"Great Elder! Someone has broken into the Disciplinary Hall and freed the imprisoned disciples—Wang Feng and Yang Kai!"
"What!?!" The Great Elder's voice boomed through the Hall like thunder. He motioned sharply toward the entrance. "Get in here!"
A young disciple entered nervously, bowing low. His legs trembled under the weight of the Great Elder's gaze.
The elder's eyes narrowed, his voice clipped and impatient. "Repeat that. Someone broke into the Disciplinary Hall and released those two? Who did it?"
The disciple glanced sideways—his eyes flickering briefly toward Elder Su Xuan Wu, who stiffened, an ominous chill creeping into his chest. The boy's silence was answer enough.
"I said, who was it?" the Great Elder pressed again, his voice now low, dangerous.
The disciple swallowed. "It... It was Senior Sister Su Yan."
Silence fell.
Elder Su Xuan Wu let out a long breath through his nose, his thoughts spiraling. 'That's it. These two brats will be the death of me.' He dared a glance at the Great Elder—Wei Zhuan's eyes gleamed with something between rage and glee.
---
Meanwhile...
Su Yan stepped lightly toward Wang Feng, who shifted with a grunt and began to rise from the stone bench he'd been resting on.
The moment his foot touched the ground, pain shot up his leg. He nearly stumbled, but Su Yan moved with graceful urgency, catching him by the shoulders and steadying him.
Wang Feng blinked in surprise, her face suddenly only inches away from his. "Heh... thanks, Senior Sister~"
Su Yan's eyes narrowed. She abruptly let go and took a deliberate step back. "Looks like you're doing just fine," she said, tilting her head slightly, her cherry lips curling into a cool, enigmatic arc. "I suppose I should head back."
Wang Feng's eyes widened. "W-Wait! I'm sorry, okay? I still need your help."
As he stepped toward her, he winced again. 'Damn it... that bastard really messed up my leg muscles .... and probably some of the veins too.'
Su Yan sighed, clearly noting his limp. Without a word, she returned to his side and gently pulled his arm over her shoulder, placing a hand around his waist to support him.
"If you try anything funny... I'll freeze you solid on the spot," she warned. Her face remained icy, but a faint blush betrayed the warmth rising in her snow-pale cheeks.
Wang Feng gulped. 'For heaven's sake... this woman is a devil.', He nodded quickly and obediently matched her pace.
As they walked, Wang Feng slipped a hand into his robes, summoned a healing pill from his spatial ring, and swallowed it. A warm stream of medicinal energy began to circulate through his damaged meridians. Su Yan glanced at him briefly but said nothing.
He could feel her body pressed firmly against his side. Her cold aura, her smooth curves... it was maddening. 'Heavens, I really want to hold her waist properly right now...'
Still, he kept his face expressionless, his thoughts locked tightly away.
Soon, they passed the very cell where Yang Kai had been held. He stood within, pacing, muttering to himself.
"Who was that? Was it someone here to help Wang Feng? Where the hell is that guy? You better not be dead, Wang Feng…"
The moment Yang Kai noticed the approaching pair, his rant stopped cold. His eyes widened at the sight of Su Yan supporting Wang Feng, their bodies close—too close.
'Is this guy serious?! I'm losing my mind worrying over him and he's out here leaning against a literal ice goddess?!'
He opened his mouth, ready to protest, but Su Yan turned her head and gave him a single cold glare. It was all the persuasion he needed to shut up immediately.
Wang Feng grinned to himself but winced again as Su Yan dug her fingers into his side in warning. 'The legendary Half-Step Creation Talent: Women's Intuition... truly terrifying...'
Su Yan summoned a layer of frost around the cell's bars. With one strike, Yang Kai shattered them and stepped out.
The three moved together, silent, toward the exit.
As sunlight spilled across the corridor's end, their eyes adjusted—only to find a crowd of over a hundred disciples assembled outside, blocking the path.
At the head stood Xie Hong Chen, his face a mix of barely restrained rage and jealousy.
Wang Feng's gaze swept across the gathered disciples. Most were male, and every single one stared daggers at him.
To them, Su Yan had always been an untouchable figure—an ice fairy aloof from the world. Her beauty was the stuff of legends, and her disdain, even more so. No male disciple dared approach her lightly, let alone get close.
Even core disciples, elders' personal students, had never managed to get so much as a smile from her.
And now ... now she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Wang Feng, a slight blush on her flawless face.
The gathered disciples collectively felt their hearts break.
"So much killing intent," Yang Kai muttered, amused, watching the crowd. "I feel like they might actually try to kill you."
Wang Feng raised a brow. "Looks like they were prepared for you, Senior Sister.", his voice neutral, almost indifferent.
Su Yan remained silent, stepping forward. Wang Feng followed since he was still supported by her arm.
Xie Hong Chen's gaze was hard to read—half hidden longing for Su Yan, half boiling fury directed at Wang Feng.
Su Yan stopped before him. Her expression was calm, frigid.
"Move aside."
Xie Hong Chen smiled stiffly. "Junior Sister, there's no need for this. I'm only following orders. These two must remain in custody."
"I said... move aside." Her voice didn't rise, but it cut sharper than steel.
Xie Hong Chen's smile strained further. "Junior Sister, these two have broken sect rules. The Grand Elder has already ordered—"
Wang Feng interrupted, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Broken sect rules, you say?", Su Yan's eyes sharpened as a smile tugged at her lips when Wang Feng continued. "And what rules have we broken, Senior Brother Xie?"
"Ganging up in an official duel. Disrespecting elders. Assaulting Disciplinary Hall members. Each charge is enough to—"
"Ganging up?" Su Yan interrupted. "Then where are the other culprits? Since there was a group fight, there must have been opponents. Why were only my side restrained?"
Xie Hong Chen faltered.
Xie Hong Chen was Great Elder's Disciple and he naturally has a good relation with Wei Zhuan. So how could he dare to restrain Wei Zhuang, the Great Elder's Grandson.
Su Yan's tone dropped several degrees colder. "Disrespecting Disciplinary disciples? If they still upheld fairness, who would dare disrespect them? You've long since traded your justice for power struggles."
Xie Hong Chen winced. "Junior Sister... can't you be more diplomatic?"
"Lies or truth—you know which I speak."
His gaze dimmed. "Junior Sister... I've always been sincere with you. Why must you treat me this way?"
Su Yan's voice turned quiet. "If Senior Brother's words were heard by Zhao Fei Xue, how do you think she'd feel?"
A tremor went through Xie Hong Chen.
Zhao Fei Xue—another Core Disciple and rumored to be close with Xie Hong Chen.
He clenched his fists, struggling to keep composure. His gaze shifted to Wang Feng. "You. You're Wang Feng, right?"
Wang Feng raised an eyebrow. 'Ah, finally turning it on me? Let's see how far you're willing to go...'
"I am.", Wang Feng answered with a smile.
"If you care for Junior Sister Su, you'll return to your cell now. Don't drag her down with you.", Xie Hong Chen spoke with a threatening undertone.
Wang Feng's lips curved as he glanced sideways at Su Yan. He decided to take a page out of the original.
He put on an intense, vulnerable expression, turning toward her.
Taking her hand gently, he said, "I don't want to implicate Senior Sister. But I've already received her sincerity. So... I can only walk forward with her now."
The look in his eyes—passionate, scarred, and raw—seemed utterly genuine.
His current appearance, though not the best because of the cuts, bruises and blood, excluded it's own different atmosphere.
He currently looked like a warrior who had returned from a war, just to confess his love back to the woman he loved!
The crowd stilled. Even the wind held its breath.
Su Yan blinked, stunned. That look. It was an act—right!? It has to be!
Her heart skipped. His hand, rough with calluses, now gently caressed hers. Her mind went blank.
The entire square seemed to crack with a phantom snap. Every male disciple felt something in their soul shatter.
Yang Kai was wide-eyed as he looked at the scene, "D*MN!.....", he suddenly frowned with a serious face, "Why do I feel I'm missing an essential snack to watch this drama"
Wang Feng added softly, "Isn't that right, Senior Sister?", his words twisting the knife in the hearts of all desperate admirers.
All eyes snapped to Su Yan. Xie Hong Chen instantly looked towards Su Yan with extreme nervousness, unwilling to hear an answer that he didn't like.
She turned slowly, still flustered, and faced him. From the corner of her eye, she caught his subtle wink. 'Ah... a ploy.'
She felt relief flood her being, but her heart still thudded like a war drum. Along the relief, she felt annoyance and embarrassment as well.
She felt aggravated! This had been the first time she had been taken advantage of like this since the day she was born! There was also the fact that Wang Feng's gaze didn't look like a joke or setup at all!
The passion, tenderness and affection behind those eyes felt genuine to Su Yan! Her heart raced. His rough hand still held hers gently, stirring emotions she didn't understand.
Looking at Wang Feng's smile, resisting the urge to send him flying, she said with a sweet smile, "yes."
The word struck like lightning.
Then, under her breath, she channeled her True Qi into his body—just a small lesson.
Wang Feng felt her True Qi sudden fill into his meridians, the power of which was many times his own Yuan Qi, making his meridians overflow in a second.
Wang Feng staggered. Blood dripped from his nose, 'ugh, I couldn't stop it.'
Su Yan pulled out a silk cloth and dabbed it gently. "Why are you bleeding? Are you alright?" Her tone was soft, concerned. But her victorious grin gleamed in her eyes.
Wang Feng chuckled weakly. 'So scary...'
"You...!" Xie Hong Chen finally exploded, his voice trembling with fury. "Junior Sister! You were born with privilege—how could you take a liking to this trash?!"
In unison, Su Yan and Wang Feng turned toward him, their eyes blazing with cold fury.
"Who are you calling trash!?"