Chapter 28: An Expert of the Flowing Water Sect

Although he had just fought a match against Zhou Hao, Zhang Ji’s stamina remained abundant. For him, the previous encounter was, at most, a warm-up. In his current peak state, his physical endurance far exceeded that of an ordinary person.

"Snap!"

With a sharp crack, Zhang Ji took the initiative, throwing a punch toward the Water Monster. The Water Monster assumed a combat stance and countered with a punch of his own.

"Bang! Bang! Hum! Clang!"
"Clang, clang, clang!"

Zhang Ji’s fists landed on the Water Monster’s gray-coated metal armor, producing dull, metallic thuds. When Zhang Ji blocked the Water Monster’s attacks, it sounded like vibrating steel. The two resembled iron men locked in a duel.

"What immense strength!"

After several exchanges, the Water Monster’s expression beneath his mask was one of sheer astonishment. Zhang Ji wasn't wearing any exoskeleton; he was relying purely on raw physical power to go toe-to-toe with him. Such strength would not be nameless in any international fighting tournament. Truth be told, this place was home to quite a few formidable experts.

Meanwhile, Zhang Ji noticed something unique about his opponent's fighting style. The movements were wide and sweeping yet refined and concise, filled with lethal intent—reminiscent of military combat arts.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang! Bang!"

Zhang Ji seized an opening, unleashing a barrage of strikes that hammered against the opponent's chest, followed by a heavy kick that sent him flying backward.

On the other side, Zhou Hao and Black Eagle had also begun to clash. After regaining his footing, Black Eagle faced the rapidly approaching Zhou Hao and dared not engage in close-quarters combat. With his own skill level being merely that of an amateur fifth-dan, competing against such a master was no different from seeking death.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

Tongues of fire erupted as bullets sprayed from the gun. Zhou Hao showed no intention of dodging; his hands swept quickly through the air, catching every single bullet without missing one.

"Damn it!" Black Eagle’s expression was one of disbelief.

By then, Zhou Hao had already closed the distance.

"Hum, hum, hum, hum!"

A buzzing sound like a swarm of bees echoed. Zhou Hao, who had intended to throw a punch, pulled back, rolled on the ground, and darted toward the nearby production machinery. The moment he moved, a swarm of drones opened fire.

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat!"

Black Eagle let out a sigh of relief and said, "Bee, I'll treat you to some male models later."

"I’d rather play with your 'big toy' instead," Bee responded in the communication channel, unabashed.

Under the suppressing fire, Zhou Hao dared not reveal himself easily. He was not like Zhang Ji, who practiced hard-body arts capable of shrugging off bullets. If all those bullets hit him, even he would surely be injured. Of course, it wouldn't be fatal. With his muscle density, bullets of this caliber would at most lodge in the outer layers of his flesh without reaching the bone.

Zhang Ji was also being targeted by the fire. However, he simply ignored the bullets spat out by the drones. As long as he protected his eyes, the hits on the rest of his body didn't even feel like an itch.

"Is he an iron man?" Bee grumbled.

Zhang Ji ignored the drones and lunged toward the Water Monster he had kicked away, intending to finish him off. The Water Monster braced his palms against the ground, sprang up, and lashed out with a kick. Zhang Ji blocked with his arm, absorbing the massive force into his muscles. His stance dipped slightly, and in the next instant, he surged forward with a shoulder ram.

"Bang!"

The Water Monster lost his balance and was sent flying.

His style was wide and heavy, seeking a one-hit kill without holding back; however, the frequent use of leg techniques left obvious openings. This type of military combat was only effective against the weak. Against a high-level expert, it was completely inadequate. Even Zhang Ji, who was not particularly skilled in technical finesse, could dominate him.

As Zhang Ji prepared to pursue, several drones swooped down, their bullets creating a screen that blocked his vision.

"Black Eagle, with me!" the Water Monster shouted into the comms.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Zhou Hao threw a handful of bullets he had collected, knocking the flying drones out of the sky. Zhang Ji and Zhou Hao reunited, only to see the Water Monster and Black Eagle fleeing into the unmanned production workshop they had emerged from earlier.

"Pursue!" Zhou Hao decided instantly. The two men gave chase.

***

Upon entering, they saw the Water Monster standing quietly by the pool of "Trace-Less" solution.

"You can't escape. Surrender and reveal your employers; perhaps you can live out your days in prison. Modern prisons are quite humane; they won't make it too hard on you," Zhou Hao said.

"The Five Elements Sect is truly powerful!" the Water Monster remarked with a sigh.

"Does that even need saying?" Zhou Hao replied.

"You must be important figures in the Five Elements Sect. What a pity—you've offended another major power today. I imagine you won't be able to take jobs in the Eastern Polar Nation anymore!" the Water Monster said. As he spoke, he stepped closer to Zhang Ji and Zhou Hao.

"Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!"

Bubbles surged rapidly in the pool of solution. Zhang Ji’s attention was drawn to it, and his expression changed abruptly.

"Go!"

The moment he shouted, Zhou Hao reacted, and both men retreated faster than they had entered. At that same moment, the vast pool of Trace-Less solution rose in a massive, turbulent wave, cascading down upon Zhang Ji and Zhou Hao.

The Water Monster pushed his palms forward and bellowed, "Waterfall Descent!"

"Rumble!"

The solution transformed into a substance as fine and sharp as blades, cutting into their bodies upon impact. This was far more devastating than the impact of a real waterfall. Zhou Hao was swept away instantly, his clothes shredded and his skin covered in lacerations. However, he ran fast, and as he wasn't the primary target, he fared relatively well.

Zhang Ji, the intended target, caught the full brunt of the assault. Imagine the sensation of millions of tiny blades, each carrying the kinetic energy of a bullet, constantly slicing into one's body.

"Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!"

The solution swirled in a tornado-like vortex. Zhang Ji felt as if he had been tossed into a washing machine. Countless sounds of metal striking metal rang out from his body. He squeezed his eyes shut, covered his ears, and planted his feet in a horse stance, refusing to be carried away by the current.

The powerful impact, combined with the cutting force, caused blood to seep from his skin. He never expected to encounter a fighter from the [Flowing Water School] here. The [Mysterious Heart School] relied on external forces for combat, and beyond weapons and gear, they could naturally harness the environment. The [Flowing Water School] specifically utilized water as a medium for combat. In places rich with moisture, their strength could increase by thirty to fifty percent, or even several-fold. This was the absolute advantage of home-field advantage. Of course, without water, they were truly pathetic. If you met a [Flowing Water School] fighter in a desert arena, you would understand how ridiculous they could be.

Unfortunately, this was not a desert. In this place filled with Trace-Less solution, it was essentially the enemy’s home turf. Zhang Ji felt his entire body under assault. Under this pressure, strength accumulated rapidly within his muscles, reaching a breaking point. His body felt as hot as molten lava, a surging sensation that was becoming impossible to contain. If he didn't release it, the tensed force would tear his muscles apart.

He only had one chance. If he failed, he might be toyed with like a plaything. Zhang Ji gritted his teeth against the pain, stabilized his breathing, and mobilized all his strength, drawing upon the small reserve of internal energy (Yuan Qi) he had refined.

"Rip! Crack!"

The worn-out shoes on his feet split apart, and the sturdy floor beneath him cracked. He drew power from his feet, used his spine as a bridge, and channeled it through his arms.

*Dragon-Form Fist!*

"Hum! Boom!"

A void suddenly erupted within the water flow. Zhang Ji’s fist slammed directly into the Water Monster’s head armor. In the next instant, the Water Monster was sent flying uncontrollably, crashing into a wall eight meters away. A clear, deep fist print appeared on the left side of his armor, and blood flowed from his cheek, spilling out from beneath the plating.

The Water Monster could no longer execute any combat techniques; he felt as if his skull had shattered. The blow was so brutal it had deformed his military-grade exoskeleton. Although it was an obsolete model, the material quality hadn't changed; he could have had his head run over by a tank and not been injured this badly. He never imagined he would be crippled by a single punch from Zhang Ji.

"Boss? Are you okay?" Black Eagle approached, nervous.

"I'm fine, run!" the Water Monster commanded.

The two helped each other up and made for the exit. Zhang Ji moved to pursue but suddenly felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his bones and lungs. He opened his mouth and coughed up a spray of blood.

"Are you all right?" a battered Zhou Hao asked.

"Pursue! I'm fine!" Zhang Ji said.

Forcing down the agony in his internal organs, he and Zhou Hao chased after the duo. They encountered more drones, but this time, Zhou Hao was prepared; he threw the bullets he had collected earlier, knocking them down.

The chase led them back outside. A massive swarm of drones danced in the sky. Ignoring the hail of bullets, Zhang Ji leaped toward the Water Monster. While still in mid-air, he executed a *Dragon-Tail Sweep* kick.

***

The Water Monster shoved Black Eagle aside and took the kick head-on, forced back several steps.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

Bullets rained down, but Zhang Ji ignored them, his eyes narrowed, determined to finish the fight and ensure the Water Monster didn't leave alive. Although, given his own growth rate, this guy would never surpass him, why take the risk? What if this guy brought out heavy weaponry? Since they were already enemies, a dead enemy was the only good enemy!

Under Zhang Ji’s fierce onslaught, the already heavily injured Water Monster retreated repeatedly. His head throbbed with agony, and Zhang Ji’s strikes were relentless, targeting the same damaged area. Even the slightest vibration was agonizing for the Water Monster.

"Worker Bee’s attacks are having no effect!" Bee said.

"Leave it to me!" Fox said.

On a distant mountain, Fox had already aimed his sniper rifle at the battling Zhang Ji. Gifted with dynamic vision far exceeding the average person, Fox’s sniping talent was immense, far surpassing automated drones. Equipped with the [God-Slayer] model sniper rifle, he was arguably the most dangerous member of the team.

"Bang!"

A special sniper round, costing five thousand Roman coins, was fired. The massive recoil followed, and the bullet tore through the air at nearly four times the speed of sound, heading straight for Zhang Ji.

At the brink of life and death, Zhang Ji’s potential exploded; he sensed the threat a split second in advance. He aborted his attack on the Water Monster and threw all his power into a punch aimed at his own side.

"Puff! Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The bullet pierced the center of his fist, passing through his hand and forearm before coming to a stop. The immense kinetic energy shoved Zhang Ji backward, shattering the concrete ground beneath him.

Pain—excruciating pain. Zhang Ji felt as if his right arm had been shredded. But in its place came a boundless rage born from the fear of death!

"You're dead!!!"

"Hum! Bang!"

Zhang Ji lunged, pinning the Water Monster to the ground. Sitting atop him, he rained down blows with his elbows and head onto the Water Monster’s skull. The Water Monster, already in a state of critical injury, barely managed two pathetic struggles before falling silent.

"Bang!"

Fox’s second shot arrived. This time, Zhang Ji used the Water Monster’s body as a shield.

"Clang!"

The terrifying shockwave transmitted through the Water Monster’s body. Zhang Ji was nearly flipped over, a testament to the sheer power of that bullet.

"Boss’s vitals are fading..." Bee’s voice came over the channel.

"Boss!!" Black Eagle, who had been coordinating with the drones to suppress Zhou Hao, roared.

"Retreat! We’ve failed!" Fox said decisively. Although he was satisfied with their teamwork, he wasn't new to the mercenary life; it wasn't his first time experiencing a failed mission or the death of a comrade.

"You want to run? Forget it!!"

Zhang Ji roared, charging at Black Eagle while still lugging the body of the Water Monster. Despite carrying the extra weight, he was much faster than Black Eagle.

Fox aimed for a long time, but ultimately, he didn't fire. With the Water Monster’s exoskeleton providing cover, Zhang Ji couldn't be harmed; it would be a waste of ammunition.

Zhang Ji caught up to Black Eagle and delivered a kick that twisted Black Eagle's spine; his exoskeleton failed to protect him. In his final moments, his gaze met Zhang Ji’s fist as it smashed down toward his head.

"Official law enforcement drones are coming, Fox... wait... wait..."

Bee’s communication cut off mid-sentence. Fox raised an eyebrow, abandoned his heavy sniper rifle, mounted his dirt bike, and sped into the mountain trail. Suddenly, he caught sight of a figure in the woods.

The figure was impossibly fast; in the blink of an eye, the person had closed nearly a hundred meters. No matter how hard he twisted the throttle, he couldn't shake the figure. Just as he was wondering how to escape, a sharp pain struck him. The next instant, he was thrown from his bike, landing on a bed of thick leaves.

Though the leaves cushioned the blow, Fox was in agony. He looked up to see an old man holding a cane standing not far away.

"You've got to be kidding me..."

An old man with a cane running faster than a high-speed train? That was his final thought.

In the next second, his skull was crushed by the cane.

If Zhang Ji had been there, he would have recognized the old man. Who else could it be but Wang Quan?