39: Chapter 39 So that's how it is

Hearing this, the Black-Clad Man in the center looked at the blood on the tip of his military bayonet and then at Hu Gualing, who was half-squatting on the ground. His eyes flickered, and he didn't dare step forward.

The others were far away, and since he was blocking Hu Gualing, they probably hadn't seen clearly.

But he knew very well what had happened.

When the bayonet in his hand stabbed into the kid's back, it immediately met resistance, as if he were stabbing a copper plate.

At that moment, he thought the kid was wearing a bulletproof vest. But looking at him now, besides the sliced clothing and the wound, there was nothing.

That was already very strange.

What was even stranger...

Earlier, when they were almost face-to-face, the kid had somehow used an inconceivable way of generating force to roll sideways two and a half times.

That odd and rapid movement looked exactly like a Move performed on wirework in a martial arts movie.

Could he really be a martial arts master?

That must be it.

To be hired by General Manager Wu Jinkai to secretly protect his daughter, he must have significant skills.

The Black-Clad Man's mind raced as he stared at Hu Gualing, quickly labeling him as a martial arts master and an expert in external hardening techniques.

As for him half-squatting on the ground now, he must be intentionally showing weakness, just like how he pretended to be ready to collect the money earlier to lure him in.

But his companions were urging him on, so he could only warn them, "This kid is strange. He's feigning weakness. Let's go at him together."

"Look at how cowardly you are, afraid to use your knife. Watch me," another of the Black-Clad Men mocked. He pulled out a short baton from his waist—identical to the one Hu Gualing had snatched. With a press of the handle, three sections of the shiny baton body popped out.

"Feigning weakness, huh? I'll see just how you feign weakness!" As he spoke, he arrived beside Hu Gualing and swung the baton down from above.

Hu Gualing subconsciously raised his baton to block.

Both batons had smooth surfaces; they bounced apart the moment they collided.

But the force transmitted through them was very real.

Hu Gualing was already injured, and after the roll, his leg and waist muscles were somehow aching slightly, which was why he was half-kneeling to catch his breath.

After raising his hand to block the strike, the force numbed his arm and aggravated the wound on his back, causing him to hiss and suck in a breath of cold air.

The Black-Clad Man took this opportunity to swing a second time.

This strike landed directly on the wound on Hu Gualing's back.

"Hiss—ah—!"

The piercing pain from his back made Hu Gualing cry out involuntarily.

The Black-Clad Man glanced at his knife-wielding companion, pointed his baton at Hu Gualing, and sneered, "This is the 'feigning weakness' you were talking about?"

The man with the knife wanted to argue, but then a sound came from the distance.

"Someone's coming?"

"Shh, don't make a sound. Listen carefully."

Everyone pricked up their ears.

Hope also ignited in Hu Gualing's heart.

Because the Jinkai Factory was in an industrial zone, there were no bars, clubs, or other entertainment facilities. Aside from streetlights, there were no other light sources on the road. Some sections even had broken streetlights that hadn't been repaired. At night, it was as quiet as a ghost town.

So, who was coming now?

The sound drew closer.

Hu Gualing's heart sank a little.

Based on his half-month of experience as a security guard, it wasn't hard to tell that this was the sound of a large truck driving on the road.

Some truck drivers were habitually overloaded; they never appeared during the day and only set out at night, preferring routes without streetlights or surveillance.

So, it was perfectly reasonable for one to appear on this road in the middle of the night.

The truck got closer and closer, seemingly reaching the factory gate.

Everyone could hear the wheels churning the thick summer night air, making an unpleasant buzzing sound. They even heard the truck hit a stone, clattering and jolting, before continuing forward without stopping for a second.

Hu Gualing's heart instantly plummeted to the bottom—

It really was just a passing truck.

As the sound faded into the distance, the Black-Clad Men relaxed.

"It's fine."

"Long nights lead to many dreams. Let's finish this kid off quickly."

With that, excluding the one rolling on the ground and the short one who seemed to be the leader, the other three Black-Clad Men took their respective weapons and surrounded Hu Gualing.

Right then, the sound of a horn suddenly reached Hu Gualing's ears.

It must have been the driver of that passing truck instinctively honking at an intersection ahead.

The sound was distant; by the time it reached here, it was barely audible.

But to Hu Gualing's ears, it was like a thunderclap.

The same life-and-death moment, the same truck horn...

He suddenly remembered the car accident that afternoon.

It was clearly a moving truck, so close it seemed impossible to stop, yet he had managed to dodge it with a roll.

At the time, he thought it was his body's potential exploding in a desperate situation.

If it had only happened once, that would have been a plausible explanation.

But just now, with a knife at his back and no idea what to do, it was that same rolling motion...

Lazy Donkey Roll!

The skill he learned in the holographic game could actually be used in reality!?

No! It was more than that.

Hu Gualing's gaze swept over the Black-Clad Man still rolling in pain on the ground, then looked at the three-edged military bayonet in the hand of the man in front of him, blood dripping from its tip, and the inexplicable wariness in the man's eyes.

So that's how it is.

So that's how it is!

Hu Gualing understood everything and suddenly wanted to laugh out loud.

The despair and fear in his heart—all negative emotions were swept away.

His entire body trembled with unprecedented excitement.

One of the Black-Clad Men held a folding knife and leaned down, saying, "Don't be afraid, it'll be quick."

Afraid?

Hu Gualing raised his head.

His eyes, brimming with confidence, caused the Black-Clad Man's pupils to shrink as he thrust his knife.

Not a trace of panic could be seen on Hu Gualing's face. He propped himself up with his arms and curled his body forward. After two rolls, he not only dodged the folding knife but also slipped through the gap in the trio's encirclement.

He even switched the retractable baton in his hand to his left.

Under the influence of his excitement, he temporarily couldn't even feel the pain from the wound on his back. He stood tall, his right hand clenched tight.

He threw out an ordinary-looking punch.

"Farmer's First Punch!"

"Farmer's Second Punch!"

"Farmers Three Punches!!"

Punch after punch after punch.

With three punches, all three Black-Clad Men were sent flying to the ground.

Shock filled the eyes of two of the Black-Clad Men.

When had they ever seen such powerful skill?

Even formal members of the organization were likely far inferior!

The other one, the one with the bayonet, spoke with a breath as thin as silk.

It seemed like a complaint, yet also like self-consolation.

"I knew it, he was feigning weakness..."

Looking at the last Black-Clad Man still standing.

Hu Gualing curled his finger. "Lie down yourself, or should I help you?"

The short Black-Clad Man, who was only 1.4 meters tall and would have to jump to hit Hu Gualing's chest, said solemnly, "I admit Your Excellency is strong, but I do not have my blade with me today. If there is a next time, I shall settle life and death with Your Excellency."

Hu Gualing rubbed his ear. "What kind of bird-brained accent is that? It's painful to listen to. Also, a dwarf like you can carry a blade? I bet the hilt would reach the back of your head."

The Black-Clad Man's chest heaved as he panted like an ox. Seemingly suffering a great humiliation, he cursed in his native dialect, "Bakayaro—!!"