It's Wu Gang! That officer!!
In the darkness, he stood there in his crisp uniform, his body like a javelin, his face exuding a fierce aura, his eyes gleaming, with a green military convertible jeep parked beside him.
I slammed on the brakes, pulled the car over to the side of the road, and walked toward him.
Wu Gang kept his eyes fixed on me, his expression unreadable, neither happy nor angry, just staring at me calmly.
When I walked up to him, he suddenly moved and took out a pack of "God of War" cigarettes from his pocket.
I know this is a special type of cigarette supplied to the military, especially field troops.
This cigarette contains cough syrup in its tobacco, which gives it a slightly sweet taste in the throat and is said to have a certain pain-relieving effect.
You can't buy it on the market.
He handed me one, then lit one for himself. We each lit our own cigarettes and glanced at each other.
Neither of them spoke throughout the entire process.
After taking a drag of his cigarette, Wu Gang spoke. His tone was stiff, but not hostile. His first words were:
"You little rascal, I've been following you all the way back. If you don't come out in ten minutes, or dare to spend the night at Xiaonan's house, I'm ready to storm in and drag you out!!"
Before I could speak, he stared into my eyes and asked bluntly, "What's your relationship with Xiaonan? Are you two dating?"
Part One: In the Martial World, Not in Control of One's Own Fate, Chapter Fifty-Four: Very Sudden
I was speechless, and looked at Wu Gang with a wry smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed. I glanced around to cover it up and said, "Your cigarettes are pretty good."
Wu Gang immediately pulled out a whole box of "God of War" cigarettes, shoved it into my hand, and asked bluntly, "Are you dating Xiaonan or not?"
“Of course not.” I shook my head firmly. “I’m just her assistant. She’s my boss… that’s all.”
"Assistant?" Wu Gang stared at me with his bull-like eyes: "You're his male secretary?"
"Not a secretary, but an assistant, a personal assistant." I thought for a moment and finally came up with a fitting description: "Just like a service soldier!"
Wu Gang nodded in understanding, then stared at me again: "You're really not dating her? Kid, don't expect to hide it from me!"
I took a drag of my cigarette. The curtness in his tone annoyed me, but I patiently replied, "No, no, there's no need to hide it."
"That's good." Wu Gang seemed relieved, staring into my eyes. "Perhaps I was a little too nervous, because Xiaonan was so concerned about you tonight... She even called the old man's former subordinate for you, something she never does!" His tone became serious, carrying a hint of warning. "Since you two aren't dating, that's even better! I'm telling you, you'd better not get any ideas about that! Don't think I'm saying this for no reason. Anyway, I'm not blind; I can tell a thing or two about the two of you tonight! You... do you hear me?"
To be honest, I have a personality trait where I respond better to gentle persuasion than force!
If someone says the same thing to me politely, I'll most likely feel bad about refusing them and agree... but if it's said in a threatening and warning tone...
My face was already showing some impatience, but I remained patient. Anyway, I really didn't intend to do anything with Fang Nan, so I said irritably, "Don't worry, I don't have that kind of thought."
After saying that, I looked up at him and asked, "Can I leave now?"
"Wait!" Wu Gang stopped me. He seemed to think for a moment, then said, "How about this, you should change jobs. I'm a little worried about someone like you staying around Xiaonan... How much are you making now? A friend of mine runs a company that needs people. I'll give him a call, and you..."
Before I could finish speaking, a surge of anger welled up inside me!
This is fucking outrageous! Who the hell do you think you are?! Why should I be fired just because you say something?! And you're offering me a new job?! A handout?!
If I used to find this guy quite agreeable, now I just don't like him at all.
I squinted, my face full of arrogance: "Who are you! What are you to Fang Nan? Mind your own business!"
Wu Gang raised his eyebrows: "Kid, I'm doing this for your own good! The way Xiao Nan looks at you, even a blind man could see what she's saying! Let me tell you, don't get any hope! Even if Xiao Nan likes you, you have no chance!"
"Who the hell is relying on Fang Nan!" I gritted my teeth, straightening my neck. "I work to support myself, what's it to you! You want me to leave? Fine! Let Fang Nan tell me herself! If she says I need to quit, I'll leave immediately!" I glared at him. "Get out of my way!"
After saying that, I started to walk past him. Wu Gang, that guy, seems to have a fiery temper, which was evident from his behavior tonight. Seeing that I was about to leave, he suddenly reached out and grabbed my shoulder! My shoulder tightened, and my eyebrows shot up: "What, you want to fight?"
I reached out and grabbed his wrist. He was startled, and instinctively grabbed my wrist back. We struggled for a moment, and he immediately realized that I was no pushover. He perked up and reached for my waist with his other hand, grabbing my belt and pulling me up forcefully!
"Trying to grab me?" I took a deep breath, my legs feeling like they were nailed to the ground. Wu Gang tried to lift me but failed, and I grabbed his neck and pressed him down hard. At the same time, my arms were wrapped tightly around his neck, making it hard for him to breathe!
He ducked low, bent over, and braced his shoulder against my waist. With a sudden burst of strength, he lifted me up and threw me to the ground. I landed calmly in mid-air, my feet perfectly steady. Wu Gang looked at me with increasing excitement: "Good job, kid! You've got some skills, haven't you?"
After saying that, he made a hand gesture and said to me, "Come on! Let's practice!"
I curled my lip and said, "Are you fucking crazy?! I don't have time to play your crazy game."
I turned to leave again, but suddenly heard a gust of wind behind me… This guy has some nerve! He actually went and attacked me from behind! I sidestepped and slid a step away. Wu Gang missed his punch, but he quickly withdrew, not recklessly launching an attack. This guy's hand stance was very precise; it was clear he had practiced. His lower body was also very stable. His footwork wasn't light and quick, but it was obvious that his stance was quite good.
Seeing that I was about to leave again, Wu Gang pressed forward, throwing two jabs at my face. I parried and retreated, unable to hold back my curses: "Are you fucking done yet! I'm not going to be polite anymore!"
After saying that, I dodged another punch, slid to his side, and then swung my elbow at his back. Wu Gang, though as strong as an ox, was surprisingly agile and immediately jumped away. My anger flared, and with a shout, I assumed a fighting stance and charged forward, meeting Wu Gang's fist head-on!
I parried his punches with both arms while simultaneously kicking him in the stomach.
My legwork is much stronger than my fists. In fact, those who study kung fu know the saying: "The fist is a door, but the real skill lies in kicking."
In terms of force, legs are more lethal than fists.
Real kung fu is nothing like the so-called martial arts movies, with things like internal energy, divine skills, and sword energy... It's also not like those fixed moves that come out in dozens or hundreds of times...
Those TV shows that make fists, feet, knives, and guns look fancy are all just fixed routines. They look beautiful, but they have no practical use in real combat.
To a true martial arts practitioner, those so-called national martial arts competitions are nothing but a performance. The routines and movements are so precise and must be executed flawlessly... not a fraction higher, not a fraction lower... It's all just for show. Where is the martial arts? It's practically "dance"!
In a real fight, can your opponent use such a fixed and rigid set of moves?
The real martial arts masters are mostly hidden among the common people. Those so-called martial arts instructors who spout nonsense are, in my opinion, just showing off their moves. No matter how beautiful their routines are… what's the difference between them and slightly more advanced calisthenics?
The essence of martial arts should be a "striking technique." Can something that has no practical application still be called a striking technique? Moreover, true martial arts cannot consist of dozens or hundreds of moves, nor do they have fixed routines! It emphasizes efficiency and accuracy!
If I had to use a word to describe preparation, it would be to aim for a single, decisive strike!
Therefore, when you watch real kung fu practitioners fight, it's not like the intense battles on TV... usually, it's over in no time.
However, when I was learning martial arts, I did master a lot of basic skills, but my master didn't teach me much of the real, deadly, heavy-handed techniques.
Because those kinds of "heavy blows" are so powerful that if you don't use them, you'll injure someone! If it really lands, it's normal to cause serious injury! If you're unlucky, it could even be fatal! My master knew I was young and impetuous, not a standard martial artist, and that I would be navigating society in the future, so he didn't teach me those heavy blows. But I did develop a solid foundation in those years, so I was agile, had good coordination, and plenty of strength.
Wu Gang, on the other hand, was clearly a skilled fighter with a military background. His punches and kicks were sharp and his movements clean and swift. We exchanged blows a few times, each taking a couple of hits, but neither of us used our full strength; it was more of a test. I blocked one of his legs with my arm earlier, and it still felt a little numb—this guy's legs are tough!
The security guard at the entrance of the residential compound was already heading this way. It was so late at night, and the two guys were fighting not far from the compound entrance. The security guard didn't notice at first, but after seeing it, he seemed hesitant about whether to come and get involved.
"Stop!" Wu Gang suddenly took two steps back and lowered his arm: "I'm not fighting anymore!"
He was a little annoyed: "Damn it, I can't fight you freely." He looked me in the eyes: "If I break you, the little girl will come after me tomorrow."
I couldn't help but scoff. Nonsense, do you think I want to fight you this late at night?
Please, you're a military officer! You can't be too lenient or too harsh when it comes to fighting; it's so frustrating!
Wu Gang gave me a deep look: "Alright, no matter what, I'm relieved that you and Xiaonan aren't in that kind of relationship." He paused, then stared at me and said in a deep voice, "Kid, let me tell you this clearly, Xiaonan isn't an ordinary girl. I won't say anything else, you know it in your heart. If you're a smart person, you'll understand what you should and shouldn't do."
He sighed, patted my arm hard, and rubbed his chin: "Damn, you're actually a pretty good guy, what a pity... what a pity..."
After saying that, he turned and rushed into the jeep, suddenly tossing a pack of "War God" cigarettes out of the car. He waved at me and said, "Hey, sorry tonight! Kid, you've got guts, I like that!" Then he cursed, "Damn it, what a pity!"
After saying that, he stepped on the gas, and the Jeep roared off like a steel monster...
I stood there, dumbfounded, holding the cigarette in my hand.
Is Wu Gang out of his mind? He ran away halfway through a fight and even gave me a pack of cigarettes...
However, I could see his license plate very clearly...
YinAXXXXXXX
The sign for the Military Region Command!
The evening breeze made me feel a bit cold, even though I was already covered in sweat from my workout.
I turned and got into my Audi A8, started the car, and drove home. On the way, I couldn't help but wonder: what exactly was the relationship between Wu Gang and Fang Nan? What was Fang Nan's background?
And that military vehicle license plate... the "寅A" at the beginning of the license plate clearly indicates it belongs to the military region command...
That's a bit scary!
Thinking back to Fang Nan's phone call to some "bureau chief" tonight, and then Wu Gang's mention of some "old man," and how the bureau chief was said to be the "old man's" former subordinate...
The more you think about it, the deeper it becomes!
If all my guesses are true... wow! Fang Nan is a young lady from a very wealthy family!!
Some might say, what's wrong with the children of high-ranking officials in wealthy families? Are they not allowed to have a relationship with ordinary people?
That's a joke!
Those are just plots from low-brow TV dramas and novels! Real wealthy families would never allow their children to be associated with ordinary people! Absolutely not!
Especially in officialdom, the hierarchy is even more rigid!
There was this guy in a bar who I got along with pretty well, like Aze and Qiaoqiao. He was a decent friend. But then he accidentally hooked up with the daughter of a big shot from a city in northern China… They were even planning a romantic comedy… But then, he got his leg broken! He immediately left the city and went south to stay with relatives!
This is reality!
When I was working at a nightclub, I met a son of a high-ranking official. He was a regular at the nightclub and we were fair-weather friends. He once told me, "Don't be fooled by our glamorous lives. We have money and women... Yes, I can date any beautiful woman I want! But there's one condition! No matter how much I like a woman, I will never marry her! Someone like me, before I'm even an adult, my family has already planned out my marriage! They even have three or four backup plans!"
That's just how reality is.
Let alone that I have no plans to do anything with Fang Nan right now... even if I did... there's an almost insurmountable chasm right in front of me!
I drove home with my mind wandering all the way. I parked the car in the courtyard of my residential complex.
When I got off the bus, I tilted my head back and felt like I was being really stupid... Anyway, I didn't have the mind to think about such pointless things.
Standing downstairs, I suddenly thought of Yan Di at home… Damn, I really am a bastard. I have a beautiful young woman at home, and I haven't even won her over yet, but all I do is think about how to seduce other women outside?
I gave myself a severe dressing down.
I carefully took the most important thing I had tonight from the back of the car!
Those two boxes containing rings and diamond brooches!
Fang Nan seemed to be in a hurry when she got out of the car, forgetting to take them with her. This woman is really careless! She just casually tossed me millions worth of stuff without even making a phone call!
But thinking about it again, this Audi A8 costs two million. It seems Fang Nan truly trusts me…
Sigh, didn't I say I wouldn't think about her for now?
I shook my head vigorously and carefully carried the box upstairs.
I'm going to take a good look at this ring tonight!
I stepped into the elevator, pressed the button, and watched the numbers on the elevator display go up...