The alley was silent once more. The bodies of the defeated thugs lay scattered on the wet ground, rainwater mixing with the blood trickling from their injuries. Lin Feng breathed heavily, muscles taut, his body screaming in protest, but his mind was sharp, alive, and alert. This was only the beginning. The fire in his chest had grown, burning brighter than ever before.
He stepped over the fallen figures, scanning the area. No one else appeared. No reinforcements. Nothing. Just the empty alley, the dripping water from the rooftops, and the faint hum of the city beyond.
> System Notice: Host successfully executed minor threat neutralization. Combat efficiency: 85%. Observed areas: alleyways, threat points, escape routes. Suggested action: commence self-enhancement training.
Lin Feng let out a low chuckle. He had begun to understand how the system worked. It did not hand power to him. It gave him guidance, feedback, and assessments. The power had to be earned—earned with sweat, pain, and unrelenting will.
> System Task Assigned: Begin Structured Training Program – Phase 1.
Goal: Increase base attributes, martial arts awareness, and combat efficiency.
Reward: Attribute Points + Martial Insight + Skill Unlock Eligibility.
Dawn was breaking over the city, the first rays of sunlight glinting off the skyscrapers and reflecting off puddles on the streets. Lin Feng sat on a fire escape, legs dangling over the edge, taking deep breaths, letting the cool air fill his lungs.
He reviewed the events of the previous night and early morning. Chen Rui. Xiao Yan. Five years of betrayal. The system's cold voice had awoken something within him. A determination to grow beyond the weak, passive man he had once been.
> Mental Observation: Host exhibits high tactical cognition under stress. Strategic thinking potential: Very High. Recommended focus: reconnaissance and analysis.
Lin Feng closed his eyes, recalling every alley, every street, every shortcut in the vicinity. He began mapping patterns—areas of high activity, likely criminal hideouts, potential allies, and places where information could be gathered.
If I am going to rise, I must first understand the city. Its dangers, its opportunities… everything.
With this thought, he descended from the fire escape and moved into the streets. Every step was calculated. Every movement precise. His senses were heightened, picking up small details others would overlook: the flicker of a shadow, the faint scent of smoke from a distant alley, the way a car slowed near a corner.
> System Feedback: Host sensory awareness increasing. Environmental analysis proficiency: Level 1.
Training – First System-Guided Exercise
Lin Feng found an abandoned warehouse at the edge of the city. Inside, broken crates and metal poles were scattered, remnants of a bygone industrial era. Perfect for a training ground.
He began simple warm-ups: stretching, jogging in place, practicing breathing techniques. Each motion precise, deliberate. His body remembered the previous day's movements. His reflexes, slightly honed during the alley fight, were sharper now.
> System Feedback: Muscle memory active. Reflexes +3. Strength +2. Endurance +2. Agility +3.
Lin Feng picked up a broken wooden pole, swinging it through the air. Each strike, block, and thrust was analyzed by the system. Feedback came in real-time.
> Motion Analysis: Strike accuracy: 78%. Power output: 65%. Efficiency: Moderate. Suggested correction: hip rotation and shoulder alignment.
He corrected his stance, swung the pole again. This time, the strike felt fluid, the momentum flowing naturally from feet to hips to shoulders. He smiled. Progress.
Hours passed. His body ached more than ever, but he did not stop. Punches, kicks, blocks, dodges, spinning attacks. Each repetition layered strength upon strength, skill upon skill. Pain became fuel. Fatigue became motivation.
> System Update: Host physical conditioning improving exponentially. Martial insight: Level 1. Endurance: Level 1. Skill unlock eligibility: confirmed.
Exhausted but alert, Lin Feng exited the warehouse. The city had fully awoken. Street vendors shouted, cars honked, and pedestrians bustled through the neon-lit streets. But Lin Feng's attention was elsewhere.
He needed information on Chen Rui and Xiao Yan. He needed to understand the social and territorial networks that had allowed them to act with impunity. He shadowed a few individuals he suspected were connected to Chen Rui, noting their movements, the areas they frequented, and the people they interacted with.
> System Observation: Threat analysis ongoing. Enemy network detection initiated. Current coverage: 42%. Recommended focus: increase surveillance, gather intelligence.
Lin Feng crouched in the shadows, watching as a group of men met near a small café. Conversations were low, movements cautious. His sharp eyes noted subtle signs of hierarchy, minor tensions, and possible alliances. Each piece of information would be invaluable later.
I will know every move they make before they make it, he thought, a quiet smile forming. Every secret, every weakness… I will exploit it.
While observing, Lin Feng noticed a young man being harassed by three local thugs. The boy struggled, clearly outmatched. Lin Feng's body reacted instinctively. His fists tightened. Without hesitation, he approached.
> System Alert: Unplanned combat situation detected. Recommended: evaluate host advantage before engagement.
The first thug swung a metal chain at the boy. Lin Feng moved faster than thought, catching the chain mid-swing and twisting the thug's arm. The second thug lunged, and Lin Feng sidestepped, countering with a swift elbow strike that sent the man sprawling.
The third tried to escape but Lin Feng intercepted, delivering a calculated kick that knocked him unconscious.
> System Feedback: Combat efficiency: 92%. Tactical execution: Optimal. Martial insight gained: +2.
The boy stared at him, wide-eyed. "Th-thank you…"
Lin Feng only nodded, his eyes scanning the streets for any sign of further threats. No time for gratitude. Only preparation. Only growth.
By evening, Lin Feng returned to the warehouse. His body was sore, bruised, sweat-soaked, but his mind was clearer than ever. He reflected on the day's events: training, reconnaissance, combat. The system's feedback had been consistent, accurate, and invaluable. He began understanding the pattern—physical growth combined with strategic thinking.
> System Observation: Host demonstrates exceptional integration of physical and mental growth. Emotional control under combat stress: High. Recommended focus: tactical expansion and skill acquisition.
Lin Feng wiped blood and sweat from his brow. He stretched, letting his muscles relax slightly. His heart still burned with rage, but now it was tempered with purpose. Every step he took, every skill he learned, every bit of knowledge he gained, was a step toward reclaiming what was stolen from him.
> Task Completion Pending: Observation, Training, Tactical Planning.
He looked out over the city skyline. The lights reflected in his eyes, glinting with determination.
Chen Rui… Xiao Yan… You will see. You will all see. Lin Feng will rise. And when that day comes… no one will stand in my way.