Silence descended upon the training room for a full thirty seconds.
Léi Bào lay on the ground, his cheek pressed against the cool, soft mat, humiliation and pain burning through his nerves like fire. He struggled to get up, but his right leg, which Chén Liàng had stepped on, was numb and weak, and he collapsed each time he tried to stand. None of his colleagues stepped forward to help. Their gazes were still fixed on the figure that had already disappeared through the doorway, filled with shock and disbelief.
"Brother Bào..." the tall, thin security guard ventured, reaching out to help him.
"Scram!" Léi Bào roared, flinging out his arm. His voice was hoarse from anger and shame. Using his left leg, he managed to get into a half-kneeling position, his right leg still trembling uncontrollably. He stared fixedly at the training room doorway, his eyes bloodshot.
He, Léi Bào, a former elite special forces soldier and deputy captain of the Su Group's Security Department, had been toyed with like a monkey by an unknown kid from the Logistics Department in full view of everyone, and then stomped down with a single kick! He absolutely could not stand for this insult!
"Damn it! This kid is weird! He must have used some dirty trick!" Léi Bào gritted his teeth, making excuses for himself. "I can't let this go!"
The tall, thin security guard hesitated. "Brother Bào, his skills... they didn't seem fake."
"Nonsense!" Léi Bào retorted. "Two fists can't fight four hands! No matter how good he is, he's still just one person! If we all go at him together, are we afraid we can't handle him?!"
He scanned his subordinates, seeing the lingering fear and hesitation on their faces, which only fueled his rage. "What? Scared out of your wits? Are you not my brothers anymore? If we don't get even today, how will our Security Department hold our heads up in the group from now on?!"
Spurred on by his words, several security guards, who were usually close to him and equally proud, felt their blood boil.
"Brother Bào is right! We can't let this go!"
"Right! Let's go together! Let's see how many he can take!"
"Teach him a lesson!"
Under Léi Bào's instigation, over ten security guards surged with righteous anger, surrounding the still limping Léi Bào. They stormed out of the training room, heading straight for the B2 level where the Logistics Department was located. They decided to confront him and force Chén Liàng to "give them an explanation."
Many employees witnessed this scene, and the news spread rapidly. The commotion that had just subsided was pushed to a new peak. Many people put down their work and secretly rushed towards B2, eager to witness this rare "great drama."
(Plot Turning Point: Conflict Escalates, Martial Prowess Establishes Authority)
Chén Liàng had only just returned to the Logistics Department office and sat down when he heard heavy, chaotic footsteps in the corridor outside, accompanied by shouts and yells.
Supervisor Old Wang and Little Zhang turned pale with fright and looked nervously at the door.
"Bang!"
The office door was roughly pushed open, and Léi Bào, surrounded by security guards, hobbled in. His face was ashen. He pointed at Chén Liàng. "Chén Liàng! That didn't count! You used a dirty trick! If you're a man, fight us fair and square!"
Behind him, over a dozen burly security guards lined up, blocking the not-so-wide office doorway completely. They were all rubbing their hands together, their eyes hostile, clearly ready to fight if words failed.
The Logistics Department colleagues had never seen such a scene before. They all backed away in fear, shrinking into the corners.
Chén Liàng slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the dozen or so people before him. He had only intended to teach them a small lesson, but he hadn't expected them to be so persistent. It seemed that without establishing absolute authority, future troubles would be endless.
"How do you want to fight fair and square?" Chén Liàng's tone was still calm, but his eyes had turned cold.
"It's simple!" Léi Bào sneered. "We'll send ten men! If you can last three minutes without falling, you win! From now on, our Security Department will walk around you! If you can't last... you'll kneel down and kowtow to me three times, admitting you're a useless nobody who only knows dirty tricks!"
One against ten! And lasting three minutes! The terms were harsh to the point of being insulting! A murmur went through the onlookers.
Little Zhang stamped his feet anxiously, wanting to intervene, but Old Wang held him back firmly.
Chén Liàng looked at Léi Bào's confident demeanor and the ten eager security guards behind him, shaking his head slightly.
"What? Scared?" Léi Bào scoffed.
"No," Chén Liàng said calmly. "I mean, we don't need three minutes."
He paused, and to everyone's astonishment, slowly held up three fingers:
"Thirty seconds."
"Within thirty seconds, if there's still one person standing on your side, I lose."
(Confrontational Dialogue, Demonstrating Tense Relationship and Unyielding Will)
The declaration shocked everyone!
Thirty seconds?! Take down ten men?! This was sheer fantasy! He was unbelievably arrogant!
Léi Bào and the security guards behind him were stunned for a moment, then erupted in even greater fury and laughter.
"Hahaha! Thirty seconds? You're bluffing without a draft!"
"Brother Bào, this kid must be crazy from fear!"
"Damn it, too arrogant! Get him!"
Léi Bào's forehead vein bulged with anger. "Fine! Very good! Chén Liàng, you're looking for death! Brothers, did you hear that? Thirty seconds! Beat him to death! I'll take responsibility for any consequences!"
The ten selected security guards, feeling an unprecedented sense of being looked down upon and insulted, roared and charged at Chén Liàng like wild dogs breaking free from their leashes! Punches, kicks, and the glint of clubs (someone had grabbed a broom handle) instantly engulfed Chén Liàng!
A chorus of gasps rose from the Logistics Department office!
However, the next moment, a jaw-dropping scene unfolded.
Facing attacks from all directions, Chén Liàng's figure moved!
He was no longer just dodging; he was taking the initiative! His movements were as swift as a ghost's, his power as immense as a mountain's!
He sidestepped a heavy punch, and his elbow struck backward naturally. A security guard flew backward as if hit by a truck, knocking over chairs and tables.
Simultaneously, he ducked and swept a leg, catching two security guards at the ankle. They fell to the ground with cries of pain.
His hands moved like lightning, striking with fingers, palms, or fists. Each blow accurately hit vulnerable points like joints and acupoints, his movements concise and efficient, devoid of any flourish!
"Crack!" "Ah!" "Thump!"
The sounds of dislocated bones, screams, and bodies hitting the ground were incessant!
Chén Liàng's figure weaved through the crowd. Everywhere he passed, men fell like dominoes! Those burly security guards, who could usually take on three men, were like paper in his hands, utterly vulnerable!
He truly hadn't needed thirty seconds!
When the last security guard slumped to the ground, softly knocked out by a chop to the side of the neck from Chén Liàng, the entire Logistics Department office, including the corridor outside, fell into dead silence.
On the ground lay ten security guards in a haphazard heap, groaning in pain and temporarily incapacitated.
Chén Liàng stood in the center, calmly adjusting the collar of his slightly disheveled shirt from the intense activity. His breathing was still steady and deep.
He raised his wrist and glanced at the expensive watch Su Group had provided him, a watch he didn't actually care about.
"Twenty-five seconds," he stated calmly, then looked up at Léi Bào, who was the only one left standing at the doorway, his face ashen, looking as if he had seen a ghost.
"You... You..." Léi Bào pointed at Chén Liàng, his finger trembling, unable to utter a word. Immense fear gripped his heart.
Chén Liàng walked towards him step by step.
Léi Bào wanted to run, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead; he couldn't move.
Chén Liàng stopped in front of him, his gaze like a cold blade, raking across his face.
"Now, can you hold your head up?"
Léi Bào's throat was dry, and sweat soaked his back. He looked at his subordinates groaning on the ground and then at the unfathomable man before him. All his pride and anger were crushed into dust.
He lowered his head and squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth:
"Y-yes..."
Chén Liàng stopped looking at him and swept his gaze over the stunned onlookers. Anyone whose eyes met his involuntarily looked down, not daring to meet his gaze.
Absolute power commanded absolute reverence.
Chén Liàng said nothing. He turned and returned to his workstation, as if the crushing battle of one against ten had just been a minor warm-up.
But everyone knew that from this day forward, no one in Su Group would dare to underestimate this man named Chén Liàng from the Logistics Department.
A hidden dragon's fury was like thunder and lightning. This time, he had truly established an unassailable reputation in Su Group.