Lam Minh's agreement sent a wave of excitement through the training base. Soldiers training in other areas also paused their activities and gathered around to watch. News of "Student Champion Lam Minh having a friendly exchange with the 9th Reconnaissance Squad" spread quickly.
The guide officer, Lieutenant Khoa, who was also the deputy commander of the 9th Recon Squad, smiled with satisfaction. He wanted to test if this "phenomenon" Lam Minh truly had skill or was just a product of media hype.
"Good! Very spirited!" Lieutenant Khoa said. "Who wants to have an exchange with our champion?"
A tall, dark-skinned soldier stepped out from the ranks. "Reporting, Lieutenant, let me!"
His name was Sergeant Toan, and he was one of the best fighters in the squad. He looked at Lam Minh, not with contempt, but with the respect a soldier has for a capable opponent.
"The rules are simple," Lieutenant Khoa said. "No weapons, only hand-to-hand combat skills. We stop when one side cannot continue or surrenders. Clear?"
"Clear!" both replied in unison.
Lam Minh took off his outer jacket, leaving only his T-shirt. He stepped onto the stage with his usual calm expression. Opposite him, Sergeant Toan had already assumed a defensive stance, his gaze sharp. The aura of a man who had been through life and death was completely different from the student opponents Lam Minh had faced.
"This match looks interesting," Lam Minh thought. He decided he wouldn't "act" anymore, but he wouldn't display his full strength either. He would fight using the skills of a "peak martial artist."
"Begin!"
The moment the command was given, Sergeant Toan charged. He didn't attack immediately but used tactical footwork to close the distance, trying to lock down Lam Minh's space. This was a highly effective close-quarters combat skill.
Lam Minh smiled. He used similar footwork, but his was far more refined and unpredictable. He moved as lightly as a leaf, rendering all of Sergeant Toan's attempts to corner him meaningless.
"That footwork..." Lieutenant Khoa, standing below, frowned. He recognized it as an advanced variation of a technique Blacklight was researching, but Lam Minh executed it even more smoothly and naturally.
After a while of fruitless maneuvering, Sergeant Toan decided on a direct attack. He threw a straight, fast, and powerful punch aimed at Lam Minh's face.
Lam Minh didn't dodge; he just tilted his head slightly while simultaneously raising a hand, using the back of it to gently deflect Sergeant Toan's wrist.
A classic "Four Ounces Deflects a Thousand Pounds."
Sergeant Toan felt as if his punch had hit cotton, its entire force sliding away. At the same time, he felt a light push from Lam Minh's hand. The force wasn't strong, but it came at the precise moment he was most off-balance.
Sergeant Toan staggered back three steps, his eyes wide with astonishment. He was a seasoned soldier, but he had never encountered such a refined force-deflection technique.
"Nice one!" he yelled, the belligerence in his eyes intensifying.
He charged in again, this time with a series of combination strikes, mixing punches, kicks, and military grappling moves. Each blow was aimed at a weak point, with the goal of taking down the opponent as quickly as possible.
But facing this storm of attacks, Lam Minh was like a thousand-year-old rock in a raging flood. He stood his ground, using only the smallest, most efficient movements to neutralize every blow. A hand parry, a shoulder push, an elbow block—each movement was perfect down to the last detail. He didn't counter-attack at all, simply nullifying every move his opponent made.
All the soldiers watching were dead silent. They no longer saw this as a friendly exchange, but as a demonstration of peak combat artistry.
Hung 'fat' and his classmates' mouths were hanging open. "This... this is Brother Minh's real strength? He was totally acting in the finals!"
To Quyen stood beside them, her hands clenched, her eyes glued to the stage. She felt more and more that this young man was like a deep ocean; the more she explored, the more mysterious and bottomless he seemed.
After five minutes of non-stop attacking, Sergeant Toan was panting heavily. He had used all his strength, unleashed all his signature skills, but had not even managed to touch the hem of Lam Minh's shirt.
"Stop," Lam Minh said suddenly.
Sergeant Toan froze, drenched in sweat.
Lam Minh smiled and walked forward. "You fight very well. But your breathing rhythm is a bit chaotic. When you execute a combo, you hold your breath for too long, which causes you to lose stamina quickly."
He reached out and gently patted Sergeant Toan on the shoulder twice.
It was an affectionate pat, like that of a senior giving guidance to a junior.
But the moment Lam Minh's hand made contact, two tiny, warm streams of "qi" silently flowed into the Jianjing acupoints on Sergeant Toan's shoulders. The two streams of qi quickly circulated, helping him regulate his breathing and soothing his tense muscles.
Sergeant Toan felt a warmth spread through his body, and his fatigue suddenly dissipated significantly. He looked at Lam Minh, stunned.
"You..."
"I lose," Lam Minh said, then turned and stepped off the stage, leaving a bewildered Sergeant Toan standing there.
"Wait!" Sergeant Toan called after him. "I... I haven't lost! You haven't even fought back!"
Lam Minh just waved his hand without turning back. "I couldn't have beaten you. I was just lucky enough to dodge."
He continued his "humble" act.
Lieutenant Khoa walked over and patted Sergeant Toan's shoulder. "How do you feel?"
"Deputy... he... he is very strong," Sergeant Toan said, his voice filled with respect. "That final pat on the shoulder... it... it helped me recover my stamina. He's not just good at fighting; he has a deep understanding of the human body."
Lieutenant Khoa nodded, his gaze following Lam Minh's retreating figure, full of depth. He knew he had just witnessed something extraordinary. This kid wasn't a genius; he was a true monster, a monster who knew how to hide his fangs.
The "friendly exchange" ended, but its echoes lingered. The name Lam Minh was once again deeply engraved in the minds of the soldiers of the 9th Reconnaissance Squad. They no longer saw him as a student, but as a master, a trustworthy comrade for the future.
As for Lam Minh, he paid it little mind. He was busy calculating.
"That pat on the shoulder just now used up a bit of qi. A little wasteful. But well, consider it an investment for the future. Having a few more friends in the army isn't a bad thing."