Li Chen awoke the next day to the pleasant realization that his trades had been remarkably successful, netting him a substantial gain of 15 million yuan. He was one step closer to achieving his financial goals. However, Li Chen wasn't content with merely 15 million; he had set his sights higher. His aim was to accumulate at least 100 million yuan before he would embark on his ambitious business plans.
Li Chen dressed in his sportswear, ready for his morning jog. The sun was just beginning to warm the hills, and a slight chill lingered in the air. He put on his favorite running song and set off. His regular trail took him through the serene park, where he paused to perform some stretches.
As he stretched, Li Chen felt an unusual sensation, like the tingling awareness of being watched. This feeling came as a sign that he had to be on his guard. Li Chen turned, scanning the park with a calm and measured demeanor.
At a distance, a black car sat ominously, its windows tinted to conceal its occupants. Inside, a group of men looked at a photograph they held, confirming that the individual they sought was indeed the one before them. After a brief exchange, they silently exited the car, each clutching a menacing baseball bat.
With purpose in their stride, they advanced towards Li Chen, moving stealthily to catch him off guard. But Li Chen sensed their approach. Without looking, he spoke confidently, "You should just do what you came here to do. Standing behind me won't help you."
The would-be attackers froze, their calculated ambush thwarted. Li Chen turned to face them with a smug, almost mocking smile on his face. He was well aware of the danger he faced, but he was not one to back down easily, especially when it came to defending himself. The game had changed, and these aggressors had just met an opponent who was prepared for their hostile intent.
Li Chen's demeanor had been shifting rapidly in the past days since he connected with the first page of the manual. No longer was he plagued by fear as he had been when he faced the men sent by Sun Gang. With the newfound memories, courage, and strength of the God of War, Li Chen felt transformed. At that moment, the God of War chuckled within Li Chen's mind and remarked, "Now, let's put what you've learned to the test, young man."
Li Chen couldn't help but chuckle in response, which only seemed to further irk his attackers. He turned to face them with an air of confidence, completely unafraid. "Let me guess, Jiang Xiaofeng wants me dealt with because of a little slap, right?" Li Chen's words were tinged with amusement as he spoke.
The men exchanged glances, and their leader responded, acknowledging Li Chen's insight, "You're a sharp one, I'll give you that."
Li Chen smirked, though his smile didn't reach his eyes. "I can't think of anyone else who'd want me dead, except perhaps your rather dense boss."
The leader's face flushed with anger. He turned to his comrades and barked, "Get him. Break his legs."
With grim determination, the group of attackers moved in, baseball bats at the ready. They aimed to incapacitate Li Chen and make Jiang Xiaofeng proud. However, they were about to discover that Li Chen was no longer the man they thought they could intimidate.
As the three attackers closed in, Li Chen's transformation became strikingly evident. With his newfound skills and the God of War's expertise at his disposal, he moved with precision and fluidity, almost as if he were dancing.
The first attacker swung his baseball bat with full force, aiming for Li Chen's head. In a blur of motion, Li Chen ducked under the bat, narrowly avoiding the strike. With a lightning-quick counterattack, he delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the attacker's midsection. The man crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath and clutching his abdomen.
The second attacker came at Li Chen from the side, attempting to land a surprise blow. Li Chen sidestepped effortlessly, his footwork impeccable. In one seamless motion, he grabbed the second attacker's arm, expertly using his momentum to throw him over his shoulder and onto the grass.
By this point, the third attacker lunged, swinging his bat downward with all his might. Li Chen caught the bat's shaft mid-swing, his grip unyielding. With a twist and a forceful pull, he disarmed the third attacker and sent the bat flying through the air.
Li Chen then proceeded to deliver a rapid series of strikes. His fists and feet moved like a whirlwind, connecting with precision and power. The third attacker, overwhelmed and unable to defend himself, staggered backward until he, too, fell to the ground.
The entire fight had taken mere seconds, and Li Chen remained virtually unscathed. The two remaining attackers watched in shock and fear as their comrades lay incapacitated. Their determination wavered, and for a moment, they considered retreating.
Li Chen, breathing calmly and steadily, wore a confident and somewhat amused expression. He motioned for the two remaining attackers to bring it on, his message clear: they were no match for his newfound abilities.
The leader, witnessing the quick and efficient defeat of his comrades, felt a growing sense of desperation. He couldn't afford to show weakness in front of his subordinate. The remaining man charged ahead, his resolve steeled.
As the fourth attacker closed in, he displayed more power and skill than his predecessors. He swung his baseball bat with a controlled force that showed he wasn't to be underestimated. Li Chen adjusted his stance, meeting the attack head-on.
The bat swooshed through the air, aimed at Li Chen's midsection. With a perfect blend of timing and precision, Li Chen twisted his body to the side, narrowly avoiding the impact. The bat struck the ground, sending up a small cloud of dust. Li Chen seized the opportunity.
With a swift step, he closed the distance between them and delivered a stunning combination of strikes. His punches and kicks were like an intricate symphony, each movement harmonizing with the next. The fourth attacker, despite his superior strength, struggled to keep up.
Li Chen's attacks were relentless, targeting the man's vulnerable points – a knee strike to the abdomen, a roundhouse kick to the chest, and a precise punch to the jaw. With each hit, the fourth attacker's defenses weakened. He stumbled backward, his breaths growing ragged.
The leader watched the confrontation, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. He knew his remaining comrade was in serious trouble. Li Chen pressed his advantage. With a spinning kick, he knocked the bat out of the fourth attacker's hands. Defenseless and disoriented, the man attempted one last, desperate swing, but Li Chen swiftly countered with a powerful punch to the gut.
The force of the blow doubled the man over, and he crumpled to the ground, clutching his stomach in agony. Li Chen stood over him, his breathing steady and his expression unwavering. The leader, witnessing the one-sided battle, realized there was no hope for their mission but he couldn't show any weaknesses in front of his subordinates.
The leader, driven to desperation and fury, discarded his baseball bat and retrieved a gleaming, razor-sharp blade that glinted in the morning sun. With a sinister smile, he stepped forward and taunted Li Chen. "You've forced my hand, kid. Don't blame me for what happens next."
Li Chen merely smirked, undeterred by the ominous threat. "Come at me. Time's ticking, and I don't have all day."
With a determined glint in his eye, the leader lunged forward with the blade in hand. His movements were swift and calculated. As the blade descended, Li Chen expertly parried the strike, but not without consequence. The blade scraped across Li Chen's forearm, leaving a gash that immediately began to seep blood. His stoic expression wavered for the first time, replaced by a flash of anger and pain.
However, this single injury seemed to unleash something within Li Chen. He no longer held back. With a swift and furious retaliation, he disarmed the leader and began a relentless assault. Each strike and kick were delivered with precision and a burning desire for retribution.
The leader found himself defenseless against Li Chen's newfound ferocity. In a brutal and one-sided brawl, Li Chen mercilessly pummeled his opponent. The leader's teeth shattered under the unrelenting blows, and his legs, once powerful, were rendered broken and useless.
In the end, the leader lay in a broken heap on the ground, moaning in agony and defeat. Li Chen stood over him, bloodied and enraged, his anger-signs visible on his face. He hadn't merely defeated his assailant; he had demolished him, both physically and mentally.
Li Chen's arm throbbed from the wound, but his sense of triumph overshadowed the pain. The leader, stripped of his bravado and left incapacitated, was a stark reminder that Li Chen was no longer the man he used to be.
Li Chen's cold gaze remained fixed on the leader as he delivered his stern warning, his voice unwavering. "Inform your employer that he made a grave mistake today. If he dares to send more of you after me, I won't show any mercy next time." The leader, battered and defeated, clenched his teeth and turned his eyes away, unable to muster a response.
Li Chen's lips curled into a disdainful smirk as he clicked his tongue in disappointment. "You lot are truly a disgrace to your kind."
With those parting words, Li Chen casually dusted off his hands, symbolically ridding himself of the confrontation, and left the writhing, injured men behind on the ground. They were a vivid reminder that he was no longer the easy target they had assumed him to be.