Wan Yunting’s expression froze. Looking at Zhong Hongmei before him, he smiled faintly and shook his head, “Director Zhong, this is hardly necessary. I am quite satisfied with their strength. I might consider hiring them to protect my family.”
“Mr. Wan, if you truly wish to hire them, then defeat me first!”
Zhong Hongmei’s sharp phoenix eyes stared directly at him. She said coldly, “Otherwise, please leave!”
This made Wan Yunting somewhat dejected. He narrowed his eyes and met Zhong Hongmei’s gaze. It was clear she wanted to save face for her bodyguards, or perhaps for herself.
After all, who would ask for bodyguards and then personally verify their capabilities? This was already a provocation, and the proud Zhong Hongmei wouldn’t easily back down.
Therefore, Wan Yunting either had to turn and leave now, or defeat her first; otherwise, there would be no discussion.
“Heh heh.”
Wan Yunting chuckled. He knew Zhong Hongmei was a master. From her sharp phoenix eyes, he could also tell she possessed a strong will to win.
“Director Zhong, how about we make a bet? If you lose, you’ll be my bodyguard for a month, how about that?” Wan Yunting’s lips curved upwards as he hatched a mischievous plan.
“Hey, don’t be too arrogant.”
These words enraged Shi Qiang, Xiao Zhao, and the other bodyguards around. Their gazes all fixed on Wan Yunting, who was being utterly presumptuous by asking Zhong Hongmei to be his bodyguard.
It was known that before her retirement, she had protected major political figures in the capital. What qualifications did Wan Yunting have to demand her service?
“Sister Hongmei, let me…”
Qi Kai immediately stepped forward. Standing at 1.8 meters tall, his perfectly sculpted muscles exuded a masculine, explosive appeal. He glared at Wan Yunting and scoffed, “Kid, you don’t need Sister Hongmei to step up. I can defeat you.”
However, Wan Yunting waved his hand at him and then pointed at Shi Qiang, smiling, “Your six men are of comparable strength, so I am quite satisfied. No need to test further.”
“Fine.”
Zhong Hongmei’s cool demeanor and sharp phoenix eyes remained fixed on Wan Yunting. She said coldly, “But if you lose, the fee for hiring them will be doubled!”
Wan Yunting smiled and nodded, “Agreed.”
“Hongmei…”
Shi Qiang and Xiao Zhao wanted to say something more, but Zhong Hongmei raised her hand to stop them. She then took off her suit jacket and handed it to her secretary, unbuttoned her sleeves, rolled them up, and kicked off her high heels…
These preparatory actions were slow. Zhong Hongmei’s sharp phoenix eyes were constantly on Wan Yunting. His face wore a composed and calm smile, giving off an air of arrogant confidence.
But based on his earlier exchange with Shi Qiang, Zhong Hongmei knew that this man, possibly younger than herself, possessed strength that should not be underestimated. She even wondered inwardly if she could gauge the stage of Wan Yunting’s Chinese martial arts.
It was precisely for this reason that Zhong Hongmei proposed to spar with Wan Yunting herself. Being a martial arts enthusiast, she couldn’t resist testing her skills against a stronger opponent.
It was only through actual combat that one could continuously improve their martial prowess.
Watching her roll up her sleeves and remove her heels, Wan Yunting’s lips curled into a smile. “Are we ready to begin?”
“Please.”
Zhong Hongmei cupped her fists and performed a very traditional bow. She hailed from a martial arts family, which explained her remarkable achievements in martial arts at such a young age and her honor as the top female bodyguard in China.
This gesture caught Wan Yunting by surprise. He quickly mirrored her, cupped his fists, smiled, adjusted his stance, and said, “Let’s go.”
Seeing this, Zhong Hongmei wasted no further time. She stepped forward with her right foot, her fists clenched. The calluses on her knuckles were clearly visible – thick marks left from practicing martial arts since childhood.
“Everyone, step back…”
Instantly, Shi Qiang, Xiao Zhao, and the others pushed back the onlookers, clearing a large circle for them.
The next moment, as Zhong Hongmei raised her eyes, her sharp phoenix eyes became even more piercing, like a hunting eagle locking onto Wan Yunting.
Then, with a low roar, Zhong Hongmei’s feet seemed to spring from the mat. She propelled herself forward with a few steps, then pushed off the mat with her right foot, leaping into the air. Utilizing her momentum and the twist of her waist, she spun her right leg in mid-air, aiming directly for Wan Yunting’s head…
As swift as lightning, Zhong Hongmei’s speed and the power of her kick far surpassed Shi Qiang’s.
Wan Yunting’s eyes narrowed slightly. He raised his right palm to shield his face…
*Slap!*
Zhong Hongmei’s right sole struck Wan Yunting’s left palm with a *slap*. Wan Yunting’s feet shifted slightly, absorbing and deflecting the force. He then looked at Zhong Hongmei as she landed and calmly said with a smile, “Director Zhong, you have good power. You must be at the late stage of Hua Jin, right?”
Zhong Hongmei was well aware of the force behind her kick. To see this person, who was likely younger than her, not only absorb its power but also remain completely unfazed and unmovable left her inwardly shocked.
Even her former instructor hadn’t possessed such skill.
And Wan Yunting was so young. Zhong Hongmei felt a mix of apprehension and curiosity. What martial arts realm had he reached?
After a three-second pause, Zhong Hongmei didn’t relent. She twisted, her left hand forming a fist, and swung it towards Wan Yunting’s Adam’s apple. Her reaction speed and strength were far more ferocious than Shi Qiang’s, exhibiting a power that seemed impossible for a woman.
Unfortunately, she was facing Wan Yunting, who had already reached the early stage of Dan Jin in martial arts. His strength, speed, and reaction capabilities were far beyond what Zhong Hongmei, at the Hua Jin stage, could match.
After all, advancing from Hua Jin to Dan Jin represented a significant leap, a chasm in both physical and mental improvements. Thus, Wan Yunting effortlessly dodged Zhong Hongmei’s punch and exchanged a few blows with her.
“This guy is too strong, isn’t he?”
The surrounding bodyguards’ eyes widened as they watched Zhong Hongmei’s swift attacks, each one aimed lethally.
In contrast, Wan Yunting wasn’t attacking. He was solely focusing on defense, a faint smile gracing his lips.
However, from the moment Zhong Hongmei’s kick was blocked by him earlier, Shi Qiang and the others knew that Wan Yunting’s strength was definitely superior to Zhong Hongmei’s.
*Papapa…*
The sounds of palms and ankles, and fists and palms colliding echoed across the training grounds. Shi Qiang and the other onlookers watched with wide eyes, their fists clenched, their gaze fixed on the brief two minutes where Zhong Hongmei and Wan Yunting exchanged over a dozen moves. Throughout, Zhong Hongmei was on the offensive, while Wan Yunting remained on the defensive, offering no counter-attacks.
Then, Zhong Hongmei threw another punch, which Wan Yunting caught with his palm. His body moved with snake-like fluidity, absorbing the force of her punch and pushing her back a considerable distance. Seeing her prepare to attack again, Wan Yunting quickly raised his hand to stop her, smiling, “Director Zhong, I think we should stop here. There’s no need to continue. You can’t defeat me.”
Zhong Hongmei halted her attack, her sharp phoenix eyes fixed on Wan Yunting. While his words might sound arrogant to others, Zhong Hongmei knew in her heart that she was no match for him.
In fact, their skills were on entirely different levels!
“I want to know, what martial arts realm have you reached?” Zhong Hongmei’s sharp phoenix eyes stared at him, her curiosity piqued.
Wan Yunting smiled, then turned his gaze towards the sandbag area in the distance, where hundreds of pounds of sandbags hung from the ceiling. Without answering Zhong Hongmei, he walked over and stopped about eight to nine meters away from the sandbags. He waved to the row of bodyguards blocking his view and said with a smile, “Please move aside, I need to hit the sandbag.”
“Hit the sandbag?”
Shi Qiang, Xiao Zhao, and the other bodyguards were immediately perplexed. Even Zhong Hongmei looked at him with a hint of confusion. The bodyguards blocking Wan Yunting’s line of sight also stepped aside.
Wan Yunting formed his right hand into a palm and placed it at his lower abdomen, the Dantian. He then closed his eyes slightly, gathering his focus and circulating the qi within his Dantian…
“What is he doing?”
Seeing Wan Yunting stop and close his eyes while still eight to nine meters away from the sandbags, Shi Qiang, Tang Linhao, and the other bodyguards were filled with confusion. They had no idea what he was attempting.
Even Zhong Hongmei raised her eyebrows in curiosity, watching Wan Yunting with his eyes half-closed and his right palm resting on his abdomen, his movements peculiar and inexplicable.
“Hmm, such potent qi!”
However, the next moment, Zhong Hongmei’s phoenix eyes widened. Although she was five to six meters away from Wan Yunting, she could clearly feel a powerful aura emanating from him. Zhong Hongmei’s expression instantly changed, and she seemed to realize something, her heart filled with shock: “Could he be about to…”
As expected, the next moment, Wan Yunting’s eyes snapped open. A green light flickered in his pupils. The qi circulation from his Dantian flowed to his right palm. He then struck a sandbag before him with a palm strike…
*Boom!*
The several hundred-pound sandbag, eight to nine meters away, was struck by an immense force out of nowhere. The impact split the sturdy sandbag open, spilling its contents of sand and sawdust…
For a moment, the bodyguards present, including Shi Qiang, stood with their mouths agape, jaws dropped, their eyes wide with disbelief and incomprehension.
Even Zhong Hongmei’s phoenix eyes widened in shock as she watched Wan Yunting’s palm split the sandbag from a distance of several meters. The sandbag swayed violently. The scene was dead silent, not a soul stirred…