Chapter 116: Riding Position

“Did you think I wanted to come here? Step aside and don’t block me from seeing Yaxin!” Zhang Zhishen shouted loudly.

By the time he spoke, he had already reached Xu Mo’s side and raised his hand, intending to push Xu Mo aside and rush into the courtyard.

Earlier, in the carriage, Zhang Zhishen had already caught sight of Ning Yaxin inside the courtyard from afar. Knowing she had hidden indoors, he was determined to break in.

But this was Xu Mo’s territory—there was no way Zhang Zhishen could act recklessly here.

Just as Zhang Zhishen’s hand touched Xu Mo, Xu Mo swiftly executed a joint lock technique, firmly pinching Zhang Zhishen’s thumb.

“Ah!” Zhang Zhishen cried out in pain, his body twisting under Xu Mo’s grip.

Xu Mo glared fiercely at him and said harshly, “Miss Ning won’t see you. Get lost immediately!”

With that, Xu Mo increased the pressure on Zhang Zhishen’s thumb; Zhang’s scream rose another octave.

Then, with a powerful shove, Xu Mo sent the pained Zhang Zhishen sprawling heavily to the ground, nearly flailing helplessly.

Chen Miaoyi, seeing Zhang Zhishen knocked down, breathed a sigh of relief and clenched her fist in silent cheer for Xu Mo.

“Master!” Zhang Zhishen’s two servants by the carriage shouted in unison upon witnessing the scene. They quickly ran over, one on each side, attempting to help their master up.

Zhang Zhishen was furious. Despite being taller by a head and physically stronger, he had been downed by this man—it was utterly humiliating.

“Master, are you alright?” asked servant A with concern.

Servant B hastily brushed dust off Zhang Zhishen’s clothes.

“Get away!” Zhang Zhishen roared in rage, shoving both servants aside. Then, pointing at Xu Mo, he spat, “Xu Mo, if you’ve got guts, fight me one-on-one fairly. Anyone who uses cheap tricks is a coward!”

The move Xu Mo had used was called the “pinch and twist,” a grappling technique.

Though a skillful and precise maneuver, in Zhang Zhishen’s mouth, it was dismissed as a lowly dirty trick.

Xu Mo retorted, “You want a duel? Fine, I’ll give you one!”

He rolled up his sleeves and tightened his shirt at the waist as he prepared to fight.

Zhang Zhishen quickly entered battle mode, clenching his fists, itching to smash Xu Mo.

Xu Mo stretched his shoulders and neck and said, “Zhang Zhishen, if you lose, disappear from my sight forever!”

Zhang Zhishen immediately shot back, “If you lose, you vanish first!”

Xu Mo nodded, “Deal. It’s settled!”

In the next instant, they took their stances and began testing each other.

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The commotion soon drew Xu Tieshu and Xu Ping’an, and shortly after, Qin Mutou and Xu Hui arrived as well.

Before long, Aunt Wu and several of Ning Yaxin’s guards encircled the scene.

“Xu Mo, what are you doing?” Xu Tieshu called out.

Xu Hui also urged, “Cousin, don’t be impulsive!”

To them, Xu Mo seemed weak and powerless, yet now he was challenging a man a head taller than himself to a fight—it looked like he was asking for a beating.

Xu Hui then patted Qin Mutou, signaling him to assist.

Qin Mutou promptly stepped forward and took a stance. “Master, I’ll help!”

“No need!” Xu Mo pulled Qin Mutou back and loudly declared to the crowd, “Everyone listen! No one is to interfere. This is between him and me—I’ll handle it myself!”

After scolding Qin Mutou, he told him to stand aside.

Zhang Zhishen, unable to wait any longer, roared in fury and launched a fierce assault on Xu Mo.

At first, Xu Mo was off balance and took two solid punches to the chest, which hurt sharply.

Fortunately, Xu Mo had some combat experience, having seen many bouts between smaller fighters and larger opponents at the gym.

He knew that if Zhang Zhishen kept attacking recklessly, his stamina would soon drain. Once his opponent’s energy lagged, that would be Xu Mo’s chance to counterattack.

So, Xu Mo began dodging and retreating continuously, forcing Zhang Zhishen to expend as much energy as possible.

In terms of strength, Xu Mo was no match for Zhang Zhishen, but in agility and flexibility, Xu Mo had the upper hand.

As time passed, Xu Mo gradually read Zhang Zhishen’s fighting style, making it easier to evade his strikes.

After seven or eight missed attacks, Zhang Zhishen grew increasingly frustrated, hitting harder and more recklessly.

But Xu Mo was as nimble as a monkey, dodging left and right, hopping and weaving. Zhang Zhishen was furious but couldn’t catch him.

Eventually, Xu Mo hid behind a tree, circling around and teasing Zhang Zhishen in a game of cat and mouse.

Zhang Zhishen nearly exploded with rage, pointing and shouting, “Xu Mo, you cowardly turtle! If you’ve got guts, stop running and fight me!”

Xu Mo shot back, “Zhang Zhishen, you’re the turtle! You’re too slow to fight me!”

Provoked, Zhang Zhishen immediately gave chase again, starting another round of the “cat and mouse” game.

Soon, Zhang Zhishen was panting heavily, hands on his knees, gasping for breath.

Xu Mo, also tired, leaned against the tree, hands on hips, catching his breath.

“Xu Mo, are you... are you actually going to fight or not?” Zhang Zhishen asked angrily between gasps.

Xu Mo called back, “Of course! Who said I wouldn’t?”

“Then why are you running?” Zhang Zhishen gritted his teeth in frustration.

“That’s a strategy! It’s called containment and maneuvering—a sophisticated tactic in dueling. You wouldn’t understand!” Xu Mo explained.

Zhang Zhishen was speechless for a moment, then exploded, “You don’t know anything—”

Before he could finish, Xu Mo suddenly stood upright, eyes wide as he looked behind Zhang Zhishen. “Miss Ning, why are you out here?”

Startled, Zhang Zhishen turned around. “Yaxin!”

But there was no Ning Yaxin behind him.

Only then did Zhang Zhishen realize he had been tricked by Xu Mo.

As Zhang Zhishen turned back, Xu Mo had already closed in.

“Adah!”

Making a strange noise, Xu Mo delivered a flying kick to Zhang Zhishen’s chest.

Zhang Zhishen fell backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

For a moment, his vision darkened, chest aching painfully, breath shallow.

Having been worn down by Xu Mo and caught off guard, this kick landed solidly—an exemplary knockout blow.

Before Zhang Zhishen could catch his breath, Xu Mo jumped on top of him and unleashed a storm of punches.

Qin Mutou was very familiar with this scene—he had seen Xu Mo do this first to Zhang Heigou, then to Wang Shunyang, and now to Zhang Zhishen.

Though Zhang Zhishen was strong, Xu Mo’s fists were relentless.

After a few blows, Zhang Zhishen was dazed and lost the ability to fight back.

The two servants rushed forward, pleading for mercy for their master.

Xu Mo, not intending to cause serious harm, stood up and walked over to Chen Miaoyi with a satisfied smile.

“Darling, am I impressive?” he asked.

Chen Miaoyi nodded eagerly.

Just then, Qin Mutou approached curiously. “Master, I’ve seen you use that move three times now. What’s it called?”

Xu Mo was momentarily stumped but quickly thought of an answer.

“It’s called the ‘riding style.’ I learned it from a reclusive master!”

He then glanced at Chen Miaoyi with a mischievous twinkle.

Chen Miaoyi was momentarily stunned but immediately understood what Xu Mo meant.

Her heart quickened, cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head, too shy to look at Xu Mo again.

Qin Mutou, unaware of the implication, continued to ask with innocent curiosity, “Master, who’s this reclusive master?”