lu Ke's face, his breathing turning far more rapid and labored. A thought struck him, and he glanced back toward the spot where Lu Ke had been sitting earlier. Next to Lu Ke's usual water bottle lay a small medicine bottle with its cap off; two pale yellow tablets were still resting inside. Lu Ke drew a sharp, heavy breath and stood up. Ding Shuo lunged forward in a flash, fists whistling through the air. Lu Ke instinctively raised his arms to block, but his hands had barely come up when a knee strike slammed hard into his ribs. A muffled groan escaped him. His breathing collapsed into chaos; he stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground again, propping himself up on his forearm just to avoid lying flat. By now, anyone could see that something was wrong with him. Ding Shuo complained in annoyance, "Hey, what's with you? Having an episode or something?" Yu Gang sighed softly. "Lu Ke, come back." He paused. "Mr. Qi, this round—" "Wait a moment, Teacher Yu." A voice rang out from inside the building. Mr. Qi and his men looked toward the sound and saw a well-proportioned youth with an outstanding, sharp demeanor walking out. Chen Chuan walked up to Yu Gang's side and said, "Teacher Yu, I can be considered your student too, right? Senior Brother Lu doesn't seem to be feeling well, which makes this match a bit unfair. Since the outcome isn't decided yet, could you let me continue in his place?" Yu Gang looked at him. "You don't need to step forward. This isn't your business." Chen Chuan replied earnestly, "Mr. Yu, even if it wasn't my business before, it is now. You understand that if it turns out that way, it might not be suitable for me to continue studying under you." If this were purely Yu Gang's affair, Chen Chuan wouldn't have volunteered. But Nian Fuli had warned him that because Yu Gang had a case hanging over him, Chen Chuan should simply study under him and avoid getting too close—probably out of caution regarding something. If Yu Gang joined the Iron Chain Gang, Chen Chuan would definitely have to stop studying under him to avoid suspicion. Rather than letting that happen, he might as well take the initiative to change the outcome. Mr. Qi chuckled at this. "Teacher Yu, this is your student too, isn't he? Since we agreed it would be your student fighting, having him step up complies with the rules." Ding Shuo scoffed, but in truth, he had no objection. Beating someone who had suddenly fallen ill gave him no satisfaction whatsoever, and those few exchanges earlier had barely served as a warmup. Seeing that they had no objection, Yu Gang considered it briefly, then said to Chen Chuan, "Be careful. This young brother Ding's striking is formidable." Chen Chuan understood immediately: if his striking was formidable, it meant his other techniques were comparatively lacking. That meant Chen Chuan could fight with fewer inhibitions. Lu Ke pushed himself up by now. Clutching his ribs, he came before Yu Gang. "Master, I..." Yu Gang patted him on the shoulder. "Don't overthink it. It was my oversight. Go back inside and take your medicine quickly." Lu Ke gave a subdued response. He looked back at Chen Chuan, who was beginning to warm up, then struggled for breath as he walked slowly toward the building. Before long, Chen Chuan finished his warmup and stepped onto the open ground, coming to a halt directly opposite Ding Shuo. ... ...