After downing a stiff gulp of liquor, Zhong Yun managed to quell the rising demon within him, letting out a quiet breath; this was hardly the time for dalliances.

Since arriving in the Kingdom of Mins, unless absolutely necessary, Zhong Yun never ventured out, fearing he might stir up trouble and jeopardize his true mission.

He understood his own nature: while he wouldn't actively instigate conflict, when issues were forced upon him, enduring them became impossible.

Like now. After finishing their meal and drinks, the tallest of the three, Odin, helped the thoroughly inebriated Liu Ming to his feet, and together they left the restaurant. Weiwei and her boyfriend had already departed ahead of them.

Zhong Yun followed behind Pigen as they stepped out. Just as they reached the doorway, the two men in front halted. "What is it?" Zhong Yun craned his neck and saw an exceptionally striking, pure silver airship parked just outside.

The modes of transport in the Kingdom of Mins differed somewhat from those in Davor. Although both flew, their designs were vastly dissimilar. Davor's vehicles, called 'skimmers,' were broad in the middle and tapered at both ends, resembling a long shuttle—still hinting at something vehicular.

In contrast, the airships of Mins were wildly varied in shape—insectoid, avian, various animals, and some even mischievously fashioned into the shape of… well, certain things.

The craft before them looked like a fighter jet, its pure silver hull blindingly bright, lines sleek and flowing—clearly an expensive piece of machinery.

A flashy, high-end airship stopped by the roadside, drawing sidelong glances from passersby, mostly women. Their focus, besides the obviously costly vehicle, was fixed upon the dazzling young man standing next to it.

He was tall and slender, clad in a pure white, form-fitting suit that emphasized his aristocratic bearing. Above that was a flawless, perfect face with chiseled features, and silver-white light reflected off his spectacles under the glare of a massive advertisement lamp.

This man stood right in the middle of the path. Every woman passing by—from young girls just experiencing first affections to sharp urban professionals, and even married housewives—stared fixedly at him.

He was a legendary 'woman-killer,' capable of captivating everyone from teenage girls to women in their fifties.

Behind him, two hulking figures, both over two meters tall, stood with their arms crossed, flanking him left and right. Dressed uniformly in black suits, black trousers, and black glasses, they formed a stark contrast against the young man’s silver-white attire, drawing even more attention.

Zhong Yun and his companions instantly recognized the man in white as Su Qi, who had left earlier with Weiwei. For some unknown reason, he had returned and seemed to be waiting for someone near the entrance.

Looking at the devastatingly handsome Su Qi, Zhong Yun felt a flicker of jealousy. He had seen many handsome men—Fei Yingming, Yang Yunrong—men whose looks alone could make women throw themselves at them.

But compared to Su Qi, the previous two paled in significance.

The first time they met, Zhong Yun had a decent impression of him, even considering trying to build a connection. However, Su Qi’s subtle arrogance quickly deterred Zhong Yun. He certainly wasn't going to debase himself to court favor.

Now, Zhong Yun felt no aversion toward Su Qi. He wasn't the type to begrudge others success. If Su Qi managed to win over a beauty like Weiwei, that was his skill. Jealousy only proved a lack of self-confidence.

No matter how beautiful Weiwei was, to Zhong Yun now, she was simply an irrelevant woman. Who she chose to be with was none of his damn business.

Zhong Yun nudged Odin ahead of him. "Let's go."

Odin subtly glanced at Pigen’s expression, noting that while his face remained placid as usual, his eyes were chillingly cold, almost freezing over.

"Let's go," Odin whispered as a reminder.

Pigen retracted his gaze, tugged at his collar, and turned left, heading in the direction of the school. Odin, carrying the snoring Liu Ming on his back, followed behind him.

Just as Zhong Yun stepped out, Su Qi, who had been leaning against his airship, finally made a move, walking directly toward Zhong Yun.

"You are Zhong Yun, right?" Su Qi called out, stopping him.

Zhong Yun paused, looking at him quizzically. "You're talking to me?"

Pigen and Odin, who were ahead, also stopped in their tracks and turned to face Su Qi.

"Yes, I'm talking to you." Su Qi approached, removing his silver-rimmed glasses. Zhong Yun thought this man was even more ostentatious than Fei Yingming—wearing sunglasses out late at night, trying too hard to look cool.

Zhong Yun raised an eyebrow. Su Qi's imperious attitude immediately irked him. His tone instantly cooled. "What is it?"

Su Qi hadn't actually underestimated him. Although he was from an aristocratic lineage, he wasn't a fool. He had recently gotten wind that Weiwei was spending time with a student from the archaeology department, so he leveraged his connections to look into the student’s background.

The Keddong family was indeed wealthy and powerful, but that didn't mean his elders would tolerate his recklessness outside. The Keddong family had managed to thrive for two millennia, primarily because they kept a low profile, far from the political epicenter.

The founder of the Keddong family understood the principle of the nail that sticks up getting hammered down. He established a family rule forbidding Keddong descendants from causing trouble outside, under penalty of severe punishment. This rule remained in effect to this day.

However, large families inherently possess a sense of superiority, making them incapable of remaining utterly passive. As long as the younger generations didn't cause too much upheaval or provoke truly powerful figures, the elders would generally turn a blind eye.

Smart as he was, Su Qi understood these nuances perfectly. Once he discovered Zhong Yun was an orphan with no relatives, his mind was set.

In his estimation, Zhong Yun was just a penniless student with no backing or leverage to compete for Weiwei. A simple show of force would surely make him obediently back off.

Su Qi appraised Zhong Yun from head to toe. He was utterly unremarkable, the type you couldn't pick out in a crowd. Too lazy for pleasantries, he felt that Weiwei fancying Zhong Yun would be a cosmic joke. "I’m here to tell you to keep away from Weiwei. She’s just too kind-hearted to hurt you outright."

He put his glasses back on. "Know your place in this world." With that, he turned toward his airship, feeling utterly bored. Dealing with someone like Zhong Yun was beneath him; intimidating such a person was meaningless. But still, a fly, however harmless, is still annoying and must be swatted away.

"Wait."

The voice from behind made Su Qi shake his head. What, still defiant? He hated people who didn't know when they were beaten. Did this boy really think he stood a chance against him?

He turned around, curious to see what else this fool had to say.

Zhong Yun scratched his forehead. "Excuse me, were you talking to me?"

Su Qi’s expression flickered with surprise, then soured. The contempt in Zhong Yun's tone was unmistakable to anyone listening.

Pigen heard Zhong Yun's words and a faint smile touched his lips.

Odin, less restrained, let out an unrestrained snort of laughter.

Zhong Yun started walking toward Su Qi. The two men in black moved forward, blocking him like twin mountains of flesh. Zhong Yun glanced at them dismissively.

"Are you Weiwei's boyfriend? Let me tell you, I originally didn't have designs on Weiwei, but after what you just said, I'm determined to have her. You better watch out for the color of the hat you're wearing."

After speaking, Zhong Yun turned his back and walked toward Odin and the others without a second glance.

Watching Zhong Yun’s retreating figure, Su Qi’s face turned ashen. Zhong Yun’s tone had been level, his manner not overtly aggressive, yet somehow, he exuded an air of confidence bordering on arrogance.

While he didn't understand the metaphorical meaning of "the hat turning green," he grasped the implication from the context: this boy intended to fight him for Weiwei.

Su Qi let out a cold huff, his expression grim, and returned to his airship.

"That was incredibly satisfying!" Odin was beaming, as if he had personally trampled his rival. If he hadn't been burdened with Liu Ming, he would have been dancing a jig. "I’ve disliked that guy for ages. Wearing sunglasses late at night, so utterly pretentious."

Pigen, however, spoke suddenly. "Third brother, you’ve just made an enemy of Su Qi. Su Qi is not a man known for his magnanimity; you need to be wary of retaliation."

Odin hesitated. "Surely not? The Keddong family has always maintained a good reputation."

"That depends on who you are. For people like us without connections, being bullied is just accepted. Unless you can produce evidence and take him to court," Pigen clearly understood the Keddong family's methods better.

"Besides, with Su Qi's strength—Level Thirteen Martial Arts—even without relying on his family's power…" Pigen left the sentence unfinished, but Odin and the other man understood his meaning.

Odin looked at Zhong Yun worriedly, opening his mouth to speak but stopping himself.

Zhong Yun’s expression remained unchanged, as if he paid no mind to the threat. "We'll deal with trouble as it comes. Can Su Qi actually eat me alive?"

Pigen was slightly taken aback, appreciating Zhong Yun’s resolute, straightforward attitude. "Perhaps I worried needlessly. After all, Su Qi is from a major family; he won't push things too far over a verbal spat."

Zhong Yun smiled faintly. Although he might have courted some trouble today, he felt little regret. If one had to endure every slight, what was the point of living? His relentless pursuit of strength was to reach the apex of this world and look down upon all. If he couldn't even handle a minor figure like Su Qi, then what was the point of striving?

After walking for a moment, Odin turned back, a suggestive smile spreading across his face, revealing a flash of brilliant white teeth. "Third brother, are you really going after Weiwei?"

"I was just saying that. I don't have the time for a relationship." Zhong Yun denied with a smile. He was being truthful; romance was not part of his current plans.

However, if the opportunity arose, he wouldn't mind a one-night stand.

P.S. There's another chapter tonight. It’s the end of the month, so please vote for monthly tickets.