Rose Bar

A little after six, Wang Sheng Guo returned home.

Li Xiumei had the servant Chen Yi call Wang Teng downstairs for dinner.

Wang Teng had just finished showering and changed into a fresh set of clothes. He was using a hair dryer, blow-drying his hair with a hum.

"Got it, Auntie Chen. I'll be right down."

He answered casually.

After becoming a Martial Apprentice, even his hearing had improved considerably. The noise of the hair dryer did not affect him in the slightest.

In less than a minute, he had dried his hair, unplugged the dryer, and went downstairs for dinner.

Wang Sheng Guo and Li Xiumei were both waiting for him.

Several bowls of dishes sat on the table, steaming hot and fragrant.

The family gathered around the table and ate together.

"Son, how did your training go today?"

Li Xiumei asked the question Wang Sheng Guo most wanted to ask. He looked at Wang Teng eagerly.

Come to think of it, being a father was not easy for Wang Sheng Guo either. His friends were always showing off about how outstanding their sons and daughters were—how so-and-so's child had become an Intermediate Martial Disciple, an Advanced Martial Apprentice, and so on.

Only Wang Sheng Guo found it difficult to speak of such things. He was the president of a major company with assets worth hundreds of millions, yet his son had been an idle good-for-nothing.

If word got out, people would definitely laugh at him.

Now that his son had finally come to his senses and was willing to practice martial arts, once he truly became an Advanced Martial Apprentice, Wang Sheng Guo would be able to boast about it too.

"Not bad. The Senior Brothers at the Martial Arts Hall said I've got talent," Wang Teng said.

He did not tell his parents that he was already an Intermediate Martial Disciple. If happiness came too suddenly, he was afraid they might pass out from excitement.

He would tell them slowly in the future.

"It's good as long as you have talent. Good, good."

Wang Sheng Guo was so delighted that his eyes narrowed into slits. With a broad wave of his hand, he said, "Train hard. Our Wang Family may not be among the great wealthy clans, but we're still much better off than ordinary people. You don't need to worry about martial arts resources."

Wang Teng nodded without saying much.

He was not particularly worried about resources. Others might desperately need all kinds of martial arts resources, but he was not too dependent on them.

With his golden finger in hand, other people's resources were his resources!

"Come on, eat more. You've trained all day—you must be hungry and tired again."

Compared to whether Wang Teng could become a martial warrior, Li Xiumei cared more about whether he was suffering. Seeing him wolf down his food, she felt a little heartache.

Wang Teng could not even spare the time to speak. It had to be said that Star Beast Meat really was delicious—rich without being greasy, melting in his mouth.

Once it entered his stomach, it felt as though a warm current flowed through his Four Limbs and Bones, easing his fatigue.

Li Xiumei and Wang Sheng Guo ate a little as well, but did not dare eat too much.

After all, they did not practice martial arts. Too much was as bad as too little.

Ordinary people in the Martial Arts Era had indeed improved greatly in physical fitness due to the influence of Primal Force, but that was the result of long-term, subtle change.

After dinner, Wang Teng was preparing to head to Polar Star Martial Arts Academy when his phone rang.

As soon as he picked up, Xu Jie's voice came through.

"Brother Wang Teng, we're already at Rose Bar. Hurry over."

Wang Teng finally remembered this matter, which he had long since tossed beyond the nine heavens, and could not help but smile bitterly. "Alright, wait for me. I'll be there soon."

"Looks like I won't be going to Polar Star Martial Arts Academy tonight."

Wang Teng felt a little regretful, but he also knew he could not possibly stay cooped up in the Martial Arts Hall every day.

I'll treat it as a chance to relax.

After informing his parents, Wang Teng headed out.

Vroom, vroom, vroom...

The sports car roared down the streets. Whether it was the streamlined body or the thunderous roar, it drew the eyes of passersby.

South City Bar Street!

East Sea had many bar streets, but the South City area was considered the most prosperous.

A great number of bars gathered here, differing in type, style, and even price range.

Popular bars catered to low-end consumers, while high-end bars suited society's elite or children of wealthy families.

Though it was unpleasant to say, people really were invisibly divided into different classes.

Every night, the bar street became a blaze of lavish lights and color. Brilliant neon lights and dazzling shadows intertwined, gathering into a dreamlike spectacle.

Young men and women in the city bore heavy burdens at work during the day, pressure wrapped around them, and at night they hoped to find somewhere to relax.

Social pressure had never vanished. In the Martial Arts Era, it was even heavier.

They needed an outlet!

Of course, for people like Wang Teng, it was nothing more than a place to have fun.

Outside Rose Bar, rows of sports cars and luxury cars were parked. Wang Teng searched for quite some time before finally finding an empty space. After parking, he entered the bar.

Boom!

One door separated the inside and outside of the bar into two different worlds.

The instant the door opened, explosive music, the laughter and playful chatter of handsome men and beautiful women, and flashing light and shadow all converged, crashing against Wang Teng's ears and eyes.

"What a familiar feeling!"

In his previous life, after the Wang Family declined and disappeared, Wang Teng had never gone to a bar again.

It was as if he had been kicked out of this bustling world.

But now, he had returned!

Wang Teng strode into Rose Bar. His handsome face, branded clothes, and the stronger, straighter physique he had gained after becoming a Martial Apprentice these past two days gave him a completely renewed air. He was like a diamond amid sand, exceptionally bright and dazzling.

Many women's gazes were drawn to him, seemingly a little interested.

Wang Teng had once been an old piece of cured meat, but now he was a genuine fresh young man. His face still carried a trace of youthful immaturity, yet his bearing was completely different.

In his previous life, he had experienced many things, the ups and downs of life.

He had enjoyed wealth and splendor, and he had known poverty as well.

He had once been high-spirited, achieving success at a young age. He had also sunk into degradation, frustrated and unfulfilled...

Those rich experiences had forged his calm temperament, making people easily develop a Good Impression of him at first sight.

Wang Teng swept his gaze across the bar, looking for Xu Jie and the others.

At that moment, a voice came from his left.

"Brother Wang Teng, over here! Over here!"

Wang Teng saw the girl waving at him—Bai Wei, a younger girl from their circle.

She wore her hair in a bun, looking playful yet carrying a touch of charm.

Wang Teng still remembered that after coming of age, this little girl had grown into a beauty capable of toppling nations. Who knew how many men had been enchanted by her.

"You guys got here early enough."

Bai Wei made room for Wang Teng, and he sat down beside her.

"Brother Wang Teng, you're the one who came late," Xu Jie complained.

"The night is long. It's only just begun—what's the point of coming so early?" Wang Teng laughed.

"Brother Wang Teng!"

Another boy greeted Wang Teng as well.

"Yu Hao, haven't seen you in quite a while." Wang Teng looked at him.

"My dad's been keeping a close watch on me lately. I sneaked out today," Yu Hao said helplessly.

"This kid's dad has him training martial arts," Xu Jie said with a gleeful grin.

"Oh? How's your training going?" Wang Teng asked in surprise.

"I'm already a Low-level Martial Disciple." Yu Hao scratched his head and spoke somewhat embarrassedly.

"Damn, you became a Low-level Martial Disciple without making a sound!" Xu Jie cried out, clearly unaware of the news.

"Out of all of us, you're the only one who's become a Martial Apprentice. If we get bullied in the future, we'll all be coming to you."

Then he slung an arm around Yu Hao's shoulders and chuckled.

"Little Hao, we'll be relying on you from now on!" Bai Wei chimed in with a smile.

Yu Hao grew a little pleased with himself at their words, especially since Bai Wei's approval made him feel particularly good.

The few of them were the closest, and between young men and women, there was inevitably a hazy sort of affection.

That was how Yu Hao felt toward Bai Wei.

Wang Teng smiled and asked, "Why don't I see Yuan Zhenghua?"

The group immediately fell silent.

"He won't be coming!" Xu Jie sneered.

"Hm? What happened?" Wang Teng frowned.

"That guy latched onto Li Rongcheng of the Li Family and became his lackey." Xu Jie curled his lip.

"Li Rongcheng!"

Wang Teng thought for a moment before finally recalling such a person from the depths of his memory.

Wang Teng and the others came from families of similar means. Their fathers all knew one another and had business dealings with each other, so they naturally formed a small circle.

As for the Li Family, to which Li Rongcheng belonged, it was considered no small family in East Sea, much stronger than any of their families.

In Xu Jie's eyes, Yuan Zhenghua getting close to Li Rongcheng meant he had latched onto the other man's thigh.

That was how their Rich Second Generation circle worked. Only those with similar strength could be called friends.

If the gap was too great, it became currying favor instead.

"Forget about him. Everyone has their own aspirations. There's nothing to say," Wang Teng said indifferently.

"Right, forget that kid. Just mentioning him makes me angry," Xu Jie said.

They changed the subject, ordered drinks and fruit platters, and chatted and laughed. Gradually, Wang Teng rediscovered the feeling of his younger days.

Stomachache and a low fever—they came too suddenly and caught me off guard. Only one 3,000-plus-word chapter today. Going to sleep~

Made some revisions, deleted five hundred words. Still not satisfied.