Chapter 1 Ethan Thompson

　　Inhale!

　　Ethan Thompson took a deep breath, and a fist-sized bulge of air swelled on his abdomen.

　　The air bulge moved like a live mouse, crawling around his waist. His waist was thick and round, as if wrapped in a tire, and emitted sounds like wind and thunder.

　　The area around the waist, in traditional Chinese medicine's eight extraordinary meridians, is called the "dai mai"—meaning it's like a belt.

　　For martial artists, a single breath fills the dantian, circles the "dai mai," making the arms strong and the waist thick. This is the profound qigong realm known as "dai mai surging."

　　After three breaths, he pressed both arms against his abdomen, and the qi from the dai mai flowed through his abdominal cavity, shooting out from his throat, producing a sound like a dragon's roar and a tiger's growl.

　　Bang! The window glass in the room actually shattered from the shock.

　　Meanwhile, Ethan Thompson's body changed color, a mix of iron blue and bronze. Every movement of his limbs made his bones ring like metal.

　　"Tiger's Roar Golden Bell Shield, Dragon's Roar Iron Shirt. I've finally mastered it." Looking at the mess in the room, Ethan Thompson's face showed joy.

　　Beep!

　　The ringtone sounded. Ethan Thompson deftly snatched up the phone on the table with the speed of catching a sparrow. It was an email.

　　"Cold night, tonight at 8 p.m., kidnap the daughter of the chairman of Beiming Group, Grace Fisher."

　　"I only protect people, I don't kidnap them." Ethan Thompson replied to the email.

　　"Complete this task, and the organization guarantees to release your master. And grant you freedom." The mysterious email came again.

　　Ethan Thompson fell silent. After 60 seconds, he replied with a single word.

　　"Okay!"

　　Beep! Another phone rang. He swiped to answer, and a voice roared inside: "Ethan Thompson, this is your big brother. You're 24 years old and still loafing around every day! We're a family of soldiers—Dad's a general, Grandpa's a general, but you're the only one who's not accomplished. So hurry up and get married, carry on the family line. Grandpa's arranged a blind date for you. Come home and get ready right now. Tonight at 8, the girl's name is Grace Fisher..."

　　After hanging up, Ethan Green sat cross-legged in meditation.

　　When faced with big matters, he never panicked, but calmly reflected.

　　He imagined himself as a bowl of muddy water. When still, the impurities would settle, and the water would become clear and transparent.

　　This was the art of cultivating the mind, the "bowl of water method."

　　After a long while, he stood up: "A human life is but a spring for grass and trees. Why do people waste their limited lives on petty pursuits?"

　　In the suburbs, a manor with tall red walls. Security guards patrolled outside the walls, and the tightly closed automated iron gate prevented any view inside. Clearly, only the wealthy or powerful lived here.

　　"Dad, I don't want to go on a blind date." 22-year-old Grace Fisher looked unhappy. "I already have a boyfriend."

　　"No!" William Fisher said firmly. "That boyfriend of yours, break up with him immediately. The Ye family has great influence in the military. You know Beiming Group's development is facing obstacles. If we want to move forward, we must rely on a powerful ally..."

　　William Fisher, president of Beiming Group, was also the founder of this vast business empire.

　　"Dad, all you care about is business. Don't you care about your daughter's happiness?" Grace Fisher was very displeased. "Besides, I heard the Ye family heir you arranged for me is a born loafer, a typical playboy. No matter what, I'm not jumping into that fire pit."

　　"I'm not asking you to marry him, just to go on a blind date." William Fisher's tone softened, but left no room for argument. "Also, I've already solved your recent security issues. I've found you a female assistant. From now on, she'll be with you."

　　Clap!

　　He clapped his hands, and a woman in sportswear entered. She was 1.73 meters tall, with delicate features and a ponytail, looking fresh and neat. She moved silently, like a big wildcat.

　　"Mr. Yu, hello. Is this the person I'm to protect, Miss Grace Fisher?" The woman looked about 25, but was extremely composed. Facing a figure like William Fisher, she was neither servile nor overbearing, as if used to all kinds of storms. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Brian Carter."

　　"Miss Brian Carter, I'll leave it to you." William Fisher was very polite to her. "I hope that while protecting my daughter's safety, you won't let a man named Henry Ford get close to her."

　　"Dad! Henry Ford is my boyfriend. Why are you stopping him from seeing me?" Grace Fisher protested vehemently.

　　"That Henry Ford is a violent maniac. Last time, he even injured my bodyguard. No matter who you date, I won't allow you to be with him." William Fisher stood up.

　　Grace Fisher grew angrier at the mention: "You provoked him, and even tried to bribe him to leave me. How could he tolerate that?"

　　"This matter is settled. If you keep seeing him, I won't acknowledge you as my daughter." With that, William Fisher turned and left.

　　"Are you really going to stop me from seeing my boyfriend?" Grace Fisher stomped her foot and looked at Brian Carter.

　　"Henry Ford, skilled in Xingyi, Bagua, Taiji, Bajiquan, and dozens of other martial arts, 27 years old, former mercenary, his martial arts have reached a transcendent level." Brian Carter's tone was calm. "If he can defeat me, of course I won't stop you two."