C15 Please Speak! Please Speak!!

I couldn't believe there was such a bizarre technique!

Jiang Shi had been familiar with handshaking as a form of greeting since childhood, but never had he heard of a handshake that could render someone senseless and disable a hand.

Yet, he had no choice but to believe it, as the unbelievable was actually happening to him!

This can't be happening! Jiang Shi sneered to himself.

Then, his index finger went numb.

How is this possible? Maybe he accidentally hit a nerve?

His middle finger went numb as well.

Could this be some kind of curse?

Next, his ring finger lost feeling.

It must be the blood circulation; it's not flowing properly! That's why I'm losing sensation. He's just trying to scare me! A lack of blood flow causing numbness wouldn't lead to permanent damage!

Jiang Shi raged internally.

His little finger...

"Go on, tell me!" But he couldn't risk it.

What if his fingers were permanently damaged? Wouldn't he be at a loss for words? It seemed impossible, but today, this kid had been full of surprises. What was truly impossible for him?

Memorizing text in two seconds, challenging Zhao Qi, and having a vice-like grip on his own hand – nothing seemed out of reach for him.

The onlookers were stunned. What in the world was happening?

Was this another turnaround? Were they putting on some kind of act? Moments ago, they were at each other's throats, and now they were shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries. This had to be some sort of joke!

A few clever spectators scanned the area, hoping to spot someone filming a prank video. The internet was flooded with such content for cheap laughs. But to their disappointment, there was no one recording.

"Right, that's more like it. You fabricated a story, provoked Yuyu first, and then me. Don't you think you owe us an apology and a promise?" Ye Rong slightly loosened his grip, allowing Jiang Shi's pinky to regain some sensation and preventing the numbness from spreading further, all while smiling at him.

Yuyu? You two are at that stage and still refer to each other as classmates? Shameless lovers! I'm also a classmate of Zhang Yumeng's. Why don't I get the same treatment? Jiang Shi was filled with resentment and frustration.

"Right, I'm sorry. I promise I won't bother you again," Jiang Shi said, bowing to Zhang Yumeng.

"My apologies, Brother Ye. I assure you I won't provoke you again, nor will I pester your lady," Jiang Shi said, bowing to Ye Rong.

"Hmm, good. I can sense your sincerity," Ye Rong signaled to Zhang Yumeng with a glance, showing he had successfully taken care of her problem. Yet, for some reason, Zhang Yumeng blushed and looked down.

"Now, we need to discuss our own issue," Ye Rong whispered in his ear. "Tell me, why am I having trouble staying here? It's not just the duel in two days. Who else is out to get me?"

Jiang Shi silently cursed, never expecting to encounter such a formidable adversary today. But since others were after Ye Rong, what harm could telling him do? Jiang Shi cautiously offered an explanation to Ye Rong.

"Hmm..." Ye Rong nodded, "Good job."

"Bang!"

"Snap!"

A punch, a point.

"Ahh...!" Jiang Shi crumpled to the ground, eyes bulging, forehead beaded with sweat, struggling to catch his breath.

"Consider this a lesson. If you harass Yuyu again, bully her, or cause me trouble... well, you've studied math, right?"

"Take this pain, multiply it by a hundred, and I'll show you agony that's beyond the pain of childbirth."

Ye Rong settled back into his seat, picked up a book, and casually turned a page before peeking over the top at Zhang Yumeng.

Zhang Yumeng still seemed shell-shocked.

Ye Rong glanced back at the book, where an eye seemed to emerge from the page.

[Is she going to back out of the deal? Even though she's a woman and I've extracted some information, it's not like I helped her for nothing, but... Ah, let it go. It's just a meal.]

Ye Rong felt a pang of regret but continued reading.

Then, for the third time, an eye popped out from the page, "About... the meal I was supposed to treat you to earlier, does that still... does that still stand?" He felt slighted for not receiving anything in return, especially since... his pockets were truly empty.

"Ah? ...Hmm? ...Okay, okay." Zhang Yumeng regained her composure, sensing something different about Ye Rong today.

Yet, she didn't dislike this new sensation.

At a restaurant just outside the school gates, they sat down to a bowl of beef noodles.

"I... I can't afford a fancy restaurant, so we're here. You don't mind, do you?"

Ye Rong shook his head. "Not at all. The noodles here are actually quite good."

They didn't offer the variety that Lin Baobao had treated him to, but given his limited appetite and empty wallet, he was grateful for the meal.

The server's ears twitched as he shot Ye Rong a look of contempt. Damn, making a woman pay for a meal! What a lowlife! How could such a nice girl end up with a bad guy like that? Sigh, they'll only appreciate a decent guy after they're done with the bad ones.

She's so beautiful. When will she tire of the game? I can hardly wait.

"I like it here too. I come often. My stomach's sensitive, and I get uncomfortable if the food isn't clean, but I've never had an issue here," Zhang Yumeng said, picking up her chopsticks and eating daintily.

Ye Rong ate heartily. The original Ye Rong might have struggled with such a pace, but now, with a powerful soul controlling his body, he could eat quickly, converting food into energy more efficiently and giving his soul a chance to rest.

"Your internal circulation is decent, but it's somewhat sensitive and fragile, which leads to a low conversion rate. I could help you improve that when we have some time."

"Really? You know medical techniques?" Zhang Yumeng's eyes sparkled with surprise.

"I know a bit," Ye Rong replied modestly. Medicine was about healing the body, after all. Though he wasn't familiar with the medical practices here, in the Cultivation World, people could regrow limbs and knew various healing techniques.

"We can talk more after we finish eating. Take your time, no need to rush," Zhang Yumeng chuckled, watching him eat and talk simultaneously.

"Do you have enough? I've got more if you need it."

Ye Rong was not one to turn down a meal, especially when he had expended enough energy to justify consuming a bowl and a half.

"You're actually stealing your girlfriend's food? That's pretty low!" lamented the waiter as he served the food, sympathizing with Zhang Yumeng's plight.

After their meal, at the restaurant's entrance, Ye Rong gave Zhang Yumeng a wave. "You go on ahead. I've still got things to take care of."

"Be careful out there... and come back soon." If Jiang Shi wasn't just spouting nonsense, there was a Boss Gao outside the school waiting to settle scores with him.

"Don't worry about me. I'm all good. I've just eaten; even if someone's after me, I can run back here." Ye Rong patted his belly, brimming with confidence, not at all resembling someone who was in a tight spot.

Zhang Yumeng couldn't suppress a giggle at the sight of him.

She brushed her hair from her forehead and glanced down, biting her lip. She wasn't sure what had prompted her laughter.

It was as if Ye Rong's hearty appetite and his buoyant demeanor were infectious.

"Do you have a phone number?"

"What's that?"

"How about WhatsApp?"

"WeChat?"

Ye Rong shook his head, puzzled. After a quick search through his memories, he realized these were all technological innovations from this world.

"It figures... If you're struggling for a meal, how could you possibly own a phone?" Zhang Yumeng muttered, her voice tinged with a hint of bitterness.

She stepped closer to Ye Rong and tugged at his shirt.

Ye Rong's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at her. Such a simple gesture, yet it stirred an odd sensation within him, his heart rate accelerating uncontrollably.

"Give it your all! You have to come out on top!"

With that, Zhang Yumeng slipped something into his pocket and took off running.

Watching her retreating figure, Ye Rong blinked and pulled out the object from his pocket, examining it.

"Is this the currency of this world?"

It was a modest sum, two or three hundred in loose bills.

"An imposed obligation?" Ye Rong exclaimed in astonishment.

The memory of Zhang Yumeng's recent actions and expressions replayed in his mind.

"No, I mustn't dwell on it. It's like a toxin!" Ye Rong shook his head vigorously. The allure of a woman was often silent yet palpable, and he had no intention of being ensnared.

However, the thought lingered, impossible to shake. He truly needed the money and was indeed holding onto someone else's cash. Bound by obligation, he found it difficult to reconcile his conscience with the idea of dismissing them so casually.

"Since it won't leave my mind, I might as well shift my focus for now!" Ye Rong turned and stretched, loosening his limbs.

"Are you guys with Gao Wanteng?"

Chapter 12 - The Secrets of the Realm