Lee Ya hesitated at the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest. She cast a wary glance at Qie Xieling who was sitting rigidly on the couch, his pupils as dark as as a black hole. Opposite him, Luo Muchen sat there with a domineering aura surrounding him his expression cold and unyielding.

"Lee Ya, leave," Luo Muchen commanded, his voice laced with authority. Her half-brother’s words echoed in her ears, and she felt a pang of apprehension. She knew she had to go, but the thought of leaving Qie Xieling alone with Luo Muchen made her very uneasy.

She feared that her secret plot she had against Luo Muchen would be accidentally exposed by Qie Xieling in the heat of the moment but she also knew that with their animosity, Luo Muchen would never believe him.

Reluctantly, Lee Ya turned away from the room, her footsteps heavy as she retreated. The door closed behind her sealing her off from the charged atmosphere within. As she walked down the corridor, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that the tension that hung in that room wasn’t just tension between enemies but tension mixed in with another emotion.

Inside the room, Qie Xieling’s frustration simmered beneath the surface. He clenched the armrest of the chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white, his jaw clenched in suppressed anger. "Luo Muchen," he called out, his voice strained as he fought to restrain his emotions.

Luo Muchen stood up, his posture rigid, his eyes meeting Qie Xieling’s gaze. He corrected him in a cold, detached tone, "Captain Luo." The title emphasized the gap between them, a reminder of the hierarchy that kept them apart.

This was the last straw. Qie Xieling’s anger erupted, fueled by his frustration and the weight of the situation. With a sudden burst of energy, he pushed Luo Muchen forcefully against the wall, catching him off guard. Luo Muchen’s head thudded against the hard surface, shock registering in his eyes. He knew Qie Xieling would get angry just not this angry.

The room seemed to hold its breath as the two men locked eyes, their conflicting emotions swirling in the charged atmosphere. The tension between them crackled like electricity, threatening to ignite into a full-blown confrontation.

His chest rising and falling Luo Muchen asked, "What are you so mad about? Huh? Is it about me deactivating your station? You fired without my authorisation. Who told you to fire at the general." It was best if he had kept his mouth shut. Now that Qie Xieling knew this he was even more livid.

After saying that he impulsively shoved Qie Xieling driven by his fury and Qie Xieling staggered a few feet back.

A seething rage boiled within Qie Xieling, threatening to consume his every thought. He had never been this angry with Luo Muchen in his entire life. Not only did he want to give him to his half-sister like he was some sort of prize he also protected Bi Yu from him. If he didn’t kill him today then his surname wasn’t Qie.

His lips curled into a sinister smile, revealing a flash of his sharpened teeth. It was a chilling sight, a glimpse into the darkness that had taken hold of his soul.

Luo Muchen, his heart pounding, watched Qie Xieling incredulously. Never had he seen him so unhinged, so utterly possessed by madness. The friendly smile that he always had on his face was completely gone and his eyes that brimmed with affection towards him even when they sparred were now filled with hostility.

Luo Muchen wasn’t afraid of many things but for some reason, he was afraid now. Fear was gnawing at his core. It was urging him to keep his distance or ease Qie Xieling’s suffering otherwise he would lose something very important.

Qie Xieling’s maniacal laughter erupted, echoing through the walls of the rest area. It was a chilling sound, a combination of mirth and madness that was enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. His eyes gleaming with a mix of rage and despair, Qie Xieling clutched Luo Muchen’s collar, his grip tightening with each passing moment.

He clenched his fist tightly and swung it but before his punch could connect, Luo Muchen’s lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to catch Qie Xieling’s arm mid-swing.

With a swift twist, Luo Muchen immobilised his opponent’s arm, pinning him against the smooth wall. Qie Xieling’s face was pressed hard against the cold surface, his breath ragged with rage. Despite the pain and frustration, he refused to back down.

Summoning every ounce of strength, Qie Xieling retaliated by aiming a powerful kick at Luo Muchen. Caught off guard, Luo Muchen momentarily loosened his grip on Qie Xieling’s arm, providing him with a fleeting opportunity to escape. Qie Xieling seized the chance, his body propelled forward, only to be abruptly tackled to the ground by Luo Muchen’s relentless force.

As he collided with the floor, the impact resonated throughout the rest area. The room seemed to hold its breath, anticipating the next move in this violent dance of anger and resentment. But before the situation escalated further, Luo Muchen’s voice sliced through the charged atmosphere, commanding attention.

"Stop!" he bellowed, his voice laced with a mix of anger and frustration. His words hung in the air, lingering like a warning. Qie Xieling, momentarily stunned by the sudden interruption, hesitated, his heart pounding in his chest.

In a desperate attempt to regain control, Qie Xieling’s eyes darted around the room before his gaze landed on a couch cushion, discarded on the ground. Acting on pure instinct, he snatched it up and swung it at Luo Muchen, unleashing his pent-up frustration.

The cushion collided with Luo Muchen’s body, the impact muffled by the fabric. It was a feeble attempt to strike back, but in that moment, it served as an outlet for the anger that had consumed him.

"Luo Muchen you bastard. Ugh, why I even like you is beyond me," said Qie Xieling while hitting him.

The cushion strikes lacked any real force so Luo Muchen let it happen again and again. He ceased his resistance and allowed Qie Xieling to unleash his fury upon him, the cushion raining down on his face and body.

With each strike, puffs of white fluff escaped from the cushion, filling the air around them. Luo Muchen’s face contorted as the fluffy stuffing found its way into his mouth. He spat it out, some of it sticking to his lips and cheeks, while Qie Xieling continued his assault, fueled by a mix of anger and determination.