Chapter 24: Lessons in Close Combat

Whoa!
The dozens of villagers watching all gasped in awe—Er Gouzi was truly a veteran of King of Fighters, his skills unmatched. The way he executed K’s combo attacks had reached a level of mastery. Even when he found himself at a disadvantage or under pressure from his opponent, he could always respond swiftly and effectively.
With talent like that, it was almost impossible for him to lose.
The townsfolk knew him best. In the past six months, he’d only lost a handful of matches, and that was purely down to bad luck or a malfunctioning controller.
Basking in the villagers’ envious looks and the adoration from a few kids, Er Gouzi was full of pride. That Li Xin had managed to pressure him right from the start, and was now among the best opponents he’d ever faced. But in the end, a loss was a loss, and he remained unbeatable.
Winning a match meant five thousand yuan—enough for another stretch of carefree days. He hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days, and he was starting to miss the girls at Splendid Karaoke in the county. Every time he went there, he could play the big shot, indulging in extravagance like the rich. And, he had to admit, those women from out of town really knew what they were doing.
Thinking of this, Er Gouzi shot Li Xin a smug, dismissive glance.
“All right, pay up. I’m packing up for the day.”
“Sure, I don’t have that much cash on me. What’s your WeChat? I’ll transfer it to you,” Li Xin replied, unbothered, his demeanor gentle and calm as spring breeze. To him, five thousand was nothing.
The villagers had expected Li Xin to grit his teeth in pain over the loss, but he handed over the money as casually as if it were nothing, more generous than anyone who had lost before.
“Well, what do you know, he really is loaded—five thousand gone just like that.”
“Haha, this young man’s got style. Some of those before tried to wriggle out of paying.”
“That’s what it means to be rich—who are we to understand?”
…
Li Xin blinked, unaffected by the chatter. His mind lingered on the match just played, sharing in the villagers’ excitement. But for him, the experience was even more vivid and real; Er Gouzi’s control over K had reached its peak. Everyone thought victory came from a single ultimate move, but in truth, after landing that counterattack, Er Gouzi used the charged MAX state to unleash the hidden super move: Crimson Star of Dominance.
Plenty of people had played King of Fighters, but barely one percent could pull off a MAX chain-drive combo to this level. The Crimson Star of Dominance was called a hidden finisher for good reason—it was incredibly hard to execute.
Three conditions were required:
1. The chain-drive had to break at least 30% of the opponent’s HP.
2. Eight button presses had to be completed in a split second.
3. K had to be in the air, with MAX charge.
It was like the three requirements for fire: fuel, oxygen, and ignition—miss any one, and there’s nothing. The conditions were harsh.
Not even those in the know could have predicted Er Gouzi would pull off the Crimson Star of Dominance. Li Xin had met many gaming experts, including some from Japan, and even among them, few could manage this feat.
A loss was a loss, and Li Xin didn’t mind. Setting aside the fact that it was his first time integrating “King of Games” skills into a different game, the new experience was exhilarating. In that brief moment, as his consciousness fused with Leona’s character, he felt as though he were really there, participating in the hand-to-hand fight.
The violence and bloodshed, far more intense than in Crossfire. That’s the difference between melee combat and gunfights.
It was exactly this thrill that made Li Xin so excited. He was determined to become a true master, but fighting real people wasn’t practical—too dangerous, and lacking the finesse of controlling the “King of Games.” This King of Fighters game was truly a gift from above.
A chance to rapidly hone his close-combat skills.
He didn’t even need to imitate the moves; once he entered the state of virtual-real fusion, every realization and sensation from the game character was instantly transferred to him, perfectly absorbed.
If he told anyone, they’d never believe it. But it was real.
“WeChat’s fine. If I need to, I can get the cash later,” Er Gouzi said, smacking his lips as he pulled out his phone. He and Li Xin added each other, and the money was quickly transferred—five thousand received.
Laughing, he bent down to pack up. The villagers knew Er Gouzi would disappear for a few days and began to disperse, chatting and joking. The teenagers hung around to help, hoping for a share of the spoils.
“Wait, boss,” Li Xin suddenly called out.
“What is it?”
“I’d like to play you again.”
“Again?” Er Gouzi yelped in surprise, loud enough that the departing villagers turned back, curiosity piqued.
“Young man, you can’t just throw money around like that! Do you think money grows on trees?”
“Mind your business, Old Wang. If he wants to be reckless with his cash—even wipe his ass with it—that’s his choice. We’re just here for the fun.”
“Er Gouzi, you’re going to make a killing today!”
The villagers buzzed with excitement, but Li Xin remained calm, looking intently at Er Gouzi.
“You’re sure about this?” Er Gouzi asked, frowning.
“Yeah, I’m just here for fun anyway.”
“Just remember, it’s five thousand per match,” Er Gouzi reminded him. He might be running a bit of a racket, but he wasn’t greedy by nature—one match per opponent was his rule. Shear a sheep too closely, leave it bald, and that was bad karma.
His parents were both gone, and he didn’t want to follow so soon.
Li Xin had made up his mind.
“Yes, and I want to play ten matches.”
“What? Ten?” The crowd gasped, gawking at Li Xin—ten matches meant fifty thousand!
Seeing how serious Li Xin was, Er Gouzi thought it over, then grinned. “If you want to play that much, I’ll give you a deal—three thousand per match, how’s that?”
“Sounds good.”
“Haha, then let’s begin.” Er Gouzi laughed, reconnecting the console. He was interested in this opponent—strong, and not afraid to spend. He’d use him for practice, pushing his skills even higher.
“The year-end tournament—I must attend,” Er Gouzi vowed. All his efforts now were for that event; success there would change his life forever.
The matches resumed, with the same characters as before.
Er Gouzi remained dominant, Li Xin always started strong, but Er Gouzi’s superior skill carried him to victory, winning four games in a row and earning twelve thousand from Li Xin.
The matches were exciting, but a game is only a game. With Er Gouzi on a winning streak, the villagers gradually lost interest. As the time for evening TV approached, most drifted away, leaving only a handful of teenagers who stuck around, eager to share in Er Gouzi’s winnings.
Before long, Li Xin lost the fifth game as well and transferred the money with a sigh. Sitting for so long, his body had grown stiff, his hands and feet slow to respond. Noticing this, Er Gouzi paused, his tone concerned. “You all right?”
“I’m a bit tired.”
“Tired from gaming?”
“I’m not well.”
“What? You’re sick?” Er Gouzi was surprised. After a moment’s thought, he borrowed a couple hundred from Li Xin and handed it out to the teenagers, sending them away.
“If you’re sick, you shouldn’t play. Where are you staying? I’ll walk you home.”
“Thanks,” Li Xin replied with a gentle smile. He’d planned to invite Er Gouzi over anyway—after a rest, he could practice with him some more.