Chapter 16 - The Falling Current|
Chen saw an opening and threw a powerful, straight-line palm strike aimed directly at my chest—the very move designed to break a opponent's ribs.
I didn't try to block it.
Instead, I turned my body sideways at the very last millisecond, letting his strike pass through the empty air inches from my chest.
As Chen overextended his weight, I placed my hand gently against the back of his elbow, guiding his momentum forward while stepping behind his heel.
His own speed undid him.
With a simple, effortless twist of my hips, I redirected his entire force toward the ground.
Thud.
Master Chen crashed hard onto the concrete floor, the air exploding from his lungs.
He lay there, gasping for breath, staring up at the roof of the warehouse, completely immobilized by his own redirected energy.
Across the room, the remaining Syndicate men saw their leader fall and immediately lowered their weapons, surrendering to Alexander’s arriving reinforcements. Victor Lane tried to scramble toward a rear exit, but two of Alexander’s bodyguards tackled him to the ground, slapping heavy iron cuffs around his wrists.
Silence descended on Pier 42.
I stood over Master Chen, my chest heaving, my hands trembling.
Chen looked up at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and defeat.
"You... you didn't finish it," Chen rasped out, coughing. "You could have broken my neck."
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I lowered my hands, stepping back next to Alexander, who was slowly getting back to his feet, holding his bruised ribs.
"My father taught me to protect life," I said softly, looking down at Chen. "Not to take it."
