The crowd was bustling.

Everyone was stirred up by Wang Zhan's statement and turned their gaze towards Yao Yao.

Fortunately, Yao Yao reacted promptly. When she turned around, her aura as a high-level Warrior suddenly erupted. The crowd could only reluctantly snap photo after photo of her beautiful back.

They couldn't help but exclaim:

"What a beautiful silhouette!"

"Her robes fluttering, a jade-like beauty... I never expected such a beauty existed in this world!"

It was also fortunate that Yao Yao had distracted them, so no one noticed when Xu Yuyu, who had been crouching in front of Wang Zhan, finally lifted another, equally stunning face.

"Girlfriend… Does that mean fiancée?"

Xu Yuyu looked at Wang Zhan, her face slightly pale. Still, she asked firmly, her gaze seeming to pierce through one's heart.

Wang Zhan's heart trembled. This is bad! he thought.

He soon came to his senses. Why am I panicking? She's my actual girlfriend. I haven't done anything wrong!

He immediately tried to explain to Xu Yuyu, "Uh... actually... I don't know how to explain it, but a girlfriend isn't the same as a fiancée. However, she and I are in a confirmed relationship..."

Xu Yuyu smiled, a smile so brilliant it was like a newly bloomed flower, stunning the mortal world with its breathtaking beauty.

"I understand!"

She turned and left without the slightest hesitation.

Only a single tear traced a silent path from the corner of her eye. It was only then that someone noticed her silhouette was even more graceful than Yao Yao's.

"Wow, we didn't notice earlier, this one is gorgeous too! Quick, quick, take her picture! Let's make her the cover for our next issue..." a reporter from a gossip magazine exclaimed enthusiastically.

Wang Zhan watched Xu Yuyu's departing figure, a sense of bewilderment washing over him. His feet wanted to move, to follow, but they felt rooted to the spot, unable to take a single step.

The Grandmasters, sensing a major drama unfolding from the spectacle, also quickly fell silent, exchanging glances.

"Looks like we messed up. What now?"

"Student Wang Zhan won't hold a grudge, will he? This young man's love life certainly is eventful..."

"Bah! You're just envious. Shut up! If he catches you talking, you'll be in for it."

...

The chaos at the scene didn't last long.

A contingent of warriors from the Military Department moved in swiftly, forming a protective circle around Wang Zhan and his companions, and promptly expelled all media personnel.

It was also at this moment that Wang Zhan once again came face to face with the person he had long detested seeing.

"Long time no see."

Li Chengyuan turned his head. He was still in his usual military uniform, but the rank insignia had been removed, leaving it bare. Only the sternness on his face remained, still capable of intimidating enemies, much like the military merit he had once earned.

Wang Zhan's lips curled slightly.

"Yes, long time no see."

Thinking back, it had been two months, around the same time Wang Zhan and Yao Yao had started their relationship. The problem was, while his memories with Yao Yao were all pleasant, Li Chengyuan had only brought him manipulation.

Li Chengyuan offered a faint smile.

"What, you dislike me now? You didn't refuse the Blood Essence Pill when I offered it to you back then. No matter what, I was your father's comrade-in-arms. You should at least show some respect."

Wang Zhan cut to the chase, "If given the choice, I would still have accepted your Blood Essence Pill. But you need to understand the difference between an act of goodwill and a calculated scheme. Even if you are my father's comrade-in-arms, if you dare to scheme against me again, I can assure you that once I'm strong enough, I'll be one of the first to come settle the score with you!"

Don't assume Li Chengyuan's schemes had only brought Wang Zhan benefits. What Li Chengyuan had brought him was complete exposure. To this day, many of his troubles had been caused by Li Chengyuan. Otherwise, why would he not be grateful for the man's help, yet now have the audacity to confront him so righteously?

Li Chengyuan also fell silent.

The two men, not well acquainted, stood together, an unspoken battle of wits and dignity raging beneath the surface.

However, after only a brief moment, a gratified smile appeared on Li Chengyuan's face.

"Very good. The little boy has finally grown into a mature warrior. I am pleased for your father."

Wang Zhan did not respond.

This wasn't the time or place for a shouting match. Otherwise, Wang Zhan, having learned from Yang Cui, could have berated Li Chengyuan for nearly half an hour without repeating a single curse word. The other half hour, Li Chengyuan could spend sulking.

Fortunately, their meeting for the day ended there.

Li Chengyuan waved his hand and said, "Go on, then! Since our paths diverge and we seek no common cause, I won't insist. It saves me from being resented by a junior in my old age."

But Wang Zhan wasn't the type to be ordered around; the thought was laughable. So, he turned and walked away without the slightest hesitation or lingering. This made Li Chengyuan's eyes narrow slightly, leaving him somewhat dumbfounded and amused.

He's really leaving? Li Chengyuan thought, a little incredulous.

Wang Zhan didn't look back.

"If you have something to say, then say it. If you're just going to fart, then do it. I don't have much free time to waste on idle chatter with you. Moreover, don't mention 'that father' of mine again. In this life, I only have one older sister and one mother. If someone wants to be my father, he's not qualified!"

The corners of Li Chengyuan's mouth twitched. Well, his temper has gotten even fiercer, he thought.

"Well... I've killed a prince of the Federation Royal Family. So, you don't have to worry about me scheming against you in the future."

"And then?" Wang Zhan still didn't turn his head.

"Of course, I won't die," Li Chengyuan said confidently. "It was just killing a loser. At worst, I'll be exiled for a decade or two. I'll be back. I'm just trying to tell you that I truly mean you no harm."

Li Chengyuan added silently, Well, perhaps a little scheming.

Wang Zhan, however, knew this full well.

"Alright. If you're not dead, then live well. If you do die, don't tell me. If, someday, I happen to run into them and they accidentally let it slip, I can reluctantly avenge you. Consider it a debt repaid."

This time, he truly left.

I'll repay the life-saving debt with vengeance, Wang Zhan resolved. Anything else is inappropriate.

For a moment, Li Chengyuan's eyes grew deep, like suspension bridges leading into a dark abyss, full of unspoken meaning.

"He has really grown up!" Li Chengyuan mused. And so quickly... I wonder if Mingyue can handle him.

...

The time that followed was naturally for Wang Zhan and Yao Yao to meet in private.

Wang Zhan decided that after his date with Yao Yao, he would visit his mother. He hadn't been home in a long time and wondered if Yang Cui had forgotten about him, her son.

Little did he know that while he was meeting with Yao Yao, a sharply dressed female secretary had quietly approached the gossip reporter who had taken Xu Yuyu's photos for Wang Zhan and was planning to use them for hype.

"The photos. Sell them to me. One million."

That was the first thing the secretary said to the reporter.

The reporter's face was full of disdain as he waved the freshly printed photos in his hand.

"One million? Is the reputation of the devoted Federation Teen Hero worth only that much? Are you an idiot, or am I?"

The female secretary smiled and quietly made a phone call.

"Hello, this is Yu Lan, a special secretary from the Federal Presidential Secretary Office. There's a small matter we need your assistance with..."

The reporter's face was full of scorn. Call anyone you want! he scoffed internally. I don't believe for a second that in today's Federation, you can fool people just by throwing around some fancy title. If that were true, I'd start fundraising tomorrow and run for Federation President myself, just for kicks. My title would be 'The Future President of the Federation.'

However, less than five minutes later, a call from a 'fatal' number came through to the reporter's mobile phone. The content of the call instantly made his face turn deathly pale, and he broke out in a cold sweat, feeling weak.

"...Give the photos to her... Do you want to die? There are some things we can touch, and some things we can't... What the hell is the Federation Teen Hero worth? And you, how much do you think you're worth? I'm telling you, don't even think about leaking those photos! Have the photographer keep an eye on him! If it comes to it, I'll pay whatever it takes, even if it means someone's life!"

The reporter completely capitulated.

He glared at the woman before him, Yu Lan, hatred burning in his eyes, and said in a sinister tone, "You win. Very well! Just don't ever give me a chance, or I'll make you regret this. And tell Wang Zhan to be careful. Acting so recklessly as a Federation Teen Hero... Don't think I'm really afraid of him! He's not worthy of being placed on a pedestal..."

He never imagined Wang Zhan would have such connections. The photos hadn't even been released, yet they were intercepted and rudely snatched from his hands without any scruples. This filled him with a sense of desolation. Is this the Federation? Bullshit! A Federation Teen Hero is two-faced, cruel-hearted, and an incompetent parasite. What hope is there for the Federation?

Yu Lan smiled faintly, her demeanor elegant and calm, completely unmoved by the reporter's threats.

"Alright, I'll be waiting. And thank you for the photos. They're truly beautiful!"

Then, she departed, her mission successfully accomplished.

...

「Meanwhile.」

A highly favored young woman who had entered Jinmen City finally found the bewildered girl wandering the streets, gazing at the dazzling scenery and neon lights.

"Hello, my name is Yuan Mengru. It's nice to meet you!"

Xu Yuyu looked a bit flustered at the beautiful girl in front of her who had introduced herself so formally and was now offering a handshake.

"Ah... ah, hello. I... My name is Xu Yuyu. It's... it's nice to meet you too!"

Yuan Mengru had no intention of deceiving Xu Yuyu, this pitiful soul lost in an unfamiliar place. Yes, pitiful. Both were pitiful figures in love, unchosen by Wang Zhan, yet each nursing their own tender feelings.

So, she stated plainly, "I am Wang Zhan's classmate. Of course, I'm not here on Wang Zhan's behalf; a woman wants to meet you. You don't have to be nervous. She's just an ordinary person; if you wanted to, you could probably kill her with one slap."

"Ah! I... I wouldn't kill anyone..." Xu Yuyu quickly shook her head. What she had learned was the art of healing, not the art of killing.

Yuan Mengru, who had subtly tested her, was quite satisfied by this. She smiled and said, "It seems we're going to be good friends."

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