Vol. 1 - Ch. 264 - One strike
Transmigrated as the fake young master, I'll beat up the scumbags and b*tchesThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Following Xia Chen into the dojo at the rear of the school, HuMing was immediately met with the sharp sounds of bamboo swords clashing.
Then, a series of gasps rang out, stirring a restless urge to step inside and see what was happening.
Unexpectedly, the air inside wasn’t as stifling as one might expect from a training hall. It seemed to be cleaned regularly.
"Right, my useless brain!" Xia Chen suddenly smacked his forehead. "I almost forgot—Gu YunQin pays for the dojo’s upkeep. That’s the only reason the kendo club is still surviving."
HuMing paid no mind to Xia Chen’s words, his gaze sweeping through the gathered crowd toward the sparring members inside.
What surprised him, though, was the sight of Gu ZhaoChuan standing beside Gu YunQin.
Dressed in kendo attire, he looked ready to step onto the stage. But could he really hold his own against these seasoned fighters?
HuMing tucked that thought away for later.
On the field, the opponent unleashed a relentless flurry of strikes, shattering the defensive stance of the club member. Then, in one swift motion, he closed the distance, let out a forceful shout—"Men!"—and delivered a crushing blow to the opponent’s faceguard.
The sheer force sent his opponent sprawling to the ground.
The crowd erupted in gasps, quickly followed by sighs of resignation.
They had seen this scene countless times. But so far, not a single person has been able to turn the tide.
The challengers were far too skilled—on a completely different level from the school’s own members. They felt less like students and more like professionals.
Gu YunQin’s brows knitted together, her gaze locked onto the match. As yet another of her members fell, a sense of helplessness gnawed at her.
The gap in skill was overwhelming.
And worse—these weren’t even their own students. They were from JingDu III. Losing was one thing. Losing face was another.
"Thank you for the match."
The opponent gave a small bow to the fallen student before scanning the room. His gaze finally settled on Gu ZhaoChuan.
"You’re up next."
Judging by his expression, he had no idea who Gu ZhaoChuan was. To him, the task today was simple: defeat every single student in this dojo.
Behind him, the leader of the Third High team sat cross-legged, watching the match with an unsettling calm.
He showed no joy at his teammate’s victory.
He already understood the current state of the Second High kendo club. Ever since their previous captain graduated, the club had been in decline.
His goal today was merely to confirm that fact.
"The gap is too wide," HuMing remarked evenly, knowing full well that Xia Chen was listening beside him.
"Honestly? I can’t even tell the difference between skilled and unskilled. That last strike flashed before my eyes like a bullet, and then—boom! The guy was down." Xia Chen’s reaction was understandable—kendo matches often ended in an instant.
But to those who knew the sport, the difference was obvious. It came down to stance and positional control.
The previous fighter had been full of openings. No wonder he was taken down in a single strike.
HuMing remained silent, his gaze fixed on Gu ZhaoChuan as he stepped forward.
Gu ZhaoChuan gripped his bamboo sword tightly, eyes locked ahead. His opponent was already in position, ready to strike.
Beside them, Gu YunQin clenched her fists without realizing it, watching intently.
"Ha!"
The opponent lunged, his sword cutting through the air like an afterimage.
But Gu ZhaoChuan’s reaction was just as fast.
He instinctively raised his sword to block, then retreated a step.
Sensing an opportunity, his opponent moved to press the attack—only to expose a brief but fatal opening!
At that exact moment, three people reacted differently—HuMing, Gu YunQin, and the leader of the opposing team, still seated on the floor.
Gu ZhaoChuan swung upward, striking the opponent’s headgear.
The other fighter staggered, barely managing to steady himself.
The room erupted into cheers.
This was the moment everyone had been waiting for—and the one to make it happen was Gu ZhaoChuan!
Even HuMing couldn’t help but feel a twinge of admiration. Seeing it with his own eyes was far more convincing than just hearing about it.
Defeating Gu ZhaoChuan would not be easy.
That last strike had been flawless. Not only did he parry the attack, but he also capitalized on the briefest opening to land a counterstrike—a move no amateur could pull off.
HuMing found himself reconsidering Gu YunZhou’s words.
Maybe this Gu ZhaoChuan really was a natural talent.
On the sidelines, Gu YunQin was visibly relieved, while behind them, Gu YunZhou let out a quiet breath.
To him, Gu ZhaoChuan had always been the one to turn things around. Today was no different.
"Brother Chuan, the captain on the other side is no joke. You’d better be careful."
"Would you blame me if I lost?" Gu ZhaoChuan chuckled, shaking his head before turning to his next opponent—the fighter who had just stood up.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, appearing slow and heavy.
But Gu ZhaoChuan wasn’t fooled.
There was more to him than met the eye.
"How could I? You’ve already done enough today. I’ll handle the rest."
Gu ZhaoChuan stepped back into position.
His opponent did the same, giving a slow bow.
Through the slit of his mask, his eyes remained fixed on Gu ZhaoChuan.
For some reason, an eerie chill ran down Gu ZhaoChuan’s spine.
It felt like he was being watched by a machine.
He tightened his grip on his bamboo sword and edged forward cautiously.
His opponent seemed to sense the movement.
Then, in a flash, the man struck—his bamboo sword slamming directly onto Gu ZhaoChuan’s wrist!
"That’s it."
HuMing blurted the words before he could stop himself.
"Hiss—!"
A burning pain shot through Gu ZhaoChuan’s hand. His grip failed him, and the sword clattered to the floor.
He stared down at it, mind still struggling to process what had happened.
That guy...
He looked bulky, but that was just a facade.
Speed.
Speed was his real weapon.
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd, while the Third High students cheered their captain’s name.
HuMing exhaled, shaking his head slightly.
"That man is strong. I don’t think anyone here can beat him."
His words were calm, but the truth in them was undeniable. Under standard competition rules, this captain alone could likely wipe out the entire dojo.
Even Gu YunQin was shaken by his speed.
She had seen the attack—yet it had been so fast she barely comprehended it.
If she stepped up, could she even withstand a single blow?
"YunQin, are you okay?"
Gu YunZhou’s voice carried concern. Their opponent was formidable. He worried that his sister was overthinking it.
"I’m... fine."
Gu YunQin clenched her fists even tighter.
As the captain, no matter what, she had to step up.
Gu YunZhou let out a quiet sigh.
His eyes swept across the dojo, packed with spectators.
But amidst them, one figure in particular caught his attention.