"I was just testing you earlier," Li Runshan said lightly.
"It seems your protective gear is quite effective. Since you want to intensify things, I’ll go all out."
With his daughter in front of him, he couldn't back down.
He took a deep breath, his left leg trembling slightly.
After trying out the strength of the opponent's protective suit a few times, he realized ordinary attacks wouldn't work at all.
Even ground techniques would require the ability to knock a person down first.
So, the next step was to bring this guy down!
With a whoosh, he charged forward, lowered his body, and kicked hard at the opponent's knee.
Boom! The kick caused his opponent to stagger slightly, instantly dissipating the force into the surrounding protective panels.
The dispersed power barely affected the heavy steel boots planted firmly on the ground.
"What the heck! Is it really this outrageous?!" Li Runshan couldn’t understand; he weighed over two hundred pounds, and yet his kick against such a mere knee just made the opponent wobble?
"Is this even real?!" He felt he might be in for a big loss today.
As he retreated, he noticed huge spikes protruding from the soles of Yu Hong's boots, which were used to anchor him to the ground.
Speechless!
Li Runshan had no idea how to react to the scene before him.
Just how scared was this guy of being knocked down? Just the weight of that lower half must be around fifty pounds! What does fifty pounds of steel armor even mean?!
Typically, a heavy bulletproof vest doesn’t exceed twenty kilograms.
But this one… Just the weight of the legs alone was over fifty pounds!
"Bring it on!!" The expression beneath Li Runshan's helmet lost its smile.
Now, he really meant business.
As a courier, especially one stationed alone in a dangerous area, his skills had to be far beyond what he had just shown.
"I’m using the military's Milsig combat technique," Li Runshan explained simply.
"This fighting style originated from a small country resisting foreign invaders. It combines quick mobility to strike the opponent's blind spots and deliver heavy blows. Its strikes are brutal and can easily cripple someone, so it was refined and introduced to our country as a practical combat technique."
"You can experience it for yourself."
This time, he didn’t plan to hold back.
He wanted to showcase his skills properly in front of his daughter, preserving his glorious image as a father.
In an instant, he rushed to the side of Yu Hong, delivering an elbow strike to the area near his waist.
"One."
He quickly circled once more and struck with the edge of his hand against Yu Hong's neck.
"Two."
He continued circling, dodging the opponent’s swinging fist, and slapped the side of Yu Hong's chest.
"Three!"
Then he rapidly retreated, standing still and breathing heavily.
"Do you feel it? If combined with a high-intensity dagger, you’d be dead three times over. If it was an armor-piercing gun, this suit would make you a live target."
"Bring it on!" Yu Hong said without hesitation.
He had paid for this training, after all!
This training lasted for over three hours, until the sun slanted westward and the temperature dropped.
Yu Hong gradually adapted to Li Runshan's rapid striking style targeting vital points.
With the reinforced White Bear suit, heavy strikes were no longer an issue; balance became critical.
If he fell, the opponent could easily use the environment to defeat him.
Thus, under the influence of the silver yuan, Yu Hong came to Li Runshan for training every day.
He practiced the heavy leg technique while sparring with Li Runshan, constantly contemplating strategies.
Whenever he got stuck, he would ask Li Runshan.
After all, he had paid for it.
Days turned into weeks.
Yu Hong’s responses became quicker, and his strikes increasingly matched Li Runshan's pace.
The heavy leg technique strengthened his leg power, and the weight of the White Bear suit felt lighter and lighter.
Eventually, he began to adjust to kicking with added weight.
His leg speed increased to a striking ferocity; one hit would be devastating.
In the end, even Li Runshan started avoiding direct confrontations with Yu Hong's strikes, opting for alternative methods instead.
Day by day, Yu Hong’s training in the heavy leg technique spread warmth throughout his entire body.
The transparent corneous layer on his legs grew thicker, and their strength surged.
His sixth strand of inner energy naturally nurtured from his lower abdomen, and soon after, he went through two surges of growth.
Yu Hong's physique expanded significantly; compared to the frail figure he used to be, he was now increasingly resembling the attacker, Bai Mang Guo Xudong.
His weight surpassed one hundred sixty pounds, as recorded on the scale at Li Runshan’s place.
Early morning.
In the garden of the post office stone house, Li Runshan and Yu Hong sat facing each other, both clad in thick protective suits to prevent attacks from outside.
"Based on your detailed description, I deduce that the person who attacked you must also be from the post office," Li Runshan propped his legs up and leaned back casually, analyzing.
"His style of attack is quite balanced, strong in power, moderate in speed, and his dodging method is military combat technique, specifically the Milsig fighting style. He has slightly modified his approach, clearly trying not to hit vital points in the beginning, suggesting that his main aim was to capture you."
"No, he targeted my vital points later—my head and chin were all targeted," Yu Hong retorted.
"That’s because he found your armor too thick. He couldn’t break through without hitting vital areas, so he had no choice," Li Runshan chuckled.
"You must realize he definitely had a gun. With his shooting skills as a courier, he could hit the seams of your bulletproof suit twice in the same spot, and you’d be done for."
Yu Hong was left speechless.
"Are you training hard for revenge?" Li Runshan probed.
"I do have that intention," Yu Hong didn’t hide it.
"Do you have any suggestions?"
"Suggestions? I just have one question. If you go out alone for revenge, it’s bound to take a long time, right? How will you ensure you have food and shelter?" Li Runshan asked with a smile.
"I’ll bring portable supplies, prepare enough for some time, and return after using them," Yu Hong answered.
"Do you even know who's behind it? Do you know where they are now? How many of them? Do they have heavy weapons?" Li Runshan pressed on again.
"Honestly, I don’t know," Yu Hong shook his head.
"But... I’m here now, right?" He looked up at Li Runshan.
"What do you mean?" Li Runshan’s eyes widened.
"You actually want me to help you gather intelligence? And you want to use that information for criminal acts?!"
"What’s it gonna be? Are you in or not?" Yu Hong’s expression was unwavering.
"You’re forcing me to make a mistake!!" Li Runshan jumped to his feet.
"Twenty talismans," Yu Hong said calmly.
"I’m on my own with a child! You need to understand my predicament!" Li Runshan shouted.
"Add twenty anti-inflammatory pills," Yu Hong raised the stakes.
"Deal!" Li Runshan agreed quickly.
He had previously tested Yu Hong’s anti-inflammatory pills and found them exceptionally effective.
They were in high demand with the supply teams and served as valuable currency in these times of scarcity.
If luck was on his side, twenty pills could be equivalent to two silver yuan.
"I'll contact my colleagues at other post offices immediately. From your description, this person likely came from the nearby Baihe City; walking from the far-off Hope City seems unrealistic. From the odds and ends you provided, he used to be a courier and got laid off before becoming a mercenary. With his skill level and size as you described, finding him shouldn’t be too hard. Such individuals usually aren’t nameless," Li Runshan quickly noted.
"Great! I'll rely on you for this," Yu Hong said earnestly.
"Absolutely! To be honest, your skills are attracting quite a few flies and pests. Have you thought of paying a price to protect yourself?" Li Runshan’s expression in his helmet showed a subtle smile again.
"You mean…" Yu Hong began to understand.
"In this day and age, you definitely can’t do things alone. So, you need a group specifically trained to keep you safe," Li Runshan said with a grin.
"You know, even though our post office is large and has many experts, some will always resign for various reasons. Given your skills and financial means, I suggest hiring people to ensure your safety. Once you’re safe, you can even hire others to produce food and so on, working together to establish a small outdoor village stronghold."
"I’ll have to think about it," Yu Hong hesitated, realizing the reasonableness of the other’s words.
"Right now, you’re alone. If you go out seeking revenge, the safe house you worked hard to set up could easily be overtaken by someone else. How long can one lock keep intruders out? But if you have people watching your back, or if you hire someone to take revenge while you stay hidden in a secure cave, enjoying food and rest, wouldn’t that be a far better life than what you have now?" Li Runshan softly tempted.
"And you?" Yu Hong pondered for a moment before asking, "Aren’t you tempted? If you could get the refining technique for the Great Radiant Stone from me, wouldn’t that entice you?"
"Our post office has regulations against our involvement. Plus, if this behavior is discovered, I would lose my job and might even become hunted. Although these are chaotic times, those above are still trying to maintain the last remnants of order," Li Runshan replied.
"Of course, there’s another reason. I think you, my friend, have great potential. The refining technique for the Great Radiant Stone actually exists in Aurora City; it just requires large machines for extraction. The cost isn’t much higher than yours. The reason it hasn’t affected you is that your output is too low, and the market demand for Great Radiant Stone is massive, set too far apart. But going through danger for this technique? I think not."
He chuckled softly.
"Right now, what you really need to deal with isn’t making money, but other things—the catastrophe grows stronger every year, and strange shadows are increasing. No matter how much money you earn, you need a life to spend it," Yu Hong began to understand the other’s mindset.
"Are you thinking of investing in me?"
(End of Chapter)