Inside the Zhao Family Boxing Gym.
Bang!
A figure was sent flying and crashed to the ground.
Zoe Zhao defeated the bald youth from Dragonforce Martial Arts Gym in just three moves. Instantly, cheers erupted from the Zhao Family Boxing Gym side, while the bald youth and the other two young men from Dragonforce looked grim, and Jason Xu's face grew serious.
"Not bad, miss. I'm Jason Xu from Dragonforce Martial Arts Gym. May I ask your name?" He kept his tone polite, but there was a hint of arrogance beneath the surface.
Zoe Zhao shot him a cold glare. "I'm Zoe Zhao, Frank Zhao's little sister. You're here to kick our gym, aren't you? My brother's not here, so if you've got something, bring it to me instead."
Jason Xu smiled, "Miss Zoe, you truly live up to your reputation. Then, allow me to learn a few moves from you!"
"Cut the crap. If you want a fight, just fight." Zoe Zhao sneered, her tone sharp and dismissive.
Jason Xu smiled indifferently and gestured politely, "Miss Zoe, please."
"I'm the host, you're the guest. You make the first move."
Zoe Zhao's words immediately drew cheers from the trainees. Ian Song couldn't help but nod, though he was a bit worried. Jason Xu seemed humble and kind, but he gave Ian a hypocritical vibe—classic knife behind a smile. With Zoe's straightforward personality, she might suffer against someone like him.
Sure enough, after seven or eight exchanges, Ian could see what was happening: Zoe Zhao kept up a fierce and relentless assault, her momentum strong, but Jason Xu dodged and countered with ease. He seemed to be at a disadvantage, yet remained calm and composed, handling each attack effortlessly.
Sure enough, after only seven or eight moves, Ian could already spot the problem. Zoe Zhao pressed the attack, fierce and relentless, her momentum almost overwhelming. But Jason Xu moved with effortless calm, dodging and countering just enough to stay out of trouble. He looked like he was on the back foot, but handled everything with cool ease, never losing his composure.
Seeing this, the bald youth from Dragonforce roared, "Ha! Little girl, now you know how tough it is. My master isn't someone you can handle. Why don't you call out Frank Zhao, that cowardly turtle, and have him spar with my master instead!"
"Again!"
Zoe Zhao grew furious, gritting her teeth against the pain in her shoulder and charging forward. Jason Xu's punch had used internal force, leaving her entire right arm nearly useless.
Just then, an arm reached out and pulled Zoe Zhao back.
Ian Song's voice followed: "Zoe, let me handle this."
"Are you sure?" Zoe Zhao pursed her lips when she saw it was Ian Song.
Ian Song burst out laughing. "A couple of punks like these? Trust me, I've got this."
"Be careful." Zoe Zhao nodded and stepped back into the crowd.
Ian Song stepped forward to face Jason Xu. "I'm Ian Song, just an ordinary trainee at the Zhao Family Boxing Gym. I've had the honor of learning a few moves from Coach Zhao. I'd like to learn a few moves from you, Coach Xu."
"Kid, you're still wet behind the ears. How dare you challenge my master? Go home and grow up a bit before you come back!" the bald youth sneered.
"Your mouth stinks! You need a slap!"
Suddenly!
Ian Song became a blur, darting out in an instant to appear before the bald youth. He raised his hand and slapped him across the face.
Slap!
The crisp sound echoed through the room.
After the slap, Ian Song flashed back to his original spot, staring playfully at the bald youth. "If you keep running your mouth, I'll knock out those yellow teeth of yours."
"Ah!" Ian Song's eyes widened in disbelief. "You're really willing to teach me?"
The bald youth opened his mouth to curse again, but Ian Song shot him a glare, scaring him into swallowing his words. The trainees burst into laughter.
Even a dog knows to respect its master. Ian Song's handling of the bald youth angered Jason Xu, who narrowed his eyes and said coldly:
"Little brother, you have some real skill. Then let me spar with you!"
"Alright, bring it on!"
Ian Song didn't hold back. He had zero goodwill for Jason Xu and his crew.
His stats—speed, explosiveness, strength—were all five times those of a normal person. So when he went all out, not only was he incredibly fast, his power was terrifying.
Under his storm-like assault, Jason Xu was forced to retreat again and again, drawing cheers from the trainees.
Zoe Zhao watched Ian Song in the ring, her eyes shining. This kid's real strength was actually this high. No wonder he didn't want to become Frank's disciple—he might be just as strong as her brother.
Facing Ian Song's relentless attacks, Jason Xu switched to a set boxing routine to defend, barely managing to block. The more he fought, the more shocked he became—he never expected a teenager to be this strong.
"Hmph!"
After a moment, Ian Song stepped forward and began gliding around the office, his movements swift and fluid, like a streak of lightning. Zoe Zhao's eyes went wide—she stared in disbelief, blurting out, "Impossible!"
With these two powers active, another dozen moves passed and he had basically grasped the essence of Jason Xu's boxing set.
"Break!"
He fired his fists out like a gust of wind.
Jason Xu's palms shot out to meet his fists, but those punches were just feints.
"You fell for it." Ian Song smirked.
His fists dropped, slipping right through the gap in Jason Xu's palms, striking his chest like lightning.
Bang! Bang!
With two heavy thuds, Jason Xu staggered back, his chest churning inside. Just then, Ian Song leapt into the air, his legs whipping out like twin lashes at high speed.
Thud thud thud thud!
He kicked out eleven times in a row. Jason Xu blocked most of them, but three landed solidly on his shoulders and chest.
After taking so many heavy hits, he finally couldn't hold out and staggered back several steps. Though he steadied himself, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Nice one, Ian Song!"
Zoe Zhao couldn't help but shout loudly.
"Ian Song is mighty!" The trainees shouted together.
Jason Xu's face turned ashen. He clutched his chest and glared venomously at Ian Song. "Who exactly are you?"
"Ian Song, just an ordinary trainee at the Zhao Family Boxing Gym!" Ian Song raised a finger and said slowly.
"Fine. I'll remember this lesson. Farewell!"
Jason Xu swung his hand darkly and turned to leave the gym. He'd only come because Frank Zhao wasn't around, planning to stomp on the Zhao Family Boxing Gym and boost Dragonforce's reputation. He never expected an unexpected challenger to ruin his plan.
"Master, are we just going to let this go?" The bald youth said, unwilling to accept defeat.
"Of course not," Jason Xu sneered. "Go investigate that kid's background. If he dares mess with us, I'll break both his legs!"
"Don't worry, Master. Leave it to me. That kid can fight, but I've got numbers. Breaking his legs will be easy," the bald youth said darkly. He wasn't just Jason Xu's disciple, but also the personal bodyguard of a certain underworld boss in Riverstone, so calling in backup was no problem.
Inside the gym.
After defeating Jason Xu, the trainees surrounded Ian Song.
"Ian Song, come with me."
Zoe Zhao called out.
"Okay, Zoe."
Ian Song broke away from the crowd and followed Zoe Zhao to the office again.
Zoe Zhao spoke seriously: "You really helped me out today. But I don't like owing favors. So today, I'll teach you the Zhao family's Ninefold Breath Technique and Tiger-Leap Step."
"Ah." Ian Song was surprised. "Really?"
"Learn it if you want."
"Only a fool wouldn't learn," Ian Song said quickly.
Next, Zoe Zhao explained the Ninefold Breath Technique to Ian Song. With Photographic Memory and Mastery Insight still active, he understood seventy to eighty percent after just one explanation, and fully mastered it after hearing it twice.
Zoe Zhao continued, "The Ninefold Breath Technique can't be mastered in a day. It takes persistence. Now, let me demonstrate the Tiger-Leap Step."
As soon as she finished speaking, Zoe Zhao darted and shifted around the office, demonstrating the technique.
"How much did you remember?" After finishing, Zoe Zhao asked Ian Song.
"All of it," Ian Song replied honestly.
"Then show me once." Zoe Zhao sneered. She didn't believe Ian Song could memorize Tiger-Leap Step after seeing it just once.
"Alright."
Ian Song nodded, but didn't start right away. He closed his eyes and rehearsed the moves in his mind several times.
After a moment, Ian Song stepped out and quickly glided around the office, his movements swift and graceful like lightning. Zoe Zhao stared in shock, unable to believe it.