While everyone focused on the student council, another force was silently maneuvering.
"Are you going to move or not?" Scarlett Ning's eyes darkened, her tone unfriendly. Blocking her path was a young man whose face clearly read, "I won't let you do this." Leon Chen knew him: Ethan Hou, the president of the Social Affairs Department.
Neither was willing to back down, the atmosphere between them thick with unspoken tension.
Not far away, a girl watched the standoff with a detached coldness. Her gaze remained fixed on the student council, her icy beauty occasionally revealing a thoughtful expression. She was Isabella Xiang.
"Scarlett, this isn't something we should interfere with!" Ethan Hou insisted, not budging an inch.
"What? I didn't hear you!" Scarlett Ning's harmless smile turned sharp. "You want me to watch my friend's girlfriend fall into a predator's clutches and do nothing? Is that what you want, Ethan?"
"No." Ethan knew full well what Scarlett was capable of, and he understood how bad things could get. "I'm doing this for your own good. This matter is too serious for us to get involved in!"
"One more time. Move aside!" Scarlett demanded.
"Isabella, you should talk some sense into her!" Ethan turned to Isabella, who had remained cold and indifferent from the start.
Isabella glanced at Ethan but ignored him. She had already tuned out their argument.
Ethan sighed internally. He didn't know whether to be relieved by Isabella's cold nature. "Scarlett, our family's elders are watching us here at Hua University. What do you think you can accomplish?"
Scarlett's repeated attempts to push past him had failed, and she was losing her patience. She swung a punch at Ethan.
Her punch was lightning fast, with immense force.
Ethan dodged skillfully, his fingers aiming for Scarlett's wrist, but she vanished like smoke.
Ethan was stunned. "Scarlett!!"
"What are you doing?" a cold, sharp voice suddenly cut through. Grace Wang appeared.
Scarlett stopped, and Ethan quickly regained his composure. "Grace, you're here just in time. Tell Scarlett that her interference will only make things worse."
"Hmph. Do you not know? Leon Chen has helped Grace before," Scarlett retorted, shooting Ethan a disdainful look. "Just a nephew of some local despot? That's pathetic."
"Right, Grace? Let's go. Ignore him!"
Scarlett's smile froze as Grace made no move. "Scarlett, this matter..." Grace sighed helplessly. "We should stay out of it for now."
"Grace is right. It's not that I'm afraid of Chase Wei," Ethan added. "It's that Victor Gallant and Chase Wei are close. If you step in, you might push Leon Chen into a corner."
Scarlett's expression changed. "Is that true?"
Grace nodded.
"So it's Victor Gallant, your fiance," Scarlett sneered, her cold gaze piercing Grace. The unfamiliar look in Scarlett's eyes pained Grace.
"Do you think I would let anything happen to Leon?" Grace asked, raising her eyebrows.
Scarlett demanded a satisfactory answer.
"I'll notify Wei's grandfather to keep his nephew in check. Leon and his girlfriend won't be harmed," Grace assured. She, too, wanted to teach Chase Wei a lesson, but rules and regulations always had the final say.
"If we intervene now, can you guarantee Leon's safety?" Grace questioned. "Revealing your identity now would cause trouble."
Scarlett had no response.
At that moment, Isabella Xiang spoke up, "Even if you wanted to intervene, it's too late..."
"???"
The three turned their attention to her.
Boom!
An uproar erupted from the student council. Cheers and exclamations filled the air.
What happened?
Their faces changed as Grace's phone rang. After the call, Grace's expression turned strange.
"Leon, has he gone mad?"
"What happened?" Scarlett asked urgently, fearing Leon might have done something disgraceful. But Grace's answer was even more shocking.
"Chase Wei has been knocked out by Leon..."
"What???"
...
For a moment, no one believed their eyes.
Rational thinking dictated that Leon's best options were to nod or remain silent. Fighting? This was the crown prince of West Capital, not just anyone. With such a powerful background, no one in their right mind would pick a fight.
But that's exactly what happened.
Leon charged forward, and before anyone could react, there was a yelp as the arrogant prince, Chase Wei, fell backward.
"You know the consequences of harassing someone's girlfriend, right?" Leon taunted as he struck, showing no fear, only anger.
Everyone who had been anticipating a spectacle was left agape. A student had actually struck Chase Wei.
Even Leon's friends were stunned. His reaction was completely unexpected, leaving no room for negotiation or explanation.
It was Daniel Zhang who understood first, whispering to Michael Fang, who then looked at Lily Lin with a peculiar expression. "Leon really cares about Lily," he thought. "It's deep love." Smiling wryly, he shouted, "Good job, Leon! Show that pretty boy who's boss."
His shout encouraged the other students to cheer.
Seeing someone beat up the crown prince was a rare sight indeed.
"You..." Chase Wei was shocked.
What was going on with this guy?
Was he insane??
Facing an opponent who completely defied his expectations left Chase Wei bewildered. Usually, people treated him with utmost respect. Now, being on the receiving end, he lost his usual calm demeanor.
He dodged clumsily, but Leon's relentless assault left him no room to defend. Despite his skills, Chase Wei found himself overwhelmed by Leon's furious attacks.
Within seconds, Chase felt the urge to vomit blood.
Chase's two bodyguards regained consciousness, only to see a student daring to assault their young master. Roaring with anger, they drew their batons and swung at Leon.
The spectators gasped, expecting Leon to be beaten badly.
Instead, it was the bodyguards who cried out.
A figure appeared behind Leon, swiftly disarming one bodyguard with a single move, making him kneel and dislocating his wrist.
"I can't stand you people who think a little power makes you invincible," she said.
Everyone was stunned to see it was Serena Su!
The bodyguard, showing professional dedication, lunged with his other hand. Serena, usually quiet and gentle, proved as formidable as Leon. Without hesitation, she kneed his palm, breaking his bones with a chilling sound.
"Serena, watch out!" Lily Lin screamed.
The second bodyguard's baton was already swinging towards Serena's neck. The crowd expected a bloodbath but saw her catch the baton effortlessly, as if the bodyguard's strength was a mere illusion.
Serena pulled, and her foot struck the bodyguard's chin. He dodged, but Serena's momentum made him lose balance, stepping on his shoulder in a flash.
With an elegant spin, she concentrated all her strength in her legs, drilling into the bodyguard's back, leaving him incapacitated. The move was so dazzling it reminded onlookers of a signature move from Iron Soul.
Michael blinked, rubbing his eyes. "Is that Serena?"
"Probably not!" Daniel was equally dumbfounded. "That's too outrageous."
"If this is what the women's self-defense club teaches, it's amazing."
Serena's graceful and efficient take down of the bodyguards made her the center of attention. She then stood by Leon, beside the beaten Chase Wei, who had lost his charm. Despite his battered state, Chase's eyes still held deep hatred. Leon had no doubt Chase wanted to tear him apart.
Leon was right. Before Chase fainted, that was exactly what he thought.
But who cares? Bring on any demons or monsters!
"Enough!!" Emma Shen shouted.
Serena kicked Chase a couple more times before pulling Leon away.
The atmosphere settled. The once noisy student council hall fell silent. Everyone had one thought.
These two are on something. If this is a dream, please wake up!
Emma Shen held her forehead, looking at the unconscious Chase Wei and the pair who had just vented their anger. She felt sorry for them.
"Someone, take Chase Wei to the hospital," Emma urgently called out.
"Don't worry. He won't die. It's just superficial wounds," Leon said calmly.
Emma wanted to explode. "He's Chase Wei! The nephew of Ninth Emperor! No one in West Capital dares to oppose him."
"I don't care who he is. If he harasses someone's girlfriend, he should be ready for a beating," Leon scoffed.
"Right," Serena agreed.
Emma was speechless. Despite being correct, this was Chase Wei! Emma's head throbbed.
How did things escalate so quickly?
"Well said, Leon. You really have guts."
As everyone was left speechless, a light, mocking voice came from the crowd.