An aura of death and bloodshed washed over Juben. The crushing pressure forced his mind into hyper-focus—time itself seemed to slow.

He saw Yan Yi’s right fist rise slowly. Though utterly ordinary in appearance, it radiated lethal peril. Juben couldn’t even swing his sword—his body reacted instinctively. He rolled sharply right, dodging by a hair’s breadth. The exact spot where he’d stood shattered the instant he cleared it.

Yan Yi generated wind pressure through precise punch speed and micro-vibrations, agitating the air into shockwave-like force. He could even strike directly into a living target’s interior. This technique was nearly impossible to block.

Juben’s reaction was perfect. Even if Yan Yi’s strike wouldn’t have gravely injured him, it was more than enough to launch a finishing combo.

Mr. Bai and the servants froze in shock. Yan Yi’s display defied logic—how could the ground shatter with zero detectable Mana fluctuation?

Juben’s heart hammered. He knew the consequence of failing to dodge. Before he could steady himself, Yan Yi stepped forward—seemingly casual, yet instantly before him. Left hand gripping the Great Sword scabbard and all, Yan Yi slashed downward.

No time to hesitate. Remembering the prior strike, Juben knew blocking this wouldn’t be easy. He hastily raised his sword into guard.

*Clang—*

Steel met scabbard. Juben’s blade held firm—it looked like a perfect block. But the truth was—

He felt no pressure on the blade. Yet searing numbness shot through both arms, as if the scabbard had struck them directly.

Yan Yi’s second signature technique: Point-to-Surface. By controlling impact force, he channeled a single point of contact to spread across the opponent’s entire surface. Force dispersed accordingly—effective externally, useless internally. At this power level, affecting only Juben’s hands was the limit.

Penetration belonged to the right hand. Vibration to the left. These techniques couldn’t swap hands—years of specialization had forged asymmetrical muscle structures in Yan Yi’s arms.

Before Juben processed it, Yan Yi’s kick connected. Juben flew backward. Though not a special technique, the raw force sent agony flaring through him, nearly knocking him out. After rolling several times, he pushed up, spat blood-tinged saliva, a crimson trickle staining his lip.

Mr. Bai stood utterly dumbfounded. *How could someone casually picked up by me and the young mistress be this formidable?*

Yan Yi watched Juben wipe his mouth, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

“Not bad. You actually jumped back mid-kick. Otherwise, you’d be unconscious.”

Juben offered a bitter smile. The retreat had been pure instinct. Only now did he grasp his opponent’s terrifying skill—minimal force, uncanny techniques, that kick pinpointing a vital spot. Yan Yi was right: without going all out, he had no chance.

“I never expected someone like you at Central Academy.”

He reset his stance, but hesitation flickered across his face. Voice trembling slightly:

“Does… does Luris know about your strength?”

Yan Yi paused, then let out a silent chuckle, barely containing audible laughter. *What’s with you two? One schemes amid conflict; the other clings to trust even in crisis. I can’t fault Juben… but what is Luris truly after?*

“She probably only knows I can beat you.”

Juben’s bright eyes dimmed visibly. His body shuddered—a silent war raging within.

Yan Yi held back tactfully. He wanted to see Juben’s reaction after being deceived by the one he loved with the very outcome he craved. Confront Luris? Walk away? Or…

Just then, Luris’s mother arrived. Seeing the two locked in stance, unaware of context, she turned to Mr. Bai:

“Is that Yan Yi? Mr. Bai, what’s happening? Haven’t they begun?”

Startled from his vigil, Mr. Bai bowed deeply.

“My lady, the match has started. Young Master Juben was completely overpowered moments ago.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. *Juben—overpowered?!* She knew his strength. Even newly ranked Class A fighters struggled to suppress him. How could someone this skilled hide at Central Academy with zero prior notice?

Before she could speak further, the scene shifted. Juben leveled his sword at Yan Yi, resolve igniting his gaze.

“I will defeat you. And then… I will confess to her again.”

Yan Yi burst into unrestrained laughter, hand covering his face as if utterly defeated. Between chuckles:

“How fascinating! Is your love so deep it leaves no room for hatred? Hahaha! She *did* deceive you, you know.”

*Well… she deceived herself too.*

“It doesn’t matter. I will persist. No matter what, I will only ever say I love her.”

Yan Yi’s smile faded. *At your age, you’d get flagged for underage dating where I’m from. Ugh, talking like this is exhausting—makes me feel like some final boss.*

*But… leaving you a sliver of hope wasn’t a mistake after all.*

“Then defeat me. Otherwise, you achieve nothing.”

Yan Yi gripped the scabbard in his left hand, right fist slowly clenching toward Juben.

Juben poured every ounce of focus inward. This would be his hardest battle yet—especially with no victory in sight.

“Wind’s Blessing!”

Invisible winds swirled into visible streams, gently wrapping around his body.

Memory flashing—Yan Yi’s prior moves—he planted his foot and lunged, thrusting straight.

No holding back. Killing intent and Mana surged to their peak. Speed blurred—distance vanished in a blink.

Yan Yi’s expression never changed. Left hand shifted to the hilt; arm bent slightly. Scabbard tip met sword point precisely. Right foot braced backward—halting the assault effortlessly.

No pause. No time to marvel. Juben retracted and slashed down.

Yan Yi, reverse-gripping the hilt with his left, parried each descending strike.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang…*

Blows exchanged in a flash. Steel clashed faster, harder. The ground beneath them cracked, sank, fissures spiderwebbing outward with every impact.

Mr. Bai and Luris’s mother swiftly ushered servants back. They feared evenly matched duels most—one delayed aid, and tragedy followed.

Both women watched, breath held, eyes locked on the clashing blades.

Yet the most shaken was Luris herself, standing slightly apart. She’d arrived moments after her mother, hearing every word. A bitter ache tightened her chest.

Then she noticed—Yan Yi’s movements were deliberately slower than usual.

*Suddenly, she understood.*

He was giving Juben a chance.

Yan Yi had suppressed his speed and power to nearly match Juben’s level.

This was the sliver of hope he left behind.