Chapter 76: Got Beaten Up

Yun Shaoyang and his two companions all froze in shock. Over the course of their lives, they’d been asked plenty of questions, but this was the first time anyone had ever doubted whether they actually had money.

One of the young men let out a scoff as he sized up Chen Ji. They said beauty was in the bone, not the skin, but Chen Ji had it in both. He’d already been stunning at first glance, and now, looking closer, the man only grew more tantalizing. And yet, he was just an ordinary guy. How had he cultivated that air of calm composure?

“Yeah, that’s right—we’ve been living it up on credit we can’t pay back, counting on big brothers like you to cover our naked loans.”

Chen Ji turned toward the voice. Because his eyes lacked focus, each of them felt the illusion that he was staring right at them.

Yun Shaoyang slowly exhaled, stepping forward. He reached out and brushed Chen Ji’s cheek. Chen Ji didn’t dodge. Yun Shaoyang’s fingers trailed from his cheekbone to his chin. There was something so docile about it that Yun Shaoyang inexplicably felt his anger ebb, replaced by a thrill of possessive desire he couldn’t quite share with others. “Brother Chen’s a smart guy. You’ll go along with it, right?”

“We’re way better than those online lenders. As long as Brother Chen plays nice tonight, we won’t charge interest. Hell, we won’t even make you pay us back.”

Chen Ji couldn’t help but chuckle. “If I may be so bold, how much are you planning to offer?”

One of the young men replied with evident amusement. “How about fifty thousand for the night?”

Chen Ji stepped back, easily slipping free from Yun Shaoyang’s grasp. He said politely, “I don’t recommend coming out to play when you’re short on cash.”

The other young man sneered. “So you really are for sale?”

“That depends on whether I’m worth it.” Chen Ji crossed his legs in a relaxed, natural pose as he addressed them. “You gentlemen should look elsewhere. Fifty thousand? Plenty of people would jump at that. I’m afraid I’m worth more.”

The two young men exchanged a glance. “We’re giving you face, and you think it’s real?!”

“Don’t worry, you won’t see a single dime.” With that, the pair started forward.

Yun Shaoyang raised a hand, stopping them. “Fifty thousand is too low for him.”

For someone whose material desires weren’t that high, who had enough liquid assets to coast through the rest of his life without investments, family, or even friends, fifty thousand was nowhere near enough to trade his dignity for. Why trample his self-respect for pocket change he didn’t even need?

Yun Shaoyang spoke softly. “Play nice, and how about five hundred thousand?”

He gazed at Chen Ji. “Kick those two out, and it’ll just be you and me. Sound good? I don’t want to make this ugly. If that’s not enough, I’ll add more. If you’re willing to be my boyfriend, I’ll throw in a Cangjiang Heavenly Mansion unit. Think it over?”

Cangjiang Heavenly Mansion was one of S City’s luxury residential complexes, facing the Yun River, with units mostly consisting of sprawling flats. Prices ranged from fifty million to over a hundred million—out of reach for ordinary folks their whole lives, even if it didn’t quite match the top-tier villa districts.

Chen Ji’s first reaction was, “Your parents don’t keep a leash on spending like that?”

Yun Shaoyang paused for a beat, then laughed lightly. “I bought it myself. No need to go through them—I can transfer the deed straight to you.”

“What do you say? Shall we consider it?” Yun Shaoyang’s fox-like eyes narrowed. “I’m not a patient man. You’ve got one minute.”

Chen Ji sighed. “Have you thought about whether I can even afford the property fees on a place like that?”

“Besides, I live up in the mountains. What’s the point of giving me an S City apartment? Sell it? What would I even do with that cash? In a world where ten bucks gets you a meal with a chicken drumstick, what good is a hundred million? Burn it for fun? If you’re trying to woo me, can’t you offer something practical?”

One of the young men burst out laughing despite himself. Yun Shaoyang shot him a look, and he quickly turned away, muffling his snickers.

The other one started coughing uncontrollably.

The situation wasn’t exactly what it seemed, but damn if Chen Ji didn’t make a compelling case. Someone this entertaining? It was starting to feel awkward jumping him. Being friends with a guy like that would probably be a riot.

Yun Shaoyang laughed too. “Alright then, what do you want?”

Chen Ji thought for a moment. “Make some room. I need to hit the bathroom.”

Yun Shaoyang didn’t budge. Chen Ji stood, only to feel something blocking his path. He turned his head slightly. “Afraid I’ll run?”

Yun Shaoyang steadied Chen Ji’s arm. “I’ll take you.”

“Sure.” Chen Ji didn’t refuse. Yun Shaoyang refrained from wrapping an arm around his waist or shoulders, escorting him with gentlemanly grace. Along the way, he reminded Chen Ji, “This is the thirty-second floor.”

Chen Ji smiled faintly. “I’m not that desperate.”

Yun Shaoyang led him to the bathroom door and pushed it open with his free hand. Chen Ji stepped inside. At that moment, Yun Shaoyang crowded in after him and shut the door behind them with a flick of his wrist. “Need a hand?”

“Please.” Chen Ji stood there calmly. Yun Shaoyang reached for his belt, but suddenly Chen Ji’s hand shot out, seizing his arm. Yun Shaoyang’s brows twitched—he was about to tease, “Finally cracking?”—when a sharp pain exploded in his gut.

“Urgh!” He grunted in disbelief, staring at Chen Ji, who had already smoothly withdrawn his fist. Even after landing the punch, Chen Ji’s expression remained utterly serene, as if it hadn’t been him at all.

Yun Shaoyang chuckled. If Chen Ji could see, he might have hesitated—the man was a grown adult, after all. But with those blind eyes? No such qualms. “You started it. Don’t blame me.”

He grabbed Chen Ji’s arm in return and yanked hard, hurling him toward the wall. Chen Ji staggered half a step before spinning, driving his elbow toward Yun Shaoyang’s chest. Yun Shaoyang, scion of wealth with years of training under his belt, dodged nimbly—but he had to let go of Chen Ji’s arm.

Chen Ji cracked his wrist joints without a word and followed up with a brutal knee to Yun Shaoyang’s groin. Yun Shaoyang hadn’t expected such a dirty move and twisted away in panic, but Chen Ji still clipped the side of his thigh hard.

Only then did he realize the raw power behind Chen Ji’s strikes. His hit leg went numb on impact. A spark of seriousness entered Yun Shaoyang’s eyes. He stopped holding back, his punches turning fierce. Chen Ji’s vision loss was a glaring weakness. Fortunately, Yun Shaoyang’s lines carried a hint of bright yellow amid the chaotic tangle, letting him track the movements without confusion.

[To be fair, the guy’s legit trained,] the System Cat chimed in. [You can’t win. If you don’t wanna get beat, call Second Master Huang!]

Chen Ji: [Quiet. I’m testing.]

The two traded blows in the cramped bathroom, leaving little room to maneuver. A fist grazed Chen Ji’s cheekbone with a crack of bone on bone. Dull agony followed as his molars tore the inside of his cheek. The coppery tang of blood flooded his mouth. Chen Ji twisted aside and closed in along Yun Shaoyang’s arm, slamming a fist into his abdomen.

Yun Shaoyang grunted and seized Chen Ji without hesitation, driving a knee toward his stomach. Chen Ji sucked in a sharp breath as Yun Shaoyang fisted his hair and slammed him against the wall.

Yun Shaoyang’s chest heaved. He raked back his slightly long hair, revealing features far too delicately demonic for an ordinary man.

From outside, someone called at the noise. “Brother Yun, everything alright?”

“It’s fine. Stay out,” Yun Shaoyang replied with a laugh. “Just playing around with him.”

Laughter rose outside, then faded to silence. Yun Shaoyang gripped Chen Ji’s hair, tempted to bash his head against the wall—but such a pretty face would be a shame to ruin, so he held off. He smiled at Chen Ji, murmuring into his ear. “You’re pretty good in a scrap.”

Chen Ji’s mouth was full of blood. “I’m a mountain boy. Got plenty of strength.”

System Cat: [See? You got beat! Good news—no major damage, no hospital needed. Keep brawling, though, and I can’t guarantee which ward you’ll end up in.]

A normal person would’ve been done after that hit. Yun Shaoyang knew it, so he eased his grip.

Chen Ji had tested brute force. It wasn’t working. Time for Plan B.

Though he’d never imagined using it on a person.

Chen Ji’s fingers twitched slightly. He traced a talisman in the air—a simple Gathering Yin Talisman, not from the Cave Abyss Scripture, but one from his grandfather’s old collection. Some of those symbols had been unfamiliar, and he’d been studying them ever since. He hadn’t known how to activate this one before; he’d just memorized it. Thanks to these eyes of his, it came naturally now.

The invisible talisman settled over Yun Shaoyang. His expression shifted. He suddenly felt cold—sweat, he figured. But the chill deepened, intensifying. Unbeknownst to him, his limbs locked up. Chen Ji shoved him away and groped for the faucet, twisting it on.

The young men outside heard the water and ribbed him. “Already hosing things down?”

“Looks like no share for us tonight.”

“That’s fine. Wouldn’t want Brother Zhao chewing us out later…”

Yun Shaoyang tried to speak but couldn’t. His whole body was freezing, and everything looked wrong. Chen Ji appeared darkly frigid. Something terrifying lurked beyond the door, making his body shudder uncontrollably.

Chen Ji turned toward Yun Shaoyang, then seized his hair and smashed his head against the wall. A dull thud echoed as Yun Shaoyang’s forehead split open, blood streaming down. Even through the pain, he only managed a muffled grunt. Outside, the two young men heard it, exchanged grins, and called out, “Brother Yun, we’re heading out first.”

Chen Ji traced a finger through the empty air. A talisman flickering with faint silver light slipped through the crack beneath the bathroom door and affixed itself to the two men outside.

It was a weakened version—not nearly as overpowering for Yun Shaoyang. At least it wouldn’t leave them collapsed right there on the doorstep.

With a sharp click, the door shut.

“Second Grandpa,” Chen Ji said, “help me track their positions.”

A faint rustle sounded from outside. But to Yun Shaoyang, it felt like something utterly terrifying had burst out in pursuit.

What the hell was that?

He didn’t have time to puzzle it out. Chen Ji seized him by the hair and yanked his face upward. Blood masked half of Yun Shaoyang’s features as Chen Ji said mildly, “Now do you know what I want?”

“Don’t worry. I’m not taking your life today.”

If he killed Yun Shaoyang today, how could he ever return safely to Little Azure Mountain?

No. If death came, it had to happen in a way that had nothing to do with him.