The Way of Restraint

Chapter 22: Patience in the Octagon is True Skill

The octagon cage even had a referee, making the setup look highly professional.  

Mixed martial arts allowed fighters to showcase various styles in the ring. The rules were highly open, making it an extremely efficient competitive sport, closely resembling actual combat.  

Thus, this form of combat was the most popular in martial arts academies and highly favored by combat enthusiasts.  

Here, one could use fists, Muay Thai, wrestling, karate, or traditional Chinese martial arts—whatever it took to defeat the opponent.  

Su Jie stepped into the octagon, and at that moment, his opponent, Huang Bo, also entered. 

Huang Bo was a twenty-year-old young man whose muscles didn’t bulge but instead seemed like layers of scales clinging tightly to his body.  

This physique was terrifying—an ideal combat build, unlike the bodybuilding physiques seen in gyms.  

Su Jie’s body was also evolving toward this standard, though it had not fully taken shape yet. Following Odell’s training methods, Su Jie was on the path to achieving the perfect combat physique, akin to a naturally evolved predator. There would be no excess fat, not even unnecessary muscle.  

Sometimes, excessive muscle could hinder movement.  

This was his opponent, Huang Bo.  

As soon as he entered, Su Jie felt an overwhelming aura. This guy had clearly been through countless battles and looked like a formidable challenge.  

“Begin!”  

The pace in the ring was fast. With numerous matches scheduled daily, there were no formalities like posing or media interviews. It was straight to the fight.  

Huang Bo didn’t waste words with Su Jie. As soon as the match started, he began lightly bouncing, showcasing a typical combat footwork style. This made it difficult for the opponent to lock onto his position while he searched for flaws.  

Su Jie also moved swiftly, not adopting a traditional combat stance with his hands up to guard but walking casually with a relaxed posture, taking light and agile steps.  

He hadn’t found any openings in Huang Bo’s defense, so he refrained from making rash moves or wasting energy. His relaxed and easy gait was ideal for probing the opponent’s weaknesses before launching an attack.  

Whoosh!  

Huang Bo, unwilling to waste time, feinted after about ten seconds, followed by a quick step forward. With a twist of his waist and hips, he executed a signature Muay Thai roundhouse kick aimed at Su Jie’s waist.  

A mid-level roundhouse kick.  

The roundhouse kick was one of the most frequently used moves in any combat sport.  

Many world-class fighters relied on this move to handle opponents. It was simple and practical. After relentless practice, it could become terrifyingly powerful.  

For example, the “Hoe Strike” Su Jie practiced—a simple move involving a thrust, push, lunge, and drop—was deceptively straightforward. However, an in-depth study could fill an entire book with its intricacies.  

Similarly, the roundhouse kick was no different.  

In combat, the most daunting opponents were those who honed a single move repeatedly, embedding it into their bones and soul.  

As the saying goes, “Fear not the man who knows a thousand techniques; fear the man who has practiced one technique a thousand times.”  

Huang Bo’s roundhouse kick was ferocious. A successful hit would undoubtedly result in a fracture.  

But instead of counterattacking, Su Jie dodged to the side.  

However, just as he evaded, Huang Bo retracted his leg, stepped forward, and unleashed a flurry of punches in a hooking and swinging pattern. His relentless assault resembled that of a raging beast. His punches were precise, and his arms moved so fast that afterimages appeared as if they would tear through anything in their path.  

Su Jie hadn’t anticipated such a brutal follow-up after the roundhouse kick. This was the epitome of modern combat tactics, far more aggressive than his previous opponent, Song Li.  

Song Li was Su Jie’s first opponent—a robust man with an imposing presence. Yet, upon reflection, Su Jie realized Song Li was relatively weak. Despite his bulky muscles, they were merely for show, lacking explosive force. His speed was slow, and his strikes lacked penetration.  

Defeating someone like Song Li was straightforward.  

But Huang Bo was a different case altogether. His physique was less imposing than Song Li’s, but his strikes were far heavier and much faster. In the blink of an eye, Huang Bo’s fist was already in Su Jie’s face. Within a few seconds, Su Jie’s arms had taken several punches.  

Fortunately, Su Jie had trained for endurance and kept his arms protecting his head and vital areas; otherwise, he would have been knocked to the ground.  

Yet, under these circumstances, Huang Bo had already gained points.  

If neither fighter knocked the other out by the end, Huang Bo’s accumulated points would guarantee his victory.  

Su Jie understood this but knew he lacked combat experience. His strategy was to dodge patiently and look for the perfect opportunity to land a decisive blow.  

Although Huang Bo’s speed was impressive, it was no match for Odell’s blade techniques. Through Odell’s training, Su Jie had mastered evasive maneuvers to a remarkable level.  

Three minutes passed with Su Jie constantly on the move while Huang Bo remained on the offensive.  

Su Jie didn’t counterattack. Though he endured some punches, his agility minimized their impact. However, his arms showed some swelling from the repeated blows. Without his hardened training, he might have already succumbed to the pain, impairing his combat ability.  

His thighs and calves had also taken some of Huang Bo’s roundhouse kicks.  

An average fighter would likely struggle to even walk at this point, yet Su Jie remained agile.  

However, according to the rules, Su Jie hadn’t scored any points while Huang Bo had scored significantly. If the match dragged on, Huang Bo would undoubtedly win.  

Sensing his imminent victory, Huang Bo shifted to a more defensive approach, further reducing Su Jie’s chances of a comeback.  

To win now, Su Jie had only one option—knock Huang Bo out, rendering him unable to fight, commonly known as a “KO.”  

With one minute left, Su Jie was still at a disadvantage. He couldn’t land a hit on Huang Bo, while Huang Bo occasionally landed punches and kicks on him.  

In this predicament, Su Jie seemed to grow anxious, his movements becoming quicker. He began probing with frequent strikes, shifting up and down to find an opening and end the match with a decisive attack.  

Noticing this, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Huang Bo’s lips, one even he didn’t realize.  

He knew Su Jie was getting desperate.  

And in his search for an opening, Su Jie was exposing significant flaws in his defense. 

Su Jie didn’t notice this detail and kept attempting to attack relentlessly.  

Suddenly, he seemed to seize an opportunity and lunged forward.  

In his charge, however, he left a glaring opening, exposing his entire body to Huang Bo’s attacks.  

Huang Bo acted on instinct, unleashing a high kick aimed at Su Jie’s head—a decisive blow meant to end the match.  

But just then, Su Jie retracted his body mid-charge—it was a feint all along. From the start, his urgency had been a ploy to deceive Huang Bo and create an opening for himself.  

Sure enough, Huang Bo fell for it, misled by the continuous vulnerabilities Su Jie appeared to show.  

Huang Bo’s sweeping kick missed its target, and his expression changed drastically.  

“Half the body open when kicking”—an old martial arts proverb—highlighted how a kick could leave one’s balance compromised.  

At that moment, Su Jie launched himself forward again. His body contracted as he moved, slithering like a snake, his momentum rising like a polevault over a rooftop and descending like a tiger pouncing on its prey. All his strength erupted in an instant, driven by an unwavering willpower that would not hesitate, even if a mountain of blades blocked his path.  

Everything culminated in this single attack.  

Bang!  

Huang Bo’s face was struck with a resounding slap. Su Jie followed up with a downward motion, his momentum driving him like a digging hoe, landing directly on Huang Bo’s chest.  

In a flash, blood spurted from Huang Bo’s nose, and he staggered as if drunk, his feet unsteady, until he collapsed heavily onto the ground.  

The referee immediately began the countdown.  

“Ten! Nine! … One!”  

“Su Jie wins!”  

As soon as the referee declared the victory, the medical staff rushed in to carry Huang Bo out.  

“Huang Bo’s physical condition, combat experience, and martial arts skills surpass Su Jie’s, yet he lost. This was a psychological defeat. From start to finish, Su Jie never fixated on winning or losing. He continuously misled and finally defeated the strong with the weak.” Sister Nie observed the entire match from backstage.  

She grew increasingly impressed with Su Jie. Although, from her perspective, Su Jie’s current skills were still lacking, and his strength and speed were average, his youth, sharp intuition, perfect physique, determination, and eagerness to learn made him an exceptional talent. If he chose to become a professional fighter, he could become a top-tier champion within a few years.  

She understood well how a true martial arts champion could significantly benefit the academy, even elevating its global reputation.  

“It’s a pity this boy seems uninterested in the benefits of fame and still insists on focusing on his studies. I’ve already sent Uncle Mang and Gu Yang to persuade him. What method could possibly change his mind?” Sister Nie fell into deep thought.  

Since Su Jie was unwilling to become a professional fighter, she couldn’t force him into it.  

“Reason with him? Entice him with rewards?”  

While Nie Shuang pondered, Su Jie faced his second opponent.  

As the victor, Su Jie could choose to continue fighting in the cage or take his winnings and leave. However, Su Jie felt he still had energy left and wanted to gain more practical combat experience. With only a month left before summer vacation ended, he knew he wouldn’t have such great opportunities once academy started.  

This place was practically a research institute for martial arts and combat. Everyone talked about training and sparring, and even children could throw a few punches in the charged atmosphere.  

After informing the referee of his intention to proceed to the second round, the referee called in medical staff to examine Su Jie. Once they confirmed he could continue, arrangements were made for the next matchup via a computer draw.  

“Second round: Su Jie versus Peng Haidong.”  

Su Jie soon saw another participant enter the cage. Peng Haidong was about his size but lacked muscle tone, appearing untrained and physically slack. His overall demeanor was also loose and unfocused.  

This young man, around twenty years old, seemed far less intimidating than Huang Bo, more like someone who had entered just for fun.  

Facing such an opponent, Su Jie relaxed a little.  

“Begin!”  

As soon as the referee gave the signal, Peng Haidong, who seemed amateurish at first glance, suddenly sprang into action. His arm shot forward like a monkey’s, snapping out with the speed and unpredictability of a whip, catching Su Jie completely off guard.  

Slap!  

Su Jie barely managed to flinch back, but Peng Haidong’s arm still struck his forehead with a whip-like motion, leaving him momentarily dazed as if he’d been struck by a heavy chain.  

Swish! Swish!  

Peng Haidong seized the opportunity and pressed his attack. His footwork was swift and erratic, his arms whipping through the air with a force that created audible whooshes, each strike exuding menacing intent.  

In just a few exchanges, Su Jie’s arms and shoulders had been struck multiple times, turning red and swollen with searing pain that made them nearly immobile.  

Had it not been for his training in endurance, Su Jie might have already lost his ability to fight back.  

“What kind of martial art is this? It’s not free fighting or mixed martial arts—it’s traditional martial arts!” Su Jie was startled. 

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