Romance of Dragons and Snakes

Hearing Lin Yanan’s report, Wang Chao leafed through the sheaf of information he had before closing his eyes and exhaling slowly in thought, “According to the reports, Ye Xuan practiced began to practice how to use a sword under a waterfall for three years before studying under the guidance of many Japanese martial artist masters. After those three years, he returned to the snowy mountains of Hokkaido to undergo self-discipline to hone his will. By the age of 18, he challenged Aikido master Iwasaki Masa and won. A person like this is a fanatic that seeks the Martial Way and has a heart that longs for martial arts. Although he is 19, he will not be as easily defeated as Miyagi Hanshin was.”

“It is only because he cannot be easily defeated that the organization has asked you to.”

Shuffling the report together, Lin Yanan gave a smile with a large arc in it, “You are a genius as well. A genius against another genius is what makes a fight worth seeing. The organization wishes for you to secretly strike at the flame of the Japanese martial arts world. The reason why the Japanese have brought those youths to sweep our schools and fighting rings is because it is an attempt to test us. If they succeed, then there will be a large-scale operation against us in the future.”

“Although this isn’t like the previous century, the Japanese martial arts world can’t create too large of a wave. To be frank, we can only fight in secret and will be classified as behaviors from the private citizens. The government won’t get involved, and in fact, they will pretend to not know about it.”

“But if we were to let them go unimpeded, that would do no good for the face of China. Martial arts isn’t something that plays a definite role in this, but it is still something we have support in. The organization has plans for you to make yourself known within the martial arts world, so this is a very good opportunity that you cannot miss. I am also a martial artist, so I know and believe in your skill.”

“You should stop flattering me, if the organization gives me a mission, I will complete it. If I don’t complete the mission, I won’t complete the mission.” Wang Chao closed his eyes, “I’m no genius, only that Ye Xuan can be considered to be a genius. When he was 17, he reached the stage of the Hidden Jin and joined the ranks of the upper levels. When I was 17, I was still learning the horse stance.”

“Do you really have no chance?” Lin Yanan looked to Wang Chao with her eyebrows narrowing together in concern.

“I haven’t even seen him, how would I come to any conclusion that easily? Am I an Immortal from Daoist beliefs? On the platform of a competition, there are many things that can change the outcome. Whomever has the better technique will be the winner.” Wang Chao smiled, but it did not quite reach his eyes. From his expression, it could be seen that he was neither nervous or surprised.

“That’s fine, I had thought that you had no confidence in yourself.” Lin Yanan studied Wang Chao’s expression for a moment before nodding her head. “You go and take a rest, I’ll go prepare some things. Since this is a matter between the people, then that means I’ll need to bring in some private help instead of the government. After the competition, there will definitely be fire; but that shouldn’t be too dangerous. With Liao Junhua making the arrangements, instead of fearing the ten thousands happening, we should be worrying about any one thing happening.”

Wang Chao knew that Lin Yanan would prepare a sniper, bodyguards, and several other covert ops. After all, their current statuses were currently that of an unknown gang and mercenaries. With them heading into the underground fighting rings, it would not follow any official rules.

To be an underground fighter was to be ready to be shot by a bullet at any time.

Just as Lin Yanan walked out, Wang Chao could hear someone approaching the door nearby.

“Zhu Jia, is that you? At this time, why aren’t you asleep?” Even before Zhu Jia could get close to the door, Wang Chao could tell it was her from her distinctive footsteps.

“Was that your assistance just walking out? How pretty, she even has a decent physique.” Zhu Jia was wearing flower lattice pajamas and slippers. Her hair was wet and scattered behind her in a way that was easy to see that she had just finished showering.

“I didn’t think you’d fall to such a level where you’d hire a female secretary.” Zhu Jia sat down lazily and gave Wang Chao a flattering wink.

This second meeting with Wang Chao had been far more relaxed than before–there had been no apprehension in Zhu Jia’s face at all.

Wang Chao’s eyes began to observe Zhu Jia before finally stopping at her snowy white calves. At this, Zhu Jia began to grow a little uneasy before finally speaking with a deadpan face, “What are you looking at, never seen something like this before?”

Wang Chao looked away and spoke in rapid succession, “Of course I’ve never seen it before.”

“You……” Zhu Jia snorted for a moment before her voice began to mellow out to grow concerned, “But I’m curious. You weren’t doing too badly for yourself with your company back in S province, why did you run off to Shandong to open a martial arts school? Oh, by the way, just what happened between you and Zhao Jun, were you forced to run away to Shandong because of him? That’s unfortunate, that day you left, I could have introduced you to several government officials. If you became good friends with them, then even Zhao Jun wouldn’t dare touch you. But now that you’re here in Shandong with brother Liao, then his word will protect you in the three provinces of Northeast China.”

“Your brother Liao and I are only just friends in the martial arts world. We only just became friends. However, your brother Liao is quite amazing. As a high ranking official, he is also a master of martial arts.”

“Don’t start talking about martial arts, give it a rest, okay?” Zhu Jia pouted, “I see how easy you are able to talk to brother Liao. Help me convince him to help me with my career. Plus, you have to help me too.”

“Fine then, who let me allow myself to owe you a favor anyways?” Wang Chao sigh helplessly.

In the capital of the Jilin province, Changchun City.

That night within a Karate dojo, a single male youth with a determined expression had his eyes closed as he sat in a kneeling position. His entire body was loose in his kimono while a wooden sword two-thirds of a meter long was placed in front of him.

At the same time, there were two Japanese youths fighting against each other with a fierce and swift movement.

But one of these youths had remained stationary. Even if there was a strong gust of wind blowing against him, his body did not seem to feel it almost as if the hairs on his body didn’t feel it.

“Ye Zi, Ye Zi. You only just arrived in Changchun City today, and yet you’re going to fight again at some place tomorrow? Aren’t you going to rest at all?” Another girl with her bangs covering her forehead had spoken out from her seated position on the side. Despite the worry in her voice, her eyes had a look of admiration to it.

This was a familiar looking girl. If Wang Chao saw her, then he would immediately recognize her. That was because she was the very same Yagyu Haruko that had been on a tanker and demanded Wang Chao to fight her.

“Not tomorrow, but tonight.” This youth was a Chinese-born Japanese; the genius known throughout the Japanese martial arts world as Ye Xuan.

At the age of 18, he had been able to defeat the Aikido master Iwasaki Masa in Hokkaido. Being called a genius was not a title he had conferred to himself.

“You’re going to go out tonight? This isn’t the same China as the one before. A strong dragon can’t control a snake hidden in the grass. Let us make the preparations; if something happens to you, then it would be a tremendous loss to our Japanese martial arts world.” Yagyu Haruko spoke up in a hurry.

“I’ve devoted my entire life to practicing the Martial Way. There won’t be anything that will stop my walk forward.” Ye Xuan closed his eyes. “I came to China this time as a course to temper myself. I will definitely come across danger here. If I cannot turn peril into safety or even have the courage to face it, then how would I become a grandmaster? Aikido grandmaster Morihei Ueshiba, Karate grandmaster Miyagi Chojun, and Mas Oyama, which one of them didn’t experience any combat? It is only within the battlefield of life or death that one will be able to polish and hone their will and spirit. If one cowers away from danger, then they will be forever destined to never progress.”

“I’ve learned a lot, Ye Xuan-kun.” Yagyu Haruko bowed her head. “But, I believe that you don’t need to waste your spirit on any pointless battles. You could go and challenge those Chinese boxing masters like the Three Tigers of Guangdong, Taichi master Chen Aiyang, Liu Jiajun of Taiwan, Hong Majun of Hong Kong, and the other important figures. With your spirit and Martial Way, you would definitely win against those so-called masters!”

Ye Xuan stood up with two fingers sticking together on his right hand. Almost as if the wooden sword had came across some glue, it instantly stuck to his fingers before being held to his hand.

“Those masters who love and cherish their reputations are like birds who cherish their own wing feathers, there is a chance they won’t accept my challenge. As long as they cherish their reputation, they will have misgivings. If the strong have any misgivings, then there will be a weakness; that means I will definitely prevail. But! Yagyu Haruko, a challenge is like practicing; it must be done one step at a time.”

“Hai!” Yagyu Haruko nodded her head, “That’s right! Ye Xuan-kun! Are you going to go now?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll go with you for now. The most well known fighting rings in this area are on the outskirts of the city. There’s about 25 kilometers, so I’ll call a car and some other people to go with you.”

“No need, the two of us will do. Whatever happens afterwards, our guild hall will take care of it.”

One man and one woman walked out of the dojo and began to walk along the lamplit streets. Their bodies were like bows as they stalked forward like the ninjas in the movies. And not too long afterwards, they had finally arrived at the urban district of Changjun City.

That night within the fighting rings of Changjun City, five boxers had been killed by a single Japanese youth. One had a finger hole stabbed into his temples, another had his sternum shattered, another had his eyes dug out, and the other two had their inner organs destroyed from a blast of Hidden Jin.

That entire venue had later awarded the Japanese youth a prize of ten million.

The same night, Liao Junhua had heard the news, but he had not ordered for a hit on him.

On the second day, Wang Chao, Liao Junhua, and Dai Jun arrived in Changjun City.

“How ruthless, that Ye Xuan. His skill is clearly far too high for these boxers, and yet he didn’t hold back at all. What a utterly ruthless character.”

Straight away, Wang Chao could see that Ye Xuan’s skill at martial arts was way stronger than the dead boxers laying on the ground. It was easily possible for him to fight without accidentally killing his opponents at all.

Wang Chao himself had been through many fights. But whenever he was in a fight with an extremely strong opponent in a life or death match, it was impossible to have mercy. There had been one time when he had killed Snake-head right in front of Lu Chengwen. But that had been because Snake-head had tried to kill him first and everyone around him had been eyeing him like prey; there was no way out other than that.

Following his doctrine on using martial arts to cultivate the health, Wang Chao had wished to practice this principle of mercy and to never kill a person on purpose.

It was these days especially that he had understood the way to cultivating his health and making the proper movements. It had relied on coming across any hostility and to break out with Jin instinctually without being affected by one’s own killing intent.

“Come, let’s go see who this guy is!” Liao Junhua had seen the markings on the chest. There had been a faint mark near the heart and lungs where they had been ruptured. From this, he had realized that Ye Xuan’s Hidden Jin had reached the stage where he could manipulate the firmness or softness at will.

At the outskirts of Changjun, there was a machine processing factory with an underground fighting ring within it. A single shoddily made sign could be seen outside, but since no from public security, the police, inspectors, workers, or the court had any interest in it, so they hadn’t bothered with appearances.

Liao Junhua had influence within this large-scaled fighting ring along with the ones in the Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. And in these rings, the security had all privately owned weapons.

This fighting ring was far larger than the one Wu Yingda had control of in Guangzhou; furthermore, it was far more luxurious and had more rules.

Northeast China shared a border with Russia, and within the training camps in Siberia, rumors had it the most vicious fighters of that training camp originated from the fighting rings. And when they were released onto the platform, they were killing machines.

The underground fighting rings had been influenced by Russia as well and was thus far more developed than its Southeastern China’s counterpart. Some of these fighters had even been able to participate within the K-1 in Japan and earned premiums from it.

Both the Japanese and Russians had encroached into China in the past and influenced it violently.

The entire fighting ring had been constructed to replicate the coliseums of Rome so the spectators and participants were completely divided.

Just as Liao Junhua, Dai Jun, and Wang Chao entered the VIP terrace, Wang Chao had instantly noticed a motionless ye Xuan and Yagyu Haruko sitting on the other side with several other western-suited Japanese businessmen.

Not too long later, Ye Xuan had walked up onto the platform to face off against a 150 kilogram and 2 meter tall Russian boxer.

The look in the Russian’s eyes had been grim as he stalked forward with a swift foot; clearly, he had been in many life or death battles.

But in just a single move, he had been struck down by Ye Xuan’s fist! Teetering around for a moment as his chest was shattered, the man had fell down from the ring only to die on the ground.

“What a youth, he truly deserves to be called a genius. If it was me, I would stand no chance to win.” Liao Junhua gave a sigh before calling for the master of the place.

“Go talk with the Japanese guild hall. Offer them some money to stop their practices here. If they refuse our toast, then let them accept our gunfire.”

“No need, chief Liao.” Wang Chao suddenly spoke. “Let me handle him.”