My gorgeous wife Chapter 5 - 5 5 Just You

The night had grown deep, and even Lin Yi, succumbing to exhaustion, had fallen into a profound slumber.

The day's events had been more demanding than an entire month's usual activities, leaving her utterly drained.

Meanwhile, Li Chen had silently departed from the villa.

A shadowy figure was stealthily drawing nearer, and Li Chen began to move to intercept.

Steel-hearted, Li Chen charged directly toward the approaching darkness.

Approximately five hundred meters from the villa, he made contact with the figure.

“You must be from the Italian Mafia, yes?”

Li Chen addressed the dozen or so individuals now before him.

It was evident the group hadn't anticipated their identities being discerned so swiftly upon meeting.

A few exchanged furtive glances, then nodded resolutely before launching a direct assault on Li Chen.

True martial artists, upon encountering an adversary, waste no time on pleasantries; even a moment's delay can alter the course of a fight, especially when operating far from their home turf in Huaxia.

Li Chen, observing their practiced formations, understood their combat prowess would be substantial.

The Italian Mafia, twelve strong.

Their precise rank remained an unknown variable.

With the opponents surging forward, Li Chen could not afford to display any hesitation.

A dagger materialized in his palm, its surface glinting with a chilling, bone-deep cold.

The lead silhouette blurred and was instantly before Li Chen, weapons brandished—swords, daggers, and combat spikes, a diverse arsenal.

An ordinary person, faced with such a menacing display, might well have been paralyzed by fear.

The first to engage was Li Chen, who parried an incoming blade with his own dagger before unleashing an incredibly swift kick to the attacker's abdomen.

However, the opponent recovered with astonishing speed and charged at Li Chen once more.

“Hmph, you even dare to ingest the zombie drug?

It seems you've come truly prepared today!”

Li Chen recognized the altered state of these individuals immediately.

For a normal person, while that kick wouldn't have been fatal, it certainly would have prevented such a rapid recovery.

This could only indicate they had consumed some specialized potion, rendering them seemingly impervious to pain.

Li Chen's speed was exceptional, making him difficult for most to engage in close-quarters combat.

More often than not, a single decisive move was enough to repel an opponent upon first contact.

Yet, the sheer number of adversaries, their fearless, relentless onslaught, forced Li Chen into a reactive stance.

But Li Chen still managed moments of success, such as when his dagger found its mark in an opponent's lower abdomen, crippling their combat effectiveness by at least thirty percent.

However, after several minutes of intense fighting, Li Chen sensed something was amiss; these assailants seemed less intent on killing him and more focused on depleting his strength.

Could they somehow know he no longer possessed the Z substance?

This thought struck Li Chen suddenly, and was soon corroborated when he deliberately exposed an opening, yet his opponents seemed entirely oblivious to it.

This was inexplicable; these were not weak individuals.

How could they fail to notice such a clear vulnerability?

He needed to end this quickly, no more prolonged engagement.

This became Li Chen’s immediate, overriding instinct.

“Tssss…”

With fluid ease, Li Chen slit open a man’s throat with his dagger, but in the process, he received a powerful kick to his back.

Had this been in the past, such a forceful blow would have barely registered; but today was different.

He had expended a significant amount of his True Qi defending Lin Yi, leaving him with less than a tenth of his former power.

This was also the reason Li Chen had initially held back, wary of potential hidden tactics these opponents might employ.

But now, he could no longer afford such caution.

That recent kick had genuinely caused him pain.

Pain was a sensation reserved for rare occasions; aside from clashes with formidable elders, few could ever pose a threat to Li Chen.

Gradually, Li Chen's hands became increasingly bloodied, his attire heavily stained.

His eyes turned a fierce crimson, and his movements accelerated.

Within two minutes, a dozen dark figures lay lifeless upon the ground.

When the King of the Netherworld unleashed his wrath, legions would fall.

After wiping the blood from his dagger on a fallen adversary, Li Chen slowly rose to his feet.

At this moment, his outward composure masked the internal turmoil churning within his core.

He had just drawn upon nearly all the True Qi remaining in his body.

Without the Z substance to act as a suppressor, the mysterious power stirring within him was beginning to surge uncontrollably.

“Clap, clap, clap…”

The sound of applause echoed through the darkness, sharp and distinct.

Standing amidst the fallen, Li Chen’s senses sharpened to their peak.

“It’s no wonder they call you the King of the Netherworld.

You single-handedly eradicated the entire Sky Wolf Mercenary Team back then—all eight hundred and thirty members, leaving no survivors.

That battle cemented your legendary status, and since that day, no one has dared to challenge you.

Truly remarkable, truly remarkable…”

A sharp voice, almost feminine, struck Li Chen’s ears, yet he discerned it was unmistakably a man’s, and one he recognized.

“Shouzi Shenglang, instead of remaining at Tucker Castle, you’ve sought me out!”

A figure materialized before Li Chen.

He was slender, with a pallid complexion, possessing a handsome visage—if female, she would undoubtedly be deemed beautiful.

However, his delicate demeanor might induce nausea in onlookers.

Li Chen, however, paid no heed to these details; his entire focus was fixed upon the man before him, recognizing him as a formidable adversary.

Shouzi Shenglang, rumored to be of Japanese descent but residing in Europe, was affiliated with a faction of the Mafia.

This androgynous individual was the offspring of Shouzi Sky Wolf, one of the twelve chieftains of the Mafia.

Despite his effeminate appearance, his strength was formidable, holding the thirteenth position on the Earth Ranking!

In this world, numerous individuals wield exceptional Combat Power, leading to their classification on distinct lists: the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, comprising one hundred, one thousand, and ten thousand individuals, respectively.

Transcending these three tiers are the esteemed titles of the Twelve Main Gods, with Li Chen holding the designation of the fourth-ranked King of the Netherworld.

In truth, once one ascends to the Earth Ranking, the disparity in strength tends to narrow; these rankings are often determined by specific circumstances.

It was precisely because Li Chen annihilated eight hundred and thirty members of the Sky Wolf Mercenary Team that he was conferred the title of King of the Netherworld.

In his prime, Li Chen would not have feared Shouzi Shenglang, but presently, his ability likely fell short of his willingness.

“King of the Netherworld, there’s no need to feign composure before me.

To borrow your terminology from Huaxia, you are at your wit’s end.

Did you truly believe your laboratory’s destruction was a mere coincidence?

No, allow me to inform you, I orchestrated it all, and today, I shall eliminate you, the King of the Netherworld, and usurp your position entirely!”

Shouzi Shenglang’s Phoenix Eyes narrowed as he spoke with menace.

“Heh, you?

Shouzi Shenglang, without offense, I have never truly considered your abilities significant.

If you possessed the capability to demolish my laboratory, you would not have remained stagnant on the Earth Ranking for so long!”

Instantly, Shouzi Shenglang’s countenance underwent a drastic shift.