“Ye Chu!” Chen Bowen suddenly shouted, his voice resounding. The smile on his face disappeared completely, and the powerful shout made the entire place fall silent.
Everyone knew Ye Chu had angered Chen Bowen. It was not surprising. When had Chen Bowen ever not been praised and respected? Yet now Ye Chu had insulted him with such words, how could he not be furious?
“What is it? Is there a problem?” Ye Chu still smiled as he looked at Chen Bowen. “We were only debating the definition of a man. Was there any need to shout my name so loudly? Someone who does not know better might think you fell in love with me, but I rejected you, and now you are angry out of embarrassment.”
Ye Chu said this with a smile, but the people around widened their eyes. They felt that was the most arrogant sentence they had heard today. Did Ye Chu know what kind of person stood before him in Yao City?
“Alright. I am a little tired. I will not play with you anymore,” Ye Chu said to Su Rong and the others with a smile. Chen Bowen had just schemed to make everyone scold him, and he had retaliated with his own insults, so they were even. He had no interest in continuing the game.
Seeing Ye Chu turn to leave, Chen Bowen shouted angrily, “Stop right there!”
That furious shout tore apart Chen Bowen’s previously calm and sunny image, revealing a power he had never shown before. He stared directly at Ye Chu, and a great pressure spread around them. Almost everyone knew that Chen Bowen was truly furious now. They held their breath and did not even dare look at him.
Only Ye Chu still carried his unruly smile. He turned his head toward Chen Bowen and said slowly, word by word, “I said… I am tired.”
The quiet voice echoed in the academy. Many young women covered their mouths, unable to believe that someone dared confront Chen Bowen directly. In Yao City, which young person dared challenge his authority? They felt this was the boldest sentence they had ever heard in their lives.
Chen Bowen himself had not expected that someone in Yao City would dare speak to him like this. For a moment he was stunned, watching Ye Chu’s back as he walked toward the exit. By the time he reacted, Ye Chu had already reached the academy gates.
Seeing that Ye Chu had confronted Chen Bowen so boldly, Su Rong noticed Chen Bowen clenching his fists and preparing to chase after him. She smiled and stepped in front of Chen Bowen, subtly blocking his path.
“Brother Bowen, it has been a long time since we have seen your paintings and calligraphy. Will you not show us some?”
Although Zhang Su’er did not know why Su Rong stopped Chen Bowen, she followed along with a smile. “Yes, Brother Bowen rarely comes out. We should enjoy ourselves today.”
Since the two women had spoken, the others quickly joined in.
“Exactly. Brother Bowen, why bother arguing with a piece of trash?”
“…”
With everyone speaking at once, Chen Bowen finally gave up the idea of chasing after Ye Chu. He restrained his anger and returned to his earlier bright smile.
Su Rong quietly breathed a sigh of relief and glanced at Chen Bowen. She thought it was fortunate there had been no conflict. Otherwise it would have caused more trouble. If the black robed man in the palace really was Ye Chu, then Ye Chu’s strength was even greater than she had imagined. She had personally seen that black robed man force the captain of the guards back with a single palm strike.
Chen Bowen was strong, but was Ye Chu weak? If they truly fought, even if Chen Bowen won, it would not be easy. Moreover, Chen Bowen would soon face the challenge from Sha Country, so he could not waste his strength on Ye Chu now.
“Brother Bowen, I heard that Sha Country has sent a group of envoys to Yao City this time, and they are challenging the cultivators of Yao Country. Is that true?”
“Yes, that is correct. In three days, the duel will take place at the city tower of Yao City,” Chen Bowen replied with a smile.
“So it is really true?” someone exclaimed. “Sha Country is really bold. I heard they put up a whole city as the stake. Is that true?”
“Yes.” Chen Bowen nodded. “Sha Country lives in the desert and we have no interest in their cities. But the weather will soon turn cold, and they want to find a good place to stay for the winter. Their real goal is to seize a city of Yao Country.”
“What thieves, how dare they even think of it!” someone said angrily. “Brother Bowen, you must defeat them all. We cannot let them take our city!”
“What nonsense are you saying?” a woman knocked on his head with dissatisfaction. “If Brother Bowen takes action, who could possibly stop him? The cultivators from Sha Country will be dealt with easily.”
“Exactly. Are the cultivators of Yao City worse than those of Sha Country? It will be effortless to defeat them.”
“If you do not know how to speak, then do not speak. With Brother Bowen here, there is absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Everyone glared at the man who had spoken earlier, making him laugh awkwardly and remain silent.
Chen Bowen smiled at the crowd, then looked toward Su Rong. Seeing the bright yet cool beauty before him, even Chen Bowen could not help feeling stirred. This woman was so beautiful that he could not help wanting to possess her.
“Su Rong, in three days I will duel with the people of Sha Country. For these three days, could you come to the general’s residence and paint and write with me, so I can adjust my state?” Chen Bowen asked.
His words made everyone hold their breath as they looked at Su Rong and Chen Bowen. The meaning behind his words was obvious. This was a subtle confession to Su Rong. No one had expected Chen Bowen to suddenly confess at this moment.
Although everyone believed the two were a perfect match made in heaven, that was only their opinion. In reality it was not certain. Would this confession make everything become natural and inevitable?
“Ah…” Su Rong’s face flushed slightly. She had not expected Chen Bowen to say such words at this moment.
Looking at the handsome and sunny man before her, Su Rong could not deny that she had a favourable impression of him. It was like seeing something beautiful, something that naturally drew people closer. Sometimes she even felt shy around him, just like the other girls. But that did not mean this small affection was enough for her to accept him.
“I am sorry. There are some matters at home these days, so…” Su Rong shook her head and apologised, refusing him in a gentle and indirect way.
Those words made everyone around sigh as they looked at Su Rong.
“Su Rong really is not easy to conquer. It is fortunate I never confessed. Even Chen Bowen was rejected, I have no chance at all.”
“Su Rong is still like a white crane in the sky, high above and impossible to capture.”
“A true pearl remains a pearl. Even Chen Bowen cannot bring her down from the sky.”
“…”
Countless people sighed in their hearts, thinking Su Rong was truly a proud and pure flower, perhaps no one would ever be able to pick it.
“It is alright,” Chen Bowen said. Although his smile remained bright, it was somewhat forced.
“Brother Bowen, we can gather again another time. I still have some matters to attend to, so I will leave first,” Su Rong said as she stood up, smiling at Chen Bowen as if she had not understood his confession.
After speaking, Su Rong left with Zhang Su’er under the gaze of the crowd.
After leaving the academy, Zhang Su’er asked, “Why did you not accept Chen Bowen? Among the younger generation of Yao City, do you not like him the most?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Su Rong said, her face turning slightly red.
“What kind of relationship do we have? How could I not know who you like?” Zhang Su’er laughed. “You actually rejected him, which surprised me a little. But when I think about it, who is worthy of our white swan? Haha, our white swan once said when she was little that she would only marry a great man who was talented in both literature and martial arts, someone truly outstanding.”
“If you keep talking nonsense, I will tear your mouth apart,” Su Rong said as she tried to hit Zhang Su’er to stop her nonsense. Zhang Su’er burst out laughing, and the two continued playfully arguing as they walked away together.