My Fists Are Already Clenched, and You're Telling Me You're Not Competing?

Under the watchful eyes of countless people, the annual All-School Competition of the Dragon Summer Country Capital Martial Arts Academy officially began.

The entire academy was swept up in an unprecedented frenzy.

The enormous Central Martial Arena buzzed with voices as colorful banners fluttered overhead.

Countless students and representatives from various forces who had come upon hearing the news all focused their attention here.

For the students, this was the best stage to make a name for themselves in a single battle.

Those who stood out in the competition would not only receive massive resource rewards from the academy, but might also catch the eye of Dragon Summer Country's military, the Elder Council, or the major top-tier conglomerates ahead of time, soaring straight to the top from then on.

At the registration area, Ye Xuan stood tall, his gaze sharp as a blade.

He clenched his fists, feeling the endlessly surging spiritual power of the Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level within him, his heart brimming with fierce fighting spirit.

Lin Yuan!

He swore that on this arena, beneath the eyes of all, he would stomp that bastard viciously beneath his feet.

He would return every humiliation Lin Yuan had inflicted upon him a hundredfold!

He would show everyone who was truly chosen by fate!

He stood there like a javelin poised to fly, staring fixedly at the registration passage as he waited for that familiar figure to appear.

Yet, minute by minute, time passed.

From dawn to dusk, as the registration passage was about to close, Ye Xuan's brows drew tighter and tighter.

Where was he?

Why had Lin Yuan still not come?

"Registration is closed!"

With a shout from the teacher in charge, the registration passage slowly closed.

Ye Xuan stared at the empty passage, completely dumbfounded.

He rushed to the registration form in disbelief and carefully checked it from beginning to end three times.

Nothing!

Lin Yuan's name was nowhere on it!

That bastard...

He had not registered at all!

"Pfft—"

Ye Xuan felt his blood and energy rush straight to his head, sweetness rising in his throat as he nearly spurted out a mouthful of old blood.

He felt like a top boxer who had spent months preparing, gathered every ounce of strength, and struck the coolest pose possible, only for his opponent not to step into the ring at all!

That punch had landed squarely on cotton!

No, it had struck nothing but air!

That frustration, that helplessness, nearly drove him mad!

"Why?"

Unwilling to accept it, he grabbed a passing student and demanded, "Where is Lin Yuan? Why isn't he participating in the All-School Competition?"

The student jumped in fright and stammered, "Young... Young Master Lin? He... he seems to be sleeping in the Back Garden..."

Sleeping?!

Ye Xuan could no longer suppress the fury in his heart. Turning around, he charged toward the Back Garden like a maddened bull.

Sure enough, he spotted that figure who made his teeth itch with hatred at first glance.

Lin Yuan was lying beneath that familiar ancient tree.

With his arms beneath his head, he was sleeping soundly, a faint, contented smile even hanging at the corner of his mouth, as though he were having some Sweet Dream.

"LIN YUAN!!!"

Ye Xuan's roar was like a thunderclap, shaking the surrounding leaves until they rustled.

Lin Yuan was awakened by the noise and rubbed his eyes impatiently.

Looking At the fellow before him, whose face was red and whose entire body trembled, he asked lazily, "Why are you yelling? Don't you know disturbing someone while they're sleeping is very rude?"

"I'm asking you!" Ye Xuan pointed at his nose, his voice trembling. "Why aren't you participating in the All-School Competition?!"

Lin Yuan looked at him as though he were an idiot.

"Why should I participate?"

"Y-you... don't you want to prove yourself? Don't you want to settle this with me in a fight?"

"Prove myself?" Lin Yuan sneered and lay back down. "Who do I need to prove anything to? As for you..."

He paused, his tone calm yet filled with utter contempt.

"You aren't qualified to make me interested."

Ye Xuan froze completely.

He realized that all his efforts, all his fury, all his unwillingness, were nothing more than a joke before this man who had completely given up striving.

You could never provoke someone with taunts if they did not care about winning or losing at all.

You could never defeat an opponent who would not fight you in the first place.

An unprecedented sense of helplessness surged over Ye Xuan like a tide, drowning him.

For the first time, he realized something.

There was not a single thing he could do about this bastard.

News that Lin Yuan would not participate in the All-School Competition exploded through the academy like a bombshell.

The entire Campus Forum crashed once again.

"Breaking news! Lin Yuan has withdrawn! He didn't even register!"

"What is going on? Wasn't he acting all arrogant a while ago? Why did he chicken out the moment things got real?"

"I told you! He must be scared! He knows he definitely can't beat Ye Xuan, who's been cultivating like his life depends on it, so he simply became a turtle hiding in its shell!"

"Give me a break. Young Master Lin is at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Sixth Level. Why would he fear someone at the second level?"

"You can't put it that way. Ye Xuan may only be at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Second Level, but I heard he's extraordinarily talented and incredibly strong. He's always been able to challenge opponents above his level! Who knows whether he can defeat Young Master Lin?"

"Hiss... could it be that Young Master Lin talked too big and is afraid Ye Xuan will stand up for Top Beauty Li on the arena?"

All kinds of gossip spread among the students.

There was no shortage of mockery among it.

After all, as a notorious dandy at the school, Lin Yuan had quite a few sworn enemies besides the lackeys who followed him.

The students who had previously been intimidated by Lin Yuan's powerful Aura began poking their heads out again, and all sorts of speculation and ridicule grew louder and louder.

In their eyes, fleeing before battle was even more disgraceful than defeat.

Inside the Girls' Dormitory.

Li Xuan'er looked at the news on the forum, a pleased, cold smile appearing on her face.

"I knew it!"

"He's just a flashy good-for-nothing! All he knows is how to throw his weight around with his mouth. The moment it's time to speak with real strength, his true colors are exposed!"

She said this to her roommate beside her.

She felt that the resentment from being publicly humiliated by Lin Yuan earlier had finally been vented.

Weren't you so arrogant? Didn't you say Ye Xuan was unworthy?

Then why did you not even have the courage to compete on the same stage as Ye Xuan now?

Coward!

Li Xuan'er's contempt for Lin Yuan deepened further, while her confidence in Ye Xuan grew stronger and stronger.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the academy, Gu Ningxue saw the news as well.

Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, as she always felt things were not so simple.

Based on the personality Lin Yuan had shown that day, he was definitely not someone who would retreat out of fear.

That man carried an arrogance in his bones that looked down upon everything.

Driven by curiosity, she returned to the ancient tree in the Back Garden.

Lin Yuan was still lying there, as though the Surging Waves outside had nothing to do with him.

"You really know how to keep your composure!"

Gu Ningxue stopped beside him.

With her arms folded across her chest, she looked down at him and said, "The entire school is calling you a coward now, saying you're afraid of Ye Xuan. Don't you want to explain yourself?"

Lin Yuan did not even open his eyes, merely replying lazily, "Explain? Why should I explain?"

"Y-you're just going to let them talk about you like that?"

Gu Ningxue was so annoyed by his impervious attitude that she laughed.

Lin Yuan finally opened his eyes.

He sat up and looked calmly at Gu Ningxue, asking in return, "Would a lion care what a flock of sheep thinks?"

"Do you think I need to prove my strength to a bunch of ants?"

Those pitch-black eyes held not the slightest ripple, yet they revealed a domineering confidence that made one's heart tremble.

Gu Ningxue's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

Looking at this man who was clearly "lying flat" yet more arrogant than anyone else, she found herself speechless for a moment.

That was right. Given the Lin Family's status, given his own strength, he truly...

Did not need to prove anything to anyone.

Lin Family Manor.

The old butler, Uncle Zhong, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth through the living room.

He had already learned every rumor circulating through the academy.

His Young Master had been cursed by the entire school as a "coward" and "turtle hiding in its shell." This was not merely damaging to his Young Master's reputation—it was also tarnishing the Lin Family's honor!

He had just gone to persuade him again, only for his Young Master to answer, "Stop bothering me. I want to sleep," nearly giving him a heart attack from anger.

"Ah! Young Master, Young Master! Why are you so unconcerned about this?!"

Uncle Zhong sighed toward the heavens, knowing he definitely could not persuade him on his own.

Left with no choice, he gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

It seemed he could only invite that great figure to step in!

He dialed that number once more.

Light flickered, and the video call connected.

Uncle Zhong adjusted his collar and respectfully bowed toward the other end.

"Old Master, something has happened!"