Li Xian didn't waste another second.
His chest rose and fell, breath still unsteady.
"…We don't have time."
His voice was sharp. Urgent.
"…We need to go."
Han's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Go where?"
"…Why?"
Li Xian stepped closer, his voice lowering but intensifying.
"…There's no time to explain."
A beat.
His gaze locked onto Han.
"…Trust me."
Silence.
Heavy.
Han didn't move.
Didn't respond immediately.
Because something in Li Xian's eyes—
Was different.
Not reckless.
Not playful.
Serious.
Dangerous.
"…Li—"
"…NOW."
The word cut through everything.
For a split second—
Everything stopped.
And then—
The ground trembled faintly.
A distant sound.
Horse hooves.
Many of them.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
The academy gates—
BANG.
They were forced open.
The noise echoed through the entire grounds.
Students froze.
Teachers turned.
Guards reacted too late.
And then—
He arrived.
Li Xian's father.
Stepping forward.
Calm.
Controlled.
Unshaken.
Behind him—
An army.
Steel.
Armor.
And silent obedience.
The entire academy felt it—
Pressure.
Fear.
Li Xian's body stiffened.
"…Too late…" he whispered.
Han's eyes sharpened.
"…What is this…?"
But before anyone could react further—
Li Xian's father stepped forward.
His gaze fell on them.
Cold.
Calculating.
And then—
A gesture.
One of his soldiers stepped forward—
Holding something carefully.
Covered.
Still.
The air grew heavier.
Students began to whisper.
But no one dared move.
The cloth was slowly removed—
And what was revealed—
Silenced everything.
Han froze.
Completely.
The world around him seemed to collapse inward.
Li Xian's expression changed instantly.
Shock.
Disbelief.
"…No…"
His voice cracked.
"…No… no…"
The realization hit like a blade.
And then—
Han took a step forward.
"…What did you do?" his voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
Li Xian's father didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at Han.
And smiled.
A controlled, empty smile.
"…Now," he said calmly.
"…you understand."
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
"…This is what happens," he continued,
"…when timing meets necessity."
Li Xian's hands clenched.
"…You—"
But his father raised a hand slightly.
Silencing him.
"…You were told," he said, his voice steady,
"…the real problem is when."
His gaze shifted slightly—
"…And now…"
"…you see it."
Han stood completely still.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
Burned.
"…You started this…" he said quietly.
The kind of quiet that comes before destruction.
And for the first time—
Even Li Xian's father's expression—
Shifted.
Just slightly.
Because now—
This wasn't just war anymore.
It was personal.