"Knock, knock, knock..." A rapid series of knocks sounded against the door.

Chen Feng rose and opened it to find Brent standing there.

"Big Brother, you’ve been cooped up in this room the entire afternoon. It’s almost dark now. Come out and get something to eat!"

Chen Feng glanced out the window. Indeed, the golden sun was sinking low. However, the magic crystal lamps in the room had long since been lit, bathing the interior in a brilliant glow that made one instantly forget the passage of time.

Speaking of food, Chen Feng realized a gnawing hunger in his stomach and nodded in agreement.

Seeing Chen Feng consent, a smile spread across Brent’s face. "Big Brother, follow me!" he said, leading the way. "Today is the Twin Dance Festival of the Loki Empire. My father has gathered all the dignitaries of Kuta Town for a grand evening banquet. There will be an abundance of beautiful women. With a cool image like yours, those so-called chaste young ladies will surely be instantly captivated and throw themselves at you..."

Chen Feng followed silently, giving no indication whether he had heard a word. His mind was entirely preoccupied with the mysterious, transparent drop of water that had suddenly appeared in his Dantian.

The City Lord's manor was vast. Chen Feng followed Brent for a good ten minutes before they arrived at a grand hall teeming with activity—easily over a hundred people, mostly young talents, noble sons, and several noble daughters.

"That armor is too ostentatious, and it’s hardly sturdy. Wearing it offers no use, only a burden. I could punch through at least ten such pieces of armor," Chen Feng remarked, looking at a noble youth in gleaming silver plate armor directly ahead.

"..." Brent stammered, "Big Brother, that kind of armor is meant for show; it’s completely useless in actual combat..."

"Show? All flash and no substance. What good is it then?" Chen Feng countered.

Sweat beaded on Brent’s forehead. He struggled to explain, "These noble sons are pampered; none of them have ever seen a battlefield. They wear armor merely to look impressive and handsome. It's just to catch the eyes of some young ladies!"

"Oh," Chen Feng nodded, seemingly understanding, and fell silent again.

As the City Lord’s son, Brent was naturally seated near the head table. Chen Feng, disliking too much attention, declined the prime spot and chose a secluded corner.

The night banquet soon commenced. Various delicacies were brought to the tables in an endless stream.

It was the first time Chen Feng had ever seen such an array of exquisite food. Moreover, wishing to avoid drawing attention, he kept his head down and ate steadily. Lacking experience in such formal gatherings, he had no idea how conspicuous his behavior was. While others merely nibbled, taking small portions to appear polite, he alone ate with ravenous enthusiasm! At dinners like this, everyone strove to appear refined; eating was merely a means to an end—the real purpose was to socialize and forge connections. Nowhere else would one see such aggressive consumption, with hands reaching out and jaws chewing loudly.

The gazes directed at Chen Feng were filled with oddity. The noble sons showed flickers of disdain and contempt, while the noble daughters covered their mouths to suppress soft giggles.

Baron Bufa, the City Lord, also wore an expression of confusion. He turned to his son, seeming to ask, Who exactly is this fiery-haired youth you’ve brought?

Brent could only shrug with a wry smile. Clearly, he hadn't expected his 'cool' boss to be so ignorant of basic etiquette. But since the situation had arisen, he supposed he had to let nature take its course.

Baron Bufa, resigned, put on a loud voice to regain control. "Today is the Empire’s annual Twin Dance Festival..."

Crunch, crunch... Chen Feng offered an enthusiastic accompaniment by chewing on a bone.

Baron Bufa frowned, shot Chen Feng a glance, and continued, "Through the collective efforts of everyone, Kuta Town enjoys peace and prosperity. Here, I..."

Chomp, chomp... The crisp sound of Chen Feng breaking a pastry echoed through the hall.

Baron Bufa felt a surge of exasperation. Customarily, the host speaks briefly before the guests begin to eat and drink sparingly. Where was the decorum as Chen Feng devoured everything as if he hadn't eaten in several lifetimes?

However, as a City Lord, his patience was considerable. He shot Brent a stern look and concluded, "I hope everyone has a fun and enjoyable time. Now, let the banquet begin!"

The crowd cheered and raised their glasses toward Baron Bufa, then gracefully began sampling the food before them.

Seeing the guests start eating, Baron Bufa turned to Brent. "Where did you bring this person from? He has absolutely no manners!"

Brent looked genuinely wronged. "I didn't know he was clueless about etiquette! His usual demeanor is incredibly cool. I thought he might make a stunning impression at the banquet..."

"Hmph, he certainly made an impression!" Baron Bufa looked displeased, then changed the subject. "The real highlight comes after the banquet—the ball. You know the significance of the Twin Dance Festival ball. You're not a child anymore; it’s time you found someone."

Brent looked anxious. "I’m still young! I want to enjoy a few more years of freedom..."

"Oh?" Baron Bufa’s face hardened. "You've refused four or five times already. This time, you must enter the dance floor and find a suitable girl to dance with, or you can get out of the City Lord's Manor!"

Brent, looking utterly miserable, stopped arguing and began eating the food before him, his posture oddly mirroring Chen Feng’s.

...

Chen Feng patted his distended stomach with a sense of satisfaction. Since arriving in this other world, this was the best and most filling meal he'd had. Seeing everyone around him sipping red wine delicately and using knives and forks to slice beef, he felt a touch of disdain. How could utensils compare to the efficiency of chopsticks? Only with chopsticks did eating feel truly satisfying.

But he knew chopsticks weren't available here, so those who struggled with knives and forks simply dove in with their hands, eating with unrestrained gusto.

Chen Feng cared nothing for the scornful glances around him. The purpose of eating was to get full; all this formality only left one hungry.

The banquet concluded swiftly. Baron Bufa raised his voice in a loud announcement: "The Twin Dance Festival is a tradition of the Loki Empire, intended to provide unmarried men and women an opportunity to connect. To dance under the lights, to share affections—many in the Empire find their life partners at the Twin Dance Festival. Please cherish this chance... Now, the ball begins."

After this lengthy preamble, Baron Bufa finally declared the ball open. As the dinner concluded, servants efficiently cleared the tables and quickly set up a dance floor. They were clearly practiced; before Baron Bufa finished speaking, the dining hall had already transformed into a ballroom.

In his past life as a university student, Chen Feng had studied dance extensively: Rumba, Samba, Cha-Cha, Bullfighting, Jitterbug, Waltz, Viennese Waltz, Tango, Quickstep... he had touched upon them all. In his previous existence, Chen Feng's activities outside of practicing fighting arts involved dancing. Hearing the ball announced, he felt a slight urge to participate and found a quiet spot to observe the young lords and ladies.

The dancing in this world seemed much simpler than in his previous life. Chen Feng judged it instantly after a quick glance. It was essentially couples embracing and spinning in circles, completely lacking technique and possessing little aesthetic grace—far inferior to what he knew. It appeared the main purpose of the Twin Dance Festival was not the dance itself, but rather serving as a matchmaking event...

Brent noticed Chen Feng hiding away and hurried over, sitting down beside him with a strained smile. "Big Brother, earlier... your table manners were truly unseemly!"

"Were they?" Chen Feng was unconcerned.

Brent casually picked up a glass of red wine, poured one for himself and Chen Feng, and raised his glass. "Big Brother, we are participating in aristocratic society now. Your... your behavior was far too conspicuous!"

"What should I have done then?" Chen Feng asked.

"When eating, you must wait for the host to finish speaking before starting. Don't just eat the main courses; sample the appetizers first, and take sips of red wine every few bites to set the mood..." Brent meticulously explained the etiquette of dining. However, Chen Feng paid little heed. Such tediousness—could one even get full eating like that?

While Brent was speaking volubly, a sultry voice cut in from nearby. "Young Lord Brent, would I have the honor of a dance with you?"

Brent turned, his face immediately splitting into a practiced smile. He bowed gracefully and said, "Why, the beautiful Miss Caitiss! It is my greatest honor to share a dance with you!"

Brent’s words were perfectly delivered—polished, confident, and slightly flamboyant. His expression shifted, taking on a cool, masculine aura. This, it seemed, was his true persona.

Caitiss was tall, with a luxuriant, full bust, and eyes dripping with allure. Her charisma and magnetic appeal were certainly on par with Natasha (the female Dragon Speaker at the 'Foot' trading post); she was undoubtedly the brightest star of the ball.

As she approached Brent, she was flanked by four or five young men who looked like noble sons, each holding a glass of red wine. They looked at Brent with envy, but their eyes held undisguised lust for Caitiss, as if they wished to tear her clothes off and pounce.

"It seems Young Lord Brent holds significant sway. I invited Miss Caitiss several times earlier, and she refused. It turns out she was waiting for you," one jealous young nobleman remarked.

"Haha, naturally! I am the ladies' favorite handsome man," Brent puffed up with pride, standing ramrod straight. In the light, his handsome face broke into a confident grin; he certainly cut a fine figure.

Brent's greatest pleasure was posturing, especially in front of beautiful women. It was why he had mimicked Chen Feng's coolness in the first place. Now, in this social setting, his fluent speech and wit allowed him to embody 'cool' perfectly.

Chen Feng glanced over, shook his head, and thought, All that flashy demeanor—I could knock it down with one punch. What does it matter how elegant it looks?

Caitiss reveled in the greedy looks directed at her. As a woman, to elicit such a reaction from every man who saw her—what more could she desire?

Then, her gaze landed on Chen Feng, sitting silently nearby, and she couldn't help but wonder, "Who is this handsome gentleman? Why haven't you introduced him?" Her sweet voice immediately drew the attention of the surrounding noble sons, all of whom turned to look at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng had tailored many sets of 'Eight Gods' clothing. After his fight with Gino, he had discarded his tattered outfit and was now wearing a brand-new ensemble: a black short suit jacket, a white long-sleeved shirt, and dark red trousers, which, combined with his mass of red hair, was strikingly noticeable.

"What cool clothes and stylish hair this gentleman has..." Caitiss swayed her hips as she approached Chen Feng and reached out as if to touch his hair.

"Don't..." Brent thought he was going to lose his mind. How could Chen Feng, who was utterly cold, allow someone to touch his hair so casually?

As expected, before Caitiss’s hand could reach him, Chen Feng caught it in his palm.

"I don't like people touching my hair!" Chen Feng stated flatly, casually tossing Caitiss's hand aside.

Caitiss, encountering such a situation for the first time, blinked, then let out a deliberately soft, whiny sound. "Ooh, you hurt me..."

Her voice was exquisitely seductive, imbued with a tone of wounded romance, like lovers' sweet nothings, causing everyone present to feel a peculiar weakness.

But her cry immediately inflamed the jealousy of the surrounding noble sons, who felt compelled to intervene. They collectively shouted, "Rude fellow! Apologize to Miss Caitiss immediately!"

A nobleman in silver armor glared at Brent indignantly. "Young City Lord, is this your friend?" The implication was clear: if he were your friend, he wouldn't behave so rudely. If not, I'll teach him some manners myself.

Brent was overwhelmed, realizing he had stirred up trouble again. Distracted, he managed to reply vaguely to the nobleman, "He’s not my friend..."

Before he could finish, the silver-armored nobleman roared, "Good! Since he isn't your friend, I shall teach him what propriety is!"

Chen Feng’s complete lack of decorum during the meal had already annoyed many. Now, they had a perfect excuse, and several onlookers felt a malicious glee. Instead of stopping the confrontation, they murmured in agreement.

Encouraged by the crowd, the silver-armored youth strode forward arrogantly, pointing directly at Chen Feng's nose. "What backwater brat are you, daring to be rude to Miss Caitiss? Miss Caitiss, I will teach him a lesson today!" The ability to sound so self-righteous while seeking favor was certainly a talent.

Hearing this, Caitiss shot the silver-armored youth a flirtatious glance and said softly, "Caitiss thanks you..." Her tone was incredibly seductive, causing a ripple of excitement among the onlookers.

The other noble sons instantly regretted not stepping up to play the hero, realizing such an act would leave a favorable impression on the beauty. They looked upon the self-appointed righteous silver-armored youth with intense envy and jealousy.

Caitiss’s words made the silver-armored youth feel even more emboldened. His presence swelled with confidence as he approached Chen Feng, staring him down. "I challenge you to a duel!"

Duels and altercations were not uncommon among nobles; a disagreement could easily escalate to a brawl. However, they avoided acting like brutes, always finding a suitable pretext for a challenge or duel.

Chen Feng picked up his glass of red wine, took a sip, and glanced sideways at the silver-armored youth. He noted the man's level—a mere Second-Tier Fighter—hardly worth his effort. He drawled, "You are not worthy."

The silver-armored youth’s eyes nearly turned red at such a contemptuous remark. "How do you know unless you try?"

"Looks like he doesn't think much of you!" The remaining noble sons, seeing the challenger falter, started stirring the pot with delight. "It’s not that easy to play the hero to a beauty, you see. She clearly isn't impressed by you," another sneered.

Hearing this, Caitiss happened to let out a sudden, sharp laugh. The silver-armored youth mistook this for mockery, which sent him into a true fury. Disregarding any pretense of a formal duel, he lunged at Chen Feng and threw a punch aimed squarely at his face.

"You ill-mannered brat! You ignorant nobody who crawled out of some hole! Today, I’ll show you what real power is..." His furious words accompanied the punch as it rushed toward Chen Feng.

Chen Feng didn't even lift his head. He casually caught the incoming fist and sighed. "Is this what you call power?" With a gentle flick of his wrist, he propelled the man away.

"Ahhh..." A piercing scream tore from the silver-armored youth as he was flung clear out of the hall, landing with a thud on the flagstones of the path outside.

The distance to the hall entrance was a full thirty meters. Chen Feng had even managed to keep the red wine in the youth's hand from spilling a single drop, as if he had performed a trivial task.

The scream immediately drew the attention of everyone inside the hall. All eyes snapped toward the doorway, and a deathly silence fell upon the gathering.

Caitiss covered her mouth, her bright eyes wide with disbelief and astonishment. "What just happened?" She genuinely couldn't fathom where such strength came from in such a lean-looking young man to hurl the silver-armored youth clear outside.

The noble sons who had been mocking moments before were struck dumb with shock.

It was only in the ensuing quiet that Brent finished his previous sentence: "He’s not my friend... he's the Big Brother I just recognized!"

...

That incident was merely a brief interlude. Brent managed to smooth things over after much explanation. The identity of the nobleman who had been thrown out was lower than Brent's own, so Brent’s associates dared not press the matter. Since the nobleman wasn't seriously injured, he offered a hasty apology and sped away in a carriage.

Caitiss and the other noble sons now eyed Chen Feng as if he were a venomous snake, giving him a wide berth. Chen Feng remained seated alone in his corner, leisurely finishing the pastries that were brought to him.

After the previous upheaval, Brent felt obliged to caution Chen Feng against being too impulsive. Then, he himself slipped away into the crowd of young ladies to chat and show off.

The ball continued in an orderly fashion until, suddenly, someone shouted: "It's Miss Yanni! Miss Yanni is here!"

This exclamation was far more shocking than Chen Feng throwing a man across the courtyard. Everyone on the dance floor froze mid-step. Even Brent turned, his face alight with excitement, and rushed to the main doors to greet her.

"Is it Miss Yanni, the so-called Dance Fairy of the Loki Empire?" All the excited faces flushed crimson.

"Who else could it be?" another person exclaimed, his eyes fixed on the entrance turning scarlet.

"Isn't she usually in the Imperial Capital? Why is she here?" someone expressed disbelief.

"You don't even know that? Miss Yanni performs touring shows in every town in the Empire! I heard she only arrived in Kuta Town today..."

The crowd erupted in excited chatter, clearly captivated by this woman named Yanni.

Chen Feng remained utterly still in his corner. Who cared about a Dance Fairy? What did she have to do with him? Eating was far more practical.

The hall doors opened gently, and a woman in a flowing red gown slowly walked in.

This woman appeared no older than nineteen or twenty. Her full figure moved gracefully beneath the gown, captivating the eye. If Caitiss had been the star of the event moments before, drawing all male attention, this woman's appearance instantly eclipsed her!

By any measure, she was a beauty comparable to Judy, but she exuded a more mature, serene aura than Judy.

For a moment, everyone in the hall was mesmerized into silence.

"Yanni's uninvited arrival is rather presumptuous, but since it is the Twin Dance Festival, Yanni wished to join the merriment," her sweet voice rang out, clear and melodious, refreshing the spirit.

"Miss Yanni... you are too kind! Your presence here is our utmost honor!" Brent’s habitually cool face flushed faintly red.

Since Baron Bufa had left at the start of the ball, Brent, as the host, was obligated to greet her.

Yanni smiled faintly and gracefully entered the hall without ceremony.

As Yanni walked in, the previous clamor died down. In a hall of over a hundred people, not a single sound was made, testament to Yanni's immense charm.

"Has Yanni's arrival disturbed everyone?" Yanni asked apologetically, seemingly noticing the stillness.

"No, no..." All the male guests responded with the enthusiasm of men who had just been given a shot of adrenaline, shouting loudly.

Yanni smiled softly. "Then please continue dancing. I will just rest for a moment here!" Saying this, she walked alone toward a quiet corner of the hall.

Coincidentally, that corner was exactly where Chen Feng was sitting.

"Oh, alright..." The crowd subconsciously replied to Yanni’s suggestion, remaining rooted to their spots.

The lively ball had quieted entirely due to the arrival of one woman.

The noble sons glanced at the young ladies around them, realizing their earlier eagerness to show off had vanished. It was like having seen Xi Shi, the legendary beauty, only to be asked to admire ordinary women afterward—all interest was gone.

Yanni observed their subdued behavior. She had long been accustomed to this, but what could she do? With her looks, it was always the same wherever she went. Every man who saw her became utterly infatuated. Back in the Imperial Capital, one dance in the palace had driven the entire imperial family mad; four of the Emperor's seven sons pursued her. It was to escape this entanglement that she had taken up the guise of a touring performer...

Was there truly no normal man in this world who wouldn't be utterly captivated upon seeing her? Yani thought to herself, a faint musing.

As she moved through the space, Yani sensed something, causing her to look up. In the corner, a red-haired youth with a severe expression was intently focused on his food, completely oblivious to her presence. A subtle smile touched Yani’s lips; with a flash of crimson shadow, she slowly drifted toward where Chen Feng was waiting. (To be continued. For the rest of the story, please visit www**com for more chapters, to support the author, and read the legitimate version!)