Chu Ming stood frozen for a long moment, her fists clenched tightly by her sides. Her face was pale with humiliation, but her eyes burned with anger.
The special cultivation chambers were not just rooms—they were a treasure coveted by every outer courtyard disciple. Bathed in thick, concentrated spiritual energy, a single day of cultivation within was equal to ten days outside.
It was this privilege that had allowed Chu Ming's cultivation to advance faster than her peers.
And now, it was taken from her.
Her chest rose and fell with fury—until her eyes caught sight of a figure walking calmly past, robes fluttering lightly in the breeze.
Lu Chen.
His steps were steady, his posture relaxed—and worst of all, he wore a faint, unreadable smile on his lips.
To Chu Ming, that smile was like a slap.
Her fury exploded.
She marched toward him, her voice sharp like a blade.
"Lu Chen! This is your doing, isn't it? You had my name removed from the cultivation room list!"
Lu Chen paused mid-step, then slowly turned to face her.
The courtyard seemed to quiet as his eyes met hers.
He looked at her—not with anger, nor pity, but with a calm, distant gaze that felt colder than any insult.
Then, with a faint smile, he replied, "What does your place in the academy have to do with me? I'm no longer your fiancé… remember?"
---
Chu Ming's chest heaved as she glared at Lu Chen. Though her heart trembled beneath the surface, she raised her chin proudly, masking her shame with defiance.
"I know what this is," she snapped. "You're doing all this to get my attention. But let me be clear—I don't like you, Lu Chen. I never did. So stop clinging to the past!"
The courtyard fell into a brief silence.
Lu Chen a cold sneer tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Cling to you?" he said, his tone laced with disdain. "Chu Ming, do you think you're the only woman in this world?"
His gaze swept across the gathered students, calm and sharp like a blade.
"If I declared today that I was seeking a wife from the academy," he said, voice firm and proud, "do you know how many would line up just for the chance?"
His words echoed powerfully.
Around them, murmurs quickly rippled through the crowd of watching students.
"Lu Chen isn't wrong… With his talent and background, any girl would dream of marrying him."
"Chu Ming must be regretting it now. She gave up a dragon thinking he was a worm."
"Tch, now she's angry because her golden tree walked away."
Some female students whispered too, eyes fixed on Lu Chen with admiration.
"Chu Ming was stupid... I'd marry Lu Chen in a heartbeat if he asked!"
"After breaking off the engagement, she's trying to play the victim? Shameless."
Hearing the voices around her, Chu Ming's face turned crimson—this time with humiliation rather than fury.
Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
Just then, another voice rang out across the courtyard.
"That's enough!"
Everyone turned as Chen Fan stepped forward, brows furrowed, a self-righteous glint in his eyes.
He placed himself beside Chu Ming, blocking Lu Chen's gaze.
"You're all harassing a girl for expressing her feelings," Chen Fan said loudly. "She doesn't like him—what's wrong with that? She has the right to choose."
He turned his gaze directly to Lu Chen.
"And you—if you're really so noble, why do you care what she thinks? Or are you just angry that someone rejected you?"
The atmosphere tensed.
But Lu Chen didn't flinch.
He simply looked at Chen Fan—calm, cold, and faintly amused.
A storm was brewing, and only one of them would be left standing.