A Sleepless Night
Dugu Yan's lips twitched. She turned her head, leaned close to Tang San's ear, and whispered, "Was it good? How about I dance for you tonight?"
Tang San's eyes lit up immediately, even brighter than when he watched Shui Bing'er dance.
He nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement. "Yes, yes... really?"
Dugu Yan was amused by his impatient manner and chuckled.
She turned her head and looked at Xiao Wu beside her, asking, "Together?"
Xiao Wu glanced at Tang San and saw that he was also looking at her expectantly. She nodded shyly.
Ye Lingling sat quietly next to Dugu Yan, blushing with embarrassment at their bold interactions.
She turned her gaze to the other side, pretending she hadn't heard anything.
The competition continued, but Tang San's mind was no longer on the Soul Fighting Arena; all he could think about was the dance performance that evening.
He leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and a wide smile that he couldn't suppress.
At this moment, a golden-red figure walked straight towards them; it could only be Huo Wu.
Huo Wu walked up to Tang San and stopped. "Tang San, get up."
Her voice carried an undeniable firmness.
Tang San was lost in his wonderful imagination about the evening's dance performance when his thoughts were interrupted, and he frowned slightly.
He looked up at Huo Wu's slightly reddened eyes, feeling a little puzzled, but still stood up.
Tang San was a head taller than Huo Wu, looking down at Huo Wu from his superior position.
He said impatiently, "What is it now? Are you ever going to stop?"
Huo Wu took a deep breath, as if she had made a very difficult decision.
Her lips trembled slightly, her eyes were tightly closed, and she tiptoed closer to Tang San's cheek.
Tang San's body stiffened abruptly, his mind went blank for only a fraction of a second, before he quickly regained his senses.
He reached out and placed his hand between Huo Wu's lips and his cheek, blocking her attempt to take advantage of him.
Tang San said firmly, "Stop, stop. If it's because of losing the competition, there's absolutely no need for that. I'm not that kind of person. Don't always try to take advantage of me."
Huo Wu's lips touched Tang San's palm, and her body froze.
But Tang San's next words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head, extinguishing most of the courage she had finally mustered.
Huo Wu's confidence seemed to have suffered an unprecedented blow, both in terms of strength and her self-esteem as a woman.
Her eyes gradually dimmed, her shoulders trembled slightly, and her eyes reddened.
Then, she turned around, lowered her head, and walked away with hurried and flustered steps, as if she were fleeing something.
Tang San watched Huo Wu's figure disappear, shook his head, sat back in his chair, and continued to cross his legs, thinking about the dance that evening.
Dugu Yan reached out and pinched his waist, teasingly saying, "How could you treat him like this? That's too cruel!"
Tang San spread his hands, looking completely innocent, and said, "I didn't provoke her. She's just too arrogant. Besides, a little setback will be good for her future."
Dugu Yan smiled but didn't say anything more.
The match was nearing its end, and the spectators in the stands began to leave one after another.
Tang San also stood up, stretched, and waved to Dugu Yan and the other two. "Let's go."
The four walked out of the Great Soul Arena side by side.
Upon arriving at the familiar hotel, Dugu Yan rushed to the front desk and booked only one room.
Tang San couldn't help but smile, overjoyed: He could take on seven opponents during the day and three at night; the advantage was still in his hands.
But he remained outwardly calm, pretending not to know anything.
After completing the formalities, Dugu Yan turned around, glanced at Tang San, and her eyes held a hint of provocation and anticipation.
The four arrived at the door, and Tang San opened the door and went into the room.
Ye Lingling stood at the door, hesitant, but the next moment she was pulled inside by Dugu Yan.
The door closed, and soon after, the soft, coquettish voices of several people could be heard from inside.
This night was destined to be sleepless.
The next day, their opponent was Skywater Academy.
In the Shrek Team's rest room, everyone sat together and began their pre-match discussion.
Qin Ming stood in the center, introducing the information about the Skywater Academy: "Shui Bing'er, Level 43 Control-type Battle Soul Ancestor, Martial Soul Ice Phoenix. Xue Wu, Level 42 Support-type Battle Soul Ancestor, Martial Soul: Snowflake. Yu Hairou, Level 41 Battle Soul Ancestor..."
Tang San sat up straight, his gaze sweeping over his teammates, his eyes shining brightly, his eagerness undisguised.
He was about to volunteer when Dugu Yan spoke first.
"Third Brother, do you want to go up on stage and watch them dance up close?" Dugu Yan glanced at Tang San. "You have to rest this time."
Tang San's lips twitched. Was I being that obvious?
A blush rose on Dugu Yan's face as she continued, "Besides, you fought against many opponents yesterday, which was very taxing. You need time to rest."
The other team members thought that when Dugu Yan said "one against many," she meant yesterday's Soul Fighting against the Blazing Fire Academy, where Tang San fought seven people by himself.
Only Tang San knew that when she said "one against many," she meant the dance performance last night.
However, to be honest, the energy expenditure of that "battle" was much greater than that of fighting seven opponents at once.
Tang San was speechless, leaning back in his chair with a helpless expression.
Qin Ming glanced at Tang San and nodded. "Then let's do as Dugu Yan said, Tang San will rest. We can't always rely on Tang San alone, the other team members also need to step up."
Ultimately, Shrek dispatched all its main forces except for Tang San, including Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Tai Long, Jing Ling, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong, who replaced Tang San as the amplification core.
Tang San sat on the bench, watching his teammates walk onto the Soul Fighting Platform, feeling incredibly envious.
Skywater Academy is extremely popular because it is full of beautiful girls. When the seven team members stepped onto the Soul Fighting Platform, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
Shui Bing'er walked at the front, with delicate features and a cool demeanor.
Her gaze swept across Shrek's group, but she couldn't find that tall, imposing figure.
Shui Bing'er frowned slightly, then looked at Tang San sitting on the bench.
The two stood in the center of the Soul Fighting Platform and bowed to each other.
Shui Bing'er looked at Dugu Yan opposite her, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes, and asked, "Dugu Yan, why isn't Tang San fighting today?"
With a mischievous smile in her eyes, Dugu Yan said to Shui Bing'er, "Tang San fought against many opponents yesterday and must be tired. Even oxen and horses need rest. Besides, we're enough to handle things."
Shui Bing'er, of course, couldn't understand the hidden meaning in Dugu Yan's words.
She simply nodded, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
The referee announced the start of the match.
Skywater Academy launched the first attack.
The temperature on the Soul Fighting Platform dropped below freezing, and snowflakes began to fall.
A blizzard swept in, carrying icicles and blades, heading straight for the Shrek Team.
In the front row of Shrek, Dai Mubai and Tai Long also unleashed their full power under Ning Rongrong's buff.
Ye Lingling stood at the back of the team, the Nine Heart Begonia light enveloping all team members, continuously healing the damage caused by the blizzard to her teammates.
The two sides fought back and forth, and the battle was full of twists and turns.
Shui Bing'er's Ice Seal control was indeed very powerful, causing great difficulties for the Shrek Team.
However, the Shrek Team has Dugu Yan, a Soul King, whose poison control and area-of-effect attacks are both excellent.
Xiao Wu is also Quasi-Soul King level fighter. Her combination of Teleportation and Invincible Golden Body greatly reduces the Ice Seal effect of Shui Bing'er.