Menthol Cola

The veins on Hippo's neck bulged one by one, his heavy panting sounding like a battered bellows, and his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

That extremely suppressed anger was on the verge of erupting.

Right at that moment, a hand reached out from behind and pressed down on his shoulder, while another hand accurately clamped around his wrist.

The movement was clean and decisive, clearly not the first time this had happened.

"Don't do anything stupid," Zhao Dezhu's voice was kept very low, carrying an unquestionable calmness.

"Let go!" Hippo's arm suddenly surged with power, attempting to break free, but two other companions immediately stepped forward, joining forces to drag him backward.

These few guys had actually just come from their hometowns after the New Year to find work.

They had all previously worked on an assembly line in a factory.

Commonly known as entering the factory.

But assembly line work was nothing but tedious and torturous.

So the four of them packed their bags, bailed together, and rented a place near Fang Jun's home.

Right now, they were just a bunch of unemployed drifters.

Zhao Dezhu ignored Hippo, who was still wrestling behind him. A fawning smile instantly piled onto his face as he quickly walked over and bent down to pick up the plastic bag.

"Bro, I'm really sorry. My friend here just got out of the factory, and he's a bit simple-minded. He doesn't mean any harm, just wanted to make friends with you all."

He lifted the bag, keeping his posture very humble. "We're all just out here trying to make a living, we're bound to bump into each other sooner or later."

Such a tactful attitude was essentially giving Lin Mo an easy way out of the conflict.

But Lin Mo didn't take it. Instead, he said coldly, "You are the ones trying to make a living, not us. Besides, unless absolutely necessary, we won't be seeing each other again. Who knows if you'll even still be here next year."

Lin Mo didn't have any ill will toward working-class people; he just wanted to disgust these specific guys, which was why he said it on purpose.

Zhao Dezhu's face stiffened, but he maintained his smile and said, "You're right, you're right."

With that, he carried the bag and walked back.

At this moment, the only thought in his mind was that the tables would eventually turn.

The others took the opportunity to drag the still-struggling Hippo back with them.

"Drink something and cool off." Zhao Dezhu tossed the bag into Hippo's arms.

Hippo snatched a can of soda, popped the tab with a loud crack, tilted his head back, and chugged more than half of it. The ice-cold liquid slid down his throat, but it failed to extinguish the fire in his heart in the slightest.

His gaze was like a poisoned nail, fixed fiercely onto Lin Mo.

The matter with those girls was no longer important. Right now, he just wanted to rub this guy's face into the dirt and teach him a bloody lesson.

"Why the hell are you guys acting like cowards!" Hippo growled under his breath. "There's only two guys over there. I could cripple him with one hand!"

Zhao Dezhu immediately pacified him. "They're with the landlord. If you start a fight, are we supposed to sleep on the streets? The rent here is cheap enough as it is."

The moment rent and sleeping on the streets were mentioned, Hippo's arrogance instantly deflated by half.

He said no more, only squeezing the aluminum can in his hand until it crunched, before finally tossing it into the bag.

That nowhere-to-be-vented hostility completely transformed into a venomous glare, locked firmly onto Lin Mo.

Lin Mo felt the glare, but he didn't care. Even if these guys didn't come looking for trouble, he would go looking for them.

Having cultivated the Yellow Court Soul-Nourishing Scripture, Xie Yuling had become sensitive to people's gazes. She looked at Lin Mo and said softly, "Those guys harbor a lot of malice."

"It's fine."

Lin Mo finally lifted his head, glanced over there, and a playful smirk curled the corner of his lips. "Just a few brainless flies, that's all."

He really didn't mind. An Yuexin, who was standing to the side, also looked at those guys and let out a cold sneer.

"These guys wouldn't even be enough to pick Lord Mo's teeth."

"You're treating me like Hannibal now, huh."

Lin Mo spread his hands helplessly.

After this round of the competition ended, Fang Jun finally showed up.

He walked over carrying a heavy plastic bag. The glass bottles inside clinked against each other, making crisp sounds.

"Come, come, grab a drink. I even got the glass bottle version of Sarsi."

Nowadays, the original glass-bottled Sarsi was indeed becoming increasingly rare.

Hearing the word Sarsi, An Yuexin's eyes lit up. He dashed over in a single stride and fished a bottle out of the bag, its surface ice-cold to the touch.

"Ah, it's a glass bottle. We don't have a bottle opener."

"I'll do it."

Lin Mo spoke casually, taking the bottle of Sarsi from An Yuexin's hand.

He didn't even really look at it. Hooking his index finger under the cap, he casually flicked his wrist upward.

"Pop!"

"Here, drink up."

With a crisp pop, the bottle cap instantly flew off, tracing a beautiful arc in the air before landing perfectly on the back of Lin Mo's hand.

The entire motion was as smooth as flowing water, so fast it was a blur.

An Yuexin gave a thumbs up. "Badass!"

Lin Mo handed the bottle back to him, didn't say anything, and just smiled.

At this moment, Jiang Yunlu curiously leaned over and took a look at the dark brown liquid. "What kind of cola is this? I've never seen it before."

Fang Jun's inner drama king instantly took over, and he spoke in an extremely exaggerated tone, "No way, young lady! You actually don't know about Yangcheng's most famous immortal water? Known in the streets as drinkable medicated oil—the Sarsi that makes you question your life on the first sip, but leaves you addicted by the third!"

Before he even finished speaking, Xie Yuling had silently grabbed a bottle and handed it to Lin Mo.

"Open it for me."

Her tone was matter-of-fact, as if this was just the most ordinary, unspoken understanding between them.

Lin Mo gave Xie Yuling a deep look. The girl's spiritual power was actually strong enough to open it herself now, yet she insisted on making him do it.

Nevertheless, he took the glass bottle, easily flicked the cap off again, and handed it back.

Initially, upon hearing the words medicated oil, Jiang Yunlu's face had scrunched up, instinctively wanting to back away.

But seeing Xie Yuling preparing to drink it without batting an eye, a streak of competitiveness welled up from the bottom of her heart.

Gritting her teeth, she also took a bottle from the bag.

Chu Miaomiao, who was standing nearby, had never drank Sarsi either. Seeing this, she curiously grabbed a bottle as well, intending to experience this legendary taste for herself.

Xie Yuling inserted a straw, casually took a big gulp, and let out a satisfied burp.

"When I was a kid, this was the only thing I was allowed to drink freely. My mom said that at least it's an herbal tea and can clear inner heat," she sighed, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes.

Xie Yuling let out a sigh.

Even Fang Jun nodded in agreement.

Fang Jun nodded, deeply relating to her words. "Exactly! It's cheap, and when you've got inner heat, chugging a bottle of this is better than taking medicine. Once you get used to that flavor, it's actually pretty addicting."

Listening to their conversation, Jiang Yunlu mustered up her courage, carefully brought the bottle to her lips, and took a tiny sip.

The next second, that indescribable, peculiar aroma—a mix of medicated oil and sweetness—shot from the tip of her tongue straight up to the top of her skull like a bolt of electricity.

"Ah!" She shuddered violently and clutched her head, feeling as though her entire brain had been pierced by the flavor. "What... what is this taste!"

"If you can't drink it, then don't. When we were kids, we all thought the first sip tasted really weird too."

Lin Mo looked at her expression, which seemed as if she had just been struck by lightning, and could not help but laugh out loud. He reached out to take the bottle from her hand.

But the moment his hand touched the bottle, Jiang Yunlu gripped it fiercely like a little animal guarding its food, refusing to let him take it away.

She raised her head, a hint of stubbornness and defiance in her eyes.

"No, let me try again!"