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Chapter 176: Overburdened Bicycles

Lan Jue watched the young man trot off. It was then he spied Chu Cheng sauntering over towards him with a lazy, unhurried gait. In his fine suit and vest, he was having no trouble attracting looks from the young girls around campus. From time to time heโ€™d shoot a charming smile at them as they passed.

Lan Jue turned his back and made to leave, like he had no interest in dealing with the guy.

Of course Chu Cheng wouldnโ€™t be denied, and his reaction time was nearly inhuman. Immediately his voice rose in a shout. โ€œA-Jue, wait a minute!โ€

Zhou Qianlin and Tang Mi both turned to the source of the greeting.

Chu Cheng made his approach with big steps. By the time he arrived, he was already puffed up and beaming with pride. โ€œWhat didja thing? Nice, right?โ€

โ€œHim or you,โ€ Lan Jue asked.

โ€œMe!โ€

โ€œYou said two words,โ€ Lan Jue muttered. โ€œWhatโ€™s good about it? Tell you what though, I had no idea how talentedย heย was.โ€

A ghost of agitation flashed across Chu Chengโ€™s pained face. โ€œAre you even capable of being a pleasant human being?โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re free to keep your distance,โ€ Lan Jue replied. โ€œAnd when youโ€™re all steeped in your machismo bullshit donโ€™t tell people you know me.โ€

But Chu Cheng had already tuned Lan Jue out, the moment his eyes found the two young women standing nearby. His eyes lasciviously traced paths up and down their bodies.

โ€œEh? Little sister, youโ€™re here as well.โ€

The second the words left his mouth, Lan Jue winced. The damage was done, there was nothing he could do.

โ€œLittle sister?โ€ Tang Mi looked at Qianlin and Chu Cheng, back and forth. โ€œQianlin, whatโ€™s going on?โ€

Zhou Qianlinโ€™s own appraisal and reaction skills were impressive. โ€œI donโ€™t know you,โ€she said instantly. โ€œXiao Mi, letโ€™s get out of here. This one reminds me of Richard.โ€ She grabbed her friendโ€™s hand and pulled her away.

Lan Jue watched the exchange in conflicted praise. She was quite the sneak, but he wasnโ€™t sure this was a good thing.

Chu Cheng watched her leave. โ€œShe really does look just like her,โ€ he muttered, mostly to himself. โ€œCut from the same mold. Iโ€™m telling you A-Jue, you better know what youโ€™re doing.โ€

โ€œWill you shut the hell up, or am I going to have to make you a mute,โ€ Lan Jue said in hushed tones. โ€œLetโ€™s go. Iโ€™ve got no classes, so letโ€™s head back and get to practicing. I guess weโ€™ll find out later when A-Li will show up.โ€

Chu Cheng laughed suspiciously. โ€œSuch a troublesome business, these concerts eh? If we wait around for a bit weโ€™ll run in to him, Iโ€™m sure.โ€

Lan Jue raised a brow. โ€œHe spoke to you?โ€

Chu Cheng rolled his eyes. โ€œYou need to ask? You really have been hidden away from the modern world for much too long. Letโ€™s go!โ€

The Soulcaller gemstone warmed as his will flowed through it.

Lan Jue:ย When are you going home? There shouldnโ€™t be any classes this afternoon if I recall.

Qianlin:ย Original Iโ€™d planned to head out after the concert. But I just ran in to the R&D Director who says Iโ€™m expected to participate in the competition again Lir University. The R&D section, obviously. He said he wanted to have a word with me. Iโ€™ll probably be heading home later.

Lan Jue:ย Let me know when youโ€™re finished and Iโ€™ll go find you.

Qianlin:ย Alright.

The two young men left the campus. As they did, it was like Chu Cheng predicted; a furtive figure sneak up up to them trying desperately to remain inconspicuous. Hat, mask, glasses, and a school uniform. A-Li.

Lan Jue pushed his bicycle over to the bundle of mis-matched clothing. โ€œAbsolutely wretched. If only your fans could see you now.โ€

โ€œHush!โ€ What little bit of Hua Liโ€™s face could be seen was scrunched in admonishment. โ€œKeep it down. Youโ€™ll know wretched if anyone finds me here.โ€ He practically growled the words, trying to look every direction at once.

Lan Jue only chuckled. โ€œYour concert today was really something, truth be told. It was just my first time seeing one but I gotta say, you donโ€™t hold back with the Discipline do you.โ€

Hua Li chortled. โ€œIndeed. Got a pretty moving voice if I do say so myself. First Star of the Alliances, I think itโ€™s fair to say.โ€

Lan Jue smirked. โ€œThatโ€™s enough. Letโ€™s head back to mine, itโ€™s time we finally got back to training our mecha combat coop.โ€

โ€œYup, letโ€™s do it. Only you just have the one bicycle, whatโ€™s the plan?โ€ Hua Li asked inquisitively.

Lan Jue paused. โ€œThis is a problem,โ€ he said, glowering at the bike. โ€œSo whoโ€™s running?โ€

Hua Liโ€™s indignation flared. โ€œYouโ€™d make the First Star of the Alliancesย run home?! Do you haveย anyย humanity?โ€

Chu Chengโ€™s response was equally as wrathful. โ€œYouโ€™d make the First Heart-throb of the Alliances run home? Do you have any humanity?!โ€

Lan Jue looked from one to other for a minute before answering.

โ€œDo either of you have any shame?โ€

Five minutes later.

A bicycle wobbled precariously down the street in the direction of Skyfire Avenue. Lan Jue was peddling valiantly, Chu Cheng sat on the back, and Hua Li was perched on the cross girder just behind the handlebars.

The bike had long since started protesting with a series of painful squeals.

Lan Jue rode the bike a sight less gracefully than heโ€™d have liked. The three of them with their long legs โ€“ none of them were shorter than a meter eighty-five โ€“ where too large even for this bike. In itโ€™s time the antique was among the larger sized bicycles, but despite this it was a struggle to fit the three of them.

โ€œNo shame!โ€ Lan Jue breathlessly rebuked his friends as he strenuously peddled forth.

Hua Li spat back at him. โ€œItโ€™s not your ass being split by this damn bar, what are you complaining about?โ€

Chu Chengโ€™s rumbling voice interjected. โ€œQuite the experience though. If elder brother was here heโ€™d probably have to stand on the handle bars.โ€

Lan Jueโ€™s voice was cold and biting. โ€œMy brother has more self-respect than the two of you. If he were here the two of youโ€™d both be desperate to hide from a beating.โ€

Hua Li snickered. โ€œWell he ainโ€™t here is he. Hm? Whatโ€™s this person doing blocking the road.โ€

Lan Jue craned his head around the clothing mannequin perched in front of him. It was as his friend said; four people were blocking the small road, leaving no way around.

Lan Jue rolled to a stop and steadied himself on one leg. โ€œThe two of you get off!โ€

Chu Cheng only needed to let his legs relax and drop to the floor to be free of the bike. Hua Li had to wait for Lan Jue to release the handled before he could get down.

โ€œHey, you guys are blocking the road!โ€ Chu cheng called out to the four figures before them.

โ€œWeโ€™re looking for Lan Jue. If you arenโ€™t him, youโ€™re free to pass.โ€ A cold and threatening voice replied.

The young men where clad entirely in black, and bore a sinister air. They stared with open hostility at Lan Jue.

Hua Li and Chu Cheng looked at their friend in tandem, but it was Hua Li who spoke first. โ€œThe hell is this? Looking for trouble?โ€

Chu Cheng was next. โ€œThese guys donโ€™t know who you are, huh.โ€

Lan Jue regarded them both. โ€œTime to earn your bike ride.โ€

Chu Cheng was literally hopping with excitement. โ€œOh! Oh let me! Me!โ€ He was off at a trot towards the four young men before getting an answer.

One minute later.

The bicycle groaned pathetically as it struggled along the path.

โ€œSo whoโ€™d you piss off, A-Jue? Got these noobs hassling ya. Not a one higher than sixth rank. I didnโ€™t even get myself going. What a let down.โ€ Chu Cheng grumbled dejectedly from the back.

Hua Li huffed. โ€œYou didnโ€™t leave any for me, either.โ€

Of course Lan Jue knew where those four hoodlums had come from. He could see the moment they used their Disciplines that they had Acquired talents. Clearly they were from the Western Alliance. Hua Li and Chu Cheng knew this as well, but that didnโ€™t answer their question.

If they were from the Western Alliance then their master was obvious. Richard finally grew the balls to go for him? Lan Jue figured it was time the young guy was dealt with. He was becoming a problem.

โ€œHey A-Li, letโ€™s get a song,โ€ Lan Jue said, changing the subject.

Hua Li was easily swayed. โ€œAny requests?โ€

โ€œOne of the ones from the concert,โ€ he said. โ€œLetโ€™s hear โ€™em again.โ€

โ€œโ€ฆโ€

While Lan Jue and his two companions were slowly making their way home, the NEU was still awash in the afterglow of the concert. The excitement was still evident in the passing students and teachers wandering around campus. After all, this was probably a once in a lifetime event.

โ€œWhat? Run away?โ€ Mo Xiao had to employ all her will power not to smash the tea table in front of her in to pieces.

Outside, members of the media had already filled up the sizable reception room for Poseidonโ€™s scheduled address. Hua Li had said he was going to change his clothes โ€“ and then, heโ€™d just vanished.

โ€œThisย bastard!ย Iโ€™ll KILL HIM!โ€ย Mo Xiao shot to her her feet in a rage, fists clenched and knuckles white. She paced back and forth in the dressing room. โ€œCould he be any more unreliable?โ€

The assistant at her elbow spoke up in quiet tones. โ€œWell he is a Pisces.โ€

โ€œI know!โ€ She roared. โ€œAlrightโ€ฆ help me with some make-up. Iโ€™ll deal with the journalists. Such a goddamn waste of time.โ€

Ten minutes later.

Mo Xiao stepped out to the junket, and appologized to the media that Poseidon would be unable to participate. Tearfully she explained that the whole experience had been an emotional one. Poseidon was still composing himself, and so was currently unable to hold a fair interview.

The craze that had grabbed a hold of the students had also infected the journalists, and the vast majority understood and sympathized with Hua Liโ€™s fictional plight. The vocal minority who were still upset with his absence were cajoled by Mo Xiaoโ€™s persistent apologies. She assured them that Poseidon would give interviews as soon as he was able. She followed by formally announcing the release of Poseidonโ€™sย Sounds of Natureย special throughout the whole of the three Alliances.

ฮž

By the time Lan Jue returned to the NEU campus, the land was covered in the encroaching darkness of night.

Zhou Qianlin was standing on her own, tiredly pinching the skin between her eyebrows. All afternoon had been talks and considerations, to the point where she was too tired to go on.

โ€œBy the looks of you, you havenโ€™t eaten yet.โ€ Lan Jue was standing beside his bicycle, calling towards her.

Qianlin lifted her eyes to look at him, and she couldnโ€™t help a small smile from flashing across her face. She shook her head. โ€œItโ€™s fine, Iโ€™m not hungry. Just a little tired.โ€

Lan Jue produced a lunchbox from the bike and handed it to her. โ€œHere.โ€

Qianlin took it with surprise. She opened it to see, and discovered a handful of dumplings steaming within.

โ€œChives and egg,โ€ he said with a grin. He handed her a pair of chopsticks. โ€œWeโ€™ll go when youโ€™ve finished, otherwise youโ€™ll get sick if we eat and move.โ€ย 

โ€œMm.โ€ Qianlin hummed her agreement. She found a nearby rock big enough to sit on, then tucked in.

Hey, me too! First Translator of the Alliances right here!ย  The Chinese believe that doing anything while eating is bad. Here specifically, it is said that if you eat and move youโ€™ll โ€˜eat windโ€™ โ€“ wind is the basis for pain and exogenous illnesses in Chinese medicine.ย 
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