Chapter 100: A Clash of Wills (Part 1)

Li Xiuxiang glanced at Lekai, a trace of pride on his face. “As your elder brother, I await your challenge at any time!”

“You men, always so quick to fight and make trouble. It’s so tedious! Xiuxiang, didn’t you promise me that this time we’d just have fun and not talk about fighting or killing? Have you forgotten?” Seeing sparks about to fly between Lekai and Li Xiuxiang, Liyan quickly intervened, her tone half-playful, half-reproachful.

“All right, all right, how could I forget my promise to you, Yan’er? I’m here this time just to accompany you, to explore and learn. Nothing else. Does that satisfy you?” Li Xiuxiang, utterly defenseless against Liyan’s coquettishness, looked at her with a gentle indulgence.

Lekai felt a strange irritation in his heart. He stepped forward, grasped Liyan’s delicate hand, and said, “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

Such a simple action left everyone present stunned. Even Li Xiuxiang’s expression changed dramatically, words almost on his lips but never spoken. As for Lanska and the rest of the Blue Shark Squad, their faces paled.

Though the Li family was not the pinnacle among the noble houses of the Wolf Empire, they still controlled countless planets, and the status of the eldest Miss Li far surpassed that of any so-called planetary princess. In the ancient past of Azure Star, ordinary folk would not have even been qualified to lay eyes on her.

She was the most cherished granddaughter of the Li family patriarch, a sanctified and noble figure in the hearts of billions—untouchable, beyond reproach. For commoners, let alone holding her hand, even approaching her was unthinkable. And even if one dared approach, who would have the audacity to act so intimately? After all, she wore the most advanced and mysterious Princess One protective smart bracelet; once activated, even a star-ranked martial artist could not get near her.

Yet Lekai, a mere commoner, dared take her hand in public, and Liyan did not object. This was a defiance of every social rule, a crime deserving death. Several security agents gripped their weapons nervously, ready to riddle Lekai with bullets at the slightest hint of displeasure from the princess.

As Lekai’s hand closed around hers, Liyan’s cheeks flushed with a faint rosy hue. Raised by the family in strict decorum, she was not as carefree as Lekai. She was a maiden on the brink of awakening, already bewildered by the mysteries of youth. But seeing the innocence on Lekai’s face, she only blushed, did not refuse, and—just as she had in the arcade—walked forward naturally by his side, leaving behind a crowd of gaping onlookers.

Lanska quietly gave Lekai a thumbs-up. This kid, impressive!

Li Xiuxiang’s face turned first green, then white, and only after a long moment did he regain composure, though his fists were clenched tight. He said coolly, “Mr. Mayor, let’s head inside. We need to discuss Miss Li’s safety during her stay on Azure Star.”

Ahead of them, Lekai’s lips curled into a victorious, delighted smile—a child’s glee at having won a prize, smug and excited.

Ha! And you dared to show off—now you can’t stand it, can you? Such hypocrisy. My skills may not match yours, but my will is stronger. I can see through your pretenses in an instant. Truly, out of ten effeminate men, nine are scoundrels, and the last is a demon. Anyone could see the covetous look in your eyes. Who doesn’t know you have designs on my Yan’er? Toads dreaming of swan’s flesh—keep dreaming!

“What are you grinning about? You look so sly. Are you plotting something?” Liyan, walking alongside Lekai, felt his joy, but the mischief on his face was so flagrant she couldn’t help but ask.

“Ah—nothing at all. It’s just, last time I had so much fun with you, but it ended abruptly and I was left wanting more. By the way, just now, Young Master Li mentioned you’d be staying here for a while. Is that true?”

Lekai hurriedly changed the subject.

Liyan replied, “Yes! I specifically asked Grandpa to let me come. And I have good news for you: from now on, we’ll be classmates.”

“Leaving a wonderful planet and a perfectly good school just to study on this desolate rock? Miss Yan’er, are you out of your mind?” Lekai could hardly believe his own ears. It made no sense—completely illogical!

Liyan pouted, “Do you think it was easy for me to come here? I pestered Grandpa for two whole months—he was so annoyed he could barely eat! Only then did he finally agree.”

Lekai gave an awkward laugh and probed, “So, what exactly did you come here for?”

A blush crept over Liyan’s face, shyness coloring her features. “I won’t tell you.”

Lekai was astonished, so full of himself he blurted, “You… you’re not hopelessly captivated by my unrivaled charm and came all this way just for me, are you?”

Even someone as gentle and broad-minded as Liyan nearly fainted at this. How conceited could he be to say such a thing? Behind them, Lanska and Li Xiuxiang both shuddered involuntarily. Who else in the entire Wolf Empire would dare joke with the princess in such a way?

Even more astonishing, the little princess, faced with such a bold tease, didn’t get angry. She kept her fingers laced with Lekai’s all the way to the reception room before letting go.

But this scene did not escape the sharp eyes of Lambo, who immediately leapt from the sofa in alarm, pointing at the two of them, mouth agape, unable to utter a word.

Liyan, quick-witted as always, instantly guessed what her cousin was thinking. Blushing, she scolded, “Don’t get the wrong idea. We didn’t do anything.”

Lekai shot Lambo a glare as well. “Yan’er will be going to school with us from now on, so as her cousin, you’d better set a good example.”

The members of the Blue Shark Squad took up their posts outside, leaving only Li Xiuxiang and Lanska to accompany them into the inner hall.

Once seated, Lanska introduced everyone again, and the young people quickly became familiar, as if they’d known each other for years.

Watching them get along so harmoniously, Lanska threw Lekai a meaningful glance and smiled.

Lambo, however, was worried. “Boss, the final exams are tomorrow. I think you should just skip them. You’ve been in seclusion all this time—you wouldn’t have time to memorize the answers even if I gave them to you now. And since the principal granted you a special pardon, you can just pretend to be ill for a few days until exams are over. That way, even Fat Pig can’t find fault with you.”

Lambo’s concern was genuine; if Lekai was expelled because of this, it would be a great injustice.

Lekai was utterly unconcerned. “I may have never attended school, but these childish classes shouldn’t be much trouble for me.”

Li Xiuxiang feigned surprise. “Brother Lekai, you’ve never been to school? And now you’re starting high school directly? That’ll be tough to keep up with! If you don’t mind, I can help you catch up.”

Lekai secretly scoffed—this guy looked so happy the moment he found out I hadn’t been to school.

“Thanks for your offer, Brother Li, but let’s wait until after the exams. If I really do badly, then I’ll trouble you for help. But I doubt these high school courses are all that complex. With my intellect, I should have no problem ranking at the top.”

Hearing Lekai’s wild boast, even Liyan couldn’t help herself. “Lekai, Xiuxiang is a genius—he finished university at fifteen, and was top of his class. With his help, your grades would improve in no time. This isn’t like fighting, you know. Brute strength alone won’t cut it. I only got better grades thanks to his guidance.”

Lekai replied helplessly, “If you all don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do. Let’s wait until after the exam. I truly don’t think high school courses are difficult!”

Lambo covered his forehead, thinking his boss was hopeless. To show off in front of a beauty, he boasted without even planning ahead. Normally, you could hide a lie for months, but the results of this exam would be out in no time! Love really does make people foolish.

“All right, let’s make a bet. If I come first in the year, what will you wager?” Lekai, seeing their disbelief, looked around slyly.

Lambo burst out laughing, excited. “Boss, are you sure you want to bet?”

Lekai’s face darkened—why was this kid getting involved?

Li Xiuxiang smiled, “Brother Lekai, you’re truly forthright—an exemplar for us all. Since you’re so confident, how can I not support you? I’ll make a small wager too, as a welcome gift—ten thousand Wolf Empire coins.”

Ten thousand Wolf coins was a fortune even on Li Chenxing, equivalent to ten million in the old days, according to ancient books Lekai had read. For Li Xiuxiang to offer such a sum without batting an eye spoke volumes about his family’s wealth.

Having spoken, Li Xiuxiang looked at Lekai sincerely. “What do you think, Brother Lekai? From your surprised expression, do you think the wager too small? What do you propose?”

Lekai sneered inwardly, his face shifting from astonishment to embarrassment to resolve, his fists clenching and then relaxing as if trying hard to conceal his emotions—a performance that only made Li Xiuxiang more excited.

“Brother Li, you must know me well—I’m a born gambler. I get excited by any wager, so forgive my earlier lapse in composure. It’s just that you offer me such a generous gift on our first meeting—I feel a bit unworthy, yet I’m greedy and, knowing I’ll win, can’t help but want more. The wager is a bit small, in my opinion. We’re all from wealthy families—why be so stingy? Let’s make it a million Wolf coins!”

As Lekai finished his awkward performance, his offhand suggestion nearly made Liyan and Lambo jump out of their seats, and even Lanska was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

Li Xiuxiang was taken aback, but quickly composed himself, suppressing his inner turmoil. He sneered inwardly—did Lekai think such tricks would scare him off? It was far too naïve. For daring to touch Yan’er, Lekai would not get off lightly. If not for Yan’er’s presence, he’d have Lekai killed ten thousand times over!

Feigning generosity, he replied, “Brother Lekai, you’re truly bold—a model for us all. There are no familial ties in gambling; if this is just in jest, so be it. But if you’re serious, let’s have the mayor as our witness. A million Wolf coins is a sum even I find enticing!”