Chapter 32 – Sharpening Fangs, Quiet Bonds
The sun had barely risen when the courtyard of the academy's training grounds echoed with the sound of movement.
Dugu Chen stood at the center, hands behind his back, while his teammates lined up in a loose formation.
"Again," his voice was calm, but firm. "Formation two. Yanyan, control the left flank this time. Osler, don't rush your release—count three beats before you strike. Lingling, keep your distance but stay in range for rapid heals."
Yanyan groaned, tossing her braid over her shoulder.
"You sound just like Grandpa," she muttered, but her lips twitched into a grin as she moved into position.
"Then maybe you should listen," Chen replied dryly, earning a small snort from Osler and even the ghost of a smile from Ye Lingling, who rarely let her emotions show.
The drill began. Yanyan darted forward, poison mist blooming low to the ground to corral the imaginary opponents. Osler followed, his earth-based shield slamming into position as a wall to funnel their "targets" into a choke point. From the rear, Chen observed, his sharp gaze missing nothing.
"Timing!" Chen called.
Osler hesitated, then slammed his palm down. The ground shifted subtly, tripping up the illusory enemies Yanyan's poison had trapped.
"Good," Chen said, his tone neutral, but Yanyan caught the faint nod of approval and smirked in triumph.
The drill repeated for nearly an hour, sweat soaking their uniforms and breath coming in gasps. When they finally collapsed under the shade of a nearby tree, Yanyan groaned dramatically.
"You're a demon, Brother Chen. Worse than Grandpa when he trains us."
"You'll thank me in the arena," Chen said evenly, though his lips quirked at her exaggerated misery.
Osler chuckled. "I don't mind the drills. We actually feel like a team now."
Lingling, quiet as ever, was drinking water. She hesitated, then said softly, "Our synchronization… has improved. A lot."
Yanyan's eyes widened, and then she grinned wickedly. "Did you just… compliment us, Lingling? Quick, someone write this down."
A faint pink dusted Lingling's pale cheeks, and she ducked her head. Even Chen allowed himself a quiet chuckle at the sight, though he said nothing. Moments like these—simple, unguarded—reminded him that bonds weren't forged just in combat but in the quiet spaces between.
---
By the time breakfast rolled around, the tension of the morning had faded. They crowded around one of the small tables in the dining hall, trading jokes and planning the rest of their day. Yanyan did most of the talking, dragging even the taciturn Lingling into the conversation with sheer force of will.
"Chen," Osler said between bites, "what do you think of our next match? Blaze Academy, right? Fire specialists."
Chen sipped his tea, his eyes thoughtful. "They're aggressive but predictable. Stay disciplined, keep distance, and force them to overextend. If we control the tempo, we win."
Yanyan leaned in with a grin. "And if we don't?"
"Then," Chen said, calm as ever, "you'll be the one getting roasted first."
Osler barked a laugh while Yanyan glared playfully, but the tension of the upcoming match felt lighter after that.
---
That night, after everyone had turned in, Chen sat alone by the window of his dorm. The faint moonlight cast long shadows across the room as he reviewed everything in his mind—opponent profiles, team synergy, hidden cards he couldn't afford to show yet. His Library of Heaven's Path ability whispered details about every weakness and strength he'd cataloged, but outwardly, he looked no different from any other twelve-year-old boy deep in thought.
From the small desk beside him, a folded letter lay unopened, sealed with a familiar mark. His grandfather's handwriting stared back at him.
> Stay low-key, Chen. The more you shine, the more eyes will find you—and not all of them will be kind. Protect your sister. And remember: we are Dugu, but we are still human. Even sharp fangs can be broken if you bite the wrong prey.
Chen exhaled slowly, tucking the letter away without opening it. He didn't need to read the words to know what they said. Grandpa worried—always would—but Chen wasn't reckless. Not yet.
In the arena, he would fight smart. Clean. Low-key. Until the day came when hiding was no longer an option.
Opening: Tournament Grounds
The morning sun blazed across the academy's massive arena, banners fluttering while students roared with excitement. The early rounds had been full of easy victories for the Poison Valley team — now the true challenge began.
Second Round — Tactical Dominance
The second-round opponents, a mid-ranked academy from the outskirts, expected an easy match. They had no idea what awaited them.
Chen stood calmly at the center of the field, hands folded behind his back, while Yanyan smirked confidently at his side. Lingling's eyes were calm but alert, ready to deploy her Nine-Hearted Begonia to heal at a moment's notice.
"Don't overdo it," Chen murmured to Yanyan. "We win fast, clean, and without showing too much."
The match began with a flash of spirit energy. Their opponents charged — only to be caught in Chen's second-ring poison field, a subtle, nearly invisible haze that weakened their stamina without them realizing.
Within five minutes, it was over.
"Winner, Poison Valley Academy!" the referee called, to the stunned silence of the crowd.
The whispers began: "Who are these kids?"
Chen ignored them. This was just the beginning.
Semi-Final — A Real Test
By the time of the semi-final, word had spread. The arena was packed, and every eye watched the Poison Valley team.
Their opponents this time were sharp — the Iron Blood Academy, known for brute strength and relentless assault tactics.
As soon as the battle started, the opponents rushed aggressively, forcing the team onto the defensive. Yanyan dodged narrowly, her serpent spirit lashing out in counterattacks.
"Focus the healer!" their captain barked, charging toward Lingling.
Chen's eyes narrowed. They've studied us.
He snapped his fingers — and the battlefield shifted.
Using his third-ring ability, spatial movement combined with shadow, he repositioned himself between Lingling and the attackers, poison swirling around him like a shield.
But the enemy captain's brute force broke through. Yanyan lunged, intercepting with her own attack — and with Chen's guidance, they executed a perfect pincer. The enemy captain went down, stunned.
"Winner, Poison Valley Academy!" the referee shouted, this time over deafening cheers.
Up in the VIP stands, a cloaked figure — Qian Renxue in disguise — tilted her head thoughtfully. "Such precise control… and those martial souls. Dangerous. Very dangerous."
Final — The Close Call
The finals were against Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's secondary team, a well-balanced and highly trained squad.
From the opening bell, the battle was chaos.
Their opponents targeted Lingling immediately, aiming to cripple Poison Valley's support. Chen countered with precise, controlled movements, teleporting short distances to intercept attacks while maintaining the poison field to chip away at their stamina.
Then, disaster.
A coordinated strike bypassed Chen's defense, hitting Lingling hard. She staggered, nearly collapsing. Panic flared in the crowd.
No more holding back.
Chen's aura flared, his fourth-ring skill activating. Water surged from the ground, mixed with his lethal poison — transforming into acidic torrents that hissed and steamed as they carved through the arena.
The enemy froze in shock.
The attack didn't kill — Chen held back, controlling every drop — but it forced their opponents into a full retreat, breaking their formation. Yanyan capitalized instantly, her serpent fangs striking true.
The tide turned.
Moments later, the referee raised his hand. "Winner… Poison Valley Academy!"
The crowd erupted. Some cheered. Others watched in stunned silence.
Aftermath — Victory and Foreshadowing
In the locker room, the team collapsed in a heap, exhausted but ecstatic.
"We… we won," Yanyan said, her grin wide. "We actually won."
Lingling smiled softly. "Thanks to Chen."
Chen shook his head. "Thanks to all of us. Remember that."
Outside, whispers filled the stands. Some spoke of the mysterious poison prodigy. Others of the terrifying girl with the Nine-Hearted Begonia.
And in the shadows, Qian Renxue smiled faintly beneath her mask. "Too dangerous to touch… for now. But one day, they'll stand in Spirit Hall's path. And I'll be ready."
The Poison Valley team left the arena as champions, their names etched into the academy's history. But for Chen, this was just another step — a quiet promise that when the true battles came, he would be ready.