You Are Really No Match For Me [Fighting] - Chapter 10

Jin Mu’s glasses flickered, showing the coordinates—less than a hundred meters away. The target was nearby. He immediately told his companions:

“The suspect is close. Search every corner carefully.”

Beside him, Su Xi was still lost in thought. She couldn’t figure out why the blade her father had always treated as a treasure had somehow ended up in Jin Yu’s hands. Because of this, she didn’t notice that the man on the speeding bike was Jin Mu. Jin Yu narrowed her eyes. Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe Su Xi already knew who Jin Mu was and didn’t care. Or maybe Su Xi was simply used to this kind of transport.

The setting sun painted the sky. Jin Yu pulled herself from her thoughts.
“It’s getting dark. Time to head back.”

Su Xi glanced up at the sky, nodded, and started the motorcycle. Just as they left, Jin Mu seemed to sense something, but the corner blocked his line of sight. The two groups brushed past each other without meeting.

The motorcycle roared on, scenery flashing by. Jin Yu, however, wasn’t in the mood to admire it.
“Who exactly is Jin Mu? Do you know him?” she asked, testing Su Xi.

“Not much,” Su Xi frowned. “He’s a secretive one. I deal more with his younger brother, Jin Gang. I’ve heard Jin Mu caught hold of some dirt on the boss, borrowed a huge sum of money, and made Jin Gang mortgage the arena to pay it off slowly. Back then, Jin Gang was just a dumb kid. He only became a pillar of the place after he made a name for himself. Jin Mu used that chance to demand a big cut of the gambling profits. Seems like the two brothers are strapped for cash.”

The more Jin Yu listened, the more dangerous Jin Mu seemed. His secrets were tangled and dark. Having him as coach—was that a blessing or a curse?

Near the underground arena entrance, Jin Yu’s sharp gaze pierced through the twilight. Five modified fighters blocked the way. One figure was hidden in the shadows of the wall, his body so black he nearly melted into it. If she hadn’t looked closely, she might have missed him entirely. Meanwhile, poor Xiao Bai was like meat on a chopping block, pinned by two burly men. The boss was nowhere to be seen.

At the front stood the one Ding Shu had warned them about—“Mantis” Li Yang. He jabbed at a fruit plate on the back of his electronic dog with his arm-blade, eating grapes and spitting skins on the ground with arrogant disregard.

“They’re not here for peace.” Su Xi braked sharply. “Do we fight? We could lose badly.”

Jin Yu sneered.
“Since we’re here, no one’s walking away unscathed. The person who can beat me hasn’t been born yet.”

As soon as the bike stopped, Xiao Bai broke free and rushed over, flustered.
“They forced me to fight in your place! Said if you didn’t come back—”

“Coward,” Jin Yu cut him off. “I promised to fight. I won’t run.”

Xiao Bai looked miserable.
“But there are so many of them! What if it’s a group fight? Jin Gang took all our people away, now—”

“Enough whining!” Su Xi flung her keys aside. “Fight if you have to. Why so much nonsense?”

Just then, Li Yang swaggered over, dragging the electronic dog. Spittle flew as he sneered:
“Sh1t, I was wondering who it was. You dare call yourself the strongest fighter in Jiangbei? Turns out it’s just a little b1tch. Hey, sweetheart, are you even old enough?”

His spit nearly sprayed the three of them, his eyes thick with provocation.

Su Xi’s veins bulged in fury.
“Fvck you! Did your mother raise you wrong, or did your father forget to teach you how to talk like a man?”

Li Yang’s lecherous gaze swept across her chest.
“Where’d this chick come from? Nice body. Stick with me and I’ll—”

Before he could finish, Su Xi cursed him out like a storm.
“Shut the fvck up! Go piss and look at yourself in the puddle, you disgusting toad. Who’d follow you? That’d be the unluckiest life imaginable!”

Xiao Bai jumped in too:
“Exactly! Just look at yourself—like a warty toad! Our Su Xi is as beautiful as a fairy. You think she’d look twice at you?”

“You b1tch, I’ll fucking kill you!” Humiliated in front of his crew, Li Yang’s face turned uglier than dog sh1t. With a metallic “clang,” his arm-blade snapped out, slashing for Su Xi’s face.

Jin Yu yanked Su Xi back. The blade’s cold gleam reflected across her face. For a heartbeat, Li Yang froze, shielding his eyes from the flash of Jin Yu’s blade.

Her voice was calm, icy.
“If those words were meant to provoke me, I’ll tell you—you’ve miscalculated. I won’t get angry. I won’t be provoked.”

She lowered her weapon, handed the scabbard to Su Xi.

“Be careful,” Su Xi whispered.

Jin Yu nodded, then stepped forward and raised her stance before Li Yang.

For a moment, Li Yang blinked in surprise. Then he burst out laughing, clutching his belly.
“Look at this little b1tch! She really thinks she’s got skill! Brothers, isn’t that hilarious?”

His gang roared with laughter. Even the mechanical dog barked in rhythm, a chorus of mockery. Xiao Bai nearly exploded with rage, but Su Xi grabbed him.
“Calm down. Don’t let them get to you. Yu might not lose.”

Li Yang’s laughter stopped cold. His eyes gleamed darkly.
“Clear the ring, brothers! Today I’ll show her what real fighting is. I won’t stop until she’s begging on her knees!”

“Clang!” His twin mantis blades snapped wide.

Jin Yu’s Miao blade sliced the sunset with a glint of frost. She launched forward, aiming straight for his head. Arrogant bastard—she would crush his pride!

Li Yang crossed his mantis blades to block. Sparks flew. His grin revealed sharp, white teeth.
“That’s it? Weak! Just like embroidery work. Brothers, am I right?”

His men howled again.

Jin Yu said nothing. Her blade twisted, sliding between the mantis blades. A sudden upward slash! Li Yang staggered back—only to find the strike had turned mid-motion, the tip darting for his throat!

Bl00d trickled down his chin as he wiped it. His glare was venomous. He flexed his arms, and the mantis blades whirred with mechanical clicks, splitting into jagged serrated edges.
“Little b1tch, time to meet my ‘Meat Grinder’!”

He lunged, arms crossing like giant shears, blades aimed for her throat. If that landed, it would be fatal. Jin Yu sidestepped, Miao blade braced—

“Zzzzzchhh!” Screeching metal clashed. In a flash, Li Yang’s serrated blades split again, his whole arm a mass of gnashing teeth. He pressed harder, nearly shredding her sleeve into rags.

Jin Yu glanced at her torn clothing, unreadable. Li Yang cackled.
“I’ll cut every stitch off you! Let’s see how you fight then!”

Xiao Bai fumed.
“Shameless coward! Can’t win fair, so you use trash tricks!”

Su Xi’s grip on the scabbard tightened until her knuckles whitened. Suddenly, Ding Shu appeared and pressed a hand on her shoulder.
“Calm down. Trust Jin Yu. She’ll be fine.”

Li Yang pressed the advantage, his blades tearing at her clothes. Jin Yu, cornered, suddenly changed tactics. Her eyes went cold. With a powerful stomp, she swung hard, forcing him back several steps.

He steadied himself, locked blades again, and twisted to snap her weapon in two.

At the brink, Jin Yu released her grip. The Miao blade spun upward. In the same motion, she crouched and swept his legs. He stumbled. Before he could recover, the rotating blade fell perfectly into her hand. With a reverse strike, “Wind Returns Through Willows”—

Wham! The blade’s back slammed into his neck, flinging him meters away.

Silence fell.

The mantis blades whirred uselessly, sparks spitting.

Somehow, Xiao Bai had found a camera and was snapping furiously.

In the flashing lights, Jin Yu strode forward, blade tip dragging.
“Nice modifications. Too bad the user’s trash. Talk tough before a fight if you must, but that’s hunger for victory—not insults for your opponent. You should read more books. I’m tired of hearing the same lines.”

Li Yang lay face-down, the back of his neck swollen red. He looked like a rat dragged from a sewer. Suddenly, he sprang up, blades stabbing for her heart.

Jin Yu spun aside. The Miao blade lashed like a silver dragon—

Swish!

Half a mantis blade clattered to the ground, sparking.

“Now,” Jin Yu’s sword pressed against his throat, “apologize to me—and to my mother.”

Su Xi burst out laughing, clapping.
“Well said! Hurry up and apologize!”

Li Yang opened his mouth, but only air hissed out. His face reddened as he clamped it shut.

Xiao Bai cackled.
“Ha! Big mouth’s speechless now! Who’s spraying sh1t all over the place, huh? Hahahaha!”

The mechanical dog barked and lunged at him. Xiao Bai bolted, shrieking as the dog chased him. Around and around the ring they went, the machine dogging his heels like a real mutt. Xiao Bai scrambled behind Jin Yu.
“Sis, save me! It’s your fault I’m getting chased by this psycho mutt!”

Jin Yu gave a cold snort. With a flick of her blade, the dog whimpered and scampered back to Li Yang, nuzzling his leg like a spoiled pet.

Then, from the shadows, the black-clad thin man stepped forward, a blade strapped across his back. He leaned down beside Li Yang, rasping:
“Boss, let me take her on.”

Li Yang nodded. The man bowed formally.
“I am Shujishita Yoshihito. Please, Miss Jin Yu, grant me the honor of this bout.”

Jin Yu sized him up, eyes narrowing.
“A Japanese swordsman with ninja tricks? Perfect. This blade of mine was forged to slay Eastern arts.”

She tore off her ruined sleeve and turned to Su Xi. Their eyes met. Suddenly, Su Xi shouted:
“Xiao Bai! Record it! Hurry!”

Though weak, Xiao Bai’s brain was sharp. He smelled opportunity instantly. If they spun this right, Jin Yu’s fame would soar. His face flushed with excitement.
“Already rolling! Already rolling!” he yelled, then turned to the crowd gathering.
“Come one, come all! Once-in-a-lifetime chance! Free show! No money needed—watch her smash a Japanese fighter for free!”

Su Xi smacked her forehead, suddenly remembering. She dug a mini camera from her overalls pocket, raised it, and hit record on Jin Yu’s striking side profile.