Martial artists can never be ultimately insulted

"As for the juvenile division... most of the thugs they come into contact with only know how to fight without any skill. They can't compare to legitimate fighting in terms of technique, and they are far less violent than those real, exciting and thrilling acts of violence."

Pegasus said, with a hint of seriousness and a touch of irritation:

"Even if the goal is simply to make money, as the clientele gradually stabilizes, the fighting group's style will also gradually become fixed, making truly wealthy gamblers feel it's low-class and boring. At that point, the entire fighting ladder will lose its appeal!"

Seeing the frustrated and overwhelmed Pegasus Nozomi, Hanaya Mina couldn't help but smile wryly and say, "We... we're just trying to make a quick buck, right? Why does it feel like we're developing into a large-scale fighting group?"

“Yeah.” Iori Kazuka nodded in agreement. “Although I’m also very interested… the only guys I can get in touch with right now are these thugs.”

"And there's one more thing."

Yuan Chen shook his head and looked at Tianma Xiwang and the others in front of him, saying, "You lack real experience in participating in large-scale underground team competitions."

"...That's a bit too much to ask." Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Tianma Hope paused briefly, then sighed and said:

"You're also involved in underground fighting, so you should know this very well, right? The truly top-tier underground fighting groups are far more rigorous in their selection of members than those large fighting groups in the mainstream world..."

Yuan Chen simply smiled, took out his phone, and showed a QR code.

Feeling puzzled, Tianma still silently scanned the code and looked at the screen.

Fighter: Yuan Chen.

Company owned by: Sakura-cho Charcoal Grilled Meat Family Chain.

Kengan's record: 2 wins, 0 losses

Battle results details:

The battle for the five-year lease of a shop on Ginza's Chuo-dori Street. Result: Winner. Estimated asset value: 5 million yen.

Battle for the planning and development rights of Tianhe Commercial Street. Result: Winner. Estimated asset value: 350 billion yen.

Tenma Hope: "...Hmm?"

Is underground fighting really that lucrative? How come I didn't know that?

Volume 1: Chapter 135 - Chun-Li's Opinion

Looking at Yuan Chen's winning assets, even the penniless Pegasus Hope was slightly stunned, his entire brain completely shut down.

What the hell?! Three hundred and fifty billion?!

Bombarded by the astronomical figure, Tenma instinctively thought he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes, and after confirming he wasn't mistaken, he fell silent once more.

Perhaps the permanent blurred vision is caused by the worsening of retinal detachment?

As soon as the idea came to mind, Pegasus hoped to shake his head vigorously and deny it.

He knew his own situation. He had just finished a warm-up match in the Losers Fighting tournament. Pegasus hoped that he could feel that although he had developed symptoms of retinal detachment, it was only in its early stages and his vision had not been damaged as a result.

Simply put, in formal competitions, there is always a risk of blindness due to intense fighting, and large organizations refuse to join in order to avoid similar compensation.

Having confirmed that it wasn't a problem with his eyes, a look of disbelief flashed in Tianma's eyes as he subconsciously glanced at Yuan Chen's previous identity information—indeed, his age was eighteen…

Seeing the astonishment on Tenma Nozomi's face, Iori Kazuka and Hanaya Mina exchanged a glance, then curiously leaned over to look.

next moment--

"Eh?! Three hundred and fifty billion?! Did I see that right?!"

Hanaya Mina looked astonished, her already droopy eyes widening in disbelief.

Iori Kazuka also gasped, looking at Yuan Chen and asking, "You...you're not using the competition as an excuse to sell something shady, are you?!"

Although she said that, Iori Kazuka didn't really mean it that way. After all, thanks to how they first met, Iori Kazuka knew very well how much Interpol valued Yuan Chen... especially since he had such fighting skills and cooking abilities, he was the kind of person who wouldn't starve no matter where he was thrown.

If it's simply about making money... with Yuan Chen's abilities, there are plenty of ways to make money.

Yuan Chen simply shrugged, saying nothing more. Of the three, it was Pegasus Nozomi, who had initially been incredulous and astonished, who was the first to recover and fell silent, staring at the words 'Kengan Association Fighter Files' at the top of his personal information page.

Kengan Association?

Does that sound familiar? I feel like I've heard it somewhere before?

Thinking about it, Tenma also began to recall. After a moment, he remembered that he had been diagnosed with retinal detachment and was rejected by the mainstream fighting groups. When he started to learn about underground fighting groups, he received relevant information from his seniors in his fighting gym.

Although Tenma couldn't quite remember the details his senior had given him, one thing remained clear to him.

Compared to the Losers Fighting Club, which she eventually joined, the Kengan Association... If the Losers Fighting Club is the bottom rung of the underground fighting scene, relying entirely on sex to attract spectators and lacking any commendable culture or substance, it's the mud of the mud in the underground fighting world. Then the Kengan Association is the pinnacle!

It is a palace standing in the clouds!

It is not only a hall-of-fame existence in underground fighting groups, but also a hall of fame that many martial artists in the real world actively choose to prove themselves and hone their skills in order to gain more recognition!

Countless large multinational corporations, century-old trading companies, and tech giants compete as members of the Kengan Association. Each competition represents a fierce battle involving millions, tens of millions, hundreds of millions, or even billions!

Even just putting Kengan Association and Loser Fighting together, Tenma Nozomi felt a sense of mismatch and inequality... because according to Kengan Association's requirements, even just wanting to obtain membership requires paying a registration fee of more than 100 million yen.

Given the sheer size of the "Loser Dog Fighting" organization, even if all the fighters were sold off as a package, the revenue wouldn't cover the costs of securing a membership.

And now... he's twenty-seven, unemployed, just fired from a fighting club, and has a detached retina—and ironically, fighting is what he's most familiar with...

Meanwhile, the other party, at the age of eighteen... just starting university, had already amassed 36 billion yen in assets in just two matches at the Kengan Association.

And the other party seems to want to cooperate with me?

Tenma felt his mind go completely blank, unable to process the information on the scene.

Realizing this, Tenma Hiroshi didn't hesitate at all, picked up the beer next to him and poured it directly over his head.

As the chilled liquor poured down his face, the unexpected coolness of the summer night invigorated Pegasus.

Raising his head again and looking at Yuan Chen, Tianma asked earnestly, "Are you serious? You're not joking? You're not playing me?"

“There’s nothing about you that I could lie to,” Yuan Chen shook his head and said calmly.

"The reason I did this is simply because I have no experience in or interest in group management, and I don't want to waste any extra energy."

"as well as……"

After a brief silence, meeting the complex gazes of Tianma Xiwang and the others, Yuan Chen simply said, "I am quite confident in my ability to judge people."

"That..."

Seeing the silent Pegasus Nozomi and the talkative Genji, Hanaya Mina timidly raised her hand and asked curiously, "Kengan Association... what is that?"

As a weak underworld figure who only entered the profession halfway through her career, Hanaya Mina's understanding of underground fighting is far less than that of Tenma Nozomi.

Tenma did not answer Hanaya Mina's question.

Looking up, I hope that Tenma didn't deliberately ignore Hanaya Mina, but instead kept his head down, deep in thought.

His expression was complex, his demeanor solemn, and his face tense, with his hands instinctively clenched into fists, as if he were making some important decision.

Seeing this, Iori Kazuka, who was standing to the side, seemed to remember something as well. For a moment, she became serious and fell into deep thought, but she was unable to provide Hanaya Mina with any effective clues.

Sensing Hanaya Mina's confusion, Yuan Chen chuckled and explained:

"It's just a slightly larger underground fighting group. Also, don't be fooled by the hundreds of millions or tens of billions in asset valuations. It's just for show. As a fighter, I don't get much of a share."

Upon hearing this, Hanaya Mina couldn't help but twitch her lips and complain, "Really not much? I feel like it might be more than I thought..."

Yuan Chen shrugged, offering no further explanation.

Meanwhile, after a long silence, Pegasus took a deep breath and nodded firmly.

Her hair was still dripping wet, and ice-cold beer was running down her cheeks and into her collar, but she made no attempt to wipe it away.

"I did it." Pegasus said forcefully, as if he had finally put his foot firmly on something that had been hanging there for a long time.

"Huh? You decided so quickly?" Hanaya Mina blinked, looking at Tenma Nozomi and then at Yuan Chen, somewhat surprised that Nozomi had decided on such an important matter so quickly.

"It's decided."

Tenma nodded and said decisively, "I already had nothing left, so I have nothing to lose. Even if I fail, it won't be worse than it is now."

As he said this, Tianma turned to Yuan Chen beside him and said, "My dream is to stand in the fighting arena! Now my eyes have betrayed me, so building an underground arena that can accommodate someone like me is a way to fulfill my dream!"

"I don't know why you value me so much, but since you dare to say that, I dare to do it!"

As he spoke, Tianma hoped to pick up the wine glass next to him and point it at Yuan Chen.

"Then it's settled." Yuan Chen picked up his wine glass, clinked it against hers, and drank it all in one gulp.

Then, looking at the two people beside him, he asked, "Where are you two?"

"Wait a minute." Just as Yuan Chen was speaking, Chun Li unconsciously rubbed her temples.

"Regarding the establishment of an underground fighting club... I don't think I've heard you mention this before?"

"Yes, it's an idea that only came to me recently, but I'm serious about it," Yuan Chen replied.

Although she had been here all along, Chun-Li only now realized that Yuan-Chen wanted to establish an underground fighting club. Because she didn't know much about the situation, Chun-Li hadn't interrupted him before.

As it turns out, Yuan Chen is not only serious, but he has even decided to start working with the partners he has his eye on immediately.

Thinking of Yuan Chen's efficiency and focus, and hearing his answer, Chun Li felt a headache coming on. But before she could say anything, Yuan Chen said, "Sister Chun Li, you've been looking into Ying Luo, haven't you?"

"...Yes, but what does that have to do with establishing an underground fighting club?"

Chunli looked at Yuanchen helplessly.

Yuan Chen, however, said calmly, "Instead of searching aimlessly, let Ying Luo come out on her own."

Upon hearing this, Chunli paused for a moment, then frowned as if realizing something, crossed her arms, and looked at Yuan Chen, saying, "What's your idea?"

"Shadow Luo has been searching for young strong people all over the world. Among them, women, because they have better mental aptitude than men, are constantly kidnapped, plundered, brainwashed, and then cultivated as reincarnation vessels for Vega."

"Back then, in September and October of the Sanyuan Society, I was a member of the December Unit under their command—who wouldn't want to have more lives to save up? Especially an ambitious villain like Vega, who would stop at nothing to leave himself a way out."

"Male martial artists cannot be mass-produced due to their mental and spiritual aptitudes, and can only be cultivated through time-consuming and laborious methods such as cloning or genetic modification. Powerful female fighters, on the other hand, can be directly transformed into usable backup bodies through mental aptitude simply by undergoing brainwashing."

"Under these circumstances, a rising female underground fighting group has emerged... I'm sure Vega will make some moves."

"Luring the snake out of its hole?"

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's idea, Chun Li paused slightly, a complex expression appearing between her brows, before shaking her head and saying:

"No, even if the plan is feasible, if it really attracts Vega, it would be too dangerous for ordinary fighters who are accidentally dragged into this kind of event!"

"Do not."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen shook his head, but not to deny Chun Li's idea. Instead, he said, "I'm just explaining the potential risks, which doesn't mean I'll listen to you."

"Ah Chen!" Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Chun Li frowned, a rare occurrence for her.

"Don't be so nervous, Chunli." Seeing Chunli's worried expression, Yuan Chen shook his head again.

"Even without other reasons, given the unique nature of the fighting world, it's only a matter of time before powerful martial artists are discovered and noticed. Otherwise, Baroque wouldn't have found us so easily."

"Moreover, it's just a women's fighting arena. Even if the Shadow Luo organization notices it, Vega won't take action himself. Instead, he'll send his female subordinates to infiltrate and investigate. In the process, we can rescue many poor people who have been brainwashed by Vega through his mental power."

Hearing that this could help many people brainwashed by Vega, Chun-Li hesitated, but still frowned and said, "But... the risk is too great."

"There are always risks, or rather, if we really want to avoid risks, the first thing we need to do is leave Douyin."

Yuan Chen appeared calm: "The conventional underground fighting arena is already saturated, and I'm more used to fighting on the spot rather than enduring the hardship until the day of the competition... In comparison, the women's underground fighting arena is a good breakthrough."

As he spoke, Yuan Chen turned to Han Zhuli, who had initially been doing nothing but had become completely focused and attentive after hearing that this might attract Ying Luo's attention, and said:

"Winning the championship in the women's fighting arena, besides honing one's martial arts skills, would likely also quickly attract the attention of the Shadow Luo faction, and even lead to their recruitment."

Upon hearing this, Han Zhuli also looked at Yuan Chen, and after a moment, a slightly arrogant smile appeared on her lips.

Clearly, what Yuan Chen said was exactly what Han Zhuli wanted to hear.

Whether it's vying for first place or letting those shadowy figures emerge on their own...

Seeing Yuan Chen's firm attitude, Chun Li didn't know what to say for a moment.

Because Chunli knew very well that if Yuan Chen decided to do it, then Yuan Chen would definitely do it...

And, although she didn't know why she thought that way, feeling Yuan Chen's gaze, Chun Li inexplicably felt that Yuan Chen would definitely succeed.

Just like the things Yuan Chen did before.

Although he is nominally my sworn brother and seems to need my care, in reality, whether it's physical ability, physiological condition, or mental resolve, he is already a man...

"...I might need to tell my father."

Chunli sighed helplessly.

“Then I’ll take that as my tacit agreement.” Yuan Chen shrugged, then looked at Iori Ichika and the others beside him and said, “So? What are your thoughts?”

"It sounds like it's very profitable?" Mina Hanaya said with great interest.