The security guard's shout sent his ex-girlfriend trembling!

Uncle Zhong stood at the bathroom door, and after hearing the Young Master's calm words, his entire body stiffened for a moment.

"Open the door... release the dogs?"

In all the years he had spent by Lin Yuan's side, this was the first time he had heard the Young Master treat someone in such an unsparing, even humiliating, manner.

Especially since this person was Li Xuan'er, whom he had once cherished and pampered in his heart.

It seemed the Young Master had truly and completely let go.

No, it should be said that he had never truly picked it up to begin with.

The worry and slight trace of pity in his heart vanished instantly, replaced by a sense of deep satisfaction and relief.

"Yes, Young Master, I understand." Uncle Zhong bowed respectfully and turned away. His face returned to his meticulous butler expression, but a cold and stern glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Anyone who dared to make the Young Master unhappy had to be prepared to pay the price... Outside the manor, the cold wind was bleak.

Li Xuan'er stood alone in the shadow of a streetlamp, her delicate body trembling slightly in the cold wind, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.

Just then, a crack slowly opened in the heavy, gilded gate.

Li Xuan'er's heart skipped a beat, and a glimmer of hope instantly ignited in her eyes.

Is it him? Did he ultimately find it in his heart to come out and see me?

However, the figures emerging from the gate were not the one she longed for, but a team of burly security guards in black uniforms, exuding an iron-blooded aura.

The Security Captain at the lead had eyes like lightning.

He walked straight up to her, stood at attention, and said in a cold, businesslike tone, "Madam, good evening."

"According to Article 7, Clause 3 of the 'Longxia Country Manor Management Regulations' and Article 19 of the 'Yanjing City Appearance Management Law,' loitering or wandering within one hundred meters of a private residence, as well as dumping large-scale trash, is strictly prohibited."

The Security Captain's voice wasn't loud, but in the silent winter night, it felt like several sharp slaps across Li Xuan'er's face.

Loitering... dumping large-scale trash... Her face instantly turned pale, all color draining away!

She knew.

The "large-scale trash" he was referring to was her!

An endless sense of humiliation flooded over her like a bursting dam.

"I... I'm just..."

Her lips trembled as she tried to defend herself, but she found her throat blocked as if by a ball of cotton, unable to utter a single word.

The Security Captain seemed not to notice her utterly humiliated expression and continued in that same icy tone, "Additionally, according to this manor's internal security regulations, for any personnel acting suspiciously outside the perimeter who do not listen to warnings, we have the right to..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Li Xuan'er's deathly pale face as he said word by word, "Open the door, release the dogs."

Boom—!

These five words were a hundred times more cruel than all the previous humiliations combined!

They were like a red-hot hammer, ruthlessly shattering the last sliver of illusion and dignity in Li Xuan'er's heart.

It turned out that in his eyes,

She wasn't even as good as a "suspicious-looking" passerby.

He couldn't even be bothered to come out and humiliate her himself, simply sending security to deal with her like shooing away a fly.

No, she was less than a fly.

At least to swat a fly, one had to do it personally.

But to deal with her, he only needed to... release the dogs.

"Pfft—!"

Li Xuan'er could no longer bear this massive blow; she suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, her body swaying.

The Security Captain only watched her coldly, as if looking at an object that had nothing to do with him.

Li Xuan'er stumbled back a few steps.

Looking at that gate which was so close yet worlds apart, a smile appeared on her face that was uglier than crying.

She finally understood.

The gap between her and Lin Yuan had never been about family background, talent, or even effort.

It was an unbridgeable chasm originating from the very level of their existence.

She thought she had chosen a shortcut to the Peak, but in reality, she was racing down a dead-end road of self-destruction.

She thought Ye Xuan's rise was her most successful investment.

But looking at it now, he was merely a clown performing a farcical play at the cost of burning his own life.

And she was that most foolish audience member who had handed the clown the knife, thinking she could share in the glory.

She stumbled away and turned, dragging her riddled heart as she disappeared into the thick darkness of the night... At the same time.

Inside the contestants' hotel for the National College League.

Ye Xuan sat cross-legged on his bed.

He forcibly suppressed the waves of weakness coming from within his body due to the backlash from the secret technique.

The power the 'Blood-Burning Dragon Transformation Art' gave him was immense, but the side effects were equally obvious.

He could feel his life essence draining away at a slow but irreversible rate.

But he didn't care!

As long as he could defeat Lin Yuan, any price was worth paying!

He opened his computer.

Looking at the overwhelming news online praising him,

And looking at the posts on the forums hailing him as the "Future of Dragon Summer Martial Arts," a strong sense of satisfaction filled his heart.

He had succeeded!

He had finally completely suppressed that guy's brilliance!

Now!

In the entire Dragon Xia Kingdom, who didn't know the name Ye Xuan?

And what about Lin Yuan?

He was nothing more than a coward hiding in his manor, without even the courage to participate in the competition!

"Lin Yuan, do you see this?"

"This is the glory I deserve!"

Ye Xuan's eyes became incredibly fanatical as he stared fixedly toward the Lin Family Manor outside his window.

"Once I win the championship, I will visit your doorstep personally!"

"At that time, I will let you know who the true protagonist of this era is!"