"Here he comes, here he comes!"
"Chen Beiyuan is here!!!"
"Wow, is this really Chen Beiyuan, the mysterious figure from Donghua Academy? He's truly as handsome as the legends say!"
"Haha, of course. They say that among the Four Beauties of Yanjing, one of them is infatuated with him. It's just a pity that it's a case of the flower loving the stream, but the stream showing no interest. Chief Chen is only interested in Leng Ruobing, the ice-cold school beauty. Over the years, I've never heard of him being interested in other women..."
"The Leng family is just a small, second-rate family. I didn't expect them to be able to use this opportunity to attach themselves to the Chen family of Donghua and become in-laws. They'll probably soar to the skies in the future..."
With Chen Beiyuan's appearance, the entire Combat Zone of Donghua Academy erupted in excitement.
Thousands of students couldn't help but turn their gazes towards him.
Even the high-ranking officials of Donghua Academy, seated on the elevated platform at the main seats, couldn't help but cast curious glances.
At this moment, Chen Beiyuan almost became the center of attention, with even Lin Xiao, who had been waiting on the Combat Zone, being completely ignored.
Leng Ruobing, sitting in the front row of the audience, also stared fixedly at that familiar yet unfamiliar figure, feeling her mind wander as images of last night flooded her thoughts.
She had once believed she understood Chen Beiyuan very well. However, what had happened last night had completely overturned her understanding.
Deep in her memory, the figure that always wore a gentle smile, making others feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze, had displayed a domineering, cold, and noble, majestic side.
In that moment, Leng Ruobing felt that Chen Beiyuan had become very strange, almost like a different person compared to before.
The person she once thought she knew best and disliked the most was now shrouded in a veil of mysteriousness.
Which one, in the end, is the real you!
Just then, a discordant voice suddenly appeared.
"Hmph, ignorant. A small family like the Lengs is not worthy of marrying into the Donghua Chen family. Chen Beiyuan already has a fiancée..."
Leng Ruobing's face turned pale instantly, her expression filled with disbelief.
A fiancée?!
He actually had a fiancée?!
How could she not know?!
The person who spoke suddenly changed his expression, feeling a great fear engulf his heart. His face turned ashen, and cold sweat poured down his body, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell. He almost collapsed on the ground.
Just now, Chen Beiyuan on the Combat Zone glanced this way.
The originally noisy audience area fell silent instantly.
Combat Zone.
Chen Beiyuan calmly retracted his gaze and looked at the suffering... Son of Destiny, Lin Xiao, beginning to size him up.
This was the first time he'd met the protagonist of the original novel.
This Son of Destiny possessed the characteristics of most protagonists with the divine doctor template.
He had a handsome face, resolute eyes, an upright aura, and simple black clothes, making him seem very low-key.
At a glance, almost everyone would have a favorable impression of his positive image.
However, Chen Beiyuan knew very well that Lin Xiao, despite his righteous appearance, was actually ruthless and would stop at nothing for his own gain.
In the original novel, his most effective tactic was using his terrifying medical skills to ingratiate himself with influential figures and powerful organizations, thus building his reputation...
And sometimes, even if there wasn't a need, he would create one...
Even if the target he wanted to befriend didn't have any serious illnesses, within days of being targeted, the target's family members or close friends would suddenly fall ill...
Then, as the divine doctor, he would conveniently appear, put on a show of arrogance, and then humiliate the situation, making people completely convinced and grateful, wanting to give him their all...
Some influential figures even gave their daughters and their entire fortunes as dowries after his manipulations...
This Son of Destiny was not as righteous as he appeared. Those targeted by him would either lose their families or be completely devoured...
Of course, on the surface, Lin Xiao always maintained an upright and honorable image. Even if someone accidentally discovered his true nature, they would quickly be silenced.
As Chen Beiyuan sized up Lin Xiao, the latter was doing the same to his lifelong nemesis.
He had made so many sacrifices to get to this point.
"Chen Beiyuan, are you unaware of today's finals? The entire student body of Donghua Academy, along with the teachers and the higher-ups, are all waiting for you, and yet you dare to arrive so late?"
"You clearly show no respect for the teachers and the leaders."
"Your actions are simply unforgivable!"
Lin Xiao suddenly launched an attack, immediately leveling a serious accusation against Chen Beiyuan and positioning himself on the moral high ground.
Upon hearing this, the people present either nodded, frowned, or remained silent, their expressions varied, but none intervened.
Clearly, Chen Beiyuan's late arrival had displeased many.
"Last night, I sensed a loosening of the threshold for my cultivation, so I was 'cultivating' in my room. I've been busy until now, which is why I'm late," Chen Beiyuan explained calmly, his hands clasped behind his back.
Many people present didn't think much of his ambiguous explanation.
However, some individuals in the special seats of the first row of the spectator stands wore playful smiles, turning their gazes towards Leng Ruobing, who was also seated in the first row.
As the saying goes, nothing is new in Yanjing. Some of the wealthy families naturally knew all about Leng Ruobing's initiative in inviting Chen Beiyuan to the hotel last night.
The so-called "cultivation" was, of course, rather intriguing.
Otherwise, if it weren't for Chen Beiyuan's connection, why would a woman from a second-rate family be sitting in the first row of the spectator stands, on equal footing with them, the members of these wealthy families?!
At this moment, Leng Ruobing could clearly feel the playful gazes from the side. A strange blush and paleness appeared on her face. Her heart was pounding, and she unconsciously clenched her hands even tighter.
"You!!!"
As a "witness," Lin Xiao naturally understood the special meaning in Chen Beiyuan's words. A strong killing intent flashed in the depths of his eyes, and the fists he clenched made "crack crack" sounds, almost unable to control his emotional fluctuations.
He wouldn't know what happened last night?!
What a load of bullshit about cultivation!
It was clearly about cultivating something else!
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao felt a surge of anger rush to the top of his head, almost making him burst out in curses, but there was also an inexplicable sense of forbidden excitement surging in his heart....
"Chen Beiyuan, don't think you can brush it off with the excuse of cultivation. You've been arrogant more than once or twice. Who doesn't know your true nature?!"
"Over the years, the number of times you've come to the academy can be counted on one hand. You've hardly taken any courses, and every time you appear, you deliberately pester Leng Ruobing, making countless students dare not speak out..."
"Today, in front of all the students, teachers, and leaders present, I will expose your true colors. Do you dare to make a bet with me? If I win the finals today, you will apologize in front of all the teachers and students of the academy, admit your arrogance over the years, and never bother Leng Ruobing again..."
A trace of ferocity appeared on Lin Xiao's face, a bit out of control, but he still stood on the moral high ground, binding everyone together as he initiated his plan.
Seeing Lin Xiao's actions, many people present felt something was amiss. Some even sensed that there was some kind of feud between the two.
Even the academy's high-level officials on the main platform were showing some unusual agitation.
You must know, Chen Beiyuan's strength was obvious to all. For Lin Xiao to act like this, he clearly had confidence in defeating Chen Beiyuan head-on?!
"You're not worthy of betting with me?"
Chen Beiyuan sneered.
He calmly looked at Lin Xiao before him.
His eyes held not a trace of disdain, as if he had never even considered Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao was angered and intended to provoke Chen Beiyuan further, but Chen Beiyuan's next words brought him a surge of joy.
"Forget it, consider it a game to pass the time."
"Coincidentally, I had a dog when I was a child. After I finished training, I would always play with it when I was bored. Unfortunately, time is cruel. It passed away when I was fifteen. Thinking back now, I miss it a little."
"If you lose, just kneel in front of me and bark three times!"
Although Chen Beiyuan comparing himself to a dog was a great insult, Lin Xiao's eyes flashed with delight when he saw that Chen Beiyuan had agreed so easily. A sneer appeared on his face.
"Arrogant enough. I hope you can still maintain this superior attitude later!"
Last night, he had been hit with the Delusion Poison. Added to the fact that he was deliberately delaying time, allowing the poison to spread further, even if Chen Beiyuan was a monster, it would be useless!
If Chen Beiyuan used his full strength, the battle qi within his body would quickly dissipate, ultimately turning all his cultivation into nothingness, leaving him a cripple.
The victor of this academy competition was destined to be him, Lin Xiao.
Today was the day he would step on Chen Beiyuan's head and ascend to the peak.
Even Lin Xiao couldn't contain his excitement at the thought.
However, at this moment, he didn't notice the complex and strange look Leng Ruobing was giving him from the audience.
Yesterday evening, Chen Beiyuan really had been cultivating in his room and hadn't touched her much.
At most, he'd treated her to something to eat...