Zhen Actually Won

Once everyone had arrived, Corinne had the robot log into the Orphanage's page and let the system assign the matchups.

Xixiu's group drew Shu Anna's group, who lived on the same floor as them. Their strength could not be underestimated.

Xue Fanhui looked over the opposing team. Shu Anna had actually grouped the two strongest members, Ding Zhizhi and Hu Yuning, together. It seemed they were determined to take first place in this competition.

Xue Fanhui assessed her own team's strength. There was no need to worry about Xixiu, but Zhen was a little questionable. She would be fine against ordinary opponents, but facing either member of Shu Anna's group would be a problem.

Still, it did not matter if they could not take first place. As long as they did not get hurt, that was enough.

So Xue Fanhui called Xixiu and Zhen over. "Our opponents are Shu Anna's group. I've never fought them before, but judging by the Orphanage website's rankings, I might be able to fight them. You two, don't push yourselves. The important thing is not getting hurt. Understand?"

Xue Fanhui had always taken good care of the two girls younger than herself. Usually, she was the one making decisions, with Xixiu assisting her.

Xixiu offered a suggestion. "Fanhui, I'll handle Shu Anna. Let Zhen fight Ding Zhizhi, and you can take on the strongest one, Hu Yuning."

During the time Xue Fanhui had been in seclusion, Xixiu had put a great deal of effort into improving Zhen's strength.

She had even given Zhen a systematic set of moves. Based on Zhen's physical attributes, she had streamlined several Martial Skills Wei Lanshan had given her into something fast, ruthless, and precise—well suited for someone like Zhen, whose Mental Power was not strong.

However, she had not yet had the chance to tell Xue Fanhui about it. She would treat it as a surprise for her.

Xue Fanhui knew Xixiu's arrangement was the most appropriate, but she had heard a little about Ding Zhizhi's methods. Zhen would probably have no chance at all against her.

Forget it. Rankings did not matter anyway. "All right, we'll do it this way. Zhen, remember: if you can't handle her attacks, just surrender. Don't get hurt."

"Mm-hmm, don't worry, Fanhui. Xixiu has taught me. I've improved a lot lately. Watch carefully later—I won't get hurt. I'll end it quickly."

Zhen was brimming with confidence. Xixiu had worked hard on her Martial Skills for over a month. She could not let her sister down after all that effort. Zhen herself had worked hard for a long time too. Today, she would let everyone see it.

After watching several groups compete, Xixiu had a clear idea of things. Her true strength far surpassed theirs, so she decided to use only half her strength in the competition. Otherwise, people would notice something was off.

Soon, it was Xixiu's group's turn. The two teams exchanged Alliance greetings. Xixiu faced Shu Anna first. The moment the match began, Shu Anna struck ruthlessly, putting her full strength into every move. Xixiu received them all calmly.

Only after twenty moves did Xixiu's reactions begin to slow. Xue Fanhui was not worried about her. She knew Xixiu had hidden her strength. With her intelligence, there was no way she would have remained at Level Eight for so long. She had simply avoided taking the assessment so as not to stand out.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Xixiu knocked Shu Anna down and won the first round.

Xue Fanhui faced Hu Yuning next. Their strength was evenly matched, but Xue Fanhui had the advantage in technique, because Xixiu had shared with her and Zhen all the experience she had gained in the virtual Battle Room.

Her virtual opponent had far too many ways of tormenting people. After being utterly crushed by him for so long, Xixiu had at least picked up some useful moves.

Hu Yuning had not expected Xue Fanhui to be so difficult to deal with. The reason she had agreed to Shu Anna's invitation to team up was because she had been determined to win.

After all, among the Orphanage's three giants, only Xue Fanhui could be considered an opponent. Their victory should have been assured.

Yet Hong Xixiu had hidden her strength and knocked Shu Anna down in the first round.

If she lost to Xue Fanhui as well, their group would not even place third.

Hu Yuning picked up her speed. After gauging Hu Yuning's strength, Xue Fanhui decided to end the fight. In the final exchange, Xue Fanhui narrowly defeated Hu Yuning with a single move. She had suffered a few injuries, but after applying medical patches, she went to stand beside Xixiu.

Zhen was the last one from their group to fight. Xue Fanhui was extremely nervous for her, afraid that Ding Zhizhi would beat her badly.

Corinne, who was watching from the side, was very surprised. She had not expected Xue Fanhui's group to choose such a strategy. Having Zhen face Ding Zhizhi—did they know they would lose anyway, so it did not matter whom Zhen fought?

Unexpectedly, Zhen was the first to attack. Ding Zhizhi was famous in the Orphanage for being fast, ruthless, and precise. For Zhen to rashly take the initiative was far too unwise.

What no one expected was that even after ten moves, Ding Zhizhi had failed to find Zhen's weakness. Zhen had become much faster, and her movements were nimble enough to evade Ding Zhizhi's speed.

As for Ding Zhizhi's ruthlessness, Zhen used the methods Xixiu had taught her to break them one by one, even suppressing Ding Zhizhi's aggressive attacks in return.

After twenty moves, Zhen struck Ding Zhizhi. At that point, Ding Zhizhi began to panic, and her moves became somewhat disordered. Then, after thirty moves, Zhen actually won.

Xue Fanhui was thrilled. She had not expected that during the month she had spent in seclusion, Xixiu had not only kept up with her own training but had also trained Zhen so well.

The three victorious girls happily embraced each other. The pain from their injuries was already negligible.

Corinne was also deeply shaken. They all knew Zhen's talent, yet she had actually defeated Ding Zhizhi. It seemed they still needed to practice diligently. Hard work could make up for shortcomings.

Neither Shu Anna nor Ding Zhizhi understood why they had lost. The three of them occupied five of the top rankings in the Orphanage. Fine, they had misjudged Hong Xixiu's strength—but when had Zhen become so formidable?

Vivian was also surprised when she watched the video. The order in which this three-person group had arranged its fighters was highly meaningful.

Zhen would have had no chance against either Shu Anna or Hu Yuning, because their strength was plainly there.

Only Ding Zhizhi was a weak point. Her moves were fast, ruthless, and precise, but she was somewhat impatient, and she was poor at regulating her emotions. Once she became anxious, she easily lost her composure.

That was very interesting. Xixiu's powers of observation were actually that frightening?

After the matches ended, the three companions went to the medical room. They spent thirty minutes in the medical pods, and once all the wounds on their bodies had healed, they returned to their dormitory.

Xue Fanhui was very puzzled by Xixiu's arrangement. As soon as they returned to the dormitory, she began asking questions. "Xixiu, did you know Zhen would definitely win?"

"Ah, yes. Zhen has no problem at all against Ding Zhizhi. She'd definitely win. Against Shu Anna or Hu Yuning, though, Zhen would only get completely beaten up." Xixiu explained her arrangement, reaching the same conclusion Vivian had.

Zhen was also puzzled. Why did Xixiu believe she would definitely win against Ding Zhizhi?

"Why?" Xue Fanhui and Zhen both asked.

"Because Ding Zhizhi is too impatient and easily affected during a fight. If she still can't take Zhen down after twenty moves, she'll get anxious. Once she gets anxious, she'll reveal openings. Zhen is meticulous. As long as she spots an opportunity, she can win if she gives it everything she has."

Zhen recalled the fight she had just had. It truly had been as Xixiu said. After twenty moves, Ding Zhizhi had started to lose control because she was anxious. That was why Zhen had seized the opportunity to knock her down.

Xue Fanhui thought it over and nodded. This was something she had overlooked. She had not expected Xixiu to be so meticulous. It seemed that in the future, she should discuss more matters with Xixiu.

"How do you know Ding Zhizhi's personality so well?" Xue Fanhui was very confused. How had she failed to notice it?

"It's simple. Every time she trains against Shu Anna, she starts getting impatient after twenty moves." That was what Xixiu had observed during their usual training.

Xue Fanhui and Zhen both fell into thought. This was a detail they had overlooked; Xi Xiu had been remarkably thorough.

Xue Fanhui and Zhen gave Xi Xiu an emphatic thumbs-up in praise.

Xi Xiu's group took first place in this competition, and the Orphanage rewarded them with a substantial sum of Star Coins.

The three of them happily looked at their balances. In a couple of years, they could use the money for traveling. How wonderful.

Xi Xiu felt the same; she even smiled in her dreams.