Huo Wu knew exactly how powerful her own attack was.
In her current condition, she couldn't possibly withstand it.
If that white orb struck her—there would be only one result: obliteration.
Fine. If she was going to die, then she'd drag him to hell with her.
With that thought, Huo Wu suddenly spread her arms wide and twisted around, wrapping herself tightly around Li Chang'an.
She even gave up the last trace of spirit power protecting her body.
She was certain—when that white orb pierced through her chest, it would still deliver a devastating blow to him.
Hatred surged in her heart as she clung to him, and in that moment of fury, she sank her teeth into his shoulder—hard.
She bit down with everything she had. When her jaw tightened, she could taste the warm metallic tang of blood.
So she really bit me… Li Chang'an glanced at his shoulder and smiled helplessly.
If he hadn't withdrawn his protective barrier in time, her perfect white teeth might've shattered instead.
But pulling back his defense came at a cost—she'd actually drawn blood.
Still, he decided she deserved a little lesson.
If this had been an ordinary Spirit Ancestor, that single attack would've left them half-dead.
Such recklessness was dangerous—and he needed to make sure she understood that.
"Fire Dance—!" Huo Wushuang's terrified shout rang out.
Every member of Blazing Academy cried out in panic, but they were too late to intervene.
Crimson Rose Academy, by contrast, was far calmer.
Even so, for appearance's sake, the girls let out alarmed cries and rushed toward the arena.
Flender and the others tensed as well, ready to dash forward.
Both sides moved at nearly the same time.
What they saw stopped them in their tracks.
Li Chang'an suddenly turned—shielding Huo Wu instead of hiding behind her.
He'd switched their positions in a flash, putting his body between her and the incoming light.
"There's no need for this," he said softly. "I used you as a shield only to see if you could withdraw your attack. Since you can't, why throw your life away for it?"
As he spoke, he gently pried her trembling hands from his back, murmuring almost to himself, "Truly… quite the handful."
Then the white orb struck.
Boom!
A blinding explosion erupted, swallowing both of them whole.
For effect, Li Chang'an didn't deflect the blast—he let the force slam into him head-on.
The shockwave blasted them both across the arena.
He even coughed up blood deliberately, letting it splatter across Huo Wu's shoulder.
As they plummeted toward the ground, Li Chang'an sighed inwardly.
'Fine. Might as well play the hero to the end.'
He twisted midair again, putting himself beneath her to absorb the full impact.
When they hit the ground, he took it all—the weight, the pain, the sound of cracking stone.
"Thud!"
They landed hard.
Li Chang'an spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor and lay motionless.
Both teams surged forward.
Opening his eyes slightly, Li Chang'an looked at the dazed Huo Wu and smiled faintly.
His face was pale, but that calm, composed aura never wavered.
"Still not done hugging me? You win."
Huo Wu blinked, her pupils refocusing.
She looked down—and only then realized her hands, clutching his arms, were soaked in red.
Blood.
His blood.
She could feel the pulsing energy within his body.
With a frame not much larger than hers, he had completely taken the blow for her.
She had suffered nothing more than a mild shock.
She won?
Had she really won?
A trace of bitter confusion flickered across her lips.
Her mind felt hazy; even she couldn't tell what she was feeling anymore.
"Little sister, are you all right?"
Huo Wushuang rushed to her side, holding her by the shoulders, eyes scanning her frantically.
"I'm fine," she murmured blankly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Wu had already knelt beside Li Chang'an, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cradled him.
Mu Xi's Martial Soul flared softly, channeling restorative energy into his body.
"You silly girl," Li Chang'an said weakly, trying—and failing—to lift his hand to pat her head.
"Don't cry. See? I'm still here."
The referee finally entered the ring, waving for the medical team.
As they rushed forward to tend to Li Chang'an, he announced the result of the match.
"Winner—Huo Wu!"
But before Crimson Rose's next fighter could even enter the arena, Huo Wu shook her head.
"I forfeit the remaining matches."
Whether because of exhaustion or emotion, she couldn't go on.
Her strength was spent—and her heart was too heavy to fight anymore.
As Li Chang'an was carried off, Huo Wu followed quietly, her face pale.
She couldn't rest until she knew he was safe.
"Is he really all right?" she asked anxiously in the tent.
The attending physician—a woman in her forties, elegant despite her age—smiled gently.
"My dear, that's the seventh time you've asked. Don't worry. He's fine—just minor external injuries."
She studied her patient curiously.
"Remarkable, though. His bones are intact, and his internal organs unharmed. His muscle elasticity is nearly ten times that of an average Spirit Master. I have no idea how he trained that body."
"He's only lost some blood and needs rest. A few days of recovery and he'll be walking again. But I'd strongly advise he stay out of the next few rounds. If those wounds reopen, it won't be pleasant."
"Thank you, Doctor," Xiao Wu said softly.
The physician smiled, packed her tools, and departed.
"Take good care of him."
Only after she left did Huo Wu finally relax a little.
Li Chang'an, of course, was pretending to be unconscious, breathing slow and steady.
"Miss Huo Wu," Xiao Wu said coldly once the doctor was gone, "you should go now."
"I…" Huo Wu hesitated, words failing her.
In the end, she bowed deeply to the group of beautiful girls surrounding the bed.
"I'm sorry. This was all my fault. When he wakes up… please tell him that."
Her voice trembled, her eyes reddening as she turned and walked out.
She knew that Li Chang'an had shown mercy—again and again.
Even using her as a shield at first had been justified.
After all, it was her own attack that had endangered him.
When your strike can kill, who still cares about chivalry or gender?
Self-preservation is only natural.
But he had chosen differently.
Instead of avoiding the blow, he'd taken it himself—just to protect her.
That realization hit her like a thunderclap.
She didn't hate him anymore. Not even a little.
Instead… she felt something else.
Something warm.
Something that hurt.
Something she couldn't quite name.
When she saw his blood spill, her heart had ached—an unfamiliar, sharp pain she didn't understand.
And somehow, she sensed that this man and she… were fated to be tangled together for a long, long time.
---
Meanwhile, back in the tent, after seeing Huo Wu off, Xiao Wu and the other girls exchanged glances.
Their expressions turned dark and cold in perfect unison.
They cracked their knuckles—sharp, crisp pops echoing through the room.
Then, as one, they glared down at the man lying "unconscious" on the bed and said in chorus:
"Speak. Are you trying to recruit that girl again?!"
Li Chang'an, eyes still closed, could almost feel the killing intent wash over him.
…This was going to be difficult to explain.