Bisquet Oliva is a love-struck man, Retsukaiou is a martyr who devotes himself to Chinese martial arts, and Hanma Baki's life has been stagnant in the days when he wandered the streets carrying his mother's still-warm body...
As for Yujiro Hanma, “the strongest” is his status and reputation, but he is also a slave of the “strongest”.
He follows the path of the strong, enjoys the pleasure of unleashing violence, and goes all out against anyone who dares to challenge his position. He hopes but also secretly fears that someone will be able to free him from this endless purgatory called "the strongest on earth."
This is Hanma Yujiro's way, his path.
What about me?
Ever since coming to the Baki world, Gong Yang Zhen has been thinking about a question -
My Way, My Path - What is the so-called "Ram Way"?
Enjoy the battle? It's a wonderful view along the way.
The heart of steel? It seems to be a little superficial.
To become the strongest? He did have this desire, but to say that he could be as persistent as Hanma Yujiro and even indulge in it, to the point of living a life of drunkenness and dreaming, was just wishful thinking.
The answer seems obvious. It is not something profound or mysterious. It is easy to understand and is enough for people to practice throughout their lives.
"——No matter if there is a stronger opponent ahead of him, no matter if there is an insurmountable barrier on the top of the mountain, no matter if he is already the best in the world..."
“Don’t strive to be the strongest, just strive to be stronger.”
Becoming the "strongest" one day is just a signpost, and there is only one thing I need to do, which is to break through, climb, climb higher and higher -
Reaching the pinnacle and reaching the ultimate state, this is my "Gongyang Dao".
At the Tokugawa residence, a bloody collision between flesh and steel had just taken place.
After enjoying a unique fight between ancient and modern fighters, and then following the winner's advice and successfully feeding Pique by trucking meat, Tokugawa Mitsunari felt like he was ten years younger, as he felt good things come in pairs.
Not only did we see an exciting battle, but we also solved Pico's diet problem. The so-called win-win situation must mean that I, Tokugawa, won twice.
Recently, he has been addicted to a new game - that is, he drives a truck weighing more than ten tons to "bang bang" send Pico flying, then jumps out of the car, watches the other party scratching his head and baring his teeth, gets up from the ground, disassembles the truck, and gnaws the meat inside.
He was not hurt by Pico. After all, in the other party's eyes, this little old man who jumped out of the body of the "huge and hard strange prey" was just a "parasite" or something like that, not a valuable prey.
At this moment, he was admiring the sight of dismantling a truck with bare hands, which had appeared in front of him for who knows how many times but still amazed him, but he was startled by the man who suddenly appeared behind him - he turned around and saw that it was indeed the man who moved mysteriously.
This kind of thing happened several times, and he was somewhat used to it. He didn't think it was a big deal, but the other party's words made him freeze in place.
"…Are you really planning on doing this, Mr. Ram?"
After confirming again and again that the other party was not joking, the bald old man began to sweat on his forehead at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"No, no, no - to be honest, I think there's nothing wrong with challenging a strong person... but the target is that Hanma, that Hanma Yujiro, the 'strongest man on earth'?"
"...Ah, it's him. Or rather, if it wasn't him, there would be no point."
With a smile on his face, Gong Yang Zhen was also looking at Pico who was eating heartily over there, but his eyes were empty.
Yes, since I can't find out the whereabouts of that giant ogre, I'll just let him come to me.
And what could be a more direct and effective way than to openly challenge him?
Although he was still keeping his breath contained at this moment, Pico's sense of smell detected some smells that concerned him.
"……Well?"
He paused in stuffing the raw meat into his mouth, then seemed to become a little anxious and began to look around.
Immediately afterwards, I saw the figure that was almost deeply engraved in my heart.
"..."
"Hey, Pico, long time no see."
Very pure, with a wild beauty.
Seeing the face that he hadn't seen for more than ten days but was still as familiar as ever, Gong Yang Zhen raised his hand as if to greet him.
"Hey! Wait a minute—"
Tokugawa Mitsunari, who was standing next to him, saw his actions and seemed to have thought of something, so he quickly spoke out to stop him.
Although it looks the same as modern humans, it seems that it has not yet evolved the "sociality" that is the most fundamental difference between humans and wild animals. Pico's daily actions are largely based on animal habits.
For example, protecting food.
There had been an incident before where a subordinate who came to report on work broke in from outside while the other party was eating and made a loud noise. This seemed to have angered this guy, and he threw a huge bone at him, almost cutting him in half.
Although Gong Yangzhen was the man who had defeated Pico, he was just a weak old man. It would be very bad if he was accidentally injured.
However, what happened next almost made his jaw drop -
That Pico, the primitive man who would become ferocious if disturbed while eating, after a little hesitation, tore off a large piece of the bloodstained raw meat in his hand and stretched it towards Gong Yangzhen.
At the same time, a simple smile appeared on his face, which probably meant "here you go".
"...Hmm? You want to treat me to a meal?"
Since my sensory abilities have reached a terrifying level, I haven't felt such pure kindness for a long time. Gong Yang Zhen waved his hand and smiled, "You eat, I'm not hungry."
"Huh~"
Although they are raw meat and drink blood, watching Pico eat seems to have a kind of magic, which makes people feel a kind of vitality and energy from the bottom of their hearts, as well as respect for prey and food.
It's an amazing feeling.
He immediately turned his head and saw Tokugawa Mitsunari with a dumbfounded look on his face.
"——Mr. Tokugawa, what's wrong?"
"Ah... no, it's nothing."
Yes.
Although they have the wildness of wild beasts, they are not unwilling to share food with other creatures - if the object is a being they recognize and even respect.
The mysterious man in front of him is a peerless warrior who is more powerful than a Triceratops and more ferocious than a Tyrannosaurus Rex. He is the first man in modern times to gain Pico's respect and friendship!
And will such a man, the strong man who subdued the "strongest on earth" in ancient times, blow the horn of usurping the throne to the undisputed strongest man in modern times, Yujiro Hanma?
When I came to my senses, my heart was already pounding!
And the sound of Ram Zhen sounded again in my ears. The voice was low, soft, but fascinating, as if a bewitching demon was whispering.
"I know what you are worried about, but you don't have to worry about my life, Mr. Tokugawa."
"When a person is born into this world, his life no longer belongs to him alone. Regardless of whether it is for myself or for someone else, I will not easily die at the hands of that man. ...Besides, what does it matter if I die and lose?"
"You won't lose anything. On the contrary, you gain your favorite thing, which is a battle that makes your blood boil, right?"
“——Haha, that’s right!”
At this moment, looking at the man who was not as tall as Hanma Yujiro but whose figure was just as majestic as a mountain, Tokugawa Mitsunari was silent for a moment, and then burst into laughter.
"Snapped!--"
After tidying up his clothes, he slowly sat down on the ground facing Gong Yang Zhen's already extremely petite and skinny body, and then he actually paid great respects to the young man, who was so old that he could be his great-grandson!
The innate power and the resulting loneliness, Hanma Yujiro, will it be that the one who fully awakens your human heart is not your most promising youngest son?
But this wolf-like boy?
"...In that case, please allow me to present a gift to this grand duel that has not yet begun with the whirlwind that sweeps across the world - and then please grant me the honor of witnessing this unprecedented battle between the strongest, Mr. Gong Yang."
"You are the perfect audience for this, Mr. Tokugawa."
One looked up, the other looked down, and the two smiled at each other. And what about Pico? He scratched his crotch and continued to eat - the old man forced him to wear a loincloth, which made him feel itchy occasionally.
......................................................
As Tokugawa Mitsunari said, a violent storm swept across the world in a short period of time.
All the countries that have signed a "non-aggression pact" with Hanma Yujiro, all the enthusiasts who have dabbled in the field of hand-to-hand combat, all the seekers who are eager for strength...
And those familiar guys, without exception, all received the news.
Tokyo, temporarily living in Tokugawa Residence.
The unknown Gong Yang Zhen invites "the strongest man on earth" Fan Ma Yongjiro to come and rematch the title of "the strongest man on earth".
——He is a lunatic.
Someone made such a sharp comment.
——And he will be a crazy person.
Those who knew Hanma Yujiro gave a knowing sneer.
But some people are already rushing to the eye of the storm without stopping.
"…A man who had been sleeping for 200 million years, who had blown up dozens of heavily armed tanks with his bare hands, and completely defeated the newly developed exoskeleton single-armored vanguard. That guy was named 'Pico (pickle)'."
"To be honest, if he had intelligence and social outlook similar to that of Yujiro Hanma, I would have no hesitation in signing a 'non-aggression pact' with him as well... Unfortunately, he is a wild beast, and wild beasts can be tamed."
"However, the one who tamed him was none other than the so-called 'unknown man' - Zhen Gongyang."
In the office of the head of state of America, a man with darker skin than his predecessors was adjusting his clothes while speaking in a light tone to the middle-aged black woman standing behind him with her arms folded.
"'Nobody'? ... Haha, maybe that was true earlier, because China has never found even a shred of archival information about that man."
"But now I can't call him that, dear. You know, he is a thunderstorm, he is a tsunami, he is all the abominable things that suddenly appear and ruin my trip..."
——He is “Sirius” and wants to start a war on earth.
"... and I would rather call you 'Ram Sea King'. Haha, young man, what do you think of this name?"
The storm was surging, and Fanma Yongjiro must have been on his way, but someone took advantage of his proximity and found Gong Yang Zhen before him.
It was none other than the old man with whom he had had a long-standing spiritual connection.
(PS: The author is probably from Incheon.)
Chapter 40: Attack and Elimination Force
"—I see you are still in good health, old sir."
In response to the old man's seemingly teasing words, Gong Yang Zhen simply touched the rim of the cup with his lower lip and chuckled.
At this moment, King Liehai looked at Gong Yangzhen who was sitting cross-legged and drinking tea, and seemed to want to say something but hesitated. However, in the end, he did not say much and just introduced him.
"Ah Zhen, this is Lord Guo Haihuang, who has reached the pinnacle of martial arts and has ruled the 'Martial Arts Province' for decades."
"Haha, you are just a withered old thing who will soon die. I am the setting sun, and you, Gong Yang Zhen, are the bright and magnificent red sun that just rose in the east."
"..."
From the original work, we can see from the strange behaviors of this old man that he is a carefree person, or an elder who still has the heart of a vibrant young man. Therefore, we just regard the other party's words of addressing him in the name of "Sea King" as a joke.
However, from what he said now, it seemed like this person was serious about wanting to become his successor? He was clearly just a stranger.
Gong Yangzhen put down the teacup in his hand and stared at him for a long time, then he carefully considered his words and declined: "Thank you for your praise... This is undoubtedly an honor, but unfortunately, I don't plan to stay in one place for a long time."
"...I see. That's such a pity."
Probably realizing Gong Yangzhen's inner determination, Guo Haihuang just nodded slightly and did not try to persuade him further.
And then, the faint smile on his face gradually disappeared.
"Then the next thing is 'that matter' - Ah Zhen, I'll call you that too. Well, speaking of which, I just heard that you were going to challenge the 'strongest man on earth'. To be honest, before coming here, I was planning to persuade you to give up the fight and run away. If things were impossible, I would even knock you out and take you away."
"Ah Zhen!——"
Lie Haiwang, who had been acting as a silent listener nearby, immediately showed an urgent expression, but then he shut his mouth belatedly and apologized to Guo Haihuang.
Is he, King Liehai, a person who does not know etiquette?
But in a moment of impatience, he interrupted his elder, which showed how anxious and uneasy he was.
After looking at him, Gong Yang Zhen's expression relaxed slightly - he could feel the care and friendship in the heart of this sincere man.
But his faith is unshakable.
Looking back at Guo Haihuang, Gong Yangzhen raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "Abandon the battle and run away? Sir, you won't blame me for bringing disaster to the reputation of Chinese martial arts?"
Upon hearing this, King Lie Hai looked different.
This was also a point that he had been conflicted about before, but in the end he was unwilling to see this close friend and extraordinary genius die.
Guo Haihuang seemed to be much more tactful than his hot-tempered junior. He took off his glasses and winked at Gong Yangzhen, "I still say that - I am already half buried in the ground, what is there to be upset about? Ah Zhen, there is no need to worry about the choice between temporary fame and a bright future."
"——But now I have given up that idea. As for why... Ah Zhen, you have the confidence to win, right?"
There was no sign of determination to die on that young face, only tranquility and leisure.
