After finishing a set of punches, Feng Ya earned thunderous applause.
Without a bead of sweat on his brow or a hint of breathlessness, Feng Ya cupped his fists in another bow and said, "It's rather dull for one person to entertain you all. Why not invite another young man up to demonstrate, showcasing the might of martial arts?"
"Only then can we truly reflect the contributions of Sect Master Fang throughout his life in cultivating martial arts students!"
"Excellent!"
Amidst the cheers, young men eagerly stepped forward, eager to try.
Most of them were no match for Feng Ya, but the opportunity for sparring was rare. They could also receive critiques from masters like Fang Baiyan, which would serve as guidance.
"Brother Chen Zhuo, how about you give it a try?"
Feng Ya smiled and, without gesturing to anyone else, made a welcoming gesture directly towards Chen Fan.
Chen Fan couldn't help but be stunned.
This Feng Ya was truly petty. He intended to humiliate him now.
At a birthday banquet, engaging in a physical altercation would be considered disruptive. However, doing so under the guise of celebrating Fang Baiyan's birthday and providing entertainment would be perfectly acceptable.
Shang Wushuang also blinked in surprise, feeling a peculiar sensation.
Wasn't Feng Ya just asking for trouble?
Fang Baiyan glanced at Chen Fan and said, "Nephew Feng, this Mr. Chen is not a martial artist. Perhaps you should select someone else to spar with, to truly showcase your superior skills!"
"Sect Master Fang, you may not know," Feng Ya cupped his fists. "It is precisely by finding an outsider that we can demonstrate the spirit and vigor of us martial artists, and our martial ethics of stopping at the right moment and remaining humble when facing ordinary people!"
"Sect Master Fang's establishment of a martial arts school and selection of disciples contributes greatly to society. Is it not for the purpose of allowing more people to learn martial arts and strengthen their bodies? Today's banquet is a perfect opportunity to highlight the vast difference between those who practice martial arts and those who do not."
"Sect Master Fang and esteemed guests, please rest assured, I will absolutely not harm Mr. Chen. Stopping at the right moment is the martial ethic that we martial artists adhere to!"
Hearing this, Fang Baiyan found it difficult to object further and looked at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan pursed his lips and said, "Senior Brother Feng, perhaps we should just forget about it."
"Mr. Chen, do not worry, I will not harm you. This kind of demonstration is beneficial for you as well, allowing you to feel the advantages of practicing martial arts. Of course, you might find it despairing!"
Some young men let out suppressed laughter, specifically those who had seen Chen Fan with Shang Wushuang.
This Feng Ya was indeed quite petty.
Chen Fan still had a forced smile on his face and asked, "You really won't hurt me?"
"Of course, I guarantee it!"
Feng Ya declared.
In his eyes, Chen Fan, with his glasses and refined demeanor, posed no threat.
He didn't intend to do anything severe to Chen Fan, merely to make him fall face-first into the dirt and embarrass him a little.
Chen Fan reluctantly agreed, "Alright then, I can help liven up Uncle Fang's birthday banquet."
He slowly walked onto the stage.
Many people revealed knowing smiles.
"Wushuang, why did you agree to let Chen Zhuo go on stage? Feng Ya will definitely make a fool of him!" Fang Jie whispered to Shang Wushuang again.
Shang Wushuang chuckled, "It's not certain who will make a fool of themselves."
Chen Fan stepped onto the stage and stood before Feng Ya.
Feng Ya smiled and said, "Here, I will demonstrate to everyone the common 'step-through right punch' used in actual combat. It is very frequently seen."
With that, he assumed a stance, explained a few key points, and then said to Chen Fan, "Come, Mr. Chen, throw a punch at me!"
Such techniques were very practical and were present in the martial arts of various schools. The names might differ, but the variations in actual combat were largely the same.
The fight between two individuals essentially involved a limited number of attack methods: punches, elbows, kicks, knees, or close-quarters grappling.
In actual combat, the permutations were endless, depending on an individual's strength, experience, and various reactions.
Setting aside internal energy, such techniques were also common in ordinary martial arts.
Masters like Fang Baiyan present were merely watching for entertainment, but the younger generation found it to be a valuable learning experience.
"Punch me?"
Chen Fan asked, "Really?"
"Of course!"
Feng Ya replied, "Come, punch me with all your might. I'll demonstrate how to defend, and you can learn well. It might even be useful when you get into conflicts!"
"Where should I aim?" Chen Fan asked hesitantly.
"Anywhere… sigh, alright, punch my face!"
Punching the face was the most attention-grabbing and easiest to react to.
Feng Ya, who had assumed a stance, faced Chen Fan obliquely. One hand was held low, while the other was casually protecting his chin.
"You're really going to hit me?" Chen Fan asked again.
"Hit it, do you really think you can hit me?" Feng Ya said impatiently, urging him on.
A wave of laughter rippled through the audience. They found Chen Fan's questions clumsy, typical of an amateur.
"Alright!"
Chen Fan nodded and raised his hand in a sweeping motion.
*Slap!*
A clear slapping sound echoed.
Feng Ya, who was in his stance, froze for a moment.
Everyone in the audience was also stunned.
They saw Chen Fan raise his hand, his movement neither fast nor slow, and land a slap directly on Feng Ya's face.
Feng Ya had no time to make any move.
The scene turned somewhat bizarre.
Feng Ya, a master at the Dark Energy level, whose strength was not inferior to Fang Baiyan's, had been hit by Chen Fan with a slap?
Shang Wushuang giggled.
Fang Jie's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Um…"
Chen Fan hadn't put much force into the slap, so Feng Ya's face didn't hurt, but the sting was unbearable.
He had actually been hit?
And it was at his own invitation.
His face turned somewhat green. He coughed awkwardly and said, "This was to let you feel it. Alright, let's officially begin now. Come, do it again!"
This was the only way he could save face.
Chen Fan nodded and raised his hand in a sweeping motion.
This time, Feng Ya was fully focused. He immediately threw his head back, his left hand shot out to block, and simultaneously, his right foot stepped forward, evading the opponent while launching a right punch.
He felt this reaction was perfect, demonstrating his rich combat experience and elegant posture.
But in that instant, with a *slap*, he felt a sting on his face, and his forward step faltered.
His face burned, and he saw Chen Fan retracting his hand, his expression one of surprise.
Clutching his face, Feng Ya stared wide-eyed, unable to comprehend how Chen Fan had still managed to hit him.
He clearly saw Chen Fan's hand coming, and he was sure he would block it, and block it easily.
But in reality, his blocking left hand had missed.
He took a step back, his face stinging.
Everyone in the audience wore even more bewildered expressions, finding it inexplicable.
In their view, after Chen Fan attacked, Feng Ya had failed to block and instead stepped forward to punch, only to be struck by the opponent.
"You…"
After being hit again, Feng Ya became agitated and was about to lash out.
Chen Fan calmly said, "Senior Brother Feng, what kind of martial art is this, not blocking?"
Feng Ya's facial muscles twitched violently.
Damn it, what was going on?
Shang Wushuang couldn't help but laugh heartily.
Fang Jie looked astonished and asked, "What's happening?"
Everyone else also found it baffling. If the first time could be attributed to Feng Ya, the top disciple of the Ji Bei Sect, not being prepared, then what about the second time?
Feng Ya was internally furious, suppressing the urge to explode. He said, "My apologies, I might have been a bit off my game. Mr. Chen, come, let's do it again. You attack when I say 'Begin'!"
"Alright!"
Chen Fan nodded.
Feng Ya assumed his stance and shouted, "Begin!"