Martial artists can never be ultimately insulted.

As he said this, Tianma also peeled open a edamame and put it in his mouth.

Although Tianma Xiwang was currently experiencing intense resentment and indulgence both physically and mentally, a hint of amazement still inexplicably flashed in his eyes as he chewed, accompanied by a cool sensation in his mouth.

"Oh! It tastes pretty good!"

As he said this, Tianma Hope also popped five or six edamame beans into his mouth, chewed them, and then drank them down with a sip of ice-cold beer, a hint of comfort appearing in his eyes.

"Phew~ Perfect! Drinking definitely needs to be accompanied by something~ And I feel much better now!"

It was indeed much more comfortable. Yuan Chen had originally planned to wait until the dishes were finished before sitting down to chat, but who would have thought that Tianma Xiwang was clearly at the lowest point in his life, and his melancholy became the best appetizer. If the dishes weren't served sooner, Yuan Chen was really afraid that this fighting version of a drunkard, Sigu Jianzi, would drink himself to death on the table.

Yuan Chen also activated the Golden Flame, which he had only recently mastered, and injected it into the bean to accelerate the metabolism of alcohol in conjunction with his body's organs, in order to prevent him from getting too drunk and passing out.

Yuan Chen had already prepared today's menu before opening for business, saving time on food preparation and braising. The remaining dishes were quickly served on the table by Yuan Chen.

Garlic butter clams, fermented bean curd chicken wings, marinated salmon belly, fried chicken platter, dried beef, steamed seafood...

Seeing the dazzling array of ingredients Yuan Chen brought out, Iori Ichika was slightly taken aback, then slapped herself in the face and said, "You...you didn't just take advantage of my friend's visit to rip me off, did you?!"

"Today's a special day, let's grab something to eat together, it's on me~"

Yuan Chen waved his hand, then sat down on the other side of the bar with a natural expression.

Seeing that Yuan Chen was also preparing to eat and drink, Iori Ichika remained silent at first, and then revealed an expression that all men understood.

"Oh~ I see, so you've got your eye on my friend, haven't you? How so? Hope or Hana? I'll play matchmaker for you~"

Seeing that Iori Kazuka betrayed the two of them without hesitation, Miyako Hana's face showed a slightly resentful expression. Then she looked at Yuan Chen beside her, and after a brief silence, her eyes lit up.

"Oh, I was so focused on Little Hope's condition that I didn't even notice there was a handsome guy here!"

She didn't stand on ceremony at all. When Miya Kana saw Yuan Chen, she smiled and said, "Handsome enough, but strong and tall too~ Perfectly in my strike zone~"

Despite saying this, Miya Kana maintained a proper distance, fully expressing her goodwill while also giving the impression that she was a nice girl.

No way.

Miya Kana comes from a yakuza background; her father was the former head of the "Jinguji-gumi," and her mother was his mistress.

Although her father was the leader of a yakuza organization, he was not the child of her legal wife, so she still lived the life of an ordinary person.

Her first job after graduating from university was as a hostess at a hotel—simply put, a bar hostess. Through this work experience, Miya Hana developed her extraordinary observational skills.

After working as a hostess for a year, her father suddenly died, and Miya Kana was forced to take over the responsibility of managing the Jinguji Group and become its successor.

However, due to the sudden death of the leader and the fact that Hana was not born to the main wife, the development of the Jinguji Group is not optimistic, and any action must take into account the actions of other large yakuza groups.

Just like now, although before her attention was focused on Tianma Xiwang and she hadn't noticed Yuan Chen who had been cooking at the table, now that Yuan Chen had come to the table, she looked at him and felt the calm, casual, and even playful look in his eyes...

He... seems to be quite familiar with us?

Did Yihua tell you about us? That doesn't make sense. If that were the case, Yihua could have simply said, "These are the two friends I've often told you about," without needing to explain further. A simple explanation would have sufficed...

and……

Although she wasn't particularly proficient in martial arts techniques, she had studied them before and occasionally reviewed them for self-defense after entering society. Miya Kana could vaguely sense an invisible pressure emanating from Yuan Chen.

Although it's only our first meeting... I feel like we're in completely different leagues when it comes to 'fighting'.

Seeing Yuan Chen approaching, Iori Ichika didn't take it to heart, but instead said with a grin:

"Oh, okay? Then come and eat with us—I specially invited two beautiful ladies to dine with you! It's only right that the meal is on the house, hehe~"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen chuckled, picked up his wine glass, clinked it with Iori Ichika's, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Iori Ichika was not to be outdone; seeing Yuan Chen's actions, she also downed her drink in one go, appearing quite hearty.

Although Iori Kazuka seems unreliable, a super-negligent cop who would make people think 'this country is doomed' once they found out he was actually a policeman, his loyalty is unquestionable.

Since arriving in the old town, Yuan Chen's family hasn't encountered a single troublemaker or even a thug around their home. Some delinquents have even deliberately avoided them. When asked briefly, the delinquents simply replied, "The boss has spoken."

After having a drink, Yuan Chen felt much more open-minded. He then looked at Tianma Xiwang beside him and said, "I just overheard you guys talking about underground fighting. I'm also somewhat involved in it, so would you like to chat about it?"

Upon hearing that Yuan Chen was also involved in underground fighting, Pegasus Hope, who was already a little tipsy, raised an eyebrow, then stared at Yuan Chen for a while before asking, "Um... how old are you now, young man?"

"Eighteen," Yuan Chen replied.

"Eighteen?" Upon hearing this, Miya Kana looked astonished.

She stared at Yuan Chen's tall, strong, granite-like, chiseled body and his rugged, handsome face... You call this eighteen?!

Tenma was also surprised to hear this, but then he relaxed.

They don't even spare 18-year-old teenagers... I guess it's just some low-class little group, right?

Volume 1: Chapter 134: Is underground fighting really that profitable?

Although the underground fighting arena has fewer rules than the large-scale group competitions in the surface world, it is still subject to the corresponding rules due to the promulgation of the "Violent Combat Law" and the "Violent Weapon Law".

This includes age restrictions.

Although such restrictions are often an unspoken rule, underground fighting arenas are inherently shady businesses.

Kengan Association is ultimately a minority. The vast majority of underground fighting arenas are like the Loser Fighting Club that Pegasus Nozomi participated in before, which attracts people's attention through either violence or softcore pornography.

In this situation, anyone with a modicum of sense would not allow minors to get involved in underground fighting—although, based on the special nature of the fighting world, the Violent Weapon Mobile Squad tacitly approves of the existence of underground fighting, because people need an outlet to vent their violence.

But the key to this kind of thing is that it weighs less than four ounces when you don't weigh it, but weighs more than a thousand pounds when you do.

If a minor or a young adult enters the underground fighting scene, you'll see if the Violent Weapon Mobile Squad will try to reason with you or care whether the child is acting voluntarily.

In such situations, larger groups tend to distance themselves from these young people.

Even from an aesthetic point of view, eighteen-year-olds are still in the developmental stage of the human body, and their physical abilities and combat experience will gradually become more complete after the age of twenty-five.

Thinking this, Pegasus, also tipsy, chuckled and said:

"Dude, you should wait until you graduate from university before getting involved in underground fighting. Otherwise, if someone with ulterior motives notices you, it won't just be a matter of whether you can participate in fighting anymore."

Yuan Chen simply smiled at this, then looked at Tianma Xiwang and said, "There's no need to worry about that... More importantly, you don't seem to be in very good shape?"

"Yes, it should be said that it was quite bad."

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's question, Tianma hoped to pick up his glass and take a big gulp: "You'll understand the adult world later, little brother..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen remained silent, while Iori Ichika, standing to the side, merely scratched her head without offering any further comment.

On the contrary, Kana Mitani showed an expression of agreement.

Miya Kana's father died suddenly, and she had only been in the workforce for a year, her previous job being a hostess. Now, she's the leader of the Jinguji gang. With the enactment of the "Violence Against Law" and "Violence and Martial Arts Law," her entire gang is now barely scraping by in places that larger gangs don't even consider.

Thinking this, Miya Kana said with a sigh, "When Koichi was still playing against Koichi, things were alright, but now there's really no way to make money anymore."

"That's because my friend is using all her connections to protect you." Hearing Miyako Hana's words, Iori Kazuka also pouted unhappily.

"Who knew I'd run into such a useless boss? He was so incompetent that I gave him a good beating, and now he's retaliating here... But whatever, I'm not here to vent today."

Iori Kazuka turned her gaze to Pegasus Nozomi standing to the side.

"So? Hopefully, you have a clue what's going on with your next job?"

“Absolutely none.” Tianma Hope waved his hand with a self-deprecating laugh: “Absolutely none, neither underground nor above ground.”

As he said this, Tianma Xiwang also glanced at the three people in front of him.

Miya Kana, a poor yakuza. Iori Kazuka, a negligent police officer. Himself, an unemployed vagrant.

And this restaurant owner who suddenly barged into the dinner party... Opening a late-night diner in a place like the old town? Didn't this guy do his research before opening? He probably only gets some business at lunchtime, right?

Unfortunately, he's a student who spends his lunch breaks in the central school district and has even joined an underground fighting group...

go astray.

Thinking about it, Pegasus couldn't help but sigh, "We really do... fit the definition of a stray dog."

Upon hearing this, Miyako Hana and Iori Kazuka exchanged a glance and laughed, their expressions tinged with bitterness.

They were all good friends and wouldn't break off their friendship in anger over a few words from Tianma. But undeniably, sometimes the hurt caused by such a fact is far heavier than one can imagine.

In contrast, Yuan Chen, standing to the side, appeared casual. He glanced at the three people in front of him, tapped the table slowly, and quietly looked at Tianma Xiwang.

"Underground fighting must have developed very rapidly recently, right? Why did you retire?" Yuan Chen asked knowingly.

Tianma Hope gave a wry smile and then calmly explained that he had suffered from retinal detachment and was not accepted by any formal, large organizations.

Sensing Yuan Chen's calmness, Tianma Hope also felt agitated. His restless mind cleared slightly, and then he said somewhat numbly:

"Thinking about it carefully, it's really frustrating. There are already many groups in Osaka and Tokyo holding women's competitions, and professional women's combat sports are booming... but at this critical juncture, my eyes have betrayed me."

"Let's summarize the problems you're currently facing."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen tapped the table, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

Feeling the gazes directed at him, Yuan Chen showed no unease or emotion. Instead, he calmly said:

"Hanatani Mina wants an easy way to make money. The derelict cop wants to end his aimless life in the juvenile division. Tenma Hoshi wants to take a step further in the path of fighting, but because of his eyes, he can only watch helplessly as women's fighting flourishes and keeps him out."

"Pretty much, maybe I should add you too~" Upon hearing this, Tianma Nozomi also said with a smile: "Eighteen years old, running a late-night diner that only opens after seven o'clock in an old town where you can't see a single person on the street after seven o'clock, and accidentally joined an underground fighting group that doesn't even know the unspoken rules about age... A boss who has gone astray?"

"Perhaps."

Yuan Chen did not refute, because he did not feel ridicule in Tianma Xiwang's voice, but rather a strange sense of shared misfortune.

Meeting Tianma's hopeful gaze, Yuan Chen calmly said:

"Actually, we can solve this problem all at once by simply changing our perspective, right?"

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Hanaya Mina and the others instinctively paused, still puzzled. Meanwhile, Tenma Nozomi slapped her forehead, her gaze towards Yuan Chen filled with astonishment. She then involuntarily swallowed and said:

"what do you mean……"

"Be your own boss," Yuan Chen said succinctly.

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's suggestion, Tianma Hope also fell into thought, and then his dim eyes gradually brightened.

"If that's the case... then it is indeed true!"

Pegasus said with great interest:

“The Jinguji clan in Mina has enough space and people. Although Ichika has left the Violent Squad, he still has many people he can talk to, and he knows a lot about delinquents and ruthless characters in the yakuza! And I know a lot about fighting! Whether it’s the real world or the underworld, I even know the structure of underground fighting clubs by heart! If you look at it from this perspective, there really is no problem!”

"Oh, that sounds really promising!" Hearing Tianma Nozomi and Yuan Chen's words, Iori Ichika, who was standing nearby, also became interested and said:

"And if I can get those damn juvenile delinquents under control, I'll definitely be able to go back to the Violent Crimes Department! Then I'll have access to even more official resources!"

“That’s indeed a good idea,” Hanaya Mina nodded enthusiastically upon hearing this.

"Running a Kabukicho is becoming increasingly difficult. With a little training and a change of clothes, they can immediately become quite reliable service staff!"

Yuan Chen showed no surprise at the three people discussing so enthusiastically. Even if he didn't say anything, Tianma would soon realize that the problems they faced could be solved by establishing an underground fighting group.

However, compared to the three of them playing around, Yuan Chen clearly wanted to add something more.

With that in mind, Yuan Chen simply waited silently.

She had participated in numerous top-tier international fighting games, even coming within a hair's breadth of joining a professional league in a major organization. Then she ended up in an underground fighting arena, specifically one of the lowest-ranking, trashy groups that relied on 'women fighting' to attract attention…

With ample experience, although it seems that Tenma wants to contribute the least among the three, if he wants the team to develop, Tenma hopes that the experience of participating in and competing with different fighting groups in the real and virtual worlds is actually the most important.

While everyone was still talking, Pegasus Nozomi soon realized that things were definitely not as simple as he had imagined.

Subconsciously glancing at Yuan Chen beside him, Tianma hesitated for a moment before asking, "Speaking of which... what are your thoughts? Don't you have anything to say? After all, you're the one who brought this up."

"I'll talk about my thoughts later."

Yuan Chen looked at Tianma Xiwang and said, "Women's MMA is indeed in a period of rapid growth. But Xiwang, you come from modern MMA, so you should know why no one watches the lightweight division and women's MMA in official competitions, right?"

"..." Upon hearing this, Tenma Nozomi fell silent. After a moment's thought, he replied, "...Because of the lack of KOs?"

"Pretty much," Yuan Chen nodded and said, "Whether it's martial arts or combat sports, classic or modern... what the audience wants to feel is violence, they want to feel exhilaration, which is why middleweight and heavyweight matches are more popular."

"Women's combat sports are inherently at a disadvantage in terms of violence. The reason why women's combat sports have been able to gradually develop is because the existence of ki has made up for this inherent disadvantage."

In terms of physical strength, women are naturally weaker than men—this is not discrimination, but simply an objective summary based on physiological characteristics.

The drastically different levels of testosterone secretion result in a vast gap between men and women in terms of physical strength, endurance, muscle recovery, and growth.

Furthermore, in a significant number of competitions, men are explicitly prohibited from participating in the women's division, while there are no such restrictions in the men's division—in other words, at the rule level, it is a truly transgender competition.

The development of martial arts in this world is similar; for a considerable period, the cultivation of Qi was exclusively passed down to men. It wasn't until modern times and the reforms in martial arts that more women embarked on the path of martial arts cultivation, using the amplification brought by Qi to offset their natural physical disadvantages and become able to compete with men.

The so-called flourishing of women's combat sports is also based on the background of martial arts reforms that have enabled more women to access, learn, and master ki through more channels.

“And if we really just build underground fighting groups based on the standards of weak gangsters, derelict cops, and unemployed vagrants…” Yuan Chen said calmly while eating, “Even if we can make a good profit at the beginning, the audience will quickly get bored, right?”

“…Ah, yes.” Upon hearing this, after a brief silence, Tianma Xiwang realized that what Yuan Chen had said was very likely to happen.