C3 Ants and Crickets

"Ye Han." A crisp, cool voice echoed from the front row of the classroom, drawing the gaze of many. The voice belonged to the girl from before, Murong Xueer.

Now fifteen, she had blossomed into a figure of grace and poise. Her eyes, clear as autumn waters, and her delicate features combined to create a stunning beauty that radiated with youthful vitality.

Gazing upon this elegant form, despite the millennia that had passed, Ye Han recognized her instantly.

Murong Xueer had always been the object of Ye Han's secret affections.

Ye Han's infatuation with her stemmed not only from the fact that Murong Xueer was one of the Cloud Facing Pavilion's ten great beauties, but also because the Ye and Murong families had been close for generations. The two had grown up together, the very picture of childhood sweethearts.

Yet, after Ye Han became known as the greatest failure of the Cloud Facing Pavilion, their paths had diverged greatly, and their relationship had grown strained.

"How could you behave like this?" Murong Xueer glared at Ye Han, her eyes flashing with anger.

"What have I done?" Ye Han's response was terse, tinged with a hint of indifference, devoid of any other sentiment.

Murong Xueer's gaze faltered, confronted with the young man's detached and slightly cold demeanor, she felt a sense of estrangement.

Was this still the Ye Han who had always been so obliging to her?

"You... You shouldn't have... fallen asleep in Teacher Wen Yun's class, and you certainly shouldn't have rudely interrupted her lesson, let alone be so arrogantly self-assured," Murong Xueer said, her voice faltering.

In Ye Han's recollections, Murong Xueer had only ever exuded an endless chill.

In his past life, when Ye Han returned from his martial journey, Murong Xueer had long since married. During his absence, she had taken everything from the Ye family, and her actions had led to her own father's injury and eventual death.

As such, Ye Han harbored little affection for Murong Xueer, his feelings edged with deep-seated animosity.

"What concern is it of yours? This is my own affair, and it seems we're not so intimately acquainted as to warrant such casual reproach from you. Miss Murong, I would advise you to mind your own business and avoid any missteps." The final words carried an unmistakable chill, even a hint of menace. Despite Ye Han's millennia of disciplined composure, the mention of his parents still stirred his emotions.

"Ye Han, you... how could you treat me this way?" Murong Xueer's youthful face was etched with disbelief as she pointed a trembling finger at Ye Han, her whole delicate frame quivering with barely contained fury.

Wasn't it common knowledge within the Cloud Facing Pavilion that Ye Han harbored a secret affection for Murong Xueer? Day in and day out, he shadowed Han Qiuxue like an unshakable presence, undeterred by the cold indifference she showed him. His infatuation made him the butt of many jokes among the outer court disciples.

Yet now, Ye Han was so aloof, even cruel, publicly shaming Murong Xue. Had the once deemed worthless finally come to his senses? He must have realized the vast chasm between him and Murong Xueer: she, the graceful swan soaring in the sky, and he, the insignificant crawler on the earth, their paths never destined to cross.

"So, how should I act towards you? Grovel at your feet like a dog begging for scraps? Murong Xue, you overestimate yourself and underestimate me, Ye Han." Weathered by time, Ye Han had shed his naivety. Gone was the boy who once treated her with childlike deference.

At his words, Murong Xue's brows knitted together, and she bit her lip in frustration, her body shaking with rage. She had always despised Ye Han's persistent attentions, yet a part of her had taken some pride in them. Which girl wouldn't want to be admired, even by the least among men?

But Ye Han had severed their bond with such ruthless finality, especially in front of an audience, leaving her struggling to come to terms with the rejection and dealing a blow to her pride.

"Three years and still no progress in opening your meridians, yet you fantasize about a miracle happening in mere three months. It's pure folly."

A stern voice cut through the murmurs, drawing eyes to Lin Haoran, seated behind Murong Xue. With his Level Seven status in the Pulse Opening Stage and ranked sixth in combat among the Cloud Facing Pavilion's outer sect disciples, Lin Haoran's talent was undeniable. In two months' time, he was sure to ace the sect's examination and advance to the inner court for further cultivation.

Lin Feng didn't bother to lift his head to glance at Ye Han as he spoke. His eyes were fixed on Han Qiuxue, and he continued, "An ant from the lowest rung dares to lash out at a brilliant and shining young prodigy. It's clear you have no idea of your own insignificance. I wonder where you found the audacity and self-assurance to do so."

Lin Feng voiced the thoughts of many, and they all turned to Ye Han with biting sarcasm. Murong Xueer, too, seemed to find satisfaction in glaring angrily at Ye Han.

Ye Han remained unflustered by Lin Feng's mockery. He had been through similar situations in his past life. There were always those who reveled in flaunting their own superiority by stepping on others, particularly in the presence of a beauty like Han Qiuxue.

"Oh, really? Your ant analogy is quite insightful, but you've got one thing wrong. The ant isn't me, nor could it ever be me. It's actually all of you," Ye Han said with a light chuckle.

"Bang!"

A frail young man in the front row slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his face contorted with rage. He marched swiftly towards Ye Han, his teeth clenched, his stare so intense it was as if he wished he could rip Ye Han in two to quell the hatred in his heart.

Despite the fact that Wen Yun's group of twenty disciples wasn't large, after nearly a thousand years, many names had been forgotten. Yet, when Ye Han's eyes landed on the thick notebook on the young man's table, he managed to recall his name.

Zhou Chong, a student of modest talent, often resorted to rote memorization without understanding the concept of adaptability. Over the past three years, he had only achieved the Pulse Opening Stage Level Three.

"Ye Han, showing no respect for your elders is one thing, but now you're scorning your peers who have been with you for years. You've really crossed the line!" Zhou Chong approached Ye Han and accused him furiously.

Ye Han looked at Zhou Chong, who had rushed up to him, and smiled coldly. "Why bother with such insincere formalities? If you want to fight, just say so. Are you not weary of this charade?"

Zhou Chong bellowed, "Exactly! I do want to beat you up! If it weren't for the strict rules of the Cloud Facing Pavilion, I would have flattened you with a slap long ago!"

"Way to go! Zhou Chong, we've got your back. We've been fed up with this guy for a long time!" The crowd in the classroom erupted in cheers.

Ye Han glanced at the crowd with a look of contempt, showing no fear. He locked eyes with Zhou Chong and said coldly, "I doubt you have the strength for this."

"Humph! You're just a mortal who hasn't even opened his meridians. I'm worried I might accidentally crush you to death, and that would just dirty my hands!" Zhou Chong stretched out two fingers, mimicking the act of squishing an ant with an exaggerated and comical expression, which sent the young men into fits of laughter.

Ye Han shook his head and responded, "Nothing but a buffoon! Your tongue is sharper than most, but you're all bark and no bite—a hollow shell that crumbles upon contact."

Stung by the mockery, Zhou Chong, who had been quite smug, suddenly became fierce. He abruptly raised his fist and hurled it toward Ye Han.

"This is bad! That scoundrel actually dares to..." Peng Wei saw what was happening and quickly stood up, trying to shield Ye Han from the blow. But it was too late; the fist was already inches from Ye Han.

The onlookers gasped in shock. A Level Three Martial Artist at the Pulse Opening Stage Level Three striking a mortal with full force meant certain death for Ye Han, and Zhou Chong would surely face severe consequences from the Cloud Facing Pavilion.

Yet, in that moment, no one seemed concerned for Ye Han's well-being. In their eyes, Ye Han was just an ant struggling in the mortal realm, while they were the majestic swans soaring through the skies, indifferent to the fate of an ant.

Murong Xueer watched Ye Han, teetering on the brink of death, with a flicker of conflict in her eyes. Despite their shared childhood, she found it hard to watch him suffer. But recalling Ye Han's earlier arrogance and disrespect, resentment bubbled up inside her, and she quietly closed her eyes.

"Ah!"

As Murong Xueer's eyes shut, a ghastly scream echoed through the classroom, filled with agony. She thought to herself, "He's still alive. Perhaps it's good for him to endure some pain, to curb his insolence."

Murong Xueer slowly opened her eyes, her gaze drifting across the room until it landed on a startling sight. Her pupils dilated, and her mouth fell open in a silent gasp of horror.

To her astonishment, it wasn't Ye Han writhing on the ground as she had expected, but Zhou Chong.

As surprise gave way to realization, she noticed Ye Han's eyes fixed on her, his dark pupils brimming with an icy detachment. Clearly, he had witnessed her earlier actions, and in that moment, a chill crept into Murong Xueer's heart, a foreboding sense that their connection had been irreparably severed.

"Haha, Murong Xueer, you remain as unfeeling as ever," Ye Han remarked with a cold laugh.

Without another word, he averted his gaze and strode out of the classroom, leaving her behind.

"Stop right there! Ye Han, whatever sorcery you've used, you can't just abandon Zhou Chong. And to strike down your own classmate so mercilessly—have you no sense of camaraderie at all?" Lin Haoran rose to his feet, his voice icy with accusation. Though clueless about the specifics of Zhou Chong's defeat, he was determined not to let Ye Han walk away without a challenge.

"Friendship? Spare me the hypocrisy. When Zhou Chong was trying to finish me off, where was this talk of camaraderie? And now you have the audacity to preach about it? Your hypocrisy knows no bounds," Ye Han retorted sharply.

Peng Wei, who was nearest to the scene, looked on with a puzzled expression. He was clearly unaware of the full extent of what had transpired. As Ye Han made his exit, Peng Wei stepped over the still-tumbling Zhou Chong and hurried after him.