[T/N: I have updated the MC's age to 17 instead of 15. Also, made changes to all the previous chapters.]
[Chapter 56: Morning Anecdotes]
Early morning, the California sun rose again, shining over the luxury and legend of Beverly Hills. The months of March and April in Los Angeles were John John's favorite time of year--the sunlight was warm but not scorching, comfortable and gentle.
Sunlight streamed into John's room, where he lay half-awake in his pristine master bedroom. The big bed was dressed in all white--white sheets and a white silk comforter--reflecting his preference for simplicity.
"Damn," John suddenly exclaimed as he jumped out of bed, quickly pulling back the covers. Sure enough, there was a map spread out on the sheets and duvet.
He thought to himself, no wonder he had such vivid dreams last night--there was Aishwarya, then Charlize, even scenes where both were there with him, indulging in some serious daydreams. It had all just been a wild springtime fantasy.
Could he really be getting romantic notions? John wondered aloud.
He then shrugged off the bedding and, still naked, shuffled toward the adjacent bathroom.
---
The bathroom totaled nearly 320 square feet. Along one wall sat a massive bathtub, about six and a half feet wide and nearly ten feet long--something John appreciated with a quiet thrill every time he saw it.
He was used to showering every morning now, which hadn't come easily at first. He figured that typical American skin, with its larger pores and stronger sweat glands, needed that fresh start every day to stay clean and sharp.
After finishing up his morning routine, he took a moment to check himself out in the mirror--admiring his physique (he admittedly had a bit of an ego about it). Thinking back on his vivid dreams, he sighed as he eyed certain undeniable "assets."
He muttered to himself, "Come on, John, just hang in there. Next time I see that bookworm, I'll make him regret keeping me single. Can't have this going on much longer--it's unforgivable."
With a quick wash-up complete, he changed into fresh underwear and athletic wear, then headed downstairs.
---
"Boss, you're up! I'll get breakfast for you," Maria called out as she spotted John descending the stairs.
With Joseph and Maria around, they both promptly started calling him Boss--it was like his first official team. Even Bob had been influenced by Maria and Joseph and had slowly gotten used to calling him Boss too.
John didn't object. He understood that social hierarchies were part of human society since the beginning. Maybe early on, everyone was equals, but inevitably, ranks formed naturally.
It echoed an old saying: "It's easy to share hardship, but not so easy to share success." Of course, John had no intention of biting the hand that fed him or doing any dirty tricks. This was modern society, not some ancient dynasty.
Lately, John had shifted his morning practice to just before bedtime, leaving his days fairly dull and empty.
After breakfast, he stepped out of the villa and noticed Joseph and Bob working out together. They occasionally chatted, and watching their routine sparked John's interest.
---
"Hey, Boss, you're up early."
"Joseph, no need to be so formal at home. Just relax," John said with a smile as Joseph stopped mid-workout to greet him.
"No problem, it's just right," Joseph replied stiffly, but John just smiled and waved it off.
"You two are working out--perfect, I feel like joining. Wanna spar for a bit?" John asked with a grin.
Bob immediately shook his head vigorously in dissent, while Joseph looked uncertain and a bit anxious. John found it amusing.
"Relax, we'll take it easy."
Bob knew John's strength and didn't want to get steamrolled; Joseph, seeing Bob's reaction, was hesitant too. After all, John was their boss--it'd be bad news if someone got hurt.
---
"Really, no holding back?" Bob asked suspiciously.
"Don't worry, you trust me, right?"
Bob wasn't convinced by John's grin. He had seen this before--back at Alan's old place, for example, these sessions always left him and Adam exhausted.
"Alright, Joseph, we're in this together," Bob said, looking resigned. If he was facing a beatdown, Joseph would be too.
"This doesn't seem right," Joseph said nervously.
"Relax, Joseph, you don't know, but our Boss here is a martial arts powerhouse. We probably don't stand a chance. Just give it your all."
Bob tried to encourage Joseph, who still looked uncertain but finally took his position, forming a triangle with Bob against John.
---
The training session finally showed Joseph why Bob had resisted at first--and brought back some long-forgotten pain.
He realized just how disastrous it was to face someone much stronger, faster, and more skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
At first, John just dodged their moves. But after a few rounds, he started counterattacking. That's when Joseph's luck ran out.
With punches that were lightning-fast and packed with a drilling force, striking from every angle, Joseph was left aching all over.
Eventually, John called it quits, leaving both Bob and Joseph with noticeable black eyes.
Joseph looked worse off; his black eyes were obvious. Bob's were less visible, thanks to his darker skin tone.
Glancing at Bob, John thought next time they spar, he should go a little harder to make it more obvious.
Meanwhile, Bob, feeling suddenly cold down his back, realized the little Boss was probably plotting some kind of prank and made a beeline back to the villa.
---
"Boss, I didn't expect your fighting skills and natural talent to be this strong. With your abilities, you could easily dominate in any no-holds-barred fighting competition," Joseph said in admiration, grinning.
"No big deal. I got lucky. When I was a kid, I met an old master who taught me authentic Karate for a few years."
"I never thought Karate was that powerful. I was a hand-to-hand combat expert in the military, but I don't think anyone could match your strength. We've met other Karate masters, but no one like you," Joseph said with some puzzlement.
"Ha, just luck on my side. I've had a few breakthroughs in my training. Forget Karate for a moment--since you were in the military, you must know some of the world's best-kept secrets, right?
Anything you can share? Like different countries' combat techniques or military martial arts experts? People who can fight ten or even a hundred opponents at once?"
"Fighting a hundred at once? Impossible. Even the best fighter would get overwhelmed if a hundred ordinary people attacked at once."
---
John thought that made sense. Maybe there were people who could handle ten attackers simultaneously, but if over a hundred crowded in on you... even with no magic, a thousand-pound punch wouldn't save you.
He figured his current physical condition was comparable to the legendary Karate masters known for internal power. He recalled stories from his past life about Sun Lutang, a martial arts legend from the Republican era, who won a world strength competition.
Considering Sun Lutang's relatively small stature for an Eastern man, winning that championship seemed almost unbelievable. That kind of internal energy mastery probably made his physical abilities on par with John's unique condition.
After all, John was confident he could take the championship if he entered the strongman competitions seen on TV in his past life.
*****
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