Martial Arts Master Chapter 276

Watching Zhang Zhutong bumped down off the ring and hearing the referee's announcement about the result, the entire stadium fell silent, no cheers or cries for victory. They probably wanted to but their heart was still strained and spirit pressed, suffering from the previous fight as if they had gone through the intensity and tension themselves. At the end of the match, no matter whom they had come here for, the first feeling they had was the relief, followed by tiredness, both mentally and physically.

When Lou Cheng finally straightened his body and yelled to the ceiling with his arms high in the air, their passion was instantly ignited. Their thundering voices filled the hall.

"Lou Cheng! Lou Cheng!"

"Victory! Victory!"

Screams and shouts echoed in the stadium, raising the roof with their cheers.

But soon they returned to silence as Lou Cheng, still in the ring, bent his body and rested his hands on his knees for support while gasping hard for breath. On the big screen, his sweat dripped down to the broken green tiles and splashed up countless tiny drops, and his eyes lost the deepness and shine as if a blind man gazing into the dark.

He also feels tired?

Can he also be exhausted?

His exceptional physical strength also has a limit?

Ideas flashed by and the audience finally realized this young fighter who just had a tough battle was no Superman but real flesh and bones like everyone else. The seemingly impassable distance between them was gone and they could probably touch him if they reached their arm out. He had given everything to defeat the rival of a higher class and win this battle.

Their already good impression of him became even better unconsciously.

Yan Zheke kept her hand over her mouth, her mind weary but her feelings strong.

Watching Lou Cheng exhausted in the ring and recalling his imposing and overwhelming bearing earlier, she found her heart filled with love, pity, pride, thrill, and joy. She wanted to give him a big hug recklessly.

Lying on the floor next to the ring, Zhang Zhutong gradually resumed his consciousness. Through the transparent glass ceiling, he saw the rising moon shining against way too many lights. It was so peaceful that he developed a wrong impression that he was still in the low-temperature therapy system shrouded by thick fog.

A defeat?

I've waited for three years and I've trained for three years. Yet, I lost it.

Although winning or losing a battle is a common occurrence, I won't have another chance to fight in the youth tournament and take the championship to prove myself as I'll be 26 years old in three years, beyond the age limit. Even if they eased the restrictions on me and allowed me to register, how great would Lou Cheng be by then? It's terrifying just thinking about it.

No more chance. I can never be the champion of the youth tournament.

There is something that once you miss it you can never get it back.

With no strength left in him and aches all over his muscles, Zhang Zhutong wished he could just lie there in peace forever, away from the brutal reality of the loss. Then he heard the heavy gasps coming through the tranquility.

He tilted his head and looked up, seeing Lou Cheng and his weary eyes without the light.

Is he tired?

His physical strength does have a limit!

In a flash, intense sorrows and remorse flooded in his head, eating his heart alive.

If only I knew he would feel tired... If only I knew he was at his utmost limit... Why did I freak myself out and lose my bearing? Why was my mind disturbed and my moves slowed down? Why did I reveal my own weakness?

I would have won if I stuck to my previous style!

Realizing Lou Cheng was also exhausted and struggling with his last strength, Zhang Zhutong gritted his teeth. He felt certain the victory should have been his if he could hang on there longer for five or ten more b

outs. However, the match was over and the clock couldn't be set back.

A defeat is a defeat. All the glory goes to the victor and the shame to the loser.

He subsided into helpless laughter and slowly rose to his feet, knocking the dust out of his suit before walking to the lounge, isolated and lonely with regrets to torture his heart and wounds to be licked.

This was martial arts. And this was life.

As soon as he started to take steps, some of the audience suddenly recovered from the shock and began to shout,

"Lou Cheng! Lou Cheng!"

A sharp yet young female voice pierced through the air.

"Superstar! Superstar!"

Lou Cheng! Superstar!

Wei Renjie turned to look at Sun Yixing and Chu Weicai with a complicated smile upon Wu Ting's screaming and jumping.

Without a word, Chu Weicai and Sun Yixing both gave a thumb.

Yes, Lou Cheng is now the head of our province's young fighters!

Yes, he is now the No. 1 fighter of our province!

"Victory! Victory!"

Lou Zhisheng just began to believe his son just snatched a victory. He jumped up despite his usual reserved manner as an intellect and cheered like other young people in the stands.

"Victory! Victory... " Qi Fang pulled his arm, her worried eyes staring at the ring. She asked nervously, "Is Cheng OK?"

When he was in middle school, a classmate of his died suddenly while running on the track!

"Fine. Fine. Look! He's recovered, waving at the audience now." Lou Zhisheng's eyes were fixed on the ring and the big screen. He saw Lou Cheng circling the ring and clapping at the audience some light slowly comes back to his eyes, with some light back in his eyes.

"That's good... That's good!" Qi Fang felt relieved and joined in the human wave in spite of her age.

"Martial arts competitions are breathtaking!" thought Qi Fang. But she probably wouldn't attempt to talk her son out of this for his safety.

Son, we are so proud of you!

Watching her cousin circling in the ring as the victor and thinking about his tired face and blank eyes, Qi Yunfei suddenly came to understand how hard he had trained and how much pain he had gone through behind his quiet, flat and low-profile bearing. His worn-out eyes were manlier than those bragging men.

Recalling every punch and kick that had branded in her heart, the thundering shout, the powerful muscles, and his rival who shook the floor by a single stamp, Qi Yunfei flushed scarlet and murmured to herself with a tender smile,

"I'm becoming obsessed by my brother... "

She looked around, very shy and afraid that others would see through her thought. Fortunately, Chen Xiaoxiao, Ma Xi, Qiu Hailin, and Cao Lele each had their own thought, reaction, and thrill, too busy to spare any attention to her.

In the living room of Lou family.

Lou Yuanwei's clenched fists loosened as joy filled his heart.

Almost at the same time, more emotions hit him. He stared at the TV blankly with all kinds of feelings flying around, watching the exhausted Lou Cheng running a lap of honor.

He could hardly remember how Lou Cheng was like in the past 10 years.

He had changed entirely, toe to head. Even a close relative felt strange about him.

I can hardly believe it is Lou Cheng...

I wish I could be like him... No, even just half of this or one-tenth of it.

Lou Debang held an unlit hand-rolled cigarette in his mouth and muttered blankly,

"He won?"

"He defeated the No. 1 seed?"

About half a minute later, he suddenly came back to himself and reached his hand out. The thing he wanted was not there, which enraged him a bit. He yelled powerfully,

"Zhiqiang, bring my phone over!"

I'm calling them back one by one!

Lou Zhiqiang shivered to the yell and glanced at his ferocious wife before responding defiantly in a low voice,

"He won. So what?"

The QQ group of Lou Cheng's high school classmates was quite for a few minutes.

Wang Jie, another classmate Lou Cheng used to share a desk with wrote,

"I'll announce Lou Cheng as my idol!"

Cao Lele replied,

"He's already my idol!"

Tao Xiaofei sent a sticker of Yao Ming's signature smile.

"Brother Lou has long been my idol!"

You are out!

Only a few wrote in the group chat while the others were just being there, excited about the victory but unsure what to say to this mere classmate's great glory and success.

Contradistinction hurts!

In Songcheng TV station, the host remained silent for a moment before forcing a wry smile.

"Master Yu Hong, what do you think of the match?"

Yu Hong commented with emotions,

"Lou Cheng is a man very good at accomplishing miracles."

Let them fight ten more times within one or two months and Lou Cheng would probably win one of two out of the ten. However, he just won the most important one!

One victory that is greater than 10!

From now on, no one could call him weaker than Zhang Zhutong!

The aged guest host's comment and Lou Cheng's gradually recovered mobility gave Yan Xiaoling a rush of relief. The emotions she had suppressed for two days finally broke out that she started a thread chatting by creating several posts in a row.

"Come on! You slanderers! Who accused Lou Cheng's advance into the top four of misconduct? Who predicted Lou Cheng's defeat to Zhang Zhutong or Han Zhifei?"

"Come on! Let's hurt each other!"

"Our Lou Cheng is in the top four. He'll keep advancing to the final and step on the No. 1 seed's head!"

"It was not his misconduct. Someone else practiced in a crooked way to avoid confronting him!"

"Come on! Damn you misconduct! Damn you hypocrites! Damn you slanderers!"

Yan Xiaoling couldn't help breathing heavily after the posts, exhausted but satisfied.

The whole forum was quiet to these new posts. Slanderers dared not reply and others were probably too shocked to respond.

A while later, Brahman wrote, terrified, "So scary... I came to scorn those slanderers but Little Changye, your posts scared me away... Honey, I didn't know you could say such words... "

"Didn't know our Little Changye was so good at swearing... " Unparalleled Dragon King followed, also terrified.

Yan Xiaoling read through her earlier posts and covered her face with both hands. "I lost my temper... I'll delete it. Can't leave it in my history... "

"No need. It won't be the first dirt in your history. I've taken screenshots of it and kept them safe for my children and grandchildren!" Laughed Okamoto's Fan.

"Yeah. Don't delete it. I find bad words make you more adorable, Yan Xiaoling." Unparalleled Dragon King sent a waggery emoji.

"When there's enough dirt, it will be clean again. Honey, keep it up!" Brahman tapped her shoulder as an encouragement.

The lip language expert Bull Demon King followed, "Miss Moderator, I'd like to propose you a nickname."

"What is it? Better be nice!" Yan Xiaoling began to deny herself, almost with tears.

I was once a sweet child, pretty and cute!

The forum is such a bad influence that I've abandoned my grace and principle!

Bull Demon King sneered, "In ancient times, better men of great accomplishment were addressed as Lord. You said so many 'damn' in a row and completely abandoned your grace. I decide to call you Lord Damn."

Recovering from the blurry consciousness and dyspnea, Lou Cheng waved his regards at the stand where Yan Zheke and his parents were sitting. Bearing the cramp in his head and the weariness of his mind, he moved himself to the side of the ring and took his mobile back from the supervisor before heading to his lounge with difficulty in taking steps, thundering cheers and shouts blown on his face.

He didn't go straight to sleep to restore his energy as he wasn't able to achieve the concealment of spirit and qi right now to reach deep sleep through meditation. 1.5 hours' rest at this level couldn't work off much of his tiredness and might make it worse.

He needed more time to let the weariness dissolve itself a bit before practicing Solemn Silence to fall into a long, deep sleep.

Sitting on the couch, he didn't feel like doing anything at all — not moving his fingers, not taking a hot shower — though his muscles had been restored to their normal state by the Jindan.

Of course, on the other hand, he had an unyielding will. He picked up the cell and sent a message to Yan Zheke on QQ eagerly.

"So exhausted!"

Holding her mobile tight in her hand, Yan Zheke had been longing to write him a message but was afraid of interrupting his rest. The message took her by surprise. She replied a cracking head emoji, "Why are you still up? Sleep and rest!"

There's only 1.5 hours until the second semi-final match finishes!

Lou Cheng explained that he couldn't meditate to enter deep sleep right now and added a sneer before continuing. "Unfortunately I have to prepare for the next match or I could go back to the hotel room to share my joy of victory with you and enjoy your head massage... "

"Your head hurts a lot?" asked Yan Zheke, concerned.

"Yeah. My head has a cramp and my temples feel bloated." Lou Cheng revealed his true state to her.

Men should be strong and shouldn't be knocked down at any time. However, showing your true side to your loved girl from time to time can arouse her maternal instinct, make her feel needed, and prove her there's no fake between them and she is the most special one.

Yan Zheke looked about, seeing cameras focusing on the ring again and Han Zhifei and Liu Xunzhen walking into the ring. She replied without any emoji, "Should I come and massage your temples? It might help you recover and sleep through meditation."

She knew the VIP lounges each has a physical therapist on standby but she couldn't resist the impulse.

"Great! I'll wait for you at the door!" Lou Cheng didn't think about physical therapists at all. He shook off his look of a dying man and pulled himself up from the couch.

"Okay." Yan Zheke stood up, holding her phone, and headed towards the washroom along the aisle, intending to take a circuitous route.

"Ke Ke, where are you going?" Immersing in the thought "Ke's man has defeated Zhang Zhutong", Gu Shuang was brought back to reality by her best friend's move.

Yan Zheke's eyes spun with the shine of stars and her face flushed.

"The lounge."

"The lounge. We can go together. Err... What lounge?" Gu Shuang slowly came to realization, winking at her.

Xing Jingjing pulled her arm and interrupted in a low voice, "Ask no more."

"Oh... " Gu Shuang dragged her voice long as she understood which lounge she was going to, with a thoughtful smile. "Aren't you afraid of disturbing his recovery? I guess it doesn't matter. He's already exhausted. 1.5 hours are not enough to recover at all. Maybe some love works better!"

Yan Zheke clicked her tongue as her response and picked up her pace to the aisle.

With great caution, she tried to avoid all the possible cameras and entered the half-closed door to the lounge while everyone else had their eyes locked on the ring. She saw Lou Cheng waiting there with the heartbreaking weariness.

"I don't know why but my tiredness is suddenly gone seeing you," said Lou Cheng with a bright smile, his heart filled with strength from joy and happiness.

"Bluffing!" Yan Zheke sent one glare at him. "Go back and rest!"

Lou Cheng grabbed her hand, ignoring Fang Siqi's gaze, and walked back to his lounge.

As soon as the door closed behind them, he hugged the girl tight and began to kiss her sweet scent.

The pair kissed gently but passionately.

A few minutes later, Yan Zheke pushed Lou Cheng away and looked seductively at him, "Still thinking about doing bad stuff though you are so tired! Didn't even take a shower. So smelly!"

After expressing her pretended annoyance, she asked with concern, "Feeling better?"

"Much better with love. I think I can conceal my spirit and qi now." Lou Cheng sneered. "Let me take a shower first."

"No need. Just lie down. You will sweat a lot in the next fight anyway." Yan Zheke settled him in the big, comfy couch, took a seat next to him and began to massage his temples. "Fall asleep soon."

"I don't want my smelly sweat to disturb you," said Lou Cheng with a jeer, putting his mobile down.

"Hmm! As long as you know how big a sacrifice I'm making right now." Yan Zheke had learned some physiotherapy massage techniques. She put forth her strength, massaging away the uncomfortable feeling from Lou Cheng's head slowly and deliberately.

The reek of her boyfriend's stale sweat rose to her nose but surprisingly she didn't take an aversion to it at all. On the contrary, she found it manly and masculine.

She paid particular attention to the change of Lou Cheng's body during her massage. He fell sunk in sleep within a minute.

She continued with the massage with one hand and unlocked her boyfriend's phone with the other to put it on silent. Then she did the same to her own mobile.

"Can't arouse Lou Cheng with the terrible noise!" thought Yan Zheke with a faint smile without slowing down her hands on Lou Cheng's head, quite proud of her circumspection.

Her mobile suddenly began to flash, showing the name

Empress Dowager!

Empress Dowager! The terrified Yan Zheke picked it up and whispered, "Mom?"

Ji Mingyu chuckled, "Pretty quiet over there? Are you in Lou Cheng's private lounge?"

"You... How do you know?" Yan Zheke was very impressed by Empress Dowager's accurate guess, her face buried in amazement, disbelief and astounded confusion.

"Your dad and I are in the stadium," answered Ji Mingyu leisurely. "I've been keeping my eyes on the door to the lounge and our silly daughter showed up."

"What are you doing in the stadium? Why didn't you tell me?" Yan Zheke kept her voice low. "Did dad see me, too?"

Empress Dowager is too good!

"Don't you worry! He's slow as always." Ji Mingyu twitched her mouth. Standing in the quiet outer corridor of the stadium, she burst into a laugh. "Ke, like mother like daughter. You've got my eyes for men. Not bad."

When they first started dating, Lou Cheng was merely an amateur martial artist with some potential.

"Mom, why did you say that?" Yan Zheke looked bashful.

"Just saying. I've never been against your relationship with Lou Cheng and I've always trusted your taste in men. Now he's capable of taking care of you, giving me one more reason to be supportive. However, marriage is not an easy subject. It takes loads of time and running-in because there are so many conflicts between two people in terms of thoughts and personality. Like a pair of new shoes, you are the only one that knows if it is suitable or not. Your dad is a doctor but we've been really good with each other." Ji Mingyu sounded sentimental. "I hope you two can slow down and make sure if you are the right one for each other to grow old together. Don't burn your passion too fast."

"Mother, I understand," answered Yan Zheke after a deep breath.

After the call, she continued to massage Lou Cheng's temples.

Looking at this not-so-handsome but right after her fancy face, smelling his sweat, and recalling everything that had happened between them, Yan Zheke sank into thoughts.

How empty and bad I would feel if one day it was not Cheng by my side?

I can barely breathe just thinking about it!

Liu Xunzhen did not make a breakthrough in his supernatural ability, yet causing big troubles to Han Zhifei. However, after a few minutes, he lost because he could not overcome the gap between different ranks.

Han Zhifei was panting but not particularly exhausted, which upset Lou Cheng's supporters badly. They remained silent after the match.

In the next 1.5 hours, the two fighters in the final match were introduced with details, stringing most highlights of this tournament together with singing and dancing performance inserted here and there.

Lou Cheng's journey was tough, filled with capable rivals and a lot more difficulties than the other, which made the audience more quiet and sentimental.

Watching Han Zhifei come back and take an acupuncture and moxibustion treatment along with some red pellets, Zhang Zhutong bore the impulse of inviting him to the low-temperature therapy together.

It will take just over ten minutes to get to the Divine Fire Club and the low-temperature therapy only lasts for a short time. There's more than enough time.

However, will it look like Han Zhifei and I team up together against Lou Cheng?

Zhang Zhutong's pride didn't allow him to issue the invitation.

One hour and twenty minutes later, Yan Zheke woke Lou Cheng up gently like his alarm.

"How do you feel?" Yan Zheke blinked, very concerned.

Lou Cheng shook his head and smiled. "Almost half recovered mentally. My physical strength has no problem but my tendons, vessels, and muscles are still suffering from the Smelter Force, aching and uncomfortable."

Very different from the Chill Force, the Smelter Force could cause more physical erosion and was just as powerful over accumulation. Although dispersed a bit, it still damaged Lou Cheng's body.

"Hmm. Go and get changed." Yan Zheke kept it short.

In a new martial arts suit and shoes, Lou Cheng washed his face with cold water, looking refreshed and brisk again. He asked with a gentle smile, "Are you going out later or watching the fight here?"

"I'll be here." Yan Zheke pursed her lips, her eyes smiling. "Waiting for your return in triumph."

"Terrific!" Lou Cheng chuckled, "Don't you want to cheer me up again?"

"Pervert!" Yan Zheke flushed before muttering, "Turn around. Turn around now!"

"Okay." Lou Cheng turned to the door, facing her with his back.

Yan Zheke took one step forward, put her arms around his waist and buried her face in his neck, whispering,

"Hon, honey, go for it!"

No matter you win or lose, I'm proud of you.

The broadcast began to introduce the two fighters of the final match in the stadium. The winner of the first semi-final fight was invited to enter the ring first by convention.

"The final match of the 3rd Youth Championship Tournament of Xing Province is about to start. Give a round of applause to our first fighter, No. 18 Lou Cheng!"

"He made it to the final after defeating the No. 9 seed, the No. 5 seed, the No. 6 seed and the No. 1 seed!"

The introduction touched the audience. They remained silent as if brewing for something big.

Lou Cheng stepped out of the lounge and walked towards the flight of stairs along the path with all spotlights blazing.

He suddenly heard a shout,

"Champion!"

The whole stadium was ignited. Voices echoed in the air.

"Champion!" "Champion!" "Champion!"

Chapter end