"Well, well. What do we have here?"
A cold, sharp voice cut through the quiet atmosphere.
Yu Tian and Zhuqing turned toward the source of the voice, their eyes landing on a tall young man with broad shoulders. His long, golden hair flowed smoothly down his back, nearly reaching his waist without a single ripple—as if each strand had been meticulously placed to glorify his presence.
The Shrek Academy uniform clung to his body—a dark green coat emblazoned with the academy's emblem—but he needed no uniform to command attention. He carried an aura that set him apart, like the gleam of a sheathed sword.
Yet what drew the eye most were his eyes... A pair of deep, twin violets, fathomless as the sea, within which dual pupils glowed with a ruthless chill, emanating from the depths of his soul. That gaze held no malice, only lethal calm and unshakable confidence. Merely meeting his eyes evoked a strange sensation... as if the air itself had been sliced apart, as if skin had been grazed by an invisible blade.
But his expression was far from welcoming.
Zhuqing's smile vanished.
Yu Tian raised an eyebrow, his irritation unconcealed.
The stranger's gaze locked onto Zhuqing, his voice dripping with icy disdain. "Zhuqing. Care to explain why you're here... with another man?"
Yu Tian leaned back, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "And you are?"
The young man's jaw tightened. "Dai Mubai. Her fiancé."
A heavy silence fell.
Zhuqing crossed her arms, her expression turning defiant. "I don't recall needing your permission to go wherever I please, Dai Mubai. Just as you didn't need mine years ago when you fled and left your so-called fiancée to suffer in that place alone."
Her words struck like lightning, prodding old wounds that still bled slowly. In Dai Mubai's eyes, a flicker of turmoil surfaced—a fleeting weakness hidden behind his mask of confidence. But the moment passed, replaced by another freeze in his demeanor, a murderous silence.
Yu Tian smirked. "Ah, now I remember. You're that trash who couldn't even defend his fiancée and fled the entire kingdom to escape his elder brother."
The tension thickened.
Dai Mubai clenched his fists. "You have three seconds to walk away before I make you."
Yu Tian didn't move. Instead, he took another sip of his drink, utterly unbothered. "Are you certain you have that capability?"
Zhuqing stepped between them, her voice firm. "Enough. Dai Mubai, I won't let you speak to Brother Tian like this."
Dai Mubai's sharpness didn't waver. "So, Zhu Zhuqing, is this stranger more important to you than me—your fiancé?"
"Don't call yourself my fiancé. I've never acknowledged this arrangement," Zhuqing retorted, her voice as cold as ice, dripping with resentment. The engagement had been forced upon her by her family, something she'd never wanted.
Finally, Yu Tian stood, his mocking smile unwavering. "Pathetic. I'd hate to ruin my mood over stray cats." His gaze turned frigid as he exerted a sliver of his power to press down on Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai's aura flared, his spirit power rising sharply to resist Yu Tian's pressure—"You're testing my patience."
Yet the pressure from Yu Tian intensified, as if an invisible storm were gnawing at Dai Mubai from within. Yu Tian's energy wasn't overt, but it flowed with slow, devastating force, meticulously controlled to crush his opponent without killing him.
Dai Mubai gasped for air. Every attempt to resist only tightened the grip until his heart felt ready to burst. His breaths grew ragged, muscles slackening under the relentless pressure. "How… how dare you…?" The words choked in his throat.
He felt his body suffocating, desperate to break free from the vise slowly crushing him.
Then, another intervention. A group of friends who'd been watching from a distance suddenly stepped forward. Tang San led them, his eyes sharp with severity. "Kneel down, Dai Mubai," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for defiance. His expression was stern, as if he knew the situation demanded swift action.
Dai Mubai glared at Tang San, fury and shame warring on his face. But deep down, he knew the fight was spiraling beyond his control—and he wouldn't escape unscathed. The weight pressing on him grew heavier, and the tide of the confrontation turned against him.
Tang San spoke firmly, "Dai Mubai, don't push this past the point of no return. Admit your mistake before you humiliate yourself further." His words were harsh, yet carried a thread of mercy.
Oscar intervened, redirecting Dai Mubai's attention from Yu Tian: "This isn't the time for a fight, Boss Dai. We all know what this means to you, but if you keep this up, it'll only get worse for everyone."
Dai Mubai staggered back, sweat pouring down his forehead. He knew he had to swallow his pride to avoid further escalation. His eyes burned with rage, but beneath it lurked fear—his very soul trembling under Yu Tian's icy stare.
He took a shuddering breath, then forced out the words: "Sorry…" It was weak, tearing at his pride, but necessary. He felt the ground might swallow him whole, his body drenched in sweat. He hadn't wanted to admit defeat, but the trap he'd walked into was too deep to ignore.
A long silence followed, the tension palpable. Yu Tian maintained his pressure but began to ease it slightly, his dominance undeniable yet receding.
Finally, Yu Tian spoke, his voice quiet but laced with authority: "Good. Don't make me repeat myself."
Dai Mubai glanced at Zhuqing one last time, then at Yu Tian, conceding his defeat inwardly. Though he hadn't surrendered outright, his apology was enough to halt the escalation.
...
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