"Xu Sanshi, victory."
Neuvillette's voice rang out over the gradually noisy arena.
The entire Soul-Dueling Field instantly fell silent once more.
Everyone stared at Neuvillette in confusion.
Many even glanced at their companions in disbelief, wondering if they had heard wrong.
In the ring, Beibei swallowed hard.
Looking at Neuvillette's calm expression and the long staff resting lightly on the ground in his hand, Beibei suddenly remembered how this "Executioner" title had come to be.
Any other teacher might have missed the subtle collusion between him and little Rain Tong, but this man? He was the most outstanding graduate of the Inner Court in a thousand years, the Holy Son of the Sea God's Pavilion, a monster among monsters—how could he miss such a small trick?
Xu Sanshi was still smoking from the electric shocks, hair scorched black.
He glared at Beibei—defeated, but not convinced.
Then came Neuvillette's indifferent pronouncement.
I… won?
Huh?
Xu Sanshi pointed at himself, wide-eyed and dazed, a puff of black smoke escaping from his mouth.
Beibei gave a wry smile.
He was about to admit the truth—after all, he'd forgotten that this man's fairness was etched deep into his bones.
But the next moment—
A blunt, cutting voice rang from the stands, loud and clear in the quiet arena.
Tang Ya stood up, her beautiful face full of defiance.
"Obviously, our Beibei won! Why are you declaring Xu Sanshi the victor?"
"I suspect there's something shady going on!"
"Did Xu Sanshi give you an Xuan Shui Pill to make you rule in his favor?"
Beibei's heart gave a violent lurch.
He covered his face in pain.
It's over…
Soon, the Soul-Dueling Field was filled with people staring at Neuvillette in confusion.
It was obvious to anyone with eyes that Beibei had won. This sort of calling-a-deer-a-horse behavior made more than a few frown.
But, restrained by the power Neuvillette had displayed earlier, everyone waited quietly for his explanation.
Expression unchanged, Neuvillette's tall, slender figure stood unmoving at the center of the arena, meeting all those questioning gazes.
"Beibei—did you win on your own strength?"
Faced with Tang Ya's domineering challenge, his voice was calm, carrying clearly through the whole arena.
"Uh…"
Tang Ya's beautiful eyes contracted slightly. She looked a bit guilty.
"But—"
Neuvillette ignored her, turning instead to the girl beside her—Huo Yutong—who was bowing her head like an ostrich, trembling.
"Huo Yutong."
Neuvillette's tone was cool.
"Tell us—how did Beibei win?"
"Ah!"
At the sound of her name, Huo Yutong's whole body jolted. She looked up sharply, meeting Neuvillette's calm, water-like eyes.
Slowly, she stood—like a student punished to stand by a teacher after doing something wrong.
Her lips moved, and a faint fear rose in her heart.
Would His Highness the Holy Son think I'm just someone who cheats?
Who would like a person who only takes shortcuts?
Countless eyes turned toward her—several thousand people, all curious about this delicate-looking, gentle girl.
Tang Ya's pretty face was full of anxiety.
She kept making signals and mouthing words to Huo Yutong.
Don't say it—he has no proof!
Wang Dong opened her mouth but didn't know what to do.
She knew Beibei had won with Huo Yutong's help—mental interference. As a classmate and friend, she'd experienced it herself.
She wanted to urge Huo Yutong to tell the truth, but Tang Ya's insistent signals kept the words in her throat.
"I… I used a soul skill to help Senior Brother Beibei… mental sharing…"
Her voice was tiny, tinged with a faint sob.
Not loud—but in the silence of the arena, every ear caught it.
Many faces showed shock.
"Who is she? She could secretly influence a duel between two Soul Elders without anyone noticing?"
"Think she's called Huo Yutong—first year, in that old witch Zhou Yi's class…"
"Martial soul is… eyes? A pretty rare body-type martial soul. Twenty-second rank? Her talent's average though."
"But Senior Brother Beibei really did win with her help?"
"This teacher's amazing—he could catch something so subtle. If he hadn't pointed it out, I'd have never noticed."
"I'm sorry, Senior Sister Xiaoya…"
Huo Yutong kept her head down, not daring to meet Tang Ya's gaze.
The noise in the arena gradually swelled.
Tang Ya looked at Huo Yutong with a bitter face, full of grievance.
But with her usual big-hearted personality, she didn't truly blame her little junior sister—just sighed helplessly.
Buzz!
Expressionless, Neuvilette tapped the tip of his staff to the ground.
A pale-blue ripple spread out again, covering the entire arena.
"Silence!"
The crowd fell still once more.
All eyes turned to Neuvilette, waiting to see how he would deal with cheating in the Soul-Dueling Field.
"Beibei—five points deducted from your dueling score, and you are banned from competing for one month."
"I accept the punishment."
Beibei breathed a sigh of relief and made a hand signal toward Tang Ya, afraid this little ancestor would stir up trouble again.
For him, this wasn't much—a scratch at most.
And with his real strength, the lost points could be regained easily.
"Huo Yutong—same punishment as Beibei."
Neuvillette's eyes were calm as he glanced at the girl with her head bowed, looking despondent. The corner of his mouth curved in a smile.
Not bad. Good character. Truly a daughter of destiny.
A piece of blank paper—one I can still shape.
Xu Sanshi, meanwhile, was grinning stupidly.
He looked smugly at Beibei.
Serves you right for cheating!
He also looked toward Neuvilette with admiration.
Worthy of the title "Enforcer"—he even goes after his people. Xu had thought he'd protect Beibei.
When the crowd had dispersed—
On the road, Tang Ya lightly kicked at a stone, her mouth pouting.
"Beibei, didn't you say he doesn't know us? Then why wouldn't he give us face over something so small—and instead make a big scene exposing it?"
Huo Yutong trailed behind with her head drooping.
"Don't say that, my little ancestor," Beibei said with a wry smile.
"In front of him, what face could I possibly have?"
"In the Inner Court, even Elder Xuan was judged by him. Elder Xuan was so angry he blew out his beard and glared—but in the end, even he could only obediently accept Neuvilette's ruling."
"You're telling me—he doesn't even give Elder Xuan, an Elder of the Sea God's Pavilion, any face. What do you think I'd dare say to him?"
"Elder Xuan?!!"
Tang Ya's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief at Beibei's words.
"That's right, my little ancestor. So today's verdict was probably already merciful—on account of little Rain Tong."
Beibei's smile was bitter.
"Otherwise, outright expulsion wouldn't have been impossible."
"You know… he has that authority."