"Long time no see… Tia Xu."
Mu Chen smiled.
A sharp, unpleasant curve.
---
"Amusing."
He tilted his head slightly.
---
"Tell me…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…how does an unranked nobody end up above me?"
---
His smile faded.
---
"You think ranking first makes you special?"
---
Tia didn't respond.
He simply stood there.
Still.
Calm.
---
Three in front.
Two behind.
Annoying.
---
No witnesses.
---
"Hey."
Mu Chen stepped forward.
---
Before anyone reacted—
he grabbed Tia's collar.
---
His face close.
Too close.
---
"I'm talking to you."
---
Tia didn't flinch.
He only leaned back slightly.
---
A pause.
---
"…Step back."
---
Tia's voice was calm.
Controlled.
---
"Do you always speak this close to people?"
---
The air shifted.
---
Then—
a soft laugh.
---
"…You're doing this in a hallway?"
---
Mu Chen froze.
---
That voice.
Too calm.
Too amused.
---
"Who is that bastard—"
---
A figure leaned against the wall.
Hands in pockets.
Eyes curved slightly.
Like he was watching entertainment.
---
Sung Ling Mu.
---
"…Honestly."
He sighed.
"…I expected better from you, Mu Chen."
---
One of the bullies clicked his tongue.
"Watch your mouth."
Mu Chen eyes narrowed.
"Stay out of this."
---
Sung tilted his head.
Slowly.
---
"Why?"
---
A pause.
---
"Afraid you'll lose?"
Mu Chen clicked his tongue.
"Because I said so."
---
Silence.
---
Sung pushed off the wall.
Not rushing.
---
"Let me give you advice."
Mu Chen.
he said lightly.
---
"When you pick a target…"
his gaze flicked briefly to Tia—
then returned.
---
"… make sure it's convenient and far more entertaining to watch."
Hmmm.
Mu Chen smiled again.
A thin curve.
---
"Guess I just found my new entertainment."
---
His eyes sharpened instantly.
---
"Did you think I was joking?"
---
The air around him changed.
heavy.
---
"I don't care who you are…"
his voice dropped.
"…or who's watching."
---
"I don't lose positions to trash."
---
Sung blinked.
Then smiled wider.
---
"You?"
---
A soft chuckle.
---
"Did you forget something important?"
---
"The top scorers can't be touched."
A pause.
---
"And unfortunately…"
"…I'm one of them."
---
His tone lowered slightly.
---
"Unless…"
---
A step forward.
---
"You want your first duel in this academy…"
---
"…to be your last."
---
Silence.
---
Mu Chen clicked his tongue.
---
"Protecting him?"
---
Sung laughed lightly.
---
"Protecting?"
---
"No."
"I'm just curious."
---
A pause.
---
His eyes sharpened slightly.
---
" people like him…"
a glance at Tia again—
"…tend to become very useful…"
"…or very disappointing."
---
Mu Chen turned away.
Angry.
But careful.
His two followers quickly trailed behind.
---
Silence returned.
---
Tia adjusted his collar.
Eyes calm.
---
"…Why?"
---
Sung walked past him.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
---
"You're ranked first."
---
A pause.
---
"If trash like him defeats you this early…"
"…it lowers the value of my future victory."
---
He waved slightly.
---
"Try not to die early."
---
And walked away.
---
Tia watched him leave.
Expression unchanged.
---
"…Annoying."