Chapter 196: Attacked

Bang!

With a loud crash, the motorcycle that had already veered sideways gave Jiang Hai no chance to react. It collided directly with the front bumper of Jiang Hai's F650. The immense impact caused the car to shake violently, triggering the airbag on the steering wheel.

Bang! The airbag deployed, slamming into Jiang Hai's head, leaving him momentarily stunned. A sharp ringing filled his ears, and he struggled to gather his thoughts.

"Damn it, what just happened?" he muttered, disoriented. Sometimes airbags, while a safety measure, could be overly sensitive. Not only were they hot when deployed, but their force could cause injuries—potentially life-threatening for the elderly or children, and still harmful to adults. Women often walked away bruised, and even men risked concussions or being knocked unconscious.

Fortunately, Jiang Hai's strong physique worked in his favor. While dazed, he remained conscious, though dizziness and the incessant ringing in his ears made it hard to think clearly.

"Who the hell did this?" he grumbled, shaking his head and pressing his temples. After taking a moment to recover, he glanced ahead and saw a man lying motionless on the ground. The sight left him baffled.

"Are all scammers in America this insane? They're not even afraid of dying?" Still trying to piece everything together, Jiang Hai noticed the motorcycle in front of his bumper was completely wrecked. He wasn't sure if this stretch of road had surveillance cameras, but he was relieved to have a dashcam installed. At least, he wouldn't have to worry about being framed.

Shaking off the lingering dizziness, Jiang Hai reached for his phone and called the police, providing his location. After hanging up, he slowly opened the car door and approached the man lying on the ground.

Since the dashcam was recording, Jiang Hai wasn't overly concerned. He was mainly worried about the man's condition. According to U.S. law, even if the man was dead, Jiang Hai wouldn't be held responsible. However, if the man survived, he'd be liable for the damages to Jiang Hai's car.

As Jiang Hai stepped out, his legs felt weak—a reminder of just how hard the airbag had hit him. Staggering slightly, he approached the man and noticed his chest still rising and falling. Relieved that the man was alive, Jiang Hai muttered, "At least he's not dead."

Irritated, Jiang Hai gave the man a light kick. "Hey! Get up! You smashed into my car—what do you plan to do about it?"

To his shock, the man suddenly rolled forward, producing a switchblade from his sleeve and stabbing toward Jiang Hai's thigh.

Thankfully, the headlights illuminated the glint of the blade, allowing Jiang Hai to react instinctively. He stepped back just in time, avoiding the knife, though his pants were slashed, sending a flurry of duck feathers into the air.

"Damn it, this is real!" Jiang Hai's eyes widened in anger as he realized the man had meant to seriously injure him. When the blade came for him again, Jiang Hai cursed under his breath and charged forward.

Using a move he had learned from Bell, he clamped his legs around the man's arm and head, trapping him. Simultaneously, he grabbed the man's wrist with both hands, executing a textbook cross-hold.

"Argh!" With a sharp twist, Jiang Hai forced the man to release the knife, sending it clattering onto the road. The man, in desperation, began hammering Jiang Hai's leg, but it was ineffective.

"Who sent you, you bastard? Trying to ambush me like this?" Jiang Hai demanded, tightening his grip.

But the man remained silent, his face contorted in pain. Despite having his arm twisted to the brink of breaking, he refused to speak.

"Damn it," Jiang Hai muttered. "Since you're so stubborn, don't blame me if I break your arm." Just as Jiang Hai was about to apply more force, the roar of engines echoed in the distance.

Turning his head, Jiang Hai saw over a dozen motorcycles and two cars speeding toward him. The headlights revealed at least 30 to 40 individuals, many armed with various weapons.

"Shit, reinforcements!" Jiang Hai's heart sank. While he was skilled at fighting, he knew he couldn't take on this many people at once, especially if they had firearms. Fighting here without a mission would be reckless.

Knowing his limits, Jiang Hai released the man, delivering one last kick for good measure before retreating to his car.

Scrambling inside, he locked the doors and tried starting the engine, planning to flee toward Winthrop. If necessary, he was ready to ram through the motorcycles. After all, his F650 wasn't an armored vehicle, but it could still crush a bike.

However, there was one major problem—his F650's automatic braking system had engaged after the collision. This safety feature, designed to prevent further accidents, now left him stuck.

Cursing under his breath, Jiang Hai grabbed his phone and dialed the police again.

"Surround him! We don't have much time—pull him out!" a voice barked over a radio. The group wasted no time, smashing their bats, pipes, and steel bars against Jiang Hai's car.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The headlights and mirrors shattered, and dents appeared across the doors, but the reinforced glass remained intact. Jiang Hai silently thanked his foresight in choosing this vehicle—it was holding up against the onslaught.

Still, the situation was dire. Jiang Hai watched as the attackers continued their assault, his anger bubbling.

"Assholes," he muttered, vowing to settle this later.

Just as things seemed grim, the attackers abruptly ceased their assault. The man in charge received a message on his phone, issued a command, and the group retreated as quickly as they had appeared. Even the man Jiang Hai had subdued was whisked away.

Moments later, the sound of sirens filled the air. Six police cars from the Winthrop County Police Department arrived, with four pursuing the fleeing gang and two stopping beside Jiang Hai's vehicle.

The police chief, Morris Smith, stepped out and approached Jiang Hai.

"Mr. Jiang, are you all right?" he asked, his concern evident.

Jiang Hai recognized the chief as the man who had once pleaded with him to withdraw a lawsuit against the department.

"Chief, I'm fine," Jiang Hai replied, still shaken. As he reflected on the chaos, he realized just how lucky he had been. If the police had arrived even a few minutes later, the outcome could have been far worse.

Trouble was brewing—and Jiang Hai knew this wasn't the end.

(To be continued...)