C80 Second Manager

My fist connected squarely with Boss Wu's face, shattering his glasses and causing his nose to bleed.

Upon witnessing their boss getting hit, his two dim-witted henchmen were quick to react, rushing over to his aid.

I clenched my fists tighter. Having survived numerous life-and-death challenges, and with the power of the Yin Qi coursing through me, I figured I could easily take on two burly men unarmed.

But as soon as we came to blows, I realized I had underestimated them. These henchmen were far from simple. It's no wonder they seemed a few cards short of a full deck but still remained loyally by Boss Wu's side.

Additionally, my physical condition was far from ideal. After being buried alive for a day, my limbs were stiff, and poor circulation had left them numb.

Consequently, within a few exchanges, I was overpowered. The two muscular men gripped my arms tightly and hauled me in front of Boss Wu.

"Kid, here's your punch back!" Boss Wu, now frantic with rage, abandoned his mocking tone and went straight for a direct hit.

As the punch came at me, I couldn't help but smile; this was the moment I had been waiting for.

As expected, before his fist could reach me, Boss Wu was repelled by a force of golden light. He was sent flying and crashed hard onto the ground.

Seizing the moment, I broke free from their grasp and, summoning all my strength, I knocked down the two henchmen and charged towards Boss Wu.

Perhaps it was the fury burning within me, but my punch packed an extraordinary force, making Boss Wu spit blood with its impact.

My rage was far from quelled, and I unleashed a flurry of punches, releasing all the pent-up resentment from the past days.

Although Boss Wu was no fighter, his survival instincts were sharp, and he dodged swiftly. My final punch missed and hit a nearby rock instead.

To my astonishment, the rock shattered under my fist. I examined my palm, and there it was—the black rune had appeared once more.

Could it be that this power in my right hand is triggered by anger or when I face mortal danger? Glancing at Xiaodieh's lifeless body, I couldn't help but wish that I had been able to harness this strength the night before.

The memory of Xiaodieh's death and her tragic fate reignited the anger that had only just subsided within me. Glaring at that detestable face, I threw another punch.

But in that instant, my arm was seized by a strong grip. The hand held me like a vice, unyielding no matter how much I struggled.

Surprised, I looked up to see a stranger's face.

The man before me was dressed in a traditional Tang suit, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties. It was clear from both his looks and his demeanor that he was no ordinary man.

"Who are you?" I asked, bewildered.

Before he could reply, Boss Wu, whom I had knocked to the ground, looked up in utter astonishment and gasped, "Second Manager? You... What brings you here?"

"Hmph, I came to see the mess you've made!" The Second Manager's gaze was piercing as he glowered at Boss Wu. However, his expression softened when he turned to me.

"Young man, you must be Half Immortal Zhao's son, right? You've been through a lot these past few days. I'll handle things from here." He lifted me up from the ground, brushed the dirt off my clothes, and asked with a warm smile, "Son, what's your name?"

Still disoriented by the sudden change in their behavior, I replied, "I'm Zhao Changsheng. And you are?"

The Second Manager gave a slight smile and said, "I am the Second Manager at Lei's Brand, Lei Lih. Everyone calls me Second Master Lei. Your foster father and I share a bond forged through life and death."