Chapter 12: I Want to Become the King of Beauty

Chen Yufeng thought for a moment and realized that the Egg Queen actually had a point. His looks were hardly the kind to shock the heavens and move the gods to tears. Talent shows were always packed with handsome men and beautiful women. His own appearance was not particularly remarkable. It seemed he ought to wear a mask to hide his face for now. After all, the Divine Disk contained plenty of tools for enhancing one’s looks, even face-swapping if he wanted; becoming a super handsome man wouldn’t be too difficult. If the others saw him wearing a mask, they would probably assume he was hideous. Then, at the last possible moment, he could reveal a stunningly handsome face—wouldn’t that be thrilling?

He chuckled to himself. Still, if he took that path, it wouldn’t really be his own face anymore. Better to just do a mild beauty enhancement. After all, this was the face his parents had given him, the face he’d lived with for over a decade—how could he just swap it out so casually? A slight touch-up should make him quite handsome, and people would still recognize him. That was the best outcome.

Pleased with this idea, Chen Yufeng couldn’t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. As for backstage politics and hidden agendas, he couldn’t do anything about them now; there was no point in worrying until the time came.

Just as he was basking in his own thoughts, he was interrupted by He Xiaoying’s mocking voice from beside him:

“Not only do you lack connections, your silhouette is especially ugly too. You’d better hope I don’t see you, or I’ll send a thousand ‘ugly’ comments your way—ugly you to death, hehe.”

“Ugly your sister! Say that again if you dare!”

Chen Yufeng was getting angry. He prided himself on his good temper, but this was getting to be too much.

“You shameless jerk, now people can’t even point out how ugly you are? And you still dare to snap at me?”

He Xiaoying was indignant and immediately called for backup: “Brother Zijun, get him!”

“You looking for trouble, kid? Let me give you a taste of what’s coming!”

Zhao Zijun seemed more than willing to oblige. He glared at Chen Yufeng and looked ready to pull over and give him a beating.

But just then, Chen Yufeng gave in. “Fine, you win, you guys are amazing!”

“Hmph, at least you know your place.”

Zhao Zijun shot him a fierce look, and seeing that Chen Yufeng had quieted down, finally withdrew his fist.

“Hehe, chickened out, huh? Brother Zijun is so cool!”

He Xiaoying stuck her tongue out at Chen Yufeng, her face triumphant and smug.

Chen Yufeng reasoned that, first, he was riding in their car at the moment. Second, even if he spent three points for a burst of combat power and gave Zhao Zijun a beating, unless he could make it impressive enough to earn points, it would be a waste.

He only had seven points now; he needed to be frugal. If he spent a few, he’d have to earn even more to make it worthwhile. The most efficient method would still be to trade for a set of cultivation techniques and work on improving his own strength. Otherwise, having to spend points for combat power every time was a losing proposition—the strength wasn’t even his own. Only by improving his abilities through cultivation would his power be truly his to keep.

Bang!

A muffled thud sounded, and trouble struck.

While driving the BMW SUV on National Highway 318 near the Ninghai section, they had stopped at a nearby gas station to refuel. But just as they set off, their rear bumper was clipped by a Wuling Hongguang van.

Fortunately, the BMW didn’t jolt much, and the four passengers inside were startled but unharmed.

“Damn it, which blind fool did this?”

Zhao Zijun was furious. A BMW driver had his own pride. He immediately got out and went after the Wuling’s driver. “Are you blind? Do you even know how to drive?”

The Wuling’s driver was a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six, wearing glasses and dressed plainly, with a gentle, scholarly look. Faced with the BMW owner’s wrath, he hurriedly jumped out and apologized in a meek voice:

“Brother, I’m so sorry. How about this: there’s a small restaurant just down the road. Why don’t we park there and talk things over?”

“No need. Zijun, if there’s nothing serious, let’s just go.”

He Meixuan didn’t want to waste time.

Hearing her voice, Zhao Zijun barked a few more reprimands at the Wuling driver and prepared to leave.

But the driver wasn’t having it and pleaded, “Bro, you can’t just go! It’s my fault, but even if you pity me and don’t ask for compensation, I still have to treat you to a meal to apologize. Otherwise, I’ll feel terrible. The restaurant’s right there—it won’t delay you long, right?”

“Sister Meixuan, why don’t we give him a chance to make amends? I’m starving!”

He Meixuan seemed fond of the little beauty and relented, letting Zhao Zijun agree.

Chen Yufeng followed along as well.

The little girl, still sore from her earlier defeat, couldn’t resist taking another jab at him:

“Hey, you shameless jerk. Hitching a ride is bad enough, but now you’re mooching a meal too? You penny-pinching pauper, you’ll never get a girlfriend—destined to die alone, ha!”

“Where do you get the energy to talk so much nonsense, Egg Queen? Keep it up and I’ll smack your butt.”

The little beauty was working his nerves, his face darkening.

“Come on then, if you’ve got the guts! Coward, you wouldn’t dare, would you?”

He Xiaoying seemed to pay him no mind at all. As she spoke, she deliberately stuck out her pert little bottom, eyes full of challenge.

Chen Yufeng glanced at her petite rear and shook his head. “Too bad you don’t have a butt, or I’d definitely give it a good smack.”

“Are you blind? Didn’t you see this perfectly shaped bottom from every angle?”

“Really? Where? I don’t see anything.”

“You—! You—!”

Her pretty cheeks flushed bright red, but she quickly found a reason to save face. Glaring at him with big, watery eyes, she sneered, “You’re just scared, aren’t you? With Brother Zijun here, you wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me. That’s why you’re talking big.”

“If that’s what helps you sleep at night, go ahead.”

Chen Yufeng left it at that, not bothering to argue further, letting her fume to herself.

Soon, the man in glasses led them into the restaurant and straight to a private room on the third floor, apologizing and expressing his gratitude the whole way.

Zhao Zijun seemed to enjoy being treated with such deference. At least the man knew his place.

But once inside, they realized something was off about the room—there were no tables or chairs. Instead, a peal of wild laughter echoed through the air.

“Not good!”

By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late.

Clang!

The man in glasses slammed the door shut, and from the restroom emerged six or seven strapping, burly men.

Leading the group was a man with slicked-back hair, his scalp gleaming with pomade. The rest were all bald, their bodies tattooed with dragons and tigers.

Every one of them was broad-shouldered, thickset, and had a fierce look in his eyes, each wielding a large machete.

They all looked like hardened street thugs, the kind who’d lick blood from their blades.

“So easy to fool—turns out beauties really do leave their brains at home when they go out!”

The speaker was the boss, Jiang Tailong. He was burly and brutish, his face covered in fleshy creases. He wore a gaudy floral shirt, a gold chain around his neck, a gold watch on his wrist, a Vertu phone in his hand, and a Land Rover key dangling from his belt.

He looked every inch the mob boss—about the only thing missing was a sign on his chest reading, “I’m a gangster.”