Dai Mubai, Stop!

"Brother!"

"I want to apologize to Ning Rongrong. Could you help arrange a meeting?"

As if he had no idea how fake his expression looked, Dai Mubai gazed at Lin Yan with a false smile and hopeful eyes.

"I've already reserved a table at a tavern in the city. You haven't had breakfast yet, right? Perfect, we can eat together."

"Besides, didn't we agree that I'd treat you to a meal after we returned from the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Lin Yan's expression remained indifferent. "Apologize? Sure."

Seeing that Lin Yan had taken the bait without him lifting a finger, Dai Mubai immediately broke into a brilliant smile.

"Great!"

"Then go tell Rongrong. I'll wait for you at the academy gate. Oh, and remember to bring Zhuqing too. The conflict between her and me... no, the misunderstanding between us needs to be cleared up as well."

"Got it."

Lin Yan gave a slight nod, earning an excited expression from Dai Mubai.

Before long, just as he had said, Dai Mubai turned and headed toward the academy gate.

Lin Yan watched his departing back and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hehe~"

"Heaven's sins may be forgiven, but self-inflicted sins cannot be survived!"

"Since you're in such a hurry to die, don't blame this 'good brother' for being ruthless."

Not long afterward.

After Lin Yan explained the situation to the two girls, he brought Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to the academy gate.

Li Yusong was still lying on that battered old rocking chair. Seeing them walking together, he greeted them.

"Huh? You little ones are heading out so early? Going into the city?"

Perhaps because he was about to avenge his great grievance, Dai Mubai had been in high spirits and wore a constant smile.

"Yeah! I'm treating Lin Yan and the others to a meal. Want me to bring something back for you, old man?"

Li Yusong raised his eyes at that. "Strange! Why have you suddenly changed your ways today, kid? Did something good happen?"

Dai Mubai did not answer directly. "Hahaha! We're off! I'll bring you something back."

Clearly, Dai Mubai had already arranged his entire itinerary for the day!

1. Kill people and take revenge!

2. Go find some women at the pleasure house!

On the way to Suotuo City—the place Dai Mubai had planned in advance for the killings—he tactfully walked at the very front, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the three behind him, leaving them plenty of room to talk.

Behind him, Ning Rongrong clung to Lin Yan's arm and rolled her eyes at Dai Mubai's back.

"Hmph!"

"At least Dai Mubai knows what's good for him. Otherwise, when I return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I'll have Grandpa Jian kill him sooner or later!" ·

Then she turned to Zhu Zhuqing beside her.

"Zhuqing! You can't keep indulging men like that in the future! If he dares bully you again, come find me. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will have your back."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly upon hearing that, revealing a faint smile.

But soon, she looked at Lin Yan again.

"Lin Yan, Dai Mubai, he wouldn't be..."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, stopping halfway through her sentence. Her unfinished words hung in the air.

Lin Yan smiled faintly at her.

"Don't worry. It's fine."

There was not the slightest hint of urgency on his face as he shifted his gaze to Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, I want to tell you something."

The girl raised her eyes and answered with a sweet smile.

"What is it, my darling boyfriend?"

"Did you find some fun new toy again, or did you prepare some surprise for me?"

"Neither!" Lin Yan looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "What I want to say is, Zhuqing and I are already together."

Without any buildup or warning, Lin Yan plainly revealed his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong froze on the spot, her steps abruptly coming to a halt.

"W-what?"

"Zhuqing, you..."

She stared at Zhu Zhuqing, her face full of disbelief.

Zhu Zhuqing had not expected Lin Yan to choose this moment to reveal their relationship. Had he taken seriously that casual remark she made yesterday?

Then Lin Yan really... really cared too much about what she said.

Soon, Zhu Zhuqing sorted through her thoughts. While feeling sweet inside, the icy beauty's face also revealed a trace of apology.

"Rongrong, I'm sorry."

"I like Lin Yan too. I don't want to be with trash like Dai Mubai..."

"I..."

"Alright, we don't have much time to be surprised."

Lin Yan interrupted Zhu Zhuqing's hesitant apology.

Did he reveal their relationship because he truly cared about Zhu Zhuqing's feelings?

Of course not!

It was because Dai Mubai was about to turn hostile, and Lin Yan wanted to use Zhu Zhuqing to thoroughly provoke him. He only said all this because he feared Ning Rongrong would refuse to cooperate when the time came.

Bringing his attention back to the present, Lin Yan took out another pile of Tier 2 Soul Shields from his Storage Wristband.

"Zhuqing, I might not be able to look after you later. You need to protect Rongrong."

As he spoke, he split the pile of Soul Shields into two equal portions and gave one to each girl.

Ning Rongrong was somewhat bewildered by his inexplicable behavior, while Zhu Zhuqing quietly raised her guard.

"Lin Yan, what does this mean?"

"Aren't we going to eat? Why are you giving us so many Soul Shields?"

"Could there be an ambush at the restaurant..."

At that point, Ning Rongrong suddenly realized something was wrong.

She glanced at the calm Lin Yan, then at the tense Zhu Zhuqing, and instantly understood.

Unfortunately, she had realized it too late. Before Ning Rongrong could voice what she had guessed, Dai Mubai at the front had already let out a furious roar.

"Come out!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

On the deserted forest path, a group of black-clad figures sprang out in the blink of an eye, completely surrounding Lin Yan and the two girls.

At a rough glance, there were at least a dozen of them!

Ning Rongrong immediately became alert and looked toward Dai Mubai at the front.

"Dai Mubai! What do you mean by this? Are you planning to attack us?"

"Believe it or not, once I return to the Sect, I'll have Grandpa Jian kill you!"

Dai Mubai stepped forward. Even now, seeing Ning Rongrong still looking down on him and the imperial family, his anger only intensified.

"Return to the Sect? Kill me?"

"Hahaha!"

His face twisted viciously, and he laughed with extreme arrogance.

"Since you've said that, then for the sake of my own life, I can't let you leave alive today no matter what!"

"Ning Rongrong, weren't you fucking arrogant?"

"Now that so many Soul Masters are surrounding you, fucking act arrogant for me again!"

Ning Rongrong looked around. Seeing the black-clad men eyeing them menacingly, with none of them showing the slightest regard for her status as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she instinctively lost her composure.

"Damn it! Is he really serious? Isn't he afraid of retaliation from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Beside her, Zhu Zhuqing glared furiously.

"Have you gone mad, Dai Mubai!"

"Rongrong belongs to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Aren't you afraid that doing this will provoke a conflict between Xingluo and the Upper Three Sects?"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect couldn't possibly have sent no one to protect Rongrong. Aren't you afraid this will be exposed?"

Dai Mubai's vicious expression suddenly stiffened.

Exposed? A war between the empire and the Sect?

Honestly, his brain had not considered that much. He had only been thinking about how to take revenge, along with how to torment these two women before doing so.

Seeing his hesitation, Zhu Zhuqing let out a faint sigh of relief.

"Stop, Dai Mubai!"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's people are everywhere outside."