Chapter 129: This Act Must Be Put On

"Good! Good! Good!"
The soldiers throughout the Fierce Tiger Army erupted into unified cheers upon hearing that Chu Yun had become their commander. Their voices rose in unison, fierce and overwhelming, echoing to the heavens.

Just as a few city guards had predicted, upon learning that Chu Yun’s master, the Thunder God, could obliterate enemies with lightning magic, they were filled with fear, worried that Chu Yun might summon his master’s thunderous power to bombard their camp.

But now that Chu Yun was the commander of the Fierce Tiger Army, such concerns naturally dissipated.

Yet, as Chu Yun had anticipated, while they were eager to accept him as their leader, they did not truly respect him. They regarded his so-called ten deadly moves with scorn, dismissing them as mere theoretical talk.

They could not believe that someone like Chu Yun, who had never been on the battlefield, could master any formidable secret techniques — it was all just empty boasting.

Chu Yun turned to Luo Hu and said, “Deputy Commander Luo, to help everyone learn my ten deadly moves more easily, please spar with me and let me demonstrate them.”

Luo Hu was taken aback. “Lord Count, you want to spar with me?”

Chu Yun smiled and nodded. “Yes, Deputy Commander Luo.”

The soldiers, who had been indifferent to Chu Yun’s skills until now, suddenly became intrigued.

They were eager to see the true power behind Chu Yun’s deadly moves, curious about how he had the audacity to challenge Luo Hu.

Luo Hu was tall, standing half a head above Chu Yun, with a broad frame nearly half a body stronger than Chu Yun’s slender build.

With his robust and explosive muscles, Luo Hu was far beyond what Chu Yun’s frail body could withstand.

Seeing Chu Yun’s serious demeanor, Luo Hu frowned, feeling troubled.

Though muscular, Luo Hu was clever enough to know that Chu Yun’s real purpose was not merely to demonstrate the moves, but to assert his authority before the entire Fierce Tiger Army.

After some thought, Luo Hu bowed and said politely, “Lord Count, I don’t think it’s necessary. I am certainly no match for you. You are the disciple of the Thunder God, and the secret techniques you learned from him must be extraordinary. Your creation of the Herbal Fitness Routine and the One-Li Obstacle Training is proof of your brilliance.”

His flattery was a way to help Chu Yun establish his prestige.

However, Chu Yun shook his head. “No, Deputy Commander Luo, it’s necessary. You just need to spar with me so I can demonstrate to everyone — only then will they learn more easily.”

Luo Hu was about to respond again, but Chu Yun interrupted with a cold snort: “Deputy Commander Luo, this is a military order. Are you going to disobey? Or do you not respect me as your commander?”

Luo Hu thought to himself, Of course I don’t respect you. If it weren’t for your master being the Thunder God, who would willingly accept you as the commander of the Fierce Tiger Army? Now that Lin Yang is gone, I’m the acting commander with all the power—doesn’t that sound better?

Yet outwardly, he bowed courteously and feigned reluctance. “I’m sorry, Lord Count, but I’ve been feeling unwell these past few days and cannot spar with you.”

Chu Yun snorted. “Deputy Commander Luo, the Thunder God taught me medicine. I even saved Lin Yang when he was critically ill. I see no sign of any problem with your health. Hurry up and spar with me, or that will be considered disobeying a military order!”

Seeing Chu Yun’s iron determination to assert himself before the troops, Luo Hu reluctantly said, “Very well, Lord Count, I will spar with you. But since you are the Thunder God’s disciple and must be very skilled, please go easy on me.”

His words, combined with his earlier feigned illness, made it clear he would not use his full strength against Chu Yun.

This way, even if he lost, he would not lose face in front of the troops, and Chu Yun would feel that he had successfully established his authority.

Two birds with one stone.

Chu Yun stepped forward, his right foot slightly apart, and calmly said, “Deputy Commander Luo, I’m ready. Please attack me with your hand!”

“Understood, Lord Count!”

Luo Hu responded and approached Chu Yun, lazily throwing a soft right punch.

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Chu Yun’s expression turned cold. He swiftly sidestepped, grasping Luo Hu’s wrist with his right hand and pressing down hard.

At the same time, Chu Yun’s left foot slid behind Luo Hu, while his left hand slipped under Luo Hu’s right arm to his waist, and his right hand broke free, thrusting forward.

Three fingers clamped onto Luo Hu’s throat.

With a cold snort, Chu Yun warned, “Deputy Commander Luo, please take this seriously. Otherwise, if I apply just a fraction more force, I could crush your throat and end your life.”

Outsiders might see a mere skirmish, but experts recognized the subtlety.

Luo Hu was a master martial artist, and in that brief exchange, he realized Chu Yun’s deadly move was no simple trick.

He quickly grew serious. “Lord Count, be careful. I’m getting serious now!”

Chu Yun replied, “I feared you wouldn’t.”

With that, he retreated ten feet, positioned his right foot forward again, and assumed a ready stance.

Luo Hu studied Chu Yun’s stance intently and stood motionless, becoming as still and steadfast as a pine tree.

Chu Yun mirrored him, equally unmoving, as if he too had become a pine tree.

“Lord Count, impressive!” three captains and several centurions watching quietly murmured in admiration.

The soldiers, who had previously doubted Chu Yun, now looked at him with new respect, sensing the powerful aura he radiated.

Suddenly, Luo Hu’s right fist shot forward toward Chu Yun with lightning speed.

He truly embodied the saying: as still as a virgin, as swift as a hare.

Just as his right fist neared Chu Yun, he suddenly swung his left fist as well.

The right punch was merely a feint!

The soldiers were stunned. They knew Luo Hu was now truly serious.

They understood his strength well, and seeing him attack Chu Yun with such earnestness shifted their expressions from disdain to respect.

Yet Chu Yun remained calm, standing firm.

When Luo Hu’s right fist turned into a left punch, Chu Yun shifted half a step to the left, reached out with his left hand, and grabbed Luo Hu’s forearm, pressing it down with force.

Though Chu Yun’s strength was inferior, he used Luo Hu’s momentum to pin him down effortlessly.

At the same time, his right foot quickly slid behind Luo Hu, his right hand slipped under Luo Hu’s left arm to his back, and his left hand broke free, reaching forward.

Luo Hu sensed danger and tried to retreat but found himself trapped by Chu Yun’s hold, unable to move, forced to lean backward.

Despite his impressive waist technique, Chu Yun seized the opportunity and clamped his hand around Luo Hu’s neck.