My gorgeous wife Chapter 2046 - 2014: Momentary Pain and Lifelong Tempering

Li Chen turned his head and observed a young man standing nearby. The young man's expression was overtly arrogant, practically screaming wealth and pride, and he was looking at Li Chen with a clear challenge.

Li Chen, however, simply turned back and resumed his enjoyment of the scenery.

Young Master Liu, positioned behind Li Chen, was initially taken aback. A wave of inexplicable anger then began to rise within him.

'At least say something! What is the meaning of ignoring me like this?'

"Hey, I'm speaking to you!" Young Master Liu's voice boomed again.

Only then did Li Chen give his ear a casual scratch and turn around once more. "Are you addressing me?"

Young Master Liu roared, "Is there anyone else here besides you?"

"Yes, there are." Li Chen cast a glance at Young Master Liu, his expression suggesting the man was an idiot. He gestured towards a group of tourists on the deck who were admiring the view. "Are you saying they don't count as people?"

Upon hearing Li Chen's response, several tourists nearby couldn't help but turn their heads, their gazes falling on Young Master Liu with evident displeasure.

"You..." Young Master Liu, flustered and enraged, found himself speechless, completely thwarted by Li Chen's retort.

He certainly possessed wealth, being the heir to a major conglomerate. However, anyone who could afford a vacation on the Nether King Group's cruise ship surely had their own financial standing. Even if they couldn't quite match his own status, there was no logical reason for him to irrationally provoke a crowd of people.

"You, a nobody, why are you standing there so shamelessly enjoying the view?" Young Master Liu's face flushed with frustration.

"It's none of your business. The captain hasn't said anything, so why should you? Is this cruise yours?" Li Chen replied with deliberate calmness.

"We paid for this passage! You, a mere nobody, are like a destabilizing element here!" Young Master Liu declared self-righteously. "I'll have the captain escort you off the ship!"

Li Chen simply nodded. "Oh, go ahead."

Young Master Liu's face turned crimson once more.

He had, in truth, attempted to have the captain and crew remove Li Chen from the ship, but his efforts were met with indifference.

A simple assurance of "Rest assured, your safety is guaranteed, and we are responsible for any issues" was sufficient to dismiss him.

While he was the heir of the Fangyuan Group, that company was utterly insignificant compared to the Nether King Group.

If the Nether King Group represented a towering mountain, the Fangyuan Group was merely a pebble at its base; the difference in their stature was immeasurable. He lacked the standing to act arrogantly aboard the Nether King Group's cruise ship.

At this precise moment, an elegant figure emerged from a cabin.

Young Master Liu's eyes lit up upon seeing this person.

Recently, due to Li Chen's presence, he had largely abandoned his pursuit of Ying Xiaoxiao, redirecting his full attention to Gong Yufei. He had been investing considerable effort in trying to win her favor in the past few days.

Seeing Gong Yufei appear, Young Master Liu completely forgot about Li Chen and hurried over to her.

However, Gong Yufei seemed entirely oblivious to Young Master Liu's presence, walking past him with swift steps to arrive directly beside Li Chen.

Young Master Liu stood frozen, a statue witnessing the unfolding scene.

Gong Yufei looked at Li Chen, her face etched with concern. "I just went to find Xiaoxiao and discovered she had fainted in her room."

"Oh?" Li Chen raised an eyebrow. "Let me go take a look."

"I'll go with you!" Gong Yufei quickly took Li Chen's hand. Having known Ying Xiaoxiao for several years and considering them close friends, seeing her in such a state made Gong Yufei regret not having urged her to cease her martial arts practice sooner.

Ordinarily, in such a situation, one would first seek out the ship's staff. Yet, for reasons unknown, Li Chen was the first person who came to Gong Yufei's mind.

"Let's go!" Without further discussion, Li Chen grasped Gong Yufei's hand, and they swiftly made their way towards Ying Xiaoxiao's room.

Young Master Liu remained standing there, dumbfounded. His expression shifted through various emotions before he finally shot a resentful glare in the direction Li Chen had departed.

...

Upon their return to the room, the first sight Li Chen beheld was Ying Xiaoxiao, who Gong Yufei had helped onto the bed. Her face was alarmingly pale.

"What's wrong with her? Is she alright?" Gong Yufei anxiously inquired after Li Chen had examined her.

"It's nothing serious." Li Chen let out a breath of relief. "She's merely exhausted. With a little rest, she'll be perfectly fine."

Hearing Li Chen's reassurance, Gong Yufei also relaxed. She then couldn't resist rolling her eyes at him. "Why push a young girl so relentlessly during her martial arts training?"

Gong Yufei had visited during Ying Xiaoxiao's training sessions and was aware of the rigorous regimen Li Chen had imposed. In her estimation, Ying Xiaoxiao's ability to persist for so many days was nothing short of a miracle. She herself would never have been able to endure it.

"To get ahead of others, you have to put in more than they do." Li Chen chuckled and shook his head, "She’s physically well-built and seems to have practiced some basic martial arts before?"

"Yes." Gong Yufei nodded, "Xiaoxiao has learned some martial arts. She also practiced kickboxing and judo with good results. Otherwise, her family wouldn’t feel comfortable with her being out and about."

"Seems quite capable." Li Chen smiled.

"Of course!" Gong Yufei declared proudly, "Once, we were surrounded by seven or eight hooligans, and Xiaoxiao took care of them all by herself."

Li Chen smiled; indeed, having some foundation makes it easier to step into the ranks of a martial artist.

Just as Li Chen had predicted, after a while, Ying Xiaoxiao woke up on her own.

Observing Ying Xiaoxiao, Li Chen gently pinched various spots on her body before stating, "After high-intensity training, your body is undergoing an automatic metamorphosis. Rest for the next couple of days, and when we’re back, it’s best to find some old medicinal baths to soak in before continuing training."

Li Chen rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "At this training intensity, in about half a year, you should be able to truly step into the world of a martial artist."

Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes widened as she looked at Li Chen: "Half a year more?"

"Half a year is already pretty fast." Li Chen tapped Ying Xiaoxiao’s smooth forehead, "It takes most people years or even decades, yet you only need half a year—what’s there not to be satisfied about?"

"Alright." Ying Xiaoxiao couldn't help but pout, "Another half year of suffering."

"Martial arts practice is a form of tempering. If your goal is merely to become a martial artist, then it is indeed a half-year of suffering." Li Chen’s gaze grew distant, "But if you wish to advance further on the path of martial arts, then it becomes a life-long grind."

Hearing Li Chen’s words, for some unknown reason, the two girls fell silent.

They could sense that Li Chen’s words carried deeper meaning, but they only grasped it superficially.

Certain things must be experienced firsthand to be truly understood.