Yu Tianheng had come today with full confidence.
First of all, he prided himself on his strength. As one of the standout figures of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, he believed Dugu Yan had no reason to refuse him.
Second, while both Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling had powerful family backgrounds, his own wasn't any weaker.
After all, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was one of the Three Upper Sects.
Yu Tianheng simply couldn't understand—what reason did they have to turn him down?
For any young soul master, the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was the most prestigious competition on the continent. To shine in such a contest meant proving yourself a true dragon among men. And to win… meant fame across the land.
No soul master with ambition would willingly pass up such a chance.
So he asked, genuinely confused:
"I don't understand. Why would you refuse me?"
Yu Tianheng had short, sharp hair and long eyebrows, giving off a razor-edged presence. His rigid facial muscles made him look cold and expressionless—adding a kind of oppressive aura to his appearance.
The type that looked like a ruthless character.
Ye Lingling remained silent. Her gaze drifted somewhere into the distance, as if she hadn't even heard him.
Classic cold and aloof elegance—though Lin Xiao knew better.
In fact, Lin Xiao was doing everything he could not to laugh.
Because he knew: Ye Lingling was actually super socially anxious around strangers.
Every time she acted cool and untouchable, it made her ten times more interesting.
"I wonder," Lin Xiao thought, "is she clenching her toes inside those white socks again, nervously curling them like she always does?"
As for Dugu Yan, she didn't bother hiding her distaste.
Even if Yu Tianheng was a direct heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, what did that have to do with her?
She looked him in the eye and said flatly:
"I don't understand why you're still standing here after I already said no."
Boom.
Needles collided with steel. Her words sliced through the air.
A crowd had begun to gather.
After all, who didn't love a good drama?
Yu Tianheng's expression didn't change—hard to tell anything from his usual stone-faced look. But his eyes darkened slightly.
He stared at Dugu Yan.
She stared right back, unfazed.
In the end, Yu Tianheng was the one to look away.
He said nothing more—just waved to his companions and turned to leave.
"Let's go."
People from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were notoriously proud.
Even Yu Xiaogang, who had been exiled for failing his spirit awakening, carried that arrogance in his bones.
Yu Tianheng, raised in privilege, had never been denied anything in his life. His arrogance knew no bounds—it was just that his blank expression didn't show it.
Dugu Yan crossed her arms and watched him walk away, completely unfazed.
The bigger the crowd became, the colder Ye Lingling's expression grew—so much that she seemed to radiate a soft frost, like a winter breeze.
But then—
Halfway through his departure, Yu Tianheng suddenly turned and spoke in a neutral tone:
"I hope I'll see you in the tournament finals."
A polite sentence.
But everyone could hear the hidden meaning:
"I doubt you'll even make it that far."
Dugu Yan's beautiful face, already cold, turned to ice.
She glared at the crowd.
Everyone scattered instantly.
Once the coast was clear, Ye Lingling huffed indignantly:
"What the heck! He came to recruit us and acted like he was doing us a favor. If he's so full of himself, why doesn't he go shovel manure instead?"
Both Dugu Yan and Lin Xiao froze.
Dugu Yan: "…"
Lin Xiao: "…"
Dugu Yan shot her a look.
"You've got such a sharp tongue—why didn't you say that to his face?"
Ye Lingling coughed awkwardly.
"You only say stuff like that after they leave!"
Lin Xiao chuckled and patted her shoulder.
"It's fine, Lingling-jie. You're doing great behind the scenes."
"If you'd tried to insult him directly, I bet all you'd manage is: 'You… you big meanie!'"
Actually, that might've worked too.
Death by cuteness.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan grew angrier the more she thought about it.
"That damn zombie-face! Who does he think he is?"
She turned to Lin Xiao.
"Help me get even!"
She said it so naturally, so confidently, that Lin Xiao was caught off guard.
"Wait… you're a Soul Elder, and you want me, a Grandmaster, to help you get even?"
She huffed.
"I don't care. I want you to do it!"
She was practically pouting.
Cool and collected Dugu Yan, acting this adorably?
How could Lin Xiao say no?
So…
"Nope."
He refused flatly.
"Yan-jie, if I remember correctly, there was once a certain someone who kept calling me 'Little Xiao,' and even 'Little Little Xiao'…"
"Not to mention that time I said I'd protect her if she called me 'Brother Lin Xiao'—but what happened?"
"I got dumped headfirst into a snowbank!"
He clicked his tongue.
"Truly heartbreaking."
Dugu Yan's face turned dark.
"You're seriously holding a grudge over that?!"
"And what about the time you pelted me and Lingling with snowballs until we had to run for cover?"
"You only remember your grievances—not the chaos you caused!"
Lin Xiao shrugged.
"Hey, taking on two at once wasn't even my limit—it was yours. That righteous act of rebellion deserves to be recorded in history!"
"I don't like to brag… but yes, I was amazing."
Shameless!
Dugu Yan stared at him, eyes wide in disbelief.
"How can someone be this thick-skinned?!"
Ye Lingling, meanwhile, was fidgeting with her fingers, looking like she was internally debating something.
Finally, she clenched her teeth and made her decision.
She glanced around to make sure the crowd was gone.
Then…
Like a guilty little thief, she leaned in close to Lin Xiao's ear and whispered:
"Lin… Lin Xiao-gege… can you help, please~?"
Lin Xiao froze.
Her sweet breath tickled his skin, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance. Her soft voice made his ears tingle.
His pupils widened.
"Wait… you're actually saying that?!"
"Lingling-jie, you're almost twice my age!"
"How are you not embarrassed!?"
Dugu Yan stared at her best friend like she didn't recognize her.
"Lingling… you're actually desperate!"
"He's just a kid!"
Ye Lingling blushed furiously and avoided eye contact.
"I only said it to help you, Yan-jie! If it were for myself, I'd never say something like that!"
Dugu Yan was about to respond.
But Lin Xiao beat her to it—his voice loud and full of righteous passion:
"That's the spirit, Lingling-jie!"
"I, Lin Xiao, always protect my own!"
"Even the slightest frown on your face is reason enough for me to fight!"
"If I don't take care of you—who will?!"
He clutched his chest like a knight swearing loyalty.
"I'll avenge you both!"
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes so hard they nearly flipped back into her skull.
"This little brat… is playing everyone like a flute!"