You Should've Said So

Bam!

681 kg.

Chen Chong drew back his fist and glanced at the red digits on the display, nodding slightly.

Beam Setting at Great Mastery, and having entered the First Realm—this was how hard he could punch now.

It was far beyond the 500 kg he'd managed before breaking through. And taking into account his improvements in speed, reflexes, and other areas, his strength truly belonged to a different "realm."

An ordinary fighter would probably punch somewhere between 500 and 600 kg just after breaking through.

But Chen Chong had mastered the Breathing Method and Combat Drill, and the two times he'd activated his forms had improved his basic physique. He'd already been able to punch 500 kg before breaking through, and afterward his strength had soared to a terrifying figure close to 700 kg.

And that still wasn't his full strength.

If he activated his Second Form and combined it with the Devour of his First Form, his combat ability would be no worse than that of fighters who had advanced deep into the First Realm.

And if he took another dose of Battle Angel...

Chen Chong recalled that marvelous, unstoppable feeling.

"Several days have passed, and this drug hasn't caused any side effects at all. This quality... The Infirmary couldn't find any information on it either. Looks like it isn't meant for the general public."

Chen Chong let out a breath.

The employees of a big company really did get extraordinary benefits.

And if Battle Angel was this genuine, then the bottle of A Series he had should be the real deal too.

He had a gut feeling that Xie Wushuang hadn't shortchanged him when she paid him, even though she'd told him not to trust her so easily again.

Xie Wushuang.

Thinking of that dreamy figure with her braided hair, Chen Chong lowered his eyes and couldn't help throwing a quick flurry of punches at the boxing machine.

After bringing the machine's readings in the Exclusive Training Room back within its normal range, Chen Chong thought, My current level is already close to the boxing machine's limit. Maybe it really is time to sign a contract.

He had actually been thinking of revealing that he'd broken through. After all, he couldn't keep it hidden forever.

But the problem was that The Park had clearly become much busier lately. He hadn't seen any of the executives, and he'd heard that the bar's boxing ring had been shut down for now.

Security Department vehicles were coming and going all day, and people often returned wounded.

Wang Li had said that Thunder Dragon and the Skull Gang had already fought several fierce battles over key businesses outside town.

Why aren't they sending me? Chen Chong thought regretfully.

Knock knock—

Chen Chong's door opened, and Wang Li poked his head in.

"Chen Chong, come on! Coach Yu's teaching a big class. There are tons of people today!"

"Hm?"

Chen Chong was a little surprised. Why had Yu Feng, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, suddenly decided to teach a class?

Still, it was perfect. Chen Chong had wanted to find him.

A short while later.

Chen Chong arrived at the Main Training Hall. Seeing not only bar fighters but also people in Security Department uniforms, he gave it some thought.

Could this be to deal with the recent situation?

Yu Feng saw him and nodded slightly.

"Come in. Join the line."

Chen Chong paused.

"Coach Yu, I need to talk to you."

"Whatever it is, we'll talk after class."

Yu Feng waved him off.

Yu Feng knew full well that he treated Chen Chong, a promising talent, with special consideration.

But for various reasons, he didn't want anyone else to notice.

It was better for everyone, including Chen Chong, that way.

But the kid seemed to have noticed anyway. And now he wanted to talk privately in front of everyone... Yu Feng's dark face gave nothing away, but Chen Chong knew him well enough to sense his displeasure. He had no choice but to join the line for now.

"On the General Manager's orders, all Thunder Dragon combat personnel who haven't broken through must step up their combat training. Today's the first class."

Yu Feng explained the situation, then continued.

"Combat is a practical skill. There's not much to say about it in theory. Let's have two people spar, and I'll teach as we go. Anyone want to volunteer?"

"Me! Coach Yu, let me!"

A burly man in camouflage stepped forward. He grinned.

"I hear the bar fighters are skilled. They're always saying one of them can take on two of us bare-handed! I've wanted to see for myself for ages. Too bad I'm not qualified to put on a show at the bar."

He swept his gaze over the fighters, wearing a provocative expression.

Especially when he saw the female fighters, he smacked his lips.

"I've watched you lose in the ring. You've got pretty good technique, and it's quite a show. Just a little dark down below."

The fighters glared at the burly man, but few dared to talk back.

Bar fighters and Security Department personnel were Thunder Dragon's two main branches of combat personnel, as well as its two main sources of manpower. It was only natural for there to be friction between them.

The Security Department said the fighters were monkeys in cages, while the fighters said the Security Department knew nothing but shooting guns.

But those were things they said behind each other's backs. In person, the Security Department held too high a position. Its members were always the ones throwing their weight around, and few fighters dared to stand up to them.

After all, Security Department personnel could drink beneath the ring when they were off duty, while the fighters never got the chance to watch the Security Department train. Those in and out of the ring naturally occupied different positions.

Yu Feng frowned slightly at the sight.

He knew this burly man, Wang Dejiang, a deputy captain in the Security Department. He was powerful.

Most deputy captains had already entered the First Realm. Those who hadn't were close, and could generally punch around 400 kg. They didn't really need basic combat training.

But the problem was that anyone who hadn't entered the First Realm was now supposed to study at the Fighter Dormitory. That was Long Zhibin's order.

Wang Dejiang already ranked near the bottom among the captains and had taken a lot of flak. Now he had to train alongside bar fighters and ordinary personnel. The few deputy captains in the class were all unhappy about it, and Wang Dejiang wanted to take out his frustration on someone.

If the fighter who went up against him was too weak, he'd suffer for it—and it wouldn't help with the lesson, either.

Yu Feng's gaze swept over Li Jun, Pei Li, Peng Wei, and the others. He felt they were all a little lacking compared to the Security Department's deputy captain. Finally, he settled on Chen Chong.

"Chen Chong, spar a couple of rounds with Captain Wang."

Chen Chong raised an eyebrow and stepped forward.

"Coach Yu..."

"I just said we'd talk after class. Didn't you hear me?"

Yu Feng saw Chen Chong's expression and cut him off. His dark face had become openly impatient.

Chen Chong was speechless. He didn't want to shout "I broke through!" in front of everyone. He'd rather speak to Yu Feng privately, but with things like this...

"Hey, the fighters are out of material, so they don't even dare get in the ring? Didn't you say one of you could take on two of us? What's the matter? The ring's supposed to draw blood, too. I heard the bar has a 'shit and piss' theme day. Were you the featured act?"

Wang Dejiang folded his arms and taunted them. The Security Department members who had spread out burst into laughter. The fighters' faces darkened, including Li Jun's.

Chen Chong turned around.

"Do you like talking so much?"

"What, you won't let me talk? Then show me what you can do! Don't just run to Coach Yu and call him daddy! Thunder Dragon's at a critical point right now. If we have to count on a bunch of soft monkeys like you, we're finished!"

Wang Dejiang continued to jeer.

Chen Chong looked him up and down, then turned to Yu Feng.

"Same rules as at the bar?"

Yu Feng's gaze shifted.

"No. No blood."

"Fine."

Chen Chong took his place opposite Wang Dejiang.

Wang Dejiang sneered.

"You're actually brave enough to come up?"

"Enough with the bullshit."

Chen Chong's voice was cold.

Wang Dejiang's expression changed at once.

As a member of the Security Department—and a deputy captain, no less—he'd never met a fighter who dared speak to him like that.

His face darkened.

"Got a filthy mouth, huh? Let's see if I can squeeze the piss out of you!"

Yu Feng frowned and waved a hand.

"Begin!"

Wang Dejiang immediately took up a perfectly standard military boxing stance.

Chen Chong barely moved. He just stood there loosely and slowly raised one arm.

Then he beckoned to his opponent.

The Security Department members, both in and out of the ring, were incensed. Even Yu Feng's expression stiffened.

That was far too careless.

He thought Chen Chong could hold his own against Wang Dejiang, but a battle-hardened combatant was different from a ring fighter. He didn't think Chen Chong had even a fifty percent chance of winning.

The kid was getting a little too cocky today. Yu Feng's face tightened.

Pei Li and the others frowned, too. For various reasons, they didn't want Chen Chong to lose, but they were also wary of the strength of a Security Department deputy captain.

Why isn't he taking this seriously? Who would benefit if he lost? Pei Li thought, pressing her lips together.

Only Wang Li kept applauding and cheering Chen Chong on. As far as he was concerned, Chen Chong couldn't lose.

At Chen Chong's gesture, Wang Dejiang's face darkened. He spat.

"Quit acting like a badass!"

He stepped forward and kicked high at Chen Chong, trying to plant his boot right on his face!

His heavy military boot came in fast, almost like a black shadow flashing straight at Chen Chong!

The crowd didn't even have time to cry out. They only glimpsed another shadow sweeping upward, striking Wang Dejiang in the lower back before he could react.

It seemed to be Chen Chong's kick.

Wang Dejiang's foot had nearly landed when a sharp, numb pain suddenly struck his lower back. His knee buckled, and he pitched face-first onto the floor.

An indescribable discomfort surged through his waist. His face changed, his lips trembled, and in the end, he couldn't stop himself from wetting his pants.

The crotch of his camouflage trousers grew darker by the second, and a foul stench spread through the training hall.

Chen Chong immediately covered his nose and took two steps back.

"That stinks."

Not one of the students watching said a word. Every face was blank with shock, fighters and security personnel alike.

Wang Dejiang, a deputy captain in the Security Department, had been kicked so hard he'd lost control of his bladder?

Yu Feng instantly lowered his folded arms, his emotions showing plainly.

"You broke through?"

Chen Chong finally turned to him.

"Yeah, I did."

Yu Feng's expression shifted. He started to speak, stopped, then finally managed to get one sentence out.

"Why didn't you say so sooner?"