Chapter 81: Martial Demonstration

As the car neared its destination, it suddenly slowed down.

Li Xue asked the driver, "What's going on up ahead? Why are we slowing down?"

The driver replied, "The security guards from the villa complex up ahead are putting on a martial arts demonstration. It's right on the sidewalk in front of the complex, and it's drawing a big crowd! I have to be careful. If I hit someone, a whole year's salary would go down the drain."

Mu Lin found it strange. 'Who holds martial arts demonstrations in this day and age?'

"Isn't it just some street performance to entertain the homeowners?" Mu Lin scoffed.

Li Xue quickly clamped a hand over Mu Lin's mouth, her eyes darting around nervously.

"Do you have a death wish? These guards are all retired special forces soldiers, earning seven or eight hundred thousand a year!"

Hearing that number, Mu Lin was a little taken aback.

"That much? Is it that easy to make money as a security guard?"

Li Xue rolled her eyes. "Obviously. Just think about the kind of people who live in that complex—they're all first-class magnates. Compared to them, our Li Family is like an ant facing an elephant."

"People like that are more than willing to spend a fortune on their safety. The guards are basically shared bodyguards for those magnates. If anything happens, they get access to a comprehensive security detail."

"They're recruited from retired special forces, specifically decorated soldiers with confirmed kills. Only half of the candidates even make it through the selection process. The standard is incredibly high."

As Mu Lin listened, his jaw dropped. The world was truly full of wonders.

"Stop for a moment," Li Xue said to the driver. "Since Mu Lin doesn't believe it, let's just let him have a look."

As she spoke, she rolled down the window on her side so Mu Lin could get a better view.

The bodyguards were sparring in pairs, their intense back-and-forth drawing excited cheers from the crowd of onlookers.

Mu Lin watched for a moment before shaking his head. "Nope, not even close. All flash and no substance. It's a million miles away from being practical in a real fight."

"Keep your voice down! What if someone hears you?" Li Xue said sternly.

Just then, a man with sharp features and an intimidating gaze appeared before Mu Lin.

"Hello. I'm Chen Jingyun, captain of this security team. It seems you don't approve of our training methods. Do you have some brilliant insight to share?"

Li Xue buried her face in her hands in exasperation.

Mu Lin smiled. "You guys are great. You should never do this again."

As he spoke, he tapped the driver's seat. "Let's go, driver."

Chen Jingyun grabbed the window frame, clearly not about to let Mu Lin leave. "My friend, since you say we're no good, why don't you show us how it's done?"

He walked around to Mu Lin's side of the car, and with a gentle pull, opened the door.

"After you."

Li Xue pleaded, "I'm so sorry, he's just spouting nonsense! I'll discipline him severely. Please, don't pay him any mind!"

But Mu Lin just turned, got out of the car, and stretched languidly.

"Let's do this," Mu Lin said to Chen Jingyun.

Chen Jingyun pointed to the sidewalk. "We have a sparring platform set up over there. Why don't we use it?"

Mu Lin glanced toward the sidewalk. A platform about a foot high and three meters square had been built there with red bricks.

It was a decent setup, if a bit on the small side.

"Hard to really cut loose in a space this small, isn't it?" Mu Lin asked.

Chen Jingyun replied, "That's what tests your skill. You can't retreat; you can only stand your ground and fight one-on-one. Think of it this way: a bodyguard can't just abandon their client and run for their life, can they?"

"Or are you saying you can't handle a situation like this?"

Chen Jingyun had already pegged Mu Lin as someone who was all bark and no bite. That's why he'd led him to the sparring platform—he was just waiting for him to back down and admit he was wrong.

Mu Lin just smiled. "Actually, I'm worried about you."

With that, he stepped onto the empty sparring platform.

Chen Jingyun was stunned. 'I was just trying to scare him! I was going to let him go as soon as he apologized.'

But this stubborn fool was actually getting on the platform. 'If he gets seriously hurt, it'll be my mess to clean up.'

"Don't hold back. Come at me with everything you've got," Mu Lin said with a smile, noticing Chen Jingyun's hesitation.

"Everyone, you heard him! If he injures me seriously, or even kills me, I'll have brought it on myself!"

Mu Lin stood on the platform and shouted to the onlookers.

Li Xue was fuming. 'Is Mu Lin insane?'

'This is the security captain! He has to be the strongest one here.'

'And you're insisting on fighting him... I...'

In the past, Li Xue would have been thrilled to see Mu Lin courting death like this. If he died, he wouldn't be able to pester her anymore.

But now, her feelings were completely different.

For some strange reason, she felt a pang of protectiveness, a reluctance to see him get hurt.

Chen Jingyun laughed heartily. "Since you've put it that way, I'll be happy to spar with you and show you the finer points of our training methods."

With a light tap of his foot, Chen Jingyun leaped gracefully onto the red brick platform.

One of the guards, holding a small flag normally used for crowd control, stepped forward to act as referee.

"The rules are as follows: no holds barred, no limit on intensity, and no time limit. The fight ends when one party surrenders or loses consciousness."

"Do you agree to these rules?"

the guard asked.

Mu Lin smiled. "I agree. Let skill determine the winner, and fate our lives."

The guard raised the flag high. "Ready!"

They were only an arm's length apart, with barely enough room for a single move.

The victor would be decided in the blink of an eye.

The crowd watching at the entrance to the complex held its breath. The silence was absolute, almost unnerving.

No one wanted to miss a spectacle like this; who knew when they'd see one again?

"Begin!"

Chen Jingyun moved instantly. He pushed off with both feet, his joints popping like a string of firecrackers. CRACKLE! POP!

He became a flowing stream, surging toward Mu Lin as he drove a palm strike at his chest.

If that palm landed true, Mu Lin would likely be sent flying more than ten meters.

It wouldn't be fatal, but Mu Lin's dignity would be utterly shattered.

'This is the price for looking down on my training methods!'

But Mu Lin didn't block it directly. Instead, his arm shot out like a snake, coiling softly around Chen Jingyun's.

The palm strike Chen Jingyun had intended to throw was completely neutralized, his arm locked in place in an instant.

'I'm locked!'

Chen Jingyun's mind reeled. 'This can't be happening!' He quickly raised his other hand, striking forward with the speed of a viper.

Mu Lin dodged nimbly, neutralizing the entire chain of attacks with ease.

Watching from the car, Li Xue was breaking out in a cold sweat for Mu Lin.

At first, she had been sure he was done for.

"Out of tricks? My turn!" Mu Lin said.

Mu Lin released the hand that had trapped Chen Jingyun. A jolt of joy shot through Chen Jingyun. 'Isn't he just giving me an opening?'

'Mu Lin's combat experience is lacking. He doesn't know to press his advantage. Now he's put himself on the back foot!'

His spirits lifted, Chen Jingyun prepared to repeat his attack.

Suddenly, he felt a strange jolt under his feet. The bricks beneath him instantly crumbled into powder.

Even more terrifying, a massive rebound force launched him into the air.

He was completely unprepared for it.

He looked down and saw Mu Lin, poised as if to take a power shot in soccer.

He aimed squarely for Chen Jingyun's chest and kicked.

Chen Jingyun was sent tumbling through the air.

His men were stunned.

"Catch the captain!" one of them shouted. They scrambled forward, intending to break his fall with their bodies.

Chen Jingyun landed squarely in the middle of them, but the force of the impact hadn't dissipated. It knocked them all down, sending them scattering like bowling pins.

Mu Lin spread his arms. "See? I won."

The crowd below the stage erupted in thunderous applause. It was an absolutely beautiful fight.

Chen Jingyun was strong, yes, but against Mu Lin, he was completely helpless.

The guards helped Chen Jingyun to his feet, asking with concern, "Captain, are you okay? That kid fought dirty! He used the platform itself to his advantage. If it hadn't been for those bricks, the outcome would have been uncertain!"

Chen Jingyun snapped, "Silence! A loss is a loss. I won't make excuses!"

"I lost the moment he stopped my first palm strike. I had poured all my strength into that blow, yet he neutralized it so effortlessly."

As his words sank in, everyone suddenly understood...

This Mu Lin was a true master!

A master hiding in plain sight.

"See?" Mu Lin said, smiling at Chen Jingyun. "I told you it was all flash and no substance. Are you convinced now?"