Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Green Tea Bai

At the Lin Family restaurant, Private Room Three.

Lin Zhao propped her chin on her hand and watched Su Bai order dish after dish. Her brows lifted.

“You really know how to eat.”

Su Bai set down the menu and smiled. “Sister is treating me for once. Of course I have to take full advantage.”

Lin Zhao looked again and realized most of what he ordered matched her tastes. She couldn’t help admiring his memory.

While they waited for the food, Lin Zhao suddenly sensed a familiar ripple of spiritual energy. Her smile faded.

Before she could wonder how he had appeared in Lin Family City so quickly, the door was shoved open with violent force.

Shen Yu Han stood there, black cloak damp with cold air, his expression darker than storm clouds.

When he saw Lin Zhao and Su Bai sitting across from each other, something in him snapped. He looked like he had to pour all his will into not striking Su Bai away with a single palm.

“Zhao Zhao.”

The way he said it made Lin Zhao’s appetite disappear before a single dish arrived.

Seeing Shen Yu Han’s hand twitch, Lin Zhao rose and stepped in front of Su Bai.

She looked Shen Yu Han up and down, then mocked, “Holy Son, you have quite the temper.”

Her protective stance toward another man made Shen Yu Han’s unhealed injuries churn. His breath stuttered, and a thin pallor spread across his face.

But when he met Lin Zhao’s cold gaze, he forced himself calmer. He knew what he had done on their wedding day. He had no right to roar.

“Zhao Zhao,” he said, voice strained into gentleness, “we’ll talk about the past in private. Can you have the outsider leave?”

He would never allow Lin Zhao to be alone in a room with another man.

Unfortunately, Lin Zhao had never tolerated Shen Yu Han’s senseless possessiveness well. In the past, she had swallowed it—for her family, for their childhood bond, for the invisible chains she couldn’t break.

Now, Shen Yu Han had lost the right to her patience.

Lin Zhao’s tone hardened. “Little Bai isn’t an outsider. He’s my brother.”

She lifted her chin slightly. “And Holy Son Shen—after we parted at Yun Ding Peak, you and I have nothing to do with each other.”

“I didn’t agree!”

Shen Yu Han’s voice cracked.

He swallowed rage, fear, obsession, and the metallic sweetness rising in his throat. Red spread through his eyes as he repeated, as if saying it twice could make it real.

“I will never agree.”

Lin Zhao frowned, sensing something wrong with his condition. “Steward,” she called toward the hall, “escort this guest out.”

Shen Yu Han’s lashes lowered, hiding the madness in his gaze. His voice softened into something sickly and possessive.

“You don’t want Yao Chi Sacred Land to target the Lin Family either,” he said, “do you?”

Lin Zhao’s fingers curled.

Nearly frantic, Shen Yu Han leaned forward. “Zhao Zhao, you know I can do anything for you.”

Madman.

Before Lin Zhao could answer, Su Bai stepped forward from behind her, standing slightly to her side. His expression was blank, but the way he looked at Shen Yu Han was like he was studying a corpse.

His voice, however, was elegant and clear. “Holy Son Shen, do you truly think your position is secure enough to represent Yao Chi Sacred Land?”

A Thunder Hall mark appeared between Su Bai’s brows.

Shen Yu Han’s pupils tightened. Then fury surged.

“So it was you,” he hissed, “who incited Jiang Yan to fight me for the Holy Son position? Since when does the Thunder Hall do such underhanded things?!”

Su Bai raised a brow. The arrogance that flashed in his eyes was sharp enough to cut—until he noticed Lin Zhao glance at him. Instantly, he smoothed it away and returned to his proper, gentle expression.

He smiled faintly. “The Holy Son position belongs to the capable. The Thunder Hall merely expressed support for him. After all, I’m not as powerful as you, Holy Son, and I don’t have much say in the sect. I can only do my best to promote a bit of fairness. It’s also for Yao Chi Sacred Land’s sake.”

His smile did not reach his eyes.

“Surely Holy Son Shen won’t blame me.”

The veins at Shen Yu Han’s temples throbbed. In the end, he looked away from Su Bai as if sparing himself insult.

“Zhao Zhao.” His voice tightened again. “Come outside. We’ll talk.”

To Yao Chi Sacred Land, the Thunder Hall was what Yao Chi Sacred Land currently was to the Lin Family—an enormous force no one could casually offend.

Shen Yu Han did not dare target Su Bai the way he used to target the people around Lin Zhao.

Lin Zhao let out a cold laugh. “Holy Son Shen, watch yourself. Call me Miss Lin.”

Her eyes were flat. “And I have nothing to say to you.”

Shen Yu Han’s jaw clenched. “You’re going to use this man to threaten me?”

Lin Zhao nearly laughed at the hypocrisy. “Aren’t you using Yao Chi Sacred Land to pressure my Lin Family?”

On the Heavenly Phoenix Continent, strength was law. If Shen Yu Han could lean on his Sacred Land, then Lin Zhao could lean on the Thunder Hall through Su Bai.

Realizing he couldn’t force her today, Shen Yu Han swallowed hard. His voice softened into pleading.

“We had ten years,” he said, red-rimmed eyes fixed on her. “Can you really cut it off like this?”

Su Bai noticed the impatience in Lin Zhao’s gaze. Even though his strength now far surpassed hers, instinct—and childhood memories—made him shift back half a step.

He was right to.

Lin Zhao’s palm lifted. A burst of green flame shot forward.

Shen Yu Han reacted instantly, raising a water shield. But he underestimated her spiritual energy’s corrosive nature.

The flame tore through the shield and scorched his hands.

Pain flared. His internal injuries churned.

Shen Yu Han’s face went colorless.

Lin Zhao kept the green flame burning in her palm and looked at him with open disgust.

“Get out.” Her voice was ice. “Holy Son Shen—how many times do I have to say it?”

From the moment he left her behind on their wedding day, ignored her pleas, and walked away, there had been no path back.

And today he had tried to threaten her with the Lin Family. If not for Su Bai, she might have been forced to swallow her anger again.

And he still dared mention ten years?

If not for Yao Chi Sacred Land—and the shadow those ten years cast—she would have already gone at him.

Even now, she was not Shen Yu Han’s match. He was on the verge of the Enlightenment stage, trained carefully by a Sacred Land. He was not like the trash on Yun Ding Peak.

But no matter what, Shen Yu Han would never strike her.

After a long silence, he finally redirected his fury at Su Bai.

He stared at him and said coldly, “The Continental Grand Tournament is about to begin. I hope the Thunder Hall can keep this lofty status after the tournament.”

Su Bai smiled politely. “That won’t trouble Holy Son Shen.”

Threatening Lin Zhao’s family in front of her—Shen Yu Han was already half dead.

The only problem was the engagement token still in his hands.

But Su Bai believed that from today onward, Lin Zhao would find a way to deal with it herself.

After Shen Yu Han left, the dishes arrived.

Lin Zhao let out a breath and looked at Su Bai. “Sorry you had to see that.”

Su Bai sat down again, worry flickering through his expression. “Will what I did cause trouble for Sister?”

Lin Zhao waved it off. “It’s nothing. He’s just a madman. I should thank you. Otherwise, I’d have had to swallow it today.”

Su Bai’s smile turned instantly more genuine.

Lin Zhao hesitated, then asked, “Little Bai… can you help me with something?”

“Of course,” Su Bai said at once.

“I’m going to Hundred Beasts Mountain outside Lin Family City to train in real combat,” Lin Zhao said. “Before that, I want someone to spar with.”

She cupped her hands, battle intent bright in her eyes. “Little Bai, are you willing?”

Su Bai’s answer came without pause. “When?”

“This afternoon. At the clan’s martial arena.”

Su Bai nodded. “All right.”