Jack Young snapped out of his memories as he walked, exhaling a long breath. The chilly autumn night turned his breath into a visible mist—classic Bright Jade Technique, working its magic without him even thinking. Mind and energy in sync, one breath out and his nerves slowly settled, like someone had let off the pressure valve. He couldn’t help but smirk at himself—every time his memories surged, his whole mood shifted, and there went his rationality.
But hey, at least tonight's memories felt like a sweet breeze blowing through his soul. The magic of first love, even after two years, hit him all over again, giving his rootless emotions something solid to cling to. Suddenly, everything felt real. Jack stopped overthinking, stopped hesitating. No matter what happened next, no matter what secrets were still out there, he was sure of one thing.
He was going to get that love back!
Striding forward, head held high, Jack Young marched toward the Single Party venue. It was another villa estate, but if you ranked all the villas from top to bottom—the Night Queen's Villa being the fanciest—this place was more like third-tier. Still, let’s be real, it was loaded with rich-people vibes and fancy amenities.
So what’s a Single Party, anyway? Technically, it’s a party only for singles—think speed dating with extra steps. In reality, though, it’s just a bunch of hormone-fueled folks getting wild together. Officially, it was Zhu Ming’s farewell-to-singlehood bash, which gave it a thin veneer of respectability. But let’s be honest: nobody was here just for snacks and small talk.
They came here to go wild!
From way down the road, you could see luxury cars rolling in and out. If you didn’t show up in a flashy ride, you’d feel like you were losing face. Borrowed? Rented? Didn’t matter—just had to keep up appearances. The crowd noise carried—guys and girls, all young, no old folks or kids in sight. Get closer, and you’d spot all these gorgeous women strutting around in skimpy outfits. Who knew how many friends and family Zhu Ming had invited, or where all these beauties came from? But one thing was clear: the scene was packed with long legs and tiny waists, and the screaming crowd was loving it.
This was a place for young people to let loose and go wild. With the pounding music and the deep night sky, folks were already shedding their daytime restraints—no drinks needed. Jack Young stepped into this party zone, and even though the setting was different, the vibe felt weirdly familiar. It reminded him of his first time meeting the Four Vagabond Knights at the Grand Brothel. Honestly, the energy here was just the same.
Jack Young, with his crane-like posture and tiger-dragon presence, drew stares as soon as he walked through the estate’s gates. But not all those looks were admiring—a few were downright provocative. "Hey, handsome, you’re something special, walking in here—did you take a cab or something?" A guy and a girl pointed at Jack, cracking up. "What a cheapskate!"
Cheapskate? Jack didn’t even bat an eye. Whether these brainless taunts were random or staged, they were nothing but dust to him. Suddenly, he looked up at the third floor of the villa; behind a dark, unlit window, someone was watching from behind the curtains. Darkness and drapes couldn’t hide her from his senses—he knew it was Qi Xi.
Still watching me?
Good.
"Ladies and gents!" Someone hopped onto the stage—a little bald guy with his cap on backwards, flashing a rock gesture with his left hand and gripping the mic with his right. "Do you know what tonight’s party is all about?"
"We know!" the whole crowd shouted.
"Do you know who’s picking up the tab for all this tonight?"
"We know!!"
"Do you know the name of the owner of this fancy villa, the host of this party?"
"We know!!!"
"Alright! Everybody cheer—let’s welcome our groom-to-be!"
With the little bald guy hyping up the crowd, everyone threw their hands in the air and chanted in rhythm: "Zhu Ming! Zhu Ming! Zhu Ming! Zhu Ming!"
Bang—a spotlight hit, and someone appeared on stage in a burst of screams. It was Zhu Ming, but he wasn’t in a suit and tie. Nope, he was rocking trendy streetwear, showing off some solid abs and pecs, which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Zhu Ming raised a hand, and everyone quieted down, ready for the sponsor’s opening speech.
"Everyone knows I’m getting married soon." Zhu Ming started off all serious, then shouted, "But—with my fiancée’s blessing—I’m throwing one last Single Party!" He was so hyped, the cheers were deafening. Honestly, nobody would’ve guessed his fiancée only found out about the party that afternoon.
"Tonight, there’s no fiancé, no fiancée, no managers, no department heads, no titles—just men and women!" Zhu Ming’s speech got everyone pumped. His eyes swept the crowd and landed, not so subtly, on Jack Young, full of challenge: "Money, power, status—all those extras can be stripped away tonight! Above all that is guts. Got guts or not, that’s what really counts!"
Zhu Ming curled a finger at everyone—including Jack Young, who he looked down on from the stage: "If you’ve got guts, come on—drink and party hard!"
"Awooo!!" The crowd roared as Zhu Ming lifted both arms like a maestro.
He snapped his left fingers, music kicked in, and the band launched into a fiery song. The bassist was a Black guy with an afro, the guitarist a bearded white dude, and the lead singer was all kinds of flamboyant. Together, they kicked off the party’s opening act.
He snapped his right fingers, and out came bottles of champagne. After a good shake, pop! The corks flew, and streams of bubbly shot into the crowd like fire hoses. Except these hoses didn’t put out fires—they started them, sparking waves of cheers and screams.
[SKIP]
The girls got soaked, their clothes instantly turning clingy and see-through. With wild cheers and howls, the party atmosphere went from zero to blazing in seconds.
Zhu Ming stared at Jack Young, lowering his voice with a hint of challenge: "There’s a lot on the program tonight."
So, what’s the real thrill of urban fantasy? It’s all about using superpowers to mess with the rich and powerful. In this round of hype, Jack Young was cast as the money-and-power villain, so as the righteous protagonist, you had to use your supernatural skills to take him down. Jack didn’t have the usual dumb-villain traits—no mindless spending, ugly mug, or trash talk. But whatever, Zhu Ming knew Jack would show up, and he’d get his shot. As long as he fought back, scored a win, and got applause, it was all good. This whole spectacle was for the world to see—just needed an audience.
Plus, it was for someone else watching, too—Cobra, who was definitely keeping tabs. Zhu Ming glanced around, subconsciously searching for those nearly invisible cameras. As a guy who’d switched sides, he felt the pressure. Cobra had to see he was worth more than just this.
At the coffee bar, Cobra watched the live stream on his screen. He zoomed in on Zhu Ming’s face, yawned, and muttered, "Got anything real to show me?"
"Come on, let’s get wild! Let’s see who’s the real king of the party tonight!" Zhu Ming leapt into the crowd like a rock dropped in a lake, officially kicking off the bash.
Watching Zhu Ming stir things up, Jack Young just gave a knowing smile. Party King—the title went to whoever was the flashiest, the coolest, the most eye-catching. But honestly, it didn’t mean much. Jack knew this was just Zhu Ming serving the ball.
Jack Young’s real goal was to win back his lover. Just like Zhu Ming, every move he made wasn’t just about this moment—it was all for that final prize. How do you get her back? Push and pull, that’s all it is. Last time, he clashed with Zhu Ming at the bidding, just to mess with his head, make him lose his cool and slip up. That was all about push.
And tonight, since Zhu Ming was talking big about stripping away all status and just seeing who’s got guts—well, that was his play to win one on pure skill. Whatever he wanted, Jack was there to block him. Showing off and crushing your opponent at the same time? Both push and pull—couldn’t ask for a better opportunity.
Besides, even without overthinking it, Jack Young just wasn’t feeling Zhu Ming tonight. Deep down, he had every reason to be annoyed—real, solid reasons. That kind of irritation made him willing to do stuff he normally wouldn’t.
You wanna be Party King? Ha, don’t make me laugh!
With the Four Vagabond Knights as my teachers, I’m no pushover when it comes to party battles!
"Bring me a drink!" Jack Young grabbed a bottle of Dom Pérignon, flashing a mischievous grin he’d picked up from his East Side buddies, and melted into the crowd.
What do people actually do at a Single Party? Honestly, it’s hard to say. Some places go nuts—hire a bunch of dancers, spike the drinks for a wild trip. But here in China, folks are way more chill. Nobody’s copying the wild foreign stuff, and since most people play by the rules, illegal activities are out. So, it’s all about the regular party games.
What counts as regular party games? Easy—whatever the fancy clubs and bars do, we’re doing it here. Get a bunch of rowdy young people together, don’t expect anything classy—it’s all about the booze, the music, and letting loose. If you can sing, dance, and drink, you’ll shine at this party.
After the band’s first song, Zhu Ming slid over to the keyboard. He stared down at the black and white keys, and suddenly, his perspective shifted in a way no one else could imagine. He’d never played before, never even touched a piano—but that didn’t matter. He was about to pick it up instantly.
"Nano Core—activate!" Zhu Ming triggered something in his mind, and inside his body, a subtle but crucial change kicked in. Confidence surging, he placed all ten fingers on the keys, commanding again: "Nano Core—neural assist!"
Buzz—a startup sound rang out. Zhu Ming’s fingers twitched, then flew across the keyboard, unleashing a torrent of notes that sent the crowd screaming. Zhu Ming grinned, oozing confidence. Nobody’s perfect, but with my Nano Core, I can be! I don’t need to learn—I can master anything, any skill, just like that!
Aside from money, what else have you got to challenge me with?
But just as Zhu Ming was feeling on top of the world and looking for Jack Young, a huge wave of awe swept through the crowd. He looked up, and there was Jack Young, electric guitar in hand, heading straight for the crowd. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a cascade of dazzling notes. Just a few steps in, and his cool, magnetic vibe was impossible to ignore.
You wanna battle me in music, Zhu Ming? Man, you’re the perfect sidekick.