The Gold Store Robbery

Huo Xuan deduced there was a 90% chance the gold store was being robbed. Just days ago, he'd read a news report about a gang that had hit five gold stores in a single day—all successfully.

Compared to banks, gold stores had far weaker security, making them easier targets with higher success rates—naturally becoming bandits' first choice.

After a moment's thought, he still stepped out of the car and headed toward the store. If a brave woman dared to intervene, how could he, a real man, lag behind? Besides, after half a year of martial training, he was confident he could handle ordinary criminals.

By the time he reached the store entrance, all the customers who could flee had already escaped. Those who hadn't were lying motionless on the ground, too terrified to move.

Inside, five masked robbers—armed with knives, axes, and even a homemade pistol—were smashing display cases and stuffing gold, silver, and jade into bags. Three security guards lay in pools of blood, while five or six others cowered behind counters, too scared to act.

The short-haired woman was half-hidden outside the store, peering in with a grave expression. Huo Xuan approached and whispered, "What's the plan?"

She glanced back at him. "Go back. It's dangerous here."

Huo Xuan grinned. "If a woman isn't afraid, why should I be?" Then he swaggered straight into the store.

The woman was stunned—too late to stop him. Cursing under her breath, she pulled out her phone to call the police.

The moment Huo Xuan entered, the masked robbers whipped around, glaring viciously. The gunman barked, "Get down, or I'll shoot!"

Huo Xuan played the role of a hapless bystander, his face a mask of panic. "D-don't shoot!" He crouched slightly, feigning compliance.

Satisfied, the robber turned back to smashing glass—just as Huo Xuan struck.

His earlier crouch had positioned him in the Dragon-Riding Stance. Now, channeling his qi and blood in a sudden surge, he launched himself like a cannonball.

The robber's axe had barely touched the glass when his breath was knocked out of him. A sickening crack echoed as he was sent flying like a straw dummy.

The impact was devastating—the robber's ribs and arm bones shattered instantly, his head whiplashing violently. By the time he hit the ground, he was unconscious, blood seeping from his nose, ears, and mouth, his body convulsing uncontrollably.

The remaining robbers froze momentarily before roaring in fury, axes and cleavers swinging toward Huo Xuan.

This moment starkly revealed Huo Xuan's transformation through martial training. In the past, even with his clairvoyance, he'd been easily overpowered by Xu Bo's men. Now, he tracked all four attackers' movements with crystal clarity, his mind icy calm.

A single sidestep carried him behind one assailant. His fingers fused into a blade, jabbing ruthlessly into the man's kidney. "Agh—!" The robber crumpled sideways, clutching his waist like a shrimp in boiling water.

This strike, derived from Taiji Sword techniques, pierced like an actual blade—internal organs likely ruptured.

One down. Huo Xuan ducked beneath an axe and a cleaver, then whipped both arms upward in a Taiji Whip strike—directly into the remaining two robbers' groins.

Neither had trained in Iron Crotch Kung Fu. Pig-slaughter screeches erupted as their eyes rolled back, foam bubbling from their mouths before they collapsed unconscious.

The last robber hesitated, then lunged with a dagger.

Huo Xuan didn't budge. His hand snapped out, catching the wrist—instantly gauging the man's center of gravity—then flicked. The unfortunate thug slammed onto his back, dagger skittering away.

A final kick to the temple ensured he stayed down.

From first move to last, barely three seconds had passed. Outside, the short-haired beauty stood dumbstruck, struggling to process what she'd witnessed.

Dusting his hands, Huo Xuan strolled over grinning. "All handled."

She blinked at him like he'd grown a second head. "...Didn't peg you for a one-man army." Pulling out her phone: "Captain Qin, robbery at Chuanshi Jewelry—suspects neutralized. Send backup immediately."

A voice crackled back: "Copy. Secure the scene, Xiao Rong. ETA two minutes."

"Roger!"

Huo Xuan was surprised—the beauty turned out to be a police officer. He quickly said, "So you're an officer! Well then, I'll leave you to your work."

"Hold on." The female officer stopped him. "I need to take your statement. And since you acted bravely to stop a crime, the police department will certainly reward you."

Rewards were the last thing on his mind; he just didn't want to waste time. But disobeying an officer wasn't an option, so he stayed put.

Meanwhile, the gold store employees had regained their composure—some cleaning up the mess, others calling for medical help for the injured. The store manager approached, thanking Huo Xuan profusely for his intervention.

Ten minutes later, the first wave of police arrived, cordoning off the scene and securing the unconscious robbers. Soon after, a second group appeared, led by a sharp-eyed middle-aged man.

After briefing from the female officer, the man grinned at Huo Xuan. "Impressive skills, brother. Where'd you train?"

"Family tradition," Huo Xuan replied.

The man nodded. "We'll need you to come to the station for a formal statement."

"Sure."

Turning to the female officer, the man ordered, "Shen Rong, escort him."

"Got it." Shen Rong tugged Huo Xuan's sleeve playfully. "Come on, hero."

They returned to her car and headed for the police station. En route, Huo Xuan sighed.

Shen Rong arched an eyebrow. "What's wrong? You look like you've been wronged."

"How long will the statement take? I've got things to do—time's tight."

"Won't be long, don't worry. It's just a car show, right? It'll still be there tomorrow." She smiled, then added earnestly, "Without you today, I'd have just called for backup and watched helplessly as they robbed the place. Thank you."

Huo Xuan understood her implication—today's incident would certainly earn her significant commendation from the police department. He gave a faint smile and said, "It's nothing, just took down a few guys."

"Regardless, you did me a huge favor," she said with a laugh. "How about I treat you to dinner tonight as a small thank you?"

Huo Xuan thought for a moment. Since he had no plans anyway, he nodded in agreement.

After completing the police statement, it was already late when they left the station. Shen Rong, still driving her car, took Huo Xuan to a restaurant.

"Huo Xuan, where are you staying?" she asked, having naturally learned some details about him during the statement process.

"I'm just in the capital for a few days, staying at a hotel for now," Huo Xuan replied.

"Visiting family or work?" she pressed, seemingly determined to get to the bottom of things.

"Meeting someone," Huo Xuan answered casually.

The restaurant wasn't large, tucked away in an obscure location with unremarkable exterior decor, yet business was booming—cars packed the parking lot outside. Inside, Shen Rong found a table by the window and handed the menu to Huo Xuan.

Never one to stand on ceremony, Huo Xuan skimmed the menu and quickly ordered a few dishes he liked before passing it back. "Your turn."

Shen Rong smiled and added a soup and another dish to the order.

After about ten minutes, the restaurant was packed, the noise level rising. While waiting for the food, the two chatted idly. Just then, three men and two women walked in, but seeing the place full, they turned to leave.

Suddenly, one of the women—a perm-haired lady—spotted Shen Rong and called out, "Rongrong!"

Shen Rong looked over, stood up, and waved. "Xiaomin! What brings you here?"

The group of five approached, exchanging greetings with Shen Rong. They were all dressed fashionably—the men handsome, the women quite attractive.

Shen Rong introduced them to Huo Xuan: "They're all my friends."

Huo Xuan gave a slight nod but otherwise remained indifferent. One of the men, with dyed blond hair and an earring, eyed Huo Xuan and asked Shen Rong, "Rongrong, is this your boyfriend?"

"Don't talk nonsense, we just met," Shen Rong retorted. "Here to eat? Why don't you join us?"

"Ah, but the seats are full—there's no room here," said the permed-haired girl named Xiaomin. "Rongrong, why don't we go somewhere else? We can eat first, then hit up karaoke."

Shen Rong glanced at Huo Xuan. "Want to join us?"

Huo Xuan figured since he was already out, it didn't matter where they ate. "Sure."

And so, Shen Rong canceled their order, and the group of seven left for another restaurant. The five friends had arrived in two cars—an Audi Q7 and a Cadillac.

The parking lot was small and poorly organized, requiring careful maneuvering for entry and exit.

When one of them went to retrieve the cars, they discovered two grimy Volkswagen Santanas boxing in the Audi, leaving it unable to move forward or backward.

The Audi belonged to the blond-haired young man. His eyes flashed with anger as he strode forward and kicked the Santana's door, leaving a visible dent.

Huo Xuan observed coldly. As he passed by, he casually used his clairvoyance to inspect the Santana's interior—and was surprised to find that beneath its humble exterior, the car was outfitted with high-performance modifications. His uncle ran an auto repair shop, and Huo Xuan had spent several holidays there, giving him a decent eye for car specs. If this thing really opened up, that Audi might not keep up, he mused.

"F*cking hell!" The blond-haired youth kicked the car again, seething.

"Who the hell you kicking, asshole?" A voice rang out. Four people—two men and two women—approached from a distance. The speaker was a long-haired young man with a pale complexion, reeking of alcohol. His features were somewhat effeminate, but his voice was loud and his attitude brazen.

The blond-haired guy sneered. "Who the f*ck parks like this? You blind or what?"