Chapter 72: True Strength

As soon as Lu Ming stepped off the helicopter, a soldier hurried over, snapped to attention, and saluted. “Welcome, Instructor Lu. I am Sun Zhengde, director of Special Training Base No. 89.”

“Hello,” Lu Ming nodded, acknowledging the greeting.

“Instructor Lu, please rest in your quarters first.” Lu Ming nodded again and followed Sun Zhengde toward the barracks.

Just as they were about to reach the building, Lu Ming suddenly noticed a familiar figure among a group of people. The particularly burly man in the group also spotted Lu Ming and drew a finger threateningly across his own throat.

Lu Ming paused and said to Sun Zhengde, “Quite an arrogant bunch, aren’t they?”

Sun Zhengde smiled wryly. He had seen Yang Jun’s gesture as well. This group was made up of elite soldiers, each one proud and rebellious. Especially Yang Jun—his background was unique, and his strength exceptional. Even the master instructor hadn’t impressed him much. In fact, after the master had shown off some skills on his first day, he’d spent the rest of his time training alone behind the mountain.

They all knew a new instructor was arriving today, and Sun Zhengde was certain that, given these men’s temperaments, they would challenge the newcomer. He was deeply worried for Lu Ming—after all, Yang Jun had once beaten an innate-level instructor so badly that the man spat blood.

Looking at Lu Ming’s slender frame, Sun Zhengde doubted whether he could even withstand a single blow from Yang Jun. He couldn’t fathom why the higher-ups had sent someone like this—wasn’t it just sending him to get thrashed?

“Instructor Lu, don’t mind them, that’s just how they are. Get some rest first—we can talk this afternoon.” Sun Zhengde forced a smile. Since Lu Ming had been assigned directly from above, Sun Zhengde still needed to show him proper respect.

Lu Ming smiled. “It’s fine. I came here precisely to whip these brats into shape. If they want to provoke me, I’ll be happy to show them what I’m made of.”

In truth, Lu Ming just wanted to get this over with; he had no desire to linger here for a year or more.

With that, he strode toward Yang Jun and his group. Sun Zhengde had no choice but to follow.

A moment later, Lu Ming and Sun Zhengde stood before the group. The men glared at Lu Ming with open hostility, their gazes full of challenge. Yang Jun in particular wore a cold smile, his exaggerated muscles rippling as he flexed, the very picture of provocation.

Sun Zhengde barked, “Line up! Welcome your new instructor.”

The men lazily shuffled into two rows, mumbling a half-hearted, “Hello, Instructor,” some even snickering as they spoke.

Sun Zhengde sighed inwardly. This lot was impossible to manage; each one more arrogant than the last. But it was understandable—they were the cream of the crop from every military district, the elite among special forces, and they had every reason to be proud.

Lu Ming glanced over them and said, “I’m here to whip you all into shape. If anyone has a problem with that, step forward now.”

The group perked up immediately. Normally, military discipline kept them from going too far, but with Lu Ming issuing a direct challenge, they couldn’t have asked for more. Time to knock him down a peg and show him that not just anyone could instruct the Yanlong Unit.

Several men cracked their knuckles, eager for action.

However, Yang Jun stepped forward and said, “None of you are his match. Let me handle this.”

The group was momentarily taken aback. Yang Jun’s words implied that this instructor was at least stronger than any of them. But no matter how strong, how strong could he really be? Yang Jun was infamous for having beaten an innate-level expert bloody in just three punches. Unless the instructor was a grandmaster, there was no way he could face Yang Jun. They doubted the young instructor could even withstand a single blow.

Yang Jun took two steps forward to stand before Lu Ming. “Not just anyone can instruct the Yanlong Unit. You think that just because you defeated Huang Zhen, an innate expert, you’re invincible?”

Lu Ming smiled. “I wouldn’t say invincible, but I’m more than enough to handle a group of trash like you.”

The men erupted in outrage. Each of them was the best of the best in their units, and now they were being called trash—it was intolerable.

“Show him what you’re made of, Jun!”

“Give him a beating, Jun!”

“Let’s see who the real trash is!”

They clamored, egging Yang Jun on.

Yang Jun flexed his muscles and said, “You’re awfully cocky.”

“Not really,” Lu Ming replied lazily. “But I’d advise you all to come at me together. It’ll save me the trouble of dealing with you one by one.”

“What did you say?”

“This guy’s got a death wish! Jun, teach him a lesson!”

“He wants to take all of us at once? Where’d they dig up this lunatic?”

When they saw that Lu Ming wasn’t taking them seriously at all, the group nearly charged en masse.

Yang Jun waved them back. “I think I’ll be enough. Let’s begin.”

Yang Jun stood poised, and a surge of force erupted from him, sharp and fierce as knife and sword.

Lu Ming smiled. “Not bad. You’re a true warlord.”

In the military, fighters were generally divided into warriors and warlords. “Warrior” might sound ordinary, but not just anyone deserved that title. Only men like those in the Yanlong Unit qualified. As for “warlord,” that was equivalent to an innate-level master, but since military elites trained exclusively in deadly techniques, warlords were usually even more formidable than their counterparts in the martial world.

Yang Jun said grimly, “Enough talk. Let’s fight.”

Lu Ming regarded him and said calmly, “I’ll give you a chance to strike first. Otherwise, I’m afraid you won’t get another opportunity.”

“Arrogant fool. You think beating a few flowery martial artists makes you tough? Let me show you what a real expert looks like.”

Without another word, Yang Jun exhaled sharply, let out a battle cry, and hurled a punch straight at Lu Ming’s face.

His fist, as big as a bowl, was wreathed in white energy, like a missile rocketing toward its target.

“Finish him, Jun!”

“Teach him a lesson—let’s see how cocky he is then!”

“If he can take Jun’s punch, I’ll eat my hat!”

The group shouted, knowing well how terrifying Yang Jun’s power was. He barely bothered with martial techniques—his natural strength was monstrous, and he crushed everything with sheer force. In the face of absolute power, all else was meaningless.

But Lu Ming merely sidestepped, closed in on Yang Jun, and struck him in the waist with a palm.

There was a sharp smack. Yang Jun lurched, stumbled, and crashed to the ground. His punch slammed into the concrete, gouging a deep pit in the surface.

Silence fell over the crowd.

How had Yang Jun fallen like that? They couldn’t understand.

Yang Jun rose slowly, his face cold as he regarded Lu Ming. “You have some skill. But you won’t get another chance. Those petty tricks won’t work again.”

Fury burned in Yang Jun’s heart. Just now, Lu Ming had closed in with an odd movement and struck his waist. The blow wasn’t especially strong, but its destructive force was enough to knock him off balance and send him sprawling.

He admitted he had underestimated Lu Ming. After seeing Lu Ming’s fight with Huang Zhen, Yang Jun had assumed they were alike—powerful, but lacking in technique. But when it came to raw strength, Yang Jun feared no one, not even a grandmaster. He had his secret—the one that had set him apart since childhood.

This secret was unknown even to his parents: within his body, he had a core, a “neidan,” that was the source of his overwhelming strength. When he unleashed his full power, he could astonish the world. Until now, he had only ever shown half his strength, lest he reveal just how extraordinary he truly was.

Now, however, facing Lu Ming, he knew he had to go all out. Lu Ming was strong—very strong.

At this moment, white flames surged three meters high from Yang Jun’s body, blazing into the air as if tangible. This was the manifestation of the power stored within his core; it was so immense that it spilled outwards as visible energy.

“You’re the first to force me to use my full strength. Prepare yourself—don’t disappoint me.”

With a shout, Yang Jun’s flames flared even higher. He lunged at Lu Ming, both fists descending like meteors.