```
The scene, after a brief and eerie silence, was first broken by Wolf Brother's heart-wrenching scream.
"Ah... my shoulder!"
With a hole opened in his shoulder, even the battle-hardened Wolf Brother couldn't bear the pain, his face turned deathly pale as he lay on the ground howling continuously.
"How is this possible!"
Huo Qingsong's mind was in a daze, still staring at the chopstick.
It was just a wooden chopstick, not a firearm; how could it do something like this?
Huo Lin, who was watching everything, took a sharp intake of breath and said, "Such terrifying inner strength!"
Xiao Chen sat in his chair without moving an inch, with just a slight flick of his wrist, the chopstick flew out, piercing Wolf Brother's shoulder from four or five meters away, then getting stuck in the wall. If not inner strength, then what was it?
Inner strength is the art of leverage, "using skill rather than brute force," where a small movement can unleash tremendous power.
The might of inner strength lies in its deftness, to exert the strongest force with the smallest of actions.
A normal wooden chopstick, which even a child can snap easily, in the hands of a martial artist with inner strength, becomes an indestructible weapon.
Huo Lin's heart was restless, and he murmured to himself, "I've seen quite a few inner-strength martial artists, but those who have achieved such a refined level are truly rare."
Earlier, when Huo Qingsong mocked Xiao Chen, claiming he had seen real immortals while Xiao Chen hadn't, Huo Qingsong thought Xiao Chen had no rebuttal because he was in the wrong.
But now, it seemed Xiao Chen simply disdained to argue with Huo Qingsong; doing so would be beneath his dignity.
Ignoring the shock of the others, Xiao Chen just looked at Wolf Brother indifferently and asked, "Well, is this chopstick enough for you to leave? Or do I need to use a second one?"
Wolf Brother trembled, clutching his shoulder in terror, "Enough... it's enough, I am ignorant and failed to recognize a great master, please have mercy!"
Wolf Brother was very clear that if Xiao Chen aimed at his head, that chopstick would have killed him.
What about murder being a crime?
Joke, with a strong inner strength practitioner like Xiao Chen, there would be no end of influential people wanting to ingratiate themselves. Making up a reason for a gangster's death or finding a scapegoat would be a piece of cake.
His older brother, Zhao Biao, had recruited an inner-strength martial artist years ago, treating him like an ancestor, and of every month's profits from their business on East Street, they would give him thirty percent.
With real power, one really can do whatever he wants!
"Then get lost, and be more careful next time!"
Xiao Chen's tone was calm but imbued with extreme authority, which was suffocatingly oppressive.
"Yes, I'll remember well!" Wolf Brother repeatedly nodded his head.
"Wolf Brother!" The four minions Wolf Brother brought along were baffled through the whole event and only now reacted.
"Forget about Wolf Brother, let's go!"
Wolf Brother lowered his voice and hurried off with his four men.
"Finally, it's quiet!" Xiao Chen relaxed his expression and called out to the restaurant owner outside, "Boss, is it time for you to serve the food? I'm starving to death."
"Sir... please wait a moment, it's coming right up!" The boss hurried to the kitchen.
"Mr. Xiao, please forgive my ignorance from before," Huo Qingsong stood opposite Xiao Chen, having all the feels.
It was a good thing he had not bet on eating shit or committing suicide – otherwise, it would be difficult to get off his high horse now.
Xiao Chen waved his hand dismissively, "If I were one to pick on you, I wouldn't be sitting here right now. And thanks for this meal."
"It was nothing, just a meal, not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning!" Huo Qingsong sighed in relief, thinking that indeed, Xiao Chen had the bearing of a true master.
...
With the boss's prompt service, the dishes were quickly brought to the table.
At the dining table, Huo Lin and Huo Qingsong seemed somewhat restrained, while Xiao Chen ate heartily.
Half an hour later, Xiao Chen, having eaten his fill, felt content.
"Thank you for the hospitality, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave!"
```
Huo Lin and Huo Qingsong wanted to say more, but they couldn't find an excuse to keep him. They had only crossed paths with Xiao Chen by chance.
"Right!" Xiao Chen, who had started to leave, suddenly turned back and asked, "Have you ever heard of 'Hongling Ginseng'?"
Huo Lin pondered for a moment and hesitantly said, "Hongling Ginseng seems to be a precious medicinal herb that can strengthen the foundation, nourish the body, and replenish energy. Moreover, it can promote blood circulation."
"I now believe that people from the provincial capital are indeed well-informed. Hongling Ginseng indeed has the effects of nourishing the body and promoting blood circulation."
Xiao Chen praised, then asked further, "Has Elder Huo taken any Hongling Ginseng recently?"
"No!" Huo Lin shook his head, "Unless I am sick, I never take medicine to nourish my body."
"That's good then!"
Huo Qingsong felt there was a hidden message in Xiao Chen's words and couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Xiao, is there something wrong with my dad's health? Please advise!"
"I should not speak rashly on some matters, but let me warn you, if someone offers you medicine containing Hongling Ginseng in the future, you must not drink it."
"That being said, I'll take my leave!"
Xiao Chen turned and left.
"The world is so vast, and it's filled with talented individuals. Today has truly been an eye-opener!" Huo Lin said with deep emotion.
In their circle, martial artists with inner strength were not too rare; they had seen many, and the Huo Family had recruited quite a few as well.
But firstly, Xiao Chen's young age combined with his highly refined inner strength, capable of being summoned and retracted at will, was indeed rare.
Secondly, Xiao Chen's demeanor and confidence, in his casual yet composed conversation, exhibited an aura of strength that made both of them feel inferior in comparison.
Huo Lin admired Xiao Chen's prowess, but Huo Qingsong was clearly more concerned about the final words Xiao Chen had left them with.
Just what was the deal with this Hongling Ginseng?
...
Xiao Chen had many fragmented memories in his mind.
According to his memories, Xiao Chen's parents met in a car accident five years ago and both passed away.
Xiao Chen had only one older sister left, named Xiao Yufei, who was managing a company left behind by their parents in Lanling City.
Xiao Chen had been living alone in the family's old home in a remote county town, attending his third year of high school. At the insistence of his sister, Xiao Yufei, he was preparing to transfer to a high school in the city.
However, Xiao Chen was very afraid of Xiao Yufei, and although he reached Lanling City, he didn't dare to see her and wandered around alone until an unfortunate fall beneath an overpass caused him to hit his head on a rock, leading to tragedy.
Xiao Chen sorted through his thoughts and, following his memories headed towards the Xiao Family Company.
...
Xiao Yufei was twenty-one years old this year. Her parents had died five years ago, which meant she started handling the company's affairs at the age of sixteen.
At that time, she knew nothing and was guided and assisted by some seniors in the company. The hardships she went through to reach where she was today were known only to her.
"What did you say? Xiao Chen arrived in Lanling City three days ago?"
In the CEO's office, Xiao Yufei, having received the news from a neighbor in her hometown, showed an anxious expression.
She had previously arranged with Xiao Chen that he would come over from their hometown in the next few days, but she had been too busy lately, working overtime until the early hours, and Xiao Yufei didn't have the time to call and check.
It wasn't until just now that she finally managed to spare a moment to call Xiao Chen, only to find that his phone was unreachable, so she called the neighbor in her hometown instead.
Although it was a remote small county town, a bus ride to Lanling City would take at most half a day.
"How could he still not have arrived in Lanling? Did something happen on the way?"
Xiao Chen had gone missing for three days, and his phone was unreachable. This was a severe situation, and Xiao Yufei felt it was necessary to call the police.
Just then, a call came in from the company's reception desk.
"Miss Xiao, there's someone outside who claims to be your brother and wants to see you!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yufei immediately said, "I'll go down right now!"
(ps: To help you sort out the timeline, the protagonist is not from Earth. He came to Earth over a hundred years ago, lived here for three years, and then left. Now, a hundred years later, the protagonist has transmigrated into a body with the same name and surname, so the older sister is that of the current body.)