"It's not me who's crazy—it's you. Now kneel!"
Yang Cheng's tone was calm, his voice low but carrying undeniable authority.
A faint chill spread from his body.
Ouyang Yi suddenly felt a cold shiver run through him, the chill biting deep into his bones. His mind snapped into clarity.
This wasn't some ordinary native from the Wasteland Realm.
Yang Cheng was a Dao Academy Master—a man who had once slain Su Lingchen himself.
When he looked again at that deceitful woman, Cang Xuanji, he realized something was wrong. She seemed completely captivated by Yang Cheng, not only failing to harm him but appearing thoroughly subdued.
He couldn't help but let his thoughts turn dark. 'Could this Yang Cheng, despite being so young, already be… potent in that way? Otherwise, why would Cang Xuanji look like she's been utterly tamed by him?'
And clearly, since Cang Xuanji now acted like this, it was obvious she must have already told Yang Cheng that it was he, Ouyang Yi, who exposed his identity as Master Yang.
'That vile woman,' he cursed bitterly in his heart.
"Yang Cheng, you really have gone mad. You not only splashed wine at Ouyang Yi but now you're spouting this kind of nonsense."
"Do you even know who Ouyang Yi is?"
Several Sword Academy disciples spoke up angrily.
They had all been trying to curry favor with Ouyang Yi for some time.
"Shut up."
Before Yang Cheng could even speak, Cang Xuanji coldly snapped, "I've already told you before—Young Master Yang is my benefactor. Anyone who disrespects him disrespects me."
"This..."
The group immediately fell silent, almost forgetting about that little detail.
Cang Xuanji then turned her sharp gaze toward Ouyang Yi. "Ouyang Yi, in front of Young Master, you'd better behave yourself."
She was furious with him too.
If Ouyang Yi hadn't blabbed about Yang Cheng's identity as Master Yang, she never would have set up this ridiculous trap in the first place—and certainly wouldn't have ended up paying such a heavy price for it.
Ouyang Yi, for all his arrogance, wasn't stupid.
He knew Yang Cheng's status, and when he saw even Cang Xuanji taking Yang Cheng's side, he didn't dare act recklessly.
After a brief hesitation, he suddenly dropped to his knees.
"Get lost," Yang Cheng said lightly.
Ouyang Yi stood up quickly and left in haste, not daring to look back.
As his figure disappeared from sight, Cang Xuanji sent a sound transmission to Yang Cheng. "Young Master, why didn't you just kill him?"
"No rush," Yang Cheng said in an unhurried tone. "Keeping him alive will draw out more from the Ouyang family. Sometimes, you have to let the bait dangle to catch a bigger fish."
Cang Xuanji's heart trembled slightly at his words.
She couldn't help but feel a trace of pity for the Ouyang family—but then she remembered her own Cang family's situation and realized pity was a luxury she could no longer afford.
The male Sword Academy disciples glanced at the two of them and couldn't hide their jealousy.
Yang Cheng was too lucky. Having Tang Xingyu was already enviable enough, but now even Cang Xuanji seemed to be fond of him.
Tang Xingyu, noticing their interactions, grew slightly curious.
She didn't think anything improper had happened between Yang Cheng and Cang Xuanji, but she sensed something unusual must have transpired.
Before long, the banquet came to an end.
As they walked back together, Yang Cheng chuckled. "Tangtang, aren't you curious about what happened between me and Cang Xuanji?"
Tang Xingyu smiled softly. "If Chengcheng wants to tell me, you will. If you don't, that means it's something you'd rather not talk about. I won't make things difficult for you by asking."
Yang Cheng couldn't help but feel a warm sense of admiration.
For someone her age, Tang Xingyu was truly perceptive and understanding.
After a moment of thought, he decided not to hide it and told her everything.
When she finished listening, Tang Xingyu's good impression of Cang Xuanji vanished completely. "That woman is vile. Luckily, Chengcheng, you're strong enough. Otherwise, she might have succeeded."
"I wouldn't have gone there if I thought she had any chance of succeeding," Yang Cheng said with a slight smile.
"I believe you, Chengcheng."
Though Tang Xingyu spoke calmly, in her heart she had already made up her mind—to work even harder in her cultivation.
Only by becoming stronger could she stand beside him as his equal and protect him too.
In the days that followed, both the Great Zhou and the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy became peaceful again.
Yang Cheng's lectures as a Dao Academy Master also stabilized.
Every day, countless disciples came to attend his lessons.
When they discovered that they could truly learn valuable insights from him, their respect and admiration for Yang Cheng grew deeper with each passing day.
Inside the exclusive study room of the Alchemy Academy—
"Master Yang," said Wang Rou, "in half a month, several Alchemy Dao sects from the Horn Constellation Realm and the Azure Jade Realm will visit the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy. Our Alchemy Academy will be holding a joint exchange meeting with them."
"The Dao Academy hopes you can attend as well, Master Yang. Would you happen to have time?"
"The alchemy forces from the Horn Constellation Realm and the Azure Jade Realm?"
Yang Cheng seemed to think for a moment before saying calmly, "Sure. You can make the arrangements."
Wang Rou quickly noted it down, but then a look of hesitation crossed her face.
"Something else?" Yang Cheng asked.
"Yes... it's like this," Wang Rou said nervously. "A few old friends of mine from the Horn Constellation Realm also came to the Wasteland Realm. I'd like to invite you to join us."
Yang Cheng couldn't help but chuckle. "You're meeting your old friends—what would I go there for?"
"I haven't seen them in so long, and I'm afraid it'll be awkward going alone," Wang Rou admitted. "Of course, if you don't wish to go, that's fine too. In that case, I simply won't attend."
"When?" Yang Cheng asked.
This assistant lecturer had been quite devoted in her work lately.
She had handled a lot of matters for him efficiently, making his days far more convenient. He wasn't the type to be cold-hearted in return.
Wang Rou's eyes widened in surprise. "You… you mean you'll go?"
She had only asked out of a small, desperate hope, expecting rejection. She hadn't thought he would actually agree.
"Mm."
Yang Cheng nodded lightly.
Wang Rou clenched her small fists in excitement and said quickly, "It's tonight!"
By dusk, Yang Cheng arrived at the banks of the Wudong River.
Before him stood a small but elegant restaurant, lanterns glowing softly beneath the evening sky.
As he approached, a unicorn-drawn carriage pulled up beside him.
Inside sat two people—a young man and a charming woman.
They stopped right at the restaurant entrance, just as Yang Cheng did.
The young man gave him a surprised glance, while the woman's expression was filled with disdain.
After all, she had noticed that Yang Cheng was walking on foot.
But when she stepped out of the carriage and finally saw his face clearly, her eyes softened instantly, rippling with an unmistakable allure.
Yang Cheng's features were flawless—elegant, clean, and almost unreal.
The young man beside her frowned slightly, his tone turning cold. "Wan Chu, let's go inside."
Yuan Wanchu reluctantly pulled her gaze away.
But just as they walked through the door, they realized to their surprise that Yang Cheng had entered the same restaurant behind them.
The faint disappointment in Yuan Wanchu's heart vanished instantly.
Smiling sweetly, she turned toward him. "Young Master, are you also here for tonight's small banquet?"
"That's right," Yang Cheng replied with a slight nod.
The young man's expression turned even darker at that.
Before the awkward air could thicken, Wang Rou appeared from inside.
When she saw Yang Cheng, her face brightened with visible relief.
She had truly been worried he might not come.
Tonight, Wang Rou looked entirely different from her usual self.
Normally, she dressed plainly, giving off an impression of restraint and diligence.
But now—she wore a lotus-pink gauze dress with a slender, cinched waist. Silver-thread embroidery of winding begonia blossoms trailed along the fabric, with tiny pearls glimmering at each petal's edge. The low, heart-shaped neckline revealed the smooth line of her pale neck, while a sheer moon-white shawl as thin as cicada wings draped softly over her shoulders.
When she lifted her hand, the skin beneath the gauze sleeves could faintly be seen. The skirt had a slight slit at the hem, revealing a glimpse of her calf wrapped in pink satin—like a lotus just rising from clear water.
Altogether, she looked both sweet and alluring, an innocent charm tinged with quiet seduction.