No one could say how many times the two clashed, but Yu Tianxin was already covered in wounds, breathing out more than he drew in.
Only then did Thunder Academy's coach, seeing how dire the situation was, finally call out the words: "We concede."
With the captain's defeat, Thunder Academy's overall loss was sealed.
Crimson Rose Academy won decisively—another miracle added to their run.
"Li Changsheng!"
Someone blocked Crimson Rose's path as they were heading back.
Xiao Wu frowned. "Again? Why does someone always jump out to stop us?"
This time it wasn't Huo Wu. It was the man who used to come by with an easy grin to strike up conversations—the Godwind Academy captain, Feng Xiaotian.
Li Chang'an patted Xiao Wu's shoulder and stepped out ahead of the group. Facing men was always simpler than facing Huo Wu. "What is it?"
At the start of the qualifiers, Feng Xiaotian often wandered by Crimson Rose's side of the grounds. But ever since the day Huo Wu kissed Li Chang'an, he'd never appeared again.
Clearly, the man had been stung.
Feng Xiaotian took a deep breath, forcing down the emotions threatening to burst free. "The draw just finished. Tomorrow, we'll be opponents."
"Oh?"
Li Chang'an regarded him with a hint of playfulness.
Feng Xiaotian met his gaze head-on, all traces of the old, joking air gone.
"Li Changsheng, you just fought Thunder today. I don't want to take advantage. Tomorrow, I will go out first. I want you to go first as well. Let's decide the top seed of the advancement round between us. If I lose, Godwind Academy will concede the match."
The always-smiling Feng Xiaotian looked deadly serious now—his presence even carried a faint, oppressive weight.
All eyes from Crimson Rose turned to Li Chang'an. No one spoke.
"I'm sorry. I can't speak for my teammates," Li Chang'an said, waving a hand.
What he didn't say was simple: if he went first, there might not be a "match" left for the others.
"Li Changsheng, you coward! Don't you dare fight me straight up?" Feng Xiaotian snapped. He was riled, desperate to teach Li Chang'an a lesson—to prove to Huo Wu what a real man looked like.
"Since he says it like that, I think you should accept," Zhu Zhuqing said suddenly. Her tone toward outsiders was still cool and aloof.
Her man was no coward.
"Fine. I accept. Tomorrow—one bout to decide it," Li Chang'an nodded, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing and then at the rest of the girls, whose looks were anything but gentle.
"Whoever loses, stays away from Huo Wu. Forever," Feng Xiaotian added, eyes locked on Li Chang'an.
"Heh. Deal," Li Chang'an replied. He'd been thinking how to bring this up anyway; Feng's add-on solved it neatly.
Feng Xiaotian left, determined and unyielding. His retreating back looked both dashing and desolate,
"—Tch, ow, ow! Easy, easy, Zhuqing…"
While he was waxing sentimental, pain stabbed his waist—Zhu Zhuqing's pale hand pinching hard at his side.
"Hmph. So you really have been thinking about that Huo Wu," she said, frosty and pitiless—tightening her grip.
…
That night, Li Chang'an lay on his bed rubbing the spot where his girls had pinched him earlier, sighing helplessly. Yet another lonely night, it seemed.
Then a cool, supple body slid silently beneath his covers—so silently it left no shadow at all.
Among his girls, the only one who could do that at present was Zhu Zhuqing, wielder of the Midnight Shadow Cat martial soul.
"Does it still hurt?" Zhu Zhuqing nestled into his arms, her slender hand gently kneading the spot she'd pinched earlier. Her touch was cool—silky and soft—strangely soothing.
"It's fine now. Why did you come?" Li Chang'an rolled over, gathered her into his arms, and hugged her tight.
Her slipping in like this, alone in the middle of the night, genuinely surprised him.
"It's nothing. I just thought these two days have been hard on you," Zhu Zhuqing murmured—few words, but laced with quiet care.
In truth, she had calculated that Hu Liena and the others would be angry today and ignore him tonight. So she used her innate stealth to slip over in secret.
Otherwise, with her temperament, she wouldn't have come. That was Zhu Zhuqing: she loved Li Chang'an, but her cold pride ran deep.
"So how are you planning to 'care' for me?" Li Chang'an teased, hand wandering lightly across her waist.
Her cheeks flushed scarlet. Even so, her smooth white arms circled his neck, and she leaned up to kiss him…
At the other end of the quilt, a pair of soft, jade-white feet wriggled in hesitation; a moment later, a larger foot pressed gently over them. The smaller feet went stiff—whether tensed or relaxing, who could say…
—
The thirteenth round of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament was about to begin.
For most academies, the standings were already set. Their final matches would be about keeping key members healthy for the finals.
But three academies still stood on a knife's edge: Shrek Academy and Godwind Academy, each on eleven straight wins, and Crimson Rose Academy, still undefeated.
Each academy would play fourteen rounds. Godwind's last-round opponent was weak—victory was almost guaranteed. Crimson Rose's final opponent was all but certain to be Shrek.
In other words, the top three were already clear: Crimson Rose, Godwind, Shrek. Only the order remained undecided.
For now, first place still belonged to Li Chang'an's team.
The day's first six matches had ended. As the headliner, Crimson Rose vs. Godwind was slated last.
In Godwind's rest area, the team lined up shoulder to shoulder. Feng Xiaotian stood before them.
"Brothers—do you trust me?" he asked in a low voice.
....
T/N: yo guys where is the support for the new fic. It's already there look.