A sense of panic and unfamiliarity suddenly surged through Wei Xi's heart. She realized she had never truly understood Chen Pingchuan.

Her knowledge of him had been limited to the formidable strength he displayed during their physical encounters. She had always lacked a fundamental understanding of the character traits hidden deep within his soul. Based on his actions today, Chen Pingchuan was definitely not the type to silently endure bullying and allow himself to be preyed upon. His methods of retaliation were far more ruthless than anyone could have imagined.

Perhaps his meticulous care and concern over the past few days had blinded her, making her forget the harrowing scene of their first encounter. While his transformation back then was partly influenced by his family's curse, certain aspects of his own character had undeniably fanned the flames.

Dominant, ruthless, cruel, and heartless...

Just by standing beside him, Wei Xi could feel the oppressive force emanating from his words.

As for those he had cursed, starting in a few days, they would be mercilessly assailed by nightmares every moment of every day, the instant they fell asleep. The kind of terror that could pierce the depths of one's heart and freeze the very soul was horrifying to even imagine. It was like an endless, dark abyss, its gaping maw poised to devour everything whole.

As she considered the consequences, Wei Xi suddenly realized that not only she, but perhaps even the bar's owner, would be implicated by what was coming for those people. Uncertain, she turned to Chen Pingchuan.

"Should I tell Sister Shuangshuang?"

"That's up to you," he replied. "Honestly, I made it clear on my first day. I only mix drinks; she handles the trouble."

"But as you just saw, there was trouble she didn't handle. Or rather, she was unwilling to pay the price to do so. As the party who breached our agreement, she should logically face the consequences."

Chen Pingchuan felt the arms around him tighten slightly. A faint smile touched his lips as he let out a soft chuckle, then he gently raised his hand and stroked her head.

"Relax. Since you're here, I won't hold it against her. I'm leaving the decision in your hands." His voice was low and soothing. "After those nobles' children have been tormented for a while, they'll undoubtedly look for the source of their problems. They might even trace it back to the bar. After all, a widespread curse affecting only those who drank the same type of cocktail is far too much of a coincidence."

"Which means you get to decide her fate right now."

"I don't want Sister Shuangshuang to get hurt! I'll go tell her to leave right away." Frantic with worry, Wei Xi turned to go as soon as the words left her mouth.

However, before she could take a single step, a powerful force gripped her arm, yanking her back. Worry flickered in Wei Xi's eyes. She was afraid he had suddenly changed his mind and decided not to spare Sister Shuangshuang after all.

Before she could speak, Chen Pingchuan said in a low voice, "Careful. Something's not right."

The words had barely left his lips when numerous troop transports suddenly swarmed their position, appearing from all sides. The vehicles were well-equipped and bristling with firepower, including various rocket launchers, machine guns, and even electromagnetic cannons—weaponry typically reserved for small-scale skirmishes. In an instant, they were completely surrounded by a large contingent of soldiers.

Chen Pingchuan didn't make a move. His deep eyes scanned the surroundings like lightning as his mind raced.

Even with their numbers and heavy armament, I have a high chance of breaking through if I go all out. I can rely on my unique skills, like Sleight of Hand and Bloody Plunder. But it's not just about my own escape. Wei Xi is here, and I have to protect her at all costs.

"HEH HEH HEH... Surprised? Didn't see this coming, did you?"

A familiar female voice drifted leisurely into the ears of the surrounded pair.

Chen Pingchuan's expression instantly turned as grim as stone. Relying on his superhuman physique and high Spirit attribute, he clearly identified the speaker: the mayor's third daughter, the very same young woman who had just tried to extort him.

This was a development he had not anticipated at all.

Even if Dream City's side effect—the nightmare invasions—took hold, it should have taken at least a few days to manifest. Besides, our last encounter was a one-sided extortion attempt. Why would she come back for me so quickly? Unless... A flash of insight struck him. He'd done something incredibly stupid without realizing it.

Sure enough, her next words confirmed his suspicion.

"Hey, handsome," she chirped. "You're the one who told me that story, remember? The one about the hardworking bartender who gets captured by evil nobles and forced to mix drinks just for them."

Xu Lingyin's tone dripped with mockery. She stood a short distance away, her elegant face radiating smug satisfaction, like a sly cat toying with its captured prey.

"HAHAHA! Very good, very good! Such a clever, eager student. You learn so fast, don't you?" Chen Pingchuan let out three loud laughs, his body remaining as still and straight as a pine tree. He raised his voice and called out to Xu Lingyin.

"How about this? I'll go with you.

"I'm willing to be your personal bartender, but you have to let her go. This has nothing to do with her.

"All you need is a tool that can mix drinks. It doesn't matter if that tool has feelings, right?

"So, what do you say? Agree to my condition, and I'll do as you command.

"Otherwise, even if you kill me, I will never mix a single drop for you."

His words were forceful, leaving no room for negotiation. This caused the victorious expression on Xu Lingyin's face to falter, her complexion growing pale and sullen. She struggled to determine whether he was bluffing.

After returning to her transport, she had been unable to calm her racing heart. Previously, she had dismissed the stories about the magical cocktails as mere rumors. How could a single drink allow someone to so vividly experience the wonders of different worlds? In her experience, such a thing was pure fantasy—utterly impossible. However, after personally tasting two different cocktails, the intense shock that originated from the depths of her soul had completely overwhelmed her, like a surging tide. Even now, the aftereffects lingered, leaving her both shaken and captivated.

And so, as she recalled the story Chen Pingchuan had told her, a thought had suddenly sparked in her mind. Why not just capture him? That way, I'd have my own personal cocktail-making machine! If I can get the secret recipe from him, it would be an incredible asset. It could be a powerful tool in political games or a gold mine for commercial exploitation. The possibilities are huge! In just a few years, my family could rise meteorically and join the ranks of the most prominent noble houses in the Southern League.

And that was what had led to the current scene: surrounding Chen Pingchuan.

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