There had to be something they didn't know.
Ning Rongrong noticed it clearly—the way that stunning girl looked at Brother Hongjun was completely different from how she looked at anyone else.
When she looked at others, it was like gazing at dust in the wind. But when her eyes met Brother Hongjun's, there was a sense of connection, as if they were the same kind.
Combined with her noble aura and her unusually simple clothing, these strange details stirred Ning Rongrong's curiosity.
"Be honest. Even if you cheated, we won't blame you."
She grabbed Xiao Wu's shoulders, leaned in close, and gently blew into her ear as she whispered, lips slightly parted.
Zhu Zhuqing had been nodding quietly, but upon hearing this, a sudden blush crept across her cold and beautiful face.
"Ah—how, how could that be? Rongrong, Qingqing..."
Xiao Wu's heart skipped a beat. She forced a smile, but her eyes revealed guilt as she glanced at the two of them.
"Mm?"
Ning Rongrong, who was closest to her, immediately sensed something off. She stared at the girl with scorpion braids suspiciously, scrunching her nose. "Don't tell me you really—"
"Hahaha, well… about that girl, honestly, I have no idea who she is."
Xiao Wu quickly changed the subject.
"I passed out while those two soul beasts were fighting. When I woke up, I was already back here."
Her words were half-true, half-false.
She really didn't know who Gu Yuena was. When she regained consciousness, the girl was already beside her.
Even though she didn't understand what those people were doing in that dangerous place, since Brother Hongjun was safe, Xiao Wu decided not to worry about it anymore.
"What? Even you don't know? Then doesn't that mean only Hongjun knows who she is?"
Ning Rongrong's curiosity shifted. Frowning in frustration, she said, "No way—know yourself and your enemy, and you'll never lose a battle. We have to find out who she is!"
"Rongrong, you sound like you're preparing for a war."
Xiao Wu chuckled as she looked at the overly alert girl. "I think she's pretty nice. Besides, we'll all be teammates from now on."
"What?"
Ning Rongrong stared at her in disbelief. "Don't you feel any danger? What if she steals Brother Hongjun from you? That's right, you still have Tang—"
"Rongrong."
The girl with the scorpion braids interrupted her, voice calm and steady.
"I have nothing to do with Tang San anymore. Please don't bring him up again."
Ning Rongrong: "???"
Zhu Zhuqing: "???"
Tang San, who was secretly eavesdropping using Xuan Tian Gong, nearly choked: "??!!!!!"
"Wait, what… what are you saying?!"
Ning Rongrong shook her head, eyes wide in shock. "You..."
She had once considered telling Xiao Wu to stay away from Tang San, but out of concern for her friend's feelings, she had held back.
And now—was this enlightenment?
"Alright, alright! Xiao Wu, I've been telling you all along that guy's no good!"
Ning Rongrong hugged her tightly, her excitement barely contained. Zhu Zhuqing also nodded in silent agreement.
Clearly, the two of them had the same opinion of Tang San.
It wasn't just because of how he treated Brother Hongjun—it was everything about his behavior.
"Yeah… I only realized it recently."
The girl with the scorpion braids smiled faintly.
After so much disappointment in Tang San, she had slowly given up on him. And somehow, without realizing it, Brother Hongjun had found his way into her heart.
Thinking of that gentle warmth that touched her soul, Xiao Wu couldn't help but smile sweetly.
"That's what I'm saying. Wait, what?"
Ning Rongrong's expression changed suddenly, a trace of suspicion flashing across her lovely face.
Wait a minute...
Did you say you just realized it?
Recently?!
"Xiao Wu!!" But before she could ask further, a heart-wrenching cry broke through the air.
She looked up and saw Tang San, his eyes red with emotion, staring straight at them.
"No… that's not true. Xiao Wu, what nonsense are you saying?!"
Tang San trembled all over, eyes filled with disbelief. He staggered forward, reaching toward her.
"I'm your third brother, I—"
Clang!
A sharp, cold gleam slashed across him.
Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful face was like ice, her gaze as sharp as a blade.
"Step back."
She said coldly.
Tang San, on the verge of madness, couldn't restrain himself. He glared at Zhu Zhuqing, murderous intent in his eyes. His wrist flicked, and in an instant, three hidden darts flew toward her throat!
"Tang San!!"
"Xiao San, no!!"
"Tang San, you bastard!!"
Several voices shouted out. Soul power surged through the air—but it was too late to stop him!
Even Zhu Zhuqing hadn't expected Tang San to actually try to kill someone over a simple argument.
As the feeling of death approached her throat, Zhu Zhuqing's panic turned into resignation.
Maybe it's better this way. If I die, I won't have to return to that suffocating empire.
Only... I never got to tell Brother Hongjun that I actually—
The cold and beautiful girl slowly closed her eyes. And in that final moment, she seemed to see a figure bathed in flames standing in front of her.
Was it… a hallucination?
That thought lingered—until a pair of broad, strong arms wrapped around her and gently moved her behind him.
"You…"
Zhu Zhuqing blinked, staring at the red-haired figure now standing protectively in front of her. Her heart trembled.
"Qingqing, are you alright?"
Ning Rongrong's panicked voice, laced with tears, brought her back to her senses. She smiled gently, hugging her trembling friend. "I'm okay, I'm fine."
Even as she spoke, her gaze couldn't help but return to the red-haired boy before her.
"Tang San, you bastard!!"
Xiao Wu's pink eyes were filled with killing intent. She stared directly at Tang San, her voice trembling with fury.
"Why did you try to kill Qingqing?!"
"Tang San! If you've got the guts, come fight me!"
Dai Mubai, his White Tiger Martial Soul fully released, roared furiously.
"Tang San, are you even a man?!"
Oscar tossed several healing sausages to Zhu Zhuqing and turned to glare coldly at him.
His actions had completely outraged everyone.
Flander and Zhao Wuji stepped forward, blocking his path on either side.
Neither teacher said a word—but their stormy expressions showed how truly angry they were!
Gu Yuena, meanwhile, watched the entire scene play out with great interest.
She had noticed Tang San's petty actions too, but seeing that Ma Hongjun made the first move, she was content to sit back and enjoy the show.
Tang San seemed deaf to all their words. He simply stared ahead, expression blank.
Drip—
He stared at the melted remnants of his sleeve darts—crafted from the rarest iron mother steel, forged with great effort—now reduced to slag in just half a second by the red-gold flames of that red-haired boy.
His body trembled uncontrollably.
Damn it!
He had improved those hidden weapons specifically to withstand that flame. So why did they still melt like butter?!?
Had that guy… become even stronger again?!
"Tang San."
Ma Hongjun stood expressionless, flicking the molten metal from his hand. Red-gold flames danced around his body, and the glowing mark between his brows shimmered faintly.
His eyes narrowed, his face blank.
"You—"
"Do you really want to die?"