Yang Xuan groaned through gritted teeth, trying to suppress the scream building in his throat.
Horn stretched his arms lazily, clearly unfazed. The reason he didn't kill these two was simple—he didn't want to shed more blood in front of Tang Yuxin.
"You want to know what kind of opportunity I obtained?" Horn's voice was calm, almost disinterested.
Yang Hai and Yang Xuan paused, turning back to look at him.
"I spent two thousand years in the Immortal World and became someone beyond your comprehension. It may have been two thousand years for me, but only two years passed on Earth. To me, you're nothing but dust."
Horn told them the truth, a confession more for Tang Yuxin's sake than theirs. He had no desire to keep secrets.
For a moment, Yang Hai was stunned, but then his anger flared. "Are you mocking me, boy? You think I've read too many novels and will believe your nonsense?"
He turned away in a fury, heading back toward the black car.
Yang Xuan sneered coldly. "Horn, your arrogance knows no bounds. Insulting our intelligence will only bring you ruin."
He climbed into the passenger seat of the Mercedes-Benz. As the car disappeared into the night, Horn muttered, "Why does no one believe you when you tell the truth these days? Do I have to lie?"
Lin Zixuan rolled her eyes at him. "Enough of the jokes. Let's drop it here."
"If the Yang family believed your story, they'd have to be completely insane."
Tang Yuxin couldn't hold back any longer. "Horn, have you really reached the early stage of the Sea Transformation Realm?"
Earlier, when Horn threw the chopsticks, there had been no aura, no sign of qi refining. Yang Hai's guess about Horn being in the early stage of the Sea Transformation Realm was based purely on experience.
Horn was about to correct her, wanting to clarify that Sea Transformation Realm cultivators were nothing to him. But Lin Zixuan interrupted, "He's an early-stage Sea Transformation Realm cultivator."
Then she sent Horn a secret message: "If your little girlfriend knew you were in the Sky Control Realm, she might feel the distance between you growing too vast and struggle to accept it."
Wang Menglu's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow! Xiao Xinxin really picked the right guy. Stepping into the Sea Transformation Realm at twenty-one is genius-level, even among the top five prestigious schools. And you've climbed the seventh floor of the Seven-Colored Immortal Tower. With your potential, who knows what you could achieve."
Lu Lin, who had been frowning, added, "Brother Su, the Yinbu is incredibly secretive. No one knows just how powerful they are. If Yang Hai is heading the Linzhou branch, he must have deep connections. You should be careful when dealing with them in the future."
Horn said nothing about his cultivation, instead remarking, "This dinner was truly disappointing."
The once lively street was now desolate. Lin Zixuan suddenly spoke in a strange tone. "Horn, you should come home with me tonight."
Her words shocked everyone, leaving Lu Lin, Tang Yuxin, and Wang Menglu speechless.
Tang Yuxin looked back and forth between Horn and Lin Zixuan with suspicion. Lin Zixuan herself couldn't believe she had said that.
Inwardly, she reasoned with herself. "It must be because he saved me before. Yes, that's why I said that—to repay him. He's in danger now, and having him stay at my place is the least I can do to ensure his safety."
Once she convinced herself, she added, "Don't get the wrong idea, you three. Horn is on the must-kill list at the Immortal Martial Academy in the imperial capital, and he just offended the head of the Linzhou branch of the Yinbu. I just don't want to see him die for no reason. After all, he's the reason the Seven-Colored Immortal Tower remains at our academy."
Wang Menglu, relieved, patted her chest. "Dean, you scared me! I thought you had a crush on Horn. But thinking about it, that would be impossible. You're too beautiful, too powerful. How could you be interested in him?"
Lin Zixuan nodded, saying, "You three should stay with Horn at my place tonight. Just to be safe."
She was eager to clear any misunderstandings. Wang Menglu grabbed Tang Yuxin's hand. "Xiao Xinxin, let's go together! We can even get some cultivation advice from Dean Lin tonight. With her protection, Horn will be safe."
Tang Yuxin hesitated for a moment before agreeing.
Lu Lin, however, bowed slightly and said, "Dean Lin, I wouldn't want to trouble you further."
With Lin Zixuan's protection, he felt there was nothing more he could do.
Throughout the exchange, no one had asked Horn for his opinion. After Lu Lin left, Wang Menglu nudged Horn's arm. "Dean Lin cares so much about you. You should thank her."
Horn, unfazed, responded, "Dean Lin, lead the way."
Wang Menglu and Tang Yuxin exchanged nervous glances, thinking Horn was being incredibly disrespectful.
Lin Zixuan's expression turned icy. "Follow me."
As they walked, Tang Yuxin whispered to Horn, "Dean Lin really does care about you. Meng Lu is right—you should thank her. Your attitude earlier probably upset her."
Wang Menglu added in a low voice, "You may have immortal potential, but don't get too full of yourself. Dean Lin is a rare talent, cherishing you despite your attitude. If anyone else had shown her such disrespect, they wouldn't have gotten away with it."
Lin Zixuan's villa was nearby. As the two women continued to whisper advice, Horn finally caught up to Lin Zixuan, walking side by side with her. He leaned in and whispered, "Dean Lin, are you into me? Is that why you keep hanging around? Or are you planning to pull a fast one tonight? Let me warn you—your strength won't be enough."
Lin Zixuan, who had been expecting gratitude, was completely thrown off by Horn's words. She struggled to keep her composure, resisting the urge to slap him. What on earth was going on in this scoundrel's mind?
Suppressing her anger, she replied in a low voice, "Just wait. Tonight will be interesting, to say the least."
Horn's expression was serious. "Dean Lin, I'm really not interested in you. Don't come to my room tonight, or don't blame me for what happens!"