Things Have Escalated

Ling Tianchen slowly descended to the ground and retracted the crystalline ice wings behind his back.

Just as he was about to set Xiao Xiao down, he discovered that the girl in his arms was staring at him without blinking, her large emerald-green eyes filled with admiration.

"Brother Chen..."

Xiao Xiao spoke softly, her cheeks still flushed.

"That was amazing! We were flying just now."

"It was my first time... experiencing takeoff. It felt so wonderful..."

Ling Tianchen froze for a moment.

"Weren't you scared? I beat Zhou Yi into that state right in front of everyone. People probably just think I'm some lawless troublemaker, don't they?"

Xiao Xiao blinked and tilted her head in confusion.

"Eh? Why would they? I found it really satisfying instead."

"When I stood in front of Zhou Yi just now, I was so scared that my legs were about to give out. But then you stepped forward and stood in front of me. It made me feel so safe."

After saying that, she secretly glanced at Ling Tianchen, then quickly looked away as if she had been caught.

"Besides, this actually helped me understand you better, Brother Chen. When we first met, I thought you were a really aloof person, like you didn't care about anything. But later, I realized..."

Xiao Xiao pursed her lips and revealed a faint smile.

"You'll stand up for your classmates too. That's actually... pretty nice. At least it makes you seem more human, doesn't it?"

Otherwise, I really wouldn't know how to get close to you. Xiao Xiao did not say those words aloud.

"And..."

She hesitated before adding quietly.

"The way you looked just now, Brother Chen... was actually really handsome."

Ling Tianchen was slightly stunned.

Being praised so earnestly by a young girl, even with his thick skin, he could not help feeling a little embarrassed.

He simply had not wanted to remain in Class One. As for the punching-bag segment afterward, Zhou Yi had been the one to lose her temper and charge at him. Standing up for his classmates so they would not be manipulated by Zhou Yi had only been incidental.

How had he become, in Xiao Xiao's eyes, a righteous young man who stood up for his classmates and dared to resist injustice?

Please don't put such a halo on me. I really can't take it.

Just as Ling Tianchen was about to carry Xiao Xiao back to Class One, a male teacher around fifty years old appeared before them.

Although it was class time, there were still classes taking outdoor practical lessons below the teaching building.

This male teacher, who had just emerged from one of those classes, was likely their homeroom teacher. His gaze lingered on Ling Tianchen and Xiao Xiao for a moment, and he frowned slightly.

"You two, stop right there. The Outer Academy has clear rules prohibiting relationships between students. What kind of behavior is this, with a boy and a girl embracing in public?"

"Also, I saw what happened just now. Attacking a teacher—regardless of your reasons, the academy must investigate it thoroughly. So don't even think about leaving."

As he spoke, six soul rings slowly rose beneath his feet.

"If you insist on leaving, you'll have to step over my body first."

Zheng Zhan wore a solemn expression, ready for battle.

He had expected the other side to attack immediately. After all, he had witnessed Ling Tianchen violently beating Zhou Yi from beginning to end. His strength was roughly equal to Zhou Yi's, and coming here to stop him was merely doing what he could and leaving the rest to fate.

Yet to Zheng Zhan's surprise, Ling Tianchen showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he naturally and gently set Xiao Xiao down from his arms.

"Xiao Xiao, stand properly for now."

"Okay..."

Although Xiao Xiao was somewhat unwilling, she obediently got down from Ling Tianchen. Still, she shot Zheng Zhan a vicious glare.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get closer to Ling Tianchen had been forcibly interrupted by this stinking old man. She would remember this grudge.

"My apologies, Teacher. We disturbed your class, but do we really look like a couple?"

Ling Tianchen glanced at Xiao Xiao beside him as he spoke.

"You're already embracing in broad daylight before you've even become a couple? Do young people these days play this wildly?"

The corner of Zheng Zhan's mouth twitched slightly.

Ling Tianchen: "..."

Had this teacher misunderstood something?

He cleared his throat.

"Teacher, first of all, I must clarify that seeing is not always believing."

"We did not attack Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi attacked us first. I only held Xiao Xiao in an emergency to protect her; we are not in the kind of relationship you imagine. Since you insist on this, then we will remain here and await the academy's handling."

After saying that, Ling Tianchen folded his arms and stood there directly, looking utterly fearless.

"I can't simply take your word for it."

Zheng Zhan spoke in a deep voice, then gestured to the students behind him.

"Go to the Director of Studies' office and ask Director Du Weilun to come."

However, at that moment, a sharp sound of something cutting through the air suddenly came from above. A golden streak of light approached from afar at astonishing speed.

In just a few breaths, that light had arrived before everyone.

"No need to call him. I'm already here."

Wasn't the speaker Yan Shaozhe?

In truth, the moment the conflict broke out in Class One, some students had realized something was wrong and taken the initiative to report it to the academy's higher-ups.

After Du Weilun relayed the matter upward, Yan Shaozhe quickly grasped the full situation. He had Du Weilun rescue Zhou Yi, who was still trapped within the ice, while he himself rushed to the scene.

With the strength of a three-ring soul master, Ling Tianchen had crushed six-ring Zhou Yi, and the faint traces of ice attributes lingering nearby made Yan Shaozhe completely certain that Ling Tianchen possessed ultimate ice.

Naturally, he had rushed over so urgently not merely to deal with the matter at hand, but because he had his own agenda.

It was a fact that Ling Tianchen had attacked Zhou Yi. No matter what had caused it, Ling Tianchen had ultimately given Yan Shaozhe leverage over him. That meant there was now a way to make Ling Tianchen help Ma Xiaotao resolve her evil fire problem. Perhaps he could even bring about a fine match.

At that thought, Yan Shaozhe nearly burst out laughing.

Of course, Zhou Yi would have to suffer the grievance of playing the villain for now. There would likely be quite a bit of trouble from the Soul Tool Department afterward, but compared to the value of an ultimate ice soul master, none of that mattered.

"I already understand what happened. Ling Tianchen, come with me. Teacher Zheng, you did well. You may return now."

Zheng Zhan nodded. He understood that it was time for a minor figure like him to make his exit.

Ling Tianchen noticed that Xiao Xiao behind him seemed somewhat uneasy, so he gently patted the girl's shoulder.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine. I'll be back soon."

Xiao Xiao pursed her lips.

"Mm..."

Then she looked toward Yan Shaozhe.

"Dean Yan, you must clear Tianchen's name."

Yan Shaozhe was slightly taken aback, then nodded somewhat awkwardly.

"Don't worry. The academy will not wrong any student."

Just then, Du Weilun hurried over, his expression extremely grim.

He quickly came to Yan Shaozhe's side and lowered his voice to whisper a few words into his ear.

Yan Shaozhe, who had been fairly composed, instantly changed expression.

"What?! Zhou Yi was burned to death by Xiao Tao?!"