Shape Like a Crane

Not long ago.

On DouNai Live.

Grandpa Tong pointed at the opponent's reply, pretending to be utterly defeated as he cursed:

"This guy’s got no manners! He beat me once and then ghosted me for a whole week!"

Truth be told, ever since that day, he couldn’t sleep well, thinking about it over and over.

Though, to be fair, the entertainment value that day was off the charts.

After all, nothing gets the live chat more hyped than seeing a streamer get humbled after trying to smurf.

[Yo Tong, I was arguing with the haters in the fish forum, trying to defend you, but they ended up convincing me you’re trash…]

[You haven’t been sleeping well these past few days, have you?]

[Listen to me, Tong. That guy beat you once, probably realized you’re a big streamer, and won’t accept another match. Otherwise, if he loses, how’s he gonna brag? Just sacrifice your sister already. A young, hormonal kitchen boy like him won’t be able to resist. Trust me!]

[Oh, so you’re the expert now? You know all about teenage boys, huh?]

[Damn right, I am—]

[LOL, you just wanna see Tong’s sister, don’t you?]

[What sister? That’s my wife! Watch your damn mouth!]

...

Honestly, the chat was pure gold. Grandpa Tong skimmed through it and immediately knew what to do.

After some back-and-forth, he sent over that perfect picture he’d prepared earlier.

It was a screenshot from one of his past streams—the only time his older sister had ever appeared on camera, revealing just half her body and a sliver of her profile. Yet, that alone had sent the entire chat into a frenzy.

In the image.

A woman clad in a form-fitting black martial arts uniform pointed at the screen.

Even with only half her figure visible, her striking curves and flawlessly cold side profile were unmistakable.

Her eyes, especially—glaring at Grandpa Tong’s position with pure disdain, as if he were literal trash.

One finger was extended, clearly mid-scolding.

The aura of a jaded, ice-cold older sister was palpable.

Absolutely iconic.

Cao Thief Ruined Me: Not interested.

Grandpa Tong froze, about to reply, when he saw the status update: [Currently in matchmaking… Do not disturb]

What the hell?

This guy’s a straight-up battle junkie.

The chat erupted instantly.

"Boys, he’s not biting," Grandpa Tong coughed awkwardly.

[You idiot, he’s queueing up immediately—clearly a martial arts freak. If you had a drop-dead gorgeous girl IRL, maybe he’d care. But online? Who gives a damn? Just admit you lost and offer to hook him up with some stronger opponents.]

Grandpa Tong read the message and had an epiphany.

Huh.

Are all kids these days just obsessed with fighting now?

Wait, that can’t be right.

As he pondered, he noticed the opponent’s status had returned to idle.

"That fast? He’s done already?"

Checking the match history, he blinked in surprise.

Another win.

[I spectated just now. Dumbass Tong, don’t embarrass yourself—you’re not beating him.]

[Seriously?]

[I saw it too. Grandpa Tong’s gonna get humiliated.]

[Bullshit! Last time, Tong wasn’t even trying. One week later, if he goes all out, it’s an easy win!]

[Are you guys seriously underestimating the prestige of Tiandu Jingwu University?]

[Don’t joke around—their students go through actual combat training. If he’s serious, it’s no laughing matter.]

...

Grandpa Tong smirked at the chat and sent another message.

Grandpa Tong: How about this? If I lose, I’ll get you some real strong opponents. Best of three?

Cao Thief Ruined Me: How strong?

Grandpa Tong: Way stronger than me. But it’s gotta be three rounds.

Cao Thief Ruined Me: Deal. Ping me when you’re ready.

Grandpa Tong: Got it.

The moment he sent it, the opponent was already back in matchmaking.

"Total battle junkie," Grandpa Tong muttered.

Then, an idea struck.

He quickly messaged a player named ‘Graceful as a Crane’.

Grandpa Tong: Spectate me. Now.

Graceful as a Crane: No.

Grandpa Tong: Understood.

...

A few seconds later.

Grandpa Tong: Sis, this opponent might actually know spear techniques.

Graceful as a Crane: How well?

Grandpa Tong: Hard to say. Just watch and coach me through it.

No reply.

Grandpa Tong grinned and laughed.

"Boys, this is a guaranteed win!"

"I’ve got my sister giving me live coaching!"

[You absolute monster, Tong.]

[You’re actually the worst!]

[Cao Thief Ruined Me: Bro’s cheating with hacks!]

[LMAO, Tong’s got no shame! First, he tries to pimp out his sister, fails, and now he’s using her as a cheat code!]

[New here. How strong is his sister, actually?]

[How strong? A fourth-tier martial artist in her early twenties—that’s how strong.]

[BS. No way someone that young’s fourth-tier. You’re lying.]

[It’s legit. Tong once showed her martial arts badge on stream. Definitely fourth-tier… A real prodigy. No clue which university, though.]

[I can already see the script: First round, go all out but pretend to lose, lull him into overconfidence. Then, rounds two and three—sister feeds you counters, reverse sweep, mental boom. You’re evil, Tong.]

[Damn, that’s diabolical!]

...

Grandpa Tong scowled at the chat.

"What’s with the lack of faith? You guys really think I’m that bad?"

"You know my skills, right?"

"Fine. Just watch me prove myself!"

As he spoke, he checked the opponent’s status—another ten minutes had passed, and the guy had racked up several more wins.

This was getting ridiculous.

Once the opponent finished, Grandpa Tong immediately sent a duel invite.

[Cao Thief Ruined Me has accepted your duel request.]

[Your opponent: Cao Thief Ruined Me (Bronze I), Vitality 1.0, Record: 17 Wins, 0 Losses.]

"Wait, his Vitality went up by 0.4 in a week?"

Grandpa Tong was stunned.

That’s insane progress.

Then again, with talent like that, it made sense.

Probably some elite student from a top-tier high school.

Meanwhile.

Wang Xian entered the martial arena.

Before the match even started, spectators began flooding in.

He wasn’t surprised—last time, he’d figured out Grandpa Tong was some small-time streamer.

These days, martial arts influencers and celebrities were everywhere.

Nothing unusual.

"Starting?" Wang Xian asked.

"Hold on," Grandpa Tong said, scanning the spectator list.

Only after spotting a black-clad, masked figure did he nod in satisfaction.

The countdown began.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

The moment the AI’s mechanical voice faded—

Wang Xian moved.

Blade at his side, his body shot forward like a released arrow, leaving an afterimage in his wake.

At Vitality 1.0, without movement techniques, the human limit was roughly 8 seconds per 100 meters.

Already far beyond pre-Energy Resurgence records.

"This kid’s a freak… How’s he adapting to the Vitality boost this fast?"

Grandpa Tong watched, stunned.

Most martial artists needed time to adjust after breakthroughs.

Improving so much in just a week—it must have happened recently.

Maybe even yesterday, or perhaps just today, they reached this level.

Logically speaking, someone who’s just attained this level of vitality would struggle to push themselves to their limits.

"But trying to end the fight so quickly? You’re underestimating me..."