The silence shattered.
Han moved first.
"…YOU—"
His voice exploded through the courtyard.
"…I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU!!"
For the first time—
Han lost control.
His voice carried anger.
Pain.
And something deeper—
"…I WILL TAKE REVENGE!!"
His eyes burned.
But not with rage alone—
With tears.
Falling.
Unstoppable.
"…I'll make you pay…" he said, voice shaking.
"…for everything."
Then—
His gaze shifted.
To Li Xian.
Sharp.
Crushing.
"…And you."
A pause.
"…This is your 'trust'?"
His voice lowered.
But it cut deeper than before.
"…Pathetic."
Silence.
"…Just like your father."
The words hit like a blade.
Li Xian froze.
"…Han…"
But Han wasn't done.
"…It's all my fault…"
His voice broke slightly.
"…for trusting you."
A bitter laugh escaped him.
"…I shouldn't have."
He stepped back.
"…Never again."
And then—
Han drew his sword.
The sound rang loud.
Final.
The academy felt it.
Everyone did.
Because now—
He wasn't holding back anymore.
Not even a little.
Even if—
He stood alone.
Against an army.
Li Xian's father raised a hand slightly.
Unbothered.
Unimpressed.
But Li Xian—
Stood frozen between them.
His chest tightened.
His mind tearing itself apart.
His father…
And—
Han…
One was his blood.
The other—
Something he couldn't define.
And now—
They stood on opposite sides.
Facing each other.
Ready to destroy one another.
"…Stop…" Li Xian whispered.
But no one listened.
Han took one step forward.
"…I don't care what happens…"
His voice was steady now.
Cold.
"…I won't kneel."
Another step.
"…Even if I die here…"
He raised his sword.
"…I won't surrender."
The wind picked up.
Tension thickened.
Li Xian's heart pounded.
He couldn't move forward.
Couldn't step back.
He was trapped.
Between both sides.
"…Han…" he said again, quieter.
But Han didn't look at him.
And that—
Was worse than anything else.
Li Xian's grip tightened.
"…I can't let this happen…"
His voice trembled.
"…I won't lose you…"
But at the same time—
He couldn't raise his sword against his father.
He couldn't—
Choose.
And that—
Was the worst feeling of all.
Because for the first time—
Li Xian realized—
No matter what he does—
Someone he cares about—
Will be hurt.