The bartender's expression changed drastically. "Are you sure you want these drinks?" she asked seriously, her voice tinged with surprise.
"Yes," Ling Yun said calmly.
The glamorous and alluring bar girl arched her back, her two ample breasts appearing swollen and round beneath her deep purple uniform, creating a visually striking effect that ignited primal desires in men. She narrowed her eyes, which were painted with deep purple smoky makeup, staring intently at Ling Yun, as if trying to find something amiss on his face. Having spent years in bars and seen all sorts of people, she had developed an exceptionally keen ability to read people. Even the most cunning and calculating person would show a slight unease under her gaze.
But the bar girl was disappointed. This seemingly honest and ordinary boy was like a block of wood; his face showed neither a smile nor any unnaturalness, his expression as calm as a deep, unfathomable lake, his eyes reflecting a silence that encompassed the entire world. The bar girl realized that she couldn't see through this ordinary boy at all, but her keen intuition, honed over many years, told her that this boy was anything but simple.
Four burly men who had just humiliated the drunken youth walked to the counter and stood to Ling Yun's left, right, and behind him. The leader of the four burly men gently removed his round gray hat, revealing a shiny bald head. A huge, chilling scar stretched from his forehead to the back of his head, giving the illusion that his head had been split open and then stitched back together, adding a huge sense of ferocity.
The bald, burly man glanced at Ling Yun casually, his burning gaze undisguisedly fixed on the bar girl's ample bosom: "Hey girl, give us eight glasses of vodka, and quick."
The bartender glanced at the bald, burly man and his companions, then suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, "Gentlemen, I'm so sorry, I need to get this young man some drinks now. Could you please wait a moment?"
The bald, burly man's gaze turned cold: "I don't have the habit of waiting for others. You can take his wine later, bring ours first." He didn't even glance at Ling Yun, clearly indicating that this ordinary young man was insignificant in his eyes.
The bartender feigned a troubled expression: "Sir, you see, our Nightfall Bar always puts the needs of our customers first. Each and every one of you is our God. We will never refuse a customer's request. However, this young gentleman ordered his drinks first. If I serve them to you first, I'm afraid he might complain." As she spoke, she glanced at Ling Yun with a troubled look.
Her words seemed perfectly reasonable, but in reality, they were directing all the blame at Ling Yun. The burly men immediately focused their attention on Ling Yun. Anyone else would have felt uneasy being stared at by such menacing-looking figures. But Ling Yun remained motionless, expressionless, like a wooden statue, not even glancing at the men, as if he were frozen in fear.
The bald, burly man looked at Ling Yun, not even bothering with basic pleasantries: "Kid, let her get us the wine first, any objections?"
Most of the people in the bar noticed the tense scene at the counter. Many sipped their drinks, watching with interest how Ling Yun would handle the situation. The alcohol in their blood accelerated the release of violent impulses, making them even more eager for a spectacle. The drunken youth, who had just been humiliated by the burly men, looked at Ling Yun as if he were on steroids. The frustration of not being able to personally humiliate the boy seemed to be completely released now. It was as if the burly men were his own alter egos, ready to give Ling Yun a good beating.
It has to be said that human psychology is so strange. When one suffers humiliation, one immediately feels balanced or even elated when one sees others suffering the same humiliation.
Ling Yun seemed to only then notice the bald, burly man. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Of course I have a problem with that. I was here first, so why should I get you drinks first? Who do you think you are?"
Although his voice wasn't loud, it carried throughout the bar, and even the waiters weaving between the tables could hear it clearly.
His words shocked everyone present. Most of the people in the bar, including several burly men and bar girls, could hardly believe their ears. Almost everyone thought the young man would quietly back down, but the sudden and dramatic change left everyone momentarily stunned.
Such an ordinary young man, yet with such arrogant words! And he was facing four burly men who were clearly not good people. If it weren't for Ling Yun's calm expression, everyone would have thought he had lost his mind. The drunken youth stared blankly at Ling Yun, racking his brains but unable to understand why this young man had such courage.
The bald, burly man chuckled dismissively. It had been a long time since he'd encountered someone so interesting, especially a seemingly young boy. Youth often implies drive and the fearlessness of ignorance, or the unafraidness of a newborn calf. This is generally a virtue, but in violent conflict, youth often means folly and premature death.
The bald, burly man decided to teach Ling Yun a lesson, because often, there's no "why" to be told in this world.
"Kid, you've got guts, but courage has to be matched with strength to be considered brave. Otherwise, it's just stupidity. If you hadn't let us go first, we would have beaten you up. You saw it yourself, there are four of us and only one of you. Don't you feel like you're at a disadvantage? Or are you already scared and just putting on a brave face?" the bald, burly man said leisurely, seemingly quite proud of his philosophical words.
Ling Yun glanced at the big man and said, "Brother, I don't have time to waste with you. Besides, I'm not here to cause trouble. If you want to drink, that's fine, as long as you can outdrink me. You can pick whatever you want, and all four of you can come at me together."
The bald, burly man was taken aback: "You want to have a drinking contest with us?"
The bar erupted in cheers as people cheered, and a group of people chanted rhythmically, "Fight it! Fight it! Fight it!" Most of the others joined in the commotion.
Ling Yun smiled slightly: "Is it not okay? Or is it that you can't afford the cost of this drink, and you'll have to pay for all the expenses if you lose?"
The bald, burly man stroked his smooth chin. His intention was to scare Ling Yun away, since they were in a legitimate bar, and resorting to violence would be unwise. People who could run a bar here were either powerful figures with deep connections or influence in both the legitimate and underworld circles. Unless they were sworn enemies, they wouldn't easily cause trouble, especially since the bar's security guards were all heavily armed and authorized to carry civilian hunting rifles. Unexpectedly, this thin young man suddenly suggested a drinking contest. The bald man thought for a moment, a smile creeping onto his lips. This was indeed a good choice.
"Okay, ten glasses of vodka, please." The bald, burly man snapped his fingers at the bar girl.
Chapter Forty-Seven: The Underground Hall
The bartender smiled mysteriously, her anticipation for Ling Yun growing even stronger. She turned and opened the refrigerated liquor cabinet behind the bar, taking out two bottles of chilled vodka. She then took out ten stemmed glasses from the lower cabinet, arranging them in two rows on the bar. Next, she opened one of the vodka bottles and filled all ten glasses with the liquor.
The bald, burly man didn't move, but simply beckoned to a bearded man behind Ling Yun: "Ah San, come and have a drink."
The burly man with the thick beard had his eyes gleaming with excitement when he saw the vodka on the bar. As soon as the bald man finished speaking, he strode over, grabbed a wine glass, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp. With a crisp bang, he placed it on the Zitian spiral marble bar: "Good wine!"
This tall glass, containing at least three ounces of vodka—nearly 60 proof—was downed in one gulp by the burly man without batting an eye. A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted in the bar.
Ah San looked at Ling Yun smugly, stretching out his large, fan-like hand, as if to say, "It's your turn to drink."
Ling Yun glanced at the Indian man without making a sound, then suddenly reached out and grabbed another unopened bottle of vodka. He flicked the cap with his thumb, and the cork, which required a professional bottle opener, popped high into the air with a "pop." A burst of boiling carbon dioxide gas emerged from the bottle opening, indicating that it was a high-quality, pure, colorless spirit.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Ling Yun slowly put the bottle neck to his mouth. The entire bottle, nearly two kilograms of vodka, disappeared rapidly in the dark green, transparent bottle at a speed visible to the naked eye. Ling Yun didn't make a sound of swallowing, nor did his abdomen rise and fall. It was as if he was just smelling the aroma of the liquor. His expression remained calm and unchanged.
Aside from the still-powerful rock music, all other sounds in the bar fell silent. Everyone stared at Ling Yun in disbelief, a single thought swirling in their minds: was this young man a human or a drunkard?
Vodka, with an alcohol content approaching 60%, is renowned for its strong, pungent, and fiery flavor. For the average person, just a sip is enough to leave a lingering aftertaste that takes a considerable amount of time to subside. Even seasoned drinkers take over ten minutes to finish a single glass. The fact that someone like the Indian man can down three ounces of vodka in one gulp without batting an eye is considered an extremely rare feat, unmatched by most.
As for Ling Yun, he simply cannot be called human...
After the vodka had completely disappeared into Ling Yun's mouth, the boy removed the empty, emerald-green bottle from his lips. The bottle hung down, its mouth drooping, and not a single drop of liquid flowed from it.
"Want to continue?" Ling Yun said softly, casually placing the empty wine bottle on the bar.
The bald, burly man stared intently at Ling Yun, as if trying to see a flower bloom on his face. His fist clenched and unclenched repeatedly. After a long while, he finally said, his face ashen, "We can't outdrink you. You win."
"Thank you for paying for my drinks," Ling Yun said politely. Completely ignoring the murderous glares from the burly men, he turned to the bartender and said calmly, "Did I pass my test, ma'am?"
The bartender, who had been looking down as if lost in thought, raised her head after hearing Ling Yun's question. She smiled slightly and said, "Young man, you are indeed capable. I admire you. Come with me." With that, she called over a waiter to watch the counter and led Ling Yun toward the stairwell, where there was a hidden door that ordinary customers were not allowed to enter unless they were staff members of the bar.
A burly man stared at Ling Yun's back, his face grim, and was about to reach into his coat. But the bald man immediately slapped him hard on the shoulder, and another strong hand pressed down on his hand, which was already halfway inside his coat, and pulled it out.
The burly man stared in astonishment at the bald man: "Why are you stopping me?"
The bald, burly man said with a serious expression, "I can't see through that kid. I feel there's something strange about him. It's best not to cause trouble."
The bar girl led Ling Yun past several tables and stopped at a hidden door in the stairwell. "Young man, you'll have to go in by yourself."
Ling Yun glanced at the bar girl, gently turned the handle on the hidden door, and stepped inside.
Behind the hidden door was a narrow, dark staircase, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The staircase spiraled downwards, completely dark, requiring one to rely solely on the feel of their footing to descend step by step. It was unclear how deep underground the staircase led; this Nightclub certainly had more to offer. At least this hidden door, which appeared to be just a small warehouse, was merely a facade, Ling Yun thought to himself.
His vision was no longer hindered by darkness; even in a sealed space with no light to collect, Ling Yun could walk as if in daylight. However, just to be on the safe side, Ling Yun still released his senses and spiraled downwards to search. He wasn't afraid of someone ambushing him from below the stairs; it was simply a good habit he had developed in the fifth-level barrier.
The hidden door had been slammed shut as soon as he entered, and Ling Yun even heard the sound of the lock being clicked shut.