CHAPTER 591: CHAPTER 591: CRACKS IN RELATIONSHIP

But his words only made the jealousy burn hotter.

The black-robed mage screamed, "Do you all not see? He wants to keep the seed for himself! They are trying to trick us. We were here before her. The seed should be ours! Everyone, attack together. She cannot fight us all!"

The crowd began to stir. Some looked uncertain, but others clenched their fists. The thought of the mystic seed was too tempting.

One young mage shouted, "He is right! If we let her walk away with it, we will regret it forever!"

Another agreed, his voice trembling. "We suffered so much just to reach this place. And she gets it without effort? That is unfair!"

Soon, dozens of voices rose in anger.

"Attack them!"

"Kill them both!"

"Snatch the seed!"

Long Yifan moved closer to Gu Jin. His voice was low but steady. "Stay behind me."

Gu Jin’s eyes were calm, though her fingers still held the seed tightly. She whispered, "I will not give it up."

Long Yifan gave a small nod. "And I will not let them take it."

The first wave of attackers charged. Fireballs, earth spikes, and arrows of wind flew through the air. The mountain ground shook from their power.

Long Yifan raised both hands. A barrier of earth and wind surrounded him and Gu Jin. The attacks exploded against it, but the shield held firm.

"You are too weak," he said coldly. He waved his arm, and sharp icicles shot from the shield, striking the attackers and knocking several of them to the ground.

But more kept coming.

A tall mage shouted, "Do not stop! If we all attack together, he cannot block everything!"

The crowd roared in agreement. A rain of spells filled the sky, lighting it up with fire and lightning.

Long Yifan’s body trembled slightly as he held the shield, but his eyes did not waver. He spread his power wider, creating a storm of wind around him. Waves of ice shards crashed outward, knocking enemies back, while blades of air cut through their defenses.

Screams filled the air as many were thrown down the mountain slope.

Yet still, more climbed back up. Their greed was stronger than their fear.

One mage shouted, "If we do not get it now, we will never get it again!"

Another cried, "She is only one person! Do not let her leave alive!"

Gu Jin stood quietly, her gaze on the angry mob. For the first time, a faint coldness filled her eyes. She had seen this before. Greed, anger, betrayal. People always wanted to take what was not theirs.

Long Yifan struck another group with a blast of ice. His chest rose and fell heavily, but his voice was firm. "Stay back! If you value your lives, do not touch her!"

The crowd hesitated, but the black-robed mage raised his voice again. "Do not fear him! He is only one man. We are many. Kill him, and the seed is ours!"

The crowd roared louder, rushing forward again.

Long Yifan clenched his fist, and a whirlwind burst from his body, sending dust and rocks flying everywhere. "Then I will show you what one man can do."

He raised his hands, summoning a massive wave of ice shards mixed with roaring winds. The storm rushed down the slope like a flood, sweeping dozens of mages off their feet. They screamed as they tumbled down the rocks, their spells scattering like sparks in the rain.

The ground grew wet and slippery, making it harder for them to stand.

The black-robed mage tried to resist, his lightning clashing against the storm, but Long Yifan’s power overwhelmed him. The man coughed blood and fell to his knees.

"You are not worthy," Long Yifan said, his voice like ice.

The remaining attackers looked at each other in fear. Their anger was fading, replaced by hesitation.

One of them whispered, "We cannot win... He is too strong."

Another said, trembling, "And the girl... she still stands there unharmed. Maybe... maybe the seed truly belongs to her."

The black-robed mage tried to rise again, but Long Yifan’s blade of wind pressed against his throat. "If you dare move, I will end you here."

The man froze, his eyes full of hate, but he did not move.

Slowly, the mountain grew quiet again. The crowd lowered their heads, no longer daring to step forward.

Long Yifan lowered his hand and looked back at Gu Jin. "They will not try again."

Gu Jin’s gaze swept over the fallen mages. Some groaned in pain, some glared at her, but none dared to rise.

She whispered softly, but her words carried through the silence. "The thunder mystic seed belongs to me. If you are not convinced, then try again. But remember, you already saw the result."

No one spoke. No one moved.

Long Yifan stood at her side, his eyes still sharp, ready to strike if anyone dared.

At last, one of the older mages sighed and lowered his head. "The seed has chosen. We cannot change it."

The others slowly nodded, their jealousy hidden behind bitter faces.

Gu Jin closed her hand around the glowing seed. Her calm voice broke the heavy silence once more.

"Then it is settled."

Gu Jin sat on the bed in the quiet hotel room. The thunder mystic seed had already melted into her body, and she could still feel its powerful energy rushing inside her veins.

Sparks of electricity flashed faintly around her fingertips whenever she moved her hand.

Her lips curved into a small smile. "Intermediate stage... tier two already," she whispered to herself. "Just a little more and I will reach tier three. And after that... advanced rank will not be far."

Her heart was filled with determination. For the first time in a long while, she felt true delight.

Next year, she would join the magic combat competition. She would show everyone her true power.

As she was lost in her thoughts, she finally turned her head to Long Yifan, who had been standing near the window, watching her quietly. She had ignored him since they entered the room.

"What about your competition?" Gu Jin asked flatly.

Long Yifan blinked, surprised that she spoke to him at last. His face brightened.

"The semi-finals are already finished," he said quickly. "The finals will be held at the end of next month. Will you come to watch it?"

Gu Jin stared at him with calm eyes before shaking her head. "I am not interested."

Her words cut through his heart like a blade. His smile faded, and he looked at her as if he had just been struck. "Not... interested?" His voice cracked slightly.

Gu Jin said nothing. She simply looked away, her eyes cold again.

Long Yifan clenched his fists and finally could not endure it anymore. "Gu Jin... why? Why are you acting this way?" His voice was full of helplessness.

Gu Jin raised her eyebrows a little. "What way?"

"You are being so distant," he said quickly.

"You were not like this before. Did I do something wrong? Was it one of my habits that troubled you? Tell me. I will change." His tone sounded desperate.

Gu Jin shook her head slowly. "You did not do anything wrong."

Hearing that only confused him more. He stepped closer and reached out, holding her hand tightly. "Then why? Why are you avoiding me?" His dark eyes locked onto hers.

Gu Jin stared straight into his eyes, her own gaze emotionless. "I am not."

But Long Yifan felt the distance in her words. His chest tightened. Without thinking, he leaned forward and kissed her lips.

Gu Jin stiffened and pushed back against him, resisting. Surprised, Long Yifan quickly pulled away. His face looked pained, but he tried to smile bitterly.

"This... this is what was missing before," he said in a low voice. "Because every time I kissed you before, you never resisted. You never struggled."

Gu Jin’s eyes grew cloudy with anger. She shoved him back with more force this time. Her voice was sharp. "You are nothing to me. You cannot do such things to me."

Long Yifan froze where he stood. "Nothing?" His voice trembled. "But I am your fiancé."

"You are not!" Gu Jin shouted, her voice echoing in the room. "You are not my fiancé if I had never recovered my identity."

Long Yifan’s body went stiff, as if her words had struck him harder than any sword.

Gu Jin’s voice turned cold again.

"You only paid attention to me because my identity as the Gu family’s daughter was revealed. If it had never been revealed, you would have kept ignoring me. You would have gone behind me, stealing glances but never stepping forward. Tell me, Long Yifan... what if I had never learned this truth? What then?"

Her words pierced his heart. Long Yifan stood there in silence, his face pale, his lips trembling.

Finally, he forced himself to speak. "No... it was not about your identity." He shook his head quickly, almost desperately.