"Stop right there!"
The sudden shout caused everyone nearby to stiffen.
Flender and Yu Xiaogang both widened their eyes.
They knew Liu Erlong's temper better than anyone.
Hot-blooded, decisive, and explosive—especially toward outsiders.
For Bai Mu to behave so casually around her in public was something they never expected.
Yet—contrary to all expectations—
Liu Erlong did not erupt.
She stood still, expression rigid, as if suppressing something.
"You… shouldn't you be busy outside?" she asked stiffly.
"Why are you back so soon?"
Bai Mu smiled faintly. "Because I sensed someone thinking about me."
"That's nonsense," Liu Erlong replied sharply. "Don't misunderstand."
"Is that so?" Bai Mu said calmly.
"Then why haven't you told me to leave?"
Her fingers curled unconsciously.
"I don't need to explain myself to you," she said, turning her head away.
Bai Mu did not press closer. He merely looked at her, eyes sharp but unhurried.
"Dean Erlong," he said lightly,
"your reactions speak louder than words."
The atmosphere around them grew heavy.
From the side, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened rapidly.
He clenched his fists, veins standing out clearly.
The surrounding Shrek students pretended to train—but their attention had long since drifted over.
Something was clearly wrong.
Finally, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward.
"Bai Mu," he said coldly,
"this is the academy training ground. Please maintain appropriate conduct."
Bai Mu turned to look at him, genuinely puzzled.
"Grandmaster," he replied,
"I'm merely speaking with Dean Erlong. She hasn't objected."
"That doesn't make it appropriate!" Yu Xiaogang snapped.
He turned to Liu Erlong.
"Erlong—what exactly is your relationship with him?"
Liu Erlong hesitated.
"…There is none," she said after a pause.
Before Yu Xiaogang could relax, Bai Mu spoke again.
"If Dean Erlong ever wishes," he said calmly,
"I won't deny my intentions."
The words landed like thunder.
"What did you say?" Yu Xiaogang's voice shook.
"That's absurd! Completely absurd!"
"You're young. She's your senior. This is inappropriate in every sense!"
Bai Mu met his gaze evenly.
"Rank is irrelevant. Age is irrelevant," he replied.
"What matters is choice."
"You—!"
Yu Xiaogang trembled with fury. "You are completely unreasonable!"
He turned sharply toward Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Aren't you going to stop him?"
Ning Rongrong stepped forward, arms crossed, clearly annoyed.
"Of course I'll stop him," she said.
Everyone exhaled—
until she continued.
"Bai Mu, you're being too careless."
She pointed at him firmly.
"As punishment, you'd better start being more responsible in how you handle things."
The pause that followed was deafening.
Yu Xiaogang froze.
"That's… stopping him?" he asked in disbelief.
Bai Mu laughed softly. "I'll listen."
Ning Rongrong snorted. "You'd better."
Yu Xiaogang turned to Zhu Zhuqing in desperation.
"And you?"
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head slightly, expression calm.
"I don't see a problem," she replied honestly.
"He's always fair to me. Why should I interfere?"
Yu Xiaogang felt as if the ground beneath him had collapsed.
This wasn't discipline.
This was acceptance.
Flender sighed quietly from the sidelines.
Whatever balance once existed—
had already been broken.