"Good stuff!" Ian Song exclaimed, then immediately poured the remaining two Vital Essence Pills into his mouth.
After refining the energy, his true essence grew even stronger, reaching the peak of Innate First Layer—just one step away from advancing to Innate Second Layer.
............
By the time Gavin Lee and the others woke up, Ian Song had already left the Riverstone City Sub-Hall and was on a plane bound for Flame City.
"Uncle, where's that bastard Ian Song?" Gavin Lee and his two brothers hurried to Leon Lee's residence and asked urgently.
Hearing Gavin Lee's way of referring to Ian Song, a flash of hidden murderous intent appeared in Leon Lee's eyes as he scolded, "Useless trash! So many of you couldn't beat one person. Get out of my sight!"
"Uncle, are we just going to let that bastard go?" Gavin Lee said unwillingly.
"Pa! Pa! Pa!"
Leon Lee suddenly stood up and slapped Gavin Lee several times across the face, his arms swinging from side to side.
"Uncle, why are you hitting me?" Gavin Lee complained, clutching his cheek.
"Why? You useless trash have completely disgraced me, and you still ask why? Get back to training, now! Without my permission, don't take a single step out of the Riverstone City Sub-Hall. If you dare defy me, pack your things and crawl back to the clan!"
Seeing Leon Lee's fury, Gavin Lee and his brothers' faces changed drastically. Especially when they heard he might send them back to the clan, they panicked and quickly admitted their mistake before retreating.
The flight from Twin Rivers Airport to Taiping Mountain Airport in Flame City takes about two and a half hours.
Charles Zhao booked the tickets—they were first-class.
It was Ian Song's first time flying. At first, he was a bit excited, but once in the air, he suddenly felt uneasy. If the plane crashed, even an Innate master like him wouldn't survive.
This feeling of being out of control was really unpleasant.
Still, he was comforted by the fact that his seatmate was a stunning beauty—though she seemed aloof, putting on headphones and burying herself in a Western medicine book, not giving Ian any chance to strike up a conversation.
Meanwhile, Charles Zhao kept winking at him, signaling Ian to seize the chance and chat up the beauty.
Ian hadn't known Charles Zhao for long, but he soon realized the man wasn't as serious as he seemed. On the way to the airport, he kept bragging about his escapades with actresses and models, even promising to arrange for Ian to meet some stars in Flame City.
Ian knew Charles Zhao was deliberately trying to win him over, but he found the man's enthusiasm a bit overwhelming.
"Kid, let's switch seats."
At that moment, an arrogant voice sounded. Ian looked up to see a flamboyantly dressed young man with peach-blossom eyes staring at him, two burly bodyguards standing behind.
Ian glanced at him indifferently and ignored him. Switching seats was just an excuse; this flashy young man was clearly after the beautiful woman next to Ian.
"Hey, kid, are you deaf or something? I'm talking to you!" The flamboyant youth grew annoyed when Ian didn't respond, his voice rising in irritation.
The beautiful woman next to Ian was affected too, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, though she said nothing.
On the other side of the aisle, Charles Zhao watched with amusement. Since the flashy youth was just an ordinary rich kid, Charles simply sat back and enjoyed the show.
Ian still ignored the flashy youth and pressed the call button for the flight attendant.
Soon, a tall flight attendant approached and asked politely, "Sir, is there anything you need?"
Ian pointed at the flashy youth and said, "He's disturbing my rest. Could you please ask him to leave?"
"Sir, please return to your seat and don't disturb other passengers," the flight attendant said courteously to the flashy youth.
"Get lost, this has nothing to do with you!" the flamboyant young man snapped at the flight attendant.
Despite the young man's rudeness, the flight attendant kept smiling and said, "Sir, could you please cooperate with my work?"
"Cooperate my ass! Get lost!"
Seeing even a lowly flight attendant dare to argue with him, the rich kid grew furious and raised his hand to slap her.
The flight attendant was stunned, not expecting the young man to actually strike. As his hand was about to land, a hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing his wrist. Ian Song's cold voice rang out: "What are you, a mad dog? Get lost!"
With a slight push, Ian Song sent the young man staggering backward, only to be caught by his two burly bodyguards.
"You little bastard, beat him up! You two, teach him a lesson!" the rich kid roared.
The two bodyguards strode forward, swinging their fists at Ian Song's face!
"Helping a bully, are you? Get lost!"
Slap! Slap!
Two loud slaps rang out, and the burly bodyguards were sent flying by Ian Song's palm, crashing into the rich kid and collapsing in a heap.
Rain Xian, Ian's seatmate, couldn't help but gape in astonishment. He'd sent two men weighing over a hundred kilos flying with a single slap—his strength was unbelievable.
The flight attendant, saved from being slapped, gratefully said to Ian Song, "Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome."
Seeing both bodyguards sent flying, even the rich kid realized it was better not to mess with Ian Song. He glared at Ian venomously before slinking back to his seat.
"Hello, I'm Rain Xian. May I ask your name?"
Ian sat back down, only to find the beautiful woman beside him had taken off her headphones and closed her book, watching him with keen interest.
"Hello, I'm Ian Song. Nice to meet you, Miss Xian." Ian replied with a smile.
After a brief introduction, the two began chatting softly.
Through their conversation, Ian learned that Rain Xian was a graduate student at Kyoto Medical University.
Although she studied Western Medicine, Rain Xian had no prejudice against Eastern Medicine—in fact, she had researched it herself. Ian had been studying Eastern Medicine recently, so the two quickly found common ground.
Occasionally, Charles Zhao would glance over and quietly give Ian a thumbs-up.
When the plane landed, they exchanged phone numbers.
"Nice moves, Ian! So, are you interested? With all my years of experience, I can tell this girl is definitely untouched!" Charles Zhao joked ambiguously.
"Uncle, you've got it wrong. We were just talking about Eastern Medicine!" Ian explained, feeling helpless.
"Heh, when a man and a woman talk, it usually ends up in bed!" Charles Zhao laughed even more crudely.
"Uncle, show some respect for your age!" Ian grumbled.
Just then, three airport police officers approached, their expressions unfriendly. The lead officer sneered at Ian Song, "Kid, come with us. Someone's accused you of intentional injury!"