infodatos Chapter 23 Three Punches, Killing the Cow
Chapter 23 Three Punches, Killing the Cow
Zhang Yuan raised his head slightly.
The servant meant that Master Li had already made arrangements for them to tamper with the ox so that Zhang Yuan could "perform".
Two other servants stepped forward, making a move to hold down the bull's head and body, ready to "cooperate".
Zhang Yuan glanced at Li Yuanwai, whose face was taut and whose eyes were darting around, not far away.
He raised his hand and, to everyone's astonishment, gently but firmly pushed away the dagger offered by the servant!
"He...he doesn't want the knife?"
"Unarmed? What does he want to do?"
"He's insane! He's only eight years old! That ox weighs at least seven or eight hundred pounds; one gore from its horns could be fatal!"
"How is that possible? Fighting a yellow ox bare-handed? That would require at least mid-stage acquired realm strength, right? An eight-year-old at the acquired realm? I've never heard of such a thing in the entire Luyang Prefecture!"
The servants and stewards around immediately erupted in a commotion, whispering gasps and exclamations rising and falling, their faces filled with disbelief and expressions as if they were watching a madman.
Wang Quanfu's face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he almost collapsed.
Oh no, this kid's really gone mad! We're doomed to lose the Zhenwu Order!
Master Li's eyes suddenly narrowed, and a sharp glint flashed within them!
Fighting a bull bare-handed?
This is a hundred times harder than using a knife!
If he can really do that... what does that mean?
An eight-year-old at the mid-stage of the Acquired Realm?!
He dared not think any further, only feeling a chill rise from the soles of his feet, mixed with a deeper greed and fear.
Just then, Zhang Yuan in the arena took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly.
With that breath, his entire aura changed abruptly!
A cold, refined will, imbued with an aura of iron-blooded ruthlessness, instantly spread out, as if the temperature in the entire backyard had dropped several degrees.
"murderous look!"
Standing in the shadows of the corridor, a middle-aged head instructor of the guards, dressed in martial arts attire with bulging temples, suddenly narrowed his eyes and gasped in shock.
He had practiced martial arts for many years and was very familiar with the aura that came from being tempered on the battlefield!
This is something an ordinary child could never have!
"Bull Charge!"
A sharp shout rang out! Zhang Yuan moved!
He took a step forward, his figure like an arrow released from a bow, his small fist slamming into the center of the ox's forehead with a shrill sound that tore through the air!
"Bang—!"
A dull, resounding thud, like a heavy hammer striking a drum!
The massive yellow ox was struck by the punch, causing its head to snap back violently. It staggered backward, mooing in pain as it took several steps back, its eyes filled with fear!
Before the scalper could regain his footing and launch a counterattack, Zhang Yuan moved with lightning speed, instantly cutting to the scalper's side!
"The ox's horns are removed!"
He gave a low shout, and his hands shot out with lightning speed, precisely grabbing the two thick bull horns!
With a sudden burst of power from his waist and hips, his spine moved like a dragon, and a tremendous force of 500 pounds exploded from his body!
Using the momentum of the ox's forward stagger, he flexed his muscles in both arms, veins bulging like coiled dragons, and executed a superb spinning twist and fall!
"Boom—!"
A loud bang, and dust flew everywhere!
He actually swung that huge ox body, weighing seven or eight hundred pounds, and slammed it hard onto the hard bluestone ground!
The ox was thrown around so hard it was dizzy and its internal organs were convulsing, and it let out a painful cry!
"A wild bull stomps the ground!"
Zhang Yuan's movements were fluid and uninterrupted, as if he had practiced them a thousand times!
He knelt down on one knee like a battering ram, striking the bull's vital neck.
With his left hand firmly pressing down on the bull's head, his right fist was raised high, as if all the heavy and fierce power of his body was gathered on the fist, and the sound of his bones and muscles resonating could be clearly heard, like muffled thunder rolling!
"Snap!"
The fist falls!
A fracture!
The fist, which embodies the essence of the Great Perfection of the Wild Bull Fist and is as heavy and fierce as a mountain, struck the most vulnerable part of the yellow bull's neck bone with unparalleled precision!
The ox shuddered violently, kicked its limbs, let out a short, mournful cry, its eyes bulged, and its massive body instantly went limp, lifeless.
The entire backyard was deathly silent!
You could hear a pin drop!
Everyone stared blankly at the small, thin figure in the center of the room, who slowly stood up, slightly out of breath, and was tidying up his slightly disheveled clothes.
The ox at his feet was already dead. The whole process was clean and efficient, taking only two or three breaths!
【Ding! 】
[Slaying robust, adult cattle and plundering their life force!]
[Slightly enhanced Qi and blood circulation; minor improvement in the strength and resilience of muscles and bones!]
[Lifespan increased by 9 years!]
[Current lifespan remaining: 22 years and 281 days!]
A cold system notification rang in Zhang Yuan's mind.
A warm current instantly surged into my limbs and bones, not only soothing the fatigue from the previous violent outburst, but also bringing a feeling of abundance that made my lifespan soar.
A faint, barely suppressed joy appeared on his face, which he quickly concealed.
He calmly brushed the dust off his clothes, walked up to the still petrified Li Yuanwai, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, his tone calm and even, as if he had only done a trivial matter:
"Uncle Li, I have won by sheer luck. I hope you will accept the loss. The hundreds of displaced villagers in Zhangjiazhuang outside the city are all grateful for your great kindness."
"hiss--"
"Really...really killed? Bare-handed?"
"My God... Am I dreaming?"
"Three punches! Just three punches! What kind of boxing technique is that? It's too fierce!"
"Eight years old... eight years old in the mid-stage of the Acquired Realm? No, this power, this level of fist technique, it's probably close to the late stage, right?" The head instructor's voice trembled with disbelief, and he looked at Zhang Yuan as if he were a monster.
"Small Mastery? No! This fist technique is perfectly integrated, and the power is generated as easily as moving one's own limbs; it's at least at the Great Mastery level! Did he... did he start practicing fist techniques in his mother's womb?"
The way the servants looked at Zhang Yuan changed completely, filled with awe, shock, and even a hint of worship.
Master Li suddenly came to his senses, and the shock on his face was instantly replaced by an extremely complex expression that was filled with ecstasy and relief.
He took a deep breath and let out a deafening laugh: "Hahaha! Good! Good! What a young hero! My nephew, your bravery is truly an eye-opener! I'm convinced! Completely convinced!"
He waved his hand grandly, exclaiming with boundless pride, "Uncle, you keep your word! Starting next month—no, starting this month! On the tenth of each month, my Li family will send a healthy ox, plus—"
He paused for a moment, then raised his voice even higher.
"Twenty bushels of coarse rice! Deliver it to Zhangjia Village! Without delay, steward!"
"Yes, sir!" The butler jumped up and bowed quickly.
"Take my nephew Qingyang to the storeroom immediately! Let him choose any three... no, five suitable medicinal herbs and precious materials! Take whatever he likes!"
Master Li's attitude was now so warm that he seemed like a completely different person, and the way he looked at Zhang Yuan was as if he were looking at a rare treasure.
After Zhang Yuan left with the steward to go to the storeroom, Master Li's smile faded slightly. He turned to the still-shaken Wang Quanfu beside him, his voice becoming exceptionally amiable: "Brother Wang, what about the obstructed trade route you mentioned? It's a minor matter! Leave it to me!"
"I'll have someone put in a good word for you! If your business encounters any difficulties in Fengming, Linxian, or Hejian, just mention my name, Li Decai!"
He patted Wang Quanfu on the shoulder affectionately and lowered his voice: "Besides, I happen to have a batch of southern goods here, which are quite profitable. I'm just worried about not finding a reliable partner. Why don't we entrust them to your business, Brother Wang?"
"We're brothers, let's make money together!"
Seeing Li Yuanwai's sudden change in attitude, and then looking towards the storeroom, Wang Quanfu's face showed a complex and inscrutable emotion. He sighed softly, his voice low, "Brother Li's kindness is deeply appreciated. However..."
"Alas, there is great terror, but also great wisdom, between life and death. My nephew... has experienced life and death, and his wisdom and strength are truly beyond what ordinary children can possess."
Master Li nodded in deep agreement, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Wang is right. However... if word gets out that I, Li Decai, gambled with the orphan of an old friend and even lost a cow and rice."
"This... I'm afraid it will somewhat affect the reputation of my Li family."
His words clearly implied that he wanted to keep quiet.