"That's right, it was me."
Hearing Zhao Tianlong's words, Shen Lang's face was calm as he replied indifferently.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Tianlong was furious.
Zhao Tianlong had two sons, one named Zhao Xiong and the other Zhao Qiang.
Zhao Xiong was a proud son of heaven, exceptionally outstanding in all aspects since childhood. He was admitted to Longguo's top university and joined the special operations team of the Martial Guard Department, a source of constant pride and boasting for Zhao Xiong.
As for Zhao Qiang, he was a good-for-nothing, excelling only in drinking, gambling, and womanizing – a true prodigal son.
Zhao Tianlong hated Zhao Qiang's lack of ambition and was ashamed to mention him, even doing so through gritted teeth on rare occasions.
However, no matter how much of a prodigal son or how disappointing he was, he was still his biological son.
Seeing Zhao Qiang paralyzed with fear on the ground, his face pale, and having urinated himself, how could Zhao Tianlong not be consumed by rage?
"Ah Da, cripple this brat for me."
In his extreme anger, Zhao Tianlong shouted at a burly bodyguard with a cold gaze and six visible monastic scars on his head.
"Understood, Mr. Zhao."
Hearing Zhao Tianlong's command, the bodyguard with six scars stepped forward to face Shen Lang.
With a slight clench of his fist, his bones made a cracking sound like firecrackers popping.
"Kid, my name is Ah Da. What's yours?"
Looking at Shen Lang, Ah Da sneered.
"Shen Lang."
Shen Lang replied without a hint of panic.
"Shen Lang?"
Upon hearing the name, Ah Da sneered, "You're the one who injured those people on the ground, aren't you? I must say, your attacks were ruthless. While you didn't kill anyone, you've left them permanently crippled. They'll likely spend the rest of their lives confined to bed."
From the moment he entered, Ah Da had observed the injuries of Ma Sangou and the others, noting that their bones were almost all shattered, rendering them completely useless for life.
However, seeing their pathetic state, Ah Da showed no fear.
This was because Ma Sangou and his ilk were merely boastful brutes, whereas he was a true martial artist.
He hailed from Shaolin, had trained in the Thirty-Five Chambers, and had overcome the Eighteen Bronze Men formation. There were few people he deemed worthy of his attention.
In the years since he descended the mountain, he had never encountered an opponent.
Once, Zhao Tianlong was surrounded by three hundred workers demanding their wages at his office building, too afraid to even descend.
Those workers, accustomed to arduous labor, were all powerful. However, Ah Da, fearless, single-handedly defeated all three hundred of them, leaving them severely injured. Consequently, they didn't even dare to demand their jobs back and fled Nanling by train that very night.
Therefore, Shen Lang's injuries to Ma Sangou and his men were insignificant in Ah Da's eyes.
He was thirty-five years old and already at the peak of the Yellow Realm, just one step away from the Profound Realm.
Ah Da believed that with further effort, he might reach the Profound Realm within two years, shattering the martial arts iron law of no Profound Realm practitioners under forty and becoming a legend.
"Kid, I won't bully you. I'll give you a chance. Let you punch me once. After you've taken your shot, I'll make my move."
In his arrogance, Ah Da adopted a half-crouch stance, fists held at his waist, ready to strike. He looked at Shen Lang and said with a smile.
"Are you serious?"
Hearing Ah Da's words, Shen Lang asked, "You're not joking, are you?"
"A monk never lies. I never speak falsehoods. You can put all your strength into it, use your full power, it's fine."
Ah Da said, "Go ahead."
"Alright—"
Shen Lang smiled upon hearing this, "Since you've said so, I won't refuse."
With that, Shen Lang raised his hand and punched Ah Da directly in the chest.
Yet, as the punch landed, Ah Da's face showed no sign of pain.
"Hahaha—"
The other bodyguards, seeing this, mocked, "Kid, don't you know Ah Da is from Shaolin? He practices the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt hard qigong. When he activates it, let alone your fists, even knives and axes can't harm him!"
"Oh, Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt?"
Facing the mockery of the bodyguards, Shen Lang appeared a little embarrassed and said, "Sorry, I suddenly forgot Shaolin has such a formidable technique."
"No matter—"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Ah Da chuckled, "Since you didn't know, that punch earlier doesn't count. I'll give you another chance to punch."
"Really?"
Hearing Ah Da's words, Shen Lang smiled playfully and said, "I'm worried you might regret it."
"Regret?"
Ah Da snorted coldly, "My Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt have long been perfected. It's impervious to water and fire, and invulnerable to blades and spears. Not only one more punch, even if you punched a hundred more, what have I to fear?"
"Come on, don't hold back. Use your full strength. If you can make me feel even a sliver of pain, then I'll admit defeat."
"Alright—"
Shen Lang replied, "Since you've put it that way, if I don't punch again, it might seem like I'm looking down on you."
"In that case, take another punch from me."
As the words fell, Shen Lang retracted his fist and launched a swift straight punch, landing on Ah Da's chest.
"Kid, that's no good. Your weak and feeble punch still hasn't caused me any pain."
After enduring Shen Lang's second punch, Ah Da smiled and said.
"Haha, what a joke! No one can break Ah Da's Golden Bell Shield and Iron Shirt. How can this kid possibly break it?"
After Ah Da spoke, the bodyguards erupted in another wave of mocking laughter.
"He thinks his punches are so powerful, but he doesn't realize that hitting Ah Da is like cotton hitting steel; it has no effect whatsoever."
Facing the taunts of Ah Da and the bodyguards, Shen Lang smiled and said, "No rush. Let the bullet fly for a while first."
"What?"
Hearing Shen Lang's words, Ah Da and all the bodyguards were stunned, unable to comprehend what Shen Lang was up to.
Five seconds passed, Ah Da remained unharmed.
Ten seconds passed, Ah Da remained unharmed.
At that moment, Ah Da and all the bodyguards looked at Shen Lang as if he were an idiot.
"Ah Da, stop messing around with this brat. Go ahead and cripple him. I'll take responsibility if anything happens."
Seeing this, Zhao Tianlong shouted at Ah Da.
"Understood, Mr. Zhao. I'll take care of him now."
Hearing Zhao Tianlong, Ah Da respectfully replied, then straightened his body and threw a punch directly at Shen Lang.
This punch was unadorned but contained explosive, terrifying power.
In the blink of an eye, the punch was upon Shen Lang.
However, just as the fist reached Shen Lang's forehead, it suddenly stopped.
"Ah Da, what are you doing?"
Seeing Ah Da halt his attack, Zhao Tianlong roared.
"Pfft—"
As Zhao Tianlong's words fell, Ah Da spat out a mouthful of blood and then fell backward to the ground.
"Wh... what's happening?"
Seeing Ah Da, who had just demonstrated such ferocity, collapse severely injured in an instant, Zhao Tianlong and all the bodyguards' pupils widened in shock.
Zhao Min, seeing this, was also greatly astonished, at a loss for words.