On the arena.
Shui Yue'er's face paled slightly, but her joy remained unmistakable. Her beautiful eyes shimmered as she turned to Shui Bing'er. "Sister… did we succeed?"
"It should be over now." Shui Bing'er exhaled softly, her feet gently touching the ground as the wings behind her folded away.
"This was only possible because he didn't know our full capabilities. The result was unexpected. If we were to fight seriously, the outcome would be far less certain."
Xue Wu spoke solemnly from the side. "With just a single palm strike and a punch, the captain and Hairou's attacks were completely nullified. Even our teacher might not be capable of such a feat..."
"He truly is a genius beyond our reach..." Shui Bing'er gazed at Xiao Tianyang (Edward), frozen within the ice, her eyes glistening faintly.
"Click!"
A crisp sound suddenly echoed.
"Where did that come from?" Shui Yue'er, with her sharp hearing, immediately scanned their surroundings.
Shui Bing'er sighed. "Ah… we've lost."
"Sister, why do you say that?" Shui Yue'er frowned in confusion. "Isn't Edward already frozen? Unless… another one of his teammates is still on the arena?"
"Crack!"
This time, the sound was louder.
Shui Yue'er finally understood.
The massive block of ice, which the three of them had believed unbreakable, was slowly fracturing.
"Boom!"
An explosion erupted as the ice shattered into countless fragments. Amidst the rising mist, Xiao Tianyang calmly adjusted his black robe.
"Do you have any other tricks? Or was that Martial Soul Fusion Skill your final trump card?" Xiao Tianyang reached out, pulling Cong Yunqie from its sheath. The crisp ring of the blade snapped everyone back to reality.
Shui Bing'er showed no frustration—only curiosity. "How did you do it?"
Xiao Tianyang smirked. "How can ice contain vibration?"
"...I see."
Shui Bing'er nodded, then turned to her teammates. "We've lost."
Though she was the captain, she sought their consensus. If they insisted on continuing, she would fight alongside them. But she saw no point in dragging out a battle they couldn't win.
Moreover, Xiao Tianyang's nature was playful—testing his opponents without seriousness until he grew bored. Then, he would end things decisively.
If they refused to concede now, the defeat would only be more crushing and humiliating.
Yu Hairou nodded in agreement. "If Edward had truly wanted to win easily, he could have injured me or thrown me off the stage earlier."
"Then it's settled." Shui Bing'er turned to the referee. "We admit defeat."
The referee, having witnessed everything, announced the result without surprise.
Some spectators accepted it as inevitable; others found it unbelievable. A few even accused Tianshui Academy of throwing the match—why concede when the fight could still continue?
But those who understood the true disparity knew better.
Xiao Tianyang remained pensive as he sheathed Cong Yunqie and turned to leave.
Something nagged at him.
'Did Shui Bing'er know me?'
Xiao Tianyang was certain they had never met—his memory was flawless. The idea of some past encounter was absurd. He had never even visited such places before!
'Maybe it's just my imagination.'
Then, a thought struck him. "Unless… she knew me before I was five?"
That was the only gap in his memory—a hazy blur, save for the fragments others had recounted.
The possibility startled him, but he didn't pause.
'If it's true… why hasn't she approached me?'
'And how could she recognize me like this?'
Dismissing the absurd notion, he strode off the stage.
Only after he left did Shui Yue'er nudge her sister. "Sister… he's gone."
A flicker of disappointment crossed Shui Bing'er's eyes, but she forced a smile. "Then let's go too."
As she turned, Shui Yue'er caught her wrist. "Sister, you could've just told him—"
"I can't." Shui Bing'er shook her head bitterly. "Besides, I'm not even sure Edward is the same boy from back then. Let it go."
Shui Yue'er bit her lip, holding back her words.
Her sister was right. If they were mistaken, the embarrassment would be unbearable.
…
Later, in the corridor, Xiao Tianyang walked leisurely, having changed out of his combat attire.
As he rounded a corner, a soft figure crashed into him.
"Oof!"
The impact sent a jolt through him—one best described as electrifying.
"You?!"
A familiar voice made him glance down in surprise.
Their faces were now inches apart, breaths mingling. The girl's delicate features and faint floral scent confirmed her identity.
It was Huo Wu.
"Hello, Miss Huo." He grinned.
Huo Wu glared. "If you let go of me before speaking and if those wolfish claws of yours stopped wandering—I might actually believe you."
"It's merely a gesture of courtesy. Don't mind it." His smile was disarmingly innocent.
Had his hands not been very busy, one might've mistaken him for a gentleman.
"Oh?" Huo Wu's lips curled into a dangerous smile.
She didn't struggle. Instead, two small hands found his waist.
"If I said this was a misunderstanding, would you believe—Ouch!"
Xiao Tianyang words cut off as a sharp pain flared at his side.
Huo Wu's fingers twisted mercilessly.
"This is my courtesy. Understood?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Xiao Tianyang's expression darkened.
'Fine. If you wants to play like this…'
Without warning, he dipped his head and kissed her.
Huo Wu froze.
Her mind went utterly blank.
…
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