Life began to grow ever more fulfilling.
During the days he spent living with Gen, Yang labored diligently every day to lay his foundations—sensing, mastering, and driving life energy through all sorts of experiments.
But from start to finish, Yang rarely encountered someone his own age whose strength was, in any true sense, nearly equal to his own, with whom he could spar and fight.
He had fought Gen, of course…
but the gap was simply too vast.
Facing such a martial arts legend, even when Gen reined in his power to a level on par with Yang’s, the sheer difference in experience and technique left the outcome a foregone conclusion.
But Chun-Li—she could do it!
Even so, sometimes hearing Yang’s words and his post-match analysis, Chun-Li still felt a wave of embarrassment.
But after these two days spent with Yang, Chun-Li had come to understand his character, and knew that Yang truly did nothing more than immerse himself in and savor the fight.
And also…
it really did feel good.
Thinking this, Chun-Li couldn’t help tightening the core of her waist and abdomen ever so slightly, soothing the eager muscles and the strange sensation low in her belly.
Embarrassing as it was to admit, Chun-Li had to confess that Yang’s technique was truly excellent.
Even without life energy, Yang’s command of the pathways and structure of the human body’s tendons, muscles, and bones could be called intimate beyond compare.
Thinking this, in her heart Chun-Li voiced the very same sigh of admiration as her old man, Dorai.
Though he was only two years younger than her, Yang’s development…
really was off the charts.
Only eighteen, and the strength of his body already surpassed that of many a martial artist in his prime, around thirty years old.
And he was still growing.
Give him another two years, and his height would likely shoot up past a meter ninety.
Held in his arms, her toes probably wouldn’t even reach the ground…
Thinking this, Chun-Li sensed something was off, and then quickly realized she’d been dwelling on far too many things she shouldn’t.
Aware that the situation was delicate, Chun-Li hurriedly shut her eyes to calm herself down faster.
Fortunately, the Kikoken itself specialized in qi-nurturing, and though ripples kept spreading across the lake of her heart, in the end she barely managed to suppress her body’s impulses—though she’d probably need to hurry and change her underwear for a fresh set.
Thinking this, Chun-Li felt a touch wistful—life energy was wonderfully useful, true, but its allure was just a bit too strong.
That sensation of her whole body coming alive—once experienced, it was hard to ever forget.
Even as she could feel her body steadily growing better and better, she was also keenly aware that she might have already developed something of a dependence on it…
And upon noticing that Yang had already finished, Chun-Li sat up as well.
Thanks to her experience over the past few days, she’d prepared a few things in advance, so there was no abrupt wet stain at her hips, and as she relaxed Chun-Li gave a lazy stretch.
As her joints and bones gave off a series of cracks and pops, she’d meant to offer Yang a few words of praise, but the moment she lifted her head she found that Yang had politely shifted his gaze away.
Glancing down, Chun-Li swallowed, then said somewhat awkwardly, “Uh…
I’ll go take a shower first.” Once she’d washed up, Chun-Li changed into her Interpol uniform and greeted Yang, who had likewise finished freshening up.
At first Chun-Li still felt embarrassed—after all, some rather private traces had been seen.
But finding Yang perfectly calm, as if he’d seen nothing at all, Chun-Li breathed a sigh of relief.
Hurried as it was, forcing herself to stay calm for a few minutes was no real problem.
Then the two of them went out to patrol the streets together.
By leveraging Dorai’s connections, they had taken up disguised posts within the Hong Kong force, using this to lull the Shadowlaw moles who had already infiltrated the Hong Kong headquarters, while at the same time probing for information about Charudo, Shadowlaw, and Vega.
Thanks to the Kikoken’s qi-nurturing techniques, Chun-Li didn’t betray too much preoccupation over their earlier…
unwinding—or rather, having served as Yang’s sparring partner over this stretch of time, she had more or less grown used to certain things.
Much more at ease, Chun-Li chatted with Yang about insights into their training while leading him on patrol through the streets.
And just as the two were still talking, the communicator at Chun-Li’s waist let out a beep-beep-beep.
“Chun-Li, head to the Hibiki Dojo on Kowloon Street.” Dorai’s voice came through the communicator.
“Sagat has appeared there.
Stall him as long as you can—I’ll get there as fast as I can!” Hearing her father’s words, a grave shadow flickered in Chun-Li’s eyes.
And having caught what came through the walkie-talkie, Yang, after thinking back for a moment, quickly said: “It’s five hundred meters from here in a straight line—two intersections and we’ll be there.
Let’s run.” “Right!” At his words, Chun-Li nodded quickly, her expression full of seriousness.
Though Yang had spent most of the past three years training under Gen at the restaurant, he was still reasonably familiar with Hong Kong.
Especially because of Yang’s extraordinary spiritual power and vitality, his memory was quite excellent as well.
As now—though he seldom went to other districts, he had long since committed the map firmly to memory.
And on the way there, Yang quickly cast his mind back to what the Hibiki Dojo was.
Hibiki…
“echo”?
For anyone with some knowledge of Japan, the first thing to come to mind might be a brand of whisky.
But Yang was different—living inside this fighting game, Sagat plus Hibiki…
The Hibiki Dojo?
Recalling that name, Yang also remembered the Street Fighter storyline involving the Hibiki Dojo, and so, running with Chun-Li toward their destination, he quickly said: “If I remember right, the master of the Hibiki Dojo should be a martial artist from Japan named Go Hibiki!
He came to eat at the restaurant once—at the time he mentioned he was about to start his martial arts career here.” “An outsider?
Then by the looks of it he must have some real skill.” At his words, surprise showed in Chun-Li’s eyes.
By tradition, a martial artist coming from elsewhere who wished to open a dojo had to pass certain tests set by the locals—or rather, to display his strength and earn their recognition.
So anyone who could open a dojo as an outsider usually had the real goods—worlds apart from the petty street thugs and the old men and women clawing at each other over discounted vegetables.
“Mm, he does have a remarkable qi about him.” Yang nodded, then went on: “Five hundred meters in a straight line…
that’s Kowloon Avenue…
it’s the turf of the gang organization Charudo!
It’s connected to Shadowlaw!” And while Yang and Chun-Li were still on their way to the Hibiki Dojo, before its doors Sagat’s gaze brimmed with irritation and indifference.
He looked over at the bleach-blond underling at his side and said, a trace of impatience in his voice, “This is the dojo?” “This is the one, boss.” At Sagat’s words, the blond gave a few snickering laughs, then pointed at the dojo beyond the car window and said: “These guys set up shop here without paying protection money, and they even said that if you tried to collect protection from them, you’d just be courting your own destruction.
I told him to think it through before spouting such big talk, but he wouldn’t listen…
I get the feeling that if we don’t handle this properly, our operations in Hong Kong will be badly affected down the line.” “Then finish it quickly.
I didn’t come here to deal with this sort of thing.” At the blond’s words, Sagat frowned slightly, then stepped out of the car and said coldly: “I only hope he’s a worthy warrior.” Inside the dojo.
The day’s business done, Dan Hibiki—his double chin full and distinct—excitedly rolled up the sheets from the floor and said in his happy-go-lucky way: “Today’s students did pretty well—don’t you think so, Dad?” And hearing Dan Hibiki’s words, the middle-aged man named Go Hibiki merely shook his head and said: “Ahem—not counting you, there were only two in all.” “At least it’s a good sign!
Yesterday there wasn’t a single one!” At that, Dan Hibiki, utterly unbothered, grinned and said: “I’m sure that once the people around here realize that coming here means they won’t have to worry about being harassed by those little hooligans, everything will start to turn around!” “Let’s hope so.
For now, go lock the door—we’re calling it a day.” As he spoke, he paused, a flicker of reminiscence surfacing in his eyes, and said: “We’ve been busy with the dojo all this time, and now we’ve finally opened for business…
To celebrate, how about we go grab a meal at the Han Court?
With a bit of luck, we might just catch that young chef fellow whipping up something special for us.” Go Hibiki still remembered it well—under the hands of that young head chef, even a plain, ordinary bowl of egg fried rice was extraordinarily delicious.
But before Go Hibiki’s voice had even faded, with a thunderous BANG, the great door at the side was kicked open by Sagat.