You Are Really No Match For Me [Fighting] - Chapter 7

Mantis Li Yang

Jin Yu had a small cut on her hand. She went to Ding Shu to have it treated. With practiced skill and gentle care, Ding Shu wrapped her injured fist and said softly,
“You’re an athlete, and a young woman. You must take better care of your body.”

Jin Yu smiled as she withdrew her hand.
“I’m a competitor. On the stage, it’s only win or lose—there’s no room to think about things like that.”

Ding Shu said, “There are only three underground arenas in all of Jiangbei. Now that you’ve debuted here, they’ll definitely hear the news. By tomorrow, someone will show up to challenge the arena. Are you certain you want to go through with this? No second thoughts?”

“No,” Jin Yu replied. “I want to get familiar with how different mechanical modifications enhance fighters. That way, when the real tournament comes, I’ll be prepared ahead of time.”

Ding Shu hesitated, then said, “In that case, I have something for you.”

He turned and retrieved two mechanical arms from the closet. Pointing to a button on the device, he explained,
“See this? Press it, and the arms will lock seamlessly onto yours.”

Jin Yu’s lips curved into a faint smile as she pushed them back.
“Thank you, but I don’t need them.”

“Take them,” Ding Shu insisted. “They’ll just sit here otherwise.”

“Then… thank you. I’ll treat you to a meal another time,” she said.

Seeing her so unconcerned, Ding Shu couldn’t help but remind her,
“If someone comes to challenge, you must be especially careful of a man named Li Yang. They call him ‘Mantis,’ he—”

The door swung open. Jin Mu walked in, now wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. His voice was cold.
“That’s right. He’s insidious and cruel, violent by nature, and his punches defy all logic. He wields a pair of vicious mantis blades. Against male opponents, he targets the groin. Against women, he deliberately strikes at sensitive spots. He’s disgusting—a notorious fighter.”

Jin Yu frowned. “Why isn’t a fighter like that banned from competition?”

Jin Mu adjusted his glasses.
“The rules don’t restrict techniques or weapons. The greater the freedom, the greater the danger.”

“How… unusual.”

“Exactly,” Jin Mu continued, sinking into a chair. “Because the rules are so free, some opportunists always try to go viral with extreme methods. Li Yang made his name years ago when he nearly dismembered an opponent on stage. His style is nothing but brutal. I was about to warn you myself.”

Jin Yu suddenly locked eyes with him. The intensity in her gaze startled him, and he looked away with a small cough.

“Do you have footage of his fights in your system?” she asked. “Ah, I forgot—your glasses broke.”

Jin Mu removed them, revealing golden irises.
“No, this pair has the recordings too. Do you want to see?” He started to rise, preparing to hand them over.

“Can you project it?” Jin Yu asked. “The lenses are too small—I can’t make out the details.”

Jin Mu walked over to the light switch. “Do you mind, Doctor Ding?”

“Not at all,” Ding Shu said. “My office walls take projection well—it should be clear.”

“Thank you.” Jin Mu adjusted his glasses onto the desk, drew the curtains, and leaned casually against the wall.

The room dimmed. A sharp projection appeared on the silver-gray wall.

Mantis: an invertebrate of the order Mantodea. The forelegs are modified into raptorial limbs, shaped like scythes, lined with sharp spines for gripping prey. Because of their resemblance to curved blades, they are also called “knife insects.” (Source: Baidu Encyclopedia).

On the stage, two men faced each other: “King Kong” and “Mantis.” The camera focused on Li Yang—the so-called Mantis.

Jin Yu immediately noticed his unusual arms.

His first pair looked human enough—solid muscles, well-defined knuckles—but metal ports gleamed at the wrists, ready to attach weapons at any moment.

The second pair, however, was the true killing set: mechanical scythes sprouting from his back shoulders, jointed like insect limbs, quivering faintly as they emitted a low, menacing hum.

A sharp whistle blew.

The referee announced, “Mantis versus King Kong—begin!”

With a resonant buzz, the mechanical scythes snapped forward, serrated edges gleaming like fangs. They looked so sharp that even a scrape would mean bl00d.

King Kong was not to be outdone—his mechanical arms extended to a full two meters, blocking the path like steel barriers.

The three in the office watched in silence as the fight played out.

Li Yang’s eyes narrowed. With a snarl, he drove straight for King Kong’s eyes. The scythes slashed downward, only to be intercepted by King Kong’s extended arms.

Jin Yu arched a brow. Brothers indeed—both preferred defensive styles. But while King Kong relied on wearing his opponent down before crushing them, Li Yang’s specialty was sudden counterattacks.

His strikes were vicious, his angles sharp and unpredictable. When the scythes were blocked, his fists darted toward King Kong’s face. When the fists were parried, the blades lunged for his ribs. Each move chained seamlessly into the next, the offense relentless as a storm.

King Kong’s defense held firm, his twin arms shifting and retracting with precision. Sparks flew where metal clashed against metal, the screech of steel grinding echoing across the arena.

Finally, after a barrage of savage attacks, Li Yang paused, breathing hard.

King Kong tightened his fists and lunged like a thunderbolt. Li Yang crossed his forearms to block—but suddenly, rows of razor-sharp spikes jutted from his gauntlets. The clash sent a jarring screech through the air.

Even so, the impact drove Li Yang back several steps. He steadied himself, then bared his teeth in a feral grin before leaping high, scythes raised for a killing blow.

King Kong’s pupils contracted—Li Yang was aiming for the neural link between his arms and his prosthetics.

But King Kong did not dodge. His arms shot out, seizing for Li Yang’s legs. Sparks burst as the scythes carved against the metal. Their eyes met in midair, both burning with battle lust.

Li Yang flipped, feet landing on the extended arms, springing himself toward King Kong’s head.

But King Kong slammed his arms into the ground, spinning his body around the pivot, and his legs lashed out like a hammer, kicking Li Yang clear across the stage.

Li Yang crashed hard, gasping as he spat, “You bastard… not bad!”

“Shut up—come again!”

King Kong bounded forward on his arms like a raging ape, legs whipping forward with brutal speed. He cornered Li Yang, dragging him off the ropes and smashing him to the ground again and again until he finally conceded defeat.

The projection froze on Li Yang’s image at the start of the fight.

Jin Yu asked, “Do all the competitors have their own mechanical modifications? Like your glasses, or King Kong’s extending arms?”

Ding Shu answered before Jin Mu could. “Pretty much. And those are the lower-end modifications. The deeper you go, the crazier it gets.”

Jin Yu nodded. “Can I ask something? From the brain interface, through the prosthetic, to the command execution—how long does that take?”

Jin Mu said, “Don’t worry about it. The delay is no more than thirty milliseconds at worst. With upgrades, it can even reach zero latency.”

Jin Yu asked another strange question: “Does Jiangbei have a blacksmith’s shop?”

Both men blinked.

“What for?” Jin Mu asked warily.

“I want to forge a blade,” Jin Yu said casually.

Jin Mu frowned. “If you’re worried about prosthetic malfunctions, it’s unnecessary. External weapons are dangerous—they can’t distinguish friend from foe. You could easily injure yourself.”

“No need to worry about me.” Jin Yu smiled, hefting one of the spare arms. “I handle weapons more naturally than these things.”

She set the arm down. “It’s late. I’ll head out and see if I can find a weapon that suits me. Thank you both—you’ve been a huge help.”

“Jin Yu, you’re new to Jiangbei. Do you know how to use navigation?”

She froze. “Navigation? How does that work?”

Jin Mu chuckled. “Would I have the honor of being your guide?”

“Really? That wouldn’t trouble you? I haven’t had the chance to explore the city yet.”

“Miss Jin Yu wants a stroll? Then of course. After all, I still owe you a debt.”

“Perfect. Doctor Ding, we’ll leave you to your work. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye, both of you,” Ding Shu said.

With his glasses back on, Jin Mu’s golden eyes were hidden again, replaced by the air of an ordinary man—or perhaps “low-key” was more fitting. Wearing glasses made him seem sealed away, cultivated and composed, yet unable to fully conceal the dangerous edge beneath. He drew the eye, daring people to wonder what he was hiding.

Once outside, Jin Mu asked as they walked,
“Miss Jin Yu, may I ask—where did you learn to fight?”

Jin Yu halted, her smile fading. Sharp guy—he’d sensed something off about her already. She tilted her head slyly.
“You want to know who my teacher was?”

“So you do have a master. It’s just that your style is… very different from most fighters. Your punches are quick, your techniques varied, your ring sense unusually mature. But it’s clear you’re unfamiliar with prosthetics. I was curious—when did you begin training? Didn’t your teacher teach you how to use these things?”

“I started young. I learned from a martial arts master who taught me to rely on human strength, not mechanical aids. But… he’s gone now.”

“I see. Then he must have been a remarkable man.”

“He wasn’t just remarkable—he was extraordinary. Everything I can do, I learned from him.”

“Understood.” Jin Mu nodded. “I’ll get the car. Wait at the entrance.”

“Alright.”

He pulled up in a jeep-like vehicle—sleek, elongated, lightweight.

“Your car’s beautiful. How much did it cost? I’d like one myself,” Jin Yu remarked.

“Two million,” he said.

“Not bad,” she replied easily.

Jin Mu frowned inwardly. According to the files he’d read, Jin Yu wasn’t the type to make casual remarks like that.

As soon as she sat down, the seat hummed beneath her back. Her eyes widened.
“Massage seats?”

“Of course. Long drives make my shoulders sore.”

The cabin came alive with holographic projections. A little puppy padded along the dashboard, a finger sleeve dangling from its mouth. Seeing her staring, Jin Mu asked gently,
“Want to put on some music? You can choose.”

She reached forward curiously.

“Slip on the finger sleeve first,” he reminded her.

“Right, I forgot,” she laughed, slipping it on. But the sleeve was far too big, hanging off her finger like a hat. She shut down the projections with an awkward swipe.

The oversized sleeve slid right off onto her lap. She chuckled.
“Jin Mu, why is everything of yours so big?”

He choked on air, coughing violently.

Jin Yu laughed. “Eyes on the road!”

Her smile faded, and her gaze sharpened as she met his eyes.
“I don’t care why you’re so intent on keeping King Kong in the arena, and I don’t care what you think of my techniques. Everyone has their secrets. You don’t ask about mine, and I won’t ask about yours. We’re just business partners. That’s all.”

“…I apologize,” Jin Mu said quietly. “My curiosity overstepped. Forgive me, Miss Jin Yu.”

She nodded. He was sensible enough. She was just about to say something to ease the tension when—

A massive, futuristic helmet suddenly loomed outside the car window.

Jin Yu lowered the glass. A rush of air whipped her hair into the air.
“Who are you?”

From under the helmet came a muffled voice:
“Jin Yu—it’s me. Su Xi.”