Essence Stones of Different Elements

[Warning! Warning! The host is about to encounter one tier-three water deity and multiple tier-one and tier-two water deities. Please leave this area immediately to avoid disaster.]

As Zeng Shen reached the entrance of the dockside bar, he heard the system notification and smiled. They really were inside.

He immediately moved to enter.

But the next second, two men dressed like punks standing at the entrance blocked his way.

"We're closed. Get lost."

Zeng Shen frowned, circled around to the back entrance, and looked up at an open window in a private room on the second floor.

With a thought, he cast Flight, shot through the window, opened the private room's door, and headed into the hallway. He intended to find Huang Ziliang and the other thugs, farm his survival points, and leave.

However, the moment he stepped out, he heard an angry roar from the ground floor.

"Useless trash!"

Zeng Shen frowned slightly, turned, and headed toward the stairs.

At that moment, in the bar downstairs.

Huang Ziliang and his lackeys stood trembling in front of a booth.

On the sofa sat a brutish man with a gold chain around his head and a fleshy face. Holding a cigar, he puffed away as he berated them.

Several sturdy men who looked like hired muscle stood around him.

"Well? I told you to bring Liu Miao to the quarry north of town. It's been two days, and I still haven't seen her. Do you think you can ignore your boss?" the brute demanded harshly.

The yellow-haired thug said shakily, "Boss Wu, give us another two days."

Smack! Boss Wu rose and slapped him. "Another two days? Do you want me to throw you into the sea to feed the sharks right now?"

Terrified, the yellow-haired thug begged, "Ah, please don't, Boss Wu! We went yesterday, but we didn't expect that woman to have someone with her who could really fight. He beat us all up. Look at the wounds on our faces-he did that."

"Someone who could fight? Did that bitch's grandfather hire a bodyguard?" A vicious glint flashed in Boss Wu's eyes. "That old bastard. Looks like he's taking precautions against me."

"Boss Wu, we promise we'll bring her here tomorrow," the yellow-haired thug said, clutching his swollen cheek.

"They're on their guard now. How the hell are you going to grab her? Get lost." Boss Wu kicked the yellow-haired thug, then turned to leave with his men.

The yellow-haired thug dared not dodge. The kick sent him sprawling right beside the stairs, where he spotted someone standing and eavesdropping. He immediately shouted:

"Who are you?"

"Huh?" The brute, who had been about to head out, heard him and turned. "What rat's hiding there listening? Get the hell out here!"

Seeing that he had been discovered, Zeng Shen stopped hiding. He stepped out and sneered at the so-called Boss Wu.

"A brute like you picking on a dying man and a defenseless woman-what's impressive about that?"

Zeng Shen's words instantly angered Boss Wu, who ordered his men:

"Grab him and smash his mouth in."

All his men, including the yellow-haired thug and his lackeys, immediately rushed at Zeng Shen.

Zeng Shen cast Potential Empowerment to boost his four attributes, then slapped Huang Ziliang, the yellow-haired thug who reached him first, sending him flying to the floor.

[The host has overcome a stronger opponent and subdued a tier-three water deity. Survival points +100.]

Hearing the system notification, Zeng Shen smiled. He reached out and slapped each of the yellow-haired thug's lackeys, knocking them all to the floor.

Then he gave each of Boss Wu's approaching enforcers a shoulder throw, slamming them down.

"Damn, what's with these enforcers? None of them survived three years into the future?"

Zeng Shen grumbled and looked toward the so-called Boss Wu by the entrance.

At that moment.

Boss Wu stared in terror at the young man approaching him.

Moving far faster than any of them could have imagined, this young man in a black suit had flitted like a phantom through the dim bar, knocking his men down one after another and leaving them howling in pain.

He immediately turned to flee.

But Zeng Shen appeared in front of him in an instant and grabbed his collar.

"Whose mouth did you say you were going to smash in?"

"Ah!" Boss Wu's jaw dropped, and his cigar fell to the floor. "I-I..."

Smack!

Zeng Shen slapped him, but the notification he wanted never came. He was speechless.

This big boss wouldn't even survive three years. He was worse than his own lowliest lackeys.

What a waste.

And here I thought I could get a first-time reward.

Dissatisfied, Zeng Shen slapped him again, then turned and sat in a nearby booth. He picked up the liquor there, poured himself a glass on the table, and swept his gaze over them.

"Useless trash. Get out, all of you. Don't disturb my drinking."

Only then did the stunned Boss Wu come to his senses. He roared, "What's your name? Leave your name if you've got the guts!"

Zeng Shen thought for a moment. "Ye Li, from the Ye family of Yinhai."

"Fine. I'll remember you."

Leaving that threat behind, Boss Wu filed out with his men.

After the yellow-haired thug and the others left and Zeng Shen received 580 survival points, he stopped sitting on the sofa putting on an act and left the bar.

Outside, he quickly circled the surrounding area before taking off his mask. Then he returned to where he had parked his RV, got in, and drove back to the Juling office building.

"I wonder if they're up yet."

Muttering to himself, Zeng Shen sent Li Yuqing a message.

"Babe, are you up? Want to go out for something to eat?"

Li Yuqing soon replied with a voice message.

"We're up, but Tongtong and I don't want to go out."

"What do you want? I'll bring it over."

"Burgers and fried chicken."

"Sure."

About half an hour later, Zeng Shen arrived at the door of Close as Siblings and let himself in. Only Li Yuqing was inside.

"Hubby, you're finally back! Tongtong and I were practically starving."

Li Yuqing wore nothing but a light camisole nightdress, which clearly outlined every curve of her body.

The sight made Zeng Shen's mouth go dry. "Where's Tongtong?"

"She went downstairs to pick up a package. She'll be back soon."

"Oh, then let's eat first." Zeng Shen put the takeout on the table and began unpacking it. "Honey, I've been learning fighting techniques at the Lihuo Martial Arts Hall lately. While I was there, I asked the head instructor about a few women's self-defense moves. I'm planning to teach you and Tongtong. What do you think?"

"You want to teach us self-defense, hubby?" Li Yuqing said between bites of her burger. "I used to practice sanda, so I don't need it. But Tongtong hasn't, so you could teach her."

"Then ask her if she wants to learn when she gets back."

"Okay."

After they had eaten for a while, Liu Tongtong appeared in the living room with her package and picked up a burger. Li Yuqing told her that Zeng Shen wanted to teach them women's self-defense. Her curiosity piqued, she said she wanted to learn.

Zeng Shen immediately put down his burger. "No time like the present. Let me teach you a simple over-the-shoulder takedown."

"Sure." Liu Tongtong put down her burger.

Zeng Shen smiled smugly to himself. Time for a first-time reward. He had her stand in front of him, then suddenly grabbed her arm and performed an over-the-shoulder takedown, lifting her and pinning her to the floor in an instant.

[The host has displayed unmatched valor and subdued the tier-four chief of the ghost race. Survival points +1000.]