FT DR Chapter 97: Special Identity

Chapter 97: Special Identity

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

“I have confidence in myself.”

Upon hearing Wu Chenghe’s words, the military officer was somewhat surprised. He glanced at him askew, seemingly showing two more points of interest in him. With a teasing smile, he said, “Alright, since cutie here is betting twenty thousand, how can I only bet ten thousand?” He opened his personal terminal for a transfer, sending a full thirty thousand to the waiter. Adding the previous ten thousand in cash, it totaled forty thousand. “I’ll bet forty thousand, betting on my good brother to win.”

Forty thousand credits, even for a senior military officer like him, was not a small amount. Yin Bo raised an eyebrow, feeling secretly pleased. It seemed that this man was really serious about Jin Xuan and wanted to befriend him. Giving him a flirtatious glance, he laughed, “What’s this? As soon as our boss steps up, you’re willing to bet such a large sum. Back at the casino, who said two thousand could buy me for a night?”

“Jealous?” The military officer chuckled, wrapping an arm around Yin Bo’s shoulder. “This is a life-or-death match. You can make two thousand just by spreading your legs, it’s not the same level of difficulty.”

A glint of cunning flashed in Yin Bo’ foxy eyes, then a bewitching glimmer appeared as he looked down between the military officer’s legs. “You’re so big, who can handle it? Am I not risking my life too?”

Such flattering words were irresistible to any man. The military officer bloomed with joy, wishing he could take him on right there. He bit Yin Bo’s ear, saying, “Alright, let’s go to the neighboring bathhouse later. Give me a good time, and if you do well, I’ll take care of you for a lifetime. What’s forty thousand? I can afford four million.”

Four million… Yin Bo’s pupils contracted sharply. Most of the time, what men said in such situations couldn’t be taken seriously, but certain details could reveal genuine information. A mere military officer from Tartaros casually mentioned four million, indicating that the place was definitely not just a remote military station. And General Kevin Lancer, he certainly wasn’t just a disinherited eldest son.

They must be tasked with some kind of undisclosed special mission.

Watching them entangle, Wu Chenghe felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Yin Bo’s clothes were pushed down to his chest, revealing his slender waist and firm abdomen. Though not as sturdy as Jin Xuan’s, his muscles were not weak either. It was estimated that knocking down this military officer wouldn’t be a problem.

Clearly, he was an elite among elites, a super soldier selected by the NTU, yet here he was enduring the lewdness of a military officer. Being a special agent was truly not an easy job… Wu Chenghe couldn’t help but admire once again: Yin Bo was a real man!

The bell rang, casting a beam of light from the dome. Jin Xuan completed his registration and was led to the boxing platform by the host. He changed into boxing shorts, exposing his muscular upper body. The thorn rose tattoo had long been concealed by the NTU plastic surgeons using medical techniques, leaving smooth wheat-colored skin. His chest was developed, his waist strong, his abdominal muscles clearly defined. Though not as robust as his opponent “Iron Head,” each muscle seemed to have been meticulously sculpted by an artist, without any excess or flaw, perfect and flawless, like a top-notch sculpture.

“Ladies and gentlemen!” the host exclaimed loudly. “This is the first direct challenge to the champion in four months. Let’s applaud this gladiator for his courage!”

The soldiers watching erupted into cheers once again. Directly challenging the champion only happened a few times a year because most people went through the wheel fights, defeating eight opponents in a row to become the “Challenge King” and earn the right to compete with the annual champion. If one wanted to challenge the champion directly, they had to pay sixty thousand credits.

Sixty thousand was not a small sum. It was twice the prize money for the Challenge King. Normally, no one would be willing to do it. Furthermore, without undergoing the baptism of eight consecutive matches, who would have the confidence to challenge the annual champion? Wouldn’t that be seeking death?

Now, there was such a daring challenger standing on the platform. How could the onlookers not go crazy?

Jin Xuan remained expressionless, his gaze cold and fierce. He raised his hands high on the platform, making a round, roaring like a fierce lion. The lingering sound echoed throughout the arena, as if a giant bass had been opened. Those who had not been optimistic about him found out that he was a Lion Sentinel, and many of them began to have a little confidence in him. In just a few minutes, the amount of bets placed on him increased significantly.

Wu Chenghe watched Jin Xuan, who stood on the platform like a deity, and couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy and fascinated. He remembered their first meeting. At that time, Jin Xuan was still an emo, with an unruly artistic temperament. His clothes were full of holes, and his hair was like a mop. He spent his days either cursing the Voyager Army or the federal government, making Hannibal’s blood pressure soar and giving the president a headache…

In just three years, he had become the challenger standing on the platform at this moment—calm, restrained, wise, and decisive. Trials and tribulations were like a baptism, washing away the flamboyance and immaturity from him, settling down his innate kingly temperament.

He was Jin Xuan, but he was also the Chong. He was the romantic mate, but also the most dangerous humanoid weapon in the world!

“Ding—” The bell rang leisurely, and the bloodbath began!

On the platform, there was an instant eruption of wild cheers, as Ironhead took the initiative with a fierce punch. All the spectators began shouting his name, and those who had placed bets on him were especially loud, yelling, “Take him down! Take him down!”

Iron Head’s morale was soaring as he swung a fierce hook towards Jin Xuan’s left cheek, emitting a beast-like roar from his mouth. Jin Xuan reacted swiftly, quickly leaning back while simultaneously using his left arm to block, deflecting most of the force, then swiftly ducking and landing a vicious punch to Ironhead’s abdomen.

With a “thud,” Jin Xuan’s fist, weighing over a thousand pounds, struck Ironhead’s rock-hard abdominal muscles, emitting a dull sound akin to clashing of metal, which, though low and brief, seemed to resonate exaggeratedly in the hearts of the audience—no one had expected the challenger to land the first hit!

The entire arena erupted into commotion, even Iron Head was momentarily stunned: Impossible, how did he do it? Why was it so fast?!

In that fleeting moment of confusion, Iron Head quickly regained his senses and, with a roar like thunder, once again lunged at Jin Xuan, his massive frame bearing down like a mountain, seemingly intent on crushing the slender Asian man with his superior physicality!

Jin Xuan remained expressionless, his muscles tense like iron, his pitch-black eyes fixed unwaveringly on Ironhead, taking in every minute change in him. He swiftly maneuvered, dodging and striking back fiercely, seizing every opportunity.

In the VIP stands several meters away, Wu Chenghe squinted his eyes, his consciousness calm as the sea. In the high-dimensional space, he extended countless delicate mental tendrils, precisely connecting with Jin Xuan’s consciousness cloud. On one hand, he suppressed the sparks of mania caused by the attacks Jin Xuan endured; on the other hand, he stimulated a dormant cluster of light in the center of Jin Xuan’s consciousness cloud, akin to an electric shock.

That was Jin Xuan’s potential. Like ordinary humans, Sentinels could only utilize about seven to eight percent of their brain’s capacity under normal circumstances. Only with a marked guide could their potential be gradually unlocked and activated through mental tendrils to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Of course, not all guides could accomplish this. Unleashing potential was a very dangerous act; mishandling it could trigger a Sentinel’s mania. After a few instances, it could lead a Sentinel to lose control entirely, beyond the pacification of even the guide. Moreover, unlocking a Sentinel’s potential required the mental tendrils of the guide to be flexible and powerful, essentially possessing a certain level of aggression, a teaching method that guide schools had always avoided.

So, although there were thousands of full-time doctors in the Federation, most focused on pacification. Only a very few strong guides could unlock their Sentinels’ potential, allowing them to reach their peak state.

This was Wu Chenghe’s first attempt at stimulating Jin Xuan, and in such a complex environment, he felt somewhat nervous. However, his compatibility with Jin Xuan was extremely high, their synesthesia perfect. So, aside from a bit of initial clumsiness, he quickly stabilized. Through the fine mental tendrils, he even felt a kind of resonance between the two, mutually stimulating and comforting each other, gradually reaching a new height together.

In the boxing ring, the first round was drawing to a close. Iron Head, like an enraged bull, eyes bloodshot, nostrils flaring, relentlessly pursued Jin Xuan. As the defending champion, the pressure on him far exceeded that on Jin Xuan. Therefore, he immediately displayed his strength and toughness, bombarding Jin Xuan with a storm of punches, attempting to quickly deplete Jin Xuan’s stamina within two rounds. This way, his fans would be more loyal, and his sponsors more generous.

Jin Xuan seized upon this mentality, deliberately avoiding direct confrontation and instead exploiting Iron Head’s vulnerabilities, evading and maneuvering around, leading him on a wild goose chase. Gradually, Ironhead’s attacks became somewhat disorganized. Jin Xuan’s elusive maneuvers made him anxious and irritable, unable to break free yet unable to defeat him—Jin Xuan’s reactions were too quick, his judgment too precise. It seemed that every time Iron Head mustered strength, Jin Xuan could anticipate his movements, his intentions, and even his psychological activities.

This was also thanks to Wu Chenghe’s efforts; he unlocked Jin Xuan’s potential, allowing him to predict his opponent’s actions based on the slightest muscle movements, intercepting them in advance and responding quickly.

So, what was initially meant to constrain and deplete the opponent turned into Iron Head being constrained and depleted by Jin Xuan. By the time the halftime bell rang, Iron Head almost felt a sense of relief, grateful for the chance to pause, catch his breath, and regroup.

A few minutes later, the referee announced the score for the first round, with Jin Xuan winning by a narrow margin, temporarily surpassing Iron Head.

As the results were announced, there was a collective gasp from the audience. The fight just now was too fast, too dazzling; their eyes couldn’t quite keep up. But it seemed like Iron Head had relentlessly attacked Jin Xuan throughout, landing several blows, while Jin Xuan remained low-key, with only the first punch being particularly clear; the rest seemed blurry and indistinct.

How did such a dazzling result come about?!

The stands reverberated with buzzing chatter as the audience engaged in intense conversation. In the boxing ring, Jin Xuan sat quietly in a corner chair, spitting out his mouthguard and accepting a water bottle from a staff member. Iron Head’s punches were too heavy; despite Jin Xuan’s best efforts to evade, he still bore marks: his ribs were bruised, his knees swollen, a slight cut on his brow oozing thin streams of blood.

The doctor cleaned his wounds with alcohol, asking if there was anything wrong. Jin Xuan shook his head, his pitch-black eyes gazing across to Iron Head diagonally. Iron Head’s complexion was pale, lips tinged with blue, yet there were no obvious injuries on his body. Partly because his skin was too dark, partly because Jin Xuan had used soft force in his attacks, leaving no visible marks; the injuries were internal.

Jin Xuan practiced the renowned “Yan’s Combat Technique,” a fusion of modern boxing and ancient martial arts. This style was particularly insidious, often leaving no visible traces on the surface while breaking bones and blood vessels internally. Jin Xuan had received Jin Zhe’s authentic teachings since childhood, daring to confront kidnappers who once abducted him. Both in theory and practice, he was formidable.

Of course, facing an innocent boxer, Jin Xuan wouldn’t go too far, but he wouldn’t hold back too much either.

His gaze swept past Iron Head, then to the VIP stands. Wu Chenghe sat there quietly, like a deep pool of water, the raucous clamor around him seemingly blocked by some strange aura, unable to affect his mood at all.

His condition seemed much more stable than when he was at the casino earlier… Jin Xuan was somewhat surprised to see him looking at himself with a hint of concern. He raised an eyebrow at him, communicating through mental resonance, “Don’t worry, the last round was just a warm-up. I’ll start counterattacking in the next round.”

Wu Chenghe smiled faintly at him, nodding gently.

“Ding—” The bell rang, signaling the start of the second round.

“Roar!” Iron Head shouted, still taking the initiative, his massive body pressing fiercely towards Jin Xuan. After the last round, he realized that Jin Xuan wasn’t just some wealthy second generation throwing money around; he was trained rigorously, skilled in some special combat techniques. Iron Head felt somewhat intimidated because he had never encountered this type of Oriental fighting style. However, he had no choice now; with the score at one to zero in Jin Xuan’s favor, another round would mean defeat for him.

So he had to seize the initiative right from the start. He couldn’t let Jin Xuan lead him by the nose; he had to dictate the pace of the entire match!

However, to everyone’s surprise, this round Jin Xuan didn’t continue his previous strategy of agile maneuvering and opportunistic strikes. Instead, he launched a frontal counterattack against Iron Head!

Although Jin Xuan’s physique was not as robust as Iron Head’s, his muscle strength was no less, and his punches were several times faster. The heavy iron fists, coupled with ferocious speed, allowed Jin Xuan to completely take control of the situation on the boxing ring. He no longer sought to outsmart his opponent but confronted Iron Head head-on with the rapid punches characteristic of Eastern combat, coupled with vigorous legwork, forcefully pushing Iron Head into a corner!

Less than two-thirds of the round had passed, and Iron Head’s rhythm had been completely shattered by Jin Xuan. His massive body was gradually forced to the ground by Jin Xuan, struggling to counterattack, struggling to get up. But he was powerless; Jin Xuan was like a raging lion, roaring menacingly, unleashing wave after wave of relentless strikes, as if his strength was inexhaustible, never tiring.

Ironhead let out a desperate cry, clapping his palms on the ground, signaling surrender. His coach threw in the towel, conceding the match. The referee blew the whistle to announce the end of the match, rushing to pull Jin Xuan away from Iron Head. The stands erupted in boos; many were still immersed in Jin Xuan’s relentless barrage from just moments ago, discussing it fervently.

Initially, the referee was worried that Jin Xuan might lose control of himself after the fight and instructed the staff nearby to be ready to administer a sedative. However, as soon as Jin Xuan left Iron Head’s side, he calmed down, his eyes clear, his breathing quickly steadying. He seemed somewhat excited, raising both fists high and roaring towards the stands. Those who had bet on him naturally responded to his roar, and even some of Iron Head’s supporters were impressed by his skill, rising to their feet and applauding.

Wu Chenghe quietly withdrew his mental tendrils, looking at the man on the stage covered in injuries, blood, and sweat. Jin Xuan’s face was half bruised, a trend of recurrence in his old arm injury, swelling up again. He looked battered and bruised all over, but as the spotlight shone down on him, his body covered in wounds exuded a unique charm, which was incredibly captivating.

He was like a warrior rising from the flames of battle, brimming with fierce masculinity, impossible to look away from!

Wu Chenghe’s eyes lit up as he inserted two fingers into his mouth, producing a resounding whistle. Unconsciously, he infused the whistle with his consciousness, causing it to resonate even after it ended. Jin Xuan heard his voice, one eye swollen shut, squinting in his direction, and gave him a wild kiss blown in his direction.

“Well done! That was amazing!” The supply officer was ecstatic, separating from the crowd and rushing to the edge of the ring, where Jin Xuan had descended. He hugged Jin Xuan tightly, laughing heartily, slapping his back vigorously. “That was exhilarating, absolutely spectacular! I never imagined you had such skills, brother! Impressive!”

Jin Xuan smiled and exchanged fist bumps with him, taking the ice pack Wu Chenghe handed him and pressing it against his swollen right eye. He said, “It’s just luck. It’s been a long time since I’ve boxed; I’m out of practice.” The host gestured for him to go collect the prize money, but Jin Xuan shook his head and told Wu Chenghe, “Let them credit half of it to my account and give the other half to my big brother.” With that, he patted the supply officer’s shoulder.

“This…this…this won’t do.” The supply officer’s face changed color, shaking his head hastily. While he loved money, there were rules within the military, and he couldn’t accept bribes so openly.

“Don’t worry, they’ll handle the accounts properly.” Jin Xuan smiled faintly and whispered, “Consider it your gambling fund; taxes will still be paid, and no one will find out.” 

“Oh, brother, you’re too kind.” The supply officer chuckled, realizing he had just won back twice the amount he had bet on Jin Xuan, and now he was receiving an extra hundred and fifty thousand Federal Credits, even after taxes, it was still a significant sum.

“A thousand coins can’t buy your happiness.” Jin Xuan raised an eyebrow, saying, “It’s too noisy here, let’s go sit in the VIP room upstairs.”

The supply officer had long established tacit understanding with him and naturally wouldn’t refuse. He slung his arm around Jin Xuan’s shoulder, leading him upstairs. Wu Chenghe watched as tens of thousands of Federal Credits suddenly appeared in the accounts, feeling his legs tremble a bit. He grabbed onto Yin Bo and asked softly, “By the way, is the extra hundred thousand all from the thousand I used from the public funds? Shouldn’t it all be returned?”

Yin Bo gave him a look, “Are you okay? Do you think the Federal Government cares about your measly sum?”

Wu Chenghe choked, and Yin Bo patted his head, saying, “Just return a thousand, and let Chang Gong handle the accounts. Being a special agent has its perks, unexpectedly making some private gains out of the blue. With some luck, you might even get to sleep with a few handsome men…” He grimaced, thinking of the supply officer, covered his chest, and pointed upstairs. “I didn’t mean him.”

Before he could finish, Jin Xuan’s lion suddenly poked its big head out from above, letting out a low growl. The black panther immediately tensed, ready to flee at any moment, even though it wasn’t clear whether its owner had said something crazy again. Its claws tightened, already prepared to bolt.

“Calm down!” Yin Bo grabbed it by the scruff, annoyed, and said to Wu Chenghe, “I didn’t mean Chang Gong either.”

Wu Chenghe didn’t care whether Jin Xuan was a handsome man or not, as that was an indisputable fact. Holding tens of thousands of Federal Credits was somewhat dreamlike; he foolishly said, “Oh,” and floated upstairs.

In the VIP room, Jin Xuan sat on the sofa wearing a bathrobe, while Wu Chenghe knelt beside him, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds, applying ice packs to the swollen areas. The supply officer had cooled down from his earlier excitement, holding a tall glass, watching the wine sway inside, his eyes gradually showing a skeptical look. “Brother, your skills are so extraordinary; have you practiced before?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Jin Xuan smirked, casually saying, “It’s a family tradition. I learned Eastern combat from my father since I was young and even participated in professional matches when I was younger.”

“Oh?” The supply officer’s eyes lit up, and he asked, “Eastern combat… is it Yan’s Combat?”

Jin Xuan’s expression stiffened for a moment before reluctantly nodding, saying, “Yes.”

“Are you a direct descendant of Yan’s Combat?” The supply officer was extremely surprised, eyes sparkling. “Are you from the Yan family?”

The so-called Yan Style Combat is a martial arts school founded by a great master of Eastern studies over three hundred years ago. This master, surnamed Yan, was said to have been a high-ranking naval officer in his youth. Later, due to certain reasons, he withdrew from the military and established the “Yan Academy of Eastern Studies.” He dedicated himself to the study of Eastern martial arts and eventually created the Yan Style Combat, which emphasizes both internal and external cultivation.

This form of combat is extremely mysterious and differs greatly from traditional Western fighting styles. It combines aggressiveness, artistry, and philosophical elements. Military personnel practicing it can enhance their combat effectiveness, ordinary individuals can improve their physical fitness, and intellectuals can delve into the mystical aspects of Eastern culture, purifying their minds and refining their sentiments. Shortly after its emergence, this combat style was included in the Olympic Games and incorporated into the curriculum of elementary schools. It can be said that nearly eight out of ten people in the Dunkirk Federation have some knowledge of it.

However, this does not mean that everyone can master Yan Style Combat. On the contrary, due to its complexity, the difficulty of practice increases geometrically as one progresses. Therefore, the vast majority of people only scratch the surface, and even Olympic champions and high-ranking military officials can only achieve a fraction of its proficiency.

The true essence of Yan Style Combat lies in its internal cultivation techniques, which have been kept secret within the Yan family for three centuries. The Yan family, with a heritage of a hundred years, has somewhat declined in this generation, with only Yan Ling, the head of the Yan Academy of Eastern Studies, remaining. Yan Ling has a son and a daughter; the eldest son works at the Federal Institute of Science and is a renowned mecha master, while the youngest daughter is a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, neither of them has any interest in continuing the family’s secret legacy.

However, there are rumors in the martial world that Yan Ling had a lover who bore him an illegitimate child in his early years. Many believe that this illegitimate child is the true successor of Yan Style Combat.

The quartermaster gazed thoughtfully at Jin Xuan. During the recent combat, he noticed that this rumored wealthy heir was using some mysterious Eastern martial arts, somewhat resembling the techniques of Yan Style Combat but far more sophisticated than the prevalent styles in the military. Moreover, there seemed to be something unique about his breathing techniques.

Yan Ling is of mixed Chinese and German descent. The young man before them had black hair and eyes, with strikingly deep facial features, especially the high and prominent brow bones, giving him a somewhat Germanic appearance.

Could he be… the illegitimate child?

 

 

 

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