The second round of the Grand Sect Tournament moved to the Arena of Echoes—a vast coliseum where individual and small-group duels determined advancement. Ling Qinghe's team had advanced easily, but now the matchups were getting personal.
Ling Qinghe stood on the preparation platform, snow-white hair tied loosely with the ribbon Ye Tianlan had given him. Ninebro paced anxiously at his feet, tails flicking.
System: Round 2: Mixed Tag Battles. You've been paired with random allies against coordinated rivals. Try not to get targeted for your "distracting beauty," Host. Romance flags are waving like crazy.
Gu Xichen appeared first, adjusting Ling Qinghe's collar with surprising care. "Stay near me. Your qi is still fragile."
Huo Yan sauntered over and slung an arm around his shoulders, warm and solid. "Relax, Ice Face. I've got the offense covered. Snowhair just needs to look pretty and cheer us on."
Ye Tianlan offered a gentle smile and slipped a protective talisman into Ling Qinghe's sleeve, his fingers brushing the inside of Ling Qinghe's wrist. "Use this if needed. Your safety matters more than points."
Before Ling Qinghe could tease them about acting like worried mothers, Mo Xuan's voice cut through the noise. The disguised Demon Lord leaned against a nearby pillar, crimson-streaked hair catching the light like fresh blood. "How touching. Four wolves guarding one little lamb."
He stepped closer, ignoring the glares, and tucked a small black jade pendant around Ling Qinghe's neck. It pulsed with hidden power. "A little shadow charm. For when your righteous friends are… occupied."
Ling Qinghe touched the pendant, feeling a strange warmth. "Dark Bro, you're spoiling me too. What's the catch?"
Mo Xuan's sharp eyes softened with dangerous affection. "No catch. Yet." He leaned in, voice low. "You make this boring tournament interesting, Qinghe. I find myself… invested."
Ninebro immediately demanded more pets from the newcomer, betraying the group again.
The first tag battle began. Ling Qinghe was paired with Gu Xichen against two aggressive disciples from a rival sect. Huo Yan and Ye Tianlan fought nearby, while Mo Xuan watched from the stands with predatory interest.
The rivals targeted Ling Qinghe immediately, sensing weakness.
"Pretty boy's the weak link!" one sneered, launching a barrage of wind blades.
Gu Xichen moved like lightning, freezing the attacks mid-air. "He is not weak," the ice prince growled, voice colder than ever. In a rare show of emotion, he pulled Ling Qinghe flush against his chest for a moment, shielding him completely while counterattacking with devastating ice spikes.
Ling Qinghe's face heated up against the cool fabric of Gu Xichen's robes. "Big Shot Bro… this is very close-range."
Gu Xichen didn't let go immediately. "Necessary," he muttered, ears faintly red.
Huo Yan, in the adjacent ring, noticed and roared with laughter even as he blasted his opponents. "Save some for the rest of us, Ice Prince!"
Ye Tianlan's sword flashed beautifully as he dispatched his foes, his eyes drifting repeatedly to Ling Qinghe with quiet concern and warmth.
Mo Xuan, watching from above, chuckled darkly. When a stray attack flew toward Ling Qinghe's blind spot, a subtle shadow tendril deflected it harmlessly. No one else noticed.
During the break between rounds, the group gathered around Ling Qinghe again. Huo Yan wiped a smudge of dust from his cheek with surprising gentleness. "You did good out there. Scared me for a second."
Ye Tianlan adjusted the ribbon in his hair, fingers lingering. "Your adaptability is impressive. Never doubt your worth here."
Mo Xuan appeared like smoke, offering a flask of rare spirit wine. "Drink. It'll strengthen your meridians… and taste like sin." His gaze was intense, almost hungry, as he watched Ling Qinghe take a sip.
Ling Qinghe felt his heart stutter under the combined attention of all four. "You guys are going to make me blush harder than a system notification. What's with the sudden upgrade in care level?"
Ninebro yipped smugly, as if saying I planned this.
System: All four affection meters climbing steadily. Mo Xuan's disguise straining due to protective instincts. Tournament favorites now include your group. Hidden plot point: A real threat from a rival sect elder is watching you closely.
In the final match of the day, Ling Qinghe faced a particularly tricky opponent—a sly illusionist who created fake versions of his four protectors to distract him.
The illusions taunted him: fake Gu Xichen calling him useless, fake Huo Yan mocking his low cultivation, etc. For a moment, doubt flickered.
Then real Gu Xichen shattered the illusions with ice. Real Huo Yan burned them away. Real Ye Tianlan sliced through with precise sword light. And real Mo Xuan appeared in a swirl of shadows, wrapping an arm around Ling Qinghe's waist from behind.
"None of those fakes could compare," Mo Xuan whispered against his ear, sending a pleasant shiver through him. "The real ones are already yours, little beauty."
With the combined power of the four, the illusionist was defeated quickly.
As they exited the arena amid roaring cheers, Ling Qinghe walked in the center of his growing circle of overprotective, increasingly smitten geniuses (plus one disguised Demon Lord).
End of Chapter 15