Zhou Qingran followed Duan Jingtian's gaze and glanced at the vice-dean, Jiang Feng, and the others. She knew they still had not learned their lesson and had told Duan Jingtian everything.
The reason Duan Jingtian could not resist descending personally was most likely because they had informed on her.
He knew that merely issuing a decree was no longer enough. He needed harsher measures, so he had come.
"Do not make futile struggles. Your talent is monstrous and you have grown quickly, but as you are now, you are still far from being my match."
Duan Jingtian spoke casually, as though he were stating something utterly ordinary.
Zhou Qingran did not refute him.
"If you do not want Lu Chen Daoren and everyone you respect to be implicated because of you, then once this Battle of Talents ends, return to the main academy with me."
Duan Jingtian glanced at Lu Chen Daoren, who could clearly sense Duan Jingtian's displeasure.
Since the vice-dean and the others had informed on her, Lu Chen Daoren's sheltering of Zhou Qingran naturally could not remain hidden either. Although this was not his fault, if Duan Jingtian did not wish to spare him, he had no way to resist.
"If I said I already had a partner, would you still force me?" Zhou Qingran looked at Duan Jingtian and uttered something shocking.
The moment those words fell, Duan Jingtian's pupils slowly contracted. Lu Chen Daoren, the vice-dean, Jiang Feng, Ke Yu, and the others all stared over in shock and disbelief.
Had they heard wrong?
Zhou Qingran said she had a partner?
How could that be possible!
Duan Jingtian quickly regained his calm. He knew it was false, merely an excuse Zhou Qingran had fabricated to evade him.
"There is no point in telling such a