Light and Shadow

In fact, if Nie Wanzhi were more proactive and didn't have that aloof expression, it wouldn't be difficult for her to integrate into the group. Everyone would be willing to accept her, since they are all classmates and naturally closer than others. Rumors are rumors, but the truth is what you have to see for yourself.

The five shared their excitement about entering university and commented on the restaurant's cooking skills. They unanimously agreed that it was far inferior to Lu Mao's and even less so than Si Ming and Murong Qing's, but it was much better than the school cafeteria. So they decided to buy ingredients together and cook in the student dormitory.

Si Ming felt that doing so was too conspicuous, especially for him. He was mingling among four beautiful girls, one of whom was a popular figure. He was already very eye-catching just eating off-campus. If he did this in the busy student dormitory, he would probably be regarded as a major enemy by the "Burning Burning Burning Cult," and his future situation would be worrying.

Just then, Nie Wanzhi walked into the shop. She looked around, and when she saw Murong Qing, her eyes flashed with a golden light. She rushed over aggressively, stood beside the table, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Finally found you, Murong Qing!"

Si Ming slapped his forehead and said, "I almost forgot to ask you, what grudge do you have against her? During the opening ceremony, she said she didn't like you, and later she got into a fight with someone because of it."

As a result, Murong Qing looked blank and thoughtful. After a while, she gave up and asked, "Excuse me... who are you?"

Nie Wanzhi immediately bristled, her face turning bright red with embarrassment and anger. "It's me! It's me! Have you forgotten me?"

Murong Qing replied truthfully, "I'm sorry, I really can't remember. May I ask your name? Have we met before?"

"We've never met before, but we could have met at the National Martial Dao League," Nie Wanzhi said indignantly. "But you inexplicably forfeited, and I advanced without a fight."

Yu Shuying laughed and said, "Isn't that great? We're giving you a free victory. Why are you acting like you're the one who forfeited?"

"But I don't want this kind of victory! I was fully prepared to fight you fair and square in the ring, and I was even mentally prepared to lose... I have to admit that I'm still a step behind you in terms of strength. In a real duel, my chances of winning would probably be less than 40%. But I'd rather lose than have this kind of inexplicable victory. Do you know what people are saying about me? They all think I used underhanded tactics to prevent you from competing. Everyone is calling me despicable and treacherous. Even my fellow disciples doubt me, even though I didn't do anything!"

Murong Qing withdrew from the competition to save Si Ming, which was ultimately her personal action and had nothing to do with anyone else, nor did it harm anyone's interests. However, she still apologized. "I'm sorry, it was my oversight. I didn't consider your position. I should have explained the situation before leaving, so as not to cause any misunderstanding."

Nie Wanzhi said firmly, "I don't want your apology, I just want you to fight me fair and square again!"

Chapter 423 Light and Shadow

Faced with Nie Wanzhi's challenge, Murong Qing considered for a moment and then said, "I can, but I hope it will be some time later."

"Why?"

Nie Wanzhi was a little impatient. She had specifically applied to Linked Mountains University for this battle. Otherwise, based on her status as the national runner-up, she could have been specially admitted to Heavenly Black Imperial Yellow. After all, in terms of martial arts achievements, these two universities were more prestigious.

"We're currently in the eye of the storm. Once people find out that we've fought, many idle people will probably start spreading rumors and making baseless accusations."

Both are prominent figures at the university, second only to the queen of pop Yuezheng Yao. If news of their impending fight were to spread, it would likely steal the spotlight from Yuezheng Yao's lectures, attracting immense attention. This would put tremendous pressure on the losing side, who might become the talk of the students for an entire semester.

Especially those freshmen who were humiliated by Nie Wanzhi, they might come to cheer for Murong Qing with resentment and Curse Nie Wanzhi to lose. If Nie Wanzhi really loses, these people will definitely exaggerate and spread the news everywhere, making this battle a psychological shadow for Nie Wanzhi.

What was originally a minor grudge that could be easily resolved has, fueled by public opinion, become a lifelong feud. Murong Qing has heard many such stories from her elders. Often, the enmity between two martial artists originates from an insignificant conflict, but because they fail to find the right way to resolve it, they remain resentful and somehow escalate into a deadly situation.

Nie Wanzhi didn't think so much and insisted, "I don't care what others think. We martial artists only need to be true to ourselves, not to others. Let those idle gossips talk—they can only talk."

Yu Shuying scoffed and said, "The logic is correct, but you seem to have failed to execute it. Although on the surface... well, on the surface you're not exactly calm, and your mind is in complete turmoil, in this state, are you trying to prove that you could have advanced even if your opponent hadn't forfeited, or are you trying to prove that your advancement was all luck, and that your true ranking is actually only in the top four?"

"No, no... I'm sure I can adjust my mindset before the competition, you don't need to worry about me. You should focus on your own friends."

Nie Wanzhi's face turned red with anger, but what the other party said was the truth, and she had no confidence to refute it. She also couldn't bring herself to lie through her teeth.

Yu Shuying glanced at Murong Qing and said, "She's not my friend. If you can defeat her, I'll cheer for you."

Nie Wanzhi was a little confused. They were clearly eating together, yet they claimed not to be friends and were even cheering on their rival. Was this relationship good or bad?

Even if there are conflicts, it's wrong to discuss them in front of the parties involved. Although I'm not good at communicating with people, I know this is extremely impolite. Are they some kind of so-called "bad friends"?

Murong Qing sighed and said, "You can't let go of your victory without a fight, and I also don't like facing an opponent who isn't at their best. It makes me feel like the victory is unfair. I hope this fight will take place when both sides are at their best, a fair and square duel, where there's no regret in the face of defeat."

The meaning was the same, but the way it was said had a completely different effect. Si Ming noticed that Yu Shuying pursed her lips, seemingly disdainful of Murong Qing's words.

Nie Wanzhi paused for a moment, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "But... but, I was the one who challenged you to a duel, yet you're giving me all this preferential treatment..."

"This isn't about showing favoritism to anyone; it's about the integrity of a martial artist! It's like you clearly won a victory, but you weren't satisfied with the simple result and chased after the enemy all the way to Linked Mountains University to prove yourself. To be honest, I greatly admire your spirit. I don't think I could have persisted like you in the same situation."

"I... I'm not as great as you make me out to be. People often say I'm too stubborn," Nie Wanzhi said, somewhat touched.

Hey, class monitor, shut up! If you keep going, the other side probably won't want to fight anymore and will just give up!

Of course, it's not incomprehensible. Compared to being ostracized by her classmates this morning, Murong Qing's words now are like a bonfire on a winter night, radiating light and heat, warming her body and driving away the darkness.

Si Ming thought that if the favorability rating could be displayed, Nie Wanzhi's favorability rating would definitely be skyrocketing right now. But the object of her affections wasn't him, the only man present, but his close Beauty friend. Wasn't this considered stealing someone else's girlfriend?

If it's about poaching someone's partner, who's poaching whose partner?

Murong Qing concluded, "We've just arrived in a new environment and haven't adapted yet, so our condition is inevitably not ideal. We'll need time to adjust. You wouldn't want me to perform at my best in our battle, would you?"

Nie Wanzhi nodded vigorously. "Of course, I hope we can both give it our all and fight fair and square, leaving no regrets... You make a good point, so let's postpone the battle for now. We can arrange a time privately once we've both adjusted. No outsiders need to know, and I don't like being made Monkey of myself."

Then she left, completely satisfied.

Yu Shuying watched her retreating figure and said, "Even without Mind-Reading Technique, I can guess what she's thinking right now: 'That guy is so handsome,' 'No wonder he's the rival I've chosen,' and things like that."

Then, turning to Murong Qing, he sneered, "What a clever tactic. You've dismantled your opponent's hostility with just a few words, turning someone who could have been an enemy into a friend."

Murong Qing, "I didn't say those things with such a snobbish mindset, but you're right about one thing: there's no need to be enemies if you can be friends. If you can turn enemies into friends, why not?"

Yu Shuying clicked her tongue but didn't say anything more, because she knew this wasn't hypocrisy, but Murong Qing's true thoughts— True Lord, not a hypocrite. That's what annoyed her even more. She changed the subject and said to Si Ming, "The Green Snake Gang's influence has extended to Linked Mountains City, causing conflict with the local bullies. We've set up a duel for tonight. Hualiu was called home by you, so you have to come help me."

Because Yao Bilian didn't want outsiders to live in the orphanage, and even less did she want to be watched by a group of bodyguards every day, Si Ming had no choice but to send Hualiu home to guard it. As a member of the Monster Race, as long as Hualiu released its Otherworld Domain, it could turn the orphanage into a haunted house, just like the old school building that Si Huaruo visited that night.

The Monster Race in this Otherworld Domain possesses superhuman regenerative abilities. Without prior knowledge and the use of Divine Arts to break free, even martial arts masters of the same level would be trapped within them.

However, this left Yu Shuying without any skilled fighters by her side. Since Si Ming had broken his promise first, he could only promise, "Leave it to me. We'll agree on a location and be there on time."

"The Green Snake Gang rose too quickly, its Foundation is unstable, and it hasn't had time to digest the territories it has taken over. Therefore, it can only develop along the way and cannot afford to decline, otherwise it will easily collapse. After all, there are many forces secretly watching, and I have defeated countless criminals, making many enemies. I plan to stop expanding after taking over Linked Mountains City, first to manage the existing territories, to consolidate my position, and eliminate hidden dangers. But many things in the world often go wrong at the last minute. For example, soldiers who think 'I'll quit the army after this battle' often die in battle, and people who think 'I'll retire from the underworld tomorrow' often become the target of revenge killings. I don't want to make the same mistake."

Si Ming chuckled and said, "There's a law like this in many works, and there's also a saying in reality: when you feel something bad is likely to happen, it definitely will. So you need to be careful about your safety. If they take the risk and choose to catch the ringleader, your life probably won't be peaceful."

Yu Shuying said, "That's why I chose to live on campus. As long as I'm within the school grounds, I'm safe. No matter which gang it is, they wouldn't dare to commit violence on Linked Mountains University unless they're determined to die together with their enemies. Besides, I'm not without ways to protect myself. If they dare to come, I can make sure they don't leave."