TDU Chapter 182: Fists Against Fists
Chapter 182 Fists Against Fists
"Huh?" Xiao Xiao turned around, her gaze landing on a grinning tattooed man standing behind her.
"Hold off for a moment, guys, listen to me first," Qiao Jiajin called out, waving his hand. "Hey—uh, what's your name? Kick the stone down first, careful not to trip."
"Get lost," Xiao Xiao snapped, extending her arm to shove him away.
But to her surprise, Qiao Jiajin's grip was quick and precise—he seized her arm before she could make contact, and in an instant, she was yanked forward a step. A swift hand sliced through the air, creating a sharp rush of wind that halted mere centimeters from her chin.
The hand stopped just short of her jaw, but the powerful gust it generated swept across Xiao Xiao’s face. Had he not halted in time, she likely would have been knocked down by now.
The rooftop wind howled, and an eerie silence settled over the atmosphere.
Qiao Jiajin smiled, retracting his hand slowly as he gave a sheepish look. "What a headache..." he muttered, shaking his head. "My first opponent is a girl. I swore to Guan Yi Gor that I wouldn’t, with no expectation, hit the old, the weak, women, and the young."
Xiao Xiao’s expression darkened as she quickly pulled her hand back, her mind racing.
What the hell was that move just now?
If such a powerful strike had hit her chin, wouldn’t she have been knocked out—or worse, killed—on the spot?
Or had it been a mere coincidence?
This man, who appeared rough and brash, had casually swung his palm yet had stopped just short of the strike. Was it all just a bluff?
Countless thoughts raced through Xiao Xiao’s mind, and her expression grew increasingly complex. She slowly lowered her stance, warming up her legs. Whether the man before her was bluffing or not, her next move had to be powerful enough to send him tumbling off the bridge. Without that, the encirclement would fall apart, and her two teammates would be left vulnerable.
Qiao Jiajin said, "Buff mui, if you don't want to get hurt, just step back. Let Kung Fu gal from our team spar with you. I'll go and deal with those two poor lads first."
"I won’t give you that chance." Xiao Xiao replied coldly. She finished her leg stretch, rising up and cracking her finger joints. "If you can't even take me down, don't even think about crossing this bridge."
"Uhm... why are you so stubborn?"
Xiao Xiao didn’t respond, with a surge of speed, she rushed forward, aiming to secure a grip on Qiao Jiajin. She knew her weight and strength would give her the advantage, and if she could execute a Body Lock Throw, he wouldn’t be able to resist.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Xiao had lowered her center of gravity and was already in front of Qiao Jiajin. Her hands, like pincers, reached out to grab his waist.
Qiao Jiajin’s expression darkened in an instant. With a swift movement, both of his legs retreated simultaneously, denying her the opportunity to latch onto him. Then, using his momentum, he pressed his upper body down while his right hand snaked around Xiao Xiao's neck, locking her in place.
In that moment, Qiao Jiajin was positioned at a forty-five-degree angle, pressing down on Xiao Xiao, and their bodies slanted as they stood in a precarious balance, their strengths effectively neutralized.
Xiao Xiao hadn’t anticipated that her opponent would be so skilled in fighting. Realizing the situation, she swiftly altered her strategy. Instead of clinging to his waist, she reached out with precision to strike at his armpit.
Qiao Jiajin shifted from palm to fist, delivering a powerful straight punch that collided with her forearm, intercepting the strike. Immediately, he shifted his weight back, taking two large steps before yanking Xiao Xiao down, sending her crashing to the ground.
Xiao Xiao landed flat on her front, the impact sending a sharp pain through her body. But what was even more troublesome was that Qiao Jiajin continued to apply pressure just above her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She relentlessly threw punches, aiming for Qiao Jiajin's side.
However, the man before her was far too experienced in combat. Each time, he intercepted her attack just before her fist could land. After a dozen failed strikes, Xiao Xiao could only feel her strength draining rapidly, and her vision was beginning to blur.
"Buff mui, had enough?" Qiao Jiajin asked.
Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth. "No."
"Just why won’t you listen?" Qiao Jiajin glanced at her strong back before speaking, "With muscles like yours, why not go do some chivalrous deeds, like a hero?"
"Chivalrous deeds... are you out of your mind?" Xiao Xiao spat, her body straining as she shoved him with all her might, but still, she couldn’t break free from his hold.
Qiao Jiajin was about to retort when he suddenly felt something lock around his neck, and his vision went dark.
He coughed sharply, instinctively releasing his grip and swinging his arm defensively, assuming someone had attacked him from behind. But after several failed attempts to strike out, he realized there was no one there.
What was that feeling just now, as if his neck had been caught in a neck lock?
Seeing her {Adversity Shift} successfully activate, Xiao Xiao's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Without wasting a moment, she sprang to her feet and unleashed a powerful Push Kick directly aimed at Qiao Jiajin's abdomen.
She had expected the strike to knock him down without question, but to her surprise, despite his eyes being closed, Qiao Jiajin managed to grab her foot mid-strike.
With nothing but his grip on her foot, Qiao Jiajin swiftly gauged her position, even without sight. He then extended his leg and delivered a low side kick, striking her other calf just below the knee. Without hesitation, he lifted her foot and forcefully pushed it forward.
Xiao Xiao’s massive frame struggled to maintain balance. Her legs faltered, and in an instant, she lost her center of gravity and fell hard to the ground.
Only then did Qiao Jiajin’s eyes fully adjust to the surroundings. He realized that he had briefly experienced oxygen deprivation, but it was short-lived, so he had already adjusted to his current situation.
"Was that your special ability?" he asked, stretching his neck. "Quite powerful."
"I realize I’ve also underestimated you..." Xiao Xiao slowly rose to her feet, her eyes narrowing with renewed intensity. "I’m now ready to truly exchange a few moves with you."
Qiao Jiajin's expression remained unchanged as he casually stripped off his shirt, revealing a series of flamboyant tattoos that swirled across his muscular body. With a smirk, he tossed the shirt aside. "As the saying goes, 'third time’s the charm,'" he said, flexing his shoulders. "You’ve issued multiple challenges, so I suppose I can’t keep treating you like just another girl anymore."
"Excellent." Xiao Xiao stood tall, rubbing her knee where his kick had landed. "I've always hated being treated like a fragile woman. I’m quite pleased with the way you’re treating me now."
"You might be pleased now, but you’ll regret it later," Qiao Jiajin spread his feet, shifting his weight back and forth with a few quick bounces. He subtly adjusted his footwork, carefully measuring the limited range of movement available on the narrow steel beam beneath them.
"No matter whether I win or lose, I won’t regret it," Xiao Xiao replied. "It’s my fortune to be able to spar with someone as formidable as you."
Qiao Jiajin nodded in acknowledgment. "Then let’s exchange a few blows."
...
Ole Sun and the lanky youth had been locked in a standoff for a while, unable to get a clear view of the other side of the bridge, where Zhang Shan was strategically blocking their sight.
“What’s goin’ on over there with Xiao Xiao?” Ole Sun asked, trying to peek around Zhang Shan, but the latter purposefully shifted his body, blocking his line of sight.
"Hey," Zhang Shan said coldly, his voice steely. "Your opponents are us. If you don’t want to die, you’d better step aside."
“Steppin’ aside ain’t an option,” Ole Sun replied with a shake of his head. He turned to the lanky youth. “Luo Eleven, time to get movin’.”
The youth known as Luo Eleven nodded, then closed his eyes. A moment later, the distinct sound of a bell resonated through the air.
"What service tier would you like to pay for?" Luo Eleven asked.
“Are yer bloody pretendin’ t’ be daft?!” Old Sun cursed. "The highest! Full power service!"
TL Note: ( •̯́ ₃ •̯̀) Again, here are the corresponding videos~
Body Lock Throw (抱摔)
Push Kick (正蹬)
