Provocation

After Zhao Liang left, the Third Class Student immediately pulled over Zhao Liang's chair and said to Fu Chengya, "Brother Fu, sit here."

Fu Chengya did not stand on ceremony and sat directly in Zhao Liang's seat. It was the seat of honor, and he felt it was only natural for him to sit there.

All five wore Raging Wind uniforms. As a First Class Student, Fu Chengya naturally held the highest status, while Lin Zhen and Meng Dong remained silent.

Fu Chengya sat down, with Zhu Haoran on his left and Zhang Yi on his right. Lin Zhen and Meng Dong sat opposite them.

"You two came from Sixth High School?" Zhang Yi was the first to ask.

"Yes, Sixth High School."

"I heard that because the students at Sixth High School are so poorly qualified, their recruitment standards are rather lax. As long as someone is barely passable, they'll be given a Third Class or even Second Class contract. Is that true?" Zhang Yi's gaze swept over the Second Class Student badge on Lin Zhen's chest, his tone clearly unconvinced.

Students from No. 1 Middle School had always been domineering, and their family backgrounds were anything but ordinary. Faced with people like them, Meng Dong truly lacked confidence. Besides, he was only a Third Class Student himself, so he could not quite muster any defiance. Hearing Zhang Yi's question, he did not know how to answer.

He turned a pleading look toward Lin Zhen. In Meng Dong's heart, Lin Zhen was formidable, far more capable than he was. It was better to let Lin Zhen handle something like this.

Lin Zhen smiled faintly and said to Zhang Yi, "Are you questioning whether Brother Zhao played favorites?"

That single sentence immediately left Zhang Yi speechless.

His words had been aimed at Lin Zhen, but even if he had several more sets of guts, he would not dare question Zhao Liang.

Zhao Liang was a Level Three War General. His status within Raging Wind was not low, so how could a mere Third Class Student like Zhang Yi question him?

Seeing Zhang Yi at a loss for words, Zhu Haoran immediately said, "Zhang Yi, Lin Zhen is a Second Class Student. Show some respect."

Then he turned to Lin Zhen. "What Zhang Yi said is not uncommon. Quite a few students from lower-ranked high schools really are poor-quality recruits. He did not mean to question Mr. Zhao, so don't go throwing accusations around, Lin Zhen."

Lin Zhen nodded. "Poor-quality recruits certainly exist, but they aren't limited to lower-ranked high schools. Some highly ranked schools have quite the reputation, yet the students they produce are Flowers raised in greenhouses. Some of them even wet their pants when fighting monsters."

Zhu Haoran frowned, and his expression toward Lin Zhen immediately turned unfriendly.

What Lin Zhen described had happened at No. 1 Middle School. There had once been a Second Class Student who performed exceptionally well in training, but when he actually fought a monster, he had been so frightened that he wet his pants. It was a disgrace to No. 1 Middle School, and none of its students liked hearing it mentioned. Lin Zhen had brought it up so bluntly that Zhu Haoran was instantly displeased.

"What did you say?" Backed by Fu Chengya and Zhu Haoran, Zhang Yi immediately lashed out at Lin Zhen.

Meng Dong had recovered by then. He was rough by nature, and seeing Lin Zhen speak so confidently, he no longer feared No. 1 Middle School's reputation. When he saw Zhang Yi actually dare to shout, he slammed the table. "Listen quietly to whatever's being said! What the hell is a Third Class Student like you yelling for?!"

Zhu Haoran and Zhang Yi's expressions changed. They rose as if preparing to make a move.

At last, Fu Chengya spoke. "Stop arguing. The Dragon Slayer people are here."

When Fu Chengya spoke, Zhu Haoran and the others did not dare disobey. They pursed their lips and sat back down, turning to look behind them.

A large group of people came bustling in from outside. Three Martial Artists led the way, followed by seven or eight students. Ouyang Yu was among them.

However, Ouyang Yu walked at the back of the group. As a Third Class Student, his status was not high. Martial Artists paid close attention to such distinctions. Ahead of him were one First Class Student, two Second Class Students, and five Third Class Students in total.

The Dragon Slayer group occupied two tables. The three Martial Artists stayed for less than a minute before entering a private room. As Martial Artists, they naturally had their own circle and rarely lowered themselves to mingle with students.

Once they left, the eight students at the tables began making a racket, drinking and chatting loudly. Yet the hall was mostly filled with students. Dragon Slayer was one of Huaxia's top three major Martial Halls, and with their numbers, few people truly dared provoke them.

Although Raging Wind was Huaxia's number one Martial Hall, that did not mean it ranked first in every Base City. In Northern Base City, Raging Wind was not the dominant force. Raging Wind held the advantage in Capital City Base City and Tianfu Base City, but in the north, it could only be considered third.

In Ice City Base City, Changfeng was the number one Martial Hall. Dragon Slayer and Raging Wind had always competed for second place, but Raging Wind was faintly inferior to Dragon Slayer. Thus, Raging Wind held no obvious advantage here.

The Changfeng people had not appeared today. The Dragon Slayer group also noticed Lin Zhen and the others, and several of them began whispering among themselves. Clearly, they were up to no good.

The moment Zhu Haoran saw the Dragon Slayer group, his face changed. "Brother Fu, Lei Ming is over there. He never got along with us back at No. 1 Middle School. He'll probably come looking for trouble this time. They have more people than us, we..."

Fu Chengya waved a hand. "Ignore him. If we back down now, we'll only become an even bigger joke."

His gaze swept over Lin Zhen and Meng Dong. Fu Chengya said, "Listen carefully, you two. The Dragon Slayer people may come looking for trouble soon. If you're afraid, leave now. If not, then stand and fight alongside us later. Follow my command."

Lin Zhen frowned slightly. "We're not afraid, but I've never liked being commanded. If there's a fight, everyone can rely on their own abilities."

"Lin Zhen speaks for me as well!" Meng Dong added from the side.

"You don't know what's good for you. Fine, then if you two can hold off one Second Class Student and one Third Class Student, that'll count as completing your task." Zhu Haoran spoke coldly from the side, clearly very dissatisfied with Lin Zhen and Meng Dong's lack of cooperation.

At that moment, the Dragon Slayer people came over.

The leader was a sturdy-looking young man in a Dragon Slayer uniform, with a First Class Student badge on his chest. He was precisely the Lei Ming Fu Chengya and the others had mentioned.

Lin Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly. This Lei Ming was Ouyang Yu's big brother. After Ouyang Yu entered Dragon Slayer, he had followed Lei Ming and become his lackey.

All Three Physical Tests of this man had reached the peak of a Level Three Warrior. He was only a step away from becoming a Level Four Warrior. Though still young, his potential was astonishing.

Lei Ming walked up to the table and looked down at Fu Chengya. "Fu Chengya, it's rare for us to run into each other. We're all old classmates. Aren't you going to invite us for a drink?"

Fu Chengya remained seated. "Our table is small. I'm afraid there isn't room for you."

Lei Ming was not angry. He laughed heartily. "It's fine if there's no room. We can stand. Let me introduce everyone. This little brother behind me is Ouyang Yu. He has a bit of a grudge with two people at your table. We all get around in Ice City, and we'll be seeing each other sooner or later. He wants to share a drink and let bygones be bygones. You don't have any objections, do you?"

As he spoke, Ouyang Yu stepped forward and stood before Lin Zhen and Meng Dong.

Fu Chengya frowned. He had not expected them to be targeting Lin Zhen and Meng Dong. He could not refuse such a proposal for a drink, so he nodded slightly.

Clearly, whether it was Fu Chengya's group or the Dragon Slayer group, they regarded Fu Chengya as the one in charge. Lin Zhen and Meng Dong's opinions were simply ignored.

Ouyang Yu smiled smugly and took a huge bottle of liquor. Inside was Ice City's specialty, Shaodaozi baijiu, over sixty percent proof.

He then took two enormous wine glasses, each capable of holding a full kilogram of liquor, and placed them before Lin Zhen and Meng Dong. He filled both glasses to the brim, then raised his head. "Lin Zhen, Meng Dong, we all came from Sixth High School. There may have been some unpleasantness in the past, but that's all behind us now. If you'll give me this face, finish these drinks. From now on, we'll still be good classmates and good brothers."

Meng Dong looked at the glass. "Ouyang Yu, if you want us to drink, shouldn't you show some sincerity first? Aren't you drinking?"

"Of course I'm drinking too. Here, watch closely."

Ouyang Yu took another large cup and poured in a kilogram of baijiu with several loud glugs.

"The three of us will drink together. How about it?"

Lin Zhen had been watching Ouyang Yu's fingers the whole time. This scene had happened before, though Ouyang Yu had not been the one who did it. Clearly, because Lin Zhen was present this time, Ouyang Yu had volunteered to take action himself.

His liquor was real, but he held a Sobering Pill between his fingers. Once dropped into the liquor, it would dissolve within a second, turning that huge cup of baijiu into plain water.

Sobering Pills were not cheap. Ouyang Yu was determined to make fools of Lin Zhen and Meng Dong.

The bar's lighting was dim, and no one could notice the Sobering Pill.

Lin Zhen continued watching. The instant Ouyang Yu loosened his fingers, he quietly extended his Mental Power.

Mental Power could act upon inanimate objects and move items through the air. If one cultivated Mental Power to the Gold-level, they could even control objects to carry people through the air.

Lin Zhen's Mental Power was currently at the Bronze Peak and was about to enter the Silver Stage. Moving a tiny Sobering Pill was effortless. The instant it fell into Ouyang Yu's glass, Lin Zhen pulled it over through the air at incredible speed.

One second later, the Sobering Pill dissolved in Lin Zhen's glass.

"Ouyang Yu, if you want to drink, I'll join you. But there's no need to drag Meng Dong into this. How about I finish this cup with you?" Lin Zhen spoke.

Ouyang Yu's original target had been Lin Zhen. Meng Dong was merely an extra. He had even been worried that Lin Zhen would refuse, but seeing him agree, he immediately smiled. "Fine, I'll give you that face, Lin Zhen. But let's be clear: whoever can't finish their drink is refusing to give face, and they'll pay for everything tonight."

"No problem!" Lin Zhen agreed readily.

"Lin Zhen, can you handle it?" Meng Dong asked worriedly.

"Just watch. When have you ever seen me do something I wasn't sure about?" Lin Zhen said. He clinked glasses with Ouyang Yu, and both of them raised their cups to their lips, looking at one another with meaningful gazes.