The Gym Crashers Have Arrived

Gong Gong's arrival at the "Li Wang" club was like dropping a bombshell onto an already turbulent lake. The ripples it caused quickly spread to every level Lin Fan hadn't anticipated.

The first to react was the market.

Thanks to Gong Gong, the club's "human billboard," business boomed to the point of needing customer limits. Membership fees skyrocketed, yet it couldn't deter the surging crowds. This naturally dealt a severe blow to other gyms in the city. Several high-end fitness centers, in particular, saw a noticeable drop in customer traffic, leading to widespread complaints.

The most affected was "Peak Fitness," located in the city center. It had a similar positioning to "Li Wang" but catered to a more elite clientele. Its owner, Zhao Kun, was a businessman with a complex background. He made his fortune through shady means in his early years and, while now legitimate, his methods retained a ruthless edge. Watching "Li Wang" rake in money while his own establishment was deserted, Zhao Kun was so enraged he smashed several of his beloved Zisha teapots.

"Investigate! Find out everything about that monster, 'Gong Gong'! Is there any way we can poach him?" Zhao Kun roared at his subordinates.

However, the investigation results only made him more frustrated. Gong Gong's identity was a mystery, as if he had appeared out of nowhere. The contract he signed with "Li Wang" was also highly unusual, practically tying him to Manager Wang's chariot. The possibility of poaching him was extremely low.

"Damn it! If we can't get him, we'll ruin him! Make him leave!" A sinister glint flashed in Zhao Kun's eyes. "Go! Summon 'Mad Dog' Qiangzi and his crew! And find a few 'Master' trainers with real skills. I want to see if this Gong Gong really has three heads and six arms!"

Thus, a "challenge" operation targeting "Li Wang" and Gong Gong began to be meticulously planned in secret.

The next to react was the official side.

The reports in front of Chen Jing grew thicker and thicker. Gong Gong's appearance necessitated a reassessment of the potential risks and social impact of the "Shelter" project.

"Target Four (Giant Strength) is active frequently, and public attention continues to rise. The physical strength it has displayed has sparked widespread discussion among the public, with some interpretations leaning towards unscientific explanations like 'superpowers' or 'genetic modification,' posing a risk of social instability."

"Concurrently, multiple commercial entities and individuals of unknown background have shown abnormal interest in the 'Li Wang' club and Target Four. The possibility of conflict cannot be ruled out."

"Recommendation: Increase surveillance of Target Four and the 'Li Wang' club, develop contingency plans to prevent escalation and endangerment of public safety."

Chen Jing rubbed her temples, feeling that things were developing in the most troublesome direction. These "non-human" existences seemed to have no concept of "keeping a low profile."

Finally, and most secretly, were the forces that truly touched the edge of the "extraordinary."

Gong Gong's inhuman strength and defense not only attracted profit-seeking businessmen but also caught the attention of organizations and individuals who operated beneath the veil of conventional society, preserving ancient techniques or exploring the limits of the human body.

Ancient martial arts families, hidden Qigong sects, and even special institutions researching human potential all turned their gaze towards the "Li Wang" club. Unlike ordinary people who were merely spectating, they could discern a certain "incongruity" in Gong Gong's seemingly casual movements, something that defied current laws of physics and ergonomics. It was something... beyond the realms of "technique" and "strength," closer to the "origin."

A few afternoons later, the "Li Wang" club was still packed. Gong Gong had just finished a "warm-up" that left onlookers stunned – a handstand push-up on a single finger. He landed with ease, his face unruffled, and picked up the barbecue platter prepared by the staff, enough to feed five strong men, devouring it with gusto.

Manager Wang stood by, smiling broadly, his heart overflowing with joy. With Gong Gong around, the club was an absolute money-printing machine.

However, at that moment, a commotion erupted at the club's entrance.

Seven or eight burly men in matching black tracksuits, with fierce eyes and radiating hostility, entered in a menacing procession, escorting three individuals. The leader, with a shaved head and a hideous scar across his face, was Zhao Kun's top enforcer, the notorious "Mad Dog" Qiangzi.

"Fatty Wang! Business is good, huh!" Qiangzi greeted with a fake smile, his gaze like a venomous snake sweeping across the weightlifting area before settling on Gong Gong, who was feasting away.

Manager Wang's face changed. He knew trouble had arrived, but he forced himself to remain calm and stepped forward. "Qiangzi? What brings you here? This is a place for fitness, we don't welcome troublemakers."

"Trouble?" Qiangzi scoffed. "Fatty Wang, don't put it so harshly. We're just here to admire your 'star' coach and have a little spar, learn a thing or two!"

He deliberately emphasized the word "spar," his tone filled with provocation.

The atmosphere in the club instantly tensed. Members stopped their workouts and gathered around, a mix of excitement from watching the spectacle and disgust and a hint of fear towards these uninvited guests. It was obvious to everyone that these people meant trouble.

Coach Qin Tian also rushed over, standing beside Manager Wang, his sharp eyes fixed on Qiangzi and his group. "Qiangzi," he said sternly, "this is no place for you to run wild. If you want to spar, fine, but do it by the rules."

"Rules?" A thug behind Qiangzi shouted arrogantly, "Our Brother Qiang is the rule! We heard you have a monster who's pretty good at fighting? Have him come out! Let him have a go with our Brother Qiang! If he loses, he should scram and get out of our sight!"

This was a blatant declaration of a challenge.

All eyes turned to Gong Gong.

Gong Gong seemed oblivious to the argument, still focused on finishing his barbecue. Only after the last piece did he let out a satisfied burp, picked his teeth with a thick finger, and slowly turned around. His bloodshot eyes (a bit sleepy after his meal) glanced at Qiangzi's group, and he rumbled in a deep voice, "Was it you guys making all that noise, disturbing my meal?"

His tone was casual, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

Qiangzi's heart skipped a beat at Gong Gong's dismissive glance, but emboldened by his numbers and the "experts" he had brought, he stepped forward, pointing at Gong Gong. "You fatso, yeah, you! Stop pretending! Dare to fight us? If you lose, you crawl out of 'Li Wang'!"

Gong Gong tilted his head, seemingly not understanding the meaning of "crawl out," but he understood "fight." He felt his earlier "warm-up" wasn't quite enough and his spirits immediately lifted. He grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. "Fight? Okay! Perfect way to stretch and help digest!"

He strode towards Qiangzi and his group, his massive shadow seeming to engulf them.

"Mr. Gong, be careful! They might be prepared!" Qin Tian couldn't help but warn him. He could tell that the three silent middle-aged men behind Qiangzi, whose auras were clearly different from ordinary thugs, were likely the real trouble.

Those three: one was thin with large, gnarled knuckles and sinister eyes; another had bulging temples, a long breath, and a stable stance; the third was expressionless, his hands covered in calluses, carrying a faint scent of blood. All of them were clearly trained, and likely had blood on their hands!

Gong Gong waved them off dismissively. "No matter, just a bunch of weaklings."

Qiangzi, angered by Gong Gong's contempt, signaled to the burly man with the bulging temples. "Master Lei, please, teach this ignorant fellow a lesson!"

The burly man addressed as Master Lei nodded, stepped forward, and cupped his fists. "Bagua Zhang, Lei Hong, I await your guidance!" His footwork shifted, and he instantly closed the distance to Gong Gong, his palms striking in yin and yang fashion, carrying a fierce gust of wind directly towards Gong Gong's vital points! The palm techniques were tricky, and the speed was extreme, clearly indicating decades of practice and mastery.

An ordinary martial artist facing this sudden, close-range assault would likely be defeated instantly.

However, he was facing Gong Gong.

Gong Gong didn't even adopt a defensive posture. He simply stood there, letting Lei Hong's palms, capable of shattering stone, land squarely on his chest and abdomen!

"Bang! Bang!"

Two muffled thuds echoed, like striking a heavy oxhide drum!

Lei Hong's face contorted in shock! He felt as if he had struck a bronze-cast, iron-forged mountain! The rebound force jolted his arms numb, his blood and qi churned, and he stumbled back five or six steps before managing to steady himself, his gaze towards Gong Gong filled with terror!

"Did you not eat? So little strength?" Gong Gong patted the spot where he was hit, not even leaving a red mark, and grumbled in dissatisfaction.

The entire crowd erupted in shock!

To take a full-power blow from a Bagua Zhang expert without a scratch?! This is simply unbelievable!

Lei Hong was both shocked and enraged. Unable to maintain his composure, he let out a roar and charged again. His palm techniques became even more vicious, targeting vulnerable areas like the eyes, throat, and groin!

Gong Gong seemed to find this boring this time. Just as Lei Hong's palm was about to hit his eye, Gong Gong reacted faster, casually waving his hand as if swatting a fly.

"Slap!"

A crisp sound of a slap echoed!

Before Lei Hong could even see Gong Gong's movement, he was hit as if by a speeding truck. He spun through the air, knocking over several pieces of gym equipment before collapsing to the ground, unconscious. Half of his face was swollen like a pig's head.

Silence!

A deathly silence!

Qiangzi and the thugs he brought with him, their arrogant expressions instantly frozen, turned to fear and disbelief! Master Lei was a top expert they had paid a hefty sum to hire, and he couldn't even withstand a single slap from the opponent?!

The gaunt, sinister middle-aged man and the expressionless man also became completely serious.

"All of you, attack!" the gaunt man shouted, and he and the expressionless man attacked simultaneously!

The gaunt man moved like a phantom, circling behind Gong Gong. His fingers, like eagle claws, whistled through the air, aiming straight for Gong Gong's nape and spine! This was a killing move!

The expressionless man charged forward head-on, throwing a simple, direct cannon fist towards Gong Gong's face. The punch carried a fierce wind, imbued with the aura of bloody battles on the battlefield!

An ambush from both sides! Both were lethal attacks!

"Be careful!" Qin Tian and Manager Wang exclaimed simultaneously!

Gong Gong, however, burst into laughter: "Good, come on!"

He neither dodged nor blocked, allowing the eagle claws to grab his nape and the cannon fist to hit his face!

"Crack!" The sound of broken bones (the gaunt man's fingers).

"Bang!" The sound of fists colliding.

Gong Gong didn't even flinch. Instead, the gaunt man clutched his twisted, deformed fingers and let out a piercing scream. The expressionless man's fist was torn open and bleeding profusely, his entire arm trembling!

"Boring!"

Gong Gong seemed to have completely lost his patience. He struck out with both hands, casually delivering two more slaps!

"Slap! Slap!"

The gaunt man and the expressionless man, like kites with broken strings, followed Lei Hong's path. They flew out, screaming, crashed into the wall, and slumped down, unconscious.

In the blink of an eye, the three "experts" they had hired were all casually dealt with by Gong Gong, like swatting flies!

Qiangzi and his thugs were completely terrified. Looking at Gong Gong, who stood like a demon god, their legs went weak, and they nearly collapsed.

"Still want to fight?" Gong Gong's gaze swept over Qiangzi and the others, a grin revealing his white teeth. But to Qiangzi, that smile was more terrifying than a demon's.

"N-no more fighting! Esteemed Gong! We were wrong! We didn't recognize your greatness! Please be magnanimous and spare us!" Qiangzi dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing like he was pounding garlic. His thugs also knelt down in a pile, begging for mercy with tears and wails.

They were truly scared out of their wits! This was not human! It was a monster!

Gong Gong frowned in disgust: "Scram! Don't let me see you again!"

"Yes, yes, yes! We're leaving! Leaving immediately!" Qiangzi and the others, as if granted amnesty, scrambled to their feet, helped their unconscious companions, and fled the club in a sorry state, drawing scornful laughter and photos from the members.

With the crisis averted, the club erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause! Everyone looked at Gong Gong with admiration and awe.

Manager Wang was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes. He stepped forward and tightly grasped Gong Gong's hand (nearly crushing it with his strength), "Mr. Gong! You are truly the guardian deity of our club! With you here, who would dare cause trouble again!"

Qin Tian looked at Gong Gong, his eyes filled with extreme complexity. He had thought his years of martial arts training were a sharp weapon, but in the face of Gong Gong's absolute power, it seemed so pale and weak. A sense of confusion, "Where does the path of martial arts lie?", quietly surfaced in his heart.

Lin Fan, standing nearby, also breathed a sigh of relief, but a faint unease lingered in his heart. Gong Gong's high-profile display of strength, while solving the immediate problem, might attract more, stronger observers. Today's visitors were just underground boxers and traditional martial artists; what about next time?

However, greater storms often arise from unnoticed details.

Just as Gong Gong was effortlessly defeating the challengers and enjoying everyone's admiration, no one noticed that in an inconspicuous corner on the second floor of the club, a figure wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses, dressed in ordinary sportswear, was clearly recording everything that had just happened with a micro-camera hidden in the cuff of their sleeve.

As the footage of Gong Gong taking blows without injury and casually swatting away three experts was recorded, the corner of the mouth beneath the sunglasses curved into a cold, greedy smile.

He spoke softly into the miniature microphone under his collar:

"Target confirmed. Physical strength far exceeds estimates, suspected to possess 'immortal' characteristics. Preliminary assessment: possesses extremely high 'sample' value. Requesting execution of 'recovery' plan."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a processed electronic voice:

"Approved. Await opportunity, ensure live capture."