Looking at Cheng Yunsu, Wu Yiyi let out a low laugh...

Suddenly, she took a heavy step forward. "Cheng Yunsu, do you think you’re good enough for Lu Chao?"

Huh?

Cheng Yunsu froze, staring at Wu Yiyi in confusion before asking, "What do you mean?"

THUD. Wu Yiyi took another step forward...

"You’re the illegitimate granddaughter of the Saint Bone Su Family. You grew up in some nameless little town in the Great Wu Empire. You barely scraped your way into the Great Wu Imperial Academy, and you still got expelled."

"Your Heavenly Destiny Bone was crippled, and now you’re just using a Beast Bone as a replacement. Do you honestly think you’re a match for Lu Chao?"

Wu Yiyi’s words grew more aggressive, her posture utterly condescending.

Every word was a dagger aimed at Cheng Yunsu’s heart, and every sentence proved she had thoroughly investigated her.

With that, Wu Yiyi put on what she considered a supremely noble smile and stared straight at Cheng Yunsu.

Inwardly, she sneered. ’Fake Lu Chao, I’m going to break you and your wife apart. I’m making my move against her now.’

Just as she’d planned three days prior...

Wu Yiyi had ordered her guards to monitor the Dragon Flame Academy courtyard, seeking a chance to approach Cheng Yunsu. Now that Zeng Quan and the Beast Flame higher-ups had officially made their move against the academy, that opportunity had presented itself.

So Wu Yiyi came and had her guards deliver a letter.

As for the letter’s contents... she had made it all up. The sole purpose was to meet Cheng Yunsu alone.

As the most beloved girl of the Hundred Flames Trading Company, it had been easy for Wu Yiyi to dig up dirt on Cheng Yunsu. The idea was to first make Cheng Yunsu feel inferior—the opening gambit to tear her away from the Fake Lu Chao.

Staring at Cheng Yunsu, Wu Yiyi thought, ’There. Are you starting to feel insecure now?’

Not in the slightest!

Cheng Yunsu merely frowned, looking back at Wu Yiyi. "This has nothing to do with you, does it?"

Seeing Cheng Yunsu’s calm tone, Wu Yiyi narrowed her eyes and thought, ’Still holding on? Well then, I’ll just have to continue.’

"Cheng Yunsu, you saw the first two qualifying rounds."

"Lu Chao had it so hard. Did you help him in the slightest? The descendants of the Azure Flame Sect fought alongside him. The senior students from Dragon Flame, even my third uncle’s disciple, Iron Shield, went through life and death with Lu Chao."

"Even Wu Caicai joined in at the end. And you? What did you do?"

"Nothing. You did absolutely nothing. Don’t you feel like a useless waste of space?"

Wu Yiyi’s assault continued, layer by layer, a relentless attempt to mentally crush Cheng Yunsu.

’Let’s see you not break down this time.’

Cheng Yunsu blinked, pondering for a moment before asking, "What, exactly, are you trying to say?"

’Her voice is still calm. She must be fighting to keep from breaking down, right?’

With that thought, Wu Yiyi continued, "If you ask me, my Sister Caicai is a much better match for Lu Chao than you are."

’First, use Wu Caicai to needle Cheng Yunsu’s nerves...’

Looking at Wu Yiyi, Cheng Yunsu nodded. "Miss Caicai is indeed a wonderful person. And?"

Wu Yiyi smiled faintly. She felt Cheng Yunsu was already starting to talk nonsense, so she said, "A pity. At the Hundred Flames Trading Company, my Sister Caicai has always been a step below me. Therefore, *I* am an even better match for Lu Chao."

She had finally revealed her true objective.

"I am Wu Yiyi, the most beloved girl of the Hundred Flames Trading Company."

"I have limitless wealth and status, and I’m a student of the Beast Flame Inner Courtyard... Do you think you can even compare to me?"

"I can resolve all his troubles, ensure his smooth development at Beast Flame Academy, and guarantee his future is a smooth and open road. These are all things you could never give him."

"Cheng Yunsu, I want you... to leave Lu Chao of your own free will."

At this, Wu Yiyi’s expression once again became haughty and superior as she looked down on Cheng Yunsu with contempt.

’After all that buildup, combined with Lu Chao’s current circumstances, no matter how thick-skinned Cheng Yunsu is, she definitely can’t withstand this. Add to that the difference in our status—it’s like the heavens and the earth.’

Cheng Yunsu just watched Wu Yiyi. One breath. Two breaths...

Suddenly, Cheng Yunsu asked, "Is there something wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" Wu Yiyi asked, stunned.

Cheng Yunsu continued, "You got hit by one of Lu Chao’s arrows and fell in love with him because of it?"

Hearing this, Wu Yiyi suddenly felt a twinge of pain from the arrow wound on her shoulder, but she immediately shot back, "That’s right, I’ve fallen for him. I can give him so much, and you can’t."

Cheng Yunsu gave her a few more glances, then turned and walked directly back toward the Dragon Flame Academy courtyard. "I thought this was something important. If this is all you have to say, then goodbye."

For a moment, Wu Yiyi was completely stunned. ’What is going on with Cheng Yunsu?’

’Is it possible she felt nothing at all?’

’Impossible. No woman could fail to feel insecure when compared to me.’

After a flurry of frantic thoughts, Wu Yiyi shouted, "Cheng Yunsu, you stop right there! You mean you’re not going to back down?"

Without turning her head, Cheng Yunsu replied, "How tedious."

Those two words struck Wu Yiyi’s heart like a heavy hammer. She had said so much, only to get "How tedious" in return.

’That damn bitch. It seems I have to teach Cheng Yunsu a major lesson.’

Her eyes turned cold and menacing as she snapped, "Forget everything else. Just in terms of the Martial Dao, you’re not even qualified to be compared to me."

The words had barely left her lips when Wu Yiyi suddenly blurred, flashing toward Cheng Yunsu.

In an instant, her hand was on Cheng Yunsu’s shoulder. She spoke again, her voice menacing, "You, with your replacement Beast Bone. You worthless bitch who hasn’t even reached the Innate Realm. What gives you the right to compete with me?"

With that, she tried to yank Cheng Yunsu back and swing a slap across her face.

In that instant, Cheng Yunsu’s entire body flashed with fiery light. She threw a backhanded slap... CRACK!

The slap landed squarely on Wu Yiyi’s face, sending her staggering toward the lake.

Cheng Yunsu then turned to face her, staring at the still-reeling Wu Yiyi. "I wasn’t going to bother with you, since you’re so incredibly tedious. But since you decided to attack, it seems I have no choice but to teach you a lesson..."

As her calm voice sounded, the True Qi around Cheng Yunsu flared, ringing out like the cry of a Fire Sparrow.

The aura of the Innate Realm flashed around her. In a single step, she closed the distance to Wu Yiyi and struck her other cheek... CRACK!

Another crisp, clear slap echoed by the side of the small lake.

Then, Cheng Yunsu spun back and retreated a step. "Who told you I hadn’t reached the Innate Realm?"

As her words faded, Wu Yiyi stood frozen in place, her hands clutching both sides of her face in utter disbelief.

The cold wind howled around her, and her head was ringing from the slaps. She finally snapped out of her daze and shrieked in a furious rage, "You bitch! You... you dare to hit me! Guards!"

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH...

Several guards immediately flashed out from the shadows. Wu Yiyi pointed at Cheng Yunsu again. "Seize her! I’m going to kill her."

At that moment, Wu Yiyi had none of her earlier noble lady’s airs. All that was left was pure madness.