While Bai Yan was filling out the form, another group of people arrived at the door.
Most of these people were young, both male and female, all clustering around a robust young man dressed in a short white shirt, who seemed to be their leader.
"Qing Er, haha, long time no see!"
The leading young man, as soon as he entered the door, began to look around and his eyes lit up when he saw Yan Qing. He laughed heartily and hurriedly led people over.
"Liu Pengtian, what are you doing here?"
Yan Qing saw the young man, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Qing Er, it’s all because I’ve missed you terribly, thinking of you day and night. That’s why I’ve come today unannounced, to meet the beautiful lady."
Liu Pengtian laughed heartily, his eyes burning hot as he looked at Yan Qing, and his blatant adoration was unmistakable. On the side, Bai Yan was blatantly ignored by him.
Bai Yan couldn’t help but curl his lips on the side, finding this man’s way of speaking rather amusing. Instead of speaking standard Mandarin, he had to twist his words in an affected manner, yet he didn’t quite pull it off, thinking himself to be some suave gentleman.
"Speak normally! And don’t call me Qing Er. I’m not that familiar with you."
Yan Qing’s expression showed a touch of displeasure, but after all, she was an office worker at the service center; dealing with people was part of her job.
"Alright, alright, I’m here for ability identification today."
Liu Pengtian chuckled, his voice somewhat proud.
"Haven’t you already been assessed two years ago?"
Yan Qing felt puzzled; Liu Pengtian, from the Liu Family Martial Arts Sect in HZ city, was the recognized Young Master of the sect. His abilities had been assessed two years ago when he just came of age.
"Qing Er, you don’t know. I’ve recently had a small epiphany and accidentally triggered another ability. So, the elders in my family sent someone to urge me to get an assessment and to actively cooperate with Qing Er’s work."
Although Liu Pengtian’s words sounded modest, there was an undeniable pride in his tone, as if awakening another ability was a great feat.
Bai Yan curled his lips; he really couldn’t stand this guy.
However, Boss Wang and Yan Qing next to him looked very surprised, and both of their faces showed a look of shock: "You’ve awakened another ability? Really?"
"Of course it’s true!"
Liu Pengtian smiled modestly, his smile laced with pride.
"Young Master Liu is indeed young and promising, awakening dual abilities so young! Not to mention in HZ city, Young Master Liu can be considered as one of the top ten ’Heavenly Prides’; even in the whole of Hua Xia, with your potential, you could enter the top hundred rankings!"
Boss Wang smiled and praised him. Liu Pengtian laughed proudly and showed no respect to Boss Wang, who was much older than him: "Excuse me, who are you?"
Boss Wang gave a wry smile and cupped his hands: "I am Wang Shouren, owner of Li Lai Casino."
"Never heard of you."
Liu Pengtian looked down on Boss Wang with contempt, turned his head away, and continued to chat up Yan Qing with a smile.
Obviously, Young Master Liu was the epitome of a proud young man who achieved success early in life.
Boss Wang was extremely embarrassed and somewhat helpless. He never expected his casual compliment to be met with such disregard and contempt.
But considering Young Master Liu’s reputation and talent among his peers, he indeed need not pay attention to a middle-aged man from the Mortal World. Boss Wang could only sigh internally, blaming himself for looking for trouble when trying to politely congratulate someone, and that had turned into an insult.
While Yan Qing was impatiently dealing with Liu Pengtian, Bai Yan spoke indifferently: "I’ve finished the form, let’s start the identification."
Yan Qing sighed in relief, took Bai Yan’s form, and prepared to take him for the ability identification.
Liu Pengtian suddenly interrupted. Bai Yan and Yan Qing both looked at him, and Liu Pengtian’s face carried a proud posture: "I presume this friend here has just awakened his ability this year, right? I think you can put your assessment on hold for now. Why not let me go first?"
Although Liu Pengtian’s tone sounded negotiable, it was very resolute and carried a trace of disdain for Bai Yan.
How could a mere newly awakened Abnormal compare with him, a dual ability awakener? And this new Abnormal just dared to interrupt his conversation with Yan the Beauty, making Liu Pengtian even more displeased.
"Liu Pengtian, don’t you know the rule of first come, first served?"
Yan Qing frowned, looking quite unhappy at Liu Pengtian.
Liu Pengtian laughed and said: "This brother hasn’t even spoken yet, why are you in such a hurry?"
Liu Pengtian turned to Bai Yan and smiled: "Brother, let me go first. It’s not a big deal for you to wait a bit. After all, you’ve only one ability to be assessed, no rush. Perhaps you don’t know, but the identification for new Abnormals is actually very simple; it’ll be over in a few minutes since the new Abnormals are too weak. Waiting a bit won’t be an issue for you."
Liu Pengtian’s tone clearly held contempt and belittlement for Bai Yan.
Bai Yan looked at Liu Pengtian, who was full of pride, measured him up for a moment, then smiled faintly, saying: "Why should I?"
Liu Pengtian was taken aback. He had never seen such a straightforward Abnormal. Could it be that this guy had never heard of the Liu Family Martial Arts? Didn’t he know that the Liu Family Martial Arts was a first-class Abnormal Family in HZ city, even in Hua Xia?
"Nothing much, just hoping Brother will give me some face."
Liu Pengtian narrowed his eyes, looking into Bai Yan’s eyes: "Young Brother, I am the successor of the Liu Family Martial Arts. Perhaps you still don’t understand what these words mean. But I think if you refuse me today, you might regret your decision later on."
There was a clear threat in Liu Pengtian’s words.
Bai Yan hadn’t said anything yet, but Yan Qing on the side was already annoyed.
"Liu Pengtian! What do you mean! Keep your young master’s temper to yourself in the office, this place is not your Liu Family home!"
Yan Qing stood with her eyebrows slanted and hands on her hips, scolding Liu Pengtian.
"How... why are you speaking up for him?"
Liu Pengtian was somewhat astonished: "Such an ordinary newcomer Abnormal, so weak he couldn’t be weaker! Shouldn’t he have let me be identified first?"
When he said this, Liu Pengtian’s tone was very natural, as if it were only right for him to be identified before Bai Yan, while his eyes looked at Bai Yan with a tinge of resentment.
He was dissatisfied because Yan Qing had just defended Bai Yan and scolded him; it was as if everything was Bai Yan’s fault.
Liu Family Martial Arts, are they that amazing?
Just look at you, clearly a spoiled child, probably never faced any adversity since you were born, eh?
"Forget it, Bai Yan, let him go first. Let’s not cause trouble today."
Boss Wang inconspicuously pulled Bai Yan’s sleeve, persuasively advising him with earnest kindness.
Bai Yan glanced indifferently at Liu Pengtian, then softly said, "Fine, I’ll give Boss Wang face."
After all, this was the Abnormal People Organization, and Bai Yan was yet to grasp the stance of HZ city’s Abnormal People Organization. He did not want to blindly stir up trouble, so for now, he might as well treat this so-called Young Master as a fly.
Clever people know when to be quiet and when to burst out like thunder!
Bai Yan’s eyes were smiling as he watched everyone, showing no sign of annoyance.
Boss Wang smiled in relief. Maybe Bai Yan wasn’t as capable as Liu Pengtian, but he was streets ahead in terms of interpersonal skills.
Liu Pengtian glanced at the two of them, smiled in disdain, then turned to Yan Qing with a smile: "Qing Er, is it okay now? He’s already let me go first."
"I’ll say it again, you are not allowed to call me Qing Er!"
Yan Qing had a cold face, feeling in her heart that Bai Yan was no different from the other newcomer Abnormals, easily yielding under the authority of the mighty Abnormal Clans.
Well, can’t blame Bai Yan, after all, in this HZ city’s territory, there aren’t many who dare to stand up to Liu Pengtian, especially with Liu Family Martial Arts backing him.
Yan Qing sighed slightly in her heart but felt oddly that Bai Yan was not as simple as he appeared to be.
Wasn’t she aware of Boss Wang’s status? Could someone he personally introduced be just an ordinary newcomer Abnormal?
"Liu Pengtian, what are your abilities?"
Yan Qing asked professionally, noting them down on paper.
"Two abilities. One is Ancient Martial True Qi and the other is Enriched Flames."
Liu Pengtian spoke proudly: "I have made some progress not long ago. My family’s ultimate skill, Flame Palm, has reached the fifth level, enabling me to manipulate flame power and greatly enhance its force when supported on my palms."
"Hmm, indeed not bad. Go try out that equipment over there."
Yan Qing nodded and led Liu Pengtian to a dummy apparatus to test his skills.
Bai Yan and Boss Wang watched from not too far, with Boss Wang expressing his amazement: "The Liu Family really does have a promising future. I didn’t expect Liu Pengtian’s Flame Palm to have reached the fifth level."
"Boss Wang, is this Flame Palm very powerful?"
"Hm, in Hua Xia, a sword, two blades, two fists, and four feet are known as the nine ultimate skills! These nine ultimate skill families are recognized as prestigious amongst the Abnormal Clans. The Liu Family Martial Arts Sect’s Flame Palm is one of the two fist techniques. It’s said that Mr. Liu’s Flame Palm is the strongest within the sect, reaching the eighth level, a truly unparalleled master! It seems that this young Liu Pengtian has surpassed his elders with his talent at such a young age."
Boss Wang spoke admiringly. Listening to him, Liu Pengtian’s martial arts talent did seem very strong?
Bai Yan muttered a phrase, then smiled nonchalantly: "Boss Wang, compared to your three bodyguards, Liu Pengtian seems to be far inferior."
And Bai Yan was right. From what his Demon’s Eye could tell, none of Liu Pengtian’s four major physical attributes scored above 40 points, while each of Boss Wang’s three bodyguards surpassed Liu Pengtian.
Any one of them could easily crush Liu Pengtian, so Bai Yan was somewhat puzzled as to why Boss Wang would play weak in front of Liu Pengtian?
If Liu Pengtian’s abilities at such a young age were famous in HZ city, shouldn’t Boss Wang’s three bodyguards be even more renowned? Yet how come when Liu Pengtian met Boss Wang, it was as if he didn’t know him at all?
"Hehe, their abilities are actually quite average."
Boss Wang laughed modestly.
Playing dumb to catch the wise?
Bai Yan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of amusement in his deep gaze. Boss Wang was quite the slick operator, wasn’t he.
And just then, Liu Pengtian’s showcase of his abilities at the center of the room elicited cheers from the crowd.
"Unbelievable, Young Master Liu!"
"Amazing! With a pair of Flame Palms, the mechanical dummies nearly cracked open, Young Master Liu is truly strong!"
"Flattery, flattery, you’re all too kind."
Liu Pengtian laughed heartily, cupping his hands in thanks to the people surrounding him, his face radiating with pride.
It was clear he enjoyed the adulation from the crowd, and even the men and women who came with him were loudly cheering for Liu Pengtian.
Yan Qing was also quite impressed; although Liu Pengtian might not be the best of people, his strength was undeniable, and not just within Hua Xia. Possessing dual abilities at such a young age, his Talent was indeed rare.
Liu Pengtian intentionally didn’t retract his Flame Palm, his palms flickering with a dark sheen, slightly reddened with faint waves of heat emanating, drawing exclamations of amazement from everyone.
"This is the Flame Palm?"
Bai Yan was a bit shell-shocked.
"Brother Bai, now you’ve witnessed it, right? I’ve always said, there are many capable and unique individuals in Hua Xia. Young man, you still need to be patient and remember there are always bigger fish, and beyond people..."
Boss Wang spoke passionately.
Bai Yan looked speechless: "Not even a single spark, and that’s called Flame Palm? This counts as dual abilities? Today’s truly been eye-opening!"