BXBX NOVEL Chapter 421: Has Something Big Happened?
Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Has Something Big Happened?
"Screeeech—"
The Lexus's immense traction caused it to skid for a considerable distance before finally stopping, with white smoke billowing around it.
Ahead, the oncoming large truck was now less than fifty meters away, appearing like a monstrous beast about to devour the four of them.
At that moment, Yang Chen left the driver's seat and, in a flash, appeared five meters in front of the Lexus.
He spread his arms and lifted his head as if enjoying the moment, reminiscent of the iconic scene from Titanic. But this time, it was a man performing the gesture, not a woman.
"Yang Chen!" "Big Brother Yang!"
The three women in the car screamed simultaneously. Lin Ruoxi tried to reach out and stop Yang Chen but couldn't even grab the hem of his clothes.
They watched helplessly as Yang Chen stood like a fearless martyr in front of the oncoming truck, seemingly intending to use his body to stop the steel beast.
Shocked! Terrified! It was unbelievable!
Hui Lin knew Yang Chen's extraordinary abilities the best, but even she was extremely worried at this moment, not to mention Lin Ruoxi and An Xin, who closed their eyes, unable to bear watching the outcome.
Although An Xin knew Yang Chen was skilled, she subconsciously didn't believe anyone could withstand a truck with just their body. Her hands were tightly clenched, her knuckles turning white!
As for whether the truck would crush Yang Chen and then kill them, it was no longer a concern they had the presence of mind to consider.
"Boom!"
Following the roar of the diesel engine, a violent explosion resounded through the air!
"Bang! Bang bang! Screeech! Boom!"
In a cloud of dust, the truck's front suddenly seemed to hit an invisible wall just before touching Yang Chen, followed by an irresistible force crushing the truck's front inward!
The thick metal panels twisted and snapped under the immense pressure, emitting ear-piercing screeches of grinding metal, accompanied by the explosion of the engine and the snapping of belts!
The rear half of the truck, propelled by inertia, lifted off the ground, flipped over, and crashed into the roadside greenery along with the truck's cab!
Debris from the truck's parts, including metal shards and glass fragments, scattered everywhere, while the heavy truck components tore open huge cracks in the ground.
The soil and plants were ruthlessly crushed, resembling the aftermath of a chaotic excavation by a bulldozer.
The three women in the car, seeing that nothing dangerous had happened, cautiously looked forward and saw the now shattered truck lying by the roadside.
The man who had just terrified them was leisurely walking towards the wreckage, which was still emitting white smoke and the pungent smell of burnt earth.
With a blank expression, Yang Chen walked to the front of the truck, opened a bent iron door, and pulled out a half-dead, bloodied truck driver from the crushed cabin.
The driver was a burly man, but just as Yang Chen pulled him out, he took his last breath.
"Bad luck," Yang Chen muttered, then walked back to the car without bothering with the wreckage.
An Xin and Hui Lin, having witnessed Yang Chen's abilities before, were relatively calm. But Lin Ruoxi, who had seen Yang Chen kill before, had never imagined him to be capable of stopping a truck with his body.
As Yang Chen got back into the car, Lin Ruoxi instinctively shivered.
Yang Chen noticed and felt a twinge of bitterness in his heart.
After achieving the Great Perfection of the "Wangnian Derivative Sutra," Yang Chen's old problem of headaches and slipping into a frenzy during combat was well suppressed, no longer requiring medication from Jian. However, this did not mean that his indelible killing intent would easily dissipate. Whenever he fought, he couldn't control the violent spirit within him, exuding an aura that made ordinary people fearful.
Yang Chen knew that his chronic ailment was not truly cured. In a sense, he still carried a ticking time bomb within him, uncertain if he would one day become a bloodthirsty monster.
Trying to quickly suppress his killing intent, Yang Chen forced a smile and asked, "Did I scare you?"
Lin Ruoxi felt a pang of regret. She saw the hint of sadness in Yang Chen's expression earlier and shook her head, saying, "I just wasn't prepared for it at first. I'm okay now."
Yang Chen nodded, started the car, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I hope you never get used to it, even though that's unlikely."
Lin Ruoxi fell silent, not saying another word. Hui Lin and An Xin in the back seat also sensed the uneasy atmosphere and remained quiet.
The rest of the journey went without incident, but Lin Ruoxi's phone kept ringing with bad news about Yu Lei International. The police had started investigating the company due to the numerous deaths from the factory fire.
After some thought, Lin Ruoxi called Mo Qianni, "Qianni, where are you?"
"I've been at the company for a while now. I was about to call you. The situation is very bad," Mo Qianni replied, her voice accompanied by the noise of a busy office.
Lin Ruoxi took a deep breath and said, "I've heard about the factory from Wu Yue. For now, don't worry about that. I suspect our opponent's attack on the factory was just to throw us off balance. They've sent assassins, and I fear they might target you and other key executives. Be careful and have the security team gather immediately."
"Assassins?!" Mo Qianni exclaimed. "Are you all okay?"
"We're fine," Lin Ruoxi glanced at Yang Chen, who was silently driving beside her. "Don't worry about us. Investigate who is behind this."
Mo Qianni hesitated, "I'm afraid I can't manage that right now."
"Why?" Lin Ruoxi frowned.
"Just five minutes ago, a large number of foreign buyers started frantically buying our stocks. Our branch in the States is in chaos, and I'm coordinating remotely. We'll have to mobilize other funds soon. It's clear they're trying to crush us economically and physically, aiming to collapse our stock market and cripple our real estate."
Lin Ruoxi closed her eyes and asked coldly, "Can we hold out?"
"It's very risky," Mo Qianni said after giving instructions to her subordinates. "Ruoxi, I think it's time for the 'Athena Group' to take action. It seems like we're up against a very formidable international financial team, possibly a renowned group. We can't afford any mistakes now. If the Athena Group steps in, we can free up resources to prepare for a counterattack."
Mo Qianni's mention of the Athena Group referred to the small team Lin Ruoxi personally oversaw during the battles against Changlin Media and the Xu family. Each member was a top-tier financial analyst and strategist from the world's leading institutions, supported with enormous annual funding to be deployed only in critical business wars. Since the group only took orders from Lin Ruoxi, Mo Qianni had to consult her first.
After some deliberation, Lin Ruoxi said, "I'll head directly to the Athena Group's base at the resort. Qianni, you'll temporarily act in my stead, handling the crucial projects over the next few days. Coordinate with Mingyu and the other department heads to stabilize the situation internally. The company's internal affairs must not fall into chaos. Regarding funding, I'll have Wu Yue handle it since she's more familiar with the banks. By the way, don't postpone the bidding for the new factory over the next few days. Our budget should be enough to secure those factories. We shouldn't miss good opportunities despite the current crisis."
"Understood. I won't let the bidding negotiations slip," Mo Qianni replied, relieved to have clear instructions amidst the turmoil. She agreed and hung up quickly to address the external troubles and internal unrest.
Lin Ruoxi then called to summon the fewer-than-ten members of the Athena Group back to the resort base, instructing Yang Chen to drive there directly instead of heading home.
From Lin Ruoxi's phone conversations, Yang Chen grasped the current predicament but didn't concern himself much with the company's issues. He was more preoccupied with who might be behind this attack. The most likely suspect seemed to be Ning Guodong, but he didn't appear to have the capability. Even if the Ning family had sufficient power and resources, it was unlikely they'd allocate them to target Yu Lei International. So, who could it be?
Lin Ruoxi likely had more suspects in mind but remained uncertain, hence her silence on the matter.
In the back seat, Hui Lin and An Xin sensed the gravity of the situation through Lin Ruoxi's continuous directives. An Xin seemed thoughtful, while Hui Lin, not understanding much about the business, worriedly asked, "Sister, is something serious happening? Can I help in any way?"
Lin Ruoxi turned, seeing the genuine concern on Hui Lin's delicate face, feeling a warm surge in her heart. She smiled gently, "It's fine. Trust your sister."
Hui Lin nodded obediently, knowing she couldn't help much but still feeling uneasy.
"If there's any trouble with raising funds, the An family can help," An Xin offered sincerely.
Lin Ruoxi was slightly surprised and looked at An Xin with a complex expression before saying, "Thank you."
An Xin smiled warmly, "No need to thank me. You're my sister, and I'm part of Yu Lei too."
Lin Ruoxi smiled back naturally, and the two women shared a brief, meaningful glance.
As the car approached the resort where the Athena Group was based, Wu Yue called again. This time, the news she brought made Lin Ruoxi's heart sink even further.