Lu Chen nodded and looked away.
Just then, a clear sword cry rang out.
Everyone looked up.
At the center of the Sword Debate Platform, a beam of sword light shot into the sky before slowly descending.
The sword light faded, revealing a figure.
Ye Qingtian.
Dressed in white, he stood with his hands behind his back, a faint icy-blue glow lingering around him.
His face was as handsome as ever, but an indescribable chill now lay between his brows, as though he had been carved from ten-thousand-year ice.
His gaze swept across the surroundings before finally settling on Lu Chen.
The two locked eyes.
The surrounding clamor seemed to fall silent in an instant.
The corner of Ye Qingtian's lips curled into a cold smile. Raising a hand toward Lu Chen, he slowly drew a finger across his throat.
The entire crowd erupted in uproar.
Yun Qingyue's expression changed, and she instinctively gripped Lu Chen's hand.
Lu Chen did not move. He merely looked at Ye Qingtian.
Then he smiled faintly and turned to leave.
The smile was slight, but in Ye Qingtian's eyes, it made his brows furrow faintly.
Back at the guest courtyard, Yun Qingyue could not help asking, "Aren't you angry about that gesture?"
Lu Chen sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. "Would being angry help?"
Yun Qingyue was left speechless.
Lu Chen took a sip of tea and said, "The more ostentatious he is now, the less confidence he has. Someone who truly has confidence wouldn't do something so unnecessary."
Yun Qingyue thought it over and felt that it made sense.
As night gradually fell, lamps were lit in the guest courtyard.
Mu Wanqing and the others returned from outside, their expressions somewhat grave.
"Something happened," Mu Wanqing said. "Zhou Yuanqing from