“You’re still not my match.” Ethan Thompson said calmly, unmoved: “But you’re still young, with boundless potential.”

“Enough with the nonsense.” The young Jack Green slid his foot, moving like a carp about to leap over the dragon gate, yet also like a swimming dragon. It was the Fish-Dragon Movement, stepping forward and shifting into a Bagua flash, his right hand forming a sword with two fingers, thrusting at Ethan Thompson’s Tanzhong acupoint!

The Tanzhong acupoint, located between the two breasts, is called the Middle Dantian in Daoism, the central hub of the body. If a martial artist’s Tanzhong is struck, they cannot gather qi, their martial arts are ruined, and even slight exertion brings chest tightness and shortness of breath.

This strike, using fingers as a sword, was as fast as lightning, the aim precise, the technique steady—at least ten years of hard training.

Such ferocity could pierce a bull’s belly. Clearly, this youth with a murderous spirit held nothing back, aiming to take Ethan Thompson’s life with a single strike!

Ethan Thompson remained seated, his ape-like arm gently extending, seemingly slow but actually swift. His palm snatched out like a hawk catching a rabbit, seizing the young Jack Green’s wrist.

Jack Green’s wrist moved like a snake, his body swaying left and right like a willow in the wind. Suddenly, he stepped forward quickly and sharply, his body darting ahead as if teleporting, his sword fingers transforming into Twin Dragons Snatching the Pearl, aiming straight for Ethan Thompson’s face, clearly intending to gouge out his eyes. Every move was vicious, aiming for fatal or crippling injury, ruthless and merciless.

Bang!

Just as Jack Green’s hand was less than half an inch from Ethan Thompson’s eyes, his whole body flew out, as if struck by a great force, sent flying sideways and landing beyond the grass.

No one saw how he was sent flying by Ethan Thompson.

However, Jack Green was unhurt. He rolled over, his body as agile as a cat, then sprang up like a released spring, standing steadily. He looked down at a footprint on his lower abdomen’s dantian, pondering hard, unable to figure out how he’d been hit.

“Where did that kick come from? Why didn’t I sense anything at all?” Jack Green racked his brains, completely puzzled, and asked aloud, as if he hadn’t just tried to gouge out eyes or take a life.

“True intent lies in the unintentional.” Ethan Thompson replied indifferently, pouring himself a cup of tea: “That kick wasn’t my own technique, but your master’s—Ten Steps of Impermanence. He combined the ancient Yu Step with modern martial arts to create this killer move, Soul-Chasing. I was once caught by it myself, so now I return the favor to his disciple.”

“You didn’t shatter my dantian?” Jack Green circulated his qi as usual.

“That’s because the gap between us is too great. I can hold back. If your martial arts were a bit better, that kick would have killed you.” Ethan Thompson spoke bluntly, “But with your skills, you’re more than enough to protect William Fisher.”

Jack Green fell silent.

He kept his head lowered, following five steps behind William Fisher.

This whole exchange was seen by William Fisher, who was filled with deep astonishment. He knew how formidable Jack Green was, and as for Jack Green’s master, he was a legendary figure—even he couldn’t invite him, let alone anyone else, not even top central leaders. A few years ago, he knew Jack Green’s master had performed martial arts for several top leaders, then vanished from the world like a crane in the clouds.

Could it be that this Ethan Thompson before him was not a spoiled rich kid, but a legendary figure like Jack Green’s master?

He had arranged for his daughter Grace Fisher to meet Ethan Thompson for a potential match, but deep down he was reluctant, having heard that the young master of the The Thompson Family was a typical playboy.

“Is this really a playboy?” He was suddenly excited inside. No matter what, he had to make this match happen.

“All right, all right, this was just a friendly sparring match, let’s not get upset.” He stepped in to smooth things over: “Jack Green, go take a rest and change your clothes.”

“Master said I must not leave your side for even a step.” Jack Green replied in a low, unwavering voice.

William Fisher shook his head: “Then sit down and have some tea with us.”

Jack Green ignored him, lost in his own thoughts.

Chapter 15: Duel Set for Mid-Autumn

This meal was rather dull.

At the table, William Fisher kept urging everyone to drink, but Ethan Thompson didn’t touch a drop of alcohol, and only picked at a few dishes. Jack Green didn’t sit at the table, instead standing five steps behind, motionless, practicing a stance.

This stance was called “Divine Turtle Floating on Water.”

He practiced martial arts in all his actions—standing, sitting, walking, or lying down.

In contrast, Ethan Thompson had already moved beyond this stage; he no longer needed to practice deliberately, as every movement was in harmony with nature.

“Mr. Li…” William Fisher finally couldn’t hold back.

“Don’t call me Mr. Li, call me Ethan Thompson. All three characters.” Ethan Thompson spoke gently, “I always address people by their full names, with no titles in front, to show that all beings are equal.”

“What a notion, all beings are equal.” William Fisher exclaimed, though it was unclear if it was sincere or flattery. “With your level of skill, how many like you are there in China or abroad? I once saw the Zhongnan Sword Immortal, Ten Steps of Impermanence—he came and went like a shadow, almost superhuman. Are there people even more advanced than you? Is immortality possible? Could you teach me some health-preserving techniques?”

“The world is vast, full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Of course there are people more advanced than me. As for health techniques, you don’t need me—Jack Green at your side knows plenty. My methods aren’t suitable for most people; even experts would find them hard to imitate.” Ethan Thompson refused directly, and he was telling the truth.