The Reign of Zane Gardner

Chapter 11 - Knife-Wielding

Cedric's eyes widened with shock as he watched one of the thugs pull out a small knife from his pocket. In a swift, menacing motion, the thug charged forward with the knife pointed directly at Zane's back.

"Master!" Cedric yelled out from the car, his voice full of urgency. There was no time to intervene; the attack was happening far too quickly.

However, Zane, empowered with heightened senses from his cultivation training, was acutely aware of his surroundings. As the knife-wielding thug crept up from behind, he was simultaneously being attacked by two other assailants from the front.

Zane moved swiftly and with agility, using the two assailants in front of him as a pivot point and grabbing each of their heads firmly.

In one powerful movement, he jumped away from them, his hands bringing the sides of their heads together with a loud thud.

At the exact same moment, the thug with the knife failed to reach Zane.

Unfortunately, the result was an unintended consequence: he had stabbed one of his own crew.

The wounded thug screamed in agony, "Ahh!" He glared angrily at his friend with resentment and agony, asking in disbelief, "Why did you stab me?!

The knife-wielder, now in a state of panic, stammered out an apology. His voice was trembling with fear and confusion as he said, "Oh no, I didn't mean to hurt you."

The thugs were stunned by Zane's abilities; their plan had unraveled due to his unexpected combat skills and their own clumsiness.

Zane stood unharmed in the midst of the chaos, his composure and precision allowing him to handle the situation with remarkable ease.

"I had no idea I could be this powerful," he said with a satisfied smile, watching as his opponent fell.

The thugs, initially confident in their numbers and brute strength, were taken aback by Zane's fighting prowess.

Each move he made was a combination of precision and agility, his actions almost a blur to the untrained eyes of the thugs. Doubt began to sink in as they realized they had underestimated Zane.

One of the thugs muttered, his eyes wide with amazement, "How could he dodge that attack?"

They watched as Zane effortlessly sidestepped the incoming swing of the knife and the other thug added, astonishment in his voice, "Yeah, his movements are very fast and precise. He's definitely not a beginner."

The leader of the group, noticing the growing unease and apprehension radiating from his men, snapped angrily.

"You imbeciles!" His voice was menacing, a clear warning in his words. "If you think of running away, I'll kill you. Don't forget, we need the money!"

The reminder of their mission served to renew the thugs' resolve. One of them, rallying his comrades, cried out, "Come on, let's just surround him!"

The gang of thugs quickly regrouped and approached Zane, this time with a concerted effort. They positioned themselves around Zane, attempting to block any escape routes and overpower him with their sheer numbers.

Zane stood unfazed in the center of the menacing gang. His gaze darted between them, alertly assessing each of their faces. Thanks to his cultivation training, he was not only sharper in his senses but also quicker in his reflexes and decisions in the face of such high-pressure circumstances.

Cedric smiled as he watched Zane fighting, his confidence in his master evident. "I never expected it," he said admiringly. "He's been able to absorb all that cultivation knowledge so quickly. I'm sure he's going to be an extraordinary cultivator in the future."

As the thugs advanced towards him, Zane readied himself for the confrontation. He steeled his body, using not only his physical skills but the strategic acumen that he had been cultivating for years.

"You asshole!" one of the thugs yelled, his voice filled with rage and disbelief as he looked at his injured companion. His fury, however, was directed right at Zane.

The group, their determination and aggression now evident, approached Zane menacingly, brandishing a variety of weapons. Some had golf clubs, while others had knives, the malevolent intent of their actions unmistakable.

One of the thugs sneered with malicious glee, "Do you really believe you can take us all on, Zane Gardner? Don't be so conceited - you are greatly outnumbered!"

The other thug snarled threateningly, "We're done playing games. It's time to send you to the afterlife, Gardner!"

**

From her car, Claire watched the scene unfolding before her with a mixture of astonishment and curiosity.

She couldn't believe her eyes as she saw Zane skillfully defend himself against a group of thugs.

The dim light of the street lamps illuminated the scene, and Claire was mesmerized by the agility and precision of Zane's moves.

"Ms. Claire," her assistant asked, her voice laced with concern as she peered out of the window, "Isn't that Mr. Gardner?"

Claire responded with a simple nod, her gaze unwavering.

Zane was surrounded by a group of thugs, but he never gave up. His resolute determination drew the admiration of the onlookers, particularly the woman.

Despite the odds, he showed remarkable poise and agility, a stark contrast to the brutishness of his attackers.

“Do... do we need to help him?” her assistant asked doubtfully, unsure of the best course of action in this unexpected situation.

Claire didn't take her gaze away from the scene, her answer coming with a resolute finality. “No,” she said. “I just want to see how far his fighting abilities go.”

Her voice carried a tinge of curiosity, accompanied by admiration for Zane's proficiency.

Her assistant smiled and nodded her head in agreement, "I agree, he certainly has some impressive fighting skills. He's definitely not a beginner."

Claire couldn't help but mutter almost to herself, "Interesting. I wonder who he really is?"

Claire was surprised to discover that someone capable of such gentle healing could also possess the dexterity and strength required for combat. She was curious to know more about Zane, to uncover the story behind his extraordinary abilities.

"But, Ms. Claire," her assistant, Mea, turned to her with a questioning gaze, "Who were the people who ganged up on Mr. Gardner? I'm sure they were sent by someone."

Claire replied, her gaze fixed upon Mea, "Mea, please find out what you can about it for me."

Mea nodded in agreement and smiled. "Sure, Ms. Claire. I'll investigate as soon as possible."

As Claire's car slowly faded from view, leaving the scene in its wake, Zane stood victorious yet unscathed amidst the fallen bodies of the thugs.

Cedric, who had been watching the entire confrontation from the car, quickly ran to Zane's side, his concern evident in his voice as he asked, "Master, are you okay?"

Zane, still catching his breath from the exertion, managed a small smile. "I'm fine, Cedric," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of exhilaration. "This was an incredible experience. Without my cultivation, I wouldn't have been able to take them on."

"It's all thanks to your determination and hard work, Master," Cedric responded, admiration for Zane clear in his tone as he glanced around at the unconscious thugs, a testament to Zane's capabilities.

Suddenly, a luxurious, sleek, and imposing car rolled to a stop not far from where Zane and Cedric were standing. The headlights illuminated the area, catching their attention.

The car door opened, and a figure emerged, silhouetted against the vehicle's interior light.