Chapter 138: Uncontrollable Chaos, Parasitism

"A fight... wait? They're fighting?!"

This realization shocked them both. Although they were in the middle of a crucial discussion, they had no choice but to pause.

The situation was actually quite simple. They had just finished eating, but since so many old acquaintances had finally gathered, there was much to talk about and many days of lost time to catch up on. Everyone was full, but there was still plenty of alcohol left. Aside from those who had to drive, almost everyone had been drinking.

It started as a normal affair, with people milling around the dining table asking about how everyone had been since graduation. Dong Ye had just shared the good news of his promotion, and most people were genuinely happy for him.

The only exception was Feng Xin, the one who had been leading the conversation earlier. He was the type of person who spoke without thinking, a man with no filter who became even more uninhibited after a few drinks. He began to make snide remarks, suggesting that for Dong Ye to reach a middle-management position at a large company so quickly, he must have pulled strings, used connections, or even engaged in "unspoken rules."

Of course, they were all hot-blooded young people. If this had been a casual joke from someone close like Xu Dan or Qi Yan, it might have been fine, but Feng Xin was barely an acquaintance. He and Dong Ye weren't friends at all. Provoked by his passive-aggressive taunts, Dong Ye held his temper for as long as he could, but eventually snapped. Fueled by the alcohol, he started shouting. One thing led to another, and soon they were brawling.

By the time Qi Yan and the others returned to the private room, they could hear shouting, swearing, and the sound of things being smashed. The scene inside was chaotic; everyone had stood up, nearly flipping the large round table that still held the hot pot broth.

Dong Ye and Feng Xin were both sporting injuries, clearly having already traded blows—one had a swollen, bruised eye, while the other had blood trickling down his forehead. The rest of the friends were divided into two groups, desperately trying to pull them apart. Even so, the fighting wouldn't stop. The room was small, and the commotion only made the situation more frantic.

Xu Dan stood there looking incredibly worried. She was deeply frustrated; she had felt a tiny bit of "disappointment" earlier that things were too calm, but now that a real fight had broken out, it had nothing to do with Qi Yan or Chen Huiting. It was as if fate had played a cruel joke, creating a massive conflict right in her own circle.

Qi Yan and the others didn't dare hesitate; they immediately jumped in to separate the two sides and try to calm them down. Though held back by others and unable to reach each other, the two men continued to trade insults across the room.

"You have the guts to say that again? Say it to my face one more time, I dare you!"

"I'll say it! It’s the truth! What’s so great about a promotion? Look at how full of yourself you are!"

"I’m not bragging! You were the one who asked! Now you’re being sarcastic? I got this promotion on my own merit! Your mother is the one who got ahead through 'unspoken rules'!"

"Say that again, I dare you!"

"I said it, and I'll say it again!"

Dong Ye was usually a decent guy, but he had one flaw: his tolerance for alcohol was low, and his behavior while drunk was questionable. He tended to lose control of his emotions and get into trouble, which was exactly why Qi Yan had to go fetch him from a bar last time. Xu Dan had been trying to keep a tight leash on him, strictly controlling his intake to avoid such situations.

Feng Xin was just as bad, with a venomous tongue. He loved to poke at people's sore spots; it wasn't "honesty" or "being straightforward," it was just a lack of upbringing. With these two going at it, blood was bound to be shed.

A perfectly good birthday party, before the cake had even been cut, was being ruined by the two of them.

The waiter had already called security. Just as Qi Yan rushed forward to mediate, someone’s hand caught him, snapping the necklace he wore. It wasn't an occult talisman, but the "Walking Buddha" that Li Ruoke had given him. As the beaded chain broke, the beads scattered across the floor, and the pendant fell. Qi Yan immediately crouched down, searching for it amidst the legs of the crowd.

Feng Xin, enraged, grabbed a beer bottle. Unable to reach Dong Ye, he hurled it at him. *Crash!* Glass shards flew everywhere, and the women shrieked.

Though the bottle missed Dong Ye, it only fueled his fury. He shoved a male classmate aside and threw a heavy punch. Zhong Yu had been trying to stand in the middle, but he didn't see it coming; the fist landed squarely on his nose. Whether his fillers and injections were dislodged was anyone's guess, but he immediately began to bleed profusely. For someone who had undergone cosmetic work on his face, his nose and chin couldn't handle even the slightest impact, let alone a punch thrown with such rage. He let out a pained cry, clutching his nose as he retreated to the sofa, where Chen Huiting rushed over to help him.

Qi Yan was still on the floor, trying to find his fallen Buddha pendant, but the scene was too chaotic. It was being kicked around, and he had no idea where it had slid. To make matters worse, a female classmate wearing high heels stumbled backward and accidentally stepped right on the back of his hand.

"Ah!"

High heels are more than just a fashion accessory; they are a formidable weapon. When used correctly, they pack a massive punch. Qi Yan winced in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.

In such a melee, collateral damage was to be expected. Li Ruoke was also in the middle of trying to intervene when she was struck by a wild swing from Feng Xin as he struggled to break free. It was a heavy blow. Li Ruoke was not someone to be trifled with; although she knew mediators often got hit, this slap had stung. She touched the back of her head, her hair now a mess. Since she was only there as Qi Yan’s guest and didn't know the others well, she lost her temper. She cursed, spun around, and delivered a signature roundhouse kick that landed squarely in Feng Xin’s stomach. He let out a wheezing gasp, spitting saliva as he was sent flying, landing flat on his back.

"Stop it! Everyone, stop!" Chen Huiting, the birthday girl, watched in horror as her celebration devolved into this. She shouted until her throat was raw, but no one could hear her over the din.

Ever since Xuanxuan had returned the "Walking Buddha" to him after they got off the train, Qi Yan had kept it on his person at all times, just like his occult talismans—even sleeping with it by his pillow. Now that it was broken, his hand throbbed with pain, but then, a churning, nauseating sensation rose in his stomach, as if something were wriggling around inside him.

"Ugh... ugh... *gag!*"

He crouched on the floor, dry-heaving. The sensation grew more intense with every wave until he finally vomited. Among the bile on the floor was something the size of a thumbnail—a tiny, spider-like creature. It moved with startling agility, immediately scurrying away into the chaos and vanishing from sight.

As the creature crawled, it split into two. One half leaped onto a petite female classmate in the crowd, scurried up her clothes to the nape of her neck, and—without leaving a mark—burrowed directly into her skin. The girl only felt a slight itch on her neck; she felt no pain. The creature wriggled beneath the skin for a moment before settling.

The other half crawled onto Chen Huiting. Focused entirely on stopping the fight, she didn't notice a thing as the creature burrowed into the skin at the back of her neck as well.

Everything happened so suddenly. What should have been a joyful birthday celebration had turned into a bloody, chaotic brawl.