Chapter 26 – Unexpected Help
"He's with me."
The voice cut cleanly through the tension, smooth yet carrying a weight that immediately stilled the situation.
Li Chen turned.
For the briefest moment, his composure cracked.
It wasn't obvious. Just a slight pause in his breathing, a flicker in his eyes as recognition hit him unexpectedly. The calm mask he had been wearing slipped for a fraction of a second before he pulled it back into place, his expression returning to its usual unbothered look.
But while Li Chen recovered quickly
Zhao Tianyu did not.
The change in him was immediate and almost comical.
His eyes widened, his posture stiffened, and the domineering aura he had been exuding moments ago collapsed like a house built on sand. He stared, completely caught off guard, as the figure approached.
She walked toward them without hesitation.
Her presence alone seemed to quiet the surroundings.
She wasn't dressed in anything extravagant. A set of light blue inner sect robes flowed naturally around her, simple yet refined, the fabric shifting gently with each step she took. Her long dark hair fell freely behind her, smooth and unbound, moving like silk with the breeze.
There were no excessive ornaments.
Her features were striking in a way that didn't need exaggeration. Her eyes were clear and sharp, carrying a quiet strength that made it difficult to meet her gaze for too long. There was a firmness in her expression, something unyielding beneath the surface, yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty.
If anything, it made it more... captivating.
Even with the faint coldness in her demeanor, she was still undeniably breathtaking.
Zhao Tianyu swallowed hard.
"L-Lady Lin…"
The difference in his tone was immediate.
Gone was the arrogance from before. In its place was something far more careful, far more respectful. His back straightened subconsciously, and even the way he held himself shifted as if trying to appear more presentable.
Behind him, his two lackeys lowered their heads almost instantly, not daring to speak.
Li Chen watched all of this unfold in silence.
Just moments ago, this same Zhao Tianyu had been ordering him to kneel, speaking as if he held absolute authority.
Now?
Now he looked like he was afraid of saying the wrong thing.
Li Chen had to admit—
It was satisfying.
Zhao Tianyu forced a smile, though it looked slightly stiff around the edges.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said, his voice noticeably softer. "Had I known, I would have come to greet you properly."
She didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze passed over him as if he wasn't particularly worth her attention.
Instead, her eyes landed on Li Chen.
For a moment, she simply looked at him.
Li Chen met her gaze calmly, though inwardly, there was a hint of confusion. Of all the people who could have stepped in just now, she was not the one he had expected.
Not after… their previous encounter.
But before he could think further, her attention shifted back to Zhao Tianyu.
"What is going on here?"
Her tone was even, but the faint displeasure in it was clear.
Zhao Tianyu's smile faltered slightly.
"It's nothing serious," he said quickly. "Just a small matter between disciples."
"A small matter?" she repeated, her brows knitting together ever so slightly.
The pressure in the air seemed to increase, not through force, but through expectation.
Zhao Tianyu hesitated.
"Yes… just a misunderstanding," he added, trying to steady his voice.
She looked at him for a second longer, then her gaze moved briefly to Li Chen before returning.
"And this 'misunderstanding' involves an outer sect disciple?"
The question landed directly.
Zhao Tianyu opened his mouth, but no words came out immediately.
There was no good answer.
He couldn't exactly admit that he had been trying to force Li Chen to kneel over a personal grudge. Saying it out loud now would only worsen his already bad position.
"I was merely trying to—" he started.
"Trying to what?"
Her interruption was calm, but precise.
Zhao Tianyu's words died in his throat.
Behind him, his lackeys remained completely silent, their earlier boldness nowhere to be seen, clearly unqualified to speak . They kept their heads lowered, clearly unwilling to get involved now that the situation had turned against them.
Li Chen stood to the side, watching everything.
Inside, he was thoroughly enjoying the scene.
Just moments ago, Zhao Tianyu had been acting high and mighty, speaking as if Li Chen's only option was to submit.
Now, he couldn't even form a proper sentence.
Li Chen almost laughed.
He kept it in, of course, but the amusement lingered in his eyes.
Zhao Tianyu forced out a short laugh, clearly uncomfortable.
"It's really nothing worth your concern, Lady Lin," he said. "I was simply teaching him—"
"Enough."
The single word shut him down instantly.
Her expression hadn't changed much, but the disdain in her eyes was no longer hidden.
It was direct.
Unmistakable.
"I asked a simple question," she said. "If you cannot answer it, then don't waste my time."
Zhao Tianyu's face stiffened.
For a moment, frustration flickered across his expression, but it disappeared just as quickly as it came.
He couldn't afford to offend her.
Not here.
After all...
This wasn't just any inner sect disciple standing before him.
It wasn't a secret within the sect that the Zhao family had once formally approached the Lin family with a marriage proposal.
Given the Zhao family's standing, most would have expected the offer to be accepted without hesitation.
And in truth , her family had agreed.
From a political standpoint, it made perfect sense. The Zhao family was powerful, influential, and well-established. While they stood slightly below the Lin family in overall status, the gap wasn't large enough to reject such an alliance outright.
But that decision had never been hers.
And when it came down to it.....
She had refused without hesitation.
The rejection had spread through the sect quickly, and the Zhao family had lost quite a bit of face because of it.
It wasn't just a declined proposal.
It was a public refusal.
Despite that, Zhao Tianyu had never truly let go of the idea.
Everyone could see it.
The way he acted around her.
The way his tone softened.
The way his confidence disappeared the moment she appeared.
Even now, standing in front of her, all the authority he had tried to display earlier was nowhere to be found.
"I… may have acted a bit hastily," Zhao Tianyu admitted after a brief pause, his voice noticeably more restrained. "If it caused any disturbance, I apologize."
Li Chen blinked once.
Then looked at Zhao Tianyu again.
Did he just apologize
That was new.
Very new.
Zhao Tianyu turned slightly, casting a brief glance at Li Chen, his eyes carrying a hint of suppressed irritation.
But he said nothing.
Instead, he stepped back.
"We'll take our leave."
His tone was respectful again, almost careful.
Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away. His two lackeys followed immediately, not daring to linger any longer.
Li Chen watched them go.
And honestly—
He felt a little… relieved.
Not because he couldn't handle the fight.
But because avoiding unnecessary trouble was always better.
Plus, watching Zhao Tianyu get shut down like that was far more entertaining than any fight would have been.
He let out a quiet breath.
"Not bad," he thought.
Then he turned his attention back to the person who had caused all of this.
"Senior Sister," Li Chen said, giving a slight nod.
She looked at him.
Up close, her gaze felt even sharper.
She didn't speak immediately.
Her eyes lingered on him for a moment, as if observing something he couldn't quite understand.
She looked at him for a moment longer, her sharp gaze unreadable.
Then she turned slightly.
"Come with me."
Li Chen blinked, clearly caught off guard.
"...Come with you?"
She didn't explain, already walking away as if it wasn't something worth repeating.
Li Chen stood there for a second, frowning slightly.
Of all people… why her?
After a brief pause, he let out a quiet breath and followed.