You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

He crossed his arms to block again, in a posture extremely similar to the first time. In fact, to "block," he leaned his body slightly forward to meet the direction of the fist, trying to use his center of gravity to deflect the force.

"boom--!!"

A deafening, even more powerful and muffled explosion erupted! It was like a heavy hammer striking a heavy sandbag!

The moment his fists and arms met, a glint of light flashed in Chen Yang's eyes.

He mobilized an extremely subtle trace of true energy, like the most ingenious fuse, to subtly "ignite" the violent power attached to the opponent's fist at the point of contact.

This power was like a lake surface tossed with a stone, instantly becoming chaotic and extremely violent! But this power did not explode outwards; instead, Chen Yang used an extremely profound method of deflecting force to silently channel most of it into the ground beneath his feet—his feet sank in, and the paving stones beneath his feet cracked inch by inch with him at the core.

At the same time, he made good use of the slight chaotic shockwave in his opponent's punch.

He felt as if he had truly been struck hard by Wang Shengxiong's third punch, which contained terrifying power.

"Ta-da!"

He involuntarily stumbled back six large steps! Each step felt incredibly heavy, leaving shallow footprints. When he reached the sixth step, he tried to regain his balance, but tripped and fell.

With a loud thud, he fell heavily to one knee! He clutched his chest with his left hand, coughing violently, his face turning deathly pale. Under the subtle control of his internal energy, a tiny, almost invisible trace of bright red blood was forced from the corner of his mouth—a drop of blood squeezed out from biting his tongue.

He lowered his head, his body trembling slightly, making it appear as if he was enduring pain and on the verge of collapse.

The entire noisy hall seemed to have been put on pause.

Countless eyes were focused on the man who had fallen to his knees in the center of the arena, and on Wang Shengxiong, who stood proudly in front of him, his violent aura slowly subsiding, like a victorious demon god.

Lina covered her mouth, a look of disbelief flashing in her eyes.

She could tell that Chen Yang's disheveled appearance was definitely an act! But why would he deliberately let himself be defeated? She forcibly suppressed the urge and doubt to rush forward and teach him a lesson with her own strength, choosing instead to trust Chen Yang's judgment.

But when those sky-blue eyes looked at Wang Shengxiong, they were so cold they could freeze a person to death.

"waste!"

Looking at Chen Yang, who was kneeling on one knee and seemingly weak, Wang Shengxiong curled his lips into an extremely contemptuous and pleased smile. He slowly withdrew his thick, tree-trunk-like arm, twisted his wrist, and made a cracking sound.

"You think you're tough? You're only this much! You can't even withstand three punches from me, yet you dare to act wildly on my turf? You're really asking for trouble!"

His voice was filled with the contempt and mockery of a victor, his gaze looking down as if he were looking at an insect that could be crushed at will.

"Take your girl and get out! Immediately, right now, disappear from my sight! If I ever see you within a kilometer of 'Phantom' again, I'll break your spine and feed you to the dogs! Get out!"

The final sound was like thunder, containing absolute deterrence.

The thugs and security guards who had just gotten up from the ground chimed in with sneers and curses.

"Pah! I thought he was a tough nut to crack, but he's just a show-off!"

"Trying to show off in front of Brother Xiong? You're lucky you're still alive!"

"Get lost, kid! Keep your eyes open from now on!"

"That girl is a pity..."

Chen Yang struggled to his feet, wiping away a non-existent trace of blood from the corner of his mouth. His face was filled with bitterness and resentment, yet he was powerless to resist.

He walked unsteadily toward Lina and whispered.

"Let's go."

Lina immediately stepped forward and took his arm, her gesture intimate and supportive. She pursed her lips tightly, gave Chen Yang a complicated look, then turned around abruptly and glared angrily at the smug Wang Shengxiong.

That silent, cold gaze was more powerful than any insult, causing Wang Shengxiong, who was in the midst of his victory, to feel a slight chill and a very subtle discomfort.

"Sorry……"

As she left the bar, a night breeze blew, and Lina whispered something, her tone filled with guilt and confusion.

"It's my fault for insisting on coming here... that caused you to get hurt..."

Chen Yang stopped in his tracks.

He leaned weakly against a lamppost by the roadside.

He took a few deep breaths and gave Lina a reassuring yet nonchalant smile. The smile looked somewhat pale under the dim streetlights of the night, but it was very sincere.

"It's just a minor injury, nothing serious. You'll be fine after a few hours of internal energy cultivation. I'm glad you're alright."

These things happen often, you get used to it... I'm still standing perfectly fine, aren't I?"

He even deliberately straightened his back, which resulted in another bout of coughing that seemed to aggravate his injury.

Seeing that Chen Yang could indeed walk freely, only his "breath" was slightly weak, Lina was somewhat relieved, but the doubts in the depths of her blue eyes deepened.

She wasn't stupid. She had seen how Chen Yang dealt with those security guards and thugs cleanly and efficiently before. He was definitely not someone who could be easily defeated with three punches.

There must be a reason for this! But Chen Yang didn't say anything, and she wisely chose not to ask for the time being.

The two hailed a taxi back to Lina's hotel. After getting out of the taxi, Chen Yang insisted on walking her to her room before saying goodbye.

As he walked unsteadily toward the elevator and disappeared around the corner, Lina, who had been trying to maintain her composure and worry, suddenly calmed down, her eyes becoming as still as a deep pool.

She closed the hotel room door thoughtfully, leaned against it, and slightly curled her slender fingers, letting a faint, chilling wisp of Dao energy brush past her fingertips.

As he left the hotel and turned into the darkness of the street corner, the paleness and "weakness" that Chen Yang had deliberately created on his face vanished instantly, and his eyes became sharp as lightning.

Instead of going home, he quickly completed his disguise in a secluded alley nearby—simple muscle movements altering his skeletal outline, supplemented by some secret technique that distorted the light in his eyes and the frequency of his aura.

Two minutes later, a middle-aged man with a weathered face and a sly look in his eyes emerged from the depths of the alley.

He wore a slightly pilled, inexpensive jacket, his steps steady yet carrying a common air of restlessness, completely transforming him into a different person.

With a different look on his face, Chen Yang once again stepped into the back alley of the brightly lit Phantom Bar—a place piled high with trash cans that emitted a slightly sour smell.

Instead of heading towards the main entrance, he went directly to the inconspicuous back door.

Two burly security guards, each with a cigarette dangling from their lips, also stood at the entrance.

With the kind of expectation for a "decent job" unique to ordinary people, he offered a cheap cigarette and took the initiative to speak with a smile.

"Hey guys, do you know anyone hiring at this place? Do you need security guards or general helpers? I don't have any other skills, but I'm strong and pretty quick."

I used to work as a security guard at a place in the southern part of the city, but the place closed down later..."

One of the security guards glanced at him sideways and exhaled a smoke ring.

"We are hiring, but we need real talent who can command respect, not just some dog tied up at the door for show. At your age, can you really handle it?"

His tone was filled with distrust and contempt.

Chen Yang put on that cautious, obsequious smile typical of middle-aged job seekers.

"You two brothers look like experts! I'm definitely no match for you, but I've practiced some farming skills, and usually three or five thugs can't get close to me. How about... you guys give it a try?"

Another security guard scoffed.

"Pretty cocky! Fine, let me see what you're made of!"

As he spoke, he spat out his cigarette butt, cracked his knuckles, and threw a punch at Chen Yang's cheek. The force was considerable, but the move was crude and the power loose, a typical thug's reckless charge.

Chen Yang, who plays a middle-aged man, immediately appeared to be on high alert, his movements somewhat flustered and clumsy, but his reaction speed was still on point.

He quickly dodged the punch, instinctively crossing his hands to block, which just happened to block the opponent's follow-up kick aimed at his lower abdomen.

At the same time, his footsteps seemed chaotic, yet he stepped in a small arc with extreme precision, and his body leaned forward in the process!
The security guard felt a force, not very strong but extremely tricky and sticky, wrap around his legs. His center of gravity was instantly pulled to the side, and he staggered forward two steps, almost falling! To outsiders, the whole process seemed like the middle-aged man was just lucky and reacted quickly, barely managing to block the attack.

"what?"

Both security guards were taken aback for a moment. After the guard who had kicked out regained his footing, the contempt on his face lessened.

Although the opponent's movements were awkward and he almost got kicked, his skills were clearly quite good, much better than the average person.

"Not bad, bro! You've got some skills! I didn't realize you were trained!"

The security guard who had previously questioned the security guard nodded, his tone becoming much gentler.

"Come with me, I'll take you to see the manager. If Xiong Ge agrees, you can stay."

"Thanks, thanks!"

The middle-aged man played by Chen Yang immediately showed a joyful and grateful expression, rubbing his hands and thanking him repeatedly.

Passing through the backstage corridor piled with cases of liquor and filled with the strong smells of alcohol, flavorings, and disinfectant, the familiar manager's office came into view once again.

The door was pushed open, and behind the desk, the manager named Wang Shengxiong was leisurely leaning back in his executive chair, smoking a cigar and exhaling clouds of smoke.

When he looked up and saw the unfamiliar middle-aged man walking in behind the security guard, his brows furrowed noticeably—it wasn't the hothead he had humiliated and chased away earlier.

This middle-aged man had a weathered look on his face and his eyes were a bit cloudy. He looked no different from any other middle-aged man who came out looking for work, except that he seemed to be a bit more physically robust.

The security guard who was leading the way stepped forward.

"Brother Xiong, this guy is here to apply for a security guard job. He said he used to work at other places. I tested him out outside just now, and he has some skill. He doesn't seem like he's just bragging."

Wang Shengxiong remained silent, a cigar dangling from his lips. His scrutinizing gaze swept over Chen Yang like a sharp blade, his imposing aura of authority undisguised.

He exhaled a puff of smoke and squinted.

"Applying for a security guard job? My place may not be big, but I don't just hire any Tom, Dick, or Harry. You say you've practiced a few things? How long have you practiced, and what style do you use? Show me what you've got. Don't think you can just come out here with a smattering of knowledge."

"Yes, yes, manager!"

Chen Yang hurriedly nodded and bowed, his face showing fear after being scolded and eagerness to prove himself.

"When I was young, I messed around at a martial arts school near my home for a few years, learning some rudimentary fist and foot techniques and hard qigong. Later... sigh, I stopped practicing seriously to make a living, but I still have the basics."

"Manager, would you like to see me demonstrate a set of military boxing?"

He suggested adopting an extremely humble stance.

"Military boxing?"

A hint of mocking boredom appeared on Wang Shengxiong's face.

"That's just a bunch of nonsense to fool the instructors! If you're going to fight, show me the real deal! Go at it with my brothers, have you got the guts?"

He casually pointed to the security guard who brought Chen Yang in and a follower next to him.

Dealing with such low-level characters, it's neither appropriate nor necessary for Wang Shengxiong to personally test them.

Chen Yang sneered inwardly, but his face immediately showed tension and hesitation.

"This... here? It wouldn't be good if we hurt the two brothers or damaged your things, Manager?"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Another security guard shouted impatiently.

"Just hit me! What are you hesitating for? Do you think we brothers are afraid of getting hurt by a nearly forty-year-old bastard like you?"

Having said all that, Chen Yang stopped "insisting," took a deep breath, and made all the necessary preparations.

"Those brothers, please show mercy!"

He awkwardly shifted his feet and assumed a vague starting stance.

Without another word, the security guard pounced on him, unleashing a chaotic barrage of punches and kicks. The force was more than sufficient, even creating a thud, and the movements were wide and sweeping, relying entirely on experience and sheer ruthlessness. The other security guard remained by his side, arms crossed, watching with a cold smile, seemingly ready to deliver the finishing blow at any moment.

The office is quite spacious, but the desk and sofa are still there.

After his disguise, Chen Yang is now playing the role of a middle-aged security guard who has some real skills but has become rusty and cowardly.

His movements were quite clumsy.

His blocking arm seemed weak, and his body swayed exaggeratedly with each collision; his dodging movements were also clumsy and slow, and several times he narrowly missed the opponent's fists and feet, or was "scraped" backward by the force of the punches.

He would occasionally throw a few punches and kicks in a moment of desperation, and the angles and force of his punches would seem quite clever to ordinary martial artists, but that was all.

A fight, not particularly intense but quite lively, unfolded in the office. A chair was "accidentally" knocked over.

Chen Yang, playing a middle-aged man, dodged several times, almost bumping into the ornamental potted plants in the corner, and screamed in fright.

Two or three minutes later, the security guard who had been "attacking" seemed to feel that he had done enough and was slightly out of breath.

Taking advantage of the situation, Chen Yang took several steps back, panting, and leaned against the wall, waving his hands.

"No, no, I'm too old, I don't have the stamina of this brother! Manager, do you think... I'm even presentable enough?"

He was covered in sweat, looking at Wang Shengxiong with a mixture of anticipation and fear.

Throughout the entire process, Wang Shengxiong watched coldly, a cigar dangling from his lips. In his eyes, the other man's skills were quite ordinary. His movements were slow, his strength average, and his reactions passable; it was clear he had some training, a bit of flashy moves, enough to deal with ordinary thugs. (End of Chapter)