Chapter 719

"You're a kid... Don't use those two lumps of flesh on your chest to press down on me, charging at someone with the ball is a foul!"

Lunar New Year Special (Final)

Murong Wu and Si Huaruo walked slowly with apprehension, glancing back every now and then to see if Murong Qing had caught up, but to no avail.

"Actually, there's no point in us doing this. Whether your sister wins or that guy wins, it will be announced to the whole audience anyway," Si Huaruo sighed.

Murong Wu said, "But... but it's also possible that they didn't decide a winner and it turned into a chase."

"What you're saying isn't entirely unreasonable..."

The two fell silent, then the Narrator-kun announced.

"Announcement: Contestant Yu Shuying has withdrawn from the competition."

Not long after, another announcement came through.

"Announcement: Contestant Hongdou has withdrawn from the competition."

Murong Wu exclaimed in shock, "Huh? Sister Hongdou's cultivation is so strong, yet she was eliminated!"

Si Huaruo pondered, "The announcement didn't say 'elimination,' but rather 'withdrawal.' There must be some other reason."

Before the two could process the news, two more announcements followed in quick succession.

"Announcement: Contestant Murong Qing has been eliminated."

"Announcement: Contestant Si Jingyu has been eliminated."

The two were taken aback at first, then quickly checked the number plates they were carrying and found that they had indeed collected all four stamps.

"We clearly agreed not to die together, but in the end..."

Si Huaruo sighed with regret, but she had plenty of experience in persevering through setbacks. She quickly patted her cheeks, rallied her spirits, and encouraged the dejected Murong Wu, "Your sister sacrificed herself for us. If we keep dawdling here and let others overtake us, wouldn't we be letting her down? How will you face her in the afterlife?"

"I understand... Um, my sister just lost the match, she didn't die," Murong Wu protested softly.

"Haha, I accidentally thought of the plays I did in the past, and I got into character. Anyway, that's the gist of it—we need to work even harder."

The two hurried towards the finish line. With only three kilometers left, Murong Wu suddenly sensed something, tugged at Si Huaruo's sleeve, and said, "Someone is chasing us."

Si Huaruo turned around to look. "There's no one there, you're mistaken... there really is someone!"

After scanning back and forth several times, he finally spotted Liu Qingqing. She used her Divine Arts combined with her lightness skill to quickly close the distance between them.

"Her method of concealing her presence is extremely skillful; it's truly remarkable that you discovered her," Si Huaruo praised.

Murong Wu smiled shyly and said, "I didn't sense Sister Qingqing's aura, but I sensed the aura of Gu poison on her body. She should be poisoned, but not very strongly—I don't know why, but I have a very keen sense for poison."

Lightness skill is Liu Qingqing's forte. Even when poisoned, her speed is no less than Si Huaruo's. Moreover, Si Huaruo now has someone with her. If the competition continues, she will eventually catch up with the two of them.

Si Huaruo thought for a moment, then said to Murong Wu, "I'll stay here to hold her off; you keep running forward."

Murong Wu shook his head without hesitation and said, "No, I'll stay. In the end, I'm the one who's holding Huaruo back. Don't worry about me, just run forward with all your might. That way, Qingqing won't be able to catch up with you."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I promised your sister I would take care of you, how could I go back on my word here?"

"The care you mentioned, sister, doesn't mean guaranteeing me to the finish line. Sister Huaruo, you've already done more than enough. Besides, you've said that some things are more important than winning or losing. Thank you for teaching me this."

Murong Wu released his grip and stopped walking.

Si Huaruo didn't rebuke the other party for being arrogant. Instead, she looked into Murong Wu's eyes and asked, "Have you truly come to your senses, or are you just deliberately trying to show off?"

Murong Wu met his gaze without flinching, clenching his fist, and said, "If I do nothing, I'll truly become a useless piece of trash who only needs to be taken care of by others. Even if I reach the finish line, all I'll gain is shame—I want to become a responsible man. Compared to mere victory, I believe this is the result my sister hopes I will achieve."

"Haha, well said! I almost forgot you're a boy too. I really like that competitive spirit of yours," Si Huaruo reached out and patted his head, then gave him a thumbs up. "Then I'm entrusting my safety to you."

"Well, although my cultivation level is average, I still have one chance to ask for help from outside the arena. One minute should be enough."

Murong Wu bid farewell to Si Huaruo, then addressed the air, "Narrator-kun, I need to ask my father Murong Zhe, for help."

In an instant, light descended, and what appeared before Murong Wu was the figure he had longed for day and night, exactly as he remembered: impeccably dressed, with a straight and upright back, a meticulous face, and eyes as firm as a rock.

"Father..." Murong Wu's eyes welled up with tears.

"Why are you crying? Don't act like a little girl. Didn't you say something very manly just now?"

Murong Zhe reached out and patted his son's head, encouraging him, "A true man knows what to do and what not to do. You did the right thing, and your father is proud of you."

"Yes, it's because Father and Sister taught you so well," Murong Wu choked, blinking hard to stop himself from crying, "My sister and I miss you so much."

"Hold onto this love and move forward with all your might. Your father will only be there to push you forward, so don't look back."

Murong Zhe shoved Murong Wu, then turned and ran towards Liu Qingqing without looking back.

"Father, you're still as heartless as ever... but now I understand, this is what you expect of me and my sister, so I will never let you down!"

Murong Wu wiped away his tears and quickly followed his Si Huaruo, towards the finish line.

Murong Zhe moved like an arrow released from a bow, rushing towards Liu Qingqing. When they were less than ten meters apart, he reached out with his five fingers forming claws, ready to capture her in one fell swoop.

Suddenly, a sharp light slashed through the air, forcing him to turn and dodge.

"Sorry, this is also a father."

Ripples spread through the air, and a man silently appeared, holding a short blade. He had a sinister air about him, and his appearance bore a striking resemblance to Liu Qingqing.

A charming smile appeared on his lips. His figure moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, dozens of afterimages shot out, like moths fluttering about. Each strike aimed directly at a vital point, clearly the style of an assassin.