Chapter 137: Hong Meiling of the East – The Battle Between Qi and the Martial Emperor-Infinite Immortal(His given name was Qi, and his courtesy name was Fangyuan.)

"Hahaha, kid, I was already wreaking havoc in the West before you were even born," the pirate known as Enshin declared, his overbearing aura pressing down on Tatsumi’s slight frame.

"Hmph, I won't lose."

...

"Why does she look so familiar?" Staying in the backstage area of the tournament, Qi stared at the red-haired girl in green clothes who was once again busy eating. He fell into deep thought. Although he possessed perfect recall, he had scrolled through the faces of everyone he had ever seen, and this girl was not among them.

"Yo, handsome, what’s so interesting about that glutton? I’m much more than just a feast for the eyes, you know. Interested in joining me inside for a more... detailed discussion?"

The person approaching was a bewitching woman, but the scent clinging to her was not to Qi’s liking. He walked away without acknowledging her.

...

"It’s Tatsumi, Boss. Should we intercept him after the match?" Leone asked, clenching her fists amidst the crowd.

"No. It’s too dangerous to act in the Imperial Capital. Even Qi would likely be discovered by Esdeath, which would expose our position. Leave him be for now. We will reclaim Incursio when the opportunity arises," Najenda said, lighting a cigarette.

"His wanted poster was revoked shortly after it was issued. It seems he really is an agent of the Empire. He’s appearing right before Esdeath now, and she has no intention of making a move, so his identity is beyond doubt. Still, his skills have improved significantly; he’s much stronger than before."

"Bulat once said that Tatsumi had the potential to surpass him. It’s a pity... it seems he will need to use Incursio."

With an unexpected strike, Tatsumi sent Enshin reeling, knocking the pirate out of bounds. He had barely secured his victory.

"Not bad strength, and both are Teigu users. I could try to recruit him into the Jaegers," Esdeath laughed.

"Next, please welcome the second pair to the stage: Toge from the Western Yellow Fist Temple and Hong Meiling from the East."

"Eastern Hong-Mei-Ling. Hong Meiling." Qi’s entire body gave a slight jolt. He looked again at the young girl walking onto the stage—the red hair, the green clothes, and the star centered on her green hat. It was indeed her.

Though he recognized her, Qi had no urge to make her acquaintance. Or rather, if possible, he preferred not to touch her at all, as she would only bring trouble.

"Little girl, I wonder if you’ve heard of the name of the Four Rakshasa Demons—ah?" Before Toge could finish his sentence, the girl delivered a flying kick that sent him soaring off the stage, past the spectator stands, over the building complex, and out of sight.

...

"So strong." Esdeath, the Martial Emperor, the men watching from atop the buildings, Najenda, and other experts present could not help but exclaim.

"Even I didn't see her movement clearly just now. Her strike was fierce yet her withdrawal was fluid; she is an expert steeped in the martial arts. She is likely not far off from the Martial Emperor himself. This girl is truly interesting. This tournament is becoming quite fascinating."

Esdeath’s signature smile was now undisguised; she had never been one to hide it anyway.

"The... the winner is Hong Meiling. Next is the third group: the Martial Emperor’s disciple, Wukong, versus Shang-Pu from the East." Run lowered his gaze, hiding the expression on his face.

As Hong Meiling walked back, she was the center of everyone’s attention. A single strike had revealed her strength to be absolutely top-tier. None of those present could guarantee they would have dodged that kick and avoided the same fate as Toge.

Even Qi did not have that confidence.

"Master, I’m going," Wukong said, full of energy.

"Go ahead, but be careful. The opponent carries a heavy scent of blood."

"Yes."

"Hahaha, it’s a little angel! What pure eyes! I love little angels the most. To keep you from becoming a dirty adult, let me liberate you," the clown Shang-Pu said with a twisted, doting expression that made Wukong frown. Beside him, Run gritted his teeth, struggling to keep himself from acting impulsively.

...

"The winner is Wukong." After the soldiers carried the unconscious Shang-Pu away, Run regained his composure. "The matches are proceeding unexpectedly quickly. Next up is the legendary master of martial arts, the Martial Emperor, versus the magician Kai Tian from afar."

"Yo, handsome, your luck is bad. Running into the Martial Emperor means you don't have much of a chance. Why not come with me after the match to unwind?" The seductive woman giggled as she approached again.

"No, running into me is *his* bad luck. You’d better go comfort that old man later," Qi said, flipping his silver hair as he turned and walked out the door.

"Heh, a nobody daring to challenge the Martial Emperor? I hope you don't get swatted away in one hit, too. If it weren't for your handsome face, I wouldn't even bother with you."

...

"Qi is out. His opponent, the Martial Emperor, has been the number one martial artist in the Empire for decades. I wonder how Qi will handle this?" Najenda frowned slightly.

"Don't worry, Boss. Qi is capable of anything, and his abilities are endless. I believe he will win," Leone said, full of confidence in him.

"True. We shall wait and see. I just hope Esdeath doesn't recognize him."

...

"Young man, your footwork and movements are natural and effortless. It is clear your understanding of martial arts is not inferior to mine. You truly had the confidence to claim you could defeat me. This old man is old now; the youth of today are much stronger than those of my era. I regret being born at the wrong time."

The bald old man was short, his white beard twitching as he spoke. If he were wearing sunglasses and had a turtle shell on his back, he would look just like...

"It’s not too late. Sparring with a youngster makes me feel young again. Old man, I’m attacking." Qi’s posture was somewhat lazy, and his tone was not particularly respectful.

The Martial Emperor didn't mind. "Come, let me witness the brilliant radiance of this era."

"Xingyi: Cannon Fist."

"Heh, good power, good speed. But useless if you can't hit your target." The Martial Emperor’s footwork shifted, weaving through the storm of blows like a butterfly, yet not a single drop touched him.

"Gentle Fist: Sixty-Four Palms."

"Another style of palm technique. Also very good."

The two traded blows, with Qi mostly on the offensive while the Martial Emperor dodged and defended. Time passed quickly; although the fight was intense, watching it for too long became visually exhausting.

Then, with a single strike, Qi erupted with twice his usual power, landing a solid hit on the Martial Emperor, who had grown accustomed to his previous speed and rhythm.