"Rise!"
Li Hanhou grabbed Xiao Chen's ankle, bellowed, and swung with all his might, attempting to hurl him away.
Xiao Chen bent slightly, pressing down with his left foot. With a sharp jolt, he shook off Li Hanhou's grip.
Li Hanhou's hand went numb, yet he didn't back down. Like a furious bear, he charged forward, fists pounding with wild force.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Their blows collided relentlessly, each impact sending dull echoes through the air.
The surrounding security guards were dumbfounded. How can this big fool be so strong? At the same time, they silently thanked the heavens that Minister Xiao had arrived in time—otherwise, they would have been beaten to a pulp today.
"Crash!"
With a roar, Li Hanhou leapt high, his massive frame plummeting down with fists clenched like thunderbolts crashing from the sky.
"Good!"
Xiao Chen's shoulders shifted, and his style instantly transformed—from fierce aggression to controlled restraint. His right palm pressed against the incoming fist, redirecting the force with graceful precision—four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds!
"Stay on the mountain!"
Missing the strike, Li Hanhou slammed forward, shoulder-first, like a charging tank, radiating an aura that sought to crush everything in its path.
Xiao Chen's brows lifted as he quickly retreated. Even he wasn't willing to meet such raw power head-on. Against a monster like this, resistance meant suffering.
But as he fell back, his right leg lashed out in a sweeping arc, striking Li Hanhou's leg. The giant staggered, nearly toppling to the ground.
"Ha! That's fun—again!"
Instead of faltering, Li Hanhou's fighting spirit flared higher. Since arriving in Longhai, he'd had no real sparring partners, his fists aching for release. Now, faced with such an opponent, how could he not be thrilled?
"Alright—again!"
Xiao Chen's own blood boiled, his aura blazing like a war god descending upon the battlefield.
"Mountain Cannon!"
Li Hanhou surged forward, arms crashing down like iron whips, accompanied by fierce gusts of wind.
"Wait—that's like chopping fist!" one of the guards blurted, eyes widening.
"Chopping fist? What's that?" another asked.
"Pi Gua Quan," the first whispered. "It's fierce and devastating… There's an old saying—Baji with Pi Gua, even gods and ghosts fear it! That guy… he's trained in both Bajiquan and Piguaquan!"
Gasps rippled among the guards. "No wonder he's so terrifying!"
"Subduing the Dragon, Taming the Tiger!"
Li Hanhou's roar shook the air. His techniques shifted mid-fight, fierce strikes transforming into refined forms.
"That's it!" another guard shouted, trembling. "That's Bajiquan's 'May Chaotian Cone' and 'Liuhe Pounce on the Earth'! It's said—'With Tai Chi, one secures the world; with Bajiquan, one shakes the universe!' Minister Xiao, hang on!"
"Wait, you mean Minister Xiao could lose?"
"Shut up! Say that again and you'll be dead before he spares you," another hissed, eyes flicking nervously toward the raging giant.
Boom!
Xiao Chen caught Li Hanhou's punch with both palms, forcing him back several steps, his arms buzzing with numbness. Damn, this idiot's too strong!
"The Overlord's Break!"
Li Hanhou's assault surged like an endless flood, his massive frame magnifying every strike.
"Enough—time to finish this!"
Xiao Chen bent his knees, his momentum shifting once more. The sharp edge of a drawn sword dulled, transforming into the weight of a heavy blade—formless, unstoppable.
Bang! Bang!
Their clash thundered again. Just when it seemed Xiao Chen was being overwhelmed, a sharp shout rang out—followed by a muffled thud.
A massive shadow flew backward, crashing heavily onto the ground and rolling several times before stopping.
The guards froze, eyes wide. Minister Xiao lost?
But as the dust settled, it wasn't Xiao Chen who had been thrown—it was Li Hanhou, the bear-like powerhouse himself.
Half-lying on the ground, Li Hanhou stared in disbelief. He had once fought wild black bears in the forest barehanded—yet now he had been beaten head-on. To him, it was unthinkable.
Xiao Chen, pale and hiding his pain, stepped forward with a faint smile. "Dahan, you lost."
"Why… why is your strength greater than mine?" Li Hanhou muttered, scrambling up.
"Heh, is that so strange?"
"I lost… I'll leave then." He scratched his head, dejected, and turned away.
"Wait."
Li Hanhou turned back. "What for?"
"You're hired," Xiao Chen smiled. "From today, you're part of our security team."
Li Hanhou froze—then grinned like a child. "Really?"
"Of course."
"Great! Thank you!"
Xiao Chen chuckled. He already liked this simple, honest big guy.
"Dahan, go apologize to them. You'll be colleagues now—better to be friends."
"Oh!" Li Hanhou ran to the guards, bowing with a sheepish grin. "Sorry about earlier. If you want, you can hit me back—I won't resist!"
The guards couldn't help but laugh. Who could stay mad at him?
"Alright, it's settled. Come with me to the office," Xiao Chen said.
As they walked away, a loud rumble broke the silence.
"What's that noise?" Xiao Chen frowned.
"My stomach," Li Hanhou said sheepishly.
"…Hungry?"
"I haven't eaten in two days. Don't worry, it'll stop soon."
Xiao Chen was stunned. "Why not eat?"
"No money…" Li Hanhou mumbled, embarrassed.
Xiao Chen sighed. "Forget the office—we're going to the cafeteria first."
The giant's eyes lit up instantly. "Food?"
"Yes," Xiao Chen nodded, shaking his head in disbelief. Two days without food, and still this strong… how terrifying would he be at full strength?
Soon, Li Hanhou was devouring bowl after bowl of rice, his appetite shocking everyone. By the time he finished his eleventh bowl, he finally leaned back, patting his stomach.
"It's been over a month since I ate like this," he said, smiling with genuine contentment.
Watching him, Xiao Chen's heart softened. "Dahan… tell me. Where's your mother now?"