Gong Yang Zhen just did it casually without saying anything more. He planned to continue moving towards his destination along the route he had inquired about before. His figure, who was restraining his breath and whereabouts, flickered faintly, as if he wanted to disappear into the world from the eyes of the two people who were paying attention to him.
Unexpectedly, almost the next second, the sound of messy footsteps came into my ears from behind.
"Wait……!"
Perhaps the body had already acted on its own before the brain gave a reason. The boy, whose body was almost at the limit, inexplicably squeezed out a force from somewhere and stumbled after him.
But how could this frail body keep up with the pace of such a strong man? In the end, he could only watch the back of the figure gradually go away, and he would probably disappear in the crowd in the next moment.
"..."
"--despair."
However, perhaps because he heard the surging tide in his heart or was attracted by the sudden pursuit, the other party stopped and looked back for the second time.
I hadn't looked closely before, but this time I was able to see the side eyes again, and I couldn't tell whether they were expressing emotion or anger. It was as if I was being watched by some higher-level predator. I felt cold all over and as if my life was not in my own control. I felt as if I had fallen into an icy cave in an instant.
"Sir, I..."
What should I say when I catch up?
Thank you? This is a life-saving grace, and it is indeed appropriate to express the highest gratitude, even if it is a grand ceremony of worship.
But is the excitement in my heart at this moment really just a simple feeling of gratitude?
Somehow, he suddenly thought of the wonderful experience he had just had.
His hands and feet moved like puppets, completely out of his control, but his movements were so refined that he quickly subdued the evildoers who harassed women and committed violence in the streets.
This is a miracle that the opponent has accomplished with his weak body which has never performed well in any sports activities since childhood and is completely useless... His skills are so superb that they can be called "Tao".
"Boom!—"
When he came to his senses, he had already done something that even Gong Yang Zhen raised his eyebrows slightly - without caring that his knees were already bruised purple, he suddenly knelt on the ground and bowed deeply.
At the same time, he said loudly: "Sir, thank you for saving me. I really don't know how to repay your kindness! My... my name is Kenichi - Shirahama Kenichi!"
"Hmm? Um... hello?"
I thought that the kid was going to come up and thank him out of gratitude, but I didn't expect him to slide down and kneel down and introduce himself. Gong Yang Zhen was a little happy for a moment.
But then he seemed to have discovered something, his eyes widened slightly, and he couldn't help but look the disheveled boy up and down.
...Shirahama Kenichi?
Shirahama Kenichi had no idea that his self-introduction would cause a storm in the other person's heart, and he still had something to do next.
Thinking about the feeling of knowing nothing yet being omnipotent, he looked up at the face hidden in the darkness with its back to the sky, only the eyes emitting amber light, and then bowed deeply again.
"I've had enough of being called a 'weakling'. I also want to be able to protect myself and the people I cherish. I also want to use my fists to teach those evil people who bully others for no reason how to behave..."
"——Please teach me to become stronger!"
"..."
Not sure whether he was troubled by the other party's abrupt request to become his disciple, or was lost in thought for something else, after a long silence, Gong Yang Zhen finally slowly lowered his eyelids.
"——Anyway, you should get up first."
Gong Yang Zhen knew the name Shirahama Kenichi.
The protagonist of the manga and anime "History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi", a young man who has no talent for martial arts but has an indomitable fighting spirit and patience.
His appearance was like a bolt from the blue, and the fact he explained startled Gong Yang Zhen slightly - following his hometown, another stitched monster world was born!
No wonder the trajectory of the world has become somewhat paradoxical. It would be strange if it remained unchanged after adding some things that did not exist before.
All conjectures and assumptions were overturned and he was confused for a moment, but Gong Yangzhen soon turned his attention back to the girl in front of him who was also bowing to thank him and Shirahama Kenichi who was eagerly waiting for his reply.
"You're welcome. It's nothing to thank you...Shirahama-san."
"Ah, yes!"
The excitement visible to the naked eye seemed to be able to dispel the pain in his body. His performance was too enthusiastic, making people wonder if he would be turbocharged if he had a tail.
It's a pity that Gong Yangzhen was about to pour a bucket of cold water on him: "I have no intention of accepting any disciples."
“…Huh?——”
Although he was mentally prepared to be rejected, he was still very disappointed when he actually got the rejection answer, and Shirahama Kenichi was completely depressed.
Including the pink-haired girl who had come up to him hesitantly at some point and had the same look of disappointment on her face, which made Gong Yang Zhen look at her sideways.
Does this little girl have ideas too?
If that's the case, I can only apologize.
"After all, I am still far from reaching the pinnacle of this path. I can only be considered a 'seeker of the path'. I feel that I am not qualified to train disciples."
"How could that be! You are already the strongest master I have ever seen! You are much stronger than the coaches of those dojos and martial arts schools. How could you not be qualified?"
Just as he was feeling lost, he heard the other party's self-deprecating words and Shirahama Kenichi immediately expressed his disapproval, which made Gong Yang Zhen chuckle.
"——Anyway, I'm very sorry. I really don't plan to accept any disciples. I'm sorry. ...Well, it's okay to give some advice, Shirahama-kun. Exercise doesn't lie. Regardless of whether your skills are strong or not, a strong body is the solid foundation of strong strength. Exercise every day and improve your physical fitness, and your strength will naturally become stronger."
"Yes……"
"..."
Seeing that he was still quite shocked and looked as listless as a salted fish, Gong Yang Zhen couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He turned around and was about to leave, and at the same time he comforted him casually: "Don't be too disappointed... Then let's leave it at that."
Before leaving, he sighed again, leaving the boy with some hope: "I will stay in this area for a long time, and there may be a chance to see you again in the future... Well, if your body can be trained to a higher standard by the next time we meet, I will teach you a little bit."
He said no more words, and his body flashed slightly, and he disappeared from the spot, leaving behind Shirahama Kenichi who was looking around in confusion.
"……exercise?"
I don't know if it was an excuse to get out of the situation or a serious statement, but Shirahama Kenichi probably took it to heart. He stood there in silence for a long time.
Then he clapped his hands on his cheeks, and his weak expression seemed to become firmer. He said to himself, "Okay! I'll show you!"
Master, I won't let you down!
He did not notice that the pink-haired girl beside him looked at Gong Yang Zhen's departing back with a thoughtful expression.
Then he slowly closed his eyes, and after a moment, he felt as if he had disappeared into the environment and could not be detected. He quietly followed the direction Gong Yang Zhen had left.
Although it doesn't have the same sense of perfection and perfection as the original owner, the effect is not deceiving. It is the Wu family's legendary skill of restraining breath!
She has learned the basics of assassination just by looking at it. Although she is not as amazing as Gong Yangzhen who can surpass the original owner with just one look, she is still a genius that ordinary people can hardly imagine. Who is this girl?
Chapter 5: The Challenge
Honoka, if translated phonetically according to the Neon alphabet, can also be translated as Honoka, a girl who is highly similar to a certain campus drug dealer (crossed out) idol in both name and appearance.
This is a "left-behind girl" living in a big city. She has never seen her parents' faces since she can remember and was raised by her grandmother.
However, the family environment that was different from that of ordinary people did not have any bad influence on her. Her grandmother's education was excellent, and the family style was strict but warm. As a result, the girl grew up to be graceful, gentle and polite. She made many friends at school and her academic performance was also quite good.
However, this good granddaughter in the eyes of her grandmother, a good student in the eyes of her teacher, and a good friend in the eyes of her classmates, has a secret hobby that is incompatible with her cute appearance.
——She has a hidden love for fighting.
Now, she acted impulsively and did something that was definitely not what a "good girl" should do... Just like those suspicious suspects, she followed the man she had never met before!
"I, I, what am I doing!"
At this moment, she felt a moment of shame and self-loathing, but she quickly put these complicated emotions behind her.
There was no way. The man was like a ghost walking in the world, his figure flickering as if he would disappear from sight at any time.
Climb the walls, leap over the fences, cross the overpass...
In order to catch up with the other party, Honoka took too many shortcuts and made too many moves, but she could only barely stay behind the man who was just casually strolling on the sidewalk to ensure that he didn't disappear in front of her eyes.
If she had a little time to think at this moment, she might be able to find something incongruous - since the other party acted so quickly, how had she been able to catch up with the other party's back before?
And at this moment, the target put the answer in front of her.
"...?!"
Although originally still running around, Honoka couldn't help but slowly stop. Did she give up this impromptu pursuit?
No, it was just that the man stopped on his own initiative - when the girl's gaze reached, Gong Yang Zhen slowly rubbed his eyebrows, then turned around and waved at her.
..................................................................
Unlike the previous two worlds, which have many techniques that can be called mysterious magic but are ultimately presented in a plain and unpretentious way, the world that Gong Yang Zhen is currently in, whether it is the part belonging to the "King of Fighters" or the part belonging to the "Strongest Disciple in History", there are real strange powers.
So there is a certain amount of expectation - how does the saying go? "A man is still a boy until he dies", is there any boy in the world who can refuse to play with his bare hands and control the wind, fire, thunder and lightning?
It's a rare opportunity to come to such an extraordinary world, so I really have to learn the unique skill of sending waves to make the trip worthwhile.
Walking on the neon streets at this moment, Gong Yang Zhen, who stands out from the crowd with a height of nearly meters in this era, should have received a lot of attention, but because of his ability to conceal his breath and hide in stealth, people around him seemed to ignore his existence.
At the same time, he looked as if he was calculating and pondering something, with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"——Yagami's blue flame, Kusanagi's red flame, the wind, thunder, fire and earth of the four heavenly kings of the Orochi clan, these are all powers derived from blood, and Asamiya Athena's energy ball comes from an innate superpower..."
Looking around, it seems that they are all bloodline warriors. That extraordinary power is not something that others can learn, but in fact there are many masters such as the Hungry Wolf Brothers and the Dragon and Tiger Combination who have grown up step by step through acquired training.
Therefore, Gong Yang Zhen is now looking for some dojos and martial arts schools where some of the King of Fighters contestants who impressed him the most came from.
Of course, before that, I have to deal with this strange little girl.
At this moment, Gong Yangzhen looked at Sui Xiang in front of him, who looked uneasy, like a child who had made a mistake, and he felt complicated for a moment.
I was wrong - compared to the "strongest disciple in history" who had not yet joined "Liangshanpo", I didn't expect that this delicate girl was the heavyweight genius.
Also.
The wandering seeker and the girl with extraordinary learning ability, one is rushing towards the goal without wavering, while the other is following behind as if wanting to become his apprentice. This sense of déjà vu is a little too strong.
...Did I take Lao Long’s script?
Having said that, he still treated her the same as Shirahama Kenichi. At this moment, Gong Yangzhen thanked the pedestrian who was stopped to ask for directions and said without turning his head: "You are a gifted and talented person... But I'm sorry, I've said it before, I have no intention of accepting a disciple, so please go back."
"Huh?! I haven't said anything yet!"
For a moment, Honoka looked confused – No, I haven’t even asked to be your disciple and you rejected me?
Even if you assign me a mission to become a disciple like you did to that boy?
In other words, Gong Yang Zhen cannot read minds, otherwise he would have said to her, "Because if I say that, you might really be able to do it."
Yes, although what I said to Shirahama Kenichi before was well-intentioned and left a glimmer of hope, it was actually somewhat perfunctory.
——Although he showed great resilience and determination in the later stages of the anime and comics, this kid was actually just an ordinary, clumsy and easily discouraged person at first. He had tried many times in the early days to escape from "Liangshanpo", which implemented a devilish training program on him, but he was only able to persevere because he was pushed forward forcefully by many master teachers.
If he is asked to improve his weak physical condition on his own, without a strict teacher watching over him, he will most likely give up.
And if he really has the determination to become stronger and can overcome his weakness with his own will, then it would be an unexpected surprise to Gong Yang Zhen. What's wrong with teaching him some real skills when they meet again?
Of course, Suixiang didn't know what he was thinking. At this moment, she just followed Gong Yangzhen closely, feeling sad when looking at the back of this stubborn man.
But she didn't ask to be his disciple, because that would just be another rejection. At this moment, she thought of Gong Yangzhen's previous conversation with the passerby, and revealed a thoughtful expression.
"Um, you are looking for a martial arts dojo nearby. Do you have a specific target?"
"…Specific goals?"
Probably realizing that the girl had not given up, Gong Yang Zhen tilted his head and glanced at her with an inexplicable look in his eyes.
This persistent style of behavior, as well as the familiar pink hair and red eyes, always gave him a sense of déjà vu similar to the time when he was harassed by Taoi Satsuki in school.
...It's been so long in a flash.
He was quite emotional for a moment, but he didn't ask her to leave. He just said casually: "If you want a specific goal... well, a Extreme Karate Dojo? Or a Fujido or Shiranui Ancient Martial Arts Dojo would also be fine."
...Kiyoku-ryu? The gym that claims to be the strongest karate style, but is deserted because the training is too rigorous?
It can only be said that as a fighting fan, Honoka is indeed the real deal. She recognized two of the three names that came out of Gong Yangzhen's mouth at this moment, and the only one she had never heard of was the Shiranui style which is now too declining.
At this moment, the girl blinked her eyes, and then asked curiously: "Master, are you going to exchange and learn?"
"master"?
After saying just a few words, he immediately took advantage of the situation, which was quite like Taoi Satsuki's style.
Gong Yangzhen smiled for a moment: "I am not your master...'Exchange and learning'? That's about right."
As he spoke, his eyes began to shine, and that smile became a little sinister in Honoka's eyes.
"——I'm going to 'challenge' you."
"Oooooohhhh!!! Kick, kick the club?!"
