146: Not only did they make a mistake, but they also attacked the wrong person?
The group of people wore matching black tactical suits, with half-masks covering their faces, leaving only their eyes exposed.
As they approached, they fanned out, forming a perimeter that trapped Ye Chen in the center.
Murderous intent spread like a tangible icy mist... The ordinary employees nearby had already turned pale with fright, retreating repeatedly to hide behind distant pillars or the reception desk, watching the scene in terror.
Some people had even begun to secretly dial emergency services.
Ye Chen swept a glance over the group, his brow furrowing slightly.
As expected!
None of these people were simple; they were all martial artists. Something must have happened upstairs.
Otherwise... Bai Wanqing wouldn't have failed to answer the phone, and no one would be blocking his way up!
His gaze turned cold. Ignoring the middle-aged man struggling and moaning on the ground, and not bothering with words, he turned directly and continued toward the CEO's exclusive elevator.
His pace remained steady and unhurried, as if the dozen or so murderous martial artists before him were merely air.
“Stop!”
Seeing this, the middle-aged man on the ground endured the pain and let out a hoarse roar.
“Stop him! Get him!”
The order was given!
The dozen or so black-clad martial artists' eyes sharpened simultaneously as their bodies moved abruptly!
Like sharks scenting blood, they converged on Ye Chen from all directions!
Fists whistled through the air!
Leg shadows whipped out!
Two of them even brandished cold glints—specially-made military daggers—stabbing directly for Ye Chen's back and ribs!
Ruthless!
Swift!
These were killing moves aimed entirely at vital points!
But... Ye Chen did not look back.
At the very instant the first person's fist was about to touch the back of his head—
Using his left foot as a pivot, his body shifted to the right like a ghost, and the fist grazed past his ear.
Simultaneously, Ye Chen bent his right arm, his elbow striking backward like a cannonball!
“Bang!”
A dull thud was accompanied by the faint sound of bones cracking!
The martial artist who had attacked from behind screamed as his chest collapsed, and he was sent flying like a kite with its string cut, knocking over two glass coffee tables in the waiting area!
Shards of glass flew everywhere!
Ye Chen didn't stop. While turning, his left leg swept backward like a steel whip!
“Crack! Crack!”
The two martial artists attacking from the side were hit in the shins. The crisp sound of bone fractures exploded as they cried out and fell to their knees.
Ye Chen used the momentum to spin around and face the remaining attackers head-on.
He didn't use any fancy techniques.
Just simple punches, palms, elbows, and knees!
But every strike was as fast as lightning and as heavy as a mountain!
“Bang!”
A punch slammed into one man's face; his nose collapsed, and he fell backward.
“Crack!”
A palm strike chopped another man's collarbone. The sound of fracturing bone was clearly audible as the man slumped down limply.
“Thump!”
A knee strike drove into the next man's abdomen. His eyes bulged, gastric juice sprayed from his mouth, and he curled up like a shrimp, rolling on the ground.
Ye Chen was like a tiger among sheep. Wherever he passed, men were tossed aside and screams rang out.
Individually, any of these black-clad martial artists could be considered experts, but before Ye Chen, they were like paper toys, unable to withstand a single blow!
Their attacks couldn't even touch the hem of Ye Chen's clothes.
Yet every casual counterattack from Ye Chen inevitably left one person completely incapacitated!
In a mere ten-plus seconds.
Only three black-clad martial artists remained standing.
They surrounded Ye Chen a few steps away, their hands holding daggers trembling slightly. The eyes beneath their masks were filled with shock and terror.
This group of people had never feared anyone.
But today.
They were made to understand what true fear felt like.
Is... is he even human?!
Ye Chen glanced at them, not wanting to waste any more time. He took a profound step using the Tiangang Step, his figure passing through the three of them like a teleportation.
In the instant they crossed paths, his hands moved like butterflies among flowers, lightly tapping the wrists of the three men holding knives.
“Clang, clang, clang!”
The three daggers flew from their hands almost simultaneously, hitting the marble floor with a crisp sound.
The three men felt their wrists go numb, and half their bodies lost all strength. They froze on the spot, unable to move.
Without looking back, Ye Chen walked to the CEO's exclusive elevator and pressed the up button.
“Ding.”
The elevator doors slid open.
He stepped inside, pressed the button for the top floor, and turned around.
The elevator doors slowly closed.
Outside the doors were black-clad martial artists moaning all over the floor.
Inside, Ye Chen's expression was calm, as if he had just casually swatted a few annoying flies.
The elevator began its ascent.
Ye Chen watched the floor numbers tick upward, his gaze tranquil.
The other party... did not come with good intentions.
But who could it be?
“Ding!”
The elevator doors opened, and Ye Chen walked out, heading straight into the CEO's office.
“Creak—”
The wooden door was pushed open.
The scene inside the office came into view.
In front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, Bai Wanqing was sitting perfectly fine on the leather sofa in the main seat, holding a cup of clear tea and talking to an old man on the opposite single sofa.
The old man was around sixty years old, wearing a simple Zhongshan suit.
Though his hair was white, his complexion was ruddy, and he looked energetic. He held a tablet computer, seemingly reviewing some data.
The atmosphere between the two... wait?
Far from being tense, it was actually quite harmonious.
Standing solemnly around the office were eight Bodyguards in black suits wearing earpieces.
The moment Ye Chen entered... the eight Bodyguards' gazes locked onto him simultaneously!
The tension in the air tightened instantly!
Like eight leopards ready to pounce!
Ye Chen was also stunned.
This... was completely different from what he had expected.
Bai Wanqing was fine?
Not only was she fine, but she was also chatting and laughing with this old man?
Then what was the deal with those people downstairs who blocked him and even tried to kill him?
Ye Chen's brow furrowed as he spoke in a deep voice, “Madam Bai, what's going on?”
His voice broke the atmosphere in the office.
Bai Wanqing looked up at Ye Chen, but before she could speak—
The old man on the sofa had already put down the tablet and turned his head, his gaze falling on Ye Chen.
“Young man.”
“You are Ye Chen?”
Ye Chen met his gaze and nodded. “That's right. And who are you?”
The vigilance in his heart had not dissipated.
This old man gave him a feeling of being unfathomable, far more dangerous than those martial artists downstairs!
Upon hearing this, the old man suddenly burst into laughter.
“Me?”
“This old man is called Xuanyuan Huo.”
“I'm an old friend of Old Zhou, and also an elder to this girl, Wanqing.”
“I came by today specifically to see her and, incidentally... I also wanted to meet you.”
Ye Chen: “???”
Xuanyuan Huo?
Old Zhou's friend?
Elder Zhou?
Ye Chen's mind raced.
A friend of Elder Zhou and an elder to Bai Wanqing... then he shouldn't be an enemy.
But then what about that group of people downstairs?
His brow furrowed even tighter as he couldn't help asking, “So... you're not here to harm Madam Bai?”
“Harm her?”
Xuanyuan Huo shook his head.
“Why would I harm Wanqing?”
“I watched this girl grow up; she's no different from my own niece.”
“I came today, first, to see how she's been doing lately, and second, because I heard there's an interesting young man by her side and wanted to see him for myself.”
Ye Chen: “...”
He fell silent.
So... it seemed he had made a mistake?
Not only had he made a mistake, but he had also beaten up the wrong people?
Every single one of those people down there was heavily injured.
This was awkward.
Looking at his expression, Bai Wanqing pursed her lips and smiled, her eyes full of playfulness.
Xuanyuan Huo, on the other hand, sized up Ye Chen with great interest and continued, “But having said that, young man, I saw your performance downstairs just now.”
He pointed to the screen of the tablet in front of him.
Only then did Ye Chen notice that the tablet was displaying the real-time surveillance footage of the building's first-floor lobby.
In the footage, those moaning black-clad martial artists were still lying on the ground.
“Nice moves.”
“Clean, decisive, exquisite control of power, and rich combat experience.”
“In my opinion...”
“You are stronger than most of the Dragon Group's field agents.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Chen's heart stirred, and he turned to look at Bai Wanqing.
Bai Wanqing put down her teacup, stood up, walked to Ye Chen's side, and explained softly.
“Ye Chen, this Elder Xuanyuan is the current leader of the Dragon Group.”
“Any important external assignment within the Dragon Group requires his approval.”
“Didn't I refuse Huang Tian's protection before? The Elder wasn't at ease, so he came over personally.”
She paused, the smile in her eyes deepening.
“As for those people downstairs...”
“They are people the Elder brought with him, and they are also elites of the Dragon Group.”
“The Elder said he wanted to see what you're made of, so... he had them test you.”
“I didn't expect...”
Bai Wanqing glanced at the footage on the tablet, her tone carrying a hint of teasing.
“It seems your ‘quality’ was enough to test all of the Elder's elites right onto the floor.”
Ye Chen: “...”