Lu Chen gently rubbed the rabbit ears atop Xiao Wu's head with his fingertips. They felt even softer than he'd expected.
The long, fluffy ears, with their pale pink tips, stood straight up. A warm, soothing sensation spread from the tips and seeped into her heart.
The pleasant feeling made Xiao Wu edge closer to Lu Chen's hand.
The host recovered from his surprise and announced loudly, "Imperial Fighting Team versus Ice Team! Imperial Fighting Team wins!"
In the Skywater Academy viewing room, Leng Shuang stared at Imperial Fighting Team in shock.
She knew exactly how strong Ice Team was. With Ice Spirit's support, even she might not have been a match for Frost Tiger, Ice River. Yet that "Blood Sword Asura" had been able to keep Ice River firmly on the back foot.
Because of Lu Chen, Imperial Fighting Team, with its three Soul Elders, had actually defeated Ice Team, whose members were all Soul Ancestors or stronger
and which even had two Soul Kings.
Watching Lu Chen and Xiao Wu on the Douhun Platform, Shui Yue'er murmured, "How strange... I feel like I've seen those two somewhere before..."
Leng Shuang pondered, tapping her index finger lightly against the table in front of her.
Suddenly, her finger stopped. A vague name flashed through her mind, and she blurted, "Imperial? Could that 'Blood Sword Asura' be... Lu Chen?!"
At Leng Shuang's words, the figure in Shui Yue'er's memories slowly lined up with Lu Chen below.
She clutched Shui Bing'er's sleeve, excitedly saying, "Sis, that Lu Chen is the one who saved you!"
Shui Bing'er fixed her blue eyes on Lu Chen and murmured, "Lu Chen? So he's the one who saved me a few days ago... He's actually a Soul King?"
The spotlights over the Soul Fighting Arena gradually dimmed. Lu Chen turned, took Xiao Wu by the hand, and led the members of Imperial Fighting Team out of the Main Soul Arena and back to the waiting room.
After a short rest, Qin Ming began arranging the upcoming Two on Two Soul Fighting matches.
Xiao Wu tugged at Lu Chen's hand. "Lu Chen, I want to compete with you in Two on Two Soul Fighting," she pleaded.
Lu Chen patted Xiao Wu's head. "I'm afraid not. You should team up with Yan Zi. That'll help you improve the most."
When begging didn't work, Xiao Wu plopped herself onto Lu Chen's lap. Her eyes grew slightly red, and she scrunched up her nose.
She looked pitifully at him. "But... but you said... you'd always stay with me..."
Looking at Xiao Wu's effortlessly convincing performance, Lu Chen patted her shoulder and said, "For the sake of your growth, I can't agree to that!"
"Come on, Xiao Wu. Lu Chen's been immune to that trick of yours for ages."
Dugu Yan couldn't stand watching anymore. She reached out and dragged Xiao Wu away, then said in her big-sisterly tone, "Lu Chen's right. Right now, you and I are the only Soul Ancestors on Imperial Fighting Team. We're the best match."
Seeing that Lu Chen wouldn't budge, Xiao Wu leaned against Dugu Yan. "Then I'll team up with Yan Zi. We can call ourselves the 'Pink Green Combination.' How about it?"
Dugu Yan smiled at Xiao Wu, who had perked up in an instant. "Whatever you say."
The others in the waiting room also paired off one after another:
Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling teamed up for the match, as did Yu Feng and Shi Mo, and Yu Tianheng and Shi Mo.
After they went to compete in the doubles matches, only Lu Chen and Osler remained in the waiting room.
Lu Chen and Osler exchanged a smile. "Looks like you and I can only compete in the one-on-one matches."
Osler nodded, without any objection.
As soon as Lu Chen and Osler stepped out of the waiting room, they saw Leng Shuang approaching with Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.
"Lu Chen!"
Shui Yue'er waved enthusiastically when she saw him.
Seeing how eager her younger sister was, Shui Bing'er knew Shui Yue'er was smitten again.
Leng Shuang, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er stopped in front of Lu Chen.
Shui Bing'er looked at him and said, "Back in the forest, thank you... Thank you for saving me."
She had originally meant to say, "Thank you for saving me, senior," but then remembered that Lu Chen was younger than she was. Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Lu Chen smiled faintly. "It was nothing. You don't need to think twice about it."
With that, he took Osler to sign up for the one-on-one matches.
Watching Lu Chen leave, Leng Shuang asked Shui Bing'er, "Bing'er, Lu Chen's going to compete in the one-on-one matches, isn't he?"
Shui Bing'er nodded, then seemed to realize something and asked in surprise, "Teacher, you're not thinking of...?"
A hint of a smile appeared on Leng Shuang's normally frosty face. She said no more, simply turning to leave with the other two.
The registration desk for the one-on-one matches.
Lu Chen handed his "Blood Sword Asura" Soul Fighting badge to the staff member.
Osler asked curiously, "Captain, do you know people from Skywater Academy?"
Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er were wearing Skywater Academy uniforms, so Osler naturally recognized them.
Lu Chen nodded, then briefly told Osler about how he and Xiao Wu had met the people from Skywater Academy.
"Captain, you're not interested in Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, are you?"
Osler raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "Sister Xiao Wu, Yan Zi, and Zhu Zhuqing probably wouldn't approve, would they?"
At that, Lu Chen clapped Osler hard on the shoulder with his right hand. "Osler, I thought you were the quiet type. I didn't realize your mind could wander this far!"
"Am I really that kind of person? I've only met them twice. Do you think that's even possible?"
Osler thought Lu Chen had a point. Lu Chen really wasn't the kind of "womanizer" who chased after every pretty girl.
The staff member was just about to hand Lu Chen the "Blood Sword Asura" Soul Fighting badge.
A middle-aged man with a full beard suddenly hurried over and stopped the staff member.
The staff member saw him and respectfully greeted him, "Manager Bruce!"
Bruce waved the staff member away. "You can go. I'll handle the Soul Fighting arrangements for these two."
After the staff member left, Bruce said to Lu Chen, "Esteemed Soul Master, you performed exceptionally well in the team match just now. According to the rules of our Soul Fighting Arena, I'll assign you an opponent of comparable strength. That's the only way to match your skill."
Lu Chen accepted the Soul Fighting badge Bruce handed him. Though surprised, he said nothing. He could sense no malice from Bruce.
When Lu Chen and Osler returned to the waiting room, Xiao Wu and Dugu Yan had already finished their doubles match.
As soon as Xiao Wu saw Lu Chen, she scampered over to him like a little rabbit returning to its nest. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she exclaimed happily, "Lu Chen, Yan Zi and I beat two Soul Masters who were level forty-nine..."
Lu Chen ruffled Xiao Wu's hair and praised her fondly. "Good job, Xiao Wu."
Delighted by Lu Chen's praise, Xiao Wu let go of him and sat obediently beside him, eagerly telling him all about the match they'd just fought.
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