Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

After a long moment, Song Qingwan finally spoke, her voice laced with disbelief. "Zhao Dong… you… you know Black Dragon?"

Zhao Dong glanced at her, smiled, and walked toward Black Dragon.

Black Dragon's face immediately turned pale, and his body began to tremble slightly. He had witnessed Zhao Dong's terrifying power. At that moment, he was too frightened to even breathe heavily. He looked at Zhao Dong, his face a mask of desperation, silently pleading for him to save face in front of so many people. If a fight broke out now, he, Brother Black Dragon, would become a laughingstock.

Zhao Dong strolled over and, facing Black Dragon, grinned. "Brother Black Dragon?"

Black Dragon shuddered, unsure whether to laugh or cry. He squeezed out a smile that was uglier than tears. "Mr… Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Dong smiled faintly and whispered in a voice only Black Dragon could hear, "With so many people here, I'll let you save face. You know what to do, right?"

Instantly overjoyed, Black Dragon shot Zhao Dong a grateful look before his gaze landed on Shen Yana and the crumpled form of Zhang Xingze on the ground.

Terrified, Zhang Xingze shuddered and looked at Black Dragon in despair. "Brother… Brother Black Dragon, I…"

Black Dragon beckoned to Zhang Xingze with a finger. "Come here."

Zhang Xingze's face was ashen, his heart filled with terror, but he dared not refuse and obediently walked over.

Black Dragon slapped the back of Zhang Xingze's neck, then grabbed him and forced him to face Zhao Dong.

"Do you know who this is? This is Mr. Zhao."

Tears of desperation welled in Zhang Xingze's eyes. "Brother Black Dragon, I… I didn't know! I didn't know he was Mr. Zhao!"

"Do you know now?"

"I… I know now! Mr. Zhao, I was wrong!" Zhang Xingze said, looking at Zhao Dong with a bitter expression.

Zhao Dong gave Zhang Xingze a cold glance. "Where did you go wrong?"

Zhang Xingze trembled. "I… I shouldn't have been so full of myself. I shouldn't have come looking for trouble. I… I'll leave right now!"

Zhao Dong looked at Black Dragon. "You decide how to handle it."

Black Dragon glanced at Zhang Xingze, then suddenly kicked out fiercely. The blow sent Zhang Xingze flying, curled up like a shrimp in mid-air before crashing into a set of shelves. He fell to the ground, his face twisted in pain and his body covered in injuries, unable to get back up.

Shen Yana screamed, pointing an accusatory finger at Black Dragon. "Black Dragon, are you insane? Don't think everyone is afraid of you! My Shen Family isn't to be trifled with! Do you believe I can call people from the Provincial City right now and wipe you out?"

Black Dragon raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're from the Shen Family of the Provincial City?"

"It's good that you know!" Shen Yana said angrily. "Apologize to my man immediately! Are you looking for death?"

Black Dragon frowned. "Apologize?" He then chuckled coldly. "In East Sea, there aren't many people who can make me, Black Dragon, apologize. Your Shen Family is powerful, but this is East Sea. Here, even a dragon has to coil up for me! Besides, don't think I don't know you're not a direct descendant of the Shen Family. At best, you're from a side branch!"

Flushed with shame and anger, Shen Yana shrieked, "Black Dragon, you're courting death! You will pay for what you said!"

"Shut your damn mouth! Say another word and I'll slap you too!"

Shen Yana instantly fell silent. She shot Black Dragon a death glare, then walked over to help Zhang Xingze up. Seeing his battered state, she was overcome with both heartache and fury.

With his face swollen, Zhang Xingze said pitifully, "Yana, let's… let's just go… Don't say any more."

Shen Yana was seething. She felt a surge of resentment toward Zhang Xingze as well. She thought he was so capable, but it turned out Black Dragon was on the other guy's side! But seeing him beaten so badly, she couldn't stay angry. She just nodded bitterly, and the two began to help each other toward the exit.

Just as they reached the door, Zhao Dong's voice rang out, "Wait. Did I say you could leave?"

Shen Yana stopped dead in her tracks and turned to Zhao Dong angrily. "Zhao Dong, don't push it! What else do you want?"

Zhao Dong said indifferently, "Have that Zhang Xingze come over and apologize to my friend. Otherwise, he isn't leaving today."

"You—don't go too far!"

Zhao Dong said coldly, "When you two were throwing your weight around and bullying others just now, why didn't you think you were going too far?"

Black Dragon coughed beside them, his gaze turning cold as he looked at Zhang Xingze. Zhang Xingze immediately trembled, pushed Shen Yana away, and shakily approached Song Qingwan. He slapped himself across the face and said, his expression a mixture of complex emotions, "Qingwan, I'm sorry… I'm really sorry. Please, let me go."

Song Qingwan looked at him, her own expression endlessly complicated. After a moment, she let out a soft sigh. "You can go."

"Thank you, thank you!" Zhang Xingze hurriedly said before walking back toward Shen Yana.

Black Dragon glanced at Zhao Dong, who gave a slight nod. Only then did Black Dragon speak. "Get lost! And watch yourself next time. Offend Mr. Zhao again, and you can just wait to die!"

Furious, Shen Yana cast a venomous look at both Black Dragon and Zhao Dong before supporting Zhang Xingze as they finally left.

The group of onlookers now looked at Zhao Dong differently, their eyes filled with amazement.

"Who is this young man? Even Black Dragon respects him so much!" one person muttered.

"His background must be something else! You really can't judge a book by its cover. He looks so low-key, but his connections are terrifying!" another added.

"We should get out of here. We don't want Black Dragon coming after us later!"

The crowd hurriedly dispersed, not daring to linger.

Black Dragon scratched his head and looked at Zhao Dong with a grin. "Mr. Zhao, is there anything else?"

Zhao Dong shook his head and glanced at Black Dragon. "No. You were quite sensible today."

Black Dragon chuckled. "Mr. Zhao, you flatter me. I now respect you from the bottom of my heart. Mr. Zhao, if there's anything you need in the future, please contact me. I hope you can consider me a friend."

Zhao Dong looked at Black Dragon with some surprise. He had to admit, the man knew how to handle himself. After getting beaten up just yesterday, his attitude had completely changed. He wasn't plotting revenge behind his back; instead, his attitude was surprisingly good. Zhao Dong could also tell that although Black Dragon was a man of violence and exuded a gangster's aura, he was a righteous person at his core. He was said to be incomparably loyal to his subordinates and sworn brothers.

Moreover, Zhao Dong had also heard that while Black Dragon was ruthless, it was only toward others in the underworld. On the contrary, he forbade his men from harassing ordinary citizens and strictly prohibited them from dabbling in things like drugs in his establishments. Looking at it this way, Black Dragon certainly had his merits.

Zhao Dong considered this for a moment. Although he was powerful, he sometimes felt stretched thin in East Sea. If I could have my own forces, my own people…

At this thought, an idea suddenly formed in Zhao Dong's mind.

He sized up Black Dragon and said lightly, "Black Dragon, your current strength is at the Martial Artist level, right?"

A Martial Artist was at the threshold just before becoming a cultivator, the most basic realm before the Inner Strength Stage. In fact, it could hardly be called a realm at all. A Martial Artist was simply someone on the level between an ordinary person and a true cultivator. A Martial Artist was generally stronger than an ordinary person, possessing superior speed, strength, and agility.

Figures like some top athletes, combat experts, martial arts masters, and even previously famous figures in China like Li Xiaolong, Ye Wen, and Huang Feihong could be considered what are known as Martial Artists. These people already possessed the potential to become cultivators, but achieving that status required the right timing, geographical advantage, and harmonious human relations. They had simply pushed their physical bodies to that limit but lacked the critical moment of epiphany.

If they had that epiphany, they could sense nature's spiritual energy, cultivate their Inner Strength, and successfully step into the Inner Strength Stage, gradually becoming true cultivators. However, epiphanies like that were exceedingly rare. Even renowned historical figures like Li Xiaolong, Ye Wen, and Huang Feihong had failed to achieve one.

When Black Dragon heard Zhao Dong's words, he exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Zhao, you're right. I am indeed a Martial Artist."

Zhao Dong smiled faintly. "I also noticed that the fist technique you practice is called Li Family Cross Fist. It's quite strong in the world of ordinary people, but in my eyes, it's very ordinary. I will teach you a new fist technique. Practice it well. Additionally, I will give you a medicinal bath recipe. Soak in it for a week, and your physical condition will undergo a qualitative change. Are you willing?"

Black Dragon stared at Zhao Dong in shock, and in the next second, his voice trembled. "Mr. Zhao, I… I am willing!"

Zhao Dong smiled faintly, got a piece of paper and a pen from a clerk, and scribbled down the recipe before tossing it to Black Dragon. Black Dragon couldn't read the whole thing, but he could recognize some of the ingredients listed—they were extremely rare and precious medicinal herbs!

His eyes lit up. Could it be that Zhao Dong also possessed such terrifying skills and even knew about medicinal arts?

Zhao Dong glanced at him and said lightly, "Now, I will demonstrate the fist technique. I'll only do it once, so pay close attention."

Black Dragon took a deep breath. "Mr. Zhao, please!"

Zhao Dong nodded. He stepped forward with his right foot and clenched his hand into a fist. Suddenly, an indescribable aura enveloped him.

His fist moved, flashing like lightning, striking like thunder! In an instant, he threw dozens of punches. The wind from his fists howled, creating a series of afterimages. Terrifying whooshes cut through the air! At that moment, Zhao Dong's entire aura became immense.

Finally, Zhao Dong threw a punch through the empty air, and it let out an audible SONIC BOOM!

Black Dragon was dumbfounded. He stared blankly at the display, and in the next second, his body began to tremble. A moment later, his face was a mask of fervor, excitement, shock, and utter disbelief.

This fist technique… it was beyond his imagination, stronger than he could have ever conceived! In all his years, he had never dared to imagine that such a powerful and profound fist technique could even exist!

His body trembled uncontrollably. Suddenly, with a THUD, he dropped to his knees, his eyes filled with tears as he looked at Zhao Dong. "Master… Master Zhao! I, Black Dragon, wish to take you as my master! Please, accept me as your disciple!"

With a gentle wave of his hand, Zhao Dong lifted Black Dragon with a formless force and said lightly, "Practice it first. I'll check your results later. This fist technique is called Thunder Fist."

After saying this, Zhao Dong left, but not before giving Black Dragon his contact information. He knew the man would be in touch soon.

He and Song Qingwan left together and went to a restaurant. It was already noon, and Song Qingwan had insisted on treating him to a meal. Zhao Dong had no choice but to accept. They sat down and ordered their food.

Only then did Song Qingwan look at Zhao Dong, her eyes filled with immense surprise, and murmur, "Zhao Dong… I… I can hardly believe what happened today. Who are you, really?"