Chapter 36 – Conflict on the Verge of Erupting

“Ding-dong— Ding-dong— Ding-dong—”

Amidst the station’s notification chimes, the train parked at the special platform slowly closed its carriage doors and finally began to move.

It gradually accelerated, traveling along the tracks toward Huaming District. Combined with the solemn atmosphere in each carriage, it truly evoked a sense of setting out for battle.

Yet among the increasingly solemn carriages, the atmosphere in one particular carriage felt somewhat peculiar.

Eerily… quiet.

“……”

A heavy silence permeated the carriage.

Everyone in the carriage tacitly refrained from speaking, their attention completely focused in one direction.

There sat the most prominent figures of the entire Demon Hunter Academy.

The supernova of the Hunter Department, the Xu Family’s young mistress who had held the title of Academy Beauty for two consecutive years—Xu Qianqian.

The top freshman of the Sorcerer Department, the popular King who had won everyone’s affection shortly after enrollment—An Zijin.

At this moment, these two beauties regarded by many students as unattainable flowers were sitting on either side of Su Ming—who had only recently risen to fame—surrounding him as if subtly forming opposing factions.

Everyone stared at the man sitting between the Academy Beauties with complex emotions and intense envy, their gazes so sharp it seemed they wanted to bore holes through him, as if they’d encountered their father’s murderer.

Regarding this, Su Ming desperately wanted to express how miserable he felt, yet couldn’t utter a word.

He too felt as if sitting on pins and needles.

Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu sitting across from him—whether too intimidated or unwilling to interrupt—watched cautiously from the sidelines, maintaining their silence.

Though unsure what Lei Hao and Ye Bai behind him were doing, he could constantly feel two piercing glares that seemed intent on slicing him to pieces.

But that wasn’t the worst of it.

What truly made Su Ming restless were the Academy Beauties flanking him.

Xu Qianqian had fallen silent since sitting down, simply watching Su Ming.

Though Su Ming could feel Xu Qianqian’s gaze, he couldn’t turn to respond.

The reason was simple: his already numb arm was being firmly pinned by the equally quiet An Zijin, as if warning him that if he dared speak to Xu Qianqian, he could forget about keeping this arm—making Su Ming too terrified to make any sudden moves.

Though genuinely miserable inside, he had nowhere to vent even if he wanted to.

But one thing Su Ming could confirm:

“If this isn’t me being targeted by the World Will, then I’ll eat my own slippers!”

That was Su Ming’s only thought at the moment.

Whether fortunate or not, this eerie silence was ultimately broken.

“You seem to have changed quite a bit.”

Xu Qianqian suddenly uttered these words without any context.

“Huh?”

Su Ming failed to react immediately.

But Xu Qianqian continued watching Su Ming, as if confirming something, and said: “Just intuition. You seem somewhat different compared to a couple days ago.”As she spoke, Xu Qianqian subtly twitched her cute little nose, as if sniffing something.

In truth, half of Xu Qianqian’s words were a cover.

She had indeed noticed some changes in Su Ming, but not through intuition—rather, through her own physical reactions.

The blood of this Young Miss of the Xu Family had always harbored a certain restless attraction toward Su Ming, making her crave his blood.

And now, Xu Qianqian realized that this restless feeling seemed to have intensified.

Unaware of this, Su Ming could only force a hollow smile.

“I wish I could continue as before too.”

This statement represented Su Ming’s silent accusation.

He genuinely wanted to remain the same as before—to keep being an unnoticed extra, developing in the shadows, at least without being so blatantly targeted.

But that wish had completely shattered ever since these two Academy Beauties appeared by his side.

Xu Qianqian didn’t even acknowledge Su Ming’s silent complaint. Her gaze fixed on him with a hint of fervor, and she even unconsciously stuck out her tongue to lick her lips.

That gesture instantly transformed this aloof Academy Beauty into a bewitching enchantress, causing many who were secretly observing them to feel a surge of heat, nearly making their noses bleed.

“Lend it to me.”

Xu Qianqian still paid no attention to anyone else. Instead, she reached out and pulled Su Ming’s other hand into her embrace.

“————”

At that moment, the Killing Intent permeating the carriage intensified severalfold.

“Hiss…”

Su Ming couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

Helplessly, Xu Qianqian, after holding his arm, directly pressed his palm to her mouth and gave it a light bite.

Su Ming only felt a slight pain, followed by an electrifying sensation that sent shivers down his spine.

Leaving aside the soft touch of the Academy Beauty’s lips, the girl actually stuck out her tongue to lick Su Ming’s hand a few times, then began to suck, nearly drawing out his very soul.

Su Ming knew that this Academy Beauty was drinking his blood.

And she was doing so with extreme urgency.

“You…”

Su Ming badly wanted to give Xu Qianqian a hard knock on the head.

Had this girl forgotten where they were?

To do something like this right under everyone’s noses—was she afraid the commotion wasn’t big enough?

Besides, did she even ask for his permission before drinking his blood?

Su Ming was furious.

But to others, this scene carried a completely different meaning.

They could only see Xu Qianqian suddenly lift Su Ming’s hand and start “kissing” it.

As for Su Ming’s expression of shock and anger, it naturally appeared to others as a face twisted in pleasure.

“Cough…!”

Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu, sitting across from Su Ming and Xu Qianqian, were startled by the sudden scene. The drinks they were sipping nearly sprayed out as they coughed with wide eyes, revealing their inner shock.

“Crash!”

“Rip!”

“Smack!”

The surrounding onlookers reacted variously—some crushed their water cups, others tore their backpacks, and some slapped their own thighs in frustration, only to yelp in pain afterward.

“Lei Hao! Lei Hao!”

Ye Bai’s shouts once again rang out incessantly from the seats behind, as if someone needed urgent rescue again.Under such circumstances, An Zijin finally couldn’t take it anymore and stood up.

“Could you please show some restraint, Senior?”

An Zijin confronted Xu Qianqian, her usually adorable face now covered with a frosty layer of sternness that made the surrounding onlookers shiver involuntarily.

“……!”

Xu Qianqian seemed to snap back to reality as if just realizing what she had done, clarity returning to her eyes.

She reluctantly released her bite, lifted her gaze, and looked at the frosty-faced An Zijin.

Then, Xu Qianqian spoke these words.

“Sorry, his scent was just too irresistible. I couldn’t help myself…”

Xu Qianqian did feel somewhat apologetic.

In her view, she had indeed lost her composure this time.

After all, Su Ming was An Zijin’s fiancé, and her sudden action was indeed inappropriate.

Yet this also demonstrated how much more attractive Su Ming had become to Xu Qianqian compared to before, to the point where she could barely control the restless blood stirring within her.

Of course, to An Zijin who didn’t know the full story, Xu Qianqian’s words “his scent was just too irresistible” sounded like pure provocation, essentially meaning “your husband is really something.”

Thus, An Zijin’s expression became completely blank.

“Zi…Zijin?”

Su Ming began to feel terrified.

Not only Su Ming, but even Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu across from them were trembling with fear.

“It’s…it’s appearing…!”

“Dark Zijin mode…!”

The two shouted somewhat incomprehensible phrases.

This wasn’t the first time they had seen An Zijin like this.

In the past, when they had teased Su Ming too harshly, An Zijin had multiple times become expressionless like this.

And whenever An Zijin entered this state, she would become extremely terrifying.

Yao Beibei and Jiang Wanyu referred to this version of An Zijin as “Dark Zijin mode.”

An Zijin in this mode did indeed become somewhat frightening.

“Is this the second time?” An Zijin coldly stared at Xu Qianqian and said: “Is this Senior’s second declaration of war against me?”

The chilling aura emanating from An Zijin as she spoke these words was truly enough to make people tremble.

Xu Qianqian frowned, met An Zijin’s icy gaze, and stood up.

Last time when An Zijin said this, Xu Qianqian hadn’t responded.

But this time…

“If that’s what you think, then so be it.”

Xu Qianqian responded directly.

It could only be said that Young Miss Xu had never backed down from anyone in her life.

Therefore, even though An Zijin had misunderstood her meaning, Xu Qianqian had no intention of showing weakness.

Even though she knew An Zijin might not be an ordinary person, she didn’t believe she was inferior in any way.

If we’re talking about special qualities, Xu Qianqian possessed her own unique traits that were no less remarkable than An Zijin’s.

“Very well.” An Zijin seemed to accept Xu Qianqian’s challenge, her voice completely flat without any inflection: “Let’s find a place to settle this, Senior.”

“Fine.” Xu Qianqian replied equally calmly: “I’d also like to see just how capable you are.”

With these words, the atmosphere between Xu Qianqian and An Zijin instantly became charged with tension.

Conflict was imminent.Just as everyone around was watching the two Academy Beauties who had suddenly confronted each other with fearful expressions, trembling as they awaited the imminent intense conflict, Su Ming finally erupted.

“Enough!”

Su Ming abruptly stood up.

“Huh?”

“Su… Brother Su Ming?”

Both Xu Qianqian and An Zijin were startled, looking at Su Ming in astonishment.

Su Ming spoke with extreme anger.

“Pulling hatred toward me on your own, then confronting each other on your own—are you treating me as if I don’t exist?”

“And finding a place to settle this?”

“Fine!”

“Find a spot right now on this train, and I’ll settle this with both of you at once!”

“Come on! Find one!”

Su Ming’s furious voice stunned the two girls on the spot, leaving them completely speechless.

(End of Chapter)