Chapter 561
How can one practice martial arts without understanding bone setting? The mindset of a s
Chapter 561 How can one practice martial arts without understanding bone setting? The mindset of a strong person
Old Factory Street, tenement buildings.
The streets were unusually quiet late at night, and most of the nearby residents had already turned off their lights and gone to sleep.
Occasionally, a baby's cry could be heard from one of the windows, but it was quickly silenced by the adults.
Inside room 980 on the top floor, the lights were off, and it was pitch black.
The neon lights from outside the window shone in, barely outlining the furniture in the room.
The old-fashioned wall clock ticked rhythmically, the hour hand having quietly passed twelve o'clock.
Ah Le sat on a wooden chair by the window, his face as pale as paper.
Although the abdominal wound had been simply bandaged, the dizziness from excessive blood loss still came in waves, and my eyelids felt as heavy as if they were made of lead.
But he dared not sleep, nor did he want to sleep.
He forced his eyelids open and looked out the window every now and then.
In the distance, towards the city center, neon lights painted the night sky a fiery red.
Ah Le was filled with anxiety, unsure of the situation over there or whether the operation had gone smoothly.
Tap, tap, tap.
A soft footstep suddenly echoed down the corridor.
Ah Le's heart skipped a beat, and his previously unfocused pupils instantly sharpened.
He endured the excruciating pain in his abdomen, pressed his left hand against the wound, and grabbed the dagger on the table with his right hand, gripping it tightly in a reverse grip.
His whole body was tense, like a fully drawn bow, staring intently at the security door.
Click.
The key was inserted into the lock, the sound particularly jarring in the quiet night.
Then the lock cylinder turned, and the door was gently pushed open.
"Who?!"
Ah Le let out a low shout, his grip on the dagger tightening.
"it's me."
A familiar voice came from inside.
pat.
The living room lights were turned on, and warm yellow light instantly filled the entire room.
When Ah Le saw the figure at the door, he trembled violently, and the dagger in his hand clattered to the ground.
In the entryway, Fang Cheng was helping a disheveled old man walk in.
That person was Shen Wei.
Although his clothes were tattered, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in dust, his hawk-like eyes still revealed a fierce edge.
"President! You...you're back?!"
Ah Le's eyes reddened, and he struggled to stand up, but the movement aggravated his wounds, causing him to wince in pain.
"Don't move, sit down."
Fang Cheng closed the door behind him, helped Shen Wei to sit down on the sofa in the living room, and then turned around to pour a glass of hot water.
Shen Wei took the enamel cup with both hands, and the warmth spread throughout his body from his palms, making him let out a long sigh of relief.
He looked around the small room, which was less than 60 square meters.
The walls are yellowed, the ceiling fan is old, and a few pieces of furniture that have been around for a while are arranged in an orderly manner.
Although the furnishings inside were simple, they were kept exceptionally tidy, and there wasn't a speck of dust on the table.
When Shen Wei's gaze fell on the severely cracked and even sunken red pine wood floor in the center of the living room, his pupils contracted slightly.
It was clearly crushed by someone stepping on it with their foot.
Recalling the scene of jumping off the rooftop of the building and the figure emerging from the sea of fire after the helicopter crash, Shen Wei shook his head with a wry smile.
Who would have thought that such a top-tier expert, a god of death, would be content to live in such a place on a daily basis?
The so-called "gold medal sparring partners" at the club were indeed just a disguise for experiencing life.
Perhaps this is what is meant by "great seclusion in the city," a mindset that only the strong possess?
Shen Wei held the cup and took a sip of hot water.
When she looked up at Fang Cheng, her eyes showed not only gratitude but also a sense of awe and admiration.
He then turned his gaze to the bodyguard beside him, only then noticing the blood seeping through the bandage on the man's abdomen, and his brows furrowed slightly.
"Ah Le, how's your injury?"
"Can't die."
Ah Le shook his head, his gaze urgently turning to Shen Wei:
"President, have you reached an agreement with those kidnappers? How much did we bleed this time?"
As he spoke, he sighed with regret, his face full of resentment:
"Alas, I am truly unwilling to accept this, so many brothers have died..."
In his view, Fang Cheng was indeed skilled, but at most he could only use his agility to sneak in, secretly rescue people, or negotiate with the other party to ransom them.
After all, the Bloodthorn Mercenary Group is a group of terrifying monsters, each with their own special abilities, so they are not so easy to deal with.
Shen Wei put down his cup and gave a wry smile:
"It didn't cost any money."
"Didn't spend any money?"
Ah Le was taken aback upon hearing this:
"Do you think those monsters are so easy to talk to?"
"Dead people don't need to spend money."
Shen Wei gave Fang Cheng a deep look, his tone low and somber:
"The Bloodthorn Mercenary Group, along with their leader Masked Man, are all dead. Mr. Fang wiped them all out by himself."
"Wh...what?!"
Ah Le's eyes widened suddenly, his mouth gaped open, and his jaw almost dropped to the ground.
He turned his head blankly to look at Fang Cheng, who was rummaging through the cabinet.
That figure looked ordinary, like the boy next door, not at all like a murderous monster.
How could one person single-handedly wipe out a mercenary group composed of powerful superhumans?
Recalling his helpless and pathetic state when facing those monsters, Ah Le's heart was filled with turmoil.
Is this even human?
The air inside the room was still for a few seconds.
Shen Wei pulled a flattened pack of cigarettes from his pocket.
He was about to borrow a light to smoke a cigarette when he glanced at Fang Cheng and silently put the cigarette back.
"This matter is not so simple."
Shen Wei, a powerful figure in the underworld, quickly regained his composure and said in a deep voice:
"Only a few core executives knew about the trip to the warehouse."
“Our convoy had just left Jiangdong District when we were tracked down. To be able to pinpoint our whereabouts so accurately, there must be a mole within our ranks.”
"President, that's what I think too."
Ah Le gritted his teeth and recounted his experiences along the way:
“I escaped alone at the time, and I didn’t dare to go back to the gang to ask for help, for fear of running into that mole and walking into a trap.”
"I had no choice but to go to the Shen family's ancestral home, but I couldn't even get through the gate; the butler there kicked me out..."
Upon hearing the words "Shen Family Ancestral Home," Shen Wei's eyes dimmed instantly, and he lowered his gaze, remaining silent.
Seeing that Shen Wei looked somewhat dejected, Ah Le quickly changed the subject:
"At that time, I was also desperate and anxious. Suddenly I remembered that you valued Mr. Fang very much and said that he was a dragon among men."
"So I came here for help on a whim, and thankfully Mr. Fang came to my aid... otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
Shen Wei took a deep breath, suppressing his disappointment, and raised his head again, his tone turning cold:
"There's one more thing. We've found out who the Flying Crane Gang's backer is: the Blood Thorn Mercenary Group."
"It's them?"
Ah Le was taken aback, then suddenly realized:
"No wonder these bastards have become so arrogant lately, trying to take over our East City Club's territory everywhere. Turns out they've latched onto Bloodthorn's coattails!"
Ah Le's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he clenched his fists.
"Damn it, these dogs who are just bullies, once I recover from my injuries, I'll personally kill their gang leader and then drag out that traitor who betrayed us and tear him to pieces!"
"Not urgent."
Shen Wei sneered, a barely suppressed rage flashing in his eyes:
"Now that I'm back alive, some scores can be settled later."
"That mole will definitely cause trouble while I'm away these next couple of days. As long as he dares to make a move, his true colors will naturally be revealed..."
As they were talking, Shen Wei suddenly groaned, a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face turned deathly pale.
"President, what's wrong?"
Upon seeing this, Ah Le was immediately horrified.
"My leg... is in a bit of a problem."
Shen Wei bent down and rolled up the left leg of his trousers.
Ah Le stared intently and gasped.
Shen Wei's calf was swollen like a purplish-black steamed bun.
The leg bone was twisted at an angle, clearly indicating a severe closed fracture.
The journey, marked by escape and turbulence, had caused severe congestion in the soft tissues surrounding the broken bones.
If not treated promptly, the leg will have to be amputated if the blood vessels are compressed and necrosis occurs.
Ah Le's eyes reddened again, and she tried to get up, supporting herself on her back.
"Let me take a look. I know some first aid..."
"Alright, your own injury hasn't healed yet, let me do it."
Fang Cheng walked over at this moment, carrying a first-aid kit that he had just found in the cabinet.
He squatted down in front of Shen Wei and took out iodine, gauze, medical cotton swabs, and a splint specifically for treating fractures.
He then glanced at the injured leg and nodded to himself.
Despite such a serious injury, the old man didn't utter a single sound on the way; he's truly a tough guy. "Bear with it, it hurts a bit."
Fang Cheng said in a deep voice, holding a cotton swab dipped in iodine, carefully cleaning the dirt and bleeding from the wound.
"Mr. Fang, please go ahead and do it. My old bones can still take it."
Shen Wei nodded without changing his expression.
After the wound was cleaned, Fang Cheng reached out and gently pressed on Shen Wei's calf.
The tactile feedback from my fingertips made the location of the bone fracture clearly appear in my mind.
The tibia was fractured and slightly displaced, but fortunately it did not shatter.
"Mr. Fang, you also know medicine?"
Upon seeing this, a hint of surprise flashed across Shen Wei's eyes.
"Experienced illness makes one a doctor; what martial artist doesn't know how to set bones?"
Fang Cheng casually explained, but his expression suddenly hardened, and his hands gripped Shen Wei's ankles and below his knees like iron clamps.
Immediately afterwards, the movements were swift and decisive: rotating, pushing, and lifting.
Click!
A crisp sound of joints closing rang out.
"Well!"
Shen Wei's neck veins bulged, and he let out a painful groan, but he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
"All right."
Fang Cheng moved extremely quickly, taking advantage of the moment the bone was repositioned, he quickly fixed the injured leg with a splint, and then wrapped it tightly with layers of bandages.
Ah Le, standing to the side, was dumbfounded.
This technique is skillful and adept, like that of a veteran Chinese medicine doctor who has practiced for decades.
He was even more professional and efficient than the doctor at their gang's shady clinic.
Fang Cheng, supporting Shen Wei's leg, looked down to check the fixation effect, when a glimmer of light suddenly flashed before his eyes.
[Bone Setting Experience +5]
【Bone Setting Lv1 (62/250)】
Seeing the notification message appear, he smiled slightly, clapped his hands, stood up, and while packing his first-aid kit, earnestly gave instructions:
"Just rest and recover during this time, and don't put any weight on yourself."
"If the bone is set and the recovery is fast, you should be able to walk slowly in about two months."
"Thank you, Mr. Fang."
Shen Wei wiped away a cold sweat, looking at his leg injury which had been properly treated, and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
"Let's stay here tonight."
Fang Cheng then pointed to the room and said:
“My mom went to visit my maternal grandfather and won’t be back anytime soon. No one will bother us, so it’s relatively safe here.”
"I'm sorry to bother you."
Shen Wei didn't mince words and nodded, saying:
"I won't thank you for saving my life. Once I've cleaned up my own house and caught that traitor, I'll definitely repay Mr. Fang properly."
"I'm going to find 'Rat Qiang' tomorrow."
Ah Le interjected, his voice weak but carrying a hint of ruthlessness:
"That kid is a low-level leader, so we don't have much of a stake in the business. Besides, he's received favors from me, so he's very tight-lipped."
"It's best to send him to gather intelligence within the gang. That way, we'll naturally find out which bastard betrayed us."
The three of them then chatted briefly about the follow-up arrangements.
Night had fallen, and the entire tenement building was silent.
Fang Cheng took a straw mat and a blanket from the cabinet, spread them on the living room floor, and said:
"The bed is too small, we can't squeeze in. Mr. Shen, you can sleep on the sofa with your legs up, and Ah Le can sleep on the floor for the night."
“This is not a compromise, this is a safe haven for us.”
Shen Wei sighed sincerely.
Fang Cheng nodded, said nothing more, and turned to walk into his bedroom.
Shen Wei leaned back on the sofa, watching the young figure disappear behind the door, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Recalling how the group of supernatural beings had respectfully addressed him as "Chairman," his curiosity gnawed at his heart like a cat's claws.
But Shen Wei was a smart man; he knew what he should ask and what he shouldn't.
"President, let me help you lie down."
Ah Le moved over with difficulty, carefully adjusted Shen Wei's lying position, covered him with a blanket, and whispered:
"You've been through a lot these past few days, you need to rest well."
"Okay, go to sleep."
Shen Wei responded softly and closed his eyes.
pat.
The living room lights were turned off.
In the darkness, the compressor of the old-fashioned refrigerator continued to hum.
Listening to the occasional noise of car tires outside the window, and smelling the faint lingering smell of iodine in the air.
For some reason, in this simple and cramped little house...
The two martial arts figures, who were used to living in luxury villas, felt an unprecedented sense of security.
....................................
The bedroom was dark and quiet.
Fang Cheng did not rest immediately, but walked to the window and gently parted a corner of the curtain.
As night deepened, the silhouettes of the city's skyscrapers undulated in the darkness.
In the distance, towards Jiangdong District, several red dots could be faintly seen circling and flashing in the night sky.
That must be a formation of military armed helicopters.
Clearly, the commotion caused by the Silver Wing Building was too great and had already alerted higher-level forces.
Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly as he stared at the red dots for a few seconds.
Then, she calmly drew the curtains, shutting out all the disturbances from the outside world.
He turned and lay down on the bed, his hands behind his head, and a thought struck him.
A pale blue, semi-transparent screen unfolded on the retina:
Boxing Experience +30
Boxing Lv3 (483/1000)
[Sanda Experience +15]
【Sanda Lv3 (172/1000)】
[Jiu-Jitsu Experience +30]
【Jiu-Jitsu Lv2 (449/500)】
[Qigong Experience +20]
[Qigong lv2 (487/500)]
Looking at the rows of refreshed data, Fang Cheng's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Although this battle was easier than the previous ones, I gained a lot of skill experience.
In particular, the progress bars for the skills "Contortion" and "Qi Gong" are almost full, and they are just a step away from breaking through and upgrading.
Reflecting on tonight's rescue operation, Fang Cheng couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.
Before setting off, he was extremely cautious, making various contingency plans and gathering relevant intelligence.
They even organized new members of the Illuminati to act together, preparing them mentally for a tough battle.
After all, it was a notorious team of supernatural beings according to the information provided by the Bridge of Helplessness, and their leader was an S-class powerhouse.
Fang Cheng never expected that the battle would be so devastating.
The S-class ability users who once made him wary were as fragile as paper in front of him, completely vulnerable.
For example, the masked man also uses telekinesis, and his offensive and defensive techniques are quite similar.
However, the threat posed to Fang Cheng was much smaller than that posed by Luo Lie, the Minister of the Noah Organization, whom he had encountered before.
It can't be entirely blamed on the Masked Man being too weak.
Rather, it's because my growth rate during this period has been too fast.
With continuous breakthroughs in various skills and a complete transformation in physical fitness, his strength is now vastly different from what it used to be.
Fang Cheng clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.
If I were to go back in time, even if Luo Lie were to be resurrected and stand in front of me, I wouldn't have to exchange more than a few punches.
Of course, this incident also served as a wake-up call for Fang Cheng.
In this world, apart from those extraordinary individuals with superhuman abilities, the heavy weapons of war controlled by the military still possess devastating deterrent power.
Like that armed helicopter tonight, if it weren't for me, but an ordinary ability user, it would probably have been blasted into dust long ago.
But Fang Cheng was not afraid.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the golden palace deep in the darkness, bathed in brilliant sunlight.
As long as we continue to become stronger.
So strong that he can withstand a nuclear bomb with his bare body, so strong that he can disregard all rules.
At that time, all threats will cease to be threats.
(End of this chapter)