Under the old wooden cabin, Jiang Xiang leaned against the wall, elbow propped up. He pointed with his thumb toward their grill nearby and whispered into Han Lianfei’s ear, "Feier, Miss Han, come hang with us. You’re all alone here—it’s so dull. We saved grilled venison just for you. Let’s go chill together!"
Han Lianfei felt he was too close. She turned her head away and stepped back. "I’m not hungry. Keep it for yourselves."
Feier’s voice was unusually cold. At 173cm tall, she still looked delicate beside Jiang Xiang.
"Don’t be like that, Feier. You’re not some uptight girl, right?" Seeing she wasn’t swayed, Jiang Xiang deliberately lowered his voice, leering. "I get it! You want something spicier? Bro’s got—"
"Freak!" Han Lianfei’s face twisted in disgust. She spun around and walked away.
"Han Lianfei! Disrespecting me?" Jiang Xiang’s large hand seized her arm. His strength had always been impossible for her to break free from—and now, Awakened, it was even worse.
"Ah!" The grip hurt badly. Han Lianfei cried out, her face crumpling with pain and helplessness. Her defiance faltered. "Let go of me…"
Seeing her fear, Jiang Xiang yanked her toward the cabin’s shadowed corner. His lackeys watched impassively, eyes gleaming with excitement. The two girls closest to him wore expressions mixed with jealousy and schadenfreude.
The moment Jiang Xiang dragged her behind the cabin, Han Lianfei glanced back at Lin Luo by the bonfire. Her eyes held a trace of sorrow.
Honestly, Lin Luo couldn’t care less if Jiang Xiang harassed some girl. With nineteen girls in class, was he supposed to police every boy’s move?
But Han Lianfei? He couldn’t ignore this.
Lin Luo started to rise—but Holy Maiden Zhang Dajian had already rushed over. Lin Luo followed.
Jiang Xiang shoved Han Lianfei against the wall, leaning in to taunt her.
"Jiang Xiang! What are you doing?"
You Xun’s shout drew a crowd of classmates.
Jiang Xiang froze, breathing heavily. "Damn, Class Rep! Can’t a guy flirt? Think this is school? This is another world. Who’s gonna stop me?"
"Flirting? You made Feier cry! You’re bullying her!" Lin Yuxun pushed past Jiang Xiang and took Han Lianfei’s hand. "Feier, let’s go."
Jiang Xiang whirled around, face contorted. His thick arm shot out, fingers clamping You Xun’s jaw.
"Shit! You’re so annoying! What’s wrong with flirting? I kept you all alive tonight—without me, you’d be starving, dying of thirst! I just want her to play with me. Got a problem?"
The scene stunned everyone. Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Even Jiang Xiang’s cronies looked stunned. This wasn’t some weak boy—it was the class president. Back on Earth, the Lin family’s influence meant no one dared touch her. Security detail waited at school gates after class.
But here? In this world? Might made right.
You Xun’s eyes widened in disbelief. Trapped by his grip, she couldn’t speak—could barely breathe. Yet she didn’t struggle. She stood straight, maintaining her grace despite the humiliation.
Han Lianfei panicked. Jiang Xiang was an Awakened barbarian warrior. You Xun’s delicate face, her slender neck—she might get hurt!
Tears streaming, Han Lianfei tugged at Jiang Xiang’s massive arm. "Jiang Xiang, let her go! Are you crazy? Release You Xun!"
Zhang Dajian and Li Wendong stood frozen. Was Jiang Xiang insane? Assaulting the class rep?
"Let go! Let go!"
"Hey, Bro Jiang…" Even Zhang Dajian looked uneasy.
But Jiang Xiang was beyond reason. Nothing could stop him now.
You Xun’s face flushed crimson—shock warring with shame. *Why? Why would anyone do this to me? Did I do something wrong?*
An Awakened herself, she wouldn’t break easily. But as Holy Maiden, she couldn’t match a barbarian’s brute strength.
"Bro Jiang, Bro Jiang!" Feier’s voice cracked with terror. Desperate to protect You Xun, she pleaded, "Let her go. I’ll… I’ll play with you… Wu—"
Before she could finish, a small, pale hand covered her mouth.
Feier blushed, startled, staring at the boy silencing her.
Lin Luo’s other hand rested lightly—almost frailly—on Jiang Xiang’s arm, thicker than Lin Luo’s own thigh.
"Enough." Lin Luo’s voice was calm.
"Huh?" For a split second, Jiang Xiang’s rage-fueled fury vanished. His arm went numb. He felt no force from Lin Luo’s touch—yet his fingers loosened on You Xun’s jaw. He stumbled back a step, as if pulled by invisible strings.
Freed, You Xun was caught by Feier and the others. Her hair fell loose, chest heaving. She kept her head down, gaze vacant—ashamed of her powerlessness, humiliated by the treatment.
Feeling returned to Jiang Xiang’s arm. He didn’t understand what had happened. Why had he released her? Why step back? He didn’t connect it to Lin Luo.
He knew nothing of true power.
