Chapter 45: Bei Bei's Challenge, Cultivating with Tang Ya
"Fine, fine! I'll leave—I'll leave the Tang Sect, happy now!?"
Bei Bei's teeth clenched as he glared daggers at Ye Chen. "But let's get one thing straight—I'm not leaving out of fear. I'm doing this for Xiao Ya!"
He drew in a sharp breath and added coldly, "You may be strong, I'll admit that—but I don't believe you're stronger than me. Do you dare to fight me for real!?"
At Shrek Academy, every student was proud—and battle-hungry. Bei Bei, one of the top candidates for the next generation's Seven Monsters, was no exception.
He didn't think he was any weaker than Ye Chen.
After all, the information he had on Ye Chen was vague at best. He'd only heard rumors that Ye Chen had single-handedly defeated dozens of opponents—but most of them were weak soul masters with only a few spirit rings.
In Bei Bei's eyes, he could have done the same.
After all, he was rank 38—a peak Soul Elder nearing level 39. There might be a gap in rank between him and Ye Chen's Soul King realm, but not as large as people claimed.
He had even beaten Soul Kings before.
And since Ye Chen's martial soul was also draconic—some kind of ice dragon—the fight would come down not just to cultivation, but bloodline.
Bei Bei's Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was among the most powerful dragon-type martial souls on the continent. There was no way he'd lose in a head-to-head bloodline clash.
If his bloodline suppressed Ye Chen's, he could easily overcome the gap between their levels.
"Oh? You really want to duel me?" Ye Chen asked, intrigued.
Surely, Bei Bei knew his strength by now. For him to challenge Ye Chen so suddenly—was he out of his mind?
"What's wrong, scared already?" Bei Bei sneered, pride lighting his eyes.
Fighting matches were the most common way to resolve conflicts at Shrek. It was practically tradition.
Ye Chen wasn't fond of such childish contests, but since Bei Bei insisted on walking into a beating, he wouldn't refuse.
Besides, women adored the strong.
Beating Bei Bei in front of Tang Ya would surely... strengthen their "bond."
"Of course not a problem," Ye Chen replied casually. "Three days from now, after classes. I'm too busy until then."
"You—!"
"Fine! Three days it is!"
Bei Bei's fury rose to a boil.
As one of Shrek's elite outer court prodigies, he had never been so blatantly dismissed.
He swore that in three days, he'd make Ye Chen regret his arrogance.
Without another word, he stormed off, his steps uneven—so furious he was practically shaking.
...
"Uh, Sister Xiao Ya, shouldn't you check on Senior Bei Bei? He looked pretty upset..." Ye Chen asked, a twitch tugging at his lips.
If Bei Bei let his anger get the better of him and something happened, Mu En, that shameless old man, might come after him.
"No need. He's a grown man—he doesn't need me to babysit him."
Tang Ya waved dismissively, sounding bored.
Her tone even carried an undertone of disappointment.
The contrast was too stark. Just a few days ago, she had thought Bei Bei was dependable—a bright, steady young man.
But next to Ye Chen, the difference was glaring.
And Bei Bei, who wasn't far away, heard it all.
His steps faltered, nearly tripping as more cracks formed in his already wounded heart.
The resentment in him grew darker, deeper.
"Let's go, Sister Xiao Ya. Come have dinner with me. I've got a surprise for you~" Ye Chen smiled, brushing it off.
He hadn't forgotten Tang Ya's longing for revenge or her hunger to grow stronger. This "surprise" was exactly what he needed to earn both her trust and her favor.
As for Bei Bei...
Ye Chen didn't even want to waste a thought on him.
He wasn't Wang Dong in disguise—just an annoying obstacle. Not even worth the distraction.
Still, for the old Mu En's sake, Ye Chen decided he wouldn't hit Bei Bei too hard in three days.
...
"Surprise? What surprise?" Tang Ya asked curiously.
"You'll find out soon enough~" Ye Chen's smile was mysterious.
The two walked away side by side, leaving Huo Yuhao staring blankly at their retreating backs.
"That guy... He even made Senior Bei Bei leave the Tang Sect. Damn it…" he muttered under his breath.
To him, it was obvious—his beloved Teacher Xiao Ya must've been deceived. It was all Ye Chen's fault.
"Three days, huh? We'll see who wins then," Huo Yuhao thought grimly.
...
Ye Chen, of course, sensed Huo Yuhao's glare.
He didn't bother to respond.
He already knew what Huo Yuhao was planning—to help Bei Bei cheat.
Cheating was one of Huo Yuhao's favorite tricks.
He had done it before, secretly boosting Bei Bei's battles, using his spiritual power to tip the scale. Huo Yuhao had even cheated openly during the Advanced Academy Tournament, fusing his martial soul with Wang Dong mid-match to steal a win.
Such underhandedness was typical of him.
Mind-type soul masters specialized in silent interference, nasty little tricks, and covert manipulation.
But Ye Chen wasn't worried.
Let Huo Yuhao interfere all he wanted—it wouldn't matter soon.
Once Ye Chen intercepted and claimed the Ice Empress himself, he'd cut off Huo Yuhao's biggest source of destiny luck.
After that, the boy's fate would plummet like a rock.
...
Later that evening, Ye Chen and Tang Ya arrived at the Seven Treasure Hotel again.
If you were going to eat, you might as well eat well.
The hotel was discreet, quiet, and perfect for private discussions—or activities far more delicate.
Public restaurants were risky for these sorts of things, and surveillance in Shrek City was never low.
Even now, Ye Chen's sharp senses detected a figure hiding in the shadows of a nearby wall—it was Bei Bei.
...
"Damn it… A place like this. Are they really just having dinner?"
Bei Bei's eyes burned crimson as he watched Tang Ya and Ye Chen enter the high-end hotel together, side by side.
Rage churned in his chest, his fingers digging so hard into his palms that they nearly drew blood.
He had followed them the entire way, wanting to expose Ye Chen's manipulations for what they were.
But now, seeing them laughing together under the warm lights—the sight nearly drove him insane.
He gritted his teeth so hard he thought they would break.
"No way. I have to see this for myself!"
Unable to hold back, he marched toward the hotel entrance.
...
Inside a private suite, Ye Chen and Tang Ya sat across from each other.
Ye Chen savored exquisite dishes, content and unhurried.
Everything here was billed under Ning Tian's tab anyway.
A soft life came easy when you had rich friends—and it hardly felt shameful.
If he ever felt guilty, he could just give her a celestial herb later to upgrade her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda. Fair trade.
"Ye Chen, you still haven't told me what the surprise is~" Tang Ya said curiously, her appetite light but her eyes bright.
"Haha, it's a secret technique—a legendary one from my family," Ye Chen explained casually.
He then described his Resonance technique—how it required two people training together to be effective.
He couldn't exactly hide it, so he only ever offered to practice with those he trusted.
Luckily, Shrek's students were generally good-hearted and naïve—nurtured safely in their academy bubble, far from the world's darker schemes.
"Really?! Then can we practice it together?" Tang Ya's eyes sparkled with excitement.
She was thrilled, her face glowing with rare anticipation.
After all, Ye Chen had warned that it was an intense method, one that consumed much energy.
Still, she didn't care. She wanted to grow stronger—no matter the effort required.
"Of course we can, Sister Xiao Ya," Ye Chen said with a knowing smile.
And as the candlelight flickered between them, Tang Ya's heart fluttered—half from curiosity, half from something deeper.
(END CHAPTER)
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