Since the finals half a month ago, Lu Yuan hadn't seen Shui Bing'er even once. The thought lingered in his mind like an itch he couldn't scratch. Which was why, when Mengshenji brought up the exchange program, Lu Yuan's response had been immediate.
"I'll go to Tianshui College!"
Mengshenji nearly spat his tea across the table. "What? Impossible!"
Finally, he understood why this brat had agreed so quickly. Not because he respected the program, not because of honor or curiosity—no, this was just another ploy to chase after girls.
"The rules at Tianshui are strict. First, they only accept female students. Second, only beautiful female students. Do you fit either?" he demanded.
Lu Yuan grinned wickedly. "Exactly my point. If I go as an exchange student, not an actual student, the rules don't apply. And because they're all girls, obviously someone has to protect them."
Mengshenji clutched his chest. He could practically feel his blood pressure skyrocketing. "Protect… protect them? Protect them from what, you shameless brat?!"
The very thought of sending Lu Yuan—a walking disaster of alcohol and flirtation—into Tianshui made him break into cold sweat. If the boy actually stayed there, wouldn't half the girls be screaming his name by the end of the week?
"No. You're going to the Elephant Armored Academy," he snapped.
Lu Yuan's smile dropped. "Not going."
Mengshenji raised a brow. "Why not?"
"Their Martial Soul's a pile of sand sculptures. If I go, what's the point? At least Tianshui has… scenery."
"..." Mengshenji nearly fainted.
"Not going!" Lu Yuan turned on his heel dramatically as if to storm out.
"Wait, wait!" Mengshenji rushed forward, grabbing Lu Yuan's sleeve with a bitter face. "Fine, fine! Go if you insist. But you must fulfill one condition." His teeth clenched audibly. "When you arrive at Tianshui, you are not allowed to reveal your true strength. Not one bit. As long as you don't show off, those old foxes at Tianshui won't have anything to study."
Lu Yuan blinked. Then, raising his wine jar, he grinned. "No problem. I'll only drink wine, not fight!"
Mengshenji: "..." He suddenly regretted his life choices.
Night fell across Tiandou City, lanterns glowing crimson along the streets. And as usual, Lu Yuan swayed drunkenly beneath them, wine gourd in hand, stride uneven.
"Little beauty, won't you be scolded going home so late?" His tone was lazy, wavering in tune with his staggering steps.
Beside him walked Princess Xue Ke, clutching his arm for support. She'd brought wine again tonight—the third time in recent days.
Xue Ke flushed faintly. "It's fine… I can stay at Yuexuan for the night if I must."
Her delicate face showed both nervousness and a budding anticipation. She scolded herself inwardly. She shouldn't feel this way. She was princess of Tiandou Empire—yet she wanted to linger beside a man clearly drunk and shameless.
Lu Yuan leaned closer, voice temptingly low. "If you ask me, don't go back at all. My bed is still pretty big."
"Ah—!"
Her heart leapt into her throat. The words alone had nearly knocked the sense out of her. No matter what, if it was discovered she'd spent a night in Lu Yuan's bed, her royal life would cease. The emperor himself might punish her!
Before she could refuse, Lu Yuan's expression sharpened. His hand slid from her arm to her slim neck.
She gasped faintly—
Then her world went black, her body collapsing unconscious into his arm.
A cold edge gleamed in Lu Yuan's eyes.
"Come out."
He shifted Xue Ke gently to his left arm, while his right hand summoned his long sword.
The night air rippled. A faint silhouette emerged from ten meters away. A man whose every wrinkle seemed carved by time itself.
"Not bad. Even drunk, your vigilance doesn't fade. No wonder you're called the most dangerous young genius in Douluo. How unfortunate for you that you met me tonight."
Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed. Shi Nian. He'd heard whispers: master of illusions, a Nightmare Spirit Master who left even Titled Douluo wary.
The man's smile twisted, voice casual. "After the Tiandou Cup, I confirmed the reports. You carry a spirit bone, don't you? Something no ordinary boy should possess. I have waited long enough for this opportunity."
Lu Yuan's pupils chilled to black steel. "Old man, are you tired of living?"
He had already sensed the faint fluctuations, the illusion tugging at his mind as soon as they'd turned onto this street. But until the enemy moved, Lu Yuan couldn't counterstrike. Alone, he could endure. But carrying Xue Ke? The longer she remained under an illusionist's grip, the more her mind might break permanently. That, he could not allow.
The man's grin widened. "Do you know the greatest pleasure of my life? Watching geniuses like you drown in their own nightmares. You'll see soon enough."
"Know your grandma's legs!" Lu Yuan spat back. "My pleasure is drinking, flirting with beauties, and killing pests like you. So shut your mouth and die."
The man's eyes darkened, voice suddenly solemn. "Seventh spirit ability—Nightmare!"
Space twisted violently, pulling Lu Yuan into a world not his own.
The illusion was vivid and suffocating.
A gigantic furnace loomed before him, red flames devouring the air. From within, a sword glowed ominously, identical to the one he held in reality.
Undead shadows materialized—thousands, maybe tens of thousands—clawing toward him, their howls bloodcurdling. Each shade pierced through his body one after another, whispering despair, weaving madness into his heart.
But instead of crumbling, Lu Yuan's breath quickened with something very different.
Black flames began to crawl across his skin.
Years—Shi Nian—stared wide-eyed, his grin faltering. He had seen countless soul masters broken under Nightmare, writhing in terror, faces twisted in agony. But this one…
Lu Yuan's face was not agonized. It was furious.
A fury vast, underworld-deep, making even a Spirit Sage's heart falter.
The black fire erupted higher, three meters tall, licking the very air. His pupils turned abyssal, like a devil crawling from hell's doors.
Boom!
Within moments, Shi Nian's nightmare cracked. Cracks webbed across his illusion like glass.
Shi Nian staggered back in disbelief. "Impossible… my Nightmare, broken by force?!"
But Lu Yuan was already moving. Sword raised high, the golden thread etched into its blade shone so bright it cut the night. Gold and shadow danced together, thunder roaring as Sword Qi exploded toward Shi Nian.
The old man's scream choked off before it could even escape. His body shriveled instantly under the strike, flesh eroding until only a husk remained. Dead.
Smoke still wafted from the street as Lu Yuan turned slowly back toward the princess. Black fire raged around him, twisting the very air, the earth beneath his feet scorched black and fractured with cracks the size of fists.
"Lu Yuan…?"
A soft, trembling voice.
Xue Ke stirred awake, regaining herself as the illusion shattered. Her lashes fluttered open, and she looked upon the haunting sight: Lu Yuan, his body engulfed in black flames, like a devil god descending upon the mortal world.
Her lips parted in awe, her words no louder than a whisper.
"Lu Yuan… are you still… you…?"
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