The evening wind on the roof was a bit chilly.
Song Ruoyan, dressed in a pure white sweater and a beige long skirt, stood with an air of elegance. Her delicate features and goddess-like aura starkly contrasted with the memories of the ugly girl she once was, marked by a birthmark on her face.
Horn's name was one she wished never to hear again. He had witnessed some of the most painful and humiliating moments of her life—events she preferred to forget.
"Ruoyan, six months from now, we'll invite Horn to our engagement ceremony," Qin Tiance said, glancing at her. "How do you feel about that?"
"Of course, assuming he survives for six months," he added with a smirk.
Qin Tiance's gaze was intense. Horn was a painful reminder of his past. Two years ago, after acquiring Horn's Infinite Purple Eyes, Qin Tiance rose to prominence, securing his place among the apex-level geniuses of the Imperial Capital's Immortal Martial Academy.
Despite some family members' whispers about his success being tied to Horn's eyes, Qin Tiance was unwilling to admit it. The Qin family had invested heavily to transplant the Infinite Purple Eyes into him, a fact well known within the family.
Song Ruoyan nodded. "Tiance, I will follow your wishes."
Qin Tiance embraced Song Ruoyan, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he thought, Horn, I've taken both your eyes and your fiancée. What can you do about it? You, a mere ant, have no right to possess the Infinite Purple Eyes.
Song Ruoyan leaned on his shoulder, saying, "Tiance, I have nothing to do with Horn anymore. Our past engagement was merely a matter of convenience between the Su and Song families."
Though she knew Qin Tiance was possessive, she couldn't deny the reality of her past relationship with Horn. If Horn hadn't risked his life repeatedly to test the medicine, she might still be the ugly girl no one cared about, rather than one of the four beauties of the Immortal Martial Academy.
Some people can share joys and sorrows but not wealth.
Qin Tiance lowered his head and asked, "Ruoyan, do you think my eyes are beautiful?"
Song Ruoyan gazed into Qin Tiance's Infinite Purple Eyes, noticing the faint purple glow that reminded her of Horn's eyes.
"They look better on you," she replied. "Others don't deserve them."
Satisfied with her response, Qin Tiance said, "I hope Horn stays alive long enough to witness the important moments between us."
"Let's go," he added.
Song Ruoyan nodded and followed him, her face cold as she thought, Horn, why can't you just disappear quietly? It wasn't that I, Song Ruoyan, was heartless; you were simply unworthy. You and I are from different worlds. You don't deserve to be with me.
She conveniently forgot how desperate she was back then. Without Horn's intervention, she might have ended her life. Horn's genuine care and effort to make her better had been met with betrayal. This is the unpredictable nature of human hearts.
Meanwhile, in Linzhou
On a snack street near the college, Tang Yuxin and Wang Menglu flanked Horn, with Lu Lin trailing behind like a devoted bodyguard. Horn was unaware of the stir his presence was causing in Tianhai and the Imperial Capital.
Even if he knew, it didn't concern him. He had nothing to fear.
The street was lined with food stalls, the aroma of delicious dishes filling the air. Horn, who had tasted dragon liver and phoenix gallbladder in the Immortal World, missed the simple pleasure of Earth's street food.
The four of them settled at an open-air food stall. Horn's eyes hardened slightly. "You order first. I'll be right back."
Tang Yuxin and Wang Menglu didn't suspect anything. Horn headed towards the public restroom, but at the last moment, he veered into a nearby dark alley.
Someone had been watching them from the shadows. To avoid alarming Tang Yuxin, Horn intended to handle the situation discreetly.
As he entered the alley, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Several figures converged, trapping Horn against a wall.
"You little bastard, I'll make your life a living hell tonight!" a hoarse voice growled.
The speaker was Cheng Zhi, who had been expelled from school and lost his alchemist status due to Horn. His cultivation had been destroyed, leaving him a broken man unable to accept his downfall.
Accompanying Cheng Zhi were Liu Na and other former Alchemy Club members, who had been expelled by Xu Hu. Liu Na, seeking revenge after her own humiliations, had contacted Cheng Zhi. They had discovered Horn's background as an abandoned son of the Tianhai Su family and were eager for retribution.
Horn remained calm. "You really don't know when to give up."
Cheng Zhi spat, "You little bastard, don't get too full of yourself. An old acquaintance of yours will be joining us tonight."
At that moment, a scarred man with a blood-red dragon tattoo on his right arm emerged.
"Long time no see, trash," the tattooed man said coldly.
This man was Du Long, a former servant of the Tianhai Su family, who had been responsible for drawing Horn's blood. After failing his duties, he was expelled from the Su family and became a notorious independent assassin known as the Poison Dragon.
Du Long had agreed to help Cheng Zhi seek revenge, driven by the desire to settle old scores and prove his worth.