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Chapter 89: Chapter 87 Skill Effect "Steel Bone
Fang Cheng’s eyes sparkled as he examined the first enhancement option on the panel, slightly different from the rest.
Then, his gaze fell upon the second choice.
[Steel Bone, enhances the hardness of elbows, knees, and shinbones by 60% based on the Constitution attribute.]
After reading the specific description of the Skill Effect, a fire ignited within Fang Cheng.
Muay Thai is known as "Eight-Armed Boxing," where Elbow Strike, Knee Strike, and Sweep Kick are actually the most lethal.
Those Muay Thai fighters usually train by hardening their defense and offensive capabilities through various external exercises.
For instance, kicking heavy bags or posts with shins, smashing wooden boards and bricks with elbows and knees, continually increasing the hardness of their bones until it far exceeds that of an ordinary person.
So, in actual combat, they can use their bodies as weapons, capable of breaking an opponent’s shin with a single leg sweep, and drawing blood from the forehead with a powerful elbow.
With the "Steel Bone" effect combined with a pair of "Iron Fists."
The entire body becomes a weapon, using all sorts of elbow techniques, knee techniques, punching techniques, and leg techniques, significantly empowering him.
Just imagine, with a current Constitution of 30 points.
After a 60% increase, it would be the equivalent of having the hardness of bones that 48 points of Constitution could provide.
He decisively chose the Skill Effect.
Fang Cheng couldn’t help feeling eager to try it out and immediately leaped down from the water tank.
His gaze swept across the complex network of pipes.
After searching, he locked onto a vertical pipe about 20 centimeters in diameter.
Standing before this pipe, he took a deep breath.
With a swift motion, he stepped forward, thrust his hips, swung his shoulders, and lashed out with a kick.
Bang—
Accompanying the shin’s collision with the iron pipe, a deafening resonance echoed out, rapidly spreading through the surrounding pipes.
This probably woke up everyone still asleep in the entire building.
"Hiss..."
Fang Cheng inhaled with a bit of embarrassment.
He lifted his trouser leg to inspect the struck area on his shin, the skin chafed and oozing droplets of blood.
It seemed like he was injured, but Fang Cheng didn’t feel much pain.
In contrast, the pipe now had a shallow dent.
It was the clear evidence of the effect caused by that Sweep Kick.
Fang Cheng’s gaze sharpened; he then looked toward the concrete nearby.
Bang!
An Elbow Strike sent concrete chips flying.
Another mark of human-inflicted damage was left behind.
Such terrifying power shocked even Fang Cheng himself.
He was practically a "human weapon," capable of maiming with each strike.
No, it should be considered lethal!
"It seems I must always be vigilant and remember safety first when sparring with my employer in the future..."
Fang Cheng reminded himself.
Raising his head to glance at the risen sun, he realized time was running out.
He quickly put on his jacket, hurried down from the rooftop, and descended the stairs.
Back home, he washed up briskly and made breakfast for himself.
After swiftly finishing his meal and tidying up the house, he donned a black fleece-lined jacket, grabbed his bag, and left for work.
Today, the big boss was coming to inspect the work at the club.
The person wasn’t important, but the large red envelope he held was crucial.
As an outstanding employee, Fang Cheng definitely couldn’t be late.
Thump thump thump.
Fang Cheng rapidly descended the stairs and arrived at the front door.
Looking out onto the street, however, the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a familiar girl’s figure.
There she was, crouching at the entrance to the basement stairs, still wearing last night’s dress and new shoes.
"Wen Xin, why didn’t you go home?"
Fang Cheng couldn’t help but ask with some surprise.
"Brother Cheng, I..."
Wen Xin raised her head to look at him, her lips quivering, struggling to speak.
Fingers intertwined, her hands showed a tangled tension.
Fang Cheng instantly understood the girl’s careful thoughts.
Yesterday, Wen Xin’s mother had not returned even late into the night.
Zhou Xiumei, worried, had Wen Xin sleep with her.
Now she had put on these new clothes early in the morning, obviously hoping for her mother to see, yet also fearing scolding and punishment.
Seeing Wen Xin in such a dilemma, Fang Cheng shook his head with a smile, simply took her home, and offered to explain.
The door was ajar, pushing it gently opened it.
"Back already?"
The slightly raspy voice of a woman followed.
Wen Xin’s mother had indeed returned.
No lights were on in the room; even though it was daytime, the basement’s poor lighting left it pitch-dark.
In the dark, the silhouette of a woman was visible.
She sat on the ground, her clothes a bit disheveled, with bruises on her face and wrists.
Fang Cheng thought she had taken drugs again, his brow furrowing slightly.
But when his gaze fell on an object placed before her, he couldn’t help but freeze.
It was a palm-sized box of chocolate cake, with a red candle stuck in it.
It seemed to be waiting for its owner to light it, brightening this dark and cold room.
"Thank you for holding a birthday party for my daughter."
The woman’s eyes were hazy, her expression defeated as she looked at Fang Cheng.
"Even though you don’t care what my name is, I want to tell you, my name is Wen Huixi, and I will remember your kindness."
Wen Xin saw the birthday cake on the ground and seemed to realize the real reason why her mother did not return last night.
Her eyes suddenly brimmed with tears, and she called out with dismay:
"Mom..."
The woman turned her head to glance at the pretty dress and leather shoes Wen Xin was wearing, showing a pathetic smile.
"I really don’t deserve to be a mother; not to mention celebrating my daughter’s birthday, I can’t even provide for her most basic living conditions."
"But..."
As she spoke, her eyes displayed a look of hatred, her voice carrying a tragic choke.
"I didn’t want things to be this way, I wasn’t always like this, I love my daughter very much..."
"Mom!"
Wen Xin immediately lunged into her embrace, holding her tightly with her thin arms.
Fang Cheng didn’t know what exactly had happened to her in the past.
Seeing the scene before him, his heart ached, so he spoke up to comfort:
"The past is already gone, there’s no need to always live in those unhappy memories."
"If you want to climb out of the mire, pull yourself together, start by taking good care of Wen Xin, after all, she’s your only relative in this world..."
Hearing this, Wen Huixi held her daughter even tighter, weeping inconsolably.
Fang Cheng sighed inwardly, gently closed the door, leaving more space for the mother and daughter to be together.
Hoping their lives could really change for the better in the future.
..................
In Jiangdong District, at the Global Elite Fighting Club.
Holidays are usually the busiest times.
Yet this morning, there were no students in the venue, and no classes scheduled.
As Fang Cheng arrived at the club’s entrance, he saw a big red banner hanging.
"Warmly welcome the chairman to inspect the company’s work."
Many colleagues were dressed in formal attire, looking either refined and proper, or warm and virtuous.
Chen Xiaohai, who was also rated as an excellent employee, had even slicked his hair with pomade, sporting a slick and shiny appearance.
The event was made so grand.
Because the legendary big boss was well-connected and influentially mighty.
If one could catch his eye, promotion and salary increase were the minimal benefits; it might even skyrocket one’s career.
Fang Cheng, dressed in casual attire, stood out.
But he was now a sparring partner, with no need to care for such matters.
Bored during the wait, he went to the punching bag area and continued to practice his boxing and leg techniques.
