Chapter 0016: Elbow Like a Spear

"Is this the strength of Huo Family Fist? Truly unimpressive!" With that, Yang Jun delivered a powerful downward strike aimed at Liu Zhensheng. 

Liu Zhensheng's body sank slightly as he crossed his arms to block, though he was forced to step back several paces. 

If Liu Zhensheng's hands had only trembled lightly before, now they shook visibly. Yang Jun, however, didn't press his advantage. Instead, he smiled coldly, watching Liu Zhensheng as he stood firm, shaking his hands as though trying to dispel the pain.

Liu Zhensheng quickly assessed Yang Jun's martial arts. His technique wasn't particularly advanced, and he didn't appear to be a dark strength practitioner. However, the power in his strikes suggested that he had mastered some form of hard qigong—perhaps something like *Iron Shirt* or *Golden Bell Cover*, known for being incredibly difficult to master, yet immensely powerful once perfected.

Such techniques required immense resources, especially herbs to treat the internal injuries they caused. Only wealthy families, capable of affording the necessary resources, could practice them. Liu Zhensheng knew this well, and it didn't make sense for someone from Yang Jun's village—a small rural community—to be able to afford such an extensive martial training. It raised suspicions about Yang Jun's background. 

At first, Liu Zhensheng thought Yang Jun might be practicing external martial arts, like *Iron Sand Palm*, but after exchanging a few moves, he ruled that out. 

"Take another blow!" Yang Jun didn't wait for Liu Zhensheng to recover. He launched another strike, an overhead cut aimed at Liu Zhensheng. 

In a flash, Liu Zhensheng instinctively reached to grab his opponent's hand, but his weakened arms lacked the strength to secure a hold. Yang Jun's blow landed directly on Liu Zhensheng's lower back, striking with brutal precision.

Liu Zhensheng had no ability to withstand the blow. His body immediately bent forward in pain, his face contorting as he struggled to maintain his balance. The impact left him temporarily incapacitated.

A cruel grin spread across Yang Jun's face as he seized Liu Zhensheng by the shoulders and jerked him forward. With an unrelenting knee strike, he aimed for Liu Zhensheng's face—an attack that, if it landed, would likely knock out his teeth and knock him unconscious.

"Second Brother!" 

The disciples of the Huo Family gasped, knowing the face was a particularly vulnerable spot on the human body. In street brawls, a punch to the face could collapse the nose or break the bones around the eyes. Now, the very real threat of a knee to the face sent a chill through the onlookers.

They rushed forward, but they were too far to help in time. 

Just as Yang Jun prepared to deliver the decisive blow, a sudden, sharp shiver ran down his spine. A martial artist's instincts told him danger was imminent. Reacting quickly, he released Liu Zhensheng and lowered his head.

*Thud!* A short wooden staff slammed into the wall beside him.

"Who's there?" Yang Jun growled.

"Is this how you conduct yourself?" A calm voice responded. 

Everyone parted to reveal the newcomer—Chen Zheng. He had arrived just in time to see Liu Zhensheng struck, and understanding the urgency of the situation, he had acted quickly. Spotting Liu Zhensheng's vulnerable position, Chen Zheng had launched a kick, sending a wooden pole flying towards Yang Jun's head. The strike was aimed at his temple, a vital area, and had Yang Jun not reacted, the outcome would have been disastrous.

Yang Jun reflexively stepped aside to avoid the blow.

"You're Huo Yuanjia's eldest disciple?" Yang Jun asked, finally recognizing his opponent as Chen Zheng.

"That's right," Chen Zheng answered, a faint smile on his lips. He quickly crossed the distance and helped Liu Zhensheng up.

"Zhensheng, are you alright?" he asked, concern in his voice. 

"I'm fine," Liu Zhensheng replied, his voice shaky but resolute.

Chen Zheng handed Liu Zhensheng over to two of the younger disciples and turned back to face Yang Jun.

"Huo Family Fist, I've learned something today," he said calmly.

"Hmph! Another fool who doesn't know how to back down!" Yang Jun sneered.

"Be careful, Senior Brother! He practices hard qigong!" Liu Zhensheng, still sitting, quickly warned Chen Zheng. His voice was urgent, his concern palpable.

Chen Zheng gave a slight nod, his expression unchanged as he studied Yang Jun. He knew that hard qigong practitioners were difficult opponents. Their bodies were like iron, capable of withstanding tremendous force, and defeating them required either dark strength techniques or exploiting their weak points. However, Chen Zheng wasn't one to back away from a challenge.

He had heard of hard qigong, and though he hadn't encountered many practitioners personally, he had learned enough to respect their strength.

Over the past few years, though, he had heard of Liu Zhensheng's growing reputation as a martial artist. While Liu Zhensheng might not be at his peak, his skills were still formidable.

"You'll feel this one," Yang Jun said, and without warning, he launched into an unprovoked attack—a wild, unpredictable series of blows.

Chen Zheng was momentarily taken off guard. Yang Jun didn't adhere to the typical rules of martial arts; he was fighting like a street brawler, throwing punches and kicks with reckless abandon.

Instinctively, Chen Zheng crossed his arms in front of his chest to block the strike, and when Yang Jun's kick slammed into his forearms, Chen Zheng used the force of the blow to push forward, forcing Yang Jun to step back a half-step.

"Senior Brother, well done!"

"Beat him! Teach him a lesson!"

The Huo Family disciples cheered, seeing that Chen Zheng had not only blocked the attack, but had also forced Yang Jun back.

Yang Jun's expression darkened. "So you're not just some bookworm after all. You've got a bit of skill."

Chen Zheng remained impassive. From the moment he started learning martial arts, Huo Yuanjia had drilled into him the idea of remaining emotionally neutral in combat: *"Don't be elated by victories, don't be disheartened by setbacks."* It was the best way to make sound decisions in battle, and Chen Zheng had adopted this mindset fully.

Yang Jun sneered and seemed about to speak again, but Chen Zheng didn't give him the chance. He stepped forward and unleashed a punch that had been four years in the making—the *Charging Fist*. 

Chen Zheng wasn't the type to play by the rules when his opponent didn't. If Yang Jun wasn't going to show any respect, then neither would he. *"An eye for an eye,"* was the philosophy Chen Zheng followed.

Yang Jun's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected Chen Zheng to strike back so decisively. He raised his left hand to block with his wrist, attempting to stop Chen Zheng's blow.

*Bang!*

The impact rang out, and Yang Jun was forced to retreat another step. Chen Zheng's *Charging Fist* wasn't ordinary; it carried immense power. 

But Chen Zheng didn't stop there. Using the momentum from his feet, he pushed off the ground, sending a surge of energy from his legs through his spine and into his arms. 

He shifted the punch into an elbow strike, using it like a spear aimed directly at Yang Jun's face. 

Yang Jun's eyes widened as he saw the elbow coming for him. He raised both hands to protect himself, positioning his forearms to block the strike. But even as he managed to deflect the attack, he was forced to take another step back.

Chen Zheng didn't pause. Without hesitation, he spun and launched a second elbow strike, determined to keep the pressure on.