Gao Lang's face turned from pale to red, then from red to white, and his lips were pressed into a stiff straight line.
He stared intently at the ground, as if he could stare a hole through it and crawl into it.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire team, he managed to squeeze out a few words through gritted teeth: "...Yes—"
"Wait a minute, President—" Shu Bai frowned and suddenly spoke.
"Stop. I'm interrupting for a moment." At the same time, Li Yuheng spoke up, his voice even drowning out Shu Bai's.
All eyes immediately focused on Li Yuheng.
Li Yuheng looked at Chen Niansha again, his tone even bordering on polite: "President, I respect you, and I respect the rules of the mountaineering club. But—"
“In Li Yuheng’s dictionary, there is no option to bow down to unreasonable provocateurs. Especially when he offends someone I’ve identified with.”
"I have always been clear about right and wrong. In this matter, the fault lies not with me, nor with Shu Bai. Therefore, I will not bow my head; I will not apologize."
Gao Lang's face grew even uglier. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but under the powerful aura emanating from Li Yuheng, he was unable to utter a sound for a moment.
President Chen Niansha also felt the pressure, and she tried to insist: "Li Yuheng, this is for the team..."
"Is the team harmonious? But true harmony cannot be forced by these kinds of half-hearted rituals. Instead, those who make mistakes should learn to control their mouths and minds."
Li Yuheng took a small step forward, his gaze refocusing on Gao Lang. His eyes were no longer filled with anger or mockery, but with a condescending scrutiny.
"Gao Lang, listen carefully."
“I don’t care what you’ve been through in the past, that’s no reason for you to spew nonsense at me here today. Your pain is not a license to hurt innocent people.”
I don't need your apology. I don't need your handshake either.
His words were like a final verdict, carrying the ruthlessness unique to the Crown Prince of the Underworld.
"As for the club rules—"
Li Yuheng changed the subject, looking at Chen Niansha again, his tone slightly softened, but still carrying an unyielding force.
“I respect it, but that doesn’t mean I will abide by every single one of them. I’m sorry, I cannot comply with this rule.”
"However, I can guarantee that as long as he doesn't provoke me, I will never have any further conflict with him on the journey ahead. I will treat him like air and completely ignore him. This is the maximum 'reconciliation' I can offer."
“If that still doesn’t work,” he shrugged, his tone even carrying a hint of nonchalant arrogance.
“Then I can take Shu Bai down the mountain now. It’s just Cuiyun Peak. We can climb it ourselves anytime, or we can go to another mountain. The universe is so vast that it has not yet been able to confine me to the rules of Li Yuheng.”
Li Yuheng's words resonated powerfully on Eagle Beak Rock.
The mountain breeze seemed to freeze for a moment.
President Chen Niansha opened her mouth, looked at Li Yuheng's eyes which were filled with no room for negotiation, and then glanced at Gao Lang with a complicated expression. In the end, she swallowed back her words of persuasion.
She finally understood: this junior, Li Yuheng, usually seemed carefree and irresponsible.
But when it comes to his bottom line principles, especially when it involves Shu Bai, who is by his side, he is an absolute tough nut to crack, extremely domineering.
Moreover, upon closer reflection, although Li Yuheng's words were harsh and inhumane, they were not entirely without reason.
Forcing the party in the right to apologize is more like trying to smooth things over; it may not actually resolve the conflict and could instead sow the seeds of deeper resentment.
The other team members looked at each other in surprise, having learned something new.
Li Rui pushed up his glasses and whispered to Wu Yue, "Wow, going head-to-head with the club rules... This Li student is ruthless."
Wu Yue blinked and whispered, "But... what he said doesn't seem to be wrong?"
Gao Lang's expression froze on his face. Amidst his surprise, a hint of admiration, which he himself was unaware of, flashed deep in his eyes.
He was absolutely unwilling to bow down to Li Yuheng; it would be worse than death for him.
Li Yuheng's firm, almost domineering, refusal, while embarrassing for him, also strangely relieved him from his predicament.
His taut jawline relaxed almost imperceptibly by a millimeter, but he remained fixed on the ground, silent, awaiting the president's decision as if in tacit agreement.
Chen Niansha looked at the stalemate before her, then glanced at Gao Lang, who was clearly relieved and didn't want to carry out the ritual, and sighed inwardly.
Well, this "oath of reconciliation" has completely failed thanks to this new generation of newcomers.
Seeing the situation, President Chen Niansha sighed and finally waved her hand: "Alright, alright! Li Yuheng, you win! Club rules are rules, but people are flexible... Just do as you said, everyone behave yourselves from now on! Anyone who causes trouble again will have to write a 3,000-word self-criticism and read it aloud in front of the whole club!"
She glared at Gao Lang: "Gao Lang, watch your emotions and your mouth, do you hear me?"
Gao Lang responded with a very low "hmm" from his throat.
Chen Niansha then looked at Li Yuheng, her eyes warning him: "And you, Li Yuheng, watch your aura and your mouth! Just ignore them, don't push it any further!"
Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Li Yuheng instantly toned down his imposing aura and put on his bright, sunny smile again.
He readily agreed, "No problem, boss! I guarantee I'll complete the task and treat him like the most delicious air!"
Actually, that sounds a bit cheeky.
Chen Niansha clapped her hands: "Alright, alright! The little incident is over! Break time is over, everyone, pack your things and get ready to go! The journey ahead is still long!"
As if released from a spell, everyone sprang into action, and the atmosphere became lively again.
However, everyone's gaze toward Li Yuheng now carried a new scrutiny.
This guy is not someone to mess with.
Li Yuheng didn't care what others thought of him. He had achieved his goal and was in a good mood. He turned around and strolled back to Shu Bai's side.
He leaned close to Shu Bai's ear, lowered his voice, and spoke with a hint of smugness and curiosity:
"Hey, what did you want to say to the club president just now? Tell her to 'wait a minute'? Were you trying to plead for me? Or do you have some more ruthless tricks up your sleeve? Come on, share your tactical plan for 'Success A'?"
Shu Bai glanced at him: "It's nothing. I just wanted to suggest to the president that if we have to carry out that 'reconciliation oath,' perhaps we could find a more... equal way."
"For example?" Li Yuheng raised an eyebrow, immediately showing interest.
“For example,” Shu Bai’s gaze swept over Gao Lang, who was busy packing his backpack not far away, and then looked back at Li Yuheng.
"Since both sides in the conflict are Alphas, perhaps a five-minute hand-to-hand combat would be more effective in 'venting emotions and promoting understanding' than bowing and apologizing. After the fight, regardless of who wins or loses, the matter is over."
Li Yuheng's lips curled up uncontrollably, almost causing him to burst out laughing, but he quickly suppressed it and nudged Shu Bai lightly with his elbow:
Wow! Little Shubai! I never would have guessed!
“However,” Shu Bai added, his tone still flat, “seeing how decisively you refused, I think there’s no need to go through all that trouble.”
"No way!" Li Yuheng immediately expressed his regret, clicking his tongue, "If I had known you had this idea, I would have told the club president to wait! A fight would have been so much fun! It would have been a good way to stretch your muscles! What a pity..."
He shook his head, looking as if he had missed a good opportunity.
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