Chapter 183: Six Wins Out of Six, Kicking the Boxing Champion to the Ground

What made Stephen feel most humiliated was that he was actually being beaten at his own specialty: combination punches.

He now realized that when his opponent said before the match that he wanted to experience his combination punches, it was blatant and utter humiliation.

Across the ring, the American head coach called for a timeout.

Cheng Yao had no choice but to halt his attacks and return to his corner. Chen Ryuyong leaned against the edge of the ring and said, "The timeout is only one minute. Once it ends, you can finish him off right away."

"I know."

Cheng Yao nodded slightly, smiling as he said, "After we get back, I'm thinking of opening a free-combat club. Would you like to be the manager?"

"Let's win first." Chen Ryuyong nodded lightly.

If Cheng Yao continued to compete in MMA going forward, the manager's position was his for the taking—not only would he be the manager, but he would also serve as the head coach.

He firmly believed that Cheng Yao was destined to become a top-tier fighter in the domestic free-combat circuit.

The atmosphere in the venue was tense, and the spectators in the stands were watching with nervous anticipation.

This was Cheng Yao's sixth consecutive match, yet he remained in prime condition and full of energy. Aside from a slightly flushed face—which was completely normal given such intense combat—he showed no signs of fatigue.

In the adjacent corner, Stephen Kyle held a towel, the veins on the back of his hand throbbing. "I suspect he might be doped up. How could such a slender physique erupt with such immense power? He has to be on drugs! Otherwise, there's no way he could still be this high-energy."

"Hey, Kyle, there will definitely be answers once this is over, so don't you worry. Are you confident you can win?"

Hearing this, Kyle thought for a moment and replied, "It's a toss-up. If I can catch a break, my heavy punch is enough to end this fight given his build."

"Good."

The match resumed. As soon as it started, Kyle chose to stay on the defensive and wait for an opening.

Cheng Yao, however, went straight on the offensive, and his fighting style shifted instantly.

A single-inch punch!

Kyle failed to defend in time and took the strike squarely in the abdomen, his face turning crimson with pain, nearly causing him to throw up his stomach acid.

Fortunately, a professional fighter possessed strong shock-resistance capabilities.

Immediately afterward, Cheng Yao delivered a sidekick with a loud *thud*. The sheer force sent Kyle staggering, almost causing him to fall to the mat.

Kyle screamed frantically in his mind: *He's doped up, he's definitely doped up!*

Just as Kyle was caught in a moment of defense, Zhang Chen unleashed an uppercut.

With a sharp *crack*, Kyle felt his jaw dislocate.

His head buzzed, his vision blurred, and his spirit seemed entirely drained as he stumbled and crashed onto the mat with a heavy thud.

Cheng Yao took a deep breath as the referee pulled him back a few steps.

In the lounge, Kozuka Tomonosuke let out a triumphant cheer.

He couldn't be the only one making a fool of himself. Now that America's Kyle was embarrassing himself right alongside him, it meant he wouldn't stand out as a special case anymore. Hahahaha...

Looking at Cheng Yao on the screen, a trace of resentment flashed deep in Kozuka Tomonosuke's eyes, but he couldn't help feeling a sense of admiration. This guy must be China's trump card. Had he been hiding his strength all along?

In the future, he would undoubtedly secure a prominent place in the world of free combat.

Starting tonight, Cheng Yao's name would echo throughout the entire martial arts community.

Inside the ring, Kyle had lost consciousness.

No matter how hard the referee tried, he could not wake him up, and ultimately declared Cheng Yao the champion of the fighting tournament.

With the referee's loud announcement, the over four thousand spectators at the venue instantly erupted into cheers, especially as China's five-star red flag fluttered proudly in the stands.

At this moment, Cheng Yao felt an overwhelming surge of satisfaction.

In the audience, Chen Xingyan also stood up and clapped, looking at the young man under the spotlight in the ring, finding him exceptionally dazzling.

"So cool, so cool! Sister, he's so cool!"

Ouyang Aili pulled on Zhenli's hand, jumping up and down and hugging her.

Ouyang Zhenli watched Cheng Yao in the ring, her heart pounding wildly. The most direct impact was that so many people in the entire arena were cheering because of him.

An atmosphere like this made them feel he was truly extraordinary.

Ouyang Zhenli patted her younger sister's shoulder, telling her to quiet down.

Ouyang Aili looked toward Chen Xingyan and asked, "Sister Chen, do you like him?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Zhenli and Lin Sujiao also looked over.

Lin Sujiao was simply curious, but unlike her, Ouyang Zhenli and Ouyang Aili knew that Cheng Yao might have some sort of relationship with Chen Xingyan, though it didn't seem quite the same as their own dynamic.

Therefore, they deliberately asked on Cheng Yao's behalf.

Chen Xingyan smiled and said, "We're friends. It doesn't amount to liking each other, we just share common interests."

"Is that so? I think Sister Chen and Cheng Yao are a great match, though."

"Really?"

Chen Xingyan glanced at Cheng Yao and shook her head.

At that moment, she recalled the bet she had made with Cheng Yao, and her heart finally began to panic a little.

She hadn't expected Cheng Yao to last until the final round, let alone pull off six consecutive matches without stopping. While it might not rank as particularly legendary in the history of combat sports, pulling off an upset across weight classes was stunning.

This single battle, defeating two champions, was enough for him to firmly establish his foothold in this circle.

After the match concluded came the post-fight interview.

The host smiled and asked, "Having won the championship today along with a million-dollar prize, what are your thoughts right now? Would you like to share them with us?"

Holding the championship belt, Cheng Yao didn't feel much about the honor itself, and cared even less about the money.

Therefore, he simply replied, "Compared to the honors and the prize money, I enjoy the process of competing much more."

"You prefer the process. It seems you truly have a deep passion for combat sports. Then we wish you continued brilliance in future arenas. Everyone, please give a round of loud applause to this young fighter."

Thunderous applause erupted all around. Cheng Yao finally understood why those people loved standing in the spotlight on stage.

Once it was over, Cheng Yao left the ring under Chen Ryuyong's escort. Reporters swarmed in from all directions, thrusting microphones forward as if eager to shove them into his mouth.

Cheng Yao was already accustomed to this, having experienced similar situations before.

"Hello, Mr. Cheng. As far as we know, which club are you planning to join next?"

"Has Top King sent you an invitation?"

"Mr. Cheng..."

Leaving the competition venue, the noisy clamor faded from his ears. Chen Ryuyong clenched his fist excitedly and said, "Cheng Yao, you're famous!"

"I'm the one who got famous, how come you're happier than I am?"

"Nonsense, don't I know about you and Chen Xingyan? If you need anything in the future, just tell your big brother."

"... "

Cheng Yao was left speechless and torn between laughter and tears. *Weren't you looking down on me earlier? How did you change your face so fast? Besides, does Chen Xingyan even know about this?*

Back in the lounge, the consultant from Top King arrived once again and said, "Mr. Cheng, Top King will prepare the best contract in the entire industry for you. If you wish to join a club, please give us your priority consideration."

"Alright, I will." Cheng Yao nodded lightly.

After turning down club offers wave after wave, Chen Ryuyong finally helped him block the rest. Guided by the staff of the Qinghai Sports Center, Cheng Yao took a shower and changed into a clean set of clothes.

"Mr. Cheng, hello, hello! Truly, heroes come from the youth."

"Hello."

Facing the director before him, Cheng Yao put on a humble posture.

After chatting for a while, when it came to the director's promises of a house and an exorbitant annual salary to stay and develop within the Qinghai Sports Association, Cheng Yao flatly rejected them, leaving the man with no further illusions.

Qinghai was far too far from Jinling, and they had no prior ties to begin with.

As for the final post-match exclusive interview, Cheng Yao declined that as well.

His excuse was that his girlfriend was waiting. By the time he left the sports center with Chen Ryuyong, it was already nine-thirty.

The spectators had mostly dispersed, and the surroundings had grown quiet once again, save for the sound of passing vehicles. At the entrance, Lin Sujiao and Chen Xingyan had been waiting for nearly half an hour.

Seeing the two of them walk out carrying their bags, Lin Sujiao walked up and said, "Cheng Yao, I feel like no one will dare bully me anymore from now on. Whoever bullies me, I'll just drop your name."

"It's not that exaggerated. People who don't know me are everywhere."

Cheng Yao was torn between laughter and tears. While the tournament had made him famous within the circle, who outside the circle knew who he was? Even though media outlets would publicize and report on it, ultimately only a minority knew about him.

After all, the people within this circle were limited in number.

If you weren't part of the circle, who would pay attention?

Otherwise, there wouldn't be those viral videos of professional boxers ruthlessly beating opponents in unsanctioned underground rings.

Chen Xingyan asked with a smile, "How many people tried to recruit you? The perks must be huge, right?"

"They even offered a villa and a high salary of five million a year to keep me. Clubs from places like Modu and Yanjing also extended olive branches."

"What are your plans?"

Chen Ryuyong chimed in, "This kid is planning to return to Jinling and start his own club. Clever little dog—if he can put up astonishing results in MMA going forward, do you believe that club is guaranteed to succeed?"

"Indeed, the threshold for the Jinling Sports Association will have to be raised then."

Chen Xingyan looked at Cheng Yao and said, "If it can help you expand your connections, the support for your company will be even greater."

"It still mainly depends on the product."

Cheng Yao smiled. His toothbrush brand already had three stores in Jinling, with another five currently under renovation and preparation. Once his storefronts blanketed all of Jinling, he could expand into other cities.

This was a process—an essential journey of transforming from a nobody.

Though he hadn't experienced the grind, he could enjoy the results, which was also what Fang Liang and Wang Yiming were happy to see.

"You must be tired too. Shall we grab some late-night snacks?"

"Sure, let's go."

"Let's get some oysters. I heard there's a very popular imported oyster bar on the street here. There's one in Jinling too, but I've never been."

Cheng Yao suggested eating oysters because Ouyang Aili and Ouyang Zhenli would likely not let him off easy tonight; he needed to build up his stamina beforehand.

Oysters, Chinese chives, lamb kidneys...

These were a man's gas station and a woman's beauty salon.

"Oysters? Is there anything else?"

"Yes, it's a Western restaurant."

With that, neither Lin Sujiao nor Chen Xingyan had any objections.

In the car, Chen Xingyan drove while Cheng Yao glanced at her and blinked.

However, Chen Xingyan chose to ignore him.

If Chen Ryuyong and Lin Sujiao hadn't been right there, he would have loved to pull her in and kiss her.

Still, opportunities would always present themselves.

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the match, media outlets vied with each other to report on it, and Cheng Yao once again appeared across major platforms.

Naturally, this was inseparable from the operations of the Jinling company on the back end.

Summer immediately received the news, and the PR department directly paid to trend on hot searches, executing another cost-effective promotional campaign for the company.

Weibo became lively once more: a nineteen-year-old professional boxer, six wins out of six, beating the Japanese boxing champion with his fists and kicking the American boxing champion with his feet.

This time, the internet's impression of Cheng Yao deepened even further.

...

...

*Ps: I'll maintain an update rate of six thousand words per day for now. It's getting hot, and I'm feeling sleepy.*

*Recommending a Xianxia novel: "Human Saint Body, Mastering the Golden Light Mantra in One Day".*