In the months following Lord Zhang's grand announcement (you know, the one that promised to turn Longjiang into a fighting utopia), the town experienced a surge of immigration. Families from drought-stricken areas flocked to the town like it was the last slice of pizza at a party, all in search of a better life—and maybe a decent bakery.
Li Wei found himself knee-deep in engineering projects, trying to create adequate housing for all the newcomers. He was busy sketching designs that looked suspiciously like a cross between a castle and a funhouse. He was determined to avoid constructing a two-headed house, but that didn't mean he wasn't up for some creative architecture. "A water slide into the living room? Why not?" he mused.
However, his focus remained primarily on his own pursuits rather than the broader community changes. After all, who wouldn't rather perfect their Iron Sand Palm than worry about where to put the local grocery store?
As the town expanded, whispers of an underground fighting arena began to circulate, and oh boy, did that intrigue Li Wei. Fighting? Money? A chance to punch things without someone telling him to "calm down"? It was like Christmas morning had come early. He viewed it as an opportunity to test his skills outside of training—and perhaps earn some coin to fund his dream of a never-ending snack supply. After some serious consideration (and by serious, I mean he daydreamed about glorious battles while making lunch), he decided to join the arena under the pseudonym "Ironside." Of course, he donned a mask, because who doesn't love a bit of mystery with their fighting?
The Day of the Fights: Let the Games Begin!
The day of his first match arrived, and the atmosphere was electric—like someone had plugged in a toaster in the middle of a thunderstorm. The arena was filled with spectators eager for entertainment, their cheers echoing off the walls. Li Wei stepped into the ring, feeling the weight of anticipation and the faint smell of popcorn lingering in the air. He had trained relentlessly, and now it was time to put that training to the test—while secretly hoping he wouldn't trip over his own feet.
As Ironside, he fought with precision and control, relying on his mastery of the Tiger Boxing Method and Iron Sand Palm. Each movement was calculated; he struck with power but avoided unnecessary aggression. He wasn't there to make enemies, just to test out his moves and maybe impress some cute spectators. The crowd roared with approval as he emerged victorious from his first match, and for a moment, he felt like a gladiator, albeit one with slightly less blood and significantly more anxiety.
The thrill of combat ignited something within him, but he remained detached from the excitement around him. Winning was satisfying, but it was merely a means to an end—an opportunity to hone his skills further and gather information about potential threats in Longjiang. Plus, he really wanted to buy a nice set of snacks from the vendor after the fight.
In the weeks that followed, Li Wei continued to participate in matches at the arena. Each fight sharpened his abilities and allowed him to observe various fighting styles. He noted how different fighters approached combat—some tried to be flashy, some just swung wildly like they were trying to swat a mosquito, and one guy kept shouting motivational quotes mid-fight, which was oddly distracting.
Despite his growing reputation as Ironside, Li Wei kept a low profile outside the arena. He spent hours poring over files related to the elusive thief known as the Three-Eyed Phantom, who had become something of a local legend—more myth than man, but a thief nonetheless. The Three-Eyed Phantom had been stealing for years, leaving behind only whispers and rumors, like an overly dramatic ghost.
One evening, while reviewing notes at his workshop (which was starting to look like a messy detective's lair), he came across a description of a theft that had occurred during a festival in a neighboring town. The thief had left behind a distinct symbol—a mark that Li Wei recognized from previous cases. "Aha!" he thought, feeling like Sherlock Holmes with a significantly less impressive hat.
With renewed focus (and a slight caffeine buzz from the third cup of tea), Li Wei set out to gather more information about this recent incident. He spoke with merchants who had been present during the festival and listened intently to their accounts, collecting stories like some people collect stamps. Each detail added another piece to the puzzle he was trying to solve.
As he delved deeper into both his training as Ironside and his investigation into the Three-Eyed Phantom, Li Wei felt a growing sense of purpose—not for community improvement or recognition, but for personal mastery and the satisfaction of cracking the case wide open.
The arena provided not only an outlet for his skills but also a means to navigate through Longjiang's evolving landscape while remaining true to himself. As Ironside fought under the mask, he continued to piece together clues about the thief who haunted local lore like a ghost—one step closer to unraveling the mystery that had captured his attention for so long. And hey, if he earned a few coins in the process, maybe he could finally afford that endless supply of snacks he dreamed about.