Snakes were said to be cold-blooded creatures, and folk tales of the Yi Family lineage often spoke about how closely connected they were to the Great Serpent. Oddly enough, Chunji felt that his blood was boiling underneath his skin. He was starting to understand Emelie's feelings at the library when he minced words at her. The insinuations, the accusations, and the amount of slander that Rio had thrown were burning the bridge faster.

"Ho... I apologize in that case. I mistook an aspect of your character," Chunji coldly said. 

Projection was something Rio was most apt at. Approval? If Chunji could tilt his perspective to a degree of bias like how Rio was doing, wasn't beating Alto's challenge nothing more than a way to exceed expectations? It was just to satiate one's own pride. 

Why would he spill blood, sweat, and tears for a cause that didn't even interest him? To achieve a momentary relief that would prove inconsequential in the future?

Chunji refused to partake such tasks.

Though Rio had been right to a certain extent, Chunji did have something to prove. Rio's target for that approval, however, was extensively mismatched. Any insult directed towards himself was okay, but an indirect one to his parents was one that he would not have tolerated. The grip on his sword tightened. He would have liked nothing more than to draw his blade.

"As we have discuss the crux of the issue, there is nothing more to be said." With that said, Chunji turned and left the area. Once he felt Rio was also going, Chunji would have stepped aside and hid. The heat from his blood still resonated in him. He couldn't return to the ceremony like this.

If he had been the blood of a dog, he'd happily tear out Rio's throat then and there. However, Chunji had a cold bloodline.

He'd wait, and he'd strike. 

"透过现象看本质"

The world revealed itself to Chunji's eyes. There were enough coincidences for Chunji to connect the thoughts between Rio and Steeler. Enough of that warranted Chunji staying a little longer and observing from afar. 

Clearly, Steeler had gone off by herself and got caught along with Hildegrunde in some accident. Now Rio was going off by himself, and Chunji wasn't interested in being the Hildegrunde of the situation. 

Now what will happen to Rio?

It was clear to Chunji that he involved himself with more trouble than it was worth.