Chapter 323: As You LikeTranslator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
This woman, who was bestowed with good looks, who had refused the invitation of the Sacred Martial Hall twice, was no less popular than Master Fei in the Pegasus Fitness Club.
On the contrary, her good figure and sexy-hot look pushed Panchen Cow’s popularity slightly above Master Fei’s.
Owing to the two-ton Qin Fen was wearing, the elevator was simply unable to bear the load. Everyone could only climb the stairs to the topmost floor at the center of the club.
Qin Fen’s eyes immediately lit up as he pushed the door open.
The room here was much bigger than any other room he had seen before. It occupied almost all the area of the entire floor. And unlike other floors, which were tiled, the floor here was completely covered by tatami.
Tatami!? Qin Fen’s corner of lips twitched several times. How am I going to step on it with two thousand kg weights? I’m afraid it will be like walking on snow, it will leave a series of clear and visible footprints!?
Puzzled, Manager Hua looked at Qin Fen, who did not remove his shoes yet by the entrance and was standing still. He had already forgotten that this young man, who had walked up the stairs in a speedy manner, was wearing special weights of two thousand kg.
“It’s a bit difficult.”
Qin Fen’s eyes flickered with thrill from the challenge ahead of him. He took his shoes off as he stepped on the tatami, slowly and gently.
Puchi…
The tatami made a creak as the place where Qin Fen stood on began to cave in. Immediately, a drop of cold sweat appeared on Manager Hua’s forehead. This young lord is still wearing that two-ton heavy-lead suit! No wonder he was hesitating, but…
Manager Hua glanced at the tatami underneath Qin Fen’s feet, horrified. The two-ton weight should have directly flattened the tatami, right? So, why did it only cave in a bit before stopping?
Qin Fen scratched his head as he lifted his head and took another step forward. A distinct footprint was left on the place he just stood on.
Tatami couldn’t compare with tiles. Every time Qin Fen stepped on it, he left a distinct and visible footprint*. Is there no way to stop leaving footprints on tatami completely?* Qin Fen sighed and shook his head. Unless I could fly, it’s not possible!
Fly! Qin Fen stopped momentarily. Who was the person that appeared in the recruit tournament that night? Why couldn’t several drill instructors find anything about him even after investigating for so long? Why did his back look so familiar? Why was there a special warmth in his overbearing aura?
“Mister Qin, here…” Manager Hua walked over with a smile. The price of the tatami was one of the cheapest in the fitness club. Even if Qin Fen ruined them completely, it would not be as expensive as the heavy-lead suit.
“Alright.”
Qin fen politely replied as he looked at a dozen or so groups of people who were standing in circles together.
The number of people in each circle was also different. The biggest one had a few dozen people sitting in circles. And the smallest one only had a dozen people in it.
In the middle of some circles, there were two martial artists standing, fighting each other. Some circles even had three martial artists standing in the middle, one of whom was wearing different attire than most of them. He should be a coach here, guiding the other two in their fights.
There was also the head coach standing in the center, teaching something. There were even two martial artists who were pushing the hands of each other, as well as some martial artists who were collectively meditating.
The large room was filled with a thick stench of martial arts.
“Mister Qin, we may not be a professional martial arts sect, but our coaches are pretty good. They have rich experiences.” Manager Hua smiled pointed towards someone. “That man is wearing the uniform of neo taekwondo. He is very famous among Mister Qin’s generation.”
Qin Fen turned his gaze to the two men wearing neo taekwondo uniforms. Their horse waist[1] was not only very solid but had a special strength hidden in those plain-looking kicks and punches.
*Not bad! It’s really not bad! *Qin Fen repeatedly nodded his acknowledgment. The kicks and punches of this twenty-some-year-old neo taekwondo martial artist are pretty solid. His strength is clearly higher than the recruit Park Jong-Hwan. Neo taekwondo indeed has its own uniqueness. Not all those who came from the State of Korea are closet braggarts.
“Korean Neo taekwondo founder, Mister Bae Seong-Joon has ten personal disciples. He is Mister Bae’s seventh disciple, Lee Yong-Jun.” Manager Hua’s voice was filled with pride as he introduced him. Neo Taekwondo was also a martial art of an established sect. The fact that Pegasus Fitness Club could invite the seventh disciple of this school’s founder was proof of strength in and of itself.
Qin Fen’s eyes radiated with even more admiration. His chin unconsciously moved up and down twice. No wonder he can play neo taekwondo so well. He should be at this level with his background.
SNAP…
Lee Yong Jun cracked the air like a whip with a high kick. The loud crack drew the gazes of everyone in the huge hall. Lee Yong Jun, on the other hand, stood quietly in his place, his provocative gaze wandering about Qin Fen’s limbs.
From the very beginning, Lee Yong Jun had noticed that Qin Fen was personally led by Manager Hua into the room. Even the coaches had not enjoyed such lavish treatment.
What he was mostly unable to accept was those approval expressions in Qin Fen’s eyes just now.
An appreciation was a good thing! However, if the person appreciating you was young and had a high and mighty look in his eyes, like the kind of appreciation elders gave to a younger generation, then, the meaning was totally different!
Qin Fen had been studying martial arts these days. Also, he had been guided by that strange expert every night as well. Qin Fen might not have reached the peak due to the short time he had spent learning martial arts, but his vision was not worse than many masters. In addition, his gestures also began to change unconsciously. There was an air of a master around him, which mostly went unnoticed by ordinary people. That aura manifested in his body bit by bit.
If someone with a calm disposition saw such an aura accompanied by a gaze of appreciation, he would not care about it. But if it was someone arrogant, he would regard it as a provocation.
Unconsciously, Qin Fen nodded several times in appreciation from the bottom of his heart. But in Lee Yong Jun’s eyes, it wasn’t praise but an insult and provocation!
Lee Yong Jun didn’t say anything. Nonetheless, the large hall was shrouded in a strange silence. Everyone standing in various circles looked at Qin Fen and then at Lee Yong Jun with interest.
Lee Yong Jun might not be as all-powerful as Fei Wei and Wang Ying among all the martial arts instructors in the Pegasus Fitness Club, but he had become very famous because of his unique arrogance and somewhat violent disposition.
Shortly after his arrival here, he had requested to spar with almost every coach apart from Wang Ying. Naturally, the so-called spar also had a winner and a loser.
A ranking was needed among the martial arts coaches of the same fitness club! And the courage of this disciple of State of Korea’s Martial God to challenge the other coaches was in itself a proof that his kicks and punches were hard enough. Apart from Wang Ying, whom he may or may not have challenged, even Hubert, the Kick of Wrestling of the club had been knocked down by Lee Yong Jun.
At this moment, whether it was the members or the coaches, only one thought flashed in their minds, This is going to be fun.
*Neo taekwondo!? *Qin Fen slightly furrowed his brow. He had already seen this school of art on recruit camp’s Park Jong-Hwan. Although his kicks and punches were quite solid, there was nothing new about it.
Qin Fen’s expression in his eyes flickered as his gaze wandered on other people, instead of clashing with that arrogant gaze of Lee Yong Jun.
Hmph!
Lee Yong-Jun’s snort rang in the hall. The expression that had just appeared in Qin Fen’s eyes was not a forced challenge but had rather, contempt! Or maybe, disregard!
The cracking of Lee Yong-Jun’s fingers as he made a fist resounded in the quiet hall. Ever since I have left my teacher’s shadow and made a debut, I’ve never encountered such an arrogant individual apart from that weird woman.
Manger Hua peeked a glance at Qin Fen’s face, which was clearly saying that he had no interest in doing anything. Yet again, his boss’s warning on the phone flashed in his mind. He could not help but scream in his heart.* If possible, I really don’t want to offend this Lee Yong-Jun. Rumor has it that he has some contacts within the army.*
“Ke…” Manager Hua’s face sunk. He forced a cough before throwing himself in between Qin Fen and Lee Yong Jun and saying, “Coach Lee, your members are still waiting for you to impart the skills.”
All the coaches were stupefied. More or less, a faint surprise was written in their eyes. This was already very tendentious protection.
In the club, the position of coaches was on par with the other equipment coaches. If it was not for special circumstances, it was almost impossible for a manager to stand opposite to the coaches.
What the hell is going on today? All the coaches found it a little strange.* This boy, who is young enough to be a new member, seems to be faintly chiding us in his words.*
Lee Yong Jun was also taken aback. Why is the usual kind and articulate Manager Hua speaking in such a threatening manner today?
Everyone’s gazes fell upon the arrogant Coach Lee, waiting for his counterattack.
Lee Yong Jun glanced at all the members in the outer circle and noticed that everyone’s gaze was filled with anticipation. If he chose to take a step back at this time, then their gazes were likely to have contempt.
To be able to become one of the top three coaches in the members’ circle in just three months after entering the club had an inseparable relationship with his usual belligerent disposition.
Most of the coaches began to sneer. Lee Yong Jun had built his position with his fists and legs. If he retreated this time, he would lose the favor of a large number of members. And if he competed with the manager, then it was very likely that he would lose this well-paid job.
Even as a martial artist, one must eat. And to put their food on the table, some became policemen, some became bodyguards, and some even entered the life of crime. Only a few people could resist the temptation of such an environment where they could practice with ease and earn rich rewards at the same time.
*Yield? Or not yield? *The expression in Lee Yong Jun’s eyes changed ever so quickly. Even he knew that such a good job was hard to find. Finding such a good job would not be easy even for the State of Korea’s Martial God, Bae Seong-Joon.
But suddenly, all the hesitation in Li Yongjun’s eyes were swept away as a fierce gaze that was as sharp as a sword shot towards Qin Fen. Without taking so much as a glance at Manager Hua, he parted his lips and said, “Manager, my members want to see my real skills. And I’m also itching for action. I want to spar with someone.”
Manager Hua was started. What day is today? Not only Qin Fen, this young lieutenant colonel who is frequently amazing us with his actions, but even the employees, who used to be very obedient in the past, are daring to go against us!?
With a sneer, Manager Hua’s face grew somber. Why are all the Toms, Dicks, and Harrys stepping on me today? Unless an old tiger doesn’t show its prowess, you think it is sick?
“Coach Lee, the club has its own rules. You are violating a direct order of your superior by doing this. I have all the rights to cancel the contract between you and us.”
Manager Hua’s ice-cold voice was filled with endless threats. Hearing this, a faint mockery flashed past the eyes of the coaches in the room. This nine-star martial artist, who has robbed every other member of their reputation with his hard fists and legs, is not going to end well, regardless of whether he chooses to back down right this moment or continue to take a hard stance.
“Manager Hua, you don’t need to cancel the contract, I quit.” Lee Yong Jun took off the coach’s name tag off his chest and threw it on the tatami. The golden name tag made a loud and crisp sound as it hit the tatami.
This sound was not even as loud as an ordinary firecracker, but it shocked the hearts and souls of many people in the room. Qin Fen, on the other hand, looked at Lee Yong Jung with admiration, once more. A martial artist who chose to protect his pride instead of being threatened by wealth would surely make a name for himself on the road of martial dao in the future.
The calm gaze of praise and the slight nod of Qin Fen stabbed deep into the heart of Lee Yong Jun like a steel saber.
*Again with that nasty gaze! *Lee Yong Jun clenched his fists as he took a step. The sound of his step resounded echoed in the quiet hall for a long time like there were firecrackers hidden inside the tatami.
Some of the astute people discovered that the tatami underneath Lee Yong Jun’s step was like thin paper. In contrast, the footprints left by Qin Fen were far shallower. Lee Yong Jun appeared to be much stronger.
Manager Hua hastily inserted himself between the two to block again. “Coach Lee, if you aren’t the coach of this center, then, you don’t seem to have any right to stay here, am I right?”
Lee Yong Jun smiled. A disdainful expression appeared on his prideful face. “Manager Hua, you are forgetting something. I am not only a coach here, but also a member!”
Manager Hua was stunned on the spot, feeling as if he was struck by lightning. For a moment, he didn’t know how he should respond.
On the other hand, the other coaches stared at Qin Fen with anticipation. The show is finally going to start. No matter whether this kid wins or loses, we have to thank him later. After today, it would be impossible for this overbearing Lee Yong Jun to stay here.
Qin Fen glanced about the hall. Nevertheless, he didn’t catch sight of the so-called first coach of the club who had created a punching technique of her own.
He turned his gaze back on Lee Yong Jun whose eyes were filled with hostility; this one point eight five meters tall man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist had a pair of slender legs and single-fold eyes and a tall nose.
“Do you really want to fight?”
“But of course!”
“How do you want to fight?”
“As you like!”
“Alright.”
A simple conversation, but to everyone, it sounded completely different when ‘as you like’ fell into their ears. As you like could mean anything. A spar was very risky. It was very easy to have their arms and legs broken. One could even die with a simple slip of one’s hand. After all, kicks and punches had no eyes. They won’t show any mercy to the enemy. A martial arts spar was no different than playing with their lives.
Sometimes, ‘as you like’ was also a sign of life and death agreement.
Qin Fen put his hands in his pockets in a very casual manner as he swept a glance at the martial artists surrounding them. Immediately, everyone made an empty space for them to spar.