An inn in the Marei Empire.
Yu Jing and the others had already returned to the Ability Institute, leaving only Shui Bingmiao staying at the hotel.
At that moment, because he had picked up quite a bit of dust from the air along the way, Shui Bingmiao was washing himself in the bathroom while calming his restless emotions.
However, every drop of hot water that landed on Shui Bingmiao's body turned into ice crystals and fell to the ground.
Shui Bingmiao braced one hand against the wall while clutching a Mithril Pocket Watch in the other. Inside it was a childhood photograph of him and his younger sister.
"Brother failed to keep his promise. I'm sorry..."
After watching Yu Jing's two King-level assessments, Shui Bingmiao had been thoroughly convinced of his defeat. Leaving aside Yu Jing's second match, in which he defeated the six-person team from the Military Nation Ability Institute... Yu Jing's performance in the first round against the High Priest alone had already made Shui Bingmiao feel inferior.
Whether it was breaking free from the restraints after having his soul stripped away, or lifting the High Priest's hood and nearly injuring the priest's body, Shui Bingmiao felt that his current self might not be capable of it.
"I never expected your progress to be faster than mine. I must not have worked hard enough... Choosing you as my rival really was the right decision."
After bathing, Shui Bingmiao tied up his sky-blue hair with a headband and walked out of the bedroom in his robe.
"Brother Miao!"
To his surprise, a girl dressed in white mink fur was sitting on the edge of Shui Bingmiao's bed. Her bright, limpid eyes were wide as she gazed without the slightest restraint at Shui Bingmiao, who had just emerged from the