The Hidden Evil: Villainous Cultivator

The remaining thugs took a step back, fear overtaking them now. Their faces drained of color as they watched their comrades fall.

"Is this all you've got, Su Meng?" Ye Feng asked, his voice almost bored. "You think bringing a group of thugs would make a difference?"

Su Meng's eyes were wide with fear. His breath was shallow, and his body trembled from the pain and shock. "I… I'll come for you again," he spat, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear.

Ye Feng didn't even look at him as he turned away. "No, you won't. You'll learn to stay down."

With that, Ye Feng walked out of the alley, stepping over the defeated bodies of Su Meng's thugs as if they were nothing more than obstacles.

Ye Feng decided that he should avoid any kind of relationship with Bai Shuang , as it would only bring more trouble for him in the future.

It had been three months since Bai Shuang had shared that simple lunch with Ye Feng. It wasn't much—just a small acknowledgment that he wasn't completely indifferent to her. But after the lunch, she wanted to improve her relationship further , without realising she started liking him a little bit.

In the days that followed, she had hoped for more interactions, more opportunities to connect. But things didn't change much. Ye Feng, ever the enigma, remained as cold and distant as ever. He didn't initiate conversation, and when Bai Shuang tried to talk to him, he was always polite, but his answers were always short, often just one or two words.

Still, Bai Shuang kept trying. Each day, she found herself walking a little closer to him, speaking to him a little more, hoping that someday, he would open up.

It was clear to her that Ye Feng was a man of few words. He didn't engage much with anyone, and he definitely wasn't interested in making friends. His aura was one of quiet solitude, one that discouraged anyone from getting too close. But that didn't stop Bai Shuang from trying. She couldn't deny it—she was intrigued by him, even fascinated.

It became routine. Every morning, Bai Shuang would look for him in class. She would find her seat, glance over at Ye Feng's usual spot in the back, and hope he would notice her. Sometimes he would, just for a moment, his cold eyes meeting hers before he turned back to his work.

The first time it happened, Bai Shuang had felt her heart race. She had smiled at him, but Ye Feng had only blinked and looked away, as if it were a meaningless gesture. Still, she couldn't help but feel that maybe there was something more beneath his calm exterior, something he was hiding something that only she could see.

Weeks passed, and Bai Shuang's pursuit of Ye Feng grew more persistent, though she kept it subtle. She would always try to find ways to talk to him, small comments during class breaks or when they were both walking through the halls. Sometimes, it felt like she was chasing after a ghost, trying to grab hold of something intangible. Ye Feng never seemed to react strongly. He didn't dismiss her, but he didn't engage either. He always remained neutral.

There was one particular day, however, that stuck with her. Bai Shuang was waiting by the school gates after class, about to head home when she noticed Ye Feng walking out of the school building. She hesitated for a moment, then, taking a deep breath, she decided to seize the opportunity.

"Ye Feng!" she called out, her voice echoing slightly in the quiet air.

He turned, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Yes?" His tone was flat, unbothered.

She smiled brightly, trying not to let her nerves show. "I was wondering… maybe you'd like to join me for a walk home? It's nice to have company after a long day, don't you think?"

For a moment, there was only silence. Ye Feng looked at her, his eyes cold but not unkind. Then, with the faintest of shrugs, he replied, "I prefer to walk alone."

Bai Shuang's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I understand," she said, trying to keep the disappointment from her voice. "Maybe another time, then!"

Ye Feng didn't respond, and without another word, he walked off. Bai Shuang stood there for a few moments, her heart sinking. It was always the same. Each time she thought she was getting closer, each time she thought she was breaking through, he pulled away again. But still, she refused to give up.

The next few weeks were much the same. Bai Shuang continued to make small efforts to connect. She'd leave little notes on his desk, or offer him a small smile in the hallways. Sometimes, when she caught his eye, she'd try to start a conversation, but Ye Feng's answers were always short and impersonal. He wasn't unkind, but he was indifferent, his focus always on something else, never on her.

Even so, she couldn't stop herself. She had become addicted to the challenge, the idea that maybe, just maybe, one day he would let his guard down. She watched him as he moved through the school, wondering if there was more to him than the quiet, distant boy who never seemed to care about anything. She wanted to know the truth, to understand him.

One afternoon, the class was asked to partner up for a group project. When the teacher called out the names, Bai Shuang was surprised to hear Ye Feng's name paired with hers. It was the first time they'd been forced to work together.

Bai Shuang smiled excitedly, trying to hide her enthusiasm. "Hey, Ye Feng, looks like we're partners!" She said, her voice light and friendly.

Ye Feng didn't look up from his notebook. "Seems so," he replied, his voice as cool as ever.

As they sat together to work on the project, Bai Shuang tried her best to keep the conversation going, but Ye Feng's responses were brief and to the point. He didn't want to talk about anything other than the project. No small talk, no personal questions. And while Bai Shuang did her best to make the work fun, Ye Feng's indifference left her feeling empty inside.

But even during their work session, when she glanced at him, she couldn't shake the feeling that maybe there was something more—something hidden under the surface. She just had to find a way to unlock it.

Three months passed, and still, nothing changed. Ye Feng remained as distant and impassive as ever, and Bai Shuang's feelings for him grew stronger each day. Her attempts to connect were met with polite disinterest, but she couldn't bring herself to stop trying. No matter how many times he ignored her or shut her down, she couldn't give up.

Bai Shuang began to notice small things, subtle moments when Ye Feng seemed just a little bit more aware of her. Once, she had been walking past him in the hallway, and their shoulders had brushed. For just an instant, she thought she felt him pause, as if he had noticed the contact, but when she looked at him, he was already walking ahead, his expression as neutral as always.

It was these small, fleeting moments that kept her going, even when it felt like nothing was progressing. Deep down, she believed there was something about him that he wasn't willing to show anyone. And maybe, just maybe, she could be the one to uncover it.

But until then, she would keep trying. She would keep being persistent, because despite the cold indifference he showed her, Bai Shuang had made up her mind—she wasn't going to give up on Ye Feng. Not now, not ever. The challenge was too great, and the hope of breaking through his walls was too tempting.

And as the days went on, she couldn't help but wonder: Was there something more behind those cold eyes?