Wang Yucheng's expression suddenly froze, then his face turned iron-blue as he demanded coldly, "Brother, what do you mean by this?"
Hearing this, Song Yan waved his hand dismissively: "My words are simple and clear. If you can't understand them, your intelligence must be lacking. Scram, and stop disturbing our meal!"
If the other party had truly wanted to befriend him, Song Yan wouldn't have minded. But it was obvious Wang Yucheng had ulterior motives—his eyes were on Song Yan's female companions. How could Song Yan be polite to someone like that? Not to mention, Wang had just been insulting him. Song Yan letting it slide didn't mean he wasn't angry; now that Wang insisted on making trouble, there was no reason to show him any courtesy.
Wang Yucheng's face, already iron-blue, shifted through several colors—now green, now pale, then twisted with a fierce scowl. Eyes blazing, he growled at Song Yan, "Kid, I tried to make friends with you and you insulted me. For the sake of these two ladies, I won't kill you, but you must kneel and apologize. Otherwise, I, Wang Yucheng, am not someone to be bullied!"
At that moment, the other three youths also walked over.
The Zhou-surnamed youth looked at Song Yan and said, "Friend, you'd better apologize to Brother Wang. He's a top disciple of Iron Sword Gate."
The Zhu-surnamed youth said coldly, "That's right. Brother Wang kindly sought your friendship, but you spoke out of turn. If you don't apologize, not only will Brother Wang not let you off, I won't let you off either!"
The Ma-surnamed youth sneered, "Heh, scholar, just apologize. Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"
With his three friends backing him up, Wang Yucheng grew bolder: "Kid, hurry up and kneel, kowtow, and apologize. Otherwise, I guarantee you won't leave this restaurant today."
"Waiter."
Song Yan ignored the four of them and instead called out to the nearby waiter.
"Sir, what do you need?" The waiter hurried over, bowing nervously.
"I'm dining at your restaurant, but I'm being disturbed. Does your restaurant intend to do anything about it?" Song Yan stared at the waiter and asked.
"Uh..." The waiter looked troubled. The four before him were all disciples of major martial sects around Skyvale City. How could a mere waiter dare provoke them? He hesitated for a long time, unable to say anything.
Seeing this, the four youths sneered, "Scholar, you'd better stop scheming. It's not just this waiter—even if the manager of Moonview Pavilion came, he wouldn't dare interfere with our affairs. So let me ask you again—are you going to kneel or not? Are you going to apologize or not?"
Facing Wang Yucheng's pressure, Song Yan remained calm: "So what you're saying is, because you're stronger, Moonview Pavilion doesn't dare interfere with you. But what if I'm stronger than you?"
"Hahaha!"
Hearing Song Yan's words, Wang Yucheng couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Kid, you really don't know your place. Do you think that just because you know a few basic moves, you can deal with us?"
"Exactly! You're just a scholar, and you dare say you're stronger than us? That's not even a funny joke!" the Zhu-surnamed youth chimed in, mocking. All four had reached the level of first-rate martial artists, and in their eyes, Song Yan didn't look like one at all—at most, he'd practiced a few days of basic moves.
"So you're all certain you can handle me?" Song Yan asked again.
"Pah! Stop trying to act mysterious. I'll give you five breaths—if you don't apologize, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Wang Yucheng said coldly.
"I don't need five breaths. I can give you my answer right now: you're not qualified to receive my apology. In fact, even your Iron Sword Gate isn't qualified!" Song Yan declared proudly. Iron Sword Gate was, at best, a third-rate sect—arrogant in its own province, but nothing in the grand scheme of things.
"You arrogant fool! If you have no respect for Iron Sword Gate, then let me show you the strength of its disciples!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Yucheng struck out with his palm toward Song Yan's chest.
Seeing that palm about to land on Song Yan's chest, the other three all looked gleeful, but Susie and the other two remained calm, as if they weren't worried about Song Yan at all. In fact, over the past few days, Song Yan had explained the martial artist rankings to Susie.
He'd honestly told her that in this world, there were almost none who could beat him. That's why, when she saw Wang Yucheng attack Song Yan, she was so calm.
Suddenly, Song Yan moved.
With a quick motion, he caught Wang Yucheng's wrist, then brushed his fingers across Wang's chest. Instantly, Wang felt his whole body go stiff—he couldn't move at all.
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"
A series of crisp slaps rang out. Song Yan, striking left and right, gave Wang Yucheng several hard slaps, then grabbed him and tossed him out the window.
In a flash, Wang Yucheng was thrown out the window. The other three were stunned, their faces turning pale.
Their cultivation was about the same as Wang Yucheng's.
Since he could toss Wang Yucheng so easily, throwing them would be no problem either. They immediately realized they'd probably run into a true expert.
Thinking this, the Zhou-surnamed youth quickly bowed and apologized, "Uh... Senior, I was rude just now. Please be generous and don't hold it against us!"
Although there were unwritten rules among martial artists, strength spoke louder than anything. Apologizing to someone stronger wasn't considered disgraceful.
The other two quickly followed suit, apologizing and begging Song Yan's forgiveness.
Scram!
Song Yan waved his hand. After throwing Wang Yucheng out of the restaurant, he'd vented his anger. Since these three read the situation quickly, he didn't bother with them. Mainly, they were too weak to interest him as stepping stones.
After eating and drinking their fill, Song Yan called the waiter to settle the bill.
But the waiter respectfully explained that their bill had already been paid.
'Who paid?' Song Yan asked.
'It was this young lady!' The waiter pointed to a black-clad woman walking over.
'Master Shen, my mistress invites you upstairs to the pavilion.'
'Who's your mistress?' Song Yan asked, eyeing the woman. She looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, but her cultivation was impressive—mid Heaven-and-Man stage, on par with the top disciples of the Three Holy Lands.
Yet she was only a servant. Anyone who could employ a mid Heaven-and-Man servant must be extraordinary.
'Once Master Shen goes upstairs, my mistress will reveal her identity herself,' the woman replied calmly.
'Very well, lead the way.' Song Yan thought for a moment, then agreed.
The top-floor pavilion of Moonview Pavilion only hosts the most distinguished guests.
The room was lavishly decorated, exuding luxury.
When Song Yan and his party arrived at the pavilion, the door swung open by itself, and a gentle, elderly voice called from inside: 'Master Shen, please come in!'