Seeing Bai Yue blocking their path with a bouquet of flowers in hand, Yan Zhen took the initiative to wrap his arm around Mentor Yu Xuan’s slender waist, staking his claim.
The smile on Bai Yue’s face vanished in an instant. It took him a good while to force it back as he stepped forward and said, “Yu Xuan, you’re back. It’s been two years—you’ve only gotten more beautiful.”
Mentor Yu Xuan glanced at him and nodded politely. “Hello, Student Bai Yue.”
That was it. Nothing more, not even a perfunctory “Congratulations on graduating.”
She was naturally courteous to ordinary classmates, but with a persistent suitor like this, it was best to keep her distance. She had no intention of accepting him, and that had been true from the start.
The exchange drew the attention of passersby. This situation screamed drama, and no one wanted to miss the show.
Bai Yue struggled to maintain his smile. “This bouquet is for you, to celebrate your return.”
Mentor Yu Xuan shook her head gently. “Thank you. I appreciate the gesture, but I’ll pass on the flowers. You can take them with you.”
Her words were polite but distant.
Bai Yue was used to this by now, but he never gave up. After all, most other suitors didn’t even get the chance to exchange more than a few words with her.
That was how it was supposed to be.
But now, watching her intimacy with the young man at her side, a surge of resentment boiled up inside Bai Yue. It felt like Mentor Yu Xuan had betrayed him.
He was the one who should have been closest to her. Why was she being so affectionate with some stranger?
“You’re as unapproachable as ever, not giving us even a sliver of hope.” Bai Yue feigned a wry smile and tossed the flowers aside with affected nonchalance. “Since you won’t accept them, they have no meaning anymore.”
Mentor Yu Xuan didn’t so much as blink. “Is there anything else? If not, we’ll be going.”
Bai Yue steadied his breathing in silence before asking, “And who might this be?”
Before Mentor Yu Xuan could respond, Yan Zhen cut in. “Hi there. I’m Mentor Yu Xuan’s disciple—and her boyfriend. Name’s Yan Zhen.”
“Disciple?!” Bai Yue froze for a moment, his expression darkening. “You’re a new student from the Garo Kingdom, aren’t you?”
Yan Zhen nodded. “That’s right. Yan Zhen from Martial Tang City in the Garo Kingdom. Pleased to meet you, Mentor Bai Yue?”
The Garo Kingdom! How could some punk kid from a backwater little country catch the eye of the Yu Family’s Eldest Miss? She must have been taken in by his smooth talk while she was away on her own!
Damn it! He’d pursued her for three years, only to lose by a hair’s breadth to some nobody from the boonies?
In that instant, Bai Yue’s jealousy peaked. He felt a burning hostility toward Yan Zhen and even wished the kid would just vanish into thin air.
“Nice to meet you, Student Yan Zhen. You’re quite lucky, aren’t you?”
Yan Zhen glanced at the graceful and enchanting Mentor Yu Xuan, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, pretty lucky.”
Onlookers might have started shipping the big-sister-little-brother dynamic, but to Bai Yue, Yan Zhen’s smile was infuriating—like the kid was mocking him as a loser.
“I won’t give up, Student Yan Zhen. Until the very end, I’ll do everything I can to win Yu Xuan’s heart.”
Yan Zhen’s eyes narrowed, his pupils turning slit-like and gleaming with an eerie light.
“I’d prefer if you knew when to back off, Mentor Bai Yue, and stopped interrupting my time with Mentor Yu Xuan. If you insist on pointless persistence, I’ll take the necessary steps to protect the woman I love.”
Bai Yue laughed coldly in his rage. “Heh, are you threatening me, Student Yan Zhen?”
Yan Zhen smiled back. “Do I really need to spell it out, Mentor Bai Yue? I thought I made myself clear.”
Are you an idiot?
Bai Yue could almost hear Yan Zhen calling him that. The handsome face slowly flushed pig-liver red as he fought to contain his fury.
“You’re awfully overbearing, Student Yan Zhen. A fine lady deserves a gentleman’s pursuit. Everyone has the right to woo Yu Xuan—there are plenty more suitors in both the inner and outer academies besides me. How many can you fend off? Besides, beauties belong with the strong. With Yu Xuan’s ethereal beauty, a green kid like you won’t find it easy to truly win her over!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Talking about pursuing my woman right in front of me—it’s only my mercy that’s keeping you from getting beaten to death on the spot.” Yan Zhen dropped the pretense. “She’s taken. If you’re smart, get lost.”
Otherwise, you’d be treated like the classic homewrecking side character. I’m a pure love warrior—one slash per NTR villain, no mercy!
“Beat me to death? With what?” Bai Yue sneered, probing Yan Zhen’s aura. “A Mystic Master Realm cultivator, huh? Not bad. But potential means nothing right now—you’re still just a Mystic Master, while I’m a Mystic General! What makes you think you can take me?”
As he spoke, he unleashed his Mystic General Realm pressure. A subtle aura of pressure spread out, making hearts tighten—even the watching students felt it.
“…Yan Zhen killed the Silver Moon City Lord, a Mystic General, back when he was still in the Mystic Initiate Realm,” Mentor Yu Xuan interjected suddenly. “You should go, Bai Yue. And don’t come looking for me again.”
“Yu Xuan, even if you’re covering for this kid, you don’t have to spin such an outrageous lie!” Bai Yue refused to buy it. “A Mystic Initiate killing a Mystic General? That’s the biggest joke I’ve ever heard!”
“Believe it or not, that’s up to you. Let’s go, Yan Zhen.”
Mentor Yu Xuan linked arms with Yan Zhen, and the two brushed past Bai Yue, hurrying away.
Staring at their retreating backs, Bai Yue’s gaze turned sinister. He ground his teeth, his resentment threatening to overwhelm his reason.
“A nobody from some podunk kingdom dares to touch the woman I’ve set my sights on? He’s dead meat!”
His eyes narrowed, a flash of murderous intent crossing them.
Yan Zhen paid it no mind. Under Mentor Yu Xuan’s guidance, he toured the Outer Academy’s facilities. They strolled like they were on a date, pausing now and then to grab snacks and feed each other on roadside benches. They looked either like a close-knit sister and brother or a pair of lovebirds, drawing plenty of eyes.
After half an hour of wandering, just as they were headed to the next spot, they were stopped again.
The newcomer was a sultry, mature beauty dressed in the Holy Land Academy’s Outer Academy mentor robes. Her figure was voluptuous and full of allure.
Her raven hair was piled high in an elegant updo, and a pair of silver-framed glasses perched on her nose—a picture-perfect female instructor.
Most importantly, her cultivation had reached the Mystic King Realm!
Yan Zhen watched her warily, only to hear Mentor Yu Xuan exclaim in surprise, “Aunt?!”
Aunt!? Yan Zhen’s jaw dropped.
The beautiful mentor woman hummed faintly. “Come with me. The dean wants to see you both.”
They exchanged a glance, both feeling a twinge of nerves.
Time to meet the parents already?
