C8 Meng Ruyan

"Security, security, are you blind? Didn't you see he's about to cut off our pinkies? Do something, or I'm filing a complaint!" Tang Wanli's voice cracked, panic evident in her tone.

"Relax, beautiful, I won't lay a finger on you. I'll just make sure they treat you right." Wang Yu's tongue flicked over his lips, his voice sinister, gnawing away at Tang Wanli's resolve.

Chen Zhixuan realized the grim truth: the security guards wouldn't lift a finger to help. Wang Yu wouldn't dare cause a scene at the Heavenly Night Club unless he had some serious clout.

"Young Master Wang, Young Master Wang, it's my fault—no, their fault. I'm not involved. Please, let me go, will you?" After a tense silence, Tang Wanli pleaded desperately with Wang Yu.

"Wanli, how could you?" Han Qiuran stared at Tang Wanli, dumbfounded. She was shocked by Tang Wanli's betrayal, never expecting her to utter such words.

"Qiuran, it's really your fault. You can't just hit people, can you? Besides, you're the one who hit him, not me. I don't want to lose a finger, I don't want to be their plaything," Tang Wanli rambled on, trying to reassure herself as she edged closer to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu grinned, then lightly tapped Tang Wanli's chin. "I like your type. Alright, I'll spare you today. But tonight, you're keeping me company."

With a forced smile, Tang Wanli scurried behind Wang Yu like a frightened quail, too scared to face Chen Zhixuan or the others again.

"Ding! A new day has begun. Host, you may now check in."

Suddenly, this announcement echoed in Chen Zhixuan's mind.

He glanced at the clock nearby; the hands had just swept past midnight. It was the early hours of a new day.

"System, I want to check in," Chen Zhixuan declared.

"Ding! Host, your check-in has commenced."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for a successful check-in!"

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on receiving the Eight Extreme Fist Grandmaster's legacy. Please accept it."

As the announcement ended, Chen Zhixuan felt an influx of memories pour into his mind. The techniques of the Eight Extreme Fist were etched deeply into his consciousness, and his body began to undergo subtle transformations.

"Eight Extreme Fist? Can it be real?" Chen Zhixuan was skeptical, but the surge of power within him dispelled any lingering doubts.

What young man doesn't harbor dreams of heroism? Chen Zhixuan was no exception. He had long admired the martial arts prowess of novel heroes and had scoured countless resources, even peppering Han Qiuran's love letter with phrases from those tales.

But reality had been unforgiving; his search was fruitless. He had amassed a wealth of material on the Eight Extreme Fist and the Eight Trigram Palm, yet upon close inspection, they paled in comparison to practical fighting styles, amounting to little more than flashy displays.

Now, however, his perspective had shifted. As the essence of the Eight Extreme Fist melded with his being, his understanding of the art deepened.

"Ten years of Taiji practice won't take you outside your door, but a year of Eight Extreme Fist could leave someone dead."

The brutality of the Eight Extreme Fist was beyond the grasp of the uninitiated. Chen Zhixuan now understood why the form had been reduced to mere routine—the lethality of the Eight Extreme Fist was simply too horrifying.

While Chen Zhixuan was assimilating the essence of the Eight Extreme Fist, Wang Yu was growing impatient. Clutching his knife, he said, "Still undecided? I truly don't wish to resort to violence. I detest seeing the agony on people's faces."

"Young Master Wang, enough," a voice floated in from outside, light and clear as the song of an oriole.

The bodyguards swiftly cleared a path, and a strikingly beautiful woman entered, flanked by a towering man over two meters tall.

The voice captured everyone's attention, Chen Zhixuan included.

Upon laying eyes on the woman, Chen Zhixuan marveled at her beauty, which defied description. She seemed as if she had stepped right out of a storybook, her aura as if descending from the celestial realms.

"Meng Ruyan, do you intend to get involved in this?" Wang Yu fixed his gaze on the woman before him, his tone edged with challenge.

"This is the Heavenly Night Club, Young Master Wang, not your family's estate. Even your father would have to respect our Miss's wishes here," the burly man at her side interjected, his booming voice filling the private room so that all could hear.

"I was being courteous, but now, attack!" Wang Yu scoffed, signaling to his bodyguards with a dismissive flick of his hand.

Before his guards could advance, Meng Ruyan's companion moved with lightning speed, suddenly standing before Wang Yu, a dark object pressed ominously against his temple.

"An expert," Chen Zhixuan acknowledged, his eyes betraying his astonishment at the burly man's swift action. As a seasoned fighter himself, he recognized true skill when he saw it.

"Young Master Wang, I'd advise against any sudden moves. You're well aware of what I'm holding. It would be a shame for Old Master Wang to mourn his son," the burly man said with a cold laugh, pushing the object against Wang Yu's head more firmly.

Wang Yu's eyes flickered with fear, his forehead beading with sweat. It's hard not to be terrified with a gun to your head.

"What are you trying to say, Meng Ruyan?" he managed to ask, his voice strained.

"It's time for you to leave, Young Master Wang," Meng Ruyan stated calmly, her red lips barely moving as she delivered the words.

At her cue, the burly man withdrew the gun, and Wang Yu exhaled in relief.

"I won't forget today's events, and I trust Miss Meng won't either," Wang Yu said with a cold huff, motioning for his entourage to follow him out.

"Hold on," Chen Zhixuan interjected as he rose to his feet.

"What can I do for you, sir?" Meng Ruyan inquired with measured poise.

"You've seen the state my friend is in. We came here as patrons, expecting to enjoy ourselves, not to be assaulted. Surely, there must be some accountability?" Chen Zhixuan's tone was light, but his gaze on Meng Ruyan was pointed.

"Sir, the Heavenly Night Club will fully compensate you for any inconvenience. I assure you of your satisfaction. However, I must ask that you refrain from causing a scene. If anything were to escalate, the responsibility would be yours alone," the burly man warned, his stance unyielding.

To Chen Zhixuan, it seemed Chen Zhixuan was nothing but a pushy opportunist, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation, yet brazen enough to make such a statement.

"Interesting, Miss Meng," Wang Yu paused, the hint of a smile returning to his face. "It's not a matter of unwillingness to let go on my part. Rather, I'm curious to hear what you propose."

"The terms are straightforward. You'll endure the same as my brother did. If not, perhaps you'd consider parting with one of your fingers?" Chen Zhixuan spoke calmly, an imposing aura emanating from him.