Volume One, Chapter 72: Putting on an Act.

Jiang Chen pouted, feeling aggrieved. "Senior Sister, you can't do this to me. When I was little, I always slept with you. Now that I'm grown, you won't let me anymore. That makes me really sad. When I'm sad, I'm unhappy, and when I'm unhappy, I get depressed. Do you really want to see me depressed?"

This barrage of complaints left Chu Xixi momentarily speechless, unable to process his logic. After a while, she simply said, "We'll talk about it when you get back."

After leaving Su Chenglong's house, Jiang Chen, bored, decided to take Li Jingbeast out for a stroll, to see what the day might bring. But the moment he drove up to Li Jingbeast's place, he caught sight of Chong Li instructing—no, training—Li Jingbeast in combat techniques.

At the sight, Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel he was failing as a big brother. Usually, he only taught how to be strong, but never how to be a seasoned, battle-hardened warrior. In the cultivation world, having real combat experience could mean the difference between life and death in a fight. That was exactly what Li Jingbeast lacked, but thankfully, he had a capable and caring partner in Chong Li. Although their relationship was still vague, Jiang Chen well remembered how he'd once enchanted Chong Li at Ye Qingfeng's engagement banquet. Li Jingbeast had scarcely thought through the consequences of his actions, but as long as he didn't ally with monsters and demons, that move alone would protect him for life.

Not wanting to disturb the pair, Jiang Chen drove into the city.

The neon lights of Qingcheng marked the beginning of nightlife. People crowded the streets, and after wandering for a bit, Jiang Chen finally entered a bar. The lights from all directions dazzled him so much he could hardly keep his eyes open.

He ordered a drink at the entrance, then settled into a quiet corner, away from the noise.

He had just poured a little into his jade pendant, intending for the Kui Niu within to taste human alcohol, when a familiar voice drifted in from the doorway.

"Xiaoshu, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Oh, it's fine, come on in! I'm telling you, you have no idea how much fun bars are."

Jiang Chen watched as Jiang Ning, looking flustered, was pulled inside by another girl—her classmate, he guessed. They found seats toward the center, far from where Jiang Chen sat, so she didn’t notice him.

A little while later, three boys came in. After exchanging greetings, they joined the girls. One boy in a leather jacket leaned toward Jiang Ning, but she nudged her stool away.

The boys began ordering drinks. Jiang Ning leaned close to her roommate, Chen Shu, and whispered, "Xiaoshu, maybe we should go. It's so loud here, and it's late. Won't the dorm close soon?"

Chen Shu reassured her, "Don't worry, we're college students. It's fine if we get back a bit late."

Jiang Ning continued to eye the three boys nervously.

Two of the boys stood up and left for the restroom. Jiang Chen followed. Inside, one said, "Wu Zou, Chen Shu is mine. Don't fight me on this."

"Pfft, shows you have no taste. Did you notice Jiang Ning? She's a real prize. I can't wait," Cheng Zhuang replied with a sly grin.

Jiang Chen leaned against the doorway, watching them leave before returning to his seat.

"Jiang, is it? First time meeting, let me toast you," Cheng Zhuang couldn't hold back as soon as he returned, attempting to seize the initiative.

Jiang Ning looked confused. She could drink, but not much.

Chen Shu chimed in, "This is Young Master Cheng. His family has shares in this bar. Just drink with him."

Urged on like that, Jiang Ning forced a smile. "Alright... okay."

She downed her drink in one gulp, but Jiang Chen, watching from the corner, saw clearly that something had been slipped into her glass. He recognized the powder from his days working missions in bars—a mild hypnotic, harmless in small doses, but even the little bit in Jiang Ning’s drink would be enough to knock out someone like him.

"Miss Jiang, it's a pleasure to meet you. Let me toast to our acquaintance," Cheng Zhuang raised his glass again.

Even Jiang Chen could see how impatient this man was.

Two drinks in, Jiang Ning felt something was wrong. "I can't do it, Chen Shu. I feel dizzy."

But Chen Shu pushed yet another drink toward her. "Come on, Jiang Ning, give Young Master Cheng a chance. Just drink it."

By the time Jiang Ning had swallowed two cocktails, her head was spinning.

Jiang Chen had barely finished his own drink, and Jiang Ning was already on the verge of collapsing. He knew she had a low tolerance, but hadn't expected it to be this bad.

Her cheeks flushed bright red, Jiang Ning pleaded, "I can't drink anymore, Chen Shu, take me home."

Chen Shu glanced at Cheng Zhuang, who immediately stood up. "Miss Jiang is drunk. I'll take her home. Come on, Miss Jiang."

Just as Cheng Zhuang was about to get his way, the door was suddenly kicked open.

"Turn off the music! Hand over your cash!"

The commotion instantly drowned out the music. One of the leader's goons jumped on stage and switched off the sound.

"Empty your pockets, all of you. If you don't, I'll search you myself, and you won't like that," barked the leader, a burly man in a black tracksuit, his muscles straining beneath the fabric.

But the crowd in this bar were all wealthy, used to seeing the world—though they'd never encountered anything quite like this in real life.

"Hey, man, what era do you think this is? Still trying to collect protection money? I'll just call the police and have you arrested," one rich kid called out.

The leader merely gestured, and his lackeys sprang into action, hefting bottles menacingly.

But the young man wasn't afraid. He leaned forward. "Go on, smash it right here! I dare you. Let's see if you can still show your faces in Qingcheng after this!"

Most of the city's rich kids weren't fools. They knew when to act, when not to, and just because they had money didn't mean they'd break the law. In fact, many of them looked down on that sort of behavior, refusing to cross the line no matter how wealthy they were.

Jiang Chen sighed, silently praying for the young man.

Crash—

A bottle shattered, and the rich kid collapsed to the floor.

"Enough with the bravado," someone sneered.