At the junkyard, Lin stood opposite Jiho, observing his stance. The air was thick with tension, but Lin's expression remained calm and focused. Jiho, on the other hand, looked nervous but determined. He had been training with the others for a few days now, but today was different—today, Lin was going to teach him the art of hood fighting.
"Hood fighting isn't about rules or style," Lin began, his tone serious. "It's about survival. It's about using everything at your disposal to win, no matter how dirty it gets."
Jiho nodded, taking a deep breath. He'd seen Lin in action before, how effortlessly he took down Zake's old lackeys, and he knew that Lin wasn't just talking. This was real.
"Come at me with everything you've got," Lin instructed, taking a step back. "Don't hold back. If you want to learn, you need to be willing to fight like your life depends on it."
Jiho hesitated for a moment, but then he charged forward, throwing a punch aimed at Lin's face. Lin dodged it easily, his movements fluid and quick. Jiho followed up with a kick, but Lin caught it, using the momentum to throw Jiho off balance.
"Good, but you're still thinking too much," Lin said, letting go of Jiho's leg. "In a real fight, there's no time to think. You act on instinct."
Jiho got back up, determination blazing in his eyes. He tried again, this time aiming a punch at Lin's gut while simultaneously sweeping his leg. Lin blocked the punch and stepped aside, avoiding the sweep.
"Better," Lin commented. "But you need to be more unpredictable. Use whatever you can—your environment, distractions, anything. There are no rules."
Jiho took Lin's advice to heart. He glanced around the junkyard, spotting a small pile of dirt. Without warning, he kicked it up toward Lin's face. It wasn't much, but it caught Lin off guard for a split second.
Lin grinned, wiping the dirt from his cheek. "Now you're getting it.
Lin nodded at Jiho's small but clever move, signaling him to keep going. "Good start, but we're not done yet," Lin said, his voice carrying a mix of encouragement and challenge. "Come at me again, and remember, use everything you've got."
Jiho, now more focused, took a deep breath and charged at Lin once more. This time, he feinted to the left before swinging a punch to the right. Lin sidestepped the punch effortlessly, but Jiho didn't stop there. He grabbed a rusty old pipe lying nearby and swung it toward Lin's midsection.
Lin blocked the pipe with his forearm, the force of the impact causing a dull thud. "That's it," Lin said, his grin widening. "Use whatever's around you. But don't rely too much on weapons. They can be taken away, just like this."
In one swift motion, Lin disarmed Jiho, tossing the pipe aside. Jiho didn't waste a moment. He launched himself at Lin, aiming a kick at his knee, but Lin parried it with ease, using the momentum to spin Jiho around.
Jiho stumbled but quickly recovered, now more determined than ever. He tried to grab Lin, hoping to use his own weight against him, but Lin was too quick. He dodged to the side, tripping Jiho with a swift kick to the ankle.
"Unpredictability," Lin reminded him as Jiho got back up, breathing heavily. "Keep your opponent guessing."
Jiho took a step back, his mind racing. He looked around again, spotting an old car door leaning against a pile of junk. Without hesitation, he shoved it toward Lin, creating a brief distraction. As Lin sidestepped the door, Jiho charged in low, aiming for Lin's legs.
This time, Lin let Jiho get close, but just as Jiho thought he had him, Lin twisted his body, using Jiho's momentum to flip him onto the ground. Jiho landed with a thud, gasping for breath.
Lin looked down at him, his expression serious. "Not bad, Jiho. You're starting to think like a fighter. But you've still got a long way to go."
Jiho pushed himself up, sweat dripping down his face. "I'll get better," he panted. "I won't give up."
"I know you won't," Lin said, offering him a hand. Jiho took it, and Lin pulled him to his feet. "But remember, this isn't just about being strong. It's about surviving, no matter what."
Jiho nodded, his resolve strengthening. He knew that Lin's training was tough, but it was exactly what he needed. He had to be stronger, smarter, and more ruthless if he wanted to survive in this world.
"Good job today," Lin said, clapping Jiho on the back. "But don't get too comfortable. Tomorrow, it's going to get even harder."
Jiho swallowed, but he nodded. "I'm ready."
Lin smirked, lighting a cigarette as he watched Jiho catch his breath. "Three more pushups, and we'll call it a day," he said, jokingly.
In a different location that night....
Duke walked slowly down the familiar street, his backpack feeling heavier than usual. As he approached his house, he spotted his grandma by her food stall, cheerfully selling snacks to the few passersby. The scent of freshly cooked food made his stomach rumble, but he tried to ignore it.
"How was school, Duke?" his grandma asked with a warm smile.
"Oh, it was... fine," Duke replied, forcing a smile. He didn't have the heart to tell her about how Vin and his lackeys had bullied him again that day. The last thing he wanted was to worry her.
Just then, his stomach growled loudly, betraying his hunger. His grandma chuckled, "Ho ho, why don't you have something to eat? You must be starving."
Duke hesitated, eyeing the food. "N-no, I can't, Grandma. They're for selling, and we need the money."
Before his grandma could insist, Vin and his lackeys sauntered over, acting overly friendly. "Hey, Duke! What's up, man?" Vin called out, a fake smile plastered on his face.
Duke stiffened, knowing something bad was about to happen. "Uh, hey, Vin," he muttered, trying to sound casual.
Vin's eyes landed on the food. "Wow, look at all this! Your grandma really outdid herself today," he said, licking his lips. Before Duke or his grandma could react, Vin and his lackeys began helping themselves to the food, shoveling it into their mouths without a care.
"W-wait, that's for selling!" Duke protested, but Vin just laughed, ignoring him. His grandma tried to intervene, but Vin grinned at her and said, "Oh, come on, Grandma, it was you who insisted, right?"
Duke's grandma hesitated, not wanting to make a scene. She glanced at Duke, who looked down, feeling utterly helpless. Vin and his lackeys devoured everything, not leaving a single morsel behind. When they were done, they didn't even bother to pay, just patted Duke on the back and walked away, laughing.
"Thanks for the meal!" Vin called over his shoulder, leaving Duke and his grandma standing there in stunned silence.
Just then, Lin, who had just finished training Jiho, appeared at the end of the street. He had noticed the commotion and watched the entire scene unfold. His eyes narrowed as he saw Vin and his gang walking away, laughing as if they hadn't just stolen food from a defenseless old woman.
Lin approached Duke's grandma, who was trying to hide her disappointment. "Ma'am, let me pay for what they took," he said, pulling out some cash.
"Oh, no, you don't have to do that," she said, flustered, but Lin insisted, handing her the money. "Please, I insist. They shouldn't have taken advantage of you like that."
Duke looked up at Lin, a mix of gratitude and shame in his eyes. Lin ruffled Duke's hair, giving him a reassuring nod before turning his attention to Vin and his lackeys, who were still within earshot.
"Hey, Vin!" Lin called out, his voice carrying a cold edge. The group stopped and turned around, Vin's smug expression faltering as he saw the look in Lin's eyes.
"What do you want?" Vin sneered, trying to act tough, but there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"You think it's cool to bully people and steal from an old lady?" Lin asked, his tone calm but menacing. "You and your boys are about to learn a lesson."
One of Vin's lackeys tried to step in, puffing out his chest, but before he could say a word, Lin moved. In a flash, he delivered a swift punch to the lackey's gut, sending him crumpling to the ground. The others barely had time to react before Lin took them down one by one with precise, powerful strikes.
They didn't stand a chance. Within seconds, Vin's lackeys were on the ground, groaning in pain, while Vin watched in shock, all the bravado drained from his face. "Y-you're crazy, man!" he stammered, backing away.
Lin took a step toward him, his eyes locked on Vin's. "I'm just getting started," he said, his voice low and threatening.
Vin's lackeys scrambled to their feet and ran off, not daring to look back. Now, it was just Lin and Vin, standing in the middle of the street.
Chapter ends here.