Chapter 43: What Kind of Strange Trick Is This?

"Look at that young man—isn't he odd? He has a bicycle but isn't riding it, just pushing it along."

"Maybe there's something wrong with the bike. Could it be a flat tire?"

"No, it's not a flat. I checked earlier—both tires are full and firm."

"Why are you so concerned about this? If he likes pushing his bike, what business is it of yours?"

"Hey, I can't help it! How is it not my business? You know I have OCD."

"Let's go. Are you thinking of starting a fight?"

"Not a fight, but I want to go reason with him... Oh, damn!"

The two passersby looked on in astonishment as the man pushing his bike suddenly hoisted it onto his shoulder. Their eyes nearly popped out in disbelief.

What sort of bizarre move was that?

Is this some new trend this year?

As the surrounding crowd stared, Chen Yun felt bitterly helpless. Did they think he wanted to carry his bicycle and be treated like a lunatic? This damned system had decreed that forcibly using a high-level mount must be done by pushing it, with durability calculated as the pre-upgrade maximum—500—and the mount's durability consumed by the second. If it weren't for the durability listed as MAX in the attribute sheet, he'd never endure such suffering. Was the system's rule tailored just for him?

He had barely finished the thought before pausing, then chuckled wryly.

Of course—it was indeed all about him, since he alone possessed this system.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen someone stuffed to the brim out for a walk to digest?" Chen Yun, uncomfortable under the stares, couldn't help but shout.

...

"We've seen people out for digestion, but never someone carrying a bicycle to do it," a passerby muttered quietly.

With his mental strength at twelve, Chen Yun caught the mutter instantly and turned to explain, "You don't understand. Let me tell you: this is the latest health regimen issued by the Empire's top experts. Walk five kilometers daily carrying your bicycle, and you'll live to two hundred fifty."

Huh? The passerby was stunned. What kind of health method was this?

"Recent scientific research proves that carrying a heavy object while walking after a meal puts the whole body in a state of tension, accelerating metabolism and boosting cellular vitality, ultimately promoting longevity!" Chen Yun said with the utmost seriousness, though his words were pure nonsense.

"Did the experts really say that?" a passerby asked skeptically.

"Absolutely. It's truer than gold!" Chen Yun nodded, struggling to suppress his laughter.

"Well, if the experts said so, it must work! I'll go home and carry my bicycle right away!"

"Didn't the experts say it had to be a heavy object? A bicycle isn't heavy enough—I’ll try carrying two tomorrow."

"You all can't compete with me. Tomorrow I'll carry an electric scooter for five kilometers and show you how strong I am."

"Tch! Tomorrow I'll carry a motorcycle!"

Chen Yun watched the crowd of fired-up passersby, eager to race home and grab their motorcycles, utterly baffled. What was going on?

Even children knew that so-called experts' nonsense wasn't to be trusted. Who would believe it? Did these people lack the ability to discern truth from falsehood?

Chen Yun had no idea that in this world, experts truly were experts—authoritative and rigorous, nothing like the fraudulent, money-grubbing charlatans from Earth. Here, every statement by an expert was based on real testing, honest to the core.

He had never imagined that his offhand nonsense would later cause such a stir, plunging the Empire's experts into their first historical crisis of trust!

Although the toy bicycle he bought had turned into a real one, its weight remained as light as the original toy. He carried it effortlessly all the way to the city center. There, his attention was caught by the scrolling text on the giant screen outside the city's tallest building—the Blue Rhythm Trade Tower, all 188 floors of it.

"Tonight at eight o’clock sharp, Junyue Auction House will be auctioning twenty exquisite dishes in the hall on the eighteenth floor of the Trade Tower."

"All twenty dishes are crafted by master chef Chen Yun from Yahua Chain Hotel."

"Our chief appraiser has verified that the main ingredient in all dishes is the flesh and blood of a century-old catfish spirit, highly beneficial to cultivators' progress."

"Due to the remarkable effects of these dishes, for safety, only cultivators may attend this auction."

"Bring sufficient funds—let us repeat: the effects of these dishes will surpass your expectations!"

"My goodness, Brother Zhang is going all out—selling them at auction! How much will they fetch?" Chen Yun wondered in awe. "I have to see this. I've never witnessed an auction in my life."

At the entrance, the security guard eyed the young man carrying a bicycle, wondering what he was up to. When he saw Chen Yun about to step inside, he called out urgently, "Stop! You can't come in!"

Chen Yun paused, surprised. Wasn't this a shopping complex? Why wasn't he allowed inside?

"Sir," the guard hurried over, "we don’t allow vehicles inside. There’s a parking area outside—please leave your bike there before entering."

"Oh, I know, but I just bought this bike today. I haven’t locked it yet, and I don’t feel safe leaving it outside."

The security guard stared at him, mouth twitching. "Sir, we have staff on duty to look after the parking area, so you don’t need to worry about theft."

"Do you know what this bike is worth? Fifty thousand gold coins! If it gets stolen, could you afford to compensate me?" Chen Yun retorted. If he could leave it outside, he would have done so already—no need for reminders.

"Sir, please trust our professionalism. I guarantee with my reputation that your bike is perfectly safe in our parking area. Otherwise, I can’t let you in," the guard said firmly.

"Damn!" Chen Yun cursed inwardly, though he couldn't show it. After all, the guard was simply doing his duty.

"Fine, I won't go in!" Chen Yun turned to leave with his bike, when he suddenly spotted Zhang Lang approaching from his car.

Ah, what luck—just when things seemed hopeless, a new opportunity appeared!

Chen Yun decided to stay, waiting at the entrance for Zhang Lang.

"Chen, what are you doing here?" Zhang Lang called out from afar, spotting Chen Yun at the entrance with a bike slung over his shoulder. The spectacle was hard to miss.

"Brother Zhang, I wanted to check out the auction, but the guard won't let me in," Chen Yun said.

"Hmm?" Zhang Lang’s face darkened as he turned to the guard and demanded, "He’s a guest—why aren’t you letting him in?"

"Mr. Zhang, if someone carried a bicycle into your hotel to eat, would you allow it?" The guard, knowing Zhang Lang, replied with a question rather than an answer.

"Of course not..." Zhang Lang faltered, then realized what was happening. He looked at Chen Yun with a strange expression. "Chen, are you planning to bring your bicycle inside?"

"Yes," Chen Yun replied matter-of-factly.

"..."