In the hall.
Han Chaoshen huddled in a corner, growing more restless by the moment.
He didn't know what had gone wrong.
Why did everyone keep glancing his way?
I didn't do anything wrong!
The Nine Luminaries stood behind the First Highness and had always championed him. Han Chaoshen had merely followed their lead and, at the First Highness's wishes, stopped those two students.
They wanted to join the Upper Nine Luminaries? Not a chance!
An angry roar erupted in Han Chaoshen's heart.
A friend came over, took one look at him, and asked quietly, "Are you all right?"
"What could be wrong with me?" Han Chaoshen smiled.
"Good." His friend relaxed. "Keep your head down. This will blow over sooner or later."
"Mm," Han Chaoshen replied.
"Later... apologize to those students. Say it was your own idea, not something the Nine Luminaries told you to do."
His friend added this as an afterthought.
The sliver of gratitude Han Chaoshen had just felt vanished. Uncontrollable anger surged through him, and he sneered. "Who sent you?"
"You don't need to know. Just remember, this is for your own good." His friend hurried away.
Han Chaoshen stood frozen in place.
Time passed slowly.
Several students emerged, bringing news that they had successfully rescued the Commandery Princess.
Them!
They—
They were only in the Qi Refining Realm.
How was that possible?
All around him.
More and more people looked his way, their gazes pricking him like needles.
People like that, and the Nine Luminaries shut them out. You did that.
Don't you feel like a clown?
Countless thoughts rose in Han Chaoshen's mind and turned into whispers that never ceased for a moment.
Han Chaoshen could no longer sit still. He rose and headed outside.
Once out of the hall, he took out