C8 Isn't It Just a Root?

Moments later, Lin Chen found himself in a nearby park.

He sought out a quiet corner and began to meditate in a cross-legged position.

As the Dragon Roar Spell activated within him, Lin Chen’s youthful face flushed a deep red.

Heat seemed to visibly rise from the top of his head.

Upon closer inspection, one could see strands of tangible spiritual energy being absorbed into his body.

Half an hour passed, and Lin Chen opened his eyes, exhaling a cloud of stale air.

"Everything's great about the big city, except for the sparse spiritual energy," he murmured to himself before rising to practice several sets of martial arts forms.

In the midst of his focused training, several dark figures zipped by.

A short distance away, Zhao Feng watched Lin Chen's movements, his face etched with astonishment. Each punch and kick seemed effortlessly perfect.

Merely observing for a short while, he felt enriched by the experience.

"Zhao Feng, today marks your end. Prepare to meet your fate!"

But just then, the shadowy figures closed in.

Without further words, they brandished their daggers and lunged at him.

Zhao Feng snapped to attention, his forehead beading with sweat.

There was no time to analyze Lin Chen's techniques. He swung his arm, landing a heavy blow on one of his assailants.

"Boom!"

A dull thud echoed as the man reeled from the force of Zhao Feng's punch, a wave of agony coursing through him.

"Attack together, and finish off this old fool!"

The others, seeing their comrade falter, hesitated but then pressed their attack.

Zhao Feng quickly began to falter under their relentless assault.

Suffering multiple cuts, he knew he wouldn't last three minutes at this rate.

The elderly park-goers scattered in terror at the sight.

"Dad, I've brought you some water."

A sweet voice cut through the chaos.

Zhao Feng, locked in a desperate struggle, caught sight of his daughter and panic flickered in his eyes.

The fight had made it clear: these were no ordinary thugs but professional assassins!

If he were to fall here, his daughter might well be their next target.

"Xue'er, run!" he cried out.

"Leave me—save yourself!"

"Pfft!"

No sooner had Zhao Feng warned Zhao Xue'er than he was distracted and received a bone-deep gash across his chest.

"Who are you people?"

"How dare you do this in broad daylight!"

Rage flared in Zhao Xue'er's eyes as she saw her father encircled by attackers.

"Dad, don't worry, I'm coming to help you!"

With that, she dropped her water bottle and prepared to dash to her father's aid.

But before she could act, someone yanked at her clothes from behind.

"Snap!"

The air was pierced by the sound of fabric tearing.

Feeling the strap of her garment give way, Zhao Xue'er's expression turned to shock.

"Ahem... Miss, rushing in now would be tantamount to suicide."

Lin Chen, standing behind Zhao Xue'er, realized he had inadvertently torn the strap of her clothing.

He withdrew his hand, touched his nose, and earnestly began to explain, feeling a twinge of guilt.

Not waiting for Zhao Xue'er to respond, Lin Chen stepped forward and addressed the assailants with irritation, "Is this really necessary?"

Zhao Feng's eyes brightened at the sight of Lin Chen. He had just seen the formidable power of Lin Chen's fist technique; with this young man's intervention, they might just escape unscathed.

But the hope was fleeting.

The very next moment, Lin Chen added, "Early morning and you choose to commit murder? Couldn't you pick another place?"

"Carrying out a hit in a park, don't you realize how disruptive that is?"

Pfft!

Zhao Feng coughed up blood in disbelief. He had assumed Lin Chen would step in to right a wrong, only to realize the man was simply annoyed by the disturbance.

"Damn you, out of my way!"

"I need to save my dad!"

Finally snapping out of her daze, Zhao Xue'er ignored the torn strap and shoved Lin Chen aside, ready to charge into the fray.

Zhao Feng's heart lurched at the sight. If his daughter intervened, the killers would surely show no mercy to father and daughter alike.

"Xue'er, stay back and get that guy behind you to lend a hand!"

"With him here, your dad will be just fine!"

Zhao Feng gritted his teeth, urgently reminding Zhao Xue'er with a loud voice.

Upon hearing her father's plea, Zhao Xue'er halted in her tracks.

She found it hard to believe that Lin Chen, the scoundrel and jerk, could fend off these attackers.

Yet, with her father's grave tone, she felt compelled to comply.

"Jerk, you go—"

"No way!"

Before Zhao Xue'er could even finish, Lin Chen flatly refused, without a moment's hesitation.

He wasn't about to get involved. Zhao Feng, as well as these assassins, were far from pushovers.

Why would he want to needlessly invite trouble?

"You... You just ripped my clothes, and I haven't even begun to settle that with you."

"I'll get you a new one later."

"I...!"

Zhao Xue'er's exquisite face turned a shade of iron blue.

Even the T-shirt stretched across her chest seemed to take on a life of its own.

She had never encountered someone as brazen and lacking in manners as Lin Chen.

He had torn her clothes and showed neither shame nor a hint of remorse!

"Xue'er, please, hurry! Dad's not going to last much longer!"

Ignoring Lin Chen was her initial intent, but Zhao Feng's voice, filled with urgency, reached her again.

After seeing her father take another blow, Zhao Xue'er clenched her jaw.

She wrapped her arm around Lin Chen and yelled at the assailants, "Stop right there!"

"My boyfriend here says if you dare, come at him. If not, you're nothing but garbage, worthless dogs!"

"And he claims he could wipe you all out with just one finger."

Lin Chen's jaw nearly hit the floor at Zhao Xue'er's tirade.

He gave her a closer look.

She was in denim shorts, her long legs toned and flawless.

And as for her figure, Lin Chen could feel the softness against his arm and was certain, even without his Magical Third Eye, that she was the genuine article.

Then there was Zhao Xue'er's stunning face—less mature than Ann Lan's, perhaps, but with a bold and spirited beauty all its own.

Yes... these details mattered.

Regarding the trivial matter of Zhao Xue'er referring to her boyfriend, what was she implying?

Moreover, why was she stirring up animosity towards him?

"You're asking for it!"

"Take them down!"

Sure enough, the assassins, upon hearing Zhao Xue'er's taunts and challenges, sent a few of their number to launch an attack on Lin Chen and his companions.

Lin Chen couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance.

Damn it, I was just minding my own business. Who have I managed to upset now?

Suddenly gaining an unexpected girlfriend was one thing, but having these killers show up to cause trouble was quite another.

Did they really think Lin Chen was someone they could push around?

With that thought, Lin Chen delivered a firm slap to Zhao Xue'er's behind.

He growled, "You're quite the tough one, aren't you, miss? Consider this slap a down payment on my interest!"

With no further ado, Lin Chen charged at the assailants.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With a series of strikes, the assassins couldn't even graze Lin Chen's clothing before they were hurled away by his powerful punches.

The assassins who had been attacking Zhao Feng paused, catching their breath as fear crept into their eyes upon witnessing Lin Chen's ferocity.

"This kid's a master!"

"Retreat, everyone!"

One of them called out, and without a moment's hesitation, the rest scattered in every direction.

"Trying to escape?"

"First, you'll need my permission!"

Lin Chen scoffed, picked up a pebble from the ground, and hurled it with precision at one of the fleeing figures.

"Crack!"

The pebble struck the assassin's tailbone with unerring accuracy, the sound of snapping bone echoing in the air.

Overwhelmed by the sharp pain, the man's legs buckled, and he crashed to the ground.