Tap tap.
Tap tap.
Fang Yu advanced slowly, his face expressionless.
Standing before him was once a brother-in-arms he had fought side by side with, someone for whom he would have taken a dagger to the ribs. They had shared meals from the same bowl, worn the same pants, slept on the streets together...
Time changes, things are no longer the same.
Clang.
Ji Qiubai was forced to retreat under the corrugated iron shed of the factory, with no way out.
"Fang Yu... don’t push me! Really, don’t push me." Never before had Ji Qiubai, the boss of Jiangzhou, lost his composure like today.
Panic-stricken, at a loss.
Even when facing Lu Youchao, an expert of Martial Arts Sixth Layer Heaven, he could remain calm. In Ji Qiubai’s view, everyone has a weakness. Lu Youchao’s weakness was his love for money.
But what was Fang Yu’s weakness?
The brothers from Jiangzhou? A woman of significance?
This is the burden brought by deep loyalty and honor.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh—
Dozens upon dozens of people suddenly appeared from the top and both sides of the corrugated iron shed, as well as from behind, all wearing black hoods, brandishing clubs, swords, and staves.
Fang Yu stopped in his tracks, slightly lifting his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone from the Dragon Tiger Association.
He said indifferently, "I will only say this once...
Those who do not wish to die, leave now."
His voice was calm, light, and steady... yet it carried an invisible oppressive force.
They were all Ji Qiubai’s subordinates, his current brothers, also bound by a code of "loyalty and honor." They knew that Fang Yu, standing before them, was a master, yet they boldly surged forward.
"Big brother..."
"Brother Ji."
Voices calling ’Brother Ji’ only revealed their fearful mindset.
No matter how many there were, in front of Fang Yu, they were no different from ants.
Ji Qiubai was smart and understood the principle behind it.
Thus, he raised his hand, waving it, saying, "Stand down."
"Big brother!"
"Brother Ji, we can’t back down!"
"Even if it means death! We must fight!"
Fang Yu glanced sideways, taking a few looks at those emotionally charged brothers. In that moment, it seemed as if he saw his former self in them. In the past, hadn’t he also stood in front of his brothers, fearless of life and death, fearless of the future?
"Stand down!" Ji Qiubai roared fiercely!
And the crowd had to ebb away like a tide.
Ji Qiubai lifted his head, looking straight at Fang Yu, and said, "Fang Yu, this is a matter between you and me, do not involve my brothers."
A faint smile crossed Fang Yu’s face, and he stood with his hands behind his back, saying, "Ji Qiubai, you are not a Martial Arts practitioner, I will not bully you by using Inner Strength... I will fight you, not using Inner Strength, just a primitive fist-to-fist and foot-to-foot combat. Do you dare?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Qiubai was slightly taken aback, "Are you sure?"
"If you truly understand, then you should know that I, Fang Yu, always keep my word!"
"Good!"
There’s nothing left for Ji Qiubai to worry about now.
He loosed his tie, took off his shoes, discarded his vest, and prepared to fight light.
Jiang Wei and others behind him saw this and were filled with concern.
"Young Master, why do this? Aren’t you giving him a chance?"
Gu Guangxuan said with an indifferent expression, "Don’t worry, there must be a reason for the Young Master’s actions."
...
When Ji Qiubai was young, he also thought of pursuing Martial Arts and trained non-stop every day, but to no avail. Despite this, he was still considered a strong and resilient fighter among common folks. Eight years ago, he was the only fighter comparable to Fang Yu.
He came before Fang Yu, limbering up his body.
Crackle and pop.
His training evidently had not been neglected.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Ji Qiubai attacked. His tall figure lifted a leg, launching a one hundred eighty-degree horizontal kick!
This was Fighting Skills!
Fang Yu raised his hand to block, bang bang!
Ji Qiubai’s kick missed its mark, and he turned around to throw a punch!
Bang!
This punch hit Fang Yu squarely in the chest.
"Got him?"
Rather than saying it was his punch that connected, it was more like Fang Yu didn’t even bother to dodge.
Fang Yu took this punch head-on, yet his body stood as unmoving as Mount Tai.
"Ji Qiubai, your martial arts skills have been wasted after all."
This punch landed on Fang Yu, but it felt like nothing more than a tickle.
Hoo!
Fang Yu raised his rough fists, Bam!
He landed a heavy punch right on the mature and composed cheek of Ji Qiubai!
"Ah..." Ji Qiubai stumbled backward repeatedly.
His eyes started to swell immediately.
With an extremely hideous look on his face, Ji Qiubai didn’t forget to pull out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off the blood on his face, even at this moment.
Lose, yes, but never lose face.
Tap tap.
Tap tap.
Fang Yu took steps, closing the distance with Ji Qiubai.
Behind him was still that tall metal box.
Damn it!
He had no room to retreat and could only brace himself to fight!
He raised his fists, hurling a flurry of punches at Fang Yu.
Bang bang!
Bang bang bang!
Those fists struck Fang Yu’s body just like before—he didn’t dodge!
Not even once!
"How can Fang Yu do this! Is he crazy?"
"Brother Yu! Dodge it!"
"Young Master... don’t be so rash..."
Fang Yu remained motionless.
He withstood those punches, still feeling like mere tickles.
Even without using Inner Strength, Ji Qiubai was no match for Fang Yu.
After the torrent of punches ended, Fang Yu was still unharmed.
Such physical condition left Gu Guangxuan and others gaping in astonishment; their worries had been superfluous.
"Are you done hitting?"
Fang Yu’s eyes turned cold, and he threw a punch.
Boom!
Ji Qiubai grunted, stumbling backward repeatedly. The other side of his cheek swelled up.
The title of Iron Fist King wasn’t given for nothing. Those rough hands, the joints covered with calluses, were truly intimidating.
"Fang Yu! Don’t push me!" Ji Qiubai gave up the offense.
"Do you really have no brotherly feelings? Back then! I should never have taken that knife for you. If you had died... would there still be a today?" Ji Qiubai was desperate!
"Brotherly feelings?" Fang Yu stopped in his tracks, looked straight at Ji Qiubai, and spoke word by word, "Tell me, what was the oath of our sworn brotherhood back then?"—
By the heavens above, today I, Ji Qiubai, and Fang Yu become sworn brothers. From this day forward, we will share weal and woe together. The heavens and the earth shall witness our hearts. Should we betray our bond and forget our graces, may we be condemned by both Heaven and man!
Ji Qiubai revealed a helpless smile.
"Fang Yu, do you think it’s easy to be the boss? You always act so self-righteous... Jiangzhou is so vast, and one wrong step could lead to doom! Do you think I want this? Haha... Haha..."
"All I want is to have a clear conscience... I really just want to have a clear conscience. Why... why do you always have to force me?" Ji Qiubai rambled on.
Fang Yu looked at him indifferently and said, "A clear conscience? You can no longer have that feeling..."
"No!"
Ji Qiubai suddenly raised his head, as he slowly shuffled to the side.
He edged towards the metal box, wiping off the blood on his face, his eyes turning red—
"Fang Yu! I refuse to accept this! I really don’t accept this!"
Ji Qiubai raised his hand, making a downward pulling gesture, whoosh whoosh, Yan Hu and Zeng Qiji, who had been suspended upstairs, were lowered down!
"Do you pride yourself on being loyal? Today, if you dare to touch me, I will let them die with me!"
PS: I wrote a draft and wasn’t satisfied, so I revised it. I suddenly forgot what brotherhood is... cough cough.