This sight was like a hot iron pressed against Wei Kun's heart. Wei Kun had spent the entire journey protecting Yan Jue, clearing every obstacle with his Middle-stage Golden Core strength. Yet, she had never looked at him with that kind of focus.
She usually ignored him, treating him as if he didn't exist, but here she was, treating this Foundation Establishment brat with such interest.
Jealousy turned into poisonous bile in Wei Kun's chest. He strode forward, his heavy boots cracking the frozen ground. He unleashed his superior cultivation, releasing a wave of crushing pressure aimed directly at Lin Chen's head.
"Sister Yan, be careful," Wei Kun said, his voice dripping with fake concern. "This boy is only at the Foundation Establishment peak. Even if he is strong, he is nothing in the Inner Area compared to Golden Core creatures. He should stay back and let us, the Golden Core experts, deal with them."
He turned his gaze to Lin Chen, his eyes burning with suppressed killing intent. "Kid, just because Sister Yan is kind doesn't mean you can act arrogant. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you should understand that you are nothing in the Inner Area if you are not in the Golden Core realm."
Lin Chen didn't flinch. He didn't even stop leaning against a support beam. He simply looked at Wei Kun with an expression of utter boredom.
"You should focus on yourself," Lin Chen said coldly. "You are at the Middle-stage of Core Formation, yet you can't even understand the situation?"
The camp went deathly silent.
Wei Kun's face turned a deep red with shame and anger. The truth hurt more than any blade. He was the strongest, yet he had reduced himself to a follower, licking the heels of a beauty to gain trust, only to be treated like air.
"You... you are courting death!" Wei Kun's Qi exploded. The green light of his spiritual energy formed a jagged blade in his hand.
"Wei Kun! Stop!" Yan Jue's voice was like ice. She stepped between them, her aura flaring. "I have decided his position. If you have a problem with my judgment, you can leave the camp."
Wei Kun froze. He looked at Yan Jue's stern face and felt a surge of humiliation. He slowly retracted his Qi, but his eyes never left Lin Chen's. His jealousy had now fully fermented into a cold, dark killing intent.
Lin Chen sensed the malice, but he didn't care. If Wei Kun dared to act on those thoughts, Lin Chen would kill him.
The Next Day
"Let's move," Yan Jue commanded.
The group began their march toward the valley. Lin Chen walked in the middle of the formation. Beside him, Yan Jue maintained a steady pace, while behind him, the silent shadow of Wei Kun followed, his cold killing intent locked firmly onto Lin Chen's back.