............Rohan gazed at the introduction of the book titled "Harmonious Combat: The Essence of Zen Martial Philosophy." It's a book that shows you how to keep yourself safe from harm."Now, I should read the book first before I do anything else," Rohan whispered to himself, then headed back to the elderly man."How much does this book cost?" Rohan inquired about the price."Just 200 dollars, young man," the old man replied."Alright, I'll buy it," Rohan agreed and signaled to the old man to proceed with the payment."Goodbye, young man. Take care," the old man bid farewell after Rohan paid for the book."You too, Uncle. Stay well!" Rohan waved as he left the bookstore."Ting..." The bell chimed again, indicating Rohan had exited the store."Old man, why are you getting involved with the younger generation?" Just after Rohan departed, an elderly lady around the same age as the old man, with a hunched back and wrinkles on her face, emerged from the back of the bookstore. She obse
............[Ding... The host has gained a basic grasp of the "Flowing Water Stance" move...[To fully master the move, it needed 100 Tap points...[Would you like to proceed...]"Hmm, it's asking for 100 Tap points just for a single move. This move must be really powerful to cost that much," Rohan said in surprise as he saw the price to acquire the first move.Deciding to go ahead, Rohan chose 'Proceed' to acquire the Skill.[Ding... Skill "Flowing Water Stance," full mastery is being transferred to the Host's Brain...[Transfer successful...]"Ouch...!" Rohan winced slightly as he felt a sharp pain, which quickly disappeared."Whoa, this is the real deal!" A rush of new knowledge flooded Rohan's mind, accompanied by a noticeable change in his body."Ha!" Rising from his bed, Rohan stood up and attempted the move, experiencing its smoothness.It felt as if the memory was etched into his muscles; they moved so fluidly that he could hardly believe it himself.'Status,' Rohan thought,
............Four cars came to a stop when they saw Rohan step out of his car. They all looked in his direction."Hey, Brother Kong, are you really sure this guy is a loser with no background?" asked the muscular man in the front car. He wore a dark tank top and turned to the person sitting in the back."Yeah, I'm sure, unless the info we got is messed up. Why, getting scared just because the guy looks a bit different?" replied the man in the back, his grin mocking."Of course not, I just wanted to be sure!" the muscular man answered with a grin, getting out of the car.He opened the door and helped Brother Kong step out of the car in a stylish manner.More people got out of the cars, and Rohan counted a total of eight of them. He could tell they were troublemakers based on their flashy outfits and strange styles.As Brother Kong approached Rohan, the others followed, forming a group a few steps away from Rohan."You must be Rohan Johnson, right?" Brother Kong asked, trying to seem
............"Brother Kong, did you see how Sunny ended up on the ground with broken teeth?" the muscular man with a thick beard asked, looking bewildered."Huh, no... I didn't see anything!" Brother Kong also appeared bewildered. His eyes widened, and his mouth hung open as he shook his head in confusion."He must be pulling some kind of trick. Let's attack him together and see if he still has the nerve to show his tricks!" the burly man with the buzz cut shouted, despite feeling puzzled and shocked by the outcome. Nevertheless, he moved forward.This time, all of them except for two women and Brother Kong attacked together.As the group of attackers closed in on him, Rohan's expression remained calm. He shifted his stance, adopting the "Flowing Water Stance." This stance allows him to work with his opponents' movements, converting their force into his advantage.The first attacker swung a punch at Rohan, but he smoothly sidestepped, redirecting the energy of the punch past him."
............"We apologize and beg for your forgiveness. We were blind not to see your greatness!" Brother Kong and his lackeys immediately dropped to their knees, realizing they couldn't defeat Rohan in a fight."Huh, weren't you just boasting about beating me?" Rohan looked at them, speechless, not expecting them to be this shameless."Hahaha! You must have misunderstood. How could we ever hope to match you when we're not even close to being worthy of tying your shoes?" Brother Kong awkwardly laughed, changing his words from earlier with seamless ease.'Wow, what an award-winning performance,' Rohan thought to himself, observing the once arrogant man acting like a bootlicker."Now, then, I still haven't heard who sent you guys after me!" Rohan asked again, his tone cold and clear, causing Brother Kong and the others to unconsciously break into a sweat."Actually, we don't know either!" Brother Kong replied nervously and awkwardly."What... are you playing with me?" Rohan's anger fl
............"Please feel free to contact me. We'll make sure to complete your orders!" Mikhail Kong said obediently as he opened the car door for Rohan. As Rohan sat down, he closed the door."Please be careful on the way, Mr. Johnson!" Mikhail Kong and the others bowed together as Rohan started the car and pressed the pedal."Phew..." Mikhail Kong let out a sigh of relief as Rohan's car disappeared from view."Brother Kong, we're having some really bad luck today!" Diego Rodriguez said, rubbing his throbbing head."Yeah, who would have thought the info we got was fake!" Mikhail Kong nodded, feeling like they had been tricked."Brother Kong, maybe the information from the middleman isn't wrong. It's possible they don't know anything either!" Aiden Patel added, recalling the middleman's overconfident attitude."Having someone like Mr. Johnson on our side wouldn't be a bad idea," Amira Al-Mansoori said, nursing her injuries from the earlier beating."Right, Brother Kong? Amira's got a
............"Absolutely, they certainly are. Take a look at the stage decor; I wouldn't be surprised if it costed millions upon millions!" Rohan said, motioning for Riya to join him in looking at the stage, where the upcoming performance would soon unfold."I can't even imagine, it's absolutely incredible!" Riya exclaimed, her eyes fixed on the exquisitely designed stage."By the way, do you have any idea who's performing today?" Rohan inquired, clearly in the dark."Hmm, I did see a poster outside mentioning a Pioni artist for today's performance," Riya responded, her expression pensive as she tried to recollect the details.Suddenly, a round of applause erupted, drawing Rohan's attention. Riya followed his gaze and saw the artist walking onto the stage.Riya's face lit up as she spotted the pianist, Leo Davenport, stepping onto the stage. His tall, slender figure moved with a graceful confidence as he settled onto the piano bench. His sandy blond hair fell gently over his forehe
............Midnight Hideout, In Willowbrook City, there's a dimly lit joint known as "The Midnight Hideout." This pub-like establishment has a reputation for being a favorite haunt of local thugs and gangsters.The atmosphere is smoky and mysterious, with low-hanging lamps casting long shadows across the worn wooden tables. The air is thick with the scent of aged whiskey and the murmur of hushed conversations. The walls are adorned with vintage posters and dark artwork that add to the edgy ambiance."The Midnight Hideout" is where secrets are traded over drinks, and alliances are formed in the shadows, making it the perfect spot for those with a penchant for danger and intrigue."The Midnight Hideout" is nestled in the heart of the Westside District of Willowbrook City. This district is known for its mix of gritty charm and urban allure, making it an ideal location for a pub favored by thugs and gangsters. The Westside District's maze-like streets and hidden alleys provide th