A single short sentence plunged the private room into a moment of silence.
Anyone there could tell that Lin Yan was deeply displeased with Tang San.
There was no other reason. Tang San had nearly gravely injured Wen Ruan that afternoon, and Lin Yan, as her boyfriend, couldn't simply stand by and do nothing.
Tang San had known he was in the wrong, especially after learning how strong Lin Yan was. He had indeed been prepared to apologize.
But the words "crooked, unorthodox methods" had directly condemned his Hidden Weapons—and the Tang Sect of his previous life.
So, if only to uphold the obsession in his heart, he had to grit his teeth and stand up to Lin Yan.
"Crooked, unorthodox methods?"
Tang San's eyes grew faintly red with anger as he said indignantly, "Do you know how much effort I put into them..."
"Tang San!"
Before Tang San could continue, Flender slammed his hand on the table and cut him off.
"I've heard what happened this afternoon. Apologize to Wen Ruan, and we'll consider the matter settled."
"What?"
Tang San stared at him in disbelief.
His teacher, Yu Xiaogang, had once told him that Dean Flender was a close friend of his. Once Tang San arrived here, he would surely be treated with special consideration.
But now...
"So this is the power of the nobility?"
"Damn it! A bunch of bootlicking bumpkins."
Thinking this, Tang San clenched his fists in secret, his face full of defiance.
At that moment, Lin Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You're unhappy about it?"
As soon as he said that, the atmosphere in the private room plunged to freezing.
Lin Yan was only wary of Tang Hao lurking in the shadows, which was why he didn't dare reveal his true strength for now.
That didn't mean he had to swallow every insult from Tang San.
The guy had nearly taken Wen Ruan's life. If Lin Yan didn't put him in his place now, who knew how arrogant he might become in the future?
Across the round table, Tang San's breathing grew heavier.
Under Lin Yan's pressure, he couldn't summon even the slightest courage to resist.
Moments ago, he had still wanted to defend the glory of the Tang Sect from his previous life.
But now, facing a future "Guardian General" of the Heaven Dou Empire, he had no choice but to compromise with reality.
"Damn it!"
"You dared to insult the Tang Sect. You've earned a death sentence!"
"When I grow stronger, the first thing I'll do is take your head and restore the Tang Sect's prestige."
Tang San's eyes were bloodshot, and he panted like an ox.
Even Xiao Wu, sitting beside him, looked a little frightened.
Just then, Flender's low shout suddenly rang out in the silent room.
"Tang San! Apologize!"
"Don't make me spell it out."
The shout made both Tang San and Xiao Wu stiffen in alarm.
"That's enough! Why are you picking on Third Brother?"
Xiao Wu slapped the table and sprang to her feet, pointing at Lin Yan's nose as she shouted.
"You think you're so great just because you're strong? You think you can bully your classmates just because you have strength?"
"You..."
"Xiao Wu!"
Tang San grabbed Xiao Wu's arm from his seat.
He buried his head against his chest, looking utterly humiliated. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought Tang San was the victim.
Everyone's eyes turned toward him, and the air fell silent once more.
A little while later, he slowly stood and looked at Lin Yan.
"I'm sorry."
He ground out the apology through clenched teeth, as if saying those three words had saddled him with a blood feud.
The sight made everyone present furrow their brows in unison.
Truth be told, everyone knew whether Tang San or Lin Yan had been in the wrong that afternoon.
Xiao Wu had merely suffered the backlash from her own Soul Skill and hadn't even been hurt. Yet Tang San had used some bizarre method to launch a killing blow.
And he had attacked when his opponent was unprepared.
In everyone's eyes, Lin Yan had shown great restraint by not killing Tang San outright. Yet now, all he had asked was for Tang San to apologize, and the guy had put on such a show.
Tsk. He really didn't know his place.
"I told you to apologize to your senior, Wen Ruan."
Lin Yan's voice hardened. There was no sign he intended to let Tang San off the hook.
As if! With so many people present seeing that Tang San wasn't convinced, would Lin Yan really let the matter end just like that?
Tang San glanced at Flender one last time.
When he saw that Flender had no intention of stopping Lin Yan, his heart finally gave up.
He took a deep breath, then turned to Wen Ruan and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, senior."
Tang San bent low at the waist and lowered his head.
No one could see his expression, but in the silent private room, they could hear his heavy breathing.
One second, two seconds, three...
Time ticked by, and Lin Yan simply watched Tang San in silence.
Wen Ruan, intimidated by the force Lin Yan had shown, didn't dare speak up and say she forgave Tang San.
A long time passed—so long that everyone started to feel uneasy.
At last, Flender broke the silence.
"Come on, let's eat!"
"Lin Yan, don't take it too much to heart. It's not unusual for Soul Masters to lose control when sparring. Tang San's apologized, so do me a favor and let it go. Don't bring it up again, all right?"
With Flender setting the tone, Zhao Wuji chimed in as well.
"Exactly."
"Tang San just got carried away. Don't hold it against him."
One after another, everyone urged Lin Yan not to be angry. The private room burst into lively chatter, as if he were the center of attention.
All the while, Tang San remained bent over without lifting his head.
Before long, the servers brought out the food and wine, and Lin Yan finally relented.
"Let's eat."
Xiao Wu hurried to help Tang San up, her pink eyes already brimming with tears.
Amid all the noise, the two of them looked like victims who had been ostracized and bullied, utterly out of place.
And Tang San himself naturally began to see himself as the victim.
He completely forgot that his sneak attack that afternoon might have cost Wen Ruan her life.
Late that night.
Everyone stood outside the hotel entrance.
A cool breeze swept by, dispelling some of their drunkenness and the smell of alcohol.
With an arm around Wen Ruan, Lin Yan looked at Flender, who was thoroughly drunk.
"Dean, you should head back to the academy. Wen Ruan and I won't bother making the trip. We'll find a hotel and stay here for tonight, then head back tomorrow."
Flender was being supported by Ma Hongjun. He grinned.
"Hahaha!"
"Young people..."
"Then we'll be off."
Flender's little eyes were full of teasing. When he looked at Lin Yan and Wen Ruan, he even gave them a mischievous smile.
Lin Yan didn't say much. He simply waved to everyone.
"Bye-bye."
Before long, the group set off for the academy, supporting one another as they went.
The world fell quiet. Lin Yan turned to Wen Ruan.
"You barely touched your food. Are you upset?"
Wen Ruan furrowed her delicate brows.
"I have a feeling that Tang San isn't as simple as he seems."
"And Ning Rongrong—how do you know her?"
Seeing that Wen Ruan had indeed brought up Ning Rongrong, Lin Yan smiled and explained, "She's from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Crown Prince took me to meet her a few times, so I remember her."
"What, are you jealous?"
"Hmph!"
Wen Ruan gave a little huff and deliberately turned her head away.
Lin Yan simply slipped an affectionate arm around her slender waist.
"You're getting cuter and cuter, junior."
"Save the sweet talk."
"Tell me! Do you have any other girlfriends in Heaven Dou City?"
"Of course not. You really don't trust me at all."
"..."
Beneath the night sky, the two chatted and laughed as they soon reached the hotel entrance.
But just as Lin Yan was about to step inside, the hairs on the back of his neck suddenly stood on end!
Years of combat training against Titled Douluo had taught him to react at once.
[Spirit Bone Skill: Teleportation!]
Dragon Wings burst open without warning, stirring up a wave of scorching air.
Lin Yan vanished from the spot with Wen Ruan in his arms.
Boom!
The instant the two disappeared, the place where they had been standing exploded.
Stone fragments flew, and dust billowed!