Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 85: Knight

Before entering the bar, Yang Chen noticed the patterned neon lights at the entrance, which he hadn't paid much attention to before.

"Thorn," the bar had a peculiar name. The green stone walls and dark brown wooden decorations at the entrance gave off a medieval European castle vibe, perhaps an effective way to attract a specific clientele. At least, Lin Ruoxi had chosen this small bar to drown her sorrows.

As soon as Yang Chen stepped inside, a soothing piano melody filled the air. If he remembered correctly, it was Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody."

This piece often gave people the impression of rugged excitement, but in reality, it exuded elegance and nobility, like a royal decorated luxury cruise, gracefully swaying along a winding river.

The sudden emergence of such music in this seemingly narrow bar significantly enhanced its quaint atmosphere.

Some tables and chairs in the center of the bar had been moved to the side, and many young urban men and women gathered together, exchanging various laughs and ambiguous glances. In this city where stress was prevalent, disco music used for clubbing seemed insufficient to satisfy the spiritual needs of these white-collar workers. They chose to gather in exquisite and tasteful small bars with classical piano music to express their dissatisfaction with society and satisfy their modesty.

Yang Chen, who had flames in his chest moments ago, gradually calmed down after hearing this piece of music. He didn't hastily search for the variously dressed women in the bar but instead sat down at the bar counter and ordered a glass of ordinary whiskey from the bartender.

The air was filled with a mixture of perfume and alcohol. Yang Chen quietly sat in a corner of the bar, sipping on the amber liquid, while nearby various conversations were being held, expressing emotions. Yang Chen thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere.

However, the quiet time didn't last long. From a dark corner of the bar, a woman in a sky-blue camisole dress walked out gracefully. Her skin was fair, her calves slender, her figure graceful and slender. Not exaggerated, but also delicate and charming. She wore light makeup, with delicate features reminiscent of ink paintings, refined and with a classical elegance.

Her shoulder-length jet-black hair was slightly curled at the ends, and she wore two silver earrings on her earlobes. She exuded a vibe similar to that of a European and American top model casually strolling out after work, the only difference being her slightly petite figure.

This woman was easily likeable at first sight. Her beauty didn't stun you to the point of increased heart rate, but it was difficult to resist.

"Sir, may I have the pleasure of your invitation for a drink?" The woman raised her glass, gracefully tilting her head as she downed the last sip of mint liqueur in the glass. Then, she placed the empty glass on the counter and looked at Yang Chen with a playful smile.

Not only men would seek prey, but women would also do the same.

Being treated as prey was nothing new to Yang Chen, so he smiled calmly and snapped his fingers at the young bartender nearby.

"What can I get for you, miss?" The bartender asked the woman directly, understanding the situation well.

"Brandy Alexander cocktail." A smooth London accent rolled off the woman's lips naturally, not coming off as pretentious but rather as if it was the natural way to speak.

"What... what?" The young bartender obviously wasn't very proficient in English.

"Brandy Alexander, or Alexandra." Yang Chen kindly clarified for the bartender.

The bartender, having encountered various situations before, thanked Yang Chen and, with a smile of apology towards the woman, began to smoothly mix the drink.

When the woman received the cocoa-colored drink, she looked at Yang Chen with some appreciation. "Sorry, I spent several years abroad before. I'm not very familiar with some of the local terms. However, few people know the name Alexandra. It seems that the gentleman is quite knowledgeable about alcohol."

Yang Chen raised his glass slightly to the woman. "To commemorate the wedding of King Edward VII of England and Queen Alexandra, this cocktail was created as a tribute to the queen. Many women enjoy this flavor. If a man wants to understand women, knowing this isn't anything special."

"But of all the men who came in here, only you didn't come to find a woman."

"I'm not looking, and yet here you are." Yang Chen chuckled.

The woman looked at Yang Chen for a moment before extending her fair and delicate hand. "Anxin, '安心', meaning 'peace of mind.'"

"A very special interpretation," Yang Chen found it intriguing. Not only did this woman fit his requirements in appearance, but her taste and way of speaking also seemed suitable for a night of pleasure. He shook hands with Anxin in a courteous gesture. "Yang Chen. When you're ready to reveal your name, I'll tell you which two characters mine are."

"Your interpretation is even more special, but much more interesting than other men." Anxin playfully winked. "Congratulations, you've piqued my interest."

"Interest in what?" Yang Chen asked. "Understanding the structure of my body? If you're willing to exchange equally, we can get to know each other."

Anxin wasn't bothered by such explicit implications. "I suspect that saying such things might not be the real you. That's my interest. Simply put, I want to see if the man in front of me can meet my requirements for an intimate male partner."

"Miss An, the truth in this world often doesn't exist. If you're willing, I think you'd better rely on your sharp intuition as a woman to judge." Yang Chen boldly looked Anxin up and down. It seemed that they both had something in mind, so many things could be said plainly.

Tilting her head, Anxin's soft hair slightly obscured her charming intoxicated blush from drinking. With a sweet breath, she asked with a bewildered gaze, "Could you explain? I'm not quite understanding Mr. Yang's meaning."

Teased by the suspense, Yang Chen felt helpless about this clever-minded woman. She was clearly stating her intentions to spend the night with him, yet she kept asking so many questions. But he needed to maintain the atmosphere, so he asked in return, "Miss An, do you know who the inventor of radio is?"

"Anyone who's read a book knows it's Marconi," Anxin frowned slightly. This change in topic was quite unexpected, but she was intelligent enough to keep up. "Isn't that the truth?"

"From the perspective of most Western countries, indeed, Marconi is credited with inventing the radio. However, in Soviet Russia, it was Popov, and in Germany, it was Hertz. In the United States, it was Tesla. For example, Popov in Russia successfully researched the radio several decades before Marconi, but due to a funding issue of 1000 rubles, the Russian army directly vetoed what they saw as a delusional great invention. So, it wasn't until decades later that Marconi received the Nobel Prize."

Anxin gazed at Yang Chen, and amidst the shifting light, she chuckled softly. "Mr. Yang, although I'm not sure if what you're saying is true, no man has ever said such things to me in a bar, in an ambiguous atmosphere."

Yang Chen took a sip of his drink, swirling the glass lightly in his hand. "Does it matter? Do you like it, Miss An?"

Suddenly, Anxin bent forward, her supple waist drawing her closer to Yang Chen's profile. Her moist, cool cherry lips lightly kissed Yang Chen's cheek, then she smiled charmingly. "Congratulations, tonight I belong to you."

"Pleased to serve you," Yang Chen said airily, setting down his glass. He had finally succeeded in acting, and with one hand, he grasped Anxin's fair wrist, ready to leave the bar.

Just as this was happening, four or five burly men in suits and ties suddenly burst into the bar, each with an urgent expression. When they saw Yang Chen holding Anxin's hand in an intimate manner, they all showed expressions of anger.

"Miss An, please come with us," the leader of the black-clad men said sternly, leaving no room for resistance.

The atmosphere in the bar grew tense as customers stopped their conversations to watch the unfolding scene.

Anxin glanced casually at the men in black before turning her gaze back to Yang Chen with a calm expression. Seeing Yang Chen's undaunted demeanor, she couldn't help but admire him. "It seems that passing my test alone isn't enough. Mr. Yang, will you choose to abandon the poor little lamb or become a knight who draws his sword and fights?"

Yang Chen inwardly sighed. Indeed, good women weren't easy to win over. But feeling intrigued, he didn't mind the trouble. With a playful smile directed at Anxin, he said, "If Miss Anxin can give me a kiss of blessing, I believe tonight we'll have an unforgettable and enchanting time together."

Without hesitation, Anxin, like a noble girl in love, elegantly wrapped her hands around Yang Chen's neck, tilting her beautiful face to press her lips moistly against his. Just before leaving, she even ran her warm tongue across Yang Chen's cheek, leaving a wet mark.

"Be brave and fight, my knight," Anxin said as she released her hold on Yang Chen and stepped back behind him.

The black-clad men were visibly angry now, with the leader glaring fiercely at Yang Chen. "Young man, you'll regret what happened tonight for the rest of your life."