Chapter 12: I Cannot Sing, I Only Know How to Kill

However, to Chen Yang’s surprise, just as Su Tang hung up, another call came in. This time, it was the heiress of the Murong family, Murong Xue’er.

“Is something the matter?”

Chen Yang didn’t bother with pleasantries.

Murong Xue’er sounded a little nervous. “I wonder if you’re free tonight, Mr. Chen. I’d like to invite you to dinner at the Royal Duke Hotel. The cuisine there is quite good!”

The Royal Duke again?

Chen Yang was a bit bewildered. He vaguely remembered that Shen Yanran’s birthday celebration was also at the Royal Duke KTV.

Was it just a coincidence?

If it was merely dinner, Chen Yang wasn’t interested. He asked, “The heiress of the Murong family wouldn’t be so bored as to just invite me for a meal, would she?”

Murong Xue’er smiled. “As expected, nothing escapes your notice, Mr. Chen. Indeed, I remember you’re fond of rare medicinal herbs. I happen to have a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum root. Perhaps you would be…”

Before she could finish saying “interested,” Chen Yang interrupted, excitement clear in his voice, “A thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum? Are you certain?”

Chen Yang understood that even on Earth, a herb of that age would surely contain the essence of heaven and earth. If he could absorb it perfectly, it would greatly benefit his cultivation.

Such a golden opportunity, Chen Yang would never let it slip.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Chen. Even if I had the courage of a lion, I wouldn’t dare deceive you!” Murong Xue’er replied with conviction, just short of swearing an oath.

“Agreed. I’m not far from the Royal Duke—ten minutes tops!”

Chen Yang’s face lit up with excitement, and without delay, he set off for the Royal Duke Hotel.

The Royal Duke Hotel, a six-star establishment, sat in the heart of Yunzhou’s bustling city center, blending dining, entertainment, and commerce. Everyone in Yunzhou knew it was among the Murong family’s businesses.

In just seven or eight minutes, Chen Yang arrived.

He walked to the hotel entrance and waited quietly for Murong Xue’er.

Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded behind him. “Strongman, you’re right on time! I thought you might not come!”

Chen Yang turned instinctively and saw Su Tang beaming at him.

The birthday girl, Shen Yanran, was there as well. She wore a white dress, her face untouched by makeup yet radiant and dazzling. At a glance, she rivaled any top-tier celebrity.

Aside from Su Tang and Shen Yanran, there were three young men and two young women, five in total. All their eyes fell on Chen Yang.

His attire didn’t resemble that of a wealthy man.

Some wondered why Su Tang and Shen Yanran would know someone like him.

“Su Tang, who is this?”

A tall, handsome young man stepped forward, his expression arrogant. He was Di Hongwei, Shen Yanran’s college classmate.

He had pursued Shen Yanran since their university days, but was rejected every time.

Di Hongwei’s father owned a small company, currying favor with the Murong family for years and picking up some minor construction projects. Though modest, they’d managed to thrive.

Thus, Di Hongwei counted as one of the wealthy second generation.

The other two young men were Hu Qing and Hu Yang, biological brothers and Di Hongwei’s loyal followers.

Su Tang grinned, “He’s Chen Yang. Last time at Dream World City, that awful Deng Yong harassed Yanran. If Strongman hadn’t played the hero, Yanran and I would’ve been in real trouble!”

Heroic rescue?

On hearing this, Di Hongwei’s face darkened, his tone mocking. “Wasn’t that all just some people putting on a show?”

Who put on a show?

Su Tang was baffled, her mind unable to keep up.

Simple-hearted, she was the only one unaware that Di Hongwei was targeting Chen Yang.

“Di Hongwei, stop talking nonsense!”

At that moment, Shen Yanran stepped forward. “Chen Yang is my guest and my friend. If you don’t like it, you can leave now!”

Instantly, the atmosphere chilled to the freezing point.

“Yanran, don’t be angry. I was only joking!”

Di Hongwei was disgruntled, but in front of his goddess, he had to swallow his pride.

“I’m actually meeting someone else, so—”

Before Chen Yang could finish, Su Tang, ever the scatterbrain, interrupted, “Alright, Strongman, when your friend arrives, bring them in too. Let’s go in first!”

With that, she dragged Chen Yang into a private room.

Dragged into a dark room by a girl—it was a first in centuries.

Still, having food and drink inside was better than standing out in the wind.

After all, Chen Yang had no idea when Murong Xue’er would arrive.

If she spent two hours doing her makeup before going out, he’d be waiting forever.

Soon, it was time for karaoke.

Chen Yang had zero interest, but the snacks in the room tasted decent.

“Strongman, why aren’t you singing?”

Su Tang plopped down next to him, handing him the microphone.

“Sorry, I’m tone-deaf. I can’t sing.”

This was no lie; Chen Yang truly had no sense for music.

Su Tang frowned. “You can’t sing? That won’t do!”

Chen Yang asked, confused, “What, is it illegal not to sing?”

Su Tang stuck out her tongue. “Not illegal, but a guy who can’t sing at KTV will never get a girlfriend!”

After their last matchmaking attempt, Su Tang was convinced Chen Yang desperately wanted a girlfriend.

A black line seemed to flash across Chen Yang’s forehead.

“This girl keeps finding ways to complicate my life!”

He could only grumble silently.

Then Su Tang pulled him over to another side, where three girls sat, all youthful and pretty.

“Strongman, let me introduce you: these are my college friends, Nana, Lily, and Xiaoqian!”

She grew more excited as she spoke. “And by the way, they just graduated and don’t have boyfriends yet!”

The way she set the tempo left Chen Yang speechless.

He nearly rolled his eyes. “I think you’re mistaken, I—”

Before he could finish, Su Tang cut him off. “It’s alright, Strongman, I know you’re shy. Leave it to me, hehe!”

At that moment, Chen Yang really wanted to knock a bump onto Su Tang’s head.

“Xiao Tang, I’ve put up with you for long enough. What’s your game?”

Suddenly, Nana complained, “Last time you said you’d introduce me to a boyfriend, I thought it’d be some rich heir or elite. Turns out it’s just a bumpkin. Judging by his outfit, it’s probably worth less than two hundred yuan!”

“Exactly. I don’t want some country bumpkin or mongrel as my boyfriend!”

The other two girls rolled their eyes as well.

For a moment, the atmosphere was painfully awkward.

Even Su Tang, always quick-witted, frowned.

She meant well, but hadn’t expected her friends, only recently out in the world, to be so snobbish.

“You’re Chen Yang, right? You should know you’re just a bumpkin. I advise you not to dream about swans when you’re a toad!”

Nana sneered, “If it weren’t for Yanran, you wouldn’t even get into this private room. I wouldn’t spare you a glance, you mongrel!”

“Nana, how can you say that?” Su Tang protested.

“Xiao Tang, we’re from high society. Our friends should be elite as well. No matter how much you accept him, someone like that will never join our class!”

Lily glanced at Chen Yang, full of contempt.

Even a clay figurine has some temper, let alone a cultivator.

Chen Yang’s gaze chilled. “If it weren’t for Su Tang and Shen Yanran, I’d strip you three naked and throw you onto the street for all to admire!”

His words caused an instant uproar.

Lily, Nana, and Xiaoqian all stood up, pointing at Chen Yang in fury. “Chen, what do you mean by that?”

Chen Yang replied blandly, “You call yourselves college graduates, yet can’t understand plain language?”

“Su Tang, how could you bring someone like this?”

The three girls were thoroughly enraged.

The commotion drew everyone else over.

“What’s going on?”

Shen Yanran was still in the dark about what had happened.

“Yanran, this bumpkin Chen here said he’d strip us naked and throw us out in the street!” Xiaoqian accused, pointing at Chen Yang.

“Ah? What?” Shen Yanran was stunned. She never imagined Chen Yang would say something so crude.

“Chen Yang, what’s going on?” she demanded.

Chen Yang curled his lip disdainfully. “Didn’t they say already?”

Shen Yanran’s voice grew cold. “Chen Yang, you did save me last time, but that doesn’t mean you can insult my friends. I’ll give you one chance: apologize to them, right now. Do you hear me?”