Chapter 23: The Fierce Dragon

Three days later, Kowloon Walled City.

Yang Sheng sat beneath the boisterous boxing ring, squinting as he watched two fighters locked in a fierce struggle above. Having been promoted to the rank of "Red Pole," he finally earned the qualification to sit among the ranks of the established fighters. Of course, the seats belonging to He Wenchang and the other two veterans were still ahead of his.

Yang Sheng didn't know if it was his good luck, but after more than a dozen matches had already taken place, his turn still hadn't come. There was even a chance he might get a bye. However, he noticed something strange and leaned toward "Ghost Man" Wen, asking, "Why does it feel like there are fewer people here? I made it into the top fifty, but there don't seem to be fifty people left."

Ghost Man Wen whispered, "Boss, not everyone is as freakish as you, engaging in life-or-death brawls every round without sustaining serious injuries. Even if some win, they can't recover in three days. If their triad doesn't have a substitute, they won't step into the ring. For most triads, making it to the top fifty is enough to save face; forfeiting isn't shameful. For most fighters, winning brings glory to the triad, but if they get crippled, it’s not guaranteed that the triad will look after them for life."

Yang Sheng nodded, his gaze shifting toward the Chao Yi Yong faction. The "Emperor of the Underworld" remained arrogant and overbearing, but he hadn't caused trouble for Yang Sheng this time, fearing the broader implications of the Dragon City Tournament. He didn't want the fact that he’d been bribing fighters to throw matches to be exposed. Still, because Yang Sheng had ruined his plans and killed his top lieutenant, the man would surely hold a grudge. Yang Sheng knew he had to remain cautious and avoid being taken out by a stray bullet. No matter how high one’s kung fu, it still couldn't stop a kitchen knife. Although his proficiency in national martial arts had reached 90%, nothing killed faster than a firearm. He wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could dance through a hail of bullets.

Just then, the match on the stage concluded. The referee, Song Changli, stepped onto the ring and announced in a deep voice, "Next match: Hong Sheng Lian versus Ying Lian She! Please send your fighters to the stage!"

Yang Sheng was taken aback; he hadn't expected his next opponent to be from Ying Lian She again. Below, members of other gangs were whispering, and Yang Sheng caught the words "Fierce Dragon."

Ghost Man Wen chuckled beside him. "Brother Sheng, you’ve made a name for yourself among all the gangs in Hong Kong. They’re calling you 'Fierce Dragon' Yang Sheng now."

"Why such a nickname?" Yang Sheng asked, puzzled.

"Because two of the Three Tigers of Ying Lian She died by your hands. A dragon is more majestic than a tiger, and your fighting style is incredibly fierce. The name fits perfectly."

Yang Sheng curled his lip, feeling indifferent. These Hong Kong gangs loved giving people nicknames—most were incredibly cheesy, yet they took great pleasure in them. As Yang Sheng stood up, He Wenchang pulled him aside, trembling with anxiety. "Ah Sheng, you must stay calm this time. Just stop when the point is made."

He Wenchang was truly terrified. Yang Sheng had already killed two people in the Dragon City Tournament. If he killed another member of Ying Lian She, He Wenchang feared he might suffer a heart attack.

Yang Sheng smiled. "Don't worry, Boss. I have a sense of proportion."

Though Yang Sheng said this, He Wenchang didn't believe him. He had said the same thing last time, only for Feng Le’s heart to be crushed by his blow. But this time, Yang Sheng wasn't just stalling; he really didn't intend to kill. After slaying Luo Rong, he had no major conflict with Ying Lian She, and Chai Jiu had even expressed an interest in recruiting him. He had also learned the clues regarding the main quest, the "Imperial Guard Saber," from Chai Jiu. As long as his opponent played fair, Yang Sheng wouldn't deliver a lethal blow.

As Yang Sheng stepped onto the ring and signed the death waiver, a young man in his early thirties with a full head of white hair walked up from the Ying Lian She side. This was the last of the Three Tigers: White-Headed Tiger, Zuo Kun.

Compared to Ruan Feng and Yao Hui, Zuo Kun had made his name much earlier. Over a decade ago, he had followed the former Ying Lian She leader, Chai Hongtu, to Thailand, where he won seventeen consecutive matches in the underground circuit, chilling the hearts of the locals. He was also Chai Hongtu’s godson, and many had believed he should have been the next leader. Even if it wasn't him, some speculated that Zuo Kun wouldn't submit to Chai Jiu and that an internal struggle was imminent. To everyone's surprise, Luo Rong had jumped out instead, and Zuo Kun had settled into serving Chai Jiu faithfully. It was unclear if this was due to Zuo Kun’s loyalty to Chai Hongtu or Chai Jiu’s masterful manipulation.

"To be honest, I hated Yao Hui and that Vietnamese kid, but I’m not happy about this nickname of yours," Zuo Kun said. He was tall, nearly two meters, with long limbs that gave him the appearance of a fierce ape, exerting immense pressure.

Yang Sheng shook his head. "I only heard about this nickname today. You can't blame me for that."

A smile touched the corner of Zuo Kun’s mouth. "Whether you chose it or not, if I don't fight you, the reputation of the Three Tigers will become a joke. Brother Chai Jiu says you are extraordinary, not someone to be contained, but I find it hard to believe. Fierce Dragon Yang Sheng, beat me, and only then will that nickname be truly earned!"

Zuo Kun struck first. His long arms, like iron whips, swung down with a whistling sound. The crowd below erupted in cheers. With two of the Three Tigers gone, the strongest, Zuo Kun, stepping up was truly a battle of dragon and tiger.

Yang Sheng moved forward instead of retreating. He planted his feet, his punch erupting like a cannon blast—Xingyi Cannon Fist!

Meeting force with force, the collision sounded like iron hammers clashing. Both men felt a massive jolt and took a step back, only to crash into each other again, fist against fist, palm against palm. Zuo Kun’s Tongbei Pigua Fist was peerlessly fierce, and his rich combat experience allowed him to use the essence of the style: "When you face me, I move to the side; when you move to the side, I strike straight. If you strike at my chest, I use the wind-and-thunder cannon-smashing hand!"

His sweeping, smashing blows forced Yang Sheng toward the edge of the ring. Just as Zuo Kun’s arms came down, Yang Sheng suddenly lowered his stance, shifting from Xingyi to Taiji, turning rigidity into softness. Using the Taiji "Cloud Hands" to deflect and borrow force, he surged into Zuo Kun’s center, unleashing a Half-Step Beng Quan with explosive power.

Zuo Kun’s face flushed, and he let out a muffled grunt, his footing becoming unstable. Previously, Yang Sheng had been using purely aggressive Northern styles, matching Zuo Kun blow for blow, turning the fight into a test of raw physical endurance. Zuo Kun had never expected Yang Sheng to switch to a "soft" style so fluidly, catching him completely off guard.

At that moment, a cold, genderless mechanical voice echoed in Yang Sheng’s ears: "National martial arts proficiency increased by 2%, total 92%. This proficiency is self-attained and will be retained after leaving the reincarnation world."

Yang Sheng had studied martial arts for years, but he had mostly focused on "killing techniques" for the sake of revenge. It was difficult to master the art with such a mindset. Only after entering the reincarnation world, with his revenge fulfilled and no lingering obsession, had he truly begun to integrate his knowledge. The current epiphany in the heat of battle had significantly boosted his proficiency.

The system prompt didn't slow him down. He seized the opportunity to close in for short-range combat. Choy Li Fut’s Iron Arrow Fist, Baji Quan’s Heart-Piercing Elbow, Xingyi’s Drill-Cross Cannon, Taiji’s Parry-and-Punch—he switched between styles seamlessly, combining hardness and softness until Zuo Kun was forced into the corner.

Zuo Kun leaned back, pushing the ring ropes back by half a meter. Tongbei and Pigua were long-range styles; they required distance to unleash maximum power. Having been suppressed by Yang Sheng’s relentless offense, this half-meter of space gave Zuo Kun a chance to reset. His arms stiffened, and he unleashed a double-strike toward Yang Sheng’s head and chest.

Yang Sheng crossed his legs and retreated, narrowly dodging the blows, before launching a series of kicks that sent Zuo Kun tumbling toward the edge of the ring. But just as Zuo Kun was about to fall, Yang Sheng reached out, grabbed his legs, and hauled him back onto the stage.

Zuo Kun caught his breath, his face still flushed. "Jade Ring Step! Mandarin Duck Kicks! I didn't expect you to know the Chuo Jiao style! There aren't many in Hong Kong who master Northern styles; you rank in the top three! This was a satisfying fight. Thank you for sparing my face and not letting me lose so miserably. Fierce Dragon Yang Sheng, the reputation is well-earned. I admire your kung fu, and I admire Brother Chai Jiu’s eye for talent."

Yang Sheng panted slightly. "You're too kind. You didn't use the most lethal 'Temple-Entangling Hand' from the Tongbei style either. By the way, thank Brother Chai Jiu for me—thank him for speaking up for me to my boss last time."

Zuo Kun nodded. "Yang Sheng, your talent is wasted in Hong Sheng Lian. Join Ying Lian She. You can choose to be a Double-Flower Red Pole or the leader of Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui, or Mong Kok! The Three Tigers are gone, but the name of 'One Dragon, One Tiger' would be even louder than before!"

Yang Sheng smiled and shook his head. "Brother Chai Jiu said something similar to me before, and my answer remains the same. A person must not forget their roots. I intend to see things through to the end with Hong Sheng Lian."

Seeing the refusal, Zuo Kun sighed in regret but didn't press the matter. He turned to Song Changli and said, "Master Song, I have lost this match."

Song Changli was a senior of the Hongmen, and while Ying Lian She was also part of the Hongmen lineage, Chai Hongtu’s seniority was lower than Song’s, so Zuo Kun addressed him as "Master." While Zuo Kun could technically continue, there was no need to prolong it. Song Changli nodded, looking at the two with approval. "Yang Sheng of Hong Sheng Lian, another victory!"

As an old-school man of the underworld, he appreciated the mutual respect shown between the two after such a brutal fight. The way the other gang members looked at Yang Sheng changed. Having defeated two of the Three Tigers and conquered the strongest, Zuo Kun, the name "Fierce Dragon" was now truly undisputed. Even though he came from a declining triad like Hong Sheng Lian, Yang Sheng’s name would now echo throughout the underworld of Hong Kong.