Chapter 179

When they returned to the Star Emperor Hotel, the light in the corridor was much dimmer than outside.

Xue Lingyun had just reached the door to his room and had not yet had time to push it open when footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

He turned to look, and Ma Xiaotao hurried over, walking much faster than usual. "I'm completely recovered! I can fight in the next match!"

Xue Lingyun glanced back at her. Before he could speak, Ma Xiaotao had already read something in his expression, and the excitement on her face slowly faded. Even her voice dropped by half. "...No way. You're still not letting me fight?"

Xue Lingyun did not beat around the bush. "Wang Yan's view is that before the Round Robin ends, you should avoid going up if possible. If we can keep you hidden, we keep you hidden."

Ma Xiaotao stood where she was and fell silent for a moment before saying, "I understand the reasoning."

She paused. "But it still feels stifling."

After saying that, she did not linger. She turned and walked back, her steps much slower than when she had come.

At the same time, inside the Imperial Study of the Star Luo Empire's palace, the scent of sinking sandalwood mingled with the faint smoke of guttering candles and curled outward. Bright yellow curtains filtered the dawn light, which fell across the red sandalwood imperial desk covered in tournament files. The Star Luo Empire's emperor, Xu Jiawei, pressed his fingertips against a confidential file sealed with cinnabar wax, his knuckles lightly tapping across the paper.

Seated upright across the desk was a girl of about seventeen or eighteen. She wore a moon-white casual long dress embroidered in hidden silver star patterns, its cut fitting her perfectly and