Chapter 8: Collaboration

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Zhang Ji opened the door as Master Kui led Wu Chen inside his container cabin.

Master Kui settled comfortably onto the bed, while Wu Chen stood beside him.

Zhang Ji closed the door behind him and asked, "What’s this about?"

"Was it you? The incident at the transit zone," Master Kui said, pulling out a cigar. He motioned for Wu Chen to light it, then took a puff.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Zhang Ji stepped forward. "Could you put out that smoke? I don’t like the smell."

Master Kui stared at Zhang Ji for two seconds before suddenly reaching out to grab him.

"Phut!"

Their palms collided; Zhang Ji slapped away Master Kui’s hand, but Master Kui twisted his wrist slightly and caught Zhang Ji’s wrist.

Zhang Ji was surprised. He was stronger in terms of raw power, yet Master Kui easily seized his wrist.

It was technique—something Zhang Ji lacked.

"Really got you! In such a short time?" Master Kui was a little surprised, then slowly released Zhang Ji’s wrist. He handed the cigar to Wu Chen, signaling him to put it out, and said, "Among the geniuses I know, you’re definitely in the top echelon."

Was there anyone who could rival Zhang Ji?

Of course.

With abundant resources, top-tier techniques, and exceptional talent, stepping into the professional fighter realm within a month was achievable.

Such individuals were probably fewer than twenty in the world.

That was a rough estimate; in reality, even with such talent, not everyone got discovered.

"Were they your people?" Zhang Ji asked.

He didn’t know who he had killed, only that someone had shot at his container.

So he went straight to these people.

"No, but it doesn’t matter if they were," Master Kui said. "You’re already different from them."

"Cold-blooded," Zhang Ji sneered.

"Welcome to Shanli Island," Master Kui said with a smile.

Zhang Ji’s smile faded.

Of course—this was Shanli Island, a place of exile for criminals.

Survival of the fittest was the island’s true nature.

He had been blinded by his previously seemingly normal life.

What was happening now was the island’s everyday reality.

"What do you want from me?" Zhang Ji asked.

"Cooperation—to eliminate the henchmen of the big shots and gain a chance to negotiate," Master Kui said.

"Be more specific," Zhang Ji demanded.

Master Kui glanced at Wu Chen, who nodded slightly before explaining, "The Kui District is being targeted. The opposing faction is powerful. The leader of Kang District, Hong Kang, has been bought off and is now working for them. He's leading forces into Kui District, trying to replace Master Kui. They have strong firepower and have even turned some of our people. So we plan to eliminate Hong Kang first and negotiate directly with the top."

"What if they refuse to talk even if you win?" Zhang Ji asked.

"They won’t refuse. Their goal is to replace Master Kui and rule here. As long as we show enough strength to make them feel the cost isn’t worth it, they’ll talk. Then we just follow their orders and recognize their rule. Kui District will still be under our control, or at least mostly," Wu Chen said.

"Does that mean you admit they’re stronger than us?" Zhang Ji said.

"According to what I’ve learned, not just Kang and Kui Districts, but several others are already under their control," Wu Chen replied.

"One last question—what’s in it for me?" Zhang Ji asked.

"I can take you as my godson!" Master Kui said.

"I’m not looking to adopt a father," Zhang Ji replied.

"Then a disciple—nominally, but effectively the deputy leader of Kui District," Master Kui suggested.

"Student, then. Since you taught me before, I can call you teacher," Zhang Ji said.

He wasn’t purely motivated by power; he had made enemies and killed people.

Besides, he wanted Kui District to calm down and to get materials for his training.

He hadn’t trained for several days and felt restless and insecure.

Having tasted the thrill of continuously gaining strength and the confidence and safety it brought, he was utterly addicted.

In his old world, there was no way to win everything purely by relying on one’s own power.

Effort wasn’t quantifiable and didn’t guarantee results.

Only here, only in the martial arts of fighting, was it different.

It was so pure—put in effort, and you would surely gain!

...

...

Below the main building of Kui District, Master Kui walked ahead. Behind him were Zhang Ji, Wu Chen, and a dozen others following.

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They all wore bulletproof vests and helmets, including Master Kui and Zhang Ji.

After all, they weren’t invincible against bullets.

This main building was called Kui Tower.

As the name suggests, it used to be where Master Kui and his people lived.

Zhang Ji gripped his gun, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

He preferred using his fists.

"This is the world of these weapons now. You can’t adapt, no matter how gifted you are, out there it’s the same," Master Kui said with deep eyes. "Here on Shanli Island, you can’t use excessively destructive weapons; otherwise, no matter how strong your martial arts, you couldn’t withstand a new type of tracking grenade thrown from hundreds of meters away by an ordinary person."

Zhang Ji neither agreed nor disagreed.

Master Kui was describing the initial version of Supreme Fighting.

Later developments became more absurd.

After the Battle of the Holy Kings ended, the five Holy Kings became the public rulers of Origin Star. They established fighter rankings, standardized and unified various fighting styles, widely spread fighting knowledge, promoted fighting competitions, and cultivated many fighters.

At that time, D-level professional fighters became relatively common.

Among advanced fighters, those relying solely on physical prowess—the True Self Style—could even contend with fighters using external aids—the Mysterious Heart Style.

Moreover, in most fighting scenarios, True Self Style had a slightly higher winning rate.

After all, equipment and environment required preparation.

True Self Style fighters just needed to be present; weapons didn’t significantly reduce their combat effectiveness.

There was no need to argue which style was stronger; by the later stages, no fighter didn’t cross-train in at least two other styles to enhance their skills.

"Enough, let’s break in!" Wu Chen signaled, and Master Kui led the group toward the building.

The building’s security was strong; previously, Master Kui hadn’t dared attack directly.

Now he dared because Zhang Ji had joined.

Although Zhang Ji’s strength was hard to match against regular soldiers outside, on Shanli Island even ordinary firearms were scarce. Zhang Ji’s martial arts made him nearly unstoppable unless he faced someone of equal skill.

"Rat-a-tat-tat!"

Gunshots rang out first; the guards at the gate were immediately taken down.

Zhang Ji was somewhat stunned.

They were ruthless, leaving no survivors.

Inside the building, shadows appeared.

"Open fire!" Master Kui ordered, firing his gun.

The enemy also had firearms, aiming at Zhang Ji and the others.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhang Ji’s expression tensed as he pulled the trigger.

Flames shot from the muzzle, the recoil hit him, but he easily controlled it.

Two lives were extinguished in an instant.

Much faster than if he’d used a crowbar.

"Feels good, huh?" Master Kui asked.

"Indeed," Zhang Ji replied.

He didn’t reject using external weapons.

Provided he had full control over them and they wouldn’t be easily taken away.

Only then was that power truly his.

With Zhang Ji and Master Kui blazing a trail, no one could block their way.

They fought their way up the stairs.

On the fourth floor, several bodies lay in the corridor.

Master Kui led Zhang Ji, Wu Chen, and the others to a large door.

Then he suddenly kicked it.

"Bang!"

The lock was destroyed, and the door burst open.

Inside, no one was there.

"Ran off?" Master Kui asked, puzzled.

"Over there!" Wu Chen leaned against the window and saw the situation outside.

A figure was quickly retreating under the protection of several others.

"Pursue! He won’t escape!" Master Kui ordered.

...

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Chu Xiangwen never expected that when Master Kui was being hunted by Hong Kang, he wouldn’t try to flee Kui District but still had the energy to come after him.

"Master Chu, they’re coming," a subordinate told him.

Chu Xiangwen glanced back and saw two figures running fast.

The chaotic layout of Kui District made it hard even for two-wheeled carts to pass smoothly; this stretch could only be traversed on foot.

He clearly couldn’t outrun Zhang Ji and Master Kui, both accomplished professional fighters.

He looked at his subordinate, Yin Kun, who had previously helped distribute "wages" to workers and often pocketed the money.

Of course, Chu Xiangwen tacitly allowed it; without him, Yin Kun wouldn’t have dared.

"Take two men and stop them," Chu Xiangwen ordered.

"Master Chu..." Yin Kun hesitated.

Chu Xiangwen narrowed his eyes and said, "Go."

Yin Kun dared not refuse. He picked up a gun and prepared to intercept Zhang Ji and Master Kui.

Everyone had weaknesses, and his entire family was under Chu Xiangwen’s control. Even if it meant death, he had to obey without hesitation.

In the darkness, Zhang Ji and Master Kui moved swiftly.

They easily overcame obstacles under five meters by using their strength to vault over.

Zhang Ji had cultivated Iron Cloth to its current level but this was the first time he exercised at full power without fear of exposure.

Though Iron Cloth was a martial art focusing on strength, the body was a whole.

A small movement affected the entire body; his tendons, bones, and flesh were strengthened, and he could exert greater power.

So he enhanced more than just defense.

Defense was just the primary focus.

Soon, they spotted Yin Kun and two others preparing to block them.

Zhang Ji said, "I’ll handle them. You keep chasing."

Master Kui didn’t reply but deliberately veered off the path.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Gunshots rang out; the three fired at Zhang Ji and Master Kui.

Zhang Ji’s gun spat bullets as he moved.

"Rat-a-tat!"

Under Zhang Ji’s suppressive fire, the three took cover immediately.

He didn’t shoot very accurately and was shooting from a distance, so none were hit.

Master Kui, however, charged toward Chu Xiangwen.

Soon, Zhang Ji ran out of bullets. Without hesitation, he dropped his gun and charged at the three men.

"He’s out of ammo! Quick!" Yin Kun shouted.

He led the charge, aiming at Zhang Ji.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Zhang Ji powered his legs and sprinted, head down.

A bullet grazed his shoulder, causing slight pain but almost no injury through his bulletproof vest.

He closed in on one man.

One kick!

"Bang!"

The man was sent flying, even more exaggerated than in the fighting matches Zhang Ji had watched.

The other two quickly fired, but only one bullet hit Zhang Ji’s chest.

The vest and his 120% Iron Cloth absorbed the impact.

Zhang Ji rushed up and punched one man, whose chest instantly caved in. He twisted the man’s head; with a crack, the man stopped struggling.

The last man was Yin Kun.

Zhang Ji remembered him faintly.

Under the dim moonlight, Yin Kun’s trembling gun looked ridiculous.

Zhang Ji stepped forward. Yin Kun’s shaky hand tried to fire but Zhang Ji slapped the gun away.

"Killing me won’t help. We’re just doing this for someone else..." Yin Kun said.

"Don’t worry. You’ll all meet up soon," Zhang Ji said.

"Crack! Phut!"

Zhang Ji grabbed Yin Kun’s body and wiped his fists on it.

He realized he might have developed a liking for smashing people’s heads with his fists!