"Brother...!" Shenzhen was already on his feet.
Jun Haoxuan didn't move. "Is it true?"
Shenzhen opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, the words dying before they could form. No answer came.
Bai Ziru rose immediately and stepped in front of him.
"Haoxuan," he said carefully, "calm down..."
Rong Yue's brow lifted faintly.
Jun Haoxuan didn't even look at Bai Ziru. His hand lifted slowly, fingers brushing against one of his horns as if he was grounding himself.
"How could you?" His voice wasn't loud but it was enough. "Why would you do something like that?"
His gaze locked onto Shenzhen. "Hiding the Dragon Crystal inside him without his consent."
He took a step forward. "Without mine."
The pressure in the air shifted noticeably.
"Do you have any idea," he continued, voice tightening, "what you've done to him?"
Shenzhen lowered his head. His hands clenched at his sides.
"I…" His voice shook. "I know. I'm sorry, brother."
