The Way of Restraint

Chapter 181: Small Show of Success, Big Strategy

“Boss, these are Fang Hong and Jiang Nanzhou from the Martial Arts Club and the Fighting Club, respectively. The two clubs have had many conflicts, and in the past, the Martial Arts Club was always at a disadvantage, unable to win against the Fighting Club in matches. But since Fang Hong became the president of the Martial Arts Club, the situation seems to have improved. Jiang Nanzhou is an athlete and a contracted fighter for a fighting club; he’s very strong. Last year, he led the Fighting Club to win the B City University Fighting Championship, maintaining Q University’s reputation. As for Fang Hong, I don’t know; he just suddenly appeared.”

Tan Dashi approached and quietly introduced them before Su Jie could say anything.

“Boss, with your strength, should we take over the Martial Arts Club and the Fighting Club?” Wang Shun asked.

“Yes, our Q University’s Martial Arts Club and Fighting Club are quite influential. If we take them over, we can do some business operations and make a lot of money.” Lin Tang had his eye on this.

Q University’s clubs and societies are different from those of other schools; after all, it’s the prestigious name of the top university in the country.

“This doesn’t mean much to me, but I’ll support you if you want to do it.” With his current abilities, Su Jie didn’t want to spend too much energy on university clubs. “Right now, among the three of you, Dashi is the strongest, but he’s still far behind Jiang Nanzhou and Fang Hong. Unless you really train with me for a year, I guarantee the three of you will become very strong!”

Actually, Q University’s martial arts club and combat club are quite useful. Su Jie didn’t participate himself, but he wanted to support his roommates.

Moreover, he knew that even if he were strong, he was still only human. To fight against evil forces in this world, a team is needed.

And university is the best time to form a team; people outside are too complicated.

After a long period of observation, Su Jie felt that the three roommates were actually of good character and could do things together.

Su Jie, Tan Dashi, Wang Shun, and Lin Tang watched from the sidelines as the conflict between the martial arts club and the fighting club seemed to be escalating.

“Jiang Nanzhou, I’ve taken over the martial arts club this time, so some of the old rules need to be changed,” Fang Hong stepped forward, stopping five steps behind Jiang Nanzhou. “How about this, the two club presidents have a fighting match. Didn’t you say our martial arts club only knows how to perform and not practice? Today, whoever wins gets to train here, and the loser has to find another place. Are you in?”

“Sure,” Jiang Nanzhou retorted without backing down. “A match between the two club presidents isn’t enough. How about a team match? Besides you, select three more members to fight against three members from our fighting club.”

Fang Hong paused for a moment upon hearing this. “What? You’re afraid?” Jiang Nanzhou smiled contemptuously. “Could it be that none of your students can fight, and you’re the only one secretly learning modern combat techniques, pretending to be a traditional martial artist?”

“I’m afraid you’ll renege on your bets after losing.” Fang Hong’s eyes narrowed. “You three, step forward!” He called out three members of the martial arts club.

These three members actually obeyed his orders, like an army, silently stepping forward, disciplined and orderly.

“This Fang Hong is impressive,” Su Jie nodded.

Jiang Nanzhou from the combat club also called out three people. These three stepped forward, all smiling. “President, I guarantee I’ll make them question their existence.”

“These martial arts club members look the part, but it’s all show and no substance. They don’t have many muscles. Do they really think they can defeat us with internal energy?”

“Don’t underestimate them. They know qigong; they can hit people from a distance.” The third student feigned fear, which caused the combat club members to burst into laughter. The martial arts club members all wore expressions of resentment, but none of them uttered a word of argument. Instead, they maintained their composure and awaited the orders of their club leader, Fang Hong.

“Fang Hong is impressive,” Lin Tang said to Su Jie. “He’s managed to keep the martial arts club members completely under his command, establishing absolute authority and giving them the aura of an army.”

“Yes, in terms of individual fighting ability, I still favor the combat club members, but in terms of discipline, I think the martial arts club has the edge,” Wang Shun nodded.

“Have you all chosen?” Fang Hong looked around. “The first match will be between you and me.”

“Don’t rush,” Jiang Nanzhou waved his finger. “We two club leaders are the main event. Let the club members fight first; that’s what makes it a grand spectacle.”

“Wait!” Just then, Tan Dashi suddenly appeared. “If you’re going to have a match between your two clubs, make it more formal. You need a referee.”

“Tan Dashi, is that you?” Fang Hong and Jiang Nanzhou both recognized him. Jiang Nanzhou smiled. “Tan Dashi, you’re a freshman in the School of Life Sciences, right? Last month you wanted to be the club president, but after you lost, I heard you went to the martial arts club, and still didn’t get the position.”

“This guy even ran for president of your fighting club? I suspect he was sent by your fighting club,” Fang Hong frowned, clearly disliking Tan Dashi. 

“This guy…” Su Jie chuckled, already understanding the situation. Tan Dashi first joined the fighting club, ran for president, and was defeated by Jiang Nanzhou. Then he ran for president of the martial arts club and was defeated by Fang Hong. “So much youthful passion! Even if you’re strong enough to defeat two presidents, it doesn’t guarantee you’ll become president. Freshmen are inexperienced and might not be able to command respect. University is a microcosm of society…”

“You want to be a referee?” Jiang Nanzhou didn’t want to talk to Tan Dashi, this troublemaker. “Get out of the way.”

“My boss will be the referee.” Tan Dashi remained unmoved. “My boss is…”

“Dashi.” Su Jie patted him on the shoulder, stopping him from continuing. “What competition rules are you using? You can’t just fight randomly, can you? School rules don’t allow it.”

“You’re going to be a referee? Do you have a referee’s license? Or do you know martial arts? Or was that awkward dance you just did some kind of martial arts?” One of the fighting club members was getting impatient. 

“I have it,” Su Jie nodded, not angry at all.

His Dian Dao Martial Arts Club had all the necessary permits and licenses, without any loopholes. Otherwise, if Haoyu Group seized the opportunity to report him, it would be a major problem.

“Oh?” 

Su Jie’s words caught the fighting club member off guard.

Su Jie continued, “We’re all classmates, and the gymnasium doesn’t belong to any private individual. We can all contact each other. I think it would be better if we all sat down and chatted. There’s no need to make the atmosphere so tense.”

“Are you a freshman? This is a dispute between our clubs. You shouldn’t stand out.” The fighting club member who had spoken earlier became even more impatient and stepped forward.

“Is this freshman trying to be like Zhang Wuji? Did he learn some unparalleled martial arts to interfere in the conflict between the Ming Cult and the six major sects, and become the leader of the Ming Cult?” one of the fighting club members joked with a laugh. “This part is the most ridiculous. So many people died on both sides, and then some greenhorn suddenly appears, and they call a truce? If I were one of the six major sects, I’d swarm in and kill this kid. What’s the point of these one-on-one martial arts rules?”

“Tan Dashi’s strength is so-so. Since he calls you ‘boss,’ then you must have some skill. But it’s normal for freshmen to like showing off; there’s nothing wrong with that.” Jiang Nanzhou glanced at Su Jie a few times, then winked at the student who approached Su Jie.

This student, already annoyed by Su Jie’s sarcastic remark, walked up to Su Jie and suddenly made a hand gesture to attract attention. He then hooked, swept, and tried to trip Su Jie with his foot.

It was a judo technique called “Konae-giri” (小内刈).

“Giri” means to cut. It’s very simple and practical. When two people are close, the upper body is feigned while the lower body is solid, using a shovel to cut and hook the opponent’s inner calf, directly knocking them to the ground.

This student suddenly used it while getting close, trying to catch the opponent off guard.

However, in the instant he hooked, Su Jie shifted his body slightly.

Bang!

The student missed his footing and fell heavily to the ground.

Su Jie hadn’t touched him at all.

To outsiders, it looked as if the student had tripped over thin air.

Unconsciously, Su Jie had used the “Air Throw” of the “God of Judo,” Mifune Kyuzo.

However, no one present could tell; they assumed the student had simply missed and Su Jie had gotten lucky.

But Fang Hong seemed to notice something was wrong.

“Damn! I missed!” The fallen student quickly got up, cursed, and tried to throw Su Jie again. He was quite restrained, not using his fists, because punches could easily cause injury, while in wrestling and judo, if the force is controlled properly, it only provides control.

Su Jie suddenly swayed. 

The student kept charging forward with what seemed like a boxing technique, grabbing Su Jie’s clothes, and this time using a “big waist” technique, he intended to use all his strength to throw Su Jie directly to the ground and control him. But somehow, as he tried to grab Su Jie’s clothes and swing with all his might, only to miss.

His waist snapped; the force of the movement had caused him to fall to the ground, unable to get up.

Su Jie went over, pinched his waist, twisted it, and loosened his muscles. After a few moments, he stood up again, though with some lingering pain, needing some time to recover.

“Don’t do any strenuous exercise for at least two weeks. Your lower back is injured, and your spine is slightly misaligned, but thankfully, there are no nerve problems.” Su Jie had just used an “air throw” technique.

“You’ve got some skill,” Fang Hong said. “Did you learn your judo at the ‘Xianghua Dojo’ in Japan?”

“I haven’t studied judo,” Su Jie waved his hand. “This is wrestling.”

“Interested to join our martial arts club? I’ll make you vice president,” Fang Hong offered a recruitment signal.

“Not really interested yet,” Su Jie smiled. “Are you guys still going to compete? I can really be the referee; at least I can stop the game at the most crucial moment so you won’t get hurt.”

“Sure,” Fang Hong looked at Jiang Nanzhou. “I agree to him being the referee. What about you?”