Martial artists can never be ultimately insulted.

“…Eh?” A look of confusion appeared between Rito’s brows.

Volume 1: Chapter 105 - Shibukawa's Strong Spirit

With his five fingers pressed together like a knife, he unleashed a powerful burst of energy, thinking that even if he couldn't secure victory directly, he could at least severely injure Yuan Chen, tearing a large chunk of flesh from his chest.

But to everyone's surprise, Rito immediately felt his left hand, which was being held by Yuan Chen, being gripped tightly. Accompanied by a suffocating pain and a clear cracking sound, his wrist was simply pulled downwards. Rito then felt all the strength and weight in his body begin to sink uncontrollably downwards.

In the very first moment, Rito still felt that he could resist.

But the moment this thought crossed his mind, an even more explosive shock surged into his body.

Like a flash flood destroying a dam, it annihilated all resistance, as if a giant iron ball had smashed down on the skyscraper from above, crushing it. In an instant, Rito felt all his strength being released downwards.

Even the power accumulated in the piercing blow that the blade had pinned its hopes on, the power that would secure victory, sank downwards along with this momentum.

With a loud thud, he knelt down on one knee, creating a small crater in the ground. Looking at Yuan Chen, who was still standing upright with one hand in his pocket and the other hand gripping his wrist, Li Ren's face was filled with confusion.

Upon witnessing this scene, the once bustling arena fell silent, plunging into a moment of deathly stillness.

The reason is simple: even the most obtuse person can now easily sense the enormous gap between the two players on the field.

Just a moment ago they were launching a fierce attack, but in the next instant, before anyone could even react, their wrists were grabbed.

With a downward pull, his burly body was dragged to one knee, and when he raised his head again, his face was full of confusion.

And what about Yuan Chen, who had seized Li Ren's wrist? He simply stood still from beginning to end, not moving his feet at all. Even now, his left hand was still in his pocket, his head was raised, his entire body was covered in black, and only his eyes were coldly looking down.

what happened?

Even though everything was happening right before their eyes, a strange sense of bewilderment lingered in everyone's hearts.

While these 'fighting enthusiasts' were just there to watch the match, some people on the other side had their eyes light up after seeing Yuan Chen's moves.

"This is... Aikido?"

Among the crowd, the fighters who had gathered in twos and threes to watch the Kengan competition, personally hosted by Katahara Sayaka, also showed a hint of astonishment in their eyes after seeing this move.

Aikido, a martial art that integrates ancient Japanese martial arts and judo, is one of the martial arts styles that flourished in modern Japan. Founded by Morihei Ueshiba in the 20th century, it is a unique martial art that combines martial arts, philosophy, and physical and mental training.

Unlike many martial arts that emphasize attack and victory, its core philosophy is the "Way of Harmony," also known as the "Martial Arts of Peace" or the "Way of Non-Aggression."

It gets its name from the fact that Aikido itself does not have any offensive techniques; all its skills are used for defense and countering after the opponent attacks.

Its essence lies in not relying on brute force, but cleverly utilizing the opponent's strength and kinetic energy, borrowing their strength to exert force, and subduing the opponent through smooth and fluid movements, rather than engaging in head-on confrontation.

Just like now, a seemingly ordinary action directly disrupted Rito's posture, causing him to lose all his strength.

but……

"Didn't the information say this guy practiced assassination techniques and Muay Thai? How come it seems... he's also quite skilled in Aikido?"

"This is no longer 'good' enough, is it?" a slightly shorter man remarked upon hearing this.

"Riri's piercing strike had been building up for a long time, and it was so powerful that even an ordinary Aikido master would probably not be able to easily shift his center of gravity, let alone destroy his entire center of gravity and direction of force with a simple twist of his hand."

"Ha, judging from his physique and combat videos, I thought he was the kind of guy who only knew how to fight head-on... but now it seems that this guy might have more than just one or two techniques!"

Despite this, no one hesitated; instead, they all showed great interest.

Finally, someone sighed, "What a pity... we only saw too little of the definite stuff. It would be great if we could actually go up there and experience it for ourselves."

"yes……"

Upon hearing this, all the fighters agreed.

In contrast, standing higher and seeing further, Wu Huili was first surprised, then puzzled, and after a moment she couldn't help but let out a soft laugh after seeing Yuan Chen's "arm wrestling".

"Just how much more is this kid hiding?"

"Is it Aikido, Grandpa?" Wu Hori looked at Yuan Chen below with some curiosity, his eyes filled with some contemplation and doubt.

Although it all seems to be about manipulating and guiding force, there's an inexplicable feeling that makes Wu Horixi feel that it's definitely not as simple as it looks.

"Aikido? It does have some similarities, since both involve dissolving and destroying force."

Upon hearing Wu Horisuke's words, Wu Huili shook her head, her expression somewhat subtle. She clearly understood something but remained silent, instead turning her questioning gaze to Wu Lei'an beside her.

Wu Lei'an sneered, "Aikido? I think it's more like Hakido."

"Hmm?" Upon hearing this, Wu Horisuke looked surprised, while Wu Leian calmly said, "The weak technique of Aikido is to subdue the enemy by manipulating force, but this is different, even completely opposite."

"For example?" Wu Hori asked curiously.

"The destruction of force." Despite giving the impression of a complete madman, Wu Lei'an was surprisingly calm and composed, his dark irises fixed intently on Yuan Chen below.

"This guy named Li Ren is not on the same level as Yuan Chen at all..."

His attack was entirely within Yuan Chen's expectations. Yuan Chen had seen through the flow of his power the moment before the attack. And Yuan Chen, being a cunning fellow, chose to use this method to seize the opponent, even though a single punch would have ended the match, and then make him watch helplessly as his own energy was brutally destroyed, crushed, and collapsed!

As he said this, Wu Lei'an paused, then couldn't help but laugh, veins bulging on his forehead, filled with resentment and longing:

"Damn it, this guy has gotten even stronger... He can see through other people's power levels so easily, and he can destroy them so easily..."

Once he came to his senses, Rito, who was in the middle of the scene, felt that he had been utterly humiliated.

He wasn't knocked down by a punch or a kick; he was pinned down by the wrist, like a disobedient dog being restrained.

A wave of intense humiliation washed over him, and Li Ren abruptly raised his head, meeting Yuan Chen's eyes that were looking down at him—there was no mockery, no contempt, no triumphant boasting, only calm and indifference.

But for the rational person, this calm and indifference is far more humiliating than any insult.

Do you think I'm not worthy to be your opponent?

What a joke!

In an instant, Rito recalled many things—from elementary school onwards, relying on this powerful grip, Rito was like a king among children, and in the years that followed, simply by training and his innate grip strength, Rito easily defeated countless formidable opponents.

And now, and now...

Looking at Yuan Chen, who was holding her wrist high above her, Li Ren felt her eyes widen in fury. She then tried to stand up from the ground, completely disregarding the fact that her left wrist was still in Yuan Chen's hand.

As the excruciating pain from the bone fracture intensified with each strike, Rito gritted his teeth, widened his eyes, and once again swung his right hand to fiercely attack Yuan Chen's lower abdomen.

The energy surged, and the fighting spirit poured into the five fingers burst forth, the violent blood energy transforming into a visible sharpness that pierced through the air.

But the next moment, Yuan Chen once again tried to pry Li Ren's wrist. However, unlike last time, this time Yuan Chen pried it inwards.

It was still a simple action, but even though Rito was already on guard, when that familiar impact came again, Rito could still clearly feel that all her resistance was like a futile joke.

Without any power to resist, the center of gravity of the person collapsed inward with Yuan Chen's movement, and the body that had been forcibly standing up straight suddenly fell down as if someone had grabbed the wrist and pressed the head to bow.

He wanted to resist, but Rito found that no matter how hard he strained his muscles, he would eventually become part of the force that oppressed him.

It's as if your own body has become your enemy.

Then, what came into view was Yuan Chen's knees, which rose along with Rito's bow.

It wasn't that heavy; it was just a simple knee strike.

"Go and cultivate diligently." Yuan Chen's calm voice reached Li Ren's ears.

Instinctively, Rito wanted to respond. But in the next moment, accompanied by a cracking sound from her fragile nose, blood splattered, and Rito felt a turbulence and dizziness in her head. She didn't even have time to feel the pain before her eyes rolled back and she passed out.

Seeing this, Katahara Sayaka, who was standing to the side, no longer hesitated and immediately waved her hand and shouted: "The outcome is decided! The winner is 'Daioku' and Genchen, belonging to the Sakura-sou Family Charcoal BBQ Chain!"

Upon hearing Katahara Sayaka's words, the people present did not cheer, and even some gamblers who had bet on Yuan Chen remained silent, their faces blank.

The reason is simple: Yuan Chen won in a way that was very different from what they had in mind.

The last time they faced Ivan Karayev, the Grim Reaper, and Komada, the Blade King, they could still feel Yuan Chen's undisguised and terrifying power, as well as his physical strength that allowed him to withstand the Blade King's grappling throw.

And this time?

Rito rushed forward, only to have her wrist grabbed. Rito attacked with her other hand, but with just a light press on her arm, the 1.88-meter-tall man was forced to kneel on one knee.

Rito then retaliated again, but her wrist was twisted again. This time it was even more outrageous; she crashed headfirst into Yuan Chen's raised knee and was knocked unconscious...

"Match-fixing! Match-fixing!"

A gambler in red, his eyes bloodshot from losing, stood up and shouted: "Yiwu Real Estate! How could you do this to us! RMN fixed the match! Give us our money back!"

Looking at the noisy scene above, Wu Lei'an also showed an impatient expression.

"These idiots! They can't even see the profound skills Yuan Chen displayed, and they still dare to shout here! They should all be killed!"

"Uh... there's no need to be so intense." Wu Fengshui, standing to the side, looked embarrassed.

Amidst the clamor of voices in the arena, Katahara Sayaka showed no sign of panic, her expression remaining calm: "Don't rush into a fight! Calm down! The Kengan Association will never shy away from any issue in this matter."

"Match-fixing is match-fixing! RMN, refund our money!!"

Some gamblers, blinded by their losses, still refused to face reality. Katahara Sayaka's face showed a hint of helplessness as she turned her gaze to Yoshitake Keiro beside her.

Originally, it was thought that as a veteran of the Kengan Association, Yoshitake Keiro would surely be able to see something, but it was clear that, seeing Rito suffer such a humiliating defeat, Yoshitake Keiro of Yoshitake Real Estate was also staring intently at the scene, showing no intention of helping to confirm or explain.

But just as the situation was about to spiral out of control and Yuan Chen's face showed a hint of impatience, a short figure suddenly stood up from the crowd.

"Excuse me, could you please quiet down for a moment so I can ask a question?"

Although the figure was short and old, the voice was exceptionally loud, easily drowning out the voices of everyone present and reaching their ears.

Looking in the direction of the sound, the old man in red initially looked resentful, but soon a knowledgeable person recognized who the person who stood up was.

"It's the Martial Saint! The Martial Saint Shechuan's valiant spirit!"

Upon hearing the man's words, the previously turbulent scene immediately quieted down, and everyone subconsciously turned their gaze to the short, inconspicuous old man standing in the crowd, who had now attracted everyone's attention.

Shibukawa Goki – In this world where martial arts flourish, Shibukawa Goki's name is known to all in Japan. He founded the Shibukawa-ryu Aikijutsu at the age of 39, and now at the age of 74, he is still active on the front lines of martial arts. Throughout his life, he has participated in countless competitions and battles, achieving an astonishing record. He also serves as an instructor of arrest techniques for the Metropolitan Police Department and is hailed as the pinnacle of modern martial arts, a martial arts grandmaster, and a martial arts saint.

How could they not be surprised that such a master-level figure had appeared at the Kengan Association's venue?

In response, Shibukawa Takeki smiled and looked at Yuan Chen, remaining silent for a moment before speaking gently:

"That's quite a powerful and chilling aura. The Aikido form you're using... is it from Korea?"

Volume 1: Chapter 106: Han Zhuli: Other Women?

Although he had long anticipated that this Kengan match would attract the attention of many interested parties, Yuan Chen still couldn't help but show a hint of surprise when he saw Shibukawa Takeki.

In response to Shechuan's inquiring question, Yuan Chen nodded.

"Yes, from my family."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Chun Li raised an eyebrow and then gave Han Zhuli a teasing look.

Han Zhuli curled her lip in disdain, seemingly unconcerned.

Chunli had been observing and remembering all the interactions between Yuan Chen and Han Zhuli during this time. Although Yuan Chen was still the same Yuan Chen, Chunli could clearly sense that Han Zhuli's feelings and state of mind were quietly changing.

If when Han Zhuli first arrived here, she was a crazy beauty whose heart was filled with nothing but revenge, and who would do anything for revenge, then now, Han Zhuli has at least gradually calmed down and is able to communicate and live normally.

Thinking this, Chunli secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Indeed, Yuan Chen should interact more with his peers so that they can help each other in their growth in martial arts and spirit.

As she pondered, Chunli felt a pang of emotion.

During this period, Yuan Chen cultivated diligently, and for three consecutive nights he did not disturb himself...

Perhaps she should feel fortunate and happy? But for some reason, Chunli still felt a little empty inside. It seemed she was recalling what had happened a while ago, and her throat involuntarily twitched a few times.

On the field, upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Shibukawa Takeki nodded and then said, "It's been a long time since I've seen such a powerful and unique style of Aikido... I hope we can exchange ideas sometime."

“Of course.” Yuan Chen nodded upon hearing Shibukawa’s words.

Although Yuan Chen wanted to have a fight right now, considering that Shibukawa Goki was not a member of the Kengan Association but came to watch as a martial artist from the martial arts world, Yuan Chen did not insist. Instead, he withdrew his gaze and looked at Katahara Shoka.

"Please announce it."

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Katahara Sayaka nodded, then reached out and took Yuan Chen's arm. Feeling the life force within him—so different from that of ordinary martial artists, seemingly tangible and clearly perceptible—Katahara Sayaka blinked, then announced loudly again:

"The victor! Yuan Chen!!"

Hearing the announcement once again, although some gamblers still clenched their fists in desperation, with the reputation of a world-renowned martial arts master like Shibukawa Goki guaranteeing and endorsing it, even if they still wanted to deny it, they did not continue to express any doubts.

As the match ended, Yoshitake Keiro, his face full of anger, turned and left, completely ignoring Rito, who had fainted on the spot.

Fortunately, the Kengan Association has ample experience in handling similar situations, and there was not even much communication required. Katahara Sayaka simply waved to the side, and then a team of staff rushed in to provide first aid.

Under normal circumstances, when a fighter loses their fighting ability and falls unconscious, the company to which they belong handles the situation to ensure the fighter's physical health is maintained.

The fact that they're now so indifferent to the physical data of fighters clearly shows that Yoshimu Real Estate has given up on Rito continuing to serve as a fighter for the company.