Zhang Yang paid little attention to the upcoming Sino-Foreign Medical Exchange event. In his view, it was still in the planning stages, with a long way to go before it actually convened.

As for the Korean doctor who Guo Yong mentioned would challenge him, Zhang Yang hadn't given it a second thought. In any case, Guo Yong would naturally explain all the details to him after he started work tomorrow.

This afternoon, however, Zhang Yang decided to spend quality time shopping with Mi Xue, and this time, he had also invited Qu Meilan along. Since the Heritage Elixir's primary function was to help cultivators rapidly advance their internal energy, it wasn't as beneficial to Qu Meilan as it was to Yan Liangfei and the other two, who were starting their cultivation from scratch.

Thus, Zhang Yang had not factored Qu Meilan into the distribution of the six elixirs he had refined. Qu Meilan didn't mind this at all; she was already content just being able to stay by Zhang Yang's side to cultivate, harboring no superfluous desires.

However, Zhang Yang felt a degree of guilt about this, so he invited Qu Meilan along for the shopping trip with Mi Xue, merely as a way to let her relax and clear her mind. As the saying goes, two women make a scene.

With Qu Meilan accompanying them this time, Zhang Yang genuinely ended up being free labor. Mi Xue and Qu Meilan happily browsed ahead, darting into clothing stores whenever they saw one, and instantly deciding to buy anything novel they spotted.

Before long, Zhang Yang was laden with several shopping bags, while Mi Xue and Qu Meilan still looked like they hadn't had their fill, conferring ahead about where to head next. Zhang Yang offered a wry smile, looking down at the assortment of bags hanging from him.

Accompanying women while shopping was truly physical labor. Without Qu Meilan, Mi Xue never shopped with such frenetic intensity.

He hadn't expected that being with Qu Meilan would completely unleash Mi Xue's feminine nature. "Hubby, I heard a high-end Western restaurant just opened over on Wuxia Road.

Let's go there for dinner tonight?" After deliberating for a while, Mi Xue and Qu Meilan turned around, offered Zhang Yang a sweet smile, and spoke. Qu Meilan, standing beside her, also looked on with anticipation.

Zhang Yang naturally couldn't refuse such a simple request. Seeing him nod, Mi Xue laughed heartily, trotted over to him, planted a public kiss on his cheek, and then, blushing, took Qu Meilan's hand as they skipped ahead in their newly bought beautiful dresses.

Zhang Yang’s heart was filled with sweetness. Wuxia Road was already the most bustling district in Changjing; arriving late meant parking would be difficult.

Consequently, Zhang Yang had to park quite a distance from the newly opened upscale Western restaurant, and the three of them walked toward the newly renovated establishment. It was indeed in Changjing’s most prosperous area.

The new Western restaurant was already packed with patrons; at a glance, most tables were occupied. Fortunately, Zhang Yang had sharp eyes.

He spotted an empty table near the window and immediately led Mi Xue and Qu Meilan over to sit down. The location was superb.

Through the window, they could observe the street outside, bustling with people coming and going. Dusk was settling, and the last rays of the evening sun cast a golden sheen across the ground, strikingly beautiful.

Mi Xue and Qu Meilan were immediately captivated by the view outside. "Sir, I truly apologize, but this window seat is already taken!" "No, you must clear a seat for us.

Our Young Master insists on sitting by the window." "But, guests..." "Go tell them that we are willing to compensate anyone who gives up their spot for any loss incurred!" At that moment, the anxious voice of a restaurant server reached Zhang Yang’s ears, causing him to frown involuntarily. Looking up, not far from where Zhang Yang's party was seated, four short men were arguing with a female server wearing a Floor Manager badge.

Three of these men shared a distinctive Fu Manchu mustache, while the fourth was a younger man with slightly dyed yellowish hair. Their Mandarin was interspersed with a distinct Japanese accent, and observing their attire, Zhang Yang immediately concluded they were all Japanese.

Except for the man arguing with the Floor Manager, the remaining two stood half a step behind the relatively younger man in the center, a position clearly meant to guard him. Zhang Yang could tell with one look that the three bodyguards accompanying this young man were all at the initial stage of the first level of Internal Strength.

To be able to afford three practitioners at the first level of Internal Strength as personal bodyguards suggested that this young man's background must be considerable; otherwise, he wouldn't be so arrogant in such an upscale Western restaurant. Because of this group's relentless demanding behavior, most patrons in the restaurant had turned their attention toward the four Japanese men, casting looks of distaste.

Unfortunately, the four Japanese seemed oblivious, continuing their high-handed insistence that the 'manager' arrange window seating for them. "These people are so annoying!" Mi Xue glanced secretly at the four Japanese near the entrance and whispered to Qu Meilan.

Qu Meilan nodded in full agreement, her gaze toward the four Japanese betraying no attempt to conceal her disgust. "Ignore them.

We should just focus on our meal," Zhang Yang said, giving the four Japanese a look of distaste, utterly uninterested in them. Many foreigners had been coming to Changjing recently, and these four were undoubtedly the worst among them.

"Fujii Ichiro!" Just as the young man's bodyguards were deadlocked in argument with the Floor Manager, the leading young man among the four Japanese impatiently called out the name, then spoke haughtily with his head held high: "Stop wasting words with her. The Zhinren are all stupid; don't rely on them.

We'll find our own!" Hearing the young man speak, the bodyguard named Fujii Ichiro immediately snapped to attention, turned toward the young man, snapped a salute, and roared, "Hai!" Upon hearing the term Zhinren from the young man’s mouth, the complexions of many people in the restaurant darkened with displeasure. Some even stopped eating, immediately gathering their companions and leaving the restaurant, utterly unwilling to share the same space as the four Japanese.

The young woman wearing the Floor Manager badge maintained her professional smile out of sheer obligation. Watching as guests successively stood up and left, she felt both anxious and helpless.

Zhang Yang possessed the sharpest hearing; every word uttered by the young man reached him perfectly. When he saw the four Japanese bypass the Floor Manager and start walking toward his table, a cold smirk immediately surfaced on his face.

"Sir, you cannot do this!" Seeing the four Japanese begin to harass seated customers, the young female Floor Manager was on the verge of tears with worry. She tried to step forward to stop them, but one of the bodyguards behind the young man blocked her path, preventing her from getting through.

The Japanese youth advancing toward Zhang Yang looked around, seemingly selecting the most suitable spot. Coincidentally, Mi Xue and Qu Meilan were looking at the four young men with clear annoyance just then.

The young man’s eyes immediately lit up when he first spotted Qu Meilan. Then, he saw Mi Xue sitting next to her and froze instantly.

Mi Xue was already the campus beauty of Changjing University, and having worn a newly purchased long dress during the afternoon's shopping, her beauty and temperament were further accentuated. It was no wonder this young man stared, transfixed.

The young man was utterly fixated on Mi Xue, practically drooling. Seeing his master staring in Zhang Yang’s direction, the bodyguard behind him immediately understood the situation and prepared to step forward and drive Zhang Yang and his party away.

However, the young man raised his hand, stopping his bodyguard. Instead, he took a single step forward himself, standing beside Qu Meilan and facing Mi Xue seated inside the table.

He first muttered a line to himself with an air of self-admiration. "The men of the Zhi are all foolish, but the women of the Zhi are all beautiful..." Hearing the man's mumbled words, Mi Xue’s face turned instantly green with rage.

She stood up, pulling Qu Meilan, and said to Zhang Yang, "Hubby, let's go. I don't want to stay here another second!" Zhang Yang shot a cold glance at the young man and rose from his seat.

If Mi Xue hadn't been present, he would have long since stopped holding back and delivered a harsh lesson to this arrogant Japanese man spouting the word Zhi. As Mi Xue stood up, her graceful curves were fully displayed, sending the young man into another momentary daze.

Seeing Mi Xue attempt to leave, he suddenly grew anxious and extended his hand directly to block her path. "Beautiful young lady, please don't be afraid.

My name is Ishino Kōtarō. I have come to your country invited by your Sino-Foreign Medical Exchange event..." As the young man spoke, he extended his other hand toward Mi Xue.

Perhaps due to the angle, this hand was reaching directly toward Mi Xue’s prominent chest, causing Mi Xue's expression to change drastically, and she took a hasty step back! "I hope...

Ah!!" Before the young man named Ishino Kōtarō could finish speaking, he let out a piercing scream and flipped backward, crashing into a dining table near the back door. Not a single one of his bodyguards, or anyone else, saw what had happened!

Zhang Yang took a single step forward, positioning himself in front of the fallen Ishino Kōtarō. Now, everyone could clearly see who had struck the young man down.

Ignoring everyone else's reaction, Zhang Yang crouched down, grabbed the collar of Ishino Kōtarō’s coat, and bodily lifted him up. "Slap!

Slap! Slap!

Slap!" A series of loud, resounding smacks echoed throughout the entire restaurant! Zhang Yang wasted no words, immediately using both hands in a swift back-and-forth motion, delivering several harsh slaps directly to the young man's face without the slightest mercy.