36 assumed a fighting stance. The one-eyed man was extremely fast, a side kick already before him. With a slight turn of the head, the powerful kick grazed his scalp and flew behind. 36 didn't miss the chance. He threw a full-force right punch. Even without the aid of armor, such a close-range punch was enough to break bones. But the expected outcome didn't happen. The left foot that had brushed past 36 suddenly changed its attack direction, the knee striking 36's unguarded temple. 36 flew sideways 2 meters and fell to the ground.
1, watching from the side, clenched their fists. The previous attack was truly formidable; the speed of the feint was unbelievably fast. Without constant hard training and astonishing talent, one wouldn't even dare to think of it.
The one-eyed man didn't pause. Although he had landed a hit, it was a follow-up feint. The force was still insufficient. It wouldn't matter against an ordinary child, but the previous fight had shown 36 was no ordinary person. Stopping in front of 36, he raised his right leg high, the heel chopping down like a battle axe towards the still-downed 36. The one-eyed man sighed inwardly, "It's over, next is..." His thought was interrupted by 36. An upward right punch from below struck the terrifying heel squarely. When 36's fist hit, the opponent would know what power felt like.
Intense pain shot from the sole of his foot straight into the one-eyed man's brain. Despite his strong body, he couldn't help but hop back several steps to catch his breath. 36 took the opportunity to stand up, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth with his fingers, looking appreciatively at the one-eyed man rubbing his right foot on the ground.
"What a formidable kid," the one-eyed man laughed. "You're the first person in 10 years to make my body go numb."
"Still coming?" 36 asked.
The one-eyed man answered with action. He charged forward, launching a left spinning sweep kick towards 36's head. 36 just tilted back slightly to dodge. The attacking right foot landed even before the airborne left foot. With a light tap, the right foot, momentum unspent, rose again, delivering a reverse spinning sweep kick towards the head. The fluid movements and highly imaginative technique made the onlookers want to applaud.
36 also wanted to sigh in admiration, but there was no time. He simply raised his hand to block. The scene of being sent flying reappeared. Fortunately, 36 maintained his balance, quickly moving a few steps to stabilize himself. A master is a master; the pursuit arrived again. But the movement was surprisingly slow. Both hands came together, seemingly gently pressing onto 36's chest. 13, watching, yelled inwardly, "Not good!"
This seemingly powerless move was authentic Chinese martial arts—Tai Chi! 36, who seemed fine, suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered back a step. His legs weakened, about to buckle. But pride told 36, no!
"Ah!" 36 endured the churning in his organs and punched the ground. Several pieces of the peach wood floor cracked. The powerful rebound forced his body upward. A follow-up right knee strike hit the unprepared one-eyed man's jaw. For the first time, the one-eyed man backflipped and fell to the ground. After the attack, 36 sat on the floor behind him like a deflated balloon, barely able to keep his upper body straight with the support of his hands. Looking closely at his right fist, it was covered in blood.
The training room fell silent. 36 continued to pant heavily. Three minutes passed, but no one approached. Because it wasn't over. The one-eyed man's breathing grew steadier.
Four minutes. The one-eyed man stood up. His eyes held only fury.
He faced the downed 36 and assumed a fighting stance.
"You are the first person to counterattack after being hit by my self-created combat Tai Chi move—'All Organs Injured'," the one-eyed man stared intently at 36. "To show my respect, I will kill you myself!"
36 closed his eyes, saying nothing, continuing to pant, as if the furious enemy before him didn't exist.
"Don't you want to help? He'll really die," the one-eyed man glanced at 13.
"It's fine. 36 said he could beat you. You should worry about yourself first," 13 replied calmly.
Seeing that 24 and 1 beside 13 also had no intention of intervening, the one-eyed man finally dismissed his fear of being ambushed. He adjusted his breathing again and rushed towards 36.
36 on the ground finally managed to stand, though his legs were still trembling.
The one-eyed man held nothing back. His feet stomped the ground powerfully like a three-step layup, accelerating. It was his self-created ultimate killing move, 3 steps—Kill!
Three accelerations. The one-eyed man's momentum was like a truck's. Just a simple side kick, converting all the force into it. The consequences of even being grazed by this kick were unimaginable.
36 raised his left hand to block, but seemed half a beat too slow. By the time his arm was up, the foot was already at his chest. There was no suspense. The powerful kick landed squarely on 36's small chest. But it wasn't over yet. The arm he had raised somehow hooked the one-eyed man's attacking foot. 36, who should have been sent flying, was miraculously pulled back. Slightly turning sideways, he raised his right fist towards the one-eyed man's head. Due to his height disadvantage, he changed the fist to a palm, slapping the one-eyed man across the face, leaving a clear handprint. Looking at his "masterpiece," 36 smiled, spat out a large mouthful of blood, and collapsed to the ground. This time, he truly couldn't get up.
The one-eyed man retracted his foot, watching 13 walk towards him. "One down. Who's next?"
"There is no next one," 13 also started walking, but towards the unmoving 36.
"Are you scared?" The one-eyed man's tone dripped with contempt.
"Sigh, and you call yourself a martial artist..." 1 sighed. "A kid's body delivering punches with such terrifying force. Don't you find that strange?"
Hearing this, and recalling the numbness in his heel, the one-eyed man also found it strange.
"He can punch with such force because 36 has mastered punching techniques that are difficult for ordinary people, techniques created by his father," 24 explained. "His father also practiced Tai Chi. Perhaps wanting to escape his father's shadow, 36 only uses the punching techniques but never the Tai Chi forms."
"You were a formidable opponent, I think 36 would have to admit that too..." 13 brushed past the one-eyed man. "So in that last strike, 36 used something he didn't want to use."
The one-eyed man understood their words. Blood involuntarily flowed from his nostrils.
"That slap just now was..." The one-eyed man swayed and knelt on the ground. "It was the fundamental of Tai Chi—borrowing force to strike with force!"
"Lie down!" 13 said softly, hoisting 36 onto their back.
Spurting blood towards the sky, the monstrous one-eyed man finally, unwillingly, collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
36 had won...
"It's been 15 minutes, no movement outside. Looks like the one-eyed man told the truth. Chen Bian intends to use a borrowed knife to kill," 1 checked their watch.
"Just in case, let's finish this quickly," 13 handed the unconscious 36 to 1.
"You protect 36, we'll clear the way," 24 walked to 13's side.
The operatives continued upstairs.
They didn't encounter another monster like the one-eyed man, but professional special forces members from various countries still effectively hindered their progress. By the time they reached the entrance of Black Dragon's private dance hall on the top floor, 40 minutes had passed.
"What do you think it's like inside?" 1 looked at the gold-trimmed double doors.
"Let's see," 13 casually pushed open the doors. 24 stood beside them, dual pistols raised, ready. If there was an ambush, they would react first.
"There's a mat at the door, remember to wipe your shoes before entering." This was another spacious hall, slightly smaller than the one-eyed man's training room.
24 scanned the surroundings. No ambush. Dozens of floor-to-ceiling windows filled the hall with sunlight. Black Dragon sat reading a book on a single high-backed sofa in the center of the hall, not even glancing at the intruders. "You're Black Dragon?" 1 asked.
"Correct, I am Black Dragon," the elegantly dressed young man in the hall put down his book, smiling in the sunlight.
"I never expected..." Seeing no ambush, 24 lowered their guns.
"Never expected the infamous crime boss Black Dragon to be so young?" Black Dragon finished 24's sentence.
"Regardless, since you're Black Dragon, you die today," 13 stated coldly.
"If killing me is to stop the terrorist attacks, then you'll be disappointed," Black Dragon stood up, placing the book on a nearby crystal coffee table.
"I don't believe in loyalty among gangsters. If you die, they probably won't be stupid enough to fight the regular army," 1 walked into the hall without wiping their shoes, laying 36 gently on the floor.
"It's not because of that," Black Dragon shook his head, eyes closed. "It's because you can't kill me today."
Suddenly, a familiar killing intent surged. 13's heart pounded as they shouted, "Watch out!"
But it was too late. 1 didn't react at all, flying backward and crashing into the wall behind them, fainting, leaving only cracks on the wall...
"I told you, you can't kill me..." Black Dragon's smile turned exceptionally cold..