Lu Lingyi's expression was calm. "Sorry, I'm not used to drinking things from strangers."
"It's fine. If we talk a bit longer, we won't be strangers anymore."
The man kept his smile as he spoke, then turned his gaze toward Yang Cheng. "You're all disciples of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy, right? I have some connections there. If you ever need help, I might be able to assist."
"I'm not interested in whatever you're trying to do," Yang Cheng said flatly, "but don't do it in front of me."
The man's smile stiffened. He opened his mouth to reply—but then he felt it.
A suffocating wave of mental pressure surged from Yang Cheng.
It wasn't obvious or showy, but it was heavy, suffocating—and directed solely at him.
The man froze. A chill ran down his spine. He immediately realized that he had probably provoked someone terrifying.
He swallowed his anger and quickly backed away, slipping off without another word.
Lu Lingyi blinked, confused. She had no idea what had just happened.
"Yang Cheng," she said teasingly, "don't tell me you're jealous?"
Yang Cheng looked at her calmly. "Lu Lingyi, don't play these childish games in front of me. Otherwise, I'll toss you straight into the river."
His tone was serious—so serious that Lu Lingyi instinctively believed he actually would.
That realization made her furious.
'This bastard—what, is his heart made of iron? How could he talk to a delicate beauty like me in such a cold, heartless way?'
"This little brother sure knows how to act tough."
A broad-shouldered, rugged young man strode forward, his presence fierce and heavy.
"Brother Hu, Yang Cheng was just joking. No need to take it seriously," Lu Lingyi said quickly.
The relocation of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy hadn't just involved the academy itself—it had also brought along many martial artists from the Horn Constellation Realm.
This had been quietly approved by the Wasteland's guardians. On one hand, the Dao Academy could help raise the strength of the Wasteland's warriors; on the other, it allowed them to adapt early to the presence of cultivators from the higher heavens.
The burly man in front of them, named Hu Chen, was one of those warriors from the Horn Constellation Realm, and his family carried some influence.
"Lingyi, I'm just standing up for you," Hu Chen said with a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Before, every time I stood up for you, you were so grateful. But now that you've got yourself a big backer, it seems you don't care about old friends anymore."
Lu Lingyi frowned. "Brother Hu, what are you talking about? How could I ever think that way?"
"If that's true, then come with me to meet Brother Meng," Hu Chen said.
"I…"
Lu Lingyi hesitated. She wanted to refuse, to say she was busy.
But Hu Chen saw it coming and added pointedly, "Lingyi, you know, Brother Meng's elder brother is a lecturer in your Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy's Artifact Department. The 'big figure' you've attached yourself to is just a disciple, isn't he?"
"You mean Lecturer Meng Yu?" Dongfang Sheng interrupted in surprise.
"That's right."
Hu Chen's voice carried a note of pride.
At that, many of the people present changed expression.
Meng Yu wasn't just a lecturer—he also had great influence outside the academy.
In fact, this entire pleasure barge was one of his properties.
Lu Lingyi's face tightened. She realized she really couldn't afford to offend someone like that.
"Lingyi," Hu Chen said, his tone darkening, "I'm only asking you to meet Brother Meng. It's not like he's going to do anything to you. Do you really have to make it so difficult?"
Then, coldly, he added, "If that's how it is, maybe we don't need to be friends anymore."
From start to finish, he hadn't paid Yang Cheng any mind—aside from mocking him once at the beginning, he'd treated him as if he didn't exist.
Lu Lingyi bit her lip, her delicate face pale, torn between anger and helplessness.
Lu Lingyi was no naive little white rabbit.
Her background was poor, her talent only average.
Fortunately, she had a pretty face and some cunning, so she had managed to mingle among the sons of several powerful families, including Hu Chen.
By relying on those family connections, she gradually became one of the more famous beauties within the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy.
After that, her ambitions grew.
She began planning to distance herself from Hu Chen and the others, and eventually cut ties completely.
But clearly, things weren't that simple. Hu Chen and his group had no intention of letting her go so easily.
A cold sneer flickered in Hu Chen's eyes.
'This little girl really does have some tricks up her sleeve.'
He and his friends had all been used by Lu Lingyi.
But truth be told, they'd always known she was playing games—they'd just pretended not to notice because of her exceptional beauty.
After all, while there were plenty of women around them, one as striking and elegant as Lu Lingyi was rare.
So how could they possibly let such a woman slip away so easily?
"What a mood killer."
A calm voice suddenly broke the tension.
Everyone turned toward the sound in surprise.
Hu Chen narrowed his eyes. "Little brother, watch your mouth."
Yang Cheng replied coolly, "It's not every day I come out to relax, and yet someone won't stop buzzing in my ear. Isn't that enough to ruin anyone's mood?"
He hadn't released even a shred of spiritual pressure—just a casual glance—but somehow, Hu Chen still felt a faint weight pressing down on him.
"Friend," Hu Chen said through gritted teeth, "I'm backed by the Young Master of the Meng family. You'd better control that tongue of yours."
"I don't care who you're backed by," Yang Cheng said flatly. "Now leave."
Hu Chen let out a sharp laugh, anger flashing across his face. "Fine, fine, fine."
Lu Lingyi's expression changed dramatically. Offending the Meng brothers was no small matter.
Yan Qingzhi, Ma Ruoruo, and Wei Jia all went pale.
Yang Cheng hadn't expected it, but the usually unreliable Xu Letian suddenly stepped forward.
With a nervous smile, he hurried to smooth things over. "Young Master Hu, it's you! What a coincidence—seems like the flood's washed right into the Dragon King's temple. Yang Cheng's with me. If he offended you, please let me apologize on his behalf."
"Xu Letian?"
Hu Chen gave a cold laugh. "If he'd only insulted me, I might give you some face. But he dared to show disrespect toward Young Master Meng himself."
Xu Letian's heart skipped a beat. He quickly said, "This is definitely a misunderstanding! My brother here doesn't know who Young Master Meng is."
Young Master Meng was a notorious playboy, but the Meng family's power made him untouchable.
And behind him stood his older brother, Meng Yu—a formidable figure who, despite his youth, was already a lecturer at the Dao Academy.
"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not," Hu Chen sneered, "that's not for you or me to decide."
Hearing this, Xu Letian clenched his teeth. He pulled a brocade pouch from his robe and said, "Young Master Hu, there are five hundred top-grade spirit stones inside. Take it as me treating you to a meal. I only ask that you don't mention today's incident to Young Master Meng."
Hu Chen chuckled, eyes full of disdain. "Keep your spirit stones. You'll need them more than I do."
With a scoff, he turned and walked away.
Clearly, the five hundred top-grade spirit stones weren't nearly enough to cool his anger.
Once he left, Xu Letian's forced smile disappeared. His face darkened, and his mood soured instantly.
"Letian," Yan Qingzhi said softly, "don't be upset. You've already done more than enough for Yang Cheng. There's no need to offend people like Young Master Hu for him."
Ma Ruoruo and Wei Jia both looked at Yang Cheng with clear irritation, as though he were nothing but a walking disaster.
Even Lu Lingyi spoke coldly, "Yang Cheng, you shouldn't have provoked Hu Chen, and you definitely shouldn't have insulted the Meng brothers so carelessly."