Chapter 46: Clash of Warriors

Clarice beamed with confidence, affirming, "I remember. My brother will always be there for me."

With Clarice's assurance, James rose to his feet. He retrieved the saint goblet from his bag, filled it with water, and carefully administered it to the sleeping Mother Hana.

As the water touched her lips, Mother Hana's furrowed brows relaxed, and her breathing steadied.

Brother Zheng and Clarice observed silently, their curiosity piqued by the mysterious goblet, yet they refrained from asking.

As the night grew late, James left the orphanage alongside Brother Zheng. Upon reaching the crossroads, Brother Zheng broke the silence.

"Le, do you practice martial arts as well?"

"Indeed." James admitted without hesitation, acknowledging his proficiency in 'a few fighting techniques.'

Brother Zheng's eyes gleamed with excitement. "I wonder if you'd like to spar sometime."

James smiled, appreciating Brother Zheng's skill. "Certainly, I noticed your prowess as well. I was actually thinking of asking you."

"Please excuse my oversight. Allow me to introduce myself formally. I am Zheng Shang Chi." Shang Chi bowed respectfully.

James reciprocated the gesture. "James, under Tonghu's guidance, I've learned a bit about combat, although I'm not as skilled."

Unfamiliar with Tonghu's name, Shang Chi didn't dwell on it. "Shall we test our skills then, James?"

With mutual agreement, the two sought out a suitable location for their match.

They arrived at the "Laowang Chinese Medicine Hall," where Shang Chi was staying temporarily. The hall was deserted at night, offering a secluded space for their practice.

In the backyard, they discovered an old wooden dummy, a testament to Master Uncle's training regimen.

"This belongs to Master Uncle. He practices his martial arts techniques here," Shang Chi explained.

"Ah, I thought he was just a boastful old Chinese doctor," James remarked humorously.

"Traditionally, martial arts and medicine are intertwined. It's not uncommon for Master Uncle to be proficient in both," Shang Chi explained.

After a brief exchange, they positioned themselves on opposite sides.

Shang Chi introduced himself, "I am Shang Chi, skilled in hand-to-hand combat and weapon arts."

James reciprocated, "James, trained by Tonghu in various combat forms but still learning."

Their spar commenced with James launching the initial assault, his speed impressive for his age.

Shang Chi, however, easily deflected James's attacks with practiced ease, maintaining a calm demeanor throughout.

Realizing he had met a formidable opponent, James abandoned restraint and increased his speed and power, launching a barrage of punches at Shang Chi.

The Dance of the Tiger, a versatile offensive and defensive technique, tested Shang Chi's abilities to the fullest. Despite the onslaught, Shang Chi maintained his defenses, countering each strike with precision.

James, surprised by Shang Chi's resilience, marveled at his opponent's skill. Shang Chi's defense, bolstered by martial arts expertise, held against James's relentless assault.

As the spar continued, Shang Chi recognized James's superior strength but also his lack of strategy. James, focused solely on martial prowess, refrained from tapping into his cosmic abilities, choosing an honest contest of skill.

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