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Tang San's face turned ashen. He wanted to argue, but couldn't find the words.

He had indeed seen the angle of Dai Mubai's attack. It really had been... far too underhanded.

But Dai Mubai was his brother. He couldn't just stand by and watch him get crippled without doing anything.

"Regardless, you went too far." Tang San's voice was cold. "Shrek will remember this."

Qin Yuan laughed, wild and unrestrained. "So what if you remember? Want revenge? I'll be waiting anytime."

He glanced over the Shrek students. Everyone his gaze swept over, except Tang San, who managed to stay composed, instinctively avoided his eyes.

Just then, Xiao Wu noticed Ning Rongrong's expression.

Ning Rongrong had stood off to the side the whole time, her expression calm. She wasn't angry or shocked, nor did she look the least bit surprised.

There was even a faint smile at the corner of her mouth, and her eyes held a knowing look that seemed to say, "Just as I expected."

Xiao Wu's heart stirred. She tugged at Ning Rongrong's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Rongrong, you... you're not surprised at all?"

Ning Rongrong looked at Xiao Wu and blinked, saying nothing.

Xiao Wu thought of Ning Rongrong's laughter earlier on the way here—that inexplicable, meaningful laugh.

Suddenly, she understood. Her eyes widened.

"Rongrong, you knew all along?" Xiao Wu's voice held a hint of disbelief.

"You knew how strong Ling Tian was? You knew Boss Dai would lose?"

Ning Rongrong looked at Xiao Wu and nodded gently.

"You..." Xiao Wu didn't know what to say. "Then why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Ning Rongrong sighed softly and looked at the spirited young man on the platform. A complex glimmer flashed in her eyes.

"Before I joined Shrek Academy, I met Ling Tian once."

Tang San, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all turned to look at Ning Rongrong when they heard this.

Ning Rongrong continued, "My father personally invited Ling Tian to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Everyone froze at her words.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects—and its sect master, Ning Fengzhi, had personally invited him?

"My father's assessment of Ling Tian was that he was a once-in-a-century genius, a man destined to stand at the peak of the Soul Master World."

Ning Rongrong's voice was calm, but every word struck the Shrek students like a heavy hammer.

Tang San's expression changed completely.

A once-in-a-century genius? Ning Fengzhi was the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He had met countless talented people. For him to give Ling Tian such an assessment meant that Ling Tian's strength...

No wonder. No wonder he could defeat Dai Mubai with a single move.

No wonder he could crush him without even releasing his Martial Soul.

They had underestimated their opponent from the very beginning—and by a vast margin.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong and glared at her in annoyance.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner? You had me worried for so long!"

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, looking a little embarrassed.

"I've never liked that lecherous, ridiculously arrogant Dai Mubai.

"You have no idea. Back in Suotuo City, he spent every day surrounded by women. I'd been wanting Ling Tian to teach him a good lesson for ages."

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, thinking of Dai Mubai's past behavior. She couldn't help agreeing.

But she still said, "You should've told me beforehand. I was genuinely afraid Ling Tian might get hurt."

Ning Rongrong spread her hands helplessly. "Would you have believed me if I'd told you? Besides, I didn't expect Dai Mubai to be so underhanded, attacking Ling Tian there as soon as the match began. That move completely enraged Ling Tian."

She looked at Dai Mubai, who was curled up on the ground, screaming. There was no sympathy in her eyes, only indifference.

"He brought this on himself. If he hadn't struck first with a dirty trick, Ling Tian would've merely defeated him. He wouldn't have hit him this hard. If anyone's to blame, it's Dai Mubai and his crooked heart."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Just then, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly remembered something. She hurriedly turned and ran toward the platform.

"Big Brother Ling Tian!" She ran up to Qin Yuan and looked him over. "Are you hurt? Did Dai Mubai's move injure you?"

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's anxious expression warmed Qin Yuan's heart.

He shook his head. "I'm fine. He couldn't hurt me."

Zhu Zhuqing checked him carefully. Only after confirming that Qin Yuan was truly unharmed did she let out a sigh of relief.

Yet the sight left everyone present speechless.

Did he look like he was hurt?

He'd punched Dai Mubai flying and kicked him in the vitals. Not a speck of dust had touched him, and his clothes weren't even wrinkled.

And he was supposed to be hurt?

Tang San and the others exchanged glances, their hearts a tangle of emotions.

The Boss Dai they'd always been so proud of hadn't even lasted one move against him.

He hadn't even released his Martial Soul or lit up a single Soul Ring. He'd dealt with Dai Mubai as easily as crushing an ant.

This kind of gap couldn't be made up through hard work.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing's anxious face, Qin Yuan suddenly smiled.

He reached out, boldly wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing's slender, soft waist, and pulled her firmly into his embrace.

Caught off guard, Zhu Zhuqing let out a startled cry. "Ah—"

She instinctively struggled, but Qin Yuan's arm was like an iron hoop. She couldn't break free.

His warm breath washed over her, making her heartbeat suddenly quicken.

Her struggle lasted only a moment before she gave up.

She lowered her eyes, her long lashes trembling slightly. Two rosy clouds bloomed on her cheeks and spread all the way to her ears.

Her heart pounded with nothing but joy and shyness.

She buried her face against Qin Yuan's chest, not daring to look up at anyone.

Below the platform, Ning Rongrong saw them and broke into a knowing smile, her eyes curving into crescents.

She muttered softly, "Oh my, they're really laying on the sweetness. This is almost too much!"

Xiao Wu also pressed her lips together to hide a smile and nudged Tang San's arm.

Tang San's face was grim. He wasn't in the mood to pay any attention to them.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar exchanged glances, both seeing the same helplessness in the other's eyes.

Boss Dai had been beaten to a pulp, and these two were still cuddling on the platform. What kind of absurd mess was this?

With one arm around Zhu Zhuqing, Qin Yuan walked down from the platform and stopped in front of the Shrek students.

Dai Mubai was still screaming, his voice now hoarse as he curled up on the ground and writhed.

Flender and Yu Xiaogang were treating his injuries in a hurry, both of their expressions frighteningly grim.

Qin Yuan stopped and looked down at Dai Mubai, his voice cold.

"Zhuqing is my woman. If you dare harbor even the slightest improper thought about her again, I'll kill you."

His voice wasn't loud, but the chilling murderous intent made everyone present shudder.

Dai Mubai tried to say something, but the pain reduced his words to a garbled groan.

Flender abruptly looked up and glared at Qin Yuan. "You—"

"Dean Flender." Meng Shenji's voice cut in at just the right moment, carrying an unquestionable authority. "On a competition platform, fists and feet can go astray. Injuries are inevitable. Besides, it was your Shrek student who struck first with a dirty trick. Ling Tian merely retaliated. Let this matter end here."

Flender trembled with rage, but faced with three Soul Douluo-level experts, he could only force down his anger.

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, and said in a low voice, "Committee Member Meng is right. Injuries are inevitable in a platform match. Shrek accepts what happened today."

He stood up and looked at Qin Yuan, his gaze as cold as a blade. "But, young man, the mountains may turn and the waters may flow. We'll remember this."

Qin Yuan shrugged, entirely unconcerned. "I'll be waiting anytime."