Chapter 16: Internal Force Explosive Fist

"Mr. Gu, may I ask what this means?" Lin Le inquired.

"Back when Dragon Abyss Lake was first being developed, our Gu family purchased all the mountaintop villas on the seven peaks surrounding the lake. Apart from the villa on Dragon Head Mountain and the one on Dragon Breath Mountain that is hardly fit for use, the remaining five villas are yours to choose from, young Lin," Gu Huaishan explained.

He recalled Gu Ya mentioning a promise to give Lin Le money, but Lin Le had refused. Judging from his demeanor, Lin Le was not the sort to accept money indiscriminately. Thus, Gu Huaishan thought offering a villa might be more appropriate. Not only would it express his gratitude and foster a closer relationship, but by settling Lin Le nearby, it would also make future interactions more convenient.

Gu Huaishan was confident. Although Lin Le possessed impressive martial skills, he was still just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth whose family had suffered a setback and was in a slump. Surely, such a person could not resist such a great temptation.

To be honest, Lin Le felt a surge of greed upon seeing those five keys. Any one of those villas could easily fetch over twenty million on the market, which would greatly help solve his family's current predicament. Yet, that greedy impulse was quickly suppressed.

"Mr. Gu, your generosity is overwhelming, but I must decline such a grand gift," Lin Le replied coolly.

Lin Le, after all, possessed the five hundred years of memories of the Emperor Lingxiao. He had witnessed unimaginable splendor and achievement—vast, far-reaching interstellar empires, myriad races bowing in submission, immeasurable wealth. Compared to such grandeur, a single villa was hardly worth mentioning.

"Oh?" Gu Huaishan was astonished. He had assumed Lin Le was merely a teenager, unable to withstand such temptation, but Lin Le's breadth of vision far surpassed his expectations.

"Youth, Mr. Gu has never shown such favor to anyone. Are you not being rather arrogant to refuse him so directly?" Guo Zhao, standing beside them, barked coldly.

In truth, Guo Zhao had always harbored doubts about this Lin Le. As Mr. Gu's personal bodyguard, he had served faithfully since before Mr. Gu's retirement. His status within the Gu family was far more significant than that of a mere bodyguard, and his words carried weight.

Guo Zhao hailed from a martial arts family and had trained from childhood, yet even now had only reached the level of minor internal strength. Yet Gu Ya claimed Lin Le, at seventeen or eighteen, could already project true energy and had achieved mastery of internal strength, which Guo Zhao found unbelievable.

He suspected Lin Le was overrated—perhaps skilled in medicine, but certainly not so advanced in martial arts. Seeing Lin Le put on airs and embarrass Mr. Gu, Guo Zhao grew angrier, eager to expose the youth as a pretender.

"If refusing him means losing face, then would I not be obliged to accept anything from anyone?" Lin Le retorted sharply, detecting the pointed tone.

"You've got quite the mouth, but let's see about your skills! Allow me to test them today!"

With that, Guo Zhao tossed his tray skyward and lunged at Lin Le with a tiger-claw strike.

Lin Le knew his opponent sought to gauge his true abilities, to see if he was worth the Gu family's attention. Perhaps this was Gu Huaishan's intention as well.

"Uncle Guo!" Gu Ya cried out, shocked by the sudden escalation from conversation to confrontation.

She moved to intervene, but Gu Huaishan stopped her.

"Grandfather?"

"Don't worry. Martial artists sparring is commonplace. Guo Zhao knows his limits."

Gu Huaishan himself harbored doubts about this martial youth, and welcomed the opportunity to verify his strength.

Guo Zhao's punches were swift and powerful, raining down like a storm upon Lin Le. Yet Lin Le's movements seemed languid, almost lazy, and strangely, not a single blow landed. Lin Le deflected each one with a casual flick of his hand.

"Spring wind turns to rain, four ounces move a thousand pounds?!" Gu Huaishan exclaimed in awe.

There could be no mistake—such skill belonged only to a true martial master!

Gu Huaishan's excitement surged. Mastery of internal strength, a high-level martial artist! In his seventy years, he could count such experts on one hand, and those individuals now stood at heights that even Gu Huaishan could only admire from afar.

Even more astonishing, this high-level master was merely a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth! The thrill within Gu Huaishan threatened to burst from him.

Meanwhile, Guo Zhao, engaged with Lin Le, had already sensed his opponent's extraordinary strength. In mere seconds, he had thrown over twenty punches, all neutralized by Lin Le.

Guo Zhao was utterly shaken. Impossible! Decades of martial training, and he could not best a mere youngster? How could this be?

His pride refused to yield. Clearly, it was time to use his ultimate technique!

Guo Zhao's expression tightened, summoning all his energy. Every ounce of power converged in his arm and fist, and a forceful aura radiated from him.

"Internal Power Crushing Fist?" Even Gu Huaishan was surprised.

This was a special technique, gathering internal strength and releasing it in a concentrated blow. Guo Zhao's current abilities did not permit him to project true energy, but for him, this technique was his strongest attack.

Gu Huaishan grew anxious. Despite his lesser rank, Guo Zhao was a seasoned martial artist, and his mastery of this technique was exceptional—he had slain heavyweight champions abroad and severely injured military champions at home. Its power was beyond ordinary martial prowess; even a master of internal strength might face danger!

Gu Huaishan regretted letting Guo Zhao act on impulse. If Lin Le were seriously injured, he would be accused of repaying kindness with hostility.

Before he could dwell further, Guo Zhao launched his terrifying Crushing Fist.

A thunderous "boom!" echoed as a powerful shockwave filled the air, rattling even the atmosphere. Gu Ya cried out in fright.

Looking back at Guo Zhao and Lin Le, both Gu Huaishan and Gu Ya were stunned.

Guo Zhao's forceful Crushing Fist had been caught and held firmly in Lin Le's palm! Meanwhile, the tray fell, and Lin Le caught it effortlessly with his other hand.

"We'll leave it at that," Lin Le said calmly.

Guo Zhao stood frozen, staring at Lin Le in disbelief.

He had lost, utterly defeated.

Though Lin Le spared his dignity, Guo Zhao keenly felt the vast gulf between their abilities.

His right arm was numb, as if broken.

"Brother Lin, your skill is profound. I concede defeat," Guo Zhao said, fully convinced.

Lin Le's prowess left him no room for resentment—he had simply been outmatched.

Guo Zhao tried to salute Lin Le, but found his arm limp and unresponsive, hanging like a rope.

This was not Lin Le's doing, but the backlash from his own Crushing Fist, whose force had not been properly released and rebounded upon himself.

Had Lin Le not shown mercy, his arm might well have been ruined.

"Thank you for sparing me," Lin Le replied coolly.

Gu Ya was already stunned.

Though her understanding of martial arts was limited, she knew Guo Zhao's strength well. He was a scion of a renowned martial family, a formidable fighter almost unmatched in Haizhou.

Yet even Guo Zhao had fallen to Lin Le. The level of Lin Le's power must be extraordinary—could he not be invincible in all of Haizhou?

Gu Ya regarded this seemingly ordinary youth with newfound respect.

"I appreciate Mr. Gu's gesture, but I must decline such a lavish gift. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Guo Zhao's challenge and Gu Huaishan's observation made it clear to Lin Le that they were testing his abilities.

Though he had no need for their esteem, being doubted left him displeased.

What of the Gu family in Haizhou? Lin Le possessed the memories of the Emperor Lingxiao, who had dominated worlds for five centuries. The glory he sought now would far surpass anything the Gu family had achieved—a thousand times over. He had no need to curry favor with them.

With that, Lin Le turned and walked away without a backward glance.

"Young Lin! Wait, young Lin!" Gu Huaishan called after him.

Lin Le did not pause, giving him no face.

"Ya, hurry and catch up."

Gu Ya quickly chased after him, stopping the resolute Lin Le.

"What, are you truly upset?" Gu Ya asked gently, knowing they were in the wrong.

"You tried to test me, just to see if I deserved the Gu family's attention. But you overestimate yourselves—not everyone wants to cling to your family," Lin Le replied, still irritated.

"Alright, I admit we were at fault. I'll apologize on Grandfather's behalf," Gu Ya said, grabbing Lin Le's arm and shaking it.

Faced with the young lady's coquettish apology, Lin Le's anger melted away.

"Besides, Grandfather values you greatly. He invited you here because he needs your help."