The First Face

"Wait a minute," Lv Cheng quickly backed down, reaching out his right hand to stop her: "Let's talk nicely. Don't get angry just because we told the truth, Miss."

Xia Xuan looked at him in shock, unable to tell whether he was doing it on purpose or unintentionally.

The woman who was called "auntie" barely maintained her professionalism, nearly making an ugly expression.

In the end, she held it in and feigned some tears, sobbing softly: "Bro Hui, I don't mind suffering some grievances, but you see he completely looks down on you. How can I stand this?"

The beauty shedding tears added some fragile dependence, making the fat man called Bro Hui feel his ears going soft. He straightened his back.

"Help me teach that reckless brat a lesson, brothers. When we get back, let's have a big meal."

"Wait wait..."

"Don't bother with his nonsense. Just smash his phone and beat him up a couple times. Let's see if he still misbehaves?"

Seeing the two bodyguards about to take action, Lv Cheng whispered: "Xia Xuan, aren't you from the Xia family?"

Xia Xuan simply rolled her eyes. "What Xia family? Don't take those web novels so seriously. At best, my family has some money and two C-level Espers as bodyguards. I can't compare."

"Just fight if you want. I haven't experienced the gap between C-level and me. It's a good chance to learn."

Da Dao Tang's cat ears stood up as she started transforming her whole body. Her bones and muscles started morphing. Soon, her body was covered in light orange cat fur, and her head had become a cat's.

The transformed bones and muscles allowed her to easily move around on all fours, looking like a giant cat wearing human clothes.

Seeing the cat ear girl instantly turn into a cat monster gave Lv Cheng tremendous shock.

In a short time, he felt like he had a shadow cast over cat ear girls.

Yu Luo Fen Fen gently stroked the hairpin in her coiffure and gently said: "Tang Tang makes a good point. It's usually hard to get C-levels to spar with us. This is a perfect opportunity delivered to our door."

Hearing this, the two fat bodyguards snorted disdainfully. There was a huge gap between mid-level and low-level Espers.

This group of people was so inexperienced, it couldn't be explained away by just calling them youngsters. Their horizons were just too narrow.

With such narrow horizons, how would they recognize any prominent figure? They could beat these people unrestrained.

The fat man guffawed, his body fat jiggling: "Kid, you're more spineless than the little beauty. Sweetheart, forget him. Can his scrawny body satisfy you?"

Xia Xuan's face turned red again, but this time it was from anger rather than embarrassment.

She took up a battle stance, glaring at the two bodyguards. Her meaning was very clear that she wanted to fight.

Lv Cheng blankly looked on as a fight was about to break out. He scratched his head.

Three against one, whether he spoke up no longer mattered.

Since that was the case, then he could only...

"What are you guys doing? Taking so long?"

A figure slowly walked over, glancing at the fat man and his gang before nonchalantly looking away with the arrogance of one who stood above the common masses and cared not for irrelevant passersby. He turned to look at Lv Cheng and company instead.

Qi Yuan held some goggles in his hand, perfectly striking the right tone in atmosphere and temperament.

While others namedropped backgrounds, he namedropped his face.

Showing his face upfront, leaving the rest to the imagination of others.

Sure enough, the fat man turned pale with fright and hastily turned to slap the woman.

"Bro, I didn't know they were your men. Pardon my many offenses. I'll roll out right away."

The two bodyguards put away their scornful looks and respectfully retreated behind the fat man.

Qi Yuan said nothing. Although he knew the prominent Qi family's reputation had spread among those who knew him, he didn't expect it to have this kind of effect on strangers too.

Able to clearly hear the fat man's inner voice, Qi Yuan's mouth twitched.

You don't even know who I am, yet you're caving so quickly?

He didn't say anything, but cold sweat kept pouring from the anxious fat man whose mind raced even faster than anyone as he slapped his forehead.

"Memory fails me, little brother and lady friends. I was out of line just now with my offenses. Please pardon me."

Lv Cheng and company exchanged looks but kept their eyes down.

If they went any further, it would be hard to smoothly end things once the fat man's baseline was crossed. After all, face mattered to everyone.

Qi Yuan jerked his chin, signaling them to scram.

Having obtained permission, the fat man fled the scene. Although the two bodyguards still kept up an aura of masters, their retreating figures were equally shabby.

The woman in high heels, limping and stumbling, hurried to catch up. She didn't dare air any grievances.

Their conversation could still be vaguely heard from afar.

"Bro Hui, is this young master someone really big?"

"Can't you tell? With my many years of rampaging arrogantly in Qipan City, he must at least be from a prestigious family or clan, possibly even backed by a top-level Esper. You're really unlucky. Go, don't follow me."

Qi Yuan sank into contemplation. If his Esper powers really made everyone's imaginations about him come true, by now the Qi family would be ruling the globe with prospects of interstellar rule.

"Not bad, Bro Yuan. Thanks for coming clean to help a brother out. It's pretty stand-up of you."

Lv Cheng lightly punched Qi Yuan's shoulder.

"When we get back, I'll treat you to a meal. Just don't mind that the restaurant's standards aren't so high."

Qi Yuan glanced at him and solemnly shook his head. "No need."

He had come out to use a smurf account. Where could he find the face for a next time after his cover was blown?

The three girls also came up to express their thanks repeatedly.

The "revealing" of his "identity" made them not as relaxed as before. After hastily battling some mutated dogs, they ended that day's live combat adventure.

Now that they thought of Qi Yuan's far-reaching and prominent background, they would subconsciously protect him. They had the misconception that they were his underlings, greatly reducing their training efficiency.

On the way down the mountain, Lv Cheng rummaged through his pockets and yelled out.

"I think I dropped my keys. Probably when that fat guy pushed me."

Yu Luo Fen Fen looked at Qi Yuan before speaking up. "Let's go back and look."

The five of them returned to the previous spot and searched separately. Soon, Xia Xuan came out with the keys and forcefully slapped them into Lv Cheng's palm.

"Hold on tight, you mangy bird. Today's your unlucky day. Hurry back and update for some good luck."

Lv Cheng put away his keys but didn't forget to quip: "What does updating have to do with this?"

Updating was impossible. Only delays could bring happiness.

When they left the mountainous area, Lv Cheng's uncle gave him a look of "kid, you're useless".

But seeing the five youngsters' backs, he also felt that little Cheng had done well. Tiring the girl out with constant contrast to the handsome lad next to her, sooner or later she'd have eyes clear of delusions when comparing goods to goods. Best for her to leave early.

Completely unaware that his uncle had fabricated a whole romance triangle plot surrounding him, Xia Xuan, and Qi Yuan, Lv Cheng started chattering away the moment they were down the mountain.

"In novels, I'd be the chosen one. Heading up the mountain, there are classic cannon fodder provocations, plus three pretty girl teammates."

Qi Yuan gave him a death stare. He was pretending again.

Feeling Qi Yuan's gaze upon him, Lv Cheng then reacted that he had forgotten to give him a role and added:

"Yuan bro, just be a rich second generation sidekick. Not bad of me to not stick you with the role of the first cannon fodder, huh bud?"

Xia Xuan icily said: "what if I'm the female lead. You're definitely the cannon fodder."