The scene fell silent in an instant...
Tian Liyuan instinctively reached out and touched the table, feeling over several holes, and then felt a handful of wood shavings.
Then he froze on the spot.
It wasn't just him; even Li Changyang was wide-eyed and gaping.
Lu Zheng kept smiling without saying a word, and Lin Wan also giggled as she picked up a skewer, nibbling on it, while enjoying the various shades of white, green, and red flashing across Tian Liyuan's face.
"Hah! What 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' what 'Special Forces King'—you guys have watched too many movies and novels!"
Because their table suddenly went silent, the conversations from several other tables became very clearly audible to them.
"When watching videos, look at the comments, and think for yourself. Don't just believe everything the video shows. No one's that foolish these days; some people analyze it thoroughly in the comments. That stuff is staged, a show!"
"The wild boar was tranquilized in advance, and then they staged a superhero drama to make money and cash in on clicks!"
"Have you even checked what the foreign masters look like? They're strong and muscular; these little figures obviously look fake in the videos."
"They just feed off nationalism, targeting fans who fantasize about Chinese Martial Arts all day long!"
"Stop getting excited over everything you see. Think more! Ask why these brain-taxing videos get you all fired up. Do some introspection."
A bespectacled gentleman who seemed a bit tipsy was talking loudly, pontificating about anything and everything.
Across from him sat two women, listening to his words in bemusement.
The people at the other two tables frowned as they listened but did not react.
"Shut up! Idiot! Reflect on this yourself!"
Tian Liyuan exploded, shouting angrily as he sprang to his feet and rushed over, slamming his palm down hard on the table in front of him.
With a loud crash, the plates, cups, and chopsticks on the table jumped.
Everyone in the shop was startled and looked over.
The bespectacled gentleman dared not breathe out loud, staring blankly at Tian Liyuan, not knowing what madness possessed the other.
"And you call that independent thinking? All you do is read comments and parrot others' opinions; don't delude yourself. With those glasses, all that reading has gone to the dogs?"
"What about me? Tranquilizers? How could they use tranquilizers? Bringing wild boars to the city would be illegal, tranquilizers or not! Don't assume everyone is as stupid as you!"
"What do you want to say? Let me tell you, no one could prepare tranquilizers in advance; no one's an immortal, let alone capable of following a herd of wild boars into the city!"
"Obviously, a pair of skilled masters who didn't want their identities exposed resolved a crisis! With so many passersby and all those video angles, it's clearly documented, yet all you see is staging, showing off, fakery, and scamming with IQ tax?"
Tian Liyuan pointed to his own head, "Use that brain stuffed with bias to think! Stop reacting to negative opinions like they've hit your G-spot!"
"And nationalistic feeding? The person who coined that term is a traitor. So it's okay for haters to make money, but the patriots can't? What kind of double standard is that? It's not your era of so-called public intellectuals creating chaos anymore!"
"Always think the foreign is real, while the local is fake. You bunch of defeatists obsessed with foreign things—you'll just watch as our country rises to reclaim its historical position, with no choice but to wail in despair!"
"Brother! Impressive!"
The BBQ restaurant erupted in applause.
Tian Liyuan waved to the crowd, "No, no, it's just something from the heart. Can't stand those traitorous 'guides' who bash their own country while eating. Okay, okay, everyone continue!"
Then he turned back and gave the bespectacled man a fierce glare.
The bespectacled man gulped, seeming to want to speak, but seeing Tian Liyuan's bulging biceps, ultimately didn't dare.
Tian Liyuan returned to their table, and his previous aura disappeared instantly.
He swallowed, cautiously glancing at Lu Zheng, and seeing Lu Zheng still smiling, he softly called, "Land God."
"Land God!" Li Fang chimed in immediately.
"Land God!" Liu Jingbo hurriedly added.
"Pfft—" Lin Wan couldn't help but laugh, "Couldn't tell, you're quite eloquent."
"No, no, just parroting what I learned recently, don't mind me!" Tian Liyuan replied quickly.
Lu Zheng's earlier display had proved the video was real.
Lin Wan is also a big shot!
Tian Liyuan looked at Li Changyang and found something he was better at.
Live long and see a lot!
Look at how respectful he was just now, while I—thinking I was surpassing Li Changyang—forgot my own name.
Dammit, serves me right to be embarrassed!
Luckily, this big shot seems to have a good temper? Doesn't matter, better play it safe!
"Land God, you're truly modest! Treating fame and fortune like passing clouds, considering profit and gain as dirt. If I had your skills, I'd be flaunting them everywhere, but you stay unfazed, keeping a low profile. You're amazing!" Tian Liyuan gave Lu Zheng a big thumbs up.
"Ah, yes, yes!" Li Fang nodded emphatically.
Then Tian Liyuan turned to Lin Wan with admiration, "You're also no less than any man. Lifting such a fierce wild boar as if nothing, you two are truly a perfect match made in heaven!"
"Absolutely!" Liu Jingbo immediately agreed.
Li Changyang: (||๐_๐)
Dammit, I hadn't even thought of how to say it, and the first spot of sycophancy for Land God is already claimed?
At checkout, Tian Liyuan insisted on paying, and his eager eyes made Lu Zheng and Lin Wan feel awkward declining.
Not to mention the puzzled shop owner cleaning up the table; the group, full and satisfied, strolled along the lakeshore. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on NovelHub(.)net
Li Changyang and the others turned out to be quite perceptive; the previous conversation had smoothed over the initial awkwardness, so they naturally wouldn't intrude on Lu Zheng and Lin Wan's private time. After extending an invitation to visit their martial arts club whenever they were free, they tactfully took their leave.
"I didn't expect you to display such stunning skill; it's almost like something out of a martial arts novel," Lin Wan said as she held Lu Zheng's hand while they walked. "Isn't it a bit too much?"
"There's no issue," Lu Zheng smiled, "At worst, I'll just tell the truth that I've practiced Inner Strength. Hasn't it existed since ancient times? Even now, many Chuan Wu masters claim to have practiced Inner Strength."
Lin Wan gave a wry smile, "But they aren't nearly as exaggerated as you."
"Really? But you'll soon be able to achieve the same," Lu Zheng grinned mischievously.
Lin Wan was already practicing the Seventeenth Technique, with her Blood Qi brimming, but not yet Circulating; if she managed to perform a full set of the Eighteen Mountain-Carrying Techniques, generating Blood Qi naturally, it would be a matter of course.
"Really?" Lin Wan's eyes filled with anticipation.
"As easy as flipping your hand." Lu Zheng nodded, "So, should we take on the title of the Return of the Condor Heroes?"
"Where's your condor?"